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OP from the original incarnation of this thread by Sacul on May 22, 2014, 10:41:47 AM:
(The original thread can be found here (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1810456#msg1810456).)
The music forum has lots of top 50s with albums, so why not do the same with video games? The thing is: you make a list of your 25 all-time fav games, write something about why that game made it to your top and try to update the list daily if possible. Just like the top 50 threads. Because 25 games aren't so much, with one list running at time we'll be fine. This OP is to keep track of the lists, make statistic with the rankings, link to past tops, etc. If you want to sign up for this, send me a PM and I'll add you to the waiting list.
Read before posting
To post your list, reply this thread with your updates - this means the lists will be run only on this post. This is intended to avoid another threads on this sub-forum. I'll send you a PM to tell you when you can start with your top. Also, try to finish it within or less than a month.
Finished Lists
Dark Castle - Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh* (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1810582#msg1810582) (May - July 2014)
Scorpion - The age of the Scorpion (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1830763#msg1830763) (July 2014)
Genowyn - Japan: The List (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1838048#msg1838048) (July - August 2014)
Big Hath - Retro Time! (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1844211#msg1844211) (September - October 2014)
The King in Crimson's time to rule (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1872502#msg1872502) (October - November 2014)
Outcrier's fav games and whatever (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1911086#msg1911086) (January - February 2015)
It's-a me, ReaperKK! (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1925527#msg1925527) (February - March 2015)
All Hail Zantera and his list! (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1940371#msg1940371) (March - April 2015)
Another controversial list (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1944207#msg1944207) (April - May 2015)
cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1962739#msg1962739) (May - July 2015)
Randaran's randy list (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1983174#msg1983174) (July 2015)
Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1992000#msg1992000) (August - September 2015)
OpenYourEyes311's "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2009391#msg2009391) (September - November 2015)
Accelerando's Princess Is In Another Castle (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2043310#msg2043310) (November 2015 - January 2016)
jingle.boy: Rise of the Fogey (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2074161#msg2074161) (January - March 2016)
CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2139772#msg2139772) (April - May 2016)
BlobVanDam's "I Hope You Like Platformers" (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=47383.msg2170792#msg2170792) (May - July 2016)
Stadler: Must get 100% (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=47383.msg2197596#msg2197596) (August 2016)
Scar's Top 25 Video Games v. Mario, Mario, Maria, Merio (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=47383.msg2208050#msg2208050) (August - October 2016)
Now Playing
Parama's Top 25 Video Games Lists v. Cool Games You've Probably Never Heard Of (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=47383.msg2231722#msg2231722)
Waiting List
Jarlaxle
adace
Blind Faythe
Will go in the future
Evermind
Full Speed
Sycsa
On the 5th Dimension
SystematicThought's Obscure stuff (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1890659#msg1890659) (November 2014 - ??? )
DTF's fav games
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/Smileys/default/Roadrunner-Records-Logo.jpg)
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Since Sacul no longer had room in his schedule to run this, I'll be running this thread for the foreseeable future. Just pm me here or reply to this thread if you wanna be added to the list or if you're already on the list and need to be shifted further down the list in case you think you won't be prepared to start your list at the time your turn would've come up.
Thanks!
ya boy _floyd
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Nice one dude!
I've locked the old thread for now - shall I archive it?
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I'm completely in favor of that :tup
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Alrighty, done!
Looking forward to Blob's list.
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Ourcrier's fav games and whatever
Ourcrier my ass. It's Outcrier, goddammit :censored
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Sounds like if anyone's our crier, it's you. But that was actually Sacul's spelling, not mine, and I'll fix it.
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Sounds like if anyone's our crier, it's you. But that was actually Sacul's spelling, not mine, and I'll fix it.
I know, that bastard :lol
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Although, R-Crier woulda been a cool NES game title.
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Glad to see the thread up and I can't wait for blobs list.
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I'm excited for the next list. Bring it on! :metal
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Alright, it's on like Donkey Kong! Let's get this list started. I give you-
BlobVanDam's Top 25 Video Games v. I Hope You Like Platformers
Ah, I still remember the first time I ever played a video game, I would have been about 4, so probably around 1989-90. It was Alex Kidd in Miracle World, at a party. Because of my lack of experience and hand-eye coordination, I died immediately on the first enemy. It was a disappointingly brief experience, as first times often are. :neverusethis:
It wasn't long after that we got an Atari 2600 (oldschool even at the time), and a Sega Master System, and was regularly playing a NES at a friend's house too. Further down the line, we got a Sega Mega Drive (aka Sega Genesis for you US folks), and a SNES, then the N64, and so on. As my most frequent playing was done throughout the '90s, I was big on platformers.
In the past 10-15 years, I've gamed less, as I'm not into a lot of the popular genres these days. More recently, I've gotten back into gaming a little bit between the XBOX 360 and PC, but I'm a very casual gamer these days. Most of the oldies on my list are well known, and have appeared on other people's lists. There are also some more recent games that have made their way into my rankings, and I've still got a lot more I want to play. I'm just waiting for dem Steam sales.........
I'll start off with an honorable mention that was initially on my list, but then just got bumped at the last minute.
Mortal Kombat 2 (SNES) - 1994
Fighting games have never been one of my main genres, but every '90s kid played Mortal Kombat and/or Street Fighter at some point on some console. What better way to settle sibling rivalries? There were tears, and there were definitely controllers thrown across the room. Luckily Nintendo built them tough. I bought Mortal Kombat 2 from a second hand shop, and it came with a photocopied magazine page of all of the fatalities. Back before having internet, that was pretty damn special. My fighter of choice was Reptile (aka green Sub Zero). The acid spit was almost as good of a dog move as Sub Zero's freeze or Scorpion's "GET OVER HERE!" spear to the chest, and I'd mastered his fatality where he takes off his mask and rips off the opponent's head with his tongue and eats it. Good times. I also occasionally used Mileena (aka purple Kitana), because I'm not sexist - girls deserve the chance to slit people's throats and uppercut them into spikes too.
I only briefly played MK1 and 3, but later also had a blast playing Deadly Alliance and Deception on the original XBOX. It's hard not to have fun in a game that has an "impale" button, and has a challenge where you need to make your opponent bleed 80 pints of blood. I would have expected a game like MK to have a bit of a better grasp on basic human biology, but I guess I can suspend my disbelief for a minute. I mention these other games as no other Mortal Kombat game appears in my list (spoiler alert), so I guess you can consider this an entry for the whole franchise. So let's hear it for the games that outraged parents all over the world and helped bring ratings to games! If you've never played a Mortal Kombat game, maybe just come back when my list is finished...
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Mortal20Kombat202_3.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/mk2042.png~original)
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Although, R-Crier woulda been a cool NES game title.
I kinda think my nickname is a bit stupid (the one i wanted was already taken), don't you think so? :blush
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I was never a big fan of fighters, but I do have fond memories of playing MKs I/II and to a lesser extent III, back in the day with friends.
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I was never a big fan of fighters, but I do have fond memories of playing MKs I/II and to a lesser extent III, back in the day with friends.
Yeah, as I said, I've never been huge on fighting games myself, but some genres/games take on new life when played multiplayer. It also helps when there's not a steep learning curve, and MK is a good button bashing game for beginners.
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Phenomenal game! It was summer 93 before I really came around to MK and Street Fighter II. I remember kids at school raving about both (much moreso for SF though) but most of them were the same schmucks that jump on every trend and drop it a few months later cuz they never sincerely liked it anyway. Eventually, I played SFII on a Walmart kiosk and got murked by some cunt who thought he was cool for going for blood on a kid 5 years younger than him who'd obviously never played it before. I was so accustomed to Mario, I don't think I even knew how to jump since I couldn't find the jump button lol.
Eventually, my brother rented it for SNES and, once I got used to it, I was beyond hooked. I had slight interest in the original MK back then but it was way behind SFII in my heart. A few months later, though, my brother got a Genesis (aka MegaDrive for you non-US folks) with Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Mortal Kombat, and Sonic 2 and finally being able to play MK on my own terms without immediately losing all my quarters really helped me fall in love with it. It felt so cool hearing Scorpion yell "GET OVER HERE!!" after you successfully inputed the A, B, A, C, A, B, B blood code. Then EGM ran that story about the rumor of Ermac being in the game complete with a photo of him onscreen (this was years before Photoshop was readily available for consumers so shit like that was taken far more seriously back then.) Lastly, the DULLARD code was great since I think it made reaching Reptile much easier and enabled a greater frequency of random items floating across the moon in the Pit stage.
Very oddly, I liked MK so much that when my brother first told me about MKII being released in the arcade I actually didn't want it to be out yet since I felt like I still had plenty more gameplay left with the original and didn't feel like havin to git gud with another game barely weeks after I'd finally done just that with the first one.
I couldn't change reality though and that ended up being a good thing because this ended up becoming unquestionably my favorite arcade game ever. It was close to Christmas when I first saw it which is odd as fuck since I recently found out it was released in June 93. I can only guess that it might have initially been test marketed in really big metro areas first before having a nationwide rollout.
Regardless, it was an awesome time of the year to be a kid. The Christmas holiday from school had just begun, the mall was still an awesome place, and the arcade's atmosphere was fuckin electric since all us kids were off of school for a while and packed in there like sardines in a can. My first encounter with the game (I think) was watching some mustached 80s holdover twice my age just dominating the shit out of a crowd of a dozen or so people and, weirdly enough, he was doing so from the player 2 slot. You didn't see that much back then. It was one of those rare cases where someone was so dominant that the crowd would take breathers and watch him fight the computer both to see the game beaten and to slow down the rate at which we were losing our quarters (this was very early in the 50¢ per play era and some games would let you continue for a quarter while others were 50¢ to start and 50¢ to continue.)
The game made a huge impact on me. For four factors specifically and just about equally since they all were hugely important:
1.The massively improved color scheme. This game was like looking at actual art considering how lifelike it was and how brimming it was with colors that just worked awesomely together. I think the drab, grey-heavy aesthetic of the original MK had some bearing on why I liked SFII better. This game addressed that issue in spades.
2. Incredible sound. This game bumped like a well-equipped car stereo. Landed blows sounded like you were watching a martial arts movie in a proper theater, you had that awesome bass drop after a flawless victory, and the bass lines during the actual songs were warm as hell. Also, the clarity of the music was great and really harkened back to Nine Inch Nails' debut album Pretty Hate Machine at numerous times.
3. The music itself. Whereas MK focused on being true to the music in traditional kung fu movies of the 70s, MKII really came into its own with music that sounded not of this earth and fitting for the Outworld realm. It was mystical, ominous, and rooted in electronic music of that era (even if not sounding like electronic music on the surface, it had a lot of stylistic overlap with contemporary stuff in that genre.)
4. The atmosphere. They did a great job of making you feel like you were far from home in a hostile environment. The Portal seems ready to collapse in on itself at any moment and send you to an even more frightening environment, the Deadpool seems like a dungeon made in a sewer where one might be left for dead after your captor forgets you were down there in the first place, and the Wasteland is like a mass grave overflowing with the decaying deceased. I think the Living Forest might be creepiest of all though, especially considering the rumor about the trees attacking you (unproven, but effective back then.)
While SF strung us along with five different versions of SFII, this game really delivered and kept us enthralled and I soon began to spend my entire allowance on it each week. By the summer following its release I even kept two folded up sheets of paper in my pocket whenever I went to the arcade. One was a matrix of all the characters' finishing moves and the other was my checklist for all of these moves so I could finally know when I'd done all 85 in the game.
When the home ports were announced in early summer 94 and we got the first screen shots of it, I shat bricks. It was ridiculous how well the SNES handled a game seemingly so far beyond its graphical capabilities. My brother and I stayed up until 1 or 2am on a school night the first night we had it and probably played over 100 matches. A few months later, we tried to see if the home port included Pong like the arcade version. This meant playing 250 straight 2-player matches never allowing the continue timer to reach zero. We got to 250. Nothing happened. We figured we'd go to 300 just to see if they were fucking with us. Still nothing. In denial and desperate, we went to 325 before dejectedly giving up. Then, randomly at like 8 in the morning, the asshole cop who lived in the apartment next door gave us Saints tickets he couldn't use and we hopped in a cab to the Superdome after a night without sleeping.
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Although, R-Crier woulda been a cool NES game title.
I kinda think my nickname is a bit stupid (the one i wanted was already taken), don't you think so? :blush
Actually, I don't think it's all that bad. I think I personally have two ways my brain sees user names and decides whether it likes them. First is the face value assessment. The other is if it references something I like or don't like. At face value, I guess Outcrier ain't spectacular or anything but I actually have a positive opinion of it since it references my second favorite song from ADTOE and that song contains my favorite section from that album.
Lastly, my original DT.net handle (before DTF existed and we long timers posted on the band's official site) back in 2000 was something like Ytse Seeker or something like that cuz they were my two favorite songs off my favorite DT album. Good songs, yes, but an awkward-at-best handle.
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This was a game my brother played a ton but I was never into it. I liked the boxing games for some reason.
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This was a game my brother played a ton but I was never into it. I liked the boxing games for some reason.
It better have been this game, or gtfo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev0_hmee2cM
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Activision's first game. We bought it for $40. Games really got so much better but don'y coast that much more. It's the console that cost a fortune and now you have to buy controllers when they would come with the console in the old days.
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That game was built into our Atari, along with about 200 other games. And maybe even as many as half of them actually made playable sense!
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If I get to my parents house I'll find the Atari game and post a pick for all you to giggle about.
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We still have our Atari stuff sitting in a cupboard somewhere. We didn't have many games on cart. We had Winter Games, and Ghostbusters, and that might have been it.
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So did any of you youngsters actually get to play MK in an arcade? I don't see how playing at home for free has the same appeal. Quarters weren't unlimited, and you only got to play as long as you won. There's something to be said for playing when there are six quarters lined up on the molding from strangers lining up to take you on.
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It was fun, yes, but it sucked ass never having more than $5 a week to spend on it unless it was Christmas or my birthday and with those two dates being just a month apart I was on that $5 weekly budget 11 straight months each year. Fuck spending 3-5 times the cost of a game just to still not have it to play at home.
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Hey Blob, I just realized I still don't actually have the thread title updated with whatever you'd like to name your list. Let me know what you'd like to call it whenever's good for you.
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Hey Blob, I just realized I still don't actually have the thread title updated with whatever you'd like to name your list. Let me know what you'd like to call it whenever's good for you.
My list is named in my first post, my good man. :tup Format it however you need to!
So did any of you youngsters actually get to play MK in an arcade? I don't see how playing at home for free has the same appeal. Quarters weren't unlimited, and you only got to play as long as you won. There's something to be said for playing when there are six quarters lined up on the molding from strangers lining up to take you on.
I played it in an arcade numerous times, but I never much liked having to dispense money, or have to go against strangers/CPU. I guess I'm spoiled by the past 30 years of home console progress. :biggrin:
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Done and done :)
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Thank you. Now I finally feel like the thread is a part of me, like a dog pissing on a tree to indicate to other dogs that the tree is taken.
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I still feel bad about starting and stopping midway and pissing people off.
Anyways, I remember always going to my friend's house to play MK2 and we would play it all night. Such a fun game still to this day.
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I still feel bad about starting and stopping midway and pissing people off.
Shit happpens. People delay these kinds of threads constantly. No hard feelings. If you feel up for it, I'd have no problem with you finishing up once Blob's done.
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Oh yeah, Mortal Combat. I was Sub Zero all the time.
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Although I normaly don't like platformers and I didn't play Mortal Kombat I'm following this.
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Although I normaly don't like platformers and I didn't play Mortal Kombat I'm following this.
I'm not sure how much there will be to appeal to your tastes once you exclude platformers, but I'm glad to hear it. :lol :P
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Let's keep the ball rolling with a couple of 8-bit platformers. Nostalgia alert!
25. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Master System) - 1992
Not to be confused with the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis game of the same name, this game was released only a month or so before its 16 bit counterpart. It is however an entirely separate game, with little in common between the two, beyond the title character. While this game clearly doesn't hold up as well as the 16 bit offerings, this was my first Sonic game, and I spent countless hours playing it, so the nostalgia is strong with this one.
The levels had multiple paths with hidden areas that made the game fun to play repeatedly as I tried to finish it (never did back in the day). It still has some of my favourite 8-bit era music, and I love the level themes. There were also some interesting gimmicks, such as the hangglider, and riding in bubbles underwater to get to higher ground and avoid death by drowning. The underwater sections were even more of a bitch in this game than the 16 bit ones. :lol
The controls aren't great by today's standards, and it's not an essential Sonic game, but this game had a big impact on me.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-sega-master-system-gliding.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/AquaLakeAct1.png)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Sonic20the20Hedgehog20220Master20System7.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/89219-Sonic_The_Hedgehog_2_Europe-7.png)
Longplay video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6RtXmMN9Og
24. Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Sega Master System) - 1986
As I mentioned when I started, this was the first videogame I ever played, although it hardly counted as playing. But it wasn't too long after that we got our Sega Master System, and everyone who had a Master System knew this game, since it was built in to the console (at least, the version of the console everyone had). From what I gather, the Master System didn't really catch on so well outside of a few countries, Australia being one of those, so I have no idea how well known this game is in general.
Alex Kidd was supposed to be Sega's answer to Mario, and was released about a year after the original Super Mario Bros. Despite not catching on and becoming the success that Mario was, Alex Kidd in Miracle World is comparable in quality, and even better in some ways, with some shortcomings.
Much like Mario, you're trying to save the person from the person. Also like Mario, there are traditional levels, cave levels, water levels, castle levels etc. You can't jump on enemies as has become standard in that style of platformer since, you had to punch enemies to kill them instead. The game had a variety of vehicles; there was a bike that could smoosh through enemies and some blocks, a speedboat that could shoot bullets (and your punishment for crashing the boat was falling into the water below and having to play the traditional underwater level), and a helicopter that could also shoot bullets, and you had to tap the jump button to rise up.
There were many powerups that were either collected in level, or bought from the shop in many of the levels, which could be activated on the pause screen menu. The most commonly used powerup was a fire ring that let you shoot fire across the screen, and there was also the cane of flight so you could fly for a short while, and an invincibility powerup.
The boss fights were one of the more unique elements of the game, and probably one of the more criticized elements. Every boss would have to be defeated in a game of paper-rock-scissors, usually followed by a more regular boss fight. There was a collectible to let you see what hand the boss would choose, but you had to be quick to keep up with them changing, and there was an element of memorization to it that was more common to the era.
Defeating the final boss wasn't the end though! There was one short level after that, with a room that required you to jump on the correct sequence of squares, otherwise ghosts would kill you. The sequence order was shown on a stone tablet you collect earlier in the game, however it's read right to left, bottom to top. This is something I had to be told from a friend before managing to finish the game, which was a bit frustrating. If you played this game as a kid, this just brought back painful memories. Still, there was something rewarding about finishing these games back in the time before save games, and internet walkthroughs.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/alex246.png)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_40033_2_7.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/alex-kidd-in-miracle-world-03.png)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_88038_2_1.jpg)
Longplay video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb9haoWT5js
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Played both back in the day but not much, as I didn't actually own any Sega consoles myself.
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We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed. I played the hell out of both games.
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We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed. I played the hell out of both games.
Cool, I didn't realize you had a Master System. I pretty much assumed your era stopped somewhere around Space Invaders. :P
Any thoughts on these two?
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We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed.
Oh, king.
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We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed. I played the hell out of both games.
Cool, I didn't realize you had a Master System. I pretty much assumed your era stopped somewhere around Space Invaders. :P
Any thoughts on these two?
When I have time. I will.
We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed.
Oh, king.
So can you tell from my phone I've counseled employees at work? :lol
Console. :biggrin:
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Loved MK2, I sucked it up during that game, but enjoyed it on SNES
Nice pick on MegaDrive Sonic 2 that many may have not played. I only played a borrowed version of Sonic 1 or 2 on Gamegear, I heard they were ports or something of the Master system ones.
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We owned every counsel until I was 25 it seemed. I played the hell out of both games.
Cool, I didn't realize you had a Master System. I pretty much assumed your era stopped somewhere around Space Invaders. :P
Any thoughts on these two?
Obviously Sonic took over my world. It was fast paced, goal orientated and damn would it piss me off if I didn't finish a round. I've played so many versions of Sonic that they blur together these days.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World was a game my brother played a lot. I played but never really got into it like him. At that time Sega was pumping out games by the bucketful and with so many systems in our house, this game tended to get overlooked by myself.
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I haven't played either of those games but on my next free day (which won't be for a while it seems) I'm going to play that version of Sonic 2. I've never played t before. Love the list so far.
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Nice pick on MegaDrive Sonic 2 that many may have not played. I only played a borrowed version of Sonic 1 or 2 on Gamegear, I heard they were ports or something of the Master system ones.
Yep, the Game Gear versions were ports of the Master System versions, with the main difference being that the Game Gear has a lower resolution screen, so you see less of the level (and I think they changed a couple of bosses to fit the screen better). They're known for being more difficult for this reason, but are essentially the same games.
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Nice pick on MegaDrive Sonic 2 that many may have not played. I only played a borrowed version of Sonic 1 or 2 on Gamegear, I heard they were ports or something of the Master system ones.
Yep, the Game Gear versions were ports of the Master System versions, with the main difference being that the Game Gear has a lower resolution screen, so you see less of the level (and I think they changed a couple of bosses to fit the screen better). They're known for being more difficult for this reason, but are essentially the same games.
That totally makes sense, I'm totally stupid on that and did not know. :facepalm: Also explains why I gave up on it. :lol That is generally not my MO at all, especially outside of handhelds. But outside of that, Sonic overall to me (1-3 on GEN) was harder than SMB3 & SMW. Maybe that's because I had Nintendo stuff growing up, vs. Sega stuff. So it having limitations on the handheld just intensified my feeling back in my tweenage years. I feel overall handhelds/portables were more challenging vs. consoles. Even on the GBA, I had the SMW port and I felt that was a smidge harder than the SNES version. I remember walking away from MegaMan on Gameboy as well. So that is probably a lot to do with, I'm guessing, a lower screen resolution on many handhelds?
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The difference between the SNES/GBA screen wasn't as big as the difference on the SMS/GG, but it was also a little bit smaller. It also doesn't help playing on a tiny low quality LCD screen that's fixed to your controller vs a TV screen either.
I played Sonic 2 on the Game Gear a lot, but I actually played the Master System version with the converter, rather than the Game Gear version. I believe doing it that way gave you the full screen rather than cropped off.
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The funny thing is that I know Sega master system was sold in my area because I remember seeing it in stores, but not a single kid at my school had one, even the rich ass kids.
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I played Sonic 2 GG way after the fact, and... it's "special" for sure, ahah, never played too far into it though honestly.
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23. Limbo (PC) - 2011
This is a game I only played for the first time very recently, and I loved it from the start, with its unique look and atmosphere, and simple controls. It's not a long game by any means, taking less than a couple of hours to finish on my first run, and I was playing slowly, but there's not a wasted minute of gameplay. The whole game is well thought out from start to finish, with great attention to detail, and clever puzzles that require precision platforming. For a black and white 2D platformer, it's incredibly immersive, with a dark unsettling vibe. Playing this game in the dark with headphones on was an amazing experience. If you're a fan of platformers (and even if you're not), this game is definitely worth a look.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/large.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/screenshot05-800x450.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/1858536-2011_08_09_00004.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/1404069-limbo_esrb_t_720p30_st_6300kbps_51.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/limbo-15705.jpg~original)
22. Beetle Adventure Racing (N64) - 1999
I bought this game second hand without knowing much about it, hoping for a fun Mario Kart type game, and it didn't disappoint. The name pretty much says it all; it's a racing game with Volkswagen Beetles. The game definitely draws inspiration from Mario Kart, with simple driving controls, levels with multiple paths, speed boosts, and multi-player arenas involving weapons. As you progress through the tournament mode, you unlock more levels, and unlock better Beetles, with the two best vehicles being the alien car (with a funky pearlescent paint job), and the cop car (which had a car siren as its horn that would make all of the AI cars pull over).
The levels were all amazing, with hidden paths upon hidden paths, with lots of shortcuts and cool easter eggs, so exploration was very rewarding, and there was a lot of replay value in each level. The game wouldn't stop you going anywhere in the level, so a lot of my time was spent trying to find new shortcuts, and occasionally managing to get to places you weren't supposed to get to, which would result in falling off the level into invisible water below. Oops. But there was a lot of great scenery to find, including a Jurassic Park area, a dragon, a crashed alien spaceship, all sorts of fun stuff.
The vibe of the levels were all fantastic, and the graphics were quite good for the N64, as was the funky soundtrack.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/beetle-adventure-racing-t-rex-jurassic-park.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/beetle-adventure-racing-burning-village.jpg~original)
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(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Beetle_Adventure_Racing_05.png~original)
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I loved Limbo blob but we've spoken about it already. I've never played the beetle game for n64 but the screen shots remind a lot of midtown maddness for some reason.
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Limbo has been on my radar for a while, but I haven't bought or played it yet. Never heard of the Beetle racing game.
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I've never seen that Limbo game. You are right about the atmosphere. It looks amazing.
I played that Beetle game a ton with my brother. Even my wife got into playing that game.
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Omg, I totally forgot about Limbo. I totally agree, such a good game. :heart
Except for that spider. I hate that fucking spider.
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Omg, I totally forgot about Limbo. I totally agree, such a good game. :heart
Except for that spider. I hate that fucking spider.
:lol Yeah. I didn't mind the spider, but it's at a point in the game when you don't know anything, so there were many deaths due to trial and error, especially figuring out how to escape from him over the water.
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tal kombat 2 was probably my favourite also, was such a step up from the first one, was ahead of it's time and nothing we'd ever seen before.
That Sonic the Hedghog on Master System I was in love with also. It was so unique and quite tricky. The thing I loved about it most was getting the hidden emeralds around the zones, they were tough to find. The zone's were quite detailed and exciting for the time too. The first one was so different opting for going away from the Green Hill style we're used to, to the underground zone. (even though the Greenhill came later in the game) The aqua zone was unique also and I absolutely loved the Scrambled Egg and Crystal Egg zone, they were amazing.
That Alex Kidd game was so hard and addictive too. Such a great feature having it built in to the system. Took me so long to clock that one, and I don't know how anyone could have gone through the whole game and be able to work out the star moon combination thingy without knowing it beforehand, so impossible.
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i like limbo, but i don't think it's a super amazing game or anything. the atmosphere is great but the gameplay itself is... mediocre. honestly the only gameplay part i really dug was the secret sound-based room, that was cool/super terrifying stuff :lol
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i like limbo, but i don't think it's a super amazing game or anything. the atmosphere is great but the gameplay itself is... mediocre. honestly the only gameplay part i really dug was the secret sound-based room, that was cool/super terrifying stuff :lol
I understand that. The gameplay itself is very simple and basic, but I really liked how they used it. If you took away the great atmosphere and look, it wouldn't be nearly as engaging or good a game, but it worked really well as a whole package for me.
That Sonic the Hedghog on Master System I was in love with also. It was so unique and quite tricky. The thing I loved about it most was getting the hidden emeralds around the zones, they were tough to find. The zone's were quite detailed and exciting for the time too. The first one was so different opting for going away from the Green Hill style we're used to, to the underground zone. (even though the Greenhill came later in the game) The aqua zone was unique also and I absolutely loved the Scrambled Egg and Crystal Egg zone, they were amazing.
I could only ever get the chaos emerald in Underground Zone. The one in Sky High Zone is easy enough to spot if you stick to the hangglider, but I never managed to nab it as a kid. It's only been more recently with emulation that I've managed to get to Crystal Egg Zone.
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21. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi Island (SNES) - 1995
This is a game that I only had the opportunity to play thanks to emulation, as I never owned it on console. Yoshi Island is a bit of a departure for the main Mario series. The main character you control is Yoshi, who carries around baby Mario on his back. When you get hit, baby Mario starts floating off in a bubble and you have to retrieve him before the short timer runs out, or you die. Ok, that description doesn't make it sound good at all, and admittedly, the sound of baby Mario crying is pretty obnoxious, but beyond that is a strong platformer that's a lot of fun. As Yoshi, you can hover, eat enemies and turn them into eggs, shoot eggs, and ground pound, which has all become standard for the character since. The game has a hand drawn crayon drawn look that sets it apart from previous Mario games, and typically catchy music from Koji Kondo.
This one might not be for every oldschool Mario fan, but I enjoyed it.
Oh, and I can't discuss this game without mentioning this section of the game-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ1OclnEKAQ
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/2446807-7431188260-27063.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/yoshis_island2.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/yoshi-eggs.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/super-mario-world-2-yoshis-island-fase.png~original)
20. Trine (PC) - 2009
Here's another game I only played for the first time recently, in fact I bought and played it not long after Limbo. I'd heard about this for years as being a great modern platformer, so as soon as it went on sale on Steam, I nabbed both Trine and Trine 2.
Trine is a 2D platformer that has a unique blend of elements. It has a medieval setting, and you have 3 characters you can freely switch between, each one with different abilities. There's a knight who has the close combat skills, able to use a sword to kill enemies, and you can aim your shield to protect yourself from any direction. There's the thief, who can shoot arrows, and has a grappling hook to help make your way through the levels and find secret areas. And last but not least, the wizard, who can use his magic to conjure boxes and platforms, and move other objects to solve physics puzzles. There's plenty of stuff to collect in each level to upgrade your characters with new abilities, which adds even more to the gameplay.
The great thing about the physics element is that there's no set way to solve a problem and progress. I'll come up with my own way to get past an obstacle, then watch a walkthrough video and see someone else do it completely differently. It means you're rarely stuck trying to figure out the one solution to a problem. The controls are great, being not too difficult to learn and remember, but requiring some skill to master. The graphics are also very nice, about as much as my lowly graphics card can handle. :lol
After finishing Trine, I moved on to Trine 2, but they made some changes that made it not as fun for me, despite some amazing creative additions to the gameplay.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/217073093.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/1115511906.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/-1960906875.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/trine_knight_mines_720p.png~original)
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I haven't played the first Trine, but I have played Trine 2, which I loved and maybe half of Trine 3 which was great.
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I haven't played the first Trine, but I have played Trine 2, which I loved and maybe half of Trine 3 which was great.
Trine 1 is very similar in gameplay, but a big difference for me is that the upgrade system felt a lot more integral to the gameplay, with specific upgrades given to you at particular points in chests (instead of the chests just having pointless collectibles), and you couldn't remove abilities and shift around the points like you can in Trine 2, so collecting XP mattered a lot more. But if you enjoy 2, I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy 1. Then again, I didn't like 2 so much, so maybe I'm wrong. :lol
3 looked... different. If I see it for super cheap I might try it out, but the ratings aren't nearly as good for it, and it appears to have the same issues that 3D platformers in general have. If I'd liked Trine 2 more, I'd probably be more interested in 3.
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Yes Yoshi's Island! Such a lovely game.
Haven't played the Trine games, but they look very nice.
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Never heard of Trine, but I think I'm going to try it out. I LOVE a good platformer, and you gave it good review, and I see it's in the 80's for most other reviews (I've loved games with a lot less of ratings). It seems Metroidvania-y? If so, I'm all over it. What system did you play it on?... cuz I'll have to get it for PS4
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could never get into the trine games. they're visually absolutely beautiful but the gameplay felt really repetitive and sloppy to me.
oh and yoshi's island is great
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Yes Yoshi's Island! Such a lovely game.
Haven't played the Trine games, but they look very nice.
Exactly this.
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Didn't play SMW2, but I liked your description. :tup Based on your writeup, the timing of the game was later into the SNES cycle. I think at that point I was into PC gaming, in conjunction with more mature SNES games (MK2!). It sounds like New Super Mario Bros Wii (cannot speak for the others) got that whole Mario bubble thing from this then.
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Yoshi's Island is a great game! But my god that crying sound!!
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Fuck yeah Yoshi's Island. :metal
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Never heard of Trine, but I think I'm going to try it out. I LOVE a good platformer, and you gave it good review, and I see it's in the 80's for most other reviews (I've loved games with a lot less of ratings). It seems Metroidvania-y? If so, I'm all over it. What system did you play it on?... cuz I'll have to get it for PS4
I'm not sure how Metroidvania-y it is, maybe a bit. I actually haven't gotten much into those types of platformers.
I list the system I played each game on along with the game's title. I played it on PC with the XBOX 360 gamepad, so I expect it would play similarly on the console versions. The PS4 would also run it a lot better than my PC does.
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oh, trine's not really metroidvania-y at all. the levels can be a bit long but they're all linear and there's a few points of no return in some of the levels but yeah very much not a metroidvania
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oh, trine's not really metroidvania-y at all. the levels can be a bit long but they're all linear and there's a few points of no return in some of the levels but yeah very much not a metroidvania
That's what I thought, but I've never played a Castlevania, and only played a bit of Super Metroid. :blush
The only similarity is unlocking character abilities, but I think that inspiration came from other styles of games.
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Beetle Adventure Racing :heart
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I played and beat Yoshi's Island and even wanted to make a cleanup pass to unlock the hidden level in each world by getting 100s in each level but, despite all that exposure to it, it never clicked with me even remotely as much as any real Mario game. At the time, we knew Ultra 64 was just around the corner (though I don't think we knew we were still almost an entire year out since they delayed it numerous times) so that coupled with the impressiveness of the PS' graphics made this game's graphics more of an awkward novelty to me than anything else.
I also was annoyed by lots of minor things. One being that the ground often had textures that you'd not line up with as in the case of some of the shrubbery you'd end up standing behind or angled areas you'd jump onto that didn't have clearly defined contact points so it felt off to me when I was just trying to casually run through levels I was already familiar with.
The music didn't do it for me at all, really, and this game just felt sluggish and controlled in a way that felt very unnatural to me. Titling it Super Mario World 2 I thought was just a big disservice to the franchise as well. You wanna make a weird, experimental game? I have no issue with that. Just don't milk the real franchise's cache for sales.
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I played and beat Yoshi's Island and even wanted to make a cleanup pass to unlock the hidden level in each world by getting 100s in each level but, despite all that exposure to it, it never clicked with me even remotely as much as any real Mario game. At the time, we knew Ultra 64 was just around the corner (though I don't think we knew we were still almost an entire year out since they delayed it numerous times) so that coupled with the impressiveness of the PS' graphics made this game's graphics more of an awkward novelty to me than anything else.
I also was annoyed by lots of minor things. One being that the ground often had textures that you'd not line up with as in the case of some of the shrubbery you'd end up standing behind or angled areas you'd jump onto that didn't have clearly defined contact points so it felt off to me when I was just trying to casually run through levels I was already familiar with.
The music didn't do it for me at all, really, and this game just felt sluggish and controlled in a way that felt very unnatural to me. Titling it Super Mario World 2 I thought was just a big disservice to the franchise as well. You wanna make a weird, experimental game? I have no issue with that. Just don't milk the real franchise's cache for sales.
Maybe that's why they made Yoshi's Story it's own title. But then, it also doesn't have Mario in it.
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Sorry for the delay! Now for a couple more racing games to continue the list.
19. Rock n Roll Racing (MD/SNES) - 1993
Here's another game that's pretty well summarized by its title. Rock n Roll Racing is an isometric racing game, where you race monster trucks around on alien worlds, using a variety of weapons to take out your opponents, and upgrading/replacing your vehicle to keep up with the increasing difficulty as the game progresses. Oh yeah, and also it has a badass soundtrack of impressively accurate and rockin' 16 bit renditions of classic rock songs including Black Sabbath - Paranoid, Deep Purple - Highway Star, Radar Love, Bad to the Bone, and Born to be Wild. I'd even say it has some of the best sound on the SNES. It also has commentary to help you keep track of the action.
This is a game that I discovered thanks to emulation, back in 2000. My friend went on a downloading spree of every game from every console, so I'd go through trying them, and with a name like Rock n Roll Racing, I of course had to check this out and confirm its rock credibility. Upon starting the game, the first thing I heard was the opening riff of Bad to the Bone kick in. Ok, unexpected. Then I start a race, and I hear Paranoid. BLACK SABBATH? ON A 16 BIT CONSOLE GAME? *head explode*
I insist you check out the first couple of minutes of this video to get the complete feel for the game complete with awesome soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Pk2qNVvKk
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/rock-roll-racing.gif~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_40366_2_11.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Rock_n_Roll_Racing_GEN_ScreenShot2.gif~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/rock-n-roll-racing-05.png~original)
18. Mario Kart 64 (N64) - 1996
Does this game even need a write up? Often imitated, but rarely duplicated, Mario Kart is one of the all time essential party games, and a must for any Nintendo console owner. The original SNES game hasn't held up as well imo due to the flat and simple nature of the levels, but Mario Kart 64 set the bar high for future games. I'm not saying Mario Kart 64 is the best of them, but it's certainly the one I've sunk the most time into playing with friends and family.
Like with many Nintendo games, I'm always Luigi. Being a middle child, I never got first preference, so I think I've grown quite fond of the lesser Mario Bro. :lol Good old, dependable, middle of the road Luigi. Never gets the recognition of Mario, despite being the taller, slimmer brother. Sure, he never got to save the princess, but it's not like Mario ever got anything for that either. It's been decades, and he's still toiling away as a lowly plumber. Anyway, I digress. Mario Kart. You know it. You've played it. You have an opinion on it. Go!
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Mario20Kart206420U.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/39946-Mario_Kart_64_Europe-7.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/DKs_Jungle_Parkway_-_Big_Jump_-_Mario_Kart_64.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_14047_2_35.jpg~original)
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Two great picks. I never owned Rock N' Roll Racing but I remember renting it from the video shop quite a lot. Loved the soundtrack even though at the time I was only familiar with a couple of the original songs.
Mario Kart 64 is probably a contender for most played N64 for me, I played the shit out of it single-player not to mention in split-screen multiplayer. I was pretty good at it too. Yoshi was always my first choice, Peach second if someone else got to him first.
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Two great picks. I never owned Rock N' Roll Racing but I remember renting it from the video shop quite a lot. Loved the soundtrack even though at the time I was only familiar with a couple of the original songs.
I knew all of them except for Highway Star. Even though I was familiar with Deep Purple, I hadn't heard Highway Star, so this game actually got me into that song. :lol
Mario Kart 64 is probably a contender for most played N64 for me, I played the shit out of it single-player not to mention in split-screen multiplayer. I was pretty good at it too. Yoshi was always my first choice, Peach second if someone else got to him first.
My brother was always Yoshi, my sister was always Mario, so I got used to Luigi. Even though I love DK, I couldn't handle his slow as shit acceleration.
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Yeah MK64 was a bit imbalanced in that regard because the heavies had slower acceleration and a slower top speed. Light characters were king because they were better than heavy or medium at both.
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Mario Kart 64 is the only game I ever played on the N64. Was a great game and a lot of fun. Back in the day I didn't own a console myself, so I had to play at my friends.
My wife still has a working N64 and when I'm feeling nostalgic I plug it in and play Mario Kart.
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Yeah MK64 was a bit imbalanced in that regard because the heavies had slower acceleration and a slower top speed. Light characters were king because they were better than heavy or medium at both.
I didn't find that the advantage of the big characters was really any advantage at all in practice. Aside from that, it came down more to skill and a bit of luck.
Mario Kart 64 is the only game I ever played on the N64. Was a great game and a lot of fun. Back in the day I didn't own a console myself, so I had to play at my friends.
My wife still has a working N64 and when I'm feeling nostalgic I plug it in and play Mario Kart.
Not a bad choice as far as playing only one game on a console goes.
Although you could probably say that about most games with the word "Mario" in the title. :P
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Never played Ronkonkoma N Roll Racing.
Mario Kart 64 was my favorite game on the 64 besides Mission Impossible. I was so good at it my brother, who hated losing to me, hated that I always used Yoshi.
So in his jealous rage of jealousy called me Joshi. :lol
It's stuck whenever we play.
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Never played Ronkonkoma N Roll Racing.
GOOD GOD KING.
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Goddamm spellcheck. Lol
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Also it sounds like a Falco song. :lol
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Wow! These are some really old games! I've never heard about them, well except Mario Kart. Eagerly following. :tup
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Rock N Roll racing was amazingly fun. The fact that you got extra money for buying gear when blowing someone up made things great. My brother was king at this game. He'd launch missiles from all the way across the map and light my ass up. Knew just what angle to fire at to hit his target. And those fucking cluster mines. He had just the perfect timing near the edges of the tracks to where I'd hit them just as they started spreading so the damage was massive. And if that didn't kill me, they'd launch me up off the track anyway to my demise. Great game for sure though.
And Mario Kart 64 was also great. Definitely was Yoshi or Toad when playing. Still favored the original MK for its charming simplicity, but this was a worthy follow up.
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Loved rock n roll racing, that must've been one of my favorite games ever and I don't think I've ever completed the whole thing :lol I remember the one where you had to race this dude in the hovercraft and I just couldn't beat him. Great soundtracks though.
Actually was never that much into the racing part of mario kart 64, but probably the thing most people talk about of this game and what stuck with me the most was the battle mini-games with the three balloons. In particular the map block fort. I think it even made its return in one of the later mariokart games as a retro map because it was so acclaimed, but it just wasn't the same anymore :sadpanda:
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Never played or even heard of rock and roll racing but I'm a huge fan of MK64. Still play it every few months with my brother. I was always toad.
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Loved rock n roll racing, that must've been one of my favorite games ever and I don't think I've ever completed the whole thing :lol I remember the one where you had to race this dude in the hovercraft and I just couldn't beat him. Great soundtracks though.
What I usually do is save up all of my money and hold off upgrading or buying a new car as long as possible so I can get the better vehicles to compete with those guys. I always loved the Battle Trax the most.
Actually was never that much into the racing part of mario kart 64, but probably the thing most people talk about of this game and what stuck with me the most was the battle mini-games with the three balloons. In particular the map block fort. I think it even made its return in one of the later mariokart games as a retro map because it was so acclaimed, but it just wasn't the same anymore :sadpanda:
The battle mode is hella fun, especially the block fort. Only recently I was playing that with 3 players, and it's still as much fun as anything. Definitely my most played map.
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I did not like MK64. I loved F-ZeroX, so it was not a N64 system thing. I loved MK Wii, and MK8 looked awesome but have not played much.
For me, MK64 was too hard to drive properly, and then also see things clearly. The game to me was a mess of graphics, and is an unfortunate victim of the era. Too much nostalgia IMO is tied to MK64 and MK SNES. That being said, there are some awesome tracks in the game.
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k
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Super Metroid
This is tied for #1 on my list :) It's a very special game.
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Some of my all time favourite video games :
Ok, but this isn't your list. If you want to do your own, get yourself added to the thread, and wait your turn like the rest of us. :biggrin:
I did not like MK64. I loved F-ZeroX, so it was not a N64 system thing. I loved MK Wii, and MK8 looked awesome but have not played much.
For me, MK64 was too hard to drive properly, and then also see things clearly. The game to me was a mess of graphics, and is an unfortunate victim of the era. Too much nostalgia IMO is tied to MK64 and MK SNES. That being said, there are some awesome tracks in the game.
I can't say I know what you're talking about. I don't think MK64 could be much easier to drive, and the graphics are very clear and basic. Never heard that complaint before, even from people who are new to the game without any nostalgia attached.
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I did not like MK64. I loved F-ZeroX, so it was not a N64 system thing. I loved MK Wii, and MK8 looked awesome but have not played much.
For me, MK64 was too hard to drive properly, and then also see things clearly. The game to me was a mess of graphics, and is an unfortunate victim of the era. Too much nostalgia IMO is tied to MK64 and MK SNES. That being said, there are some awesome tracks in the game.
I can't say I know what you're talking about. I don't think MK64 could be much easier to drive, and the graphics are very clear and basic. Never heard that complaint before, even from people who are new to the game without any nostalgia attached.
I never found MK64 hard to control at all either - however, the graphics are, IMHO, very much a product of its time. Every single N64 game I go back to look hideous, if you ask me. :biggrin: Really blocky and low-res. However, still a solid game. :tup
Rock N Roll Racing on the other hand... :metal I never played it either until emulator days, but holy shit, did I enjoy the shit of this!
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I did not like MK64. I loved F-ZeroX, so it was not a N64 system thing. I loved MK Wii, and MK8 looked awesome but have not played much.
For me, MK64 was too hard to drive properly, and then also see things clearly. The game to me was a mess of graphics, and is an unfortunate victim of the era. Too much nostalgia IMO is tied to MK64 and MK SNES. That being said, there are some awesome tracks in the game.
I can't say I know what you're talking about. I don't think MK64 could be much easier to drive, and the graphics are very clear and basic. Never heard that complaint before, even from people who are new to the game without any nostalgia attached.
I never found MK64 hard to control at all either - however, the graphics are, IMHO, very much a product of its time. Every single N64 game I go back to look hideous, if you ask me. :biggrin: Really blocky and low-res. However, still a solid game. :tup
I wouldn't say MK64 looks hideous, even though undeniably very dated.
The pre-rendered character sprites are used to good effect and hold up better than the low poly models do (Diddy Kong Racing was released a year later, and those characters look downright atrocious), and although it's blocky as games of the time are regardless of platform, for such an early 3D/64 title, the graphics hold up reasonably. They don't compare with more recent games, but the simple cartoony look works in its favour compared to the games that tried to be more realistic and made the deficits of early 3D more painfully obvious.
For comparison, I think Mario 64 looks really bad, as do the vast majority of PS titles I've seen, but I still like the look of Mario Kart 64. Does it look great? No, but I don't find it offensive on the eyes like a lot of those games look now either.
And I'm glad you and other people are familiar with Rock n Roll Racing! :metal
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Regarding the controls, I think a fair amount is due to the n64 control stick. I recall issues with WaveRace 64. Both MK64 and WR64 were earlier into the console's lifespan. But this is part of the issue with MK's legacy. While other games that were not racing did not suffer as much IMO early on, such as Mario64, Turok, and Pilotwing64, the control was always challenging for me on MK64. The other issue is I feel the karts were purposely made unpredictable. I feel this due to how MK Wii was with karts, compared to the bikes. The karts constantly over steered or under steered in both MK64 and MK Wii. Couple this with the n64 control stick, and earlier in console life, and the result is not so great.
Benefiting from being released almost two years after MK64, FZero X not only had more vehicles on the track, but had high frame rates and arguably better graphics. Further, the tracks have much more peril, and the addition of the third dimension so to speak of flying off the track. Yet it was easier to control.
So what I'm left with on MK64 is a more family friendly theme, and a concession of it being earlier into the console's lifespan. That is about it. FZero X otherwise mops the floor with MK64 on every other front. Kind of like Mario64 vs Zelda 64. Zelda benefited a lot from the pros and cons of Mario64.
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I'm still not understanding that at all. MK64 handles predictably and responsively, especially once you've mastered the sliding with speed boosts. Even having played every one of the later Mario Kart titles on both the main consoles and the portables (with the one exception of the Wii U one), the controls in MK64 are not a step backwards to come back to, and still great.
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You cant go wrong with MK64, even to this day I can still get girls to play that game with me when they come over. It's a classic.
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MK64 is the tits. So many fun nights playing it with my bro and our friend Norm.
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MK64 is an awesome game in the series. I played it a lot. I was always toad.
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I'm still not understanding that at all. MK64 handles predictably and responsively, especially once you've mastered the sliding with speed boosts. Even having played every one of the later Mario Kart titles on both the main consoles and the portables (with the one exception of the Wii U one), the controls in MK64 are not a step backwards to come back to, and still great.
I agree with you completely. There was never an issue of control with mario kart. Once you learn how to do the power slides you're golden and you can pretty much conquer every map.
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MK64 doesn't control poorly, just differently than later titles. Especially when it comes to the power slides. I could never get the hang of those in MK64.
I've played every console MK from MK64 onwards, and MKDS as well, and MK64 is easily my least favorite of them all. It has some awesome track designs, but the only area in which it beats most other MKs is its Battle Mode. Battle Mode in general went to shit in MKWii, and has gotten even worse from there. I really hope the next game is a return to form in this area.
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I was never a huge fan of battle mode. It was fun but I rarely played it.
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I was never a huge fan of battle mode. It was fun but I rarely played it.
Same here. I actually never really played any future MKs after 64, but it would be sweet if they had an online battle mode with like 8 characters on a large map. Is this a thing?
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Nintendo tried to do that, but messed up. Starting with MKWii, Battle Mode is team only, and Balloon Battle is no longer an elimination match. You get a new set of balloons once you lose all of yours. MK8 made it even worse by reappropriating race tracks as battle grounds. So, while it IS online, the game mode itself has been neutered.
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Nintendo tried to do that, but messed up. Starting with MKWii, Battle Mode is team only, and Balloon Battle is no longer an elimination match. You get a new set of balloons once you lose all of yours. MK8 made it even worse by reappropriating race tracks as battle grounds. So, while it IS online, the game mode itself has been neutered.
Sounds lame, could have been like a Twisted Metal type game. In fact, maybe someone should remake that game for new systems and put it online.
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Nintendo tried to do that, but messed up. Starting with MKWii, Battle Mode is team only, and Balloon Battle is no longer an elimination match. You get a new set of balloons once you lose all of yours. MK8 made it even worse by reappropriating race tracks as battle grounds. So, while it IS online, the game mode itself has been neutered.
Sounds lame, could have been like a Twisted Metal type game. In fact, maybe someone should remake that game for new systems and put it online.
You know how long I've been waiting for Twisted Metal to be made online and good. The one for PS3 was alright but the gameplay suffered.
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Nintendo tried to do that, but messed up. Starting with MKWii, Battle Mode is team only, and Balloon Battle is no longer an elimination match. You get a new set of balloons once you lose all of yours. MK8 made it even worse by reappropriating race tracks as battle grounds. So, while it IS online, the game mode itself has been neutered.
Sounds lame, could have been like a Twisted Metal type game. In fact, maybe someone should remake that game for new systems and put it online.
You know how long I've been waiting for Twisted Metal to be made online and good. The one for PS3 was alright but the gameplay suffered.
Didn't even know they made one for the PS3.
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Yeah it came out in 2012.
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17. GTA: Vice City (PC) - 2002
I'd never really gotten into GTA before this time, but when I found out this was set in the 1980's, and included a soundtrack of '80s rock/metal, I was in. Nothing got me pumped like cranking Bark at the Moon on VROCK radio and driving as fast as possible down the highway. The open world was so much fun, with almost endless replay value. If I got bored, I could always use the Hunter helicopter to cause destruction, or try to steal a tank, or choose a nice spot and see how long I could hold off the cops with the minigun, or do some insane bike jumps, or mow down people on the beach using the most ridiculous vehicle possible, or go on a killing spree with a hammer, or rob a corner store. Just like real life! There was one of the final missions where I had to race my getaway driver and beat him, which was damn near impossible. So I just modded the game files so my car was faster. :biggrin: Then I started modding the game in other ways, like making the baggage handler so insanely fast I could ramp jump across the entire map. Or making the tank even more OP. Then there were the cheats. Good times.....
Basically I played the hell out of this game. I only played through the whole game once, and then I'd just roam around finding something fun to do.
I've played the other GTA games, but none of them interested me much at all. Vice City just really hit the mark for me.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/gfs_45139_2_18.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/vice_screen005.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/800full-grand-theft-auto3A-vice-city-screenshot.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/42385-grand-theft-auto-vice-city-windows-screenshot-you-can-fly-helicopters.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/2887_screen01.jpg~original)
16. Goldeneye 64 (N64) - 1997
Another game that needs no introduction, for many gamers at the time, this was the console FPS game. The gameplay was fresh and involved, beyond just shooting your way through a game from start to finish, although it had plenty of that too. There were mission objectives, people to save, gadgets, and missions were often time critical. It did a great job of making you feel like James Bond, between the variety of locations, the weapons, the spy tactics, and the memorable soundtrack of Bond remixes. It also rewarded you for being a good shot, with the location of your shot making a big difference (remember, this was 1997). Also it was just plain fun to cover your enemy in blood spots from shots. :lol
But even once you're done with the missions, there was the multiplayer. You could choose from various characters including classics such as Jaws and Oddjob. I was always Boris, because he was the nerd. :blob:
This game might not seem anything special now, and the controls leave a lot to be desired given the standard dual analog on modern FPS games, but at the time, this game was the shit.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/GoldenEye-XBLA-3.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/goldeneye-64.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/n64-5545-21328133272.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/goldeneye-007-nintendo-64-n64-016.jpg~original)
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Goldeneye is a classic and historic game. Vice city is still probably the best setting of any GTA game. It was amazing at the time, but the advancements of the newer ones make those better IMO.
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Vice City is my absolute favorite GTA incarnation. The others ain't bad but VC is just great at creating that 80s Miami Vice feel. The music, the setting, the atmosphere, everything fits. I'm a child of the 80s and this game brings me back to the 80s.
The story is very good, the side missions are entertaining, the characters (and their voice actors) are great and the radio stations are the icing on the cake. Blasting VRock while being chased by cops and trying to outrun them is just unbelievably cool.
And there is so much you can do, from just crusin', to pickin' up some girls or just goofing around or bringing havoc and destruction or (I could go on and on). Everything is fun.
This is one of my favorite games. And probably the one I spent the most time with. I completed it twice, first with cheats, because I sucked at some missions and then without cheats as I got better, but the most time was being spent just doing shit and stuff.
And ... this isn't a platformer :biggrin:
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Fantastic choices, Blob. I used to love Goldeneye and continue loving it to this day. The music really helped make it an immersive adventure and I loved the variety of the levels and weapons. Multiplayer was fun but I sucked at it.
Vice City was the first GTA I ever bought but it was actually my Christmas present to my brother in 2002 so I never actually owned it until I drunkenly bought the GTA trilogy (III, VC, SA) for $18 on sale in the PS store earlier this week. I still played VC a lot anyway between my bro's copy and at friends' houses. Ray Liotta REALLY brought Tommy to life and the insane jumps were just incredible fun. I wanna beat III before starting this though so I probably have a few months to wait for it.
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I was always terrible at Goldeneye multiplayer. I was terrible at MK64 multiplayer. I sense a theme developing...
Both great games however. I could pick up either today and enjoy the hell out of them. I loved how Goldeneye was able to follow the movie without it bogging down the action, gameplay, and storytelling; and how you didn't just go from point A to point B killing people.
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Great update Blob. Two of my favorite games of all time. Vice city was the perfect gets game for me, sure IV and V are spectacles but I feel vice city captured the look and feel of the 80s so well.
Golden eye is amazing, one of the few games that sits next to my brothers n64 for when I come over.
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I never finished Goldeneye. Loved that game and Mission Impossible.
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I really don't get why so few people love San Andreas compared to the others.
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Vice city is still probably the best setting of any GTA game. It was amazing at the time, but the advancements of the newer ones make those better IMO.
The newer ones are certainly better in any objective sense, and have a lot of great features. Just personal preference that I haven't enjoyed them as much. :)
And ... this isn't a platformer :biggrin:
Don't get used to it. I'm just buttering you all up for the final stretch. :biggrin:
I really don't get why so few people love San Andreas compared to the others.
It seems to be universally the most loved to me, at least until GTA 5 came out. Personally, I felt it was bogged down by minigames like all of the training and the turf wars, so I barely got to do missions, and when I did do missions, I got almost nothing for it. After a week of playing, I didn't feel like I'd advanced in the game at all, and wasn't having fun with any of it. I think they just crammed too much in there. :dunno: Just imo of course.
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I loved Vice City for all the same reasons. :metal Amazing game, I had so much fun with it.
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Didn't play Vice City as much as San Andreas but still, it was fun :metal
I missed Mario Kart discussion, I think Gamecube version is the best one (at least of those I played).
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Fantastic choices, love them both.
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Sorry for the delay. I was busy........ doing nothing. :blob:
15. Lego Lord of the Rings (XBOX 360) - 2012
I'm a fan of the Lego game franchise, because they're fun platformers, with a lot of things to unlock, and you always know what you're getting. They're definitely not the kind of game for people who like their games difficult, they're relaxed casual games where you can have fun without having to try too hard. At worst, the Lego games are routine updates on the same familiar formula, but a few of the Lego games stand above the rest in quality, and Lego Lord of the Rings is in my opinion the best of the bunch.
For those unfamiliar with the Lego games, they're simple 3D platformers, where you use a variety of different characters with different abilities, with some simple puzzle solving and building Lego objects to advance through the game. Most of the Lego games have some kind of hub world to get from level to level, and this is one area where this game excels. The hub world of Middle Earth is huge and epic, covering all of the major areas of the LOTR trilogy, and there's a lot to do and collect inbetween playing the levels. The levels themselves are great too. Like all Lego games, it also has a good sense of humour.
I'm not sure if there are many fans of the Lego games here, but if you enjoy them, this one is worth playing.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/LEGO-The-Lord-of-the-Rings-screenshot-lord-of-the-rings-34663215-1280-1024.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/LEGO-The-Lord-of-the-Rings-screenshot-lord-of-the-rings-34663002-1280-1024.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/lego-lotr-1.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/lotr-blog-screenshot-1.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/636270_full.jpg~original)
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I have that Lego game, bought it on a steam sale like a year ago and only played about an hour, should probably play some more.
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Never played any of the Lego games but they've always intrigued me. I'm going to see if Lord Of The Rings pops up on the upcoming steam sale.
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Sorry again for the lack of updates.
14. WWF No Mercy (N64) - 2000
The first wrestling game I played was WWF Warzone for the N64, which we hired regularly. Then we got the sequel WWF Attitude as soon as it came out. Both games were very good at the time.
Then Acclaim's license for making the WWF games expired, and THQ got the license, and started releasing games using the engine they had previously used for the WCW wrestling games. The first of these was Wrestlemania 2000. We hired the game and at first I hated the game due to its bad graphics and sound (even for the era they were not good), but the more I played it, the more I realized how great the gameplay was. Then when the sequel WWF No Mercy came out, we got that right away. WWF No Mercy was not only the best wrestling game of the generation, but is often ranked as one of the top N64 games, and is still widely considered one of the best wrestling games ever, and the benchmark for all future titles, with great features that the modern games still haven't included. New games have added a lot more features this game didn't have, but in many ways feel too pre-planned and scripted rather than flowing naturally like No Mercy does.
This game came at the peak of a boom period of wrestling in the late '90s / early 2000s, and captured the vibe of the era perfectly. It had a huge roster of characters (over 70), a ton of gameplay modes and options, and an excellent career mode. I also learned everything I know about wrestling move names from the create a wrestler in this game. :lol You could even edit the characters in the game as you could a custom player, so you could keep the characters up to date with their outfits and moves.
This is one of those games that has so many possibilities that you didn't get bored of it. You could create many different kinds of matches by mixing and matching the match rules, and there was always something new to find you could do. Many good times were had having 2 vs 1 handicap matches against The Rock, and finding creative new ways to beat him up. :biggrin:
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/WWF20No20Mercy_Jul2207_00_09.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/nomercy-2.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/nomercy-10.png~original)
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YES!!!!!
I love this game and still from time to time do the 40 man royal rumbles when I get 3 friends to come over.
Easily the best wrestling game I have ever played.
And with all of those customizations, if you had a game genie, you could mod the game to do even more such as a ladder match inside a cage :metal
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YES!!!!!
I love this game and still from time to time do the 40 man royal rumbles when I get 3 friends to come over.
Easily the best wrestling game I have ever played.
And with all of those customizations, if you had a game genie, you could mod the game to do even more such as a ladder match inside a cage :metal
Whoa. How well does that actually work? That sounds amazing! :lol We never had a game genie, but I could probably do it inside an emulator to try that out.
The odd thing about the Royal Rumbles was that it went in multiples of 4, so you couldn't actually do a 30 man Rumble. I liked how in matches with multiple people, like 4 man elimination matches or matches with a manager, you could still screw around and interfere with the match, like pulling people's feet to trip them, or tossing a weapon at them from outside. It was cheatastic!
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It actually worked VERY well which was surprising. I would find the binary code online and type it into the game genie and you could push a button on the game genie and it would drop a ladder into any type of match (or you could set it for any weapon in the game). I wish I still had that game genie, I still have this game and N64 though. I used to mod a ton of things as well, like change the colors in the arenas so I could create my own pay per view event essentially.
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Damn, you were a total haxor (not to be confused with Haxor Jim Duggan). :neverusethis:
I would have loved to mess around with that kind of stuff as a kid.
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I also remember there were online forums where people would post the "how to" or skins for the create a wrestler so you could create the newer or older ones, essentially as you hinted, giving you the ability to have a very varied roster. Now it would be a lot easier to just download them, but back then the combo of CAW and the internet lead to a lot of creativity.
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Because THQ formerly made WCW games and also made Japanese wrestling games, No Mercy had all of that content still included so you could create the non-WWF wrestlers, including all of their moves, taunts, entrances, faces, costumes etc.
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Because THQ formerly made WCW games and also made Japanese wrestling games, No Mercy had all of that content still included so you could create the non-WWF wrestlers, including all of their moves, taunts, entrances, faces, costumes etc.
Yup, and I loved all those old WCW games too, No Mercy was just the pinnacle of that series of games. I don't understand why they don't make a new wrestling game with the same style of gameplay. I can't play any of the newer games that I've tried, they have never felt the same or played the same as those from THQ on the N64.
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Because THQ formerly made WCW games and also made Japanese wrestling games, No Mercy had all of that content still included so you could create the non-WWF wrestlers, including all of their moves, taunts, entrances, faces, costumes etc.
Yup, and I loved all those old WCW games too, No Mercy was just the pinnacle of that series of games. I don't understand why they don't make a new wrestling game with the same style of gameplay. I can't play any of the newer games that I've tried, they have never felt the same or played the same as those from THQ on the N64.
I wasn't a WCW fan, but all of those earlier THQ games were great too. We hired World Tour and Revenge several times. You could see such a steady progression from one game to the next, adding new features, and shuffling around the buttons a little bit to accommodate all of it. They were pushing the N64 cart space to the limit, which is why the music and video was all such shocking quality. It was still impressive how much they crammed in though. The Gamecube games were also very good and shared more in common with the N64 games than the Smackdown series. Day of Reckoning is an underrated gem, but that era didn't have the roster of the Attitude era.
The new games don't progress much from year to year at this point, despite having a lot of areas for improvement. The wrestlers don't sell the injuries and stay down like they did in the N64 games, so often you don't even have the time for a cool setup with tables and ladders etc. No Mercy really gave you that feeling of a hard fought match when your character would hold his leg and move slowly, and every time you got knocked down, he'd lie there twitching for half a minute before slowly crawling his way back up (for the obligatory low blow attempt). I liked that you could stay down and play possum if you didn't touch a button, or knock someone out cold to give yourself time to set up an awesome move.
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I can't believe I forgot about this game. I would play it with my buddy after school almost every day for a summer.
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I have only seen or heard the word "hired" used in conjunction with employees or hookers, never video games.
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I have only seen or heard the word "hired" used in conjunction with employees or hookers, never video games.
ie. rented.
But I'm ok with the hooker connection. :lol
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I have only seen or heard the word "hired" used in conjunction with employees or hookers, never video games.
ie. rented.
But I'm ok with the hooker connection. :lol
So when you return the game, are you firing it?
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I was noticing when going back to look at how long these lists took to unfold that most took more than six weeks and would often have numerous spots with only one update per week. Some people got theirs done in a month or not much longer but not many. I think it shows pretty clearly that most of us have lives busy enough to make it difficult to keep our lists updated with a frequency to match the interest level of this thread's followers.
Potential solution?
Before each new list starts, the list maker can simply submit their entire list to me via PM that way I can just make updates every 2-3 days with 2 games in each update (the easiest way to do this would be for the member to already have their updates formed as they'd like them to appear with any formatting or IMG tags or links to external pages done in a way that I can merely just copy/paste their post into this thread.) I'll also put a header at the top of each update with the list maker's name and the name of the list so we'll always know who it is since this solution would involve me being the one making the update posts.
Would this work for y'all starting on the next list?
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Sorry b_f. I'll try to speed it up, it's easy to lose track of time when you have no schedule to live by. :blush
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13. Carmageddon 2 (PC) - 1998
Technically Carmageddon is a racing game, although I could probably count on one hand the number of "races" I won by actually driving the course. The more satisfying way to win a race was to destroy all of your opponents. The car damage in this game was amazing, with not only the typical dents and losing panels, but your entire car's chassis could get bent and twisted to the point that the car wouldn't even drive straight, if it even drove at all. Your car could even get cut clean in half from a light pole or barricade, and have you driving half a car around. The game had damage for the individual parts of your car including the engine, wheels, suspension etc, which you could repair in game, but it would cost you money. This all made fighting your opponents a lot of fun, and there was a lot of creativity and freedom to how you went about playing it.
The vehicles themselves were brutal and ridiculous, designed for carnage. The vehicles included everything from Volkswagens with tank treads to combine harvesters and dump trucks, most of which had giant hooks or spikes on the front to impale your opponents. But it wasn't just the cars being pummeled, oh no. There were pedestrians, dogs, cows, deer, sheep etc, which could all be slaughtered hilariously to gain some points and race time. There were also cool powerups, like shooting springs from your car, pinball mode, moon gravity, and a giant wrecking ball attached to your car.
When I first got this game, my friend and I stayed up for two days straight playing it. Then we got the sequel TDR 2000, and were hugely disappointed with how awful and watered down it was. They more recently released Carmageddon Reincarnation, which looks pretty good, but I've yet to try that one out.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Carma2Screen1.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/carma22b.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/6064-carmageddon-2-carpocalypse-now-windows-screenshot-if-you-tire.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/carma2_hw-2013-11-25-02-06-21-500.jpg~original)
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Blob, you and I should make a Carmaggedon reboot. Surely we'll make millions
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Blob, you and I should make a Carmaggedon reboot. Surely we'll make millions
You mean like this? :lol
https://store.steampowered.com/app/249380/
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Yea but our game will be good
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Blob, my brother and I lost many hours of sleep playing No Mercy. We kept my wife up all night screaming and pounding our chests at each other talking smack playing the game.
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Sorry b_f. I'll try to speed it up, it's easy to lose track of time when you have no schedule to live by. :blush
Oh dude, this definitely wasn't specifically about you so much as it was about the majority of the last ten members. Even though you've lagged here and there, I don't recall you going more than a week between updates as has been the case in some other lists. This thread's for shits and snickers so I don't feel like crappin it up with annoying pressure toward the list makers.
That's why I was offering to make it not feel like a persistent chore and I was gonna just start doing that after your list since it'd be odd to change the format in the middle of someone's list. Also, I don't wanna change the format unless y'all are cool with it changing so let me know one way or the other.
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Josh likes his video game talk like sex, fast and onto the next round.
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Nah. I like it like I like my Sonic. Woefully sparse and thoroughly awful since 2006.
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I played one of the early Carmageddon games back in its day, but I don't think it was this one.
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Nah. I like it like I like my Sonic. Woefully sparse and thoroughly awful since 2006.
:lol
I like sex like I like my Duke Nukem Forever. A disappointing experience that's decades later than it reasonably should have been. :zydar:
I played one of the early Carmageddon games back in its day, but I don't think it was this one.
The first game was similar, but without most of these powerups, and all of the pedestrians were just sprites. That one was a DOS game without modern hardware 3D support.
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Nah. I like it like I like my Sonic. Woefully sparse and thoroughly awful since 2006.
:lol
I like sex like I like my Duke Nukem Forever. A disappointing experience that's decades later than it reasonably should have been. :zydar:
:lol I like my sex life like I like the Assassin's Creed series. A yearly experience that more often than not feels the same and not at all exciting. :sadpanda:
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12. Banjo Kazooie (N64) - 1998
I've never been as much a fan of 3D platformers as I am of 2D platformers, but I still enjoyed all of the N64 collectathons quite a bit at the time. Rareware made a series of 3D platformers for the 64, starting with Banjo Kazooie, then Donkey Kong 64, Banjo Tooie, and finally Conker's Bad Fur Day. Having played them all fairly recently, Banjo Kazooie is the one that still holds up best for me.
Banjo Kazooie is based on the concept of a bear, named Banjo, with a bird named Kazooie in his backpack. This duo allows for a lot of clever moves which you learn thoroughout the game. You collect music notes and jiggies (jigsaw pieces) in each world to unlock more areas. The music by Grant Kirkhope is excellent. It's catchy and quirky, and is environmental, adapting depending on which area of the world you're in. Like most games on the N64, there's no voice acting, with characters communicating with random noises instead, which became a signature of the franchise.
While it still suffers some of the inherent flaws of the 3D platformer, such as occasionally dud camera control and difficulty judging platforms, this is my favourite of the 3D platformers. I'm also quite excited for the upcoming 3D platformer being made by several ex-Rare members, Yooka-Laylee by Playtonic Games, which is very much a spiritual successor to the Banjo Kazooie style, and appears to retain all of the charm. If you're a Banjo Kazooie fan and somehow haven't heard of it, check it out.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/39591-Banjo-Kazooie_USA_Rev_A-4.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/large_1.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/ss-banjo-kazooie-xbla-020.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/BKLevel.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_41748_2_6.jpg~original)
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Really fun game to play as a kid. :tup
I still have it as well
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We still have ours too. I only have Banjo Tooie emulated though, because the price for a copy of that game is insane.
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I loved this game. And those Jinjos were hard to get as a kid.
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I loved this game. And those Jinjos were hard to get as a kid.
Some of those Jinjos were just asking for it. If you want to sit in shark infested waters instead of walking 10ft to the safety of shore, you kind of deserve to die. :lol
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Now I want to play it.
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Then my job here is done.
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This is one of my favourites aswell and I agree, it holds up better than the others for me too. I dusted off my N64 last year to replay a lot of stuff and this was one of only two games I ended up finishing (the other being Mystical Ninja starring Goemon, which you probably know?). I tried getting into Tooie, DK64, and Mario 64, but I wasn't interested at the time.
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This is one of my favourites aswell and I agree, it holds up better than the others for me too. I dusted off my N64 last year to replay a lot of stuff and this was one of only two games I ended up finishing (the other being Mystical Ninja starring Goemon, which you probably know?). I tried getting into Tooie, DK64, and Mario 64, but I wasn't interested at the time.
Nope, I haven't heard of that one.
I've finished all of the other platformers you've mentioned, but playing them again recently, they didn't hold my interest as much as Banjo Kazooie. Banjo Tooie was good, but the inability to finish a whole level in one go and all of the back and forth to collect stuff put me off from finishing it again. Mario 64 was a great prototype for the later games, but the controls don't hold up well imo. Donkey Kong 64 felt a bit overdone with the shooting and ammo and all of that, and took away from the platforming.
11. Super Smash Bros (N64) - 1999
Yet another N64 game for my list. Nintendo sure know how to make a good party game, and this is another one I have great memories of playing with other people. A fighting game with Nintendo characters. What could go wrong? Again, Luigi was my guy. Later games added more levels, more items, more characters, and more modes, but I've always preferred the simplicity of the first game.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/40266-Super_Smash_Bros._USA-7.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/ssb-match-11.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_28035_2_43.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/full.jpg~original)
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Nope, I haven't heard of that one.
I've finished all of the other platformers you've mentioned, but playing them again recently, they didn't hold my interest as much as Banjo Kazooie. Banjo Tooie was good, but the inability to finish a whole level in one go and all of the back and forth to collect stuff put me off from finishing it again. Mario 64 was a great prototype for the later games, but the controls don't hold up well imo. Donkey Kong 64 felt a bit overdone with the shooting and ammo and all of that, and took away from the platforming.
Pretty much how I felt about them at the time aswell. On the other hand I powered through both Kazooie and Mystical Ninja and thouroughly enjoyed replaying both. I recommend the latter to you aswell if you're ever looking for something new (but old :P), it's something that would appeal to you I think.
I played the hell out of the original Smash Bros. and Melee, but haven't played anything beyond that. I played Melee more because it was the only one I owned myself, but despite some improvements and new game modes, I have always preferred the first one. Kirby was my go-to in Smash Bros. 64.
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Great game!
So you could unlock Goku as a playable character if you beat classic with Samus only using projectiles and not losing a single life on very hard, right? :lol I was so naive back then, totally bought that.
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Nope, I haven't heard of that one.
I've finished all of the other platformers you've mentioned, but playing them again recently, they didn't hold my interest as much as Banjo Kazooie. Banjo Tooie was good, but the inability to finish a whole level in one go and all of the back and forth to collect stuff put me off from finishing it again. Mario 64 was a great prototype for the later games, but the controls don't hold up well imo. Donkey Kong 64 felt a bit overdone with the shooting and ammo and all of that, and took away from the platforming.
Pretty much how I felt about them at the time aswell. On the other hand I powered through both Kazooie and Mystical Ninja and thouroughly enjoyed replaying both. I recommend the latter to you aswell if you're ever looking for something new (but old :P), it's something that would appeal to you I think.
I played the hell out of the original Smash Bros. and Melee, but haven't played anything beyond that. I played Melee more because it was the only one I owned myself, but despite some improvements and new game modes, I have always preferred the first one. Kirby was my go-to in Smash Bros. 64.
I'm all about new old, so I'll give Mystical Ninja a look. Turns out I even already have it on my PC. I forgot I have every single N64 game on here. :lol
Melee is the only other Smash game I played anywhere near as much as the original, and while I still like it a lot, I found it a bit fast paced, and it had too many level obstacles and items. Seemed like it took away some of the skill in favour of luck and button bashing. Still played the hell out of it though.
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This is probably video game blasphemy but for some reason, and I even own this game, I could never get into it. It was always a hit with the friends growing up, but I just never really enjoyed it for some reason. That's just me being weird I guess, it was such a popular game growing up.
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I love super smash blob. It's one of my favorite games, my brother play Mario kart 64 or super smash whenever we dust off the n64
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After this entry, I'm going to do things a bit different for the rest, and group games from the same franchise together, otherwise it will get a bit repetitive, both for my list, and for any discussion. It will also mean I'll finish the list faster. With that said, prepare your anus for platformers.
10. Rayman Legends (XBOX 360) - 2013
I hadn't liked any previous Rayman games, but I took a gamble and bought both Rayman Origins and Raymen Legends together. I decided to play Origins first, since it was released first, and by the end of the first world, I gave up due to the unresponsive dough controls and the annoying enemies that even after death fucked you in the ass metaphorically and possibly even literally.
Let down by that experience, I decided I should probably check out Rayman Legends instead, even though I expected it would be mostly the same. Then the heavens opened up, and a bright light shone down, and I wept tears of joy as I played one of the best 2D platformers of all time.
Every single gripe I had about Rayman Origins was gone (except for the inclusion of the Rayman Origins levels as bonus levels needed to collect all of the teensies). The controls are excellent, and the level design is the best of any game I've played, with everything being well thought out and perfectly paced. The game is insanely difficult at times, but not frustrating or punishing. Mastering each section of a level is a fun challenge that requires split second timing and skill, and is very rewarding to complete.
The game also has a music level in each world, where the music is used as a cue for the precision timing needed to complete the level. They use their own covers of existing songs, including Eye of the Tiger. :metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtAXSpBM8XI
In time I think I'll rank this even higher, but having finished it only once, I don't want to be too quick to rank it over other games I've been playing for longer.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/RaymanLegends1-Screen-Shot-21614-12.54-PM.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/RL_20000_Lums_Under_The_Sea_0514_6pmCET.1368541196.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/newUploads_2012_0815_9cd9cfd029ea182979eb50b5c59df4c3_RaymanLegends_Screenshot_LavaChase_GC.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/1_1.bmp.jpeg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/1374218631.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/screen-shot-2013-10-14-at-10-57-33-pm.png~original)
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Apparently this is on Steam, so I might give it a go one day. I've never played any of the Rayman games.
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Apparently this is on Steam, so I might give it a go one day. I've never played any of the Rayman games.
I'd actually recommend ignoring all other Rayman games and just playing this one. If you're at all a fan of platformers, I'd highly recommend it. If you're on PC, a gamepad would be a must. I couldn't imagine trying to play this on a keyboard.
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I do have a cheap and somewhat shitty gamepad just for situations like this.
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Most gamepads are the same basic layout these days anyway. Just make sure it has a comfortable analog stick, or else your fingers will die on the more difficult levels. :lol
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I've never played any of the Rayman games and they never really appealed to me but good write up blob :tup
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Apparently this is on Steam, so I might give it a go one day. I've never played any of the Rayman games.
I'd actually recommend ignoring all other Rayman games and just playing this one. If you're at all a fan of platformers, I'd highly recommend it.
:(
The first Rayman occupied the number one spot on my own list, but I've never played any of the recent games. I've been meaning to pick up Legends in particular ever since it came out, but never got around to doing so. Thanks for giving me an excuse. :tup
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I only really played the first Rayman. It was hard for me at the time, never was good at timing my jumps.
Legends looks pretty fun though. Might give it a go someday.
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I really like Rayman Origins but I will admit the Legends improves on it in basically every way, it was hard to go back and play Origins after playing Legends for a while, the controls are really improved.
I also really like the original Rayman, and have fond memories of Rayman 3 as well.
screw that raving rabbids garbage tho lol
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Apparently this is on Steam, so I might give it a go one day. I've never played any of the Rayman games.
I'd actually recommend ignoring all other Rayman games and just playing this one. If you're at all a fan of platformers, I'd highly recommend it.
:(
The first Rayman occupied the number one spot on my own list, but I've never played any of the recent games. I've been meaning to pick up Legends in particular ever since it came out, but never got around to doing so. Thanks for giving me an excuse. :tup
If you love the first game, you must play Legends!
And giving people an excuse to procrastinate is kind of my job description. :blob:
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9. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - 1994
6. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) - 1995
I've loved this franchise for as long as I've had a SNES. These games came later in the SNES's life, so they pushed the console to the limit with their beautiful graphics, and high quality music.
The gameplay of the first game was relatively simple, with mostly shorter levels that went from left to right, but had a lot of interesting gimmick levels and ideas. The sequel, Diddy's Kong Quest, improved upon the first game in almost every way, with much larger levels with more areas to explore, and more collectables needed to unlock all of the levels and 100% finish the game. This time, Donkey Kong got swapped out for Dixie Kong, who could hover using her hair (much like Knuckles), and the game added the ability for the characters to team up to reach otherwise unreachable areas. The graphics were even better than the original, easily among the best of the 16 bit era. It also added a lot of new level gimmicks, and more animals you could ride or turn into that varied the gameplay.
There was also a Donkey Kong Country 3, which was nowhere near as good. By this point, the N64 had just been released, so the game felt phoned in. The soundtrack wasn't composed by David Wise as the first two were, and the graphics and gameplay were bland and forgettable. It also didn't feature either Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong, instead starring Dixie Kong and some other Kong that to this day I can never recall the name of, but basically looks like Donkey Kong's inbred cousin.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/3.png~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/600full-donkey-kong-country-screenshot.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/27646-donkey-kong-country-2-diddy-s-kong-quest-snes-screenshot-underwater.jpg~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/33505-Donkey_Kong_Country_USA-9.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/58115_DKC2_screen5.jpg~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/donkey_kong_country_2__diddys_kong_quest.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/full%201.jpg~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/large_5.jpg~original)
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Oh man! I love donkey kong country. I never had it but my buddy did so I would come over and play it all the time. Now I need to hunt down a rom of it.
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Two of the best games of all time, no doubt.
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I actually had DKC's first level's music in my head before I opened this thread. Fantastic games and DKC3 is a fine game imo. I think they dropped the ball with Kiddy Kong but otherwise I think it just gets shat on cuz nobody played it or gave it a fair chance cuz we were all strokin our N64 boners.
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I actually had DKC's first level's music in my head before I opened this thread. Fantastic games and DKC3 is a fine game imo. I think they dropped the ball with Kiddy Kong but otherwise I think it just gets shat on cuz nobody played it or gave it a fair chance cuz we were all strokin our N64 boners.
DKC3 ain't bad at all, but to me it just lacks the charm/creativity/vibe of the first two. I didn't play it when it came out, but I played it along with the rest emulated, and finished the game 100%, so I'd like to think I gave it a fair chance. It was fine enough to play through and finish off once, but not much about it stood out imo.
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9. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - 1994
6. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) - 1995
Numbers 9 and 6? ???
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9. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - 1994
6. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) - 1995
Numbers 9 and 6? ???
I'm grouping/revealing my top 10 by franchise, to avoid repetition and to save time. The order will be by which is ranked highest in the franchise, but I'm still keeping the individual top 10 ranks intact for each game. Sorry for any confusion doing it this way. :lol
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I know that DKC2 is a huge upgrade from DKC in just about every day but dangit, I can't take off my nostalgia glasses - the first one I played to death when it came out and I never played DKC2 until much later. Thus, I have much more of an emotional attachment to the first one.
But that cart rider stage... :| I swear to God, even to this day I'm bad at it. There's so little time to react to obstacles!
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I know that DKC2 is a huge upgrade from DKC in just about every day but dangit, I can't take off my nostalgia glasses - the first one I played to death when it came out and I never played DKC2 until much later. Thus, I have much more of an emotional attachment to the first one.
But that cart rider stage... :| I swear to God, even to this day I'm bad at it. There's so little time to react to obstacles!
My top 10 is basically all nostalgia, so I get it. :lol I have nostalgia for both of the first two games, but I get such nostalgia feels thinking about playing the first game 20 years ago on our old crappy TV that made everything slightly fuzzy and green.
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8. Super Mario Bros (NES) - 1985
5. Super Mario World (SNES) - 1990
If I need to explain Mario to you, you must have accidentally stumbled into the wrong thread. The original Super Mario Bros came out in the same year I did, which is clearly some kind of sign or something.
It helped pioneer an entire genre, and is one of the most influential video games of all time. And nostalgia aside, the gameplay still holds up even today. But getting back to the nostalgia, this was one of the earlier games I played, although we didn't own the game or a NES at the time. Luckily, this game has been rereleased on almost every Nintendo console since in some form, and started a whole franchise of great platformers, both 2D and 3D.
My favourite of these games is Super Mario World, the first Mario game released for the SNES, which we bought some time in the mid '90s. It had all of the usual Mario trademarks, along with the introduction of being able to ride Yoshi, which added new moves, and he could also be gloriously sacrificed to save yourself. :lol As usual, Koji Kondo nailed it with the catchy soundtrack. One of my favourite features was having alternate endings to many levels, which unlocked new routes and areas such as the hidden Star World. This added more replay value, trying to find the second ending, which wasn't always as clear cut as just finding a hidden path. Exploration is one of my favourite features of platformers, which is probably why this is my favourite 2D Mario game, and it built upon the great improvements in general that had been made in SMB3.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/218707-super-mario-world-snes-screenshot-fire-mario-is-back.png~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/223568-super-mario-bros-nes-screenshot-every-fourth-level-is-in-a.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/218714-super-mario-world-snes-screenshot-flying-with-a-cape.png~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/223579-super-mario-bros-nes-screenshot-swimming-with-cheep-cheeps.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/218717-super-mario-world-snes-screenshot-donut-ghost-house.png~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/NES_Super_Mario_Bros.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/218719-super-mario-world-snes-screenshot-between-a-rock-and-a-molten.png~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Super_Mario_Bros._-_NES_-_Underground.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/gfs_4596_2_8.jpg~original) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Super_Mario_Bros._NES_ScreenShot1.jpg~original)
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:2metal: - one for each.
It had all of the usual Mario trademarks, along with the introduction of being able to ride Yoshi, which added new moves, and he could also be gloriously sacrificed to save yourself.
(https://i.imgur.com/VAfLNHd.gif)
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:lol
I considered something for that one, but forgot. Thank you.
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:rollin
can't go wrong with SMB although Im surprised 3 isnt on the list. I know you said you weren't crazy about SMB64 in the past, but SMB3 was so much better than the original IMO.
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Someone went through the trouble of making that gif yet doesn't even know that you never have to sacrifice Yoshi merely for a water hazard.
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the heck is a maro
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Someone went through the trouble of making that gif yet doesn't even know that you never have to sacrifice Yoshi merely for a water hazard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x4o1gAzTc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9x4o1gAzTc)
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Cute, but my point stands.
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Mad, mad love for both games Blob.
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I've never been a huge gamer, but you've chosen some of the few games I actually loved playing -The Super Mario games, Donkey Kong Country (probably my 3rd favorite game of all-time), and the pleasantly-surprised-to-see Lego LOTR. Obviously, I'm a geek for anything Tolkien. Great list so far.
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I've never been a huge gamer, but you've chosen some of the few games I actually loved playing -The Super Mario games, Donkey Kong Country (probably my 3rd favorite game of all-time), and the pleasantly-surprised-to-see Lego LOTR. Obviously, I'm a geek for anything Tolkien. Great list so far.
https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/14/12187296/nintendo-nes-classic-edition-announced-price-games
You need this then
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I've never been a huge gamer, but you've chosen some of the few games I actually loved playing -The Super Mario games, Donkey Kong Country (probably my 3rd favorite game of all-time), and the pleasantly-surprised-to-see Lego LOTR. Obviously, I'm a geek for anything Tolkien. Great list so far.
https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/14/12187296/nintendo-nes-classic-edition-announced-price-games
You need this then
Woah! That's looks awesome. Bubble Bobble!! :metal
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My gf sent me a link to it today. She wants to pick it up and I fully support that decision.
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As do I. Good job choosing the right girl, too. :biggrin:
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Thanks! She can be a pain sometime but she is pretty awesome.
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Take some advice from a regretful man. Love her for her imperfections and she'll always be true.
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Some wise words for when things get hard.
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Someone went through the trouble of making that gif yet doesn't even know that you never have to sacrifice Yoshi merely for a water hazard.
True. Without the water, it's the exact setup used to get to the alternate ending of Cheese Bridge though. I always loved that. :lol
:rollin
can't go wrong with SMB although Im surprised 3 isnt on the list. I know you said you weren't crazy about SMB64 in the past, but SMB3 was so much better than the original IMO.
SMB3 is an excellent game, and objectively much better than the original. I've finished the game and played it as much as the other NES games back in the day. Why I don't rank it as highly, I honestly don't know. If my list was a top 30, I likely would have included it, but for whatever reason, it just hasn't stuck with me quite as much as the other Mario games on my list. I have nothing bad to say about it though.
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Woo Mario World! I feel SMB is well in the dust, and it is just more a pivotal game. SMW was just so tight with everything.
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Someone went through the trouble of making that gif yet doesn't even know that you never have to sacrifice Yoshi merely for a water hazard.
That's because Mario is ditching Yoshi in this gif for a higher score, not to make the gap.
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Ditching your bro and it's not even for survival, just for points. That's cold.
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Some wise words for when things get hard.
I'm going to leave that comment alone...
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Someone went through the trouble of making that gif yet doesn't even know that you never have to sacrifice Yoshi merely for a water hazard.
That's because Mario is ditching Yoshi in this gif for a higher score, not to make the gap.
I've been skillful enough to ditch Yoshi for 40 points at the goal and have Mario land back on him. Haven't been lucky enough to get a 50 that way though.
As for the games, though, I adore SMB1 and have played SMW more than any other game since it was the only console game we owned aside from 2600/7800 games for nearly the first two years we owned the SNES. I like SMW a lot as it represented the first time my brother and I felt like we had something to make us not feel so poor compared to the other kids since we got it just five or six months after launch. My huge gripe with it, however, is that the graphics and music have never felt like a true Mario game to me and there were a lot of other minor differences from SMB1 and 3 that compounded this problem for me such as the Goombas looking different and having different play mechanics. Shoulda just used that "Regular jump to knock 'em upside down, spin jump to kill 'em" behavior on a new enemy and kept the Goombas as is.
This game also represented the end of castles being dark, ominous, and accompanied by scary music. Instead, we got bright grey scenery and a quasi classical track. Sucks too because the music is phenomenally written and flat out beautiful but just doesn't properly help create the scary vibe that made the castles in SMB1/3 so iconic.
Overall, I still love the game but it'll likely always be bittersweet for me since, for me, such a huge part of games like this is how well the graphics and music create a majestic, immersive atmosphere and had it been able to match its predecessors in that regard it might have been my favorite game ever.
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I think the haunted houses filled the place of the really dark and scary role, with the castles being more majestic and epic. I always loved the buildup of the castle music. I think they had a good variety of moods in the game, even within the castle levels, so I don't feel there's an issue there.
(https://www.mariowiki.com/images/6/69/SMW_WendyCastle.PNG)
But as always, I highly value having your opinion on all of these games, because I know this is your era too. :tup And we still love a lot of the same games, just some more than others.
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Word. The love is mutual brah.
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Donkey Kong Country was absolutely incredible.
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Totally agree about DKC2 especially, it is a rare instance of a direct sequel being so good that it essentially makes the original obsolete IMO. Although I didn't think 3 was that bad either, however you're right on about chunky kong or whatever his name was looking like a genetic anomaly.
Really enjoying this list, I grew up playing NES-SNES-N64 so this stuff is my jam.
-J
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Donkey Kong Country was absolutely incredible.
I was thinking about getting an emulator for my laptop just to play that game.
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4. Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive / Genesis) - 1991
3. Sonic 3&K (Mega Drive / Genesis) - 1994
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive / Genesis) - 1992
Having now covered my favourite classic platformers that Nintendo had to offer, now onto Sega's best. Sonic has turned to shit in the past couple of decades, but in the 16 bit era, Sonic continued to get better and better.
Sonic 1 was a great start for the franchise, with its complex physics based movement, and high speed platforming.
Sonic 2 is my personal favourite. Part of this is nostalgia, as this was the first of the 16 bit Sonic games we owned, and I played it to death. It improved upon the formula with the addition of the spin dash, which was utilized in a lot of creative ways. Like Sonic 1, it also had a killer soundtrack by Masato Nakamura, one of my very favourite game soundtracks of all time. I taught myself to write music largely by transcribing this entire soundtrack, so it's been a big influence on me.
Sonic 3 was a game so ambitious that it ultimately got released in two parts with the funky lock-on feature to combine the Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles cartridges into one long game, so I only consider it as one game rather than two (you could also plug Sonic 2 into the cartridge to play Sonic 2 as Knuckles, which was way cooler than DLC). A feat of both hardware and software, it was arguably the high point of the franchise. The game introduced Knuckles, who could glide and climb walls. It also added a ton of new gameplay features, and brief cutscenes to bridge together the different zones and tell the story.
It's not my personal favourite though, as it has a few weaknesses imo. The soundtrack was not composed by Nakamura, but instead by various people (including apparently Michael Jackson, but that's a whole discussion of its own), and isn't quite as strong overall. It's still one of the best soundtracks on the console though. I also feel the level design is not quite as creative at times, with some punishing and lazy spring/spike placement. That said, I still think it's an amazing game, but for those reasons, I still prefer Sonic 2 overall.
ALL HAIL SONIC TEAM.
I'm too lazy to dig through that many screenshots, but you should all know what a Sonic is.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/26848-sonic-the-hedgehog-genesis-screenshot-sonic-s-pretty-fast-for.gif~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/GENESIS--Sonic%20The%20Hedgehog%202%20Beta%204_Jun8%2016_01_50.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/flyingbattery11.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/39121-Sonic_amp_Knuckles_World-4.png~original)
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Is there no entry #7, or did I miss something? ???
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Is there no entry #7, or did I miss something? ???
Again that's due to my unorthodox listing method for my top 10. Sorry. :lol But I'm glad you're keeping track in case it was a mess-up.
#7 and #1 are from the same franchise, so those will be together in the final update.
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I'm not sure if #1 and #7 are going to be some sort of surprise, or if I've forgotten something obvious that hasn't been listed yet and will end up going :facepalm:. Probably the latter.
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Did he do the Zelda games yet..if he even likes those. Judging by the rest of his taste, I'd say it's a strong possibility.
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Sonic 2 baby!!
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Sonic is fucking amazing. No other way to put it. My earliest memories of it are thinking "Fuck Sega. They talk shit about Nintendo with that stupid 'Genesis does what Nintendon't' horseshit and their mascot looks third rate."
Then my brother bought a Genesis in 1993 and we couldn't get enough of it. The music is so serene, yet energetic at varying times and even simultaneously sometimes. The levels are huge in cases like Chemical Plant Zone, Hill Top Zone, and Metropolis Zone, and there really is an awesome array of platforming elements to figure out between all the springs, levers, collapsing platforms, etc.
I wholeheartedly agree with your ranking, Blob. 2 is just perfection in all facets and 1, despite being a killer debut, just doesn't have nearly the depth of 3. Though I didn't like 3 nearly as much as 2 back when I bought it with the Genesis model 3 back in 1999, its replay value and superior array of powerups really narrow the gap. Hydrocity is flat out awesomely designed too. I need to get back into these at some point cuz I've literally only beaten the base version of 3 and have lost a small country's population in lives in the final showdown with Eggman in 2.
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I'm a huge fan of the Sonic games, I think you and I have had a discussion about this. I love playing them. I currently picked them up on steam and the emulation is great plus the great steam controller support.
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Is there no entry #7, or did I miss something? ???
Again that's due to my unorthodox listing method for my top 10. Sorry. :lol But I'm glad you're keeping track in case it was a mess-up.
#7 and #1 are from the same franchise, so those will be together in the final update.
This is why I work in audit. :lol
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7. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GC) - 2006
As Prog Snob correctly guessed, Zelda fills the final two spots on my list. I've tried every Zelda game at some point, but I've only really loved a couple of them. Maybe it's because I never played the originals back in the day, or maybe I just found it hard to go back to earlier games after starting with the 3D ones, but the 2D Zelda games haven't appealed to me as much. I've still enjoyed them, but I don't find the top down approach as engaging.
Twilight Princess comes in as my second favourite Zelda game. I've only played the Gamecube version, which costs a buttload to get here. I managed to get it for a relatively decent price, but thank God I ended up liking it. :lol
Twilight Princess one of the more straight up Zelda games, aside from the ability to turn into a wolf, which I think works really well. I prefer the more realistic style of the game, and the Twilight Realm had great atmosphere. Midna was also much less annoying than certain other guide characters in certain other Zelda games......
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/full_1.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/zelda-twilight-princess-screen-4.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/twilight_princess_hd-24.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/tp_screen002.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/full%201_1.jpg~original)
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) - 1998
Here it is, my favourite video game of all times! I'll never get tired of replaying this. I love the way the music is integrated into the gameplay, with the ocarina and playing all of those memorable tunes. The game had great atmosphere for an N64 game, and the gameplay still holds up surprisingly well imo even directly after playing more recent games.
I could go on forever about this game and what makes it so great to me, but it would be nothing you haven't heard before. So instead here are some random Blob factoids-
My most common name for my character was "Mr T" for some reason (and I do like the thought of there being a Goron out there named Mr T), although more recently I've called him Time Hero, because it amuses me seeing characters call me "Time Hero, Hero of Time".
I'd always keep Link in blue except for when I needed the fire tunic, because he looks damn sharp in blue. It brings out his big beautiful eyes.
My scarecrow song was always to just go around the C buttons, C Up, C Right, C Down, C Left repeat, because I did not give a single fuck.
I have never used a deku nut because I have some self respect. I keep my nuts in my sack where they belong.
I don't hate the Water Temple.
Those zombie dudes are still scary when they rape you in the butt. Admit it.
My favourite character is windmill man, because I respect and envy how vigorously he cranks his shaft it in front of the children. He don't even care. One of my life goals is to cosplay as windmill man and not get arrested for it. Just randomly photobomb children's photos and crank it hard.
The first time I ever got up to Ganon, I was fighting the final battle seemingly forever. I was feeling pretty cocky with the Biggoron sword, rolling underneath him and slashing his tail. I must have been there for half an hour, and he just seemed to not want to die. After trying everything I could think of, I switched to the Master Sword, and killed him instantly. Turns out only the Master Sword killed him. Silly me. :lolpalm:
On one of my first playthroughs, I'd forgotten where to get the fire tunic, but I got into the Fire Temple from Death Mountain Trail and finished the entire temple sans boss without it. The boss kind of required it though. :lol
I would regularly enter Kakariko Village, slash the first chicken and invoke their wrath, then quickly escape. It made me feel like I'd won. But deep down I think they remembered it all. In Zora's River, I'd always toss the chicken into the water when I was done with it (that sounded so much less dirty in my head), but apparently chickens can fly sometimes.
I've never bothered with the poe side quest.
Just for fun, whenever I had to go up the Death Mountain Trail, I'd try to come up with the dumbest ways I could to kill the jumping spider guys. The hammer was often a good choice.
Sometimes in my family we'll occasionally randomly hum the owl music just to troll each other. Stupid owl thinks he's so smart with his 180 degree rotating head and lengthy dialogue. NO I DON'T WANT TO HITCH A RIDE. WHY DO YOU SMELL LIKE DEAD MICE?
Top 3 most quoted lines-
Hey! Listen! What would Saria say?
DUN DUN DUN DUUUUUUN! You got the _______. Equip it to C!
Oh! Oh Oh! What a hot beat!
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/d0e029dc5efb6fb1aa60c1e5bd23366d-650-80.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/n64zeloot13.jpg~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/765367-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-nintendo-64-screenshot.png~original)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/Top%2025%20Video%20Games/Kaepora_Gaebora_Majoras_Mask.png~original)
Hoo Hoot! Do you want to hear Blob's list again?
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Nice, Ocarina of Time is and was an amazing game for that time. It's one of the few n64 games I pick up on occasion to play on my own. (I typically play my n64 with friends no a days and not alone).
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I love the Zelda games! Ocarina of Time is one of my favorites but I didn't play it as much as the original. Gods, those games are amazing.
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Not my favorites by a country mile, but still good games nonetheless. I'm more of a 2D Zelda lover, and my favorite 3D game is Wind Waker, but still can't argue with OoT or TP. Pretty much every game in the series is fantastic (other than the 2 DS games).
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I actually feel the same as Blob, I could never really get into the 2D Zeldas. It wasn't until Ocarina of Time that I really enjoyed Zelda although I haven't played any others since that game.
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I thought you already featured Ocarina of Time? I must have confused your list with another. :facepalm: Definitely a worth #1 though.
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I thought you already featured Ocarina of Time? I must have confused your list with another. :facepalm: Definitely a worth #1 though.
Easy to get confused given how many other people have included it on their list, and I'm also sure I've probably commented on it every time.
I actually feel the same as Blob, I could never really get into the 2D Zeldas. It wasn't until Ocarina of Time that I really enjoyed Zelda although I haven't played any others since that game.
Any reason why not? I've played all of them since, except Skyward Sword, which I intend to get some time in the near future.
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I actually feel the same as Blob, I could never really get into the 2D Zeldas. It wasn't until Ocarina of Time that I really enjoyed Zelda although I haven't played any others since that game.
Any reason why not? I've played all of them since, except Skyward Sword, which I intend to get some time in the near future.
Haven't owned a Nintendo system since the N64 (also never owned a SNES). And honestly not sure why I never even played Majora's Mask, but I sadly don't see myself picking that up on ebay or anything anytime soon to give it a try.
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N64 is getting to the point of retro now where things aren't dirt cheap to just try out a game. Emulation would be your best bet, although the N64 controller is a tough one to map to standard controllers these days when you need every button.
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N64 is getting to the point of retro now where things aren't dirt cheap to just try out a game. Emulation would be your best bet, although the N64 controller is a tough one to map to standard controllers these days when you need every button.
Yea, like I said, I don't think I'll pick it up to play now, but if I did I'd at least try the emulation route. I have an N64 emulator on my phone, but it's not the same without an N64 controller. My buddy has been collecting retro games and actually may have Majora's Mask now that I think about it.
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^ yup, N64 is one of the current in systems for collectors. Also, the emulators are still a bit off. N64 is a complex system I hear, so it's still not close to 99% there emulation wise.
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^ yup, N64 is one of the current in systems for collectors. Also, the emulators are still a bit off. N64 is a complex system I hear, so it's still not close to 99% there emulation wise.
It does have complexities, and there are still some games that are very difficult to get working due to custom microcodes or other features, but the majority of games are fully playable. Emulators for that generation of consoles don't aim for authenticity, because it would require too much work/power, and the games usually end up looking "better" this way anyway.
Of course there's nothing quite like four people gathered around the TV playing some Mario Kart / Super Smash / Mario Party on the real deal. :hat
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Of course there's nothing quite like four people gathered around the TV playing some Mario Kart / Super Smash / Mario Party on the real deal. :hat
One of the best parts about that is using the joystick on the controller, not because it was fun or good for the controller on games like mario party, but purely because of the nostalgia of beating up those controllers as a kid.
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Of course there's nothing quite like four people gathered around the TV playing some Mario Kart / Super Smash / Mario Party on the real deal. :hat
One of the best parts about that is using the joystick on the controller, not because it was fun or good for the controller on games like mario party, but purely because of the nostalgia of beating up those controllers as a kid.
It's just not Mario Party unless you're grinding an authentic N64 analog stick to dust, right? :lol
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TP and OOT are probably the next two Zelda games I'm playing. OOT was the last game I ever began playing during the 90s when I was still avidly gaming before my interest fell off a cliff due to my growing interest in playing guitar and hanging out with friends. I just remember being daunted by the water temple and gradually losing the desire to come back to it.
I bought it for 3DS in March when they released that last wave of Nintendo Selects and have since knocked off the first dungeon but have my reservations of playing my first playthrough of such a legendary game on a cramped portable screen so I may just end up buying it for N64 anyway.
I got the Wii U reissue of TP with the Wolf Link Amiibo bundled in. I'm very stoked to play it but it's REALLY gonna suck to finally have to open the box for one of these. I'm not a collector by any means (I own 5 total) but I really don't think it's fair to force people to open them to use their features when it has near field communication capabilities in the first place. Maybe I'll buy one separately. Who knows.
I guess my slight concern about playing these two consecutively is that it may make the remaining Zeldas I play seem lackluster comparatively given their collective statuses as bonafide top 5 entries in the series no matter who you ask with rare exception. I guess I may just play the unpopular Wii one after these two (Skyward Sword, I think) since almost any other Zelda game will feel less special and at least this will make virtually any other entry seem great by comparison for not having forced motion controls.
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The 3DS port of OoT is great, with better graphics, and also making some improvements to the gameplay without changing it too much, including giving more visual cues in the water temple.
I wouldn't worry about it ruining other Zelda games for you. Every game is different enough that it's not a simple matter of better/worse, and most of them are highly regarded by a decent percentage of the fanbase I think. I've never played Skyward Sword, but reading the manual online to see the controls was extremely offputting. Is that supposed to be more intuitive than just pressing a button?
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I'm going to have my girlfriend introduce me to zelda games. She has played them all and it's her favorite series.
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Does anyone have a way of contacting Jarlaxle outside of the forum (facebook or other means)? He's up next but hasn't responded to my PM I sent him yesterday. His last post was 19 days ago so I'm not sure if he regularly has lapses in activity this long or if he might be gone for a while so i'd like to give him til the end of Sunday to respond before skipping him and moving on to adace.
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Skip him and let him go after adace if he returns. If he hasn't been here in 19 days, he's probably too busy to write long posts on a regular basis. This thread moves too slow as it is.
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I agree with DTVT, bring on the next list.
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The 3DS port of OoT is great, with better graphics, and also making some improvements to the gameplay without changing it too much, including giving more visual cues in the water temple.
I agree on every point, it`s overall a fantastic port (never played the original since I was too young to play it at that time, but I`ve seen videos of the water temple and it was much better on the 3DS).
I also have the HD remake of TP, but I only played until the point Link gains the Master Sword (ok, no real spoiler since he gets it in every game), but I will definitely go on playing as it was fantastic up to that point.
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Bruh, dem spoila tagz dint do shit :lol Just change the font size to like 3 or less.
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Also, I'm giving Jarlaxle til the end of today to respond just in case there's any chance of him keeping his place in line as I figured he should get at least two days to respond since none of us check this place out every single day (cue jokes about any of five frequent posters.)
That said, adace was after him but has already responded and told me to skip him which makes Stadler next and he's already confirmed that he's good to go. So basically this thread will be up and running by like Monday or Tuesday at the latest barring any unlikely mishaps.
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Bruh, dem spoila tagz dint do shit :lol Just change the font size to like 3 or less.
As I said, it`s no real spoiler anyways, but I`ll edit it then ;)
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Oh, I wasn't trying to tell you what to do. I was giving you advice on what to do if you actually were trying to avoid spoiling in general since the forum's software doesn't have spoiler tags.
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So, as I understand it, I'm up next. Yay!
Thank you (in advance) for reading my list. I thought I would start with a quick history of my gaming (it will set the stage for some of the entries here) and what I look for in a game. First, my first game console was the Atari VS (It wasn't renamed the 2600 until later). I was a fan of the ports of arcade games, and was also big into some of the alternate game producers (Activision; Imagic). I missed out on the Intellivision and the Atari 5200, and my next system was the Nintendo NES. That and PC’s were my main platforms for years, and as PCs progressed for gaming, I kind of gravitated to the larger, RPG games on the PC. At this time I started to be a completist, finishing all the side quests and finishing all the Easter Eggs I could find. In 2008, I got my first PlayStation3, and while I’ve added an Xbox in recent times, the PS3 has been my main gaming platform and if I upgrade it will likely be to the PlayStation4. I should note that if I play a game on PS3, I make every effort to complete the game on the hardest difficulty, and to get “100%” on Trophies. My list is almost exclusively from these platforms, and in some cases (there are a couple of notable exceptions), entries include sequels.
My biggest gaming joy: completing a hard game legitimately, and achieving all the Trophies legitimately.
My biggest gaming lament: that I can’t readily go back and play the old Atari, NES, and PC games on the current platforms (and finish some of those that eluded me at the time);
My biggest gaming pet peeve: hard-to-get, online trophies. I have 92% on Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and ALL the remaining require group play, and I don’t have an infrastructure to facilitate that at this point.
So here goes:
20. Mario Kart (Wii)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Mario%20Kart_zpslylhyks1.jpg)
I could easily substitute either of the “Honorable Mentions” here, since this is primarily a sentimental choice. Going through a divorce, and my daughter and I would play this and sit on the couch and talk. Having said that, the conversations would usually wane, and I would end up concentrating on the game. The game is a good balance between fun and difficulty, and there is a good mix between the various levels. I know we would play (I went and got the “padded wheel” for her) and just lose ourselves in the game for hours. Great diversion from a tough time, and a great ice-breaker and bonding moment for me and my kid.
Honorable Mention: Far Cry (Xbox); Lego Batman (PS3). The Far Cry is the “Remaster” that is vailable for download from Xbox Live. Far Cry 3 was recommended to me by a friend, and being something of a completist, I decided to start from the beginning. Loved it, and thought the end was hard, but rewarding. Lego Batman, well, I've completed all three, and would be on the list, but because of the relative repetitiveness of it... well, you'll see.
19. Castlevania I and II (NES)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/castlevania_zpsumkij9um.jpg)
One of the first games I got on the NES that I found to be really hard, and one of the first that wasn’t a rehash of the sort of “arcade game” where you just amass score. This had levels, and collectables, and while I never completed the game (I came close to finishing Castlevania I) it stands out as an early example of how you could combine graphics, gameplay, story, and difficulty into a mesmerizing experience that was more than just mashing buttons and blowing shit up. I haven’t played it for years, but I can imagine this is an eminently playable game, even today, and I would say that this is one of two games that will get me to buy the new “Mini NES” that is coming out in November.
The sequel goes even beyond that, opening up the game-play, and introducing things that would be a mainstay on the PC games, like day/night cycles. I can remember, though, this being a VERY hard game, because there were a fair number of elements or puzzles that weren’t intuitive, and weren’t spelled out with clues or in the line of the story. It’s not a RPG, but it really appealed to me in a way that the later RPGs did.
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Good calls on both accounts. I've only played the original SMK, MK64, and MK8 but I hear that one's pretty good too. If you can ever get a Wii U for cheap I'd strongly recommend getting MK8 and its DLC since it's two separate $8 packs that are only $12 when purchased together so you end up increasing your track, character, and vehicle counts by 50%, 20%, and 30% respectively (for only 20% of the $60 the game costs) as it increases those base totals from 32 to 48, 30 to 36, and 26 to 34. Also the game is fuckin loaded with secret paths.
I need to hunt down Castlevania as it's definitely what I'd assume to be a top 10 or 15 NES game. I loved playing the fourth one on SNES with my brother back in summer 92 though we didn't make it more than halfway in due to only renting it.
Also, you may wanna opt for pics that are at least 500x500 unless the ones you chose were ones you specifically had your heart set on posting. If you end up not being able to find a big enough pic to go with a certain game, you can just sacrifice some resolution quality and manually enlarge it by altering the first half of the [im g ] tag by changing it to something like [im g width=500]* and leaving the second part of the tag as is.
Here's a side-by-side to show the improved sizing with unfortunately compromised resolution:
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Mario%20Kart_zpslylhyks1.jpg)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Mario%20Kart_zpslylhyks1.jpg)
*I added spaces cuz otherwise it'd glitch and omit all the text I'd typed between the first and last image tags. If you wanna manually resize, just type that width=500 thing the same way I did except the only space should be between img and width.
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Never really played any of the Mario Karts besides 64, but I imagine they are all fun :tup
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Yes! Excellent calls on both accounts. I will say that the sequels for each are the pinnacles for me, and I recommend trying them out if you have the means.
Castlevania 3 for NES is closer to I than II, in terms of levels instead of open world, but the gameplay is massively improved. You can pick up other characters to help you through the quest, it's got multiple paths to take, and is quite a deal longer.
Mario Kart 8 is... well it's just the best MK there is. Forget CV3 and make sure you play this game.
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I'll do better with the pix on future posts. It didn't matter with either of these games, as I just wanted a generic screen shot to show the game (I'm not even 100% the MK pic is the version I played and loved so much) but I can see with some of the later ones that I would want a specific picture. Learnin' as I go!!!
As I said in the writeup, I'm going to pick up the NES re-release this fall just for Castlevania (and one other game). Should be good!!
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I'll do better with the pix on future posts. It didn't matter with either of these games, as I just wanted a generic screen shot to show the game (I'm not even 100% the MK pic is the version I played and loved so much) but I can see with some of the later ones that I would want a specific picture. Learnin' as I go!!!
As I said in the writeup, I'm going to pick up the NES re-release this fall just for Castlevania (and one other game). Should be good!!
I like the list already Stadler! I played the heck out of MK-Wii, and should have put that on my list if it wasn't. It was a such a smooth game, and the multiplayer wasn't too bad outside of the friend codes. I played a lot of Castlevania III, beat the first one much later down the road, and beat and enjoyed Simon's Quest a lot. It was a classic ask your fiends how to do things, or read about it to beat it. I miss those days at times. :lol Nice to see someone else giving it attention.
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Keep this moving...
18. Dark Forces (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/dark-forces_zps8zobz6hf.jpg)
My experience at this point with “first person shooters” (FPS) was limited to DOOM and the original shareware Wolfenstein game. Now, as you’ll see (or maybe already know), I’m a Star Wars fan boy (yeah, I even like the Prequels…) and so this was kind of the first time the Star Wars franchise joined with another favorite of mine and so I ate this game up. I didn’t know at the time that it was sort of revolutionary – adding several features to the FPS genre that are common now, like up and down looks, and integrated puzzles - and I think it was the first game I finished all the way through. It was immersive to me, and I know I spent a lot of time working through the levels, and making sure I found the hidden upgrades and such.
There was a sequel, but I never played it. Has anyone played the PS Network downloadable version? I’m thinking of giving it a try.
17. Dragon Warrior (NES)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/dragon%20warrior_zpssdmigso7.jpg)
Probably the first RPG game I ever played (it might be “Ultima”, I’m not sure, but either way it was close). I’m a sucker for the “save the princess, kill the king, find the gold!” tropes of RPGs, and so I loved the complexity of this game. There was an elegant beauty to this game, in the way it made you ignore the tropes as you played it. I loved how the further you went from the main Castle, the harder the enemies got, I loved how you seemed to have a choice in the dialogue - even if you really didn't - and I loved that there were more ways than one to skin that cat. Build up points? Fight. Follow the main quest? Sure.
I would sit in my room for hours and play this; I can remember getting into Neil Young around this time and playing “Freedom” (mostly), “Decade” and, later, “Ragged Glory”. I'm sure there are better games in this genre, but I think those may have to do with advances in technology and not in story or game-play. I don’t know that I would go back and play it now, and I didn't play any of the sequels, but I have fond memories of this game, and it certainly formed the basis for a lot of what I’ve done since in terms of game play.
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Never heard of Dark Forces but that screenshot makes it look like Doom in the Star Wars universe.
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I only played the demo of Dark Forces, but I played through Dark Forces 2 (aka Jedi Knight) when a friend gave me a copy. Star Wars actually has a pretty good record of solid games, so I dig. :tup
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Never heard of Dark Forces but that screenshot makes it look like Doom in the Star Wars universe.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I thought it had a better atmosphere and slightly better gameplay, though if I recall, it was a little glitchy (but that could have been my computer; I had a good system but it wasn't a high-end elite system).
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There was a sequel, but I never played it. Has anyone played the PS Network downloadable version? I’m thinking of giving it a try.
The whole Jedi Knight series (three games) followed on from this and carried on Kyle Katarn's story. Very solid series, with each game a bit better than the last IMO (and obviously they changed a lot as technology and graphics changed). The original Dark Forces is incredibly dated now and I found it pretty clunky.
EDIT: Oh and renamed the thread. :)
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Dammit, you nailed it with that title. My gaming right now is almost exclusively trying like hell to get 100% on CoD: World at War (I have two trophies on the Der Reise Zombie map) and Bioshock: Infinite (the three DLCs). :)
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Thanks Rich :)
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Dammit, you nailed it with that title. My gaming right now is almost exclusively trying like hell to get 100% on CoD: World at War (I have two trophies on the Der Reise Zombie map) and Bioshock: Infinite (the three DLCs). :)
:lol Yeah I read your introductory post and that was what stood out to me. :P
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Goddamn there were some great games in Blob's list. I know we're onto the next list but I wanted to mention a few things.
A) I love the Zelda series but Link to the Past on the SNES will always be my favourite!! What a game.
B) there were some great racing games but one if my faves I wanted to mention was Star Wars Episode One Pod racer on the N64!! That game had a sense of speed I'd never felt in a game up until that point. Great tracks, really good learning curve and lots of characters/pod racers to choose from.
C) A distinct lack of Playstation One games :facepalm: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7, 8 & 9. But anyway, maybe I should shut up and get myself on the list and signed up for this.
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Dammit, you nailed it with that title. My gaming right now is almost exclusively trying like hell to get 100% on CoD: World at War (I have two trophies on the Der Reise Zombie map) and Bioshock: Infinite (the three DLCs). :)
Let me guess: Perkaholics Anonymous and either Pack Addict or Acquire Waffle Weapons. The former was a massive pain in the ass. Maybe 60% of my recent game time can be attributed to CoD Zombies, and I still had trouble with that one.
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C) A distinct lack of Playstation One games :facepalm: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7, 8 & 9. But anyway, maybe I should shut up and get myself on the list and signed up for this.
I'm old school. Never had one, never played any of the games. You should definitely sign up and do a list. I love seeing the variety of games people play. :tup
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C) A distinct lack of Playstation One games :facepalm: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7, 8 & 9. But anyway, maybe I should shut up and get myself on the list and signed up for this.
I'm old school. Never had one, never played any of the games. You should definitely sign up and do a list. I love seeing the variety of games people play. :tup
But you have loads of N64 games, they're all the same era :huh:
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C) A distinct lack of Playstation One games :facepalm: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7, 8 & 9. But anyway, maybe I should shut up and get myself on the list and signed up for this.
I'm old school. Never had one, never played any of the games. You should definitely sign up and do a list. I love seeing the variety of games people play. :tup
But you have loads of N64 games, they're all the same era :huh:
Yeah, but Nintendo is oldschool. I never accepted Sony making consoles. :lol
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C) A distinct lack of Playstation One games :facepalm: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7, 8 & 9. But anyway, maybe I should shut up and get myself on the list and signed up for this.
I'm old school. Never had one, never played any of the games. You should definitely sign up and do a list. I love seeing the variety of games people play. :tup
But you have loads of N64 games, they're all the same era :huh:
Yeah, but Nintendo is oldschool. I never accepted Sony making consoles. :lol
Fair enough :lol
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I've only every played the sequel to Dark Forces, but that one was awesome so I'm sure the original was too. :tup
The Dragon Quest series is awesome! It's funny how little they change from game to game, just goes to show how solid the gameplay was.
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Dammit, you nailed it with that title. My gaming right now is almost exclusively trying like hell to get 100% on CoD: World at War (I have two trophies on the Der Reise Zombie map) and Bioshock: Infinite (the three DLCs). :)
Let me guess: Perkaholics Anonymous and either Pack Addict or Acquire Waffle Weapons. The former was a massive pain in the ass. Maybe 60% of my recent game time can be attributed to CoD Zombies, and I still had trouble with that one.
Nailed it. I actually need all three, but I figure the last one is random, and I'll get it through brute force. I imagine Pack Addict will come with time too, but that Perks Anonymous... I'm not even coming close. I think the furthest I've gotten is Round 12. Having said that, though, I never really came close to Big Baller either until one round everything clicked and I just got into a groove and nailed it.
Any tips you might have, I'm all ears...
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I'd love to do a list, but I know my track record on these things... :-\
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Woo Dragon (Quest) Warrior! The Dragonlord thing at the end is kind of cool, where you can join him. This game was tough at times, but much fun.
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Nailed it. I actually need all three, but I figure the last one is random, and I'll get it through brute force. I imagine Pack Addict will come with time too, but that Perks Anonymous... I'm not even coming close. I think the furthest I've gotten is Round 12. Having said that, though, I never really came close to Big Baller either until one round everything clicked and I just got into a groove and nailed it.
Any tips you might have, I'm all ears...
Let's see... The most important point: don't open Teleporter C (the one with the Bowie Knife, in case I incorrectly recalled the letter). This allows you to comfortably camp by the power, provided that you liberally use the trap. Make to sure to obtain both Monkeys and the Ray Gun from the box before it moves to the one spot you'll be leaving closed. I couldn't have done it without those weapons. I can't really help from here. Once you are set up, it's a matter of becoming comfortable with the defensive strategy.
I don't want to derail this thread any more than I already have, so I'll leave it at that.
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16. Doom (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/doom_zpsqatf5psm.jpg)
I usually subscribe to the mantra, “all things being equal, the first to the party wins”. It’s not equal; I think I like Dark Forces better, but Doom was so cool and so new when it first came out (as shareware) that it gets the higher spot. It’s comic-book in a way that I wouldn’t really enjoy now (my one beef with the aforementioned Call Of Duty: World At War Zombies is the inane voice over – “Die you maggot sacks!”. Please.) but I spent HOURS at this game. The first phase was shareware, but I was so into it, that I was one of those (relatively few, it seems) that bought the second and third phases commercially. I never really took full advantage of the WADs, so didn't customize it too much, but I had a disk of alternate levels, and I had an editor, though I never really used it. I just remember being immersed in the game, and it was a real way of transitioning from the NES to the PC as a game platform. As you’ll see with the rest of the list, I rarely went back to the NES with any regularity.
15. The Legend of Zelda (I) and Zelda II: The Adventures of Link (II) (NES)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/zelda_zpsksnnypp6.jpg)
A precursor to the full-blown RPG concept, and by all accounts a landmark in gaming history. Even if you don’t like the actual game itself, it’s kind of like The Yardbirds of gaming; you’ve really enjoyed something that can trace their roots back to here. I’ve included both of the first two games, even though they are not identical, because they are officially the first and its only sequel (the rest - I think there are 16 more games on various platforms - are alternate stories or set in alternate universes). These are also, though coincidentally, the only two that I’ve played. I have said repeatedly about other games that “I loved them then, but I wouldn’t probably go back and play them today”, but these are the first that I absolutely would. I tried to get them downloaded to my Wii to play them there (it was a problem with the TV when I tried last) and I may work on that in the future, but these games were immersive and were a lot of fun. “It’s a secret to everybody!”
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I guess Doom was no surprise considering your SW game pic earlier and write up for it. :metal Loved the Doom games as a kid and respect their place in video game history.
As for the NES Zeldas, as I mentioned in Blob's post, I never really got into those. That's just a me thing though, I totally respect and understand the love for them.
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I've played a bit of these games, but never got hugely into them. Undeniably great choices though! :tup
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Love Doom but never played those Zelda games.
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I beat Uncharted 1 last night. I had never played it before now, but decided to after beating Uncharted 4 and thinking it was one of the best games I've ever played. I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy Uncharted 1 nearly as much, but it also makes sense as that game is a decade old at this point. There were too many gunfights and I found it insanely difficult/frustrating/rage inducing. :lol
Edit: Oops. I realized this is the wrong video game thread. My bad, fellas. :sadpanda:
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14. Myst (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/myst_zpshkephybh.jpg)
Part breathtaking (the video/graphics were a world apart then, and being a fan of the band “Yes”, I felt like Roger Dean was influential on the look of this game) and part maddening (the puzzles were, to me, HARD) with a dash of creepy (“The pages!!! The pages!!!”), this was an indelible example that video games did not need dragons or Big Fucking Machine Guns to be great. I loved this game, but it was so cutting edge that I honestly don’t feel I appreciated it at the time. Memory is sketchy, but I remember it being at the limit of my machine’s capabilities (it relied heavily on CD-ROM which wasn’t quite perfected then). Another game that was recently ported to the PS, and one I may go back and revisit. I did not play any of the four sequels.
13. Tie Fighter/X-Wing (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/tie%20fighter_zpsut587tbv.jpg)
This game… it was so much fun to sit in my bedroom with the joystick (which I bought specifically for these two games), put on tunes and go to town. Another game that I never really explored the limits to (I didn’t finish anywhere near all the campaigns on X-Wing, and even less on Tie Fighter) but just the idea of flying around space in the Star Wars universe… I have never really been a huge “space” guy in terms of video games but these were the exception. I understand they are available now for like $10 at gog.com, though I didn't see them there. I would need to see if they run on my Mac (though I’ve long since parted with the joystick…).
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So much fun playing X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Especially using stuff like the B-Wing and what not.
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(https://i.imgur.com/LUbACUF.jpg)
I played Myst a little bit when I was young but I was awful at the game and didn't really like. I read about the story of the game a while back and it seemed really interesting.
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Sorry for the delay; traveled this weekend!
12. Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2 (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/rainbow%20six%20vegas%202_zps6gl6s4m9.jpg)
One of the first FPS’s I played on the PS3, and the first games I played every part of (each episode, the training missions, etc.). Loved these games, and wish there was a third (the second was too short). The graphics were great, there was just enough variety in the weaponry to make you think, and the AI was just good enough that it could be fun to use your colleagues now and again to take a bullet for you. I just bought RS3 for Xbox, but I feel I’m going to be disappointed.
11. Asteroids (Console)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/asteroids-atari_zpsrfzu6ery.jpg)
One of the few console games I really enjoyed playing; too bad I sucked and never lasted very long. Not the same on the Atari 2600 (too slow, and the graphics didn’t have that “fine line” that was so cool on the console version). One of the few vintage games I could see myself dropping $20 in quarters into and playing for hours.
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Interesting mix of new and old. :lol
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I've only played the old. :biggrin:
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All fantastic picks so far Stadler!
I feel I may have some newer games to recommend you after seeing this list :)
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I absolutely LOVE Myst. Countless hours spent exploring and getting engrossed in the game.
I also Love Riven as well. I am so excited that the spiritual successor to myst, called Obduction is coming out next week.
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10. Missile Command (Console/Atari)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/missile%20command_zpsvdhq8kwe.jpg)
One of the few games that I liked in any incarnation. I loved the arcade version but the home version was just as strong; I just wish I had a track ball! Lay down that cover of explosions from left to right and go to town!! One of the games that in hindsight made me appreciate the type of game that was easy to play, but very hard to master. I always scored well, but never seemed to crack the upper eschelon of high scores.
9. Assassin’s Creed II (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/assassins-creed-2_zpsi0qw5itz.jpg)
I have the first three, and have stuck since I still have to get a couple of the online, multiplayer trophies on Brotherhood. But Assassin’s Creed II is the one that opened the door for me. What a perfect blend of story, action, intellect… I know my daughter would get a snack and just sit and watch me play because she loved the graphics on it. I have all the games up through Rogue, I just have to start playing them, but this is one of my favorite games of what might be one of my favorite series’ on the PS3.
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Again, I'm only familiar with the old game out of the two. :lol :tup
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Again, I'm only familiar with the old game out of the two. :lol :tup
Same here.
The only Assassins Creed game I've played is Black Flag.
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I don't know if it was because I was in a bad mood or what but when I played ACII I hated it with a passion. It was my first and only AC game.
And it also got stuck in my PS3 so I had to send it back to sony.
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I was playing ACII (on PC with a gamepad) a month ago and while I enjoyed it and think it is awesome game I was too lazy to finish it :-\ As I am with big majority of the games I play. I'm like the oppossite of Stadler :lol
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8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/modern%20warfare_zpsc5szpoc3.jpg)
I’ve played CoD3, Modern Warfare, and World at War. I just liked the look at feel of Modern Warfare the best of all of them (so far). Played it through twice, including on the hardest difficulty (“Veteran”), and finished it, all except for the last “bonus scene”, where the best I could do was the second hardest difficulty (“Hardened”). I just thought the game play was smoother, as were the graphics, and the challenges were just that: challenging, without being “WTF”. I’m next going to tackle CoD:MW2.
7. Ultima Underworld I and II (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/UWStygian1b_zpspwdmwlbq.jpg)
Not a lot to say here, except I was full on into the Ultima universe, and this was a very new, non-Lord British way of looking at things. The dungeons were cool, the game play was cool, and it gave me a chance to stay in the world but take a little break from the notebooks and such of the “overworld”. I played both, but I’m putting this here primarily for the first one, but you see both of these games in a lot of subsequent releases, including the System Shock and Bioshock series.
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Can't go wrong with the early CoD games IMO. While releasing a game every year has made the franchise feel old and rehashed, the older games were great and revolutionary in terms of online multiplayer FPS.
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6. Thief (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Thief_zpsnjucdjx2.jpg)
I first played this game on the PC, but for various reasons (machine issues, work effort, law school) I’m not sure I ever finished it. In fact, I know I didn’t because I found the save games not too long ago after moving into my new home. But it was a great game and one I regretted not following through on. So color me surprised when it came out in “remastered” form on PS3. I ended up playing through about 2/3 of the game and my PS3 died; it took me a couple weeks but I got a new unit, figured out a way to transfer the save games (the PS3 copy protections are f*****). I finished the game, then went back and found all the treasure, then worked on the trophies, then worked on the DLC packs… I basically ended up playing through the game I think four times straight through, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every play-through, and in fact, now I miss it. My step son (he’s 8) would sit next to me and watch me play and so that made it even more enjoyable. The only drawback is a rather serious quirk involving the main “enemy” in the second to last Chapter (he carries a critical piece of treasure which sort of forces you into a Sophie’s Choice), but otherwise a stellar game that has legacy (there is a pretty serious nod to Thief in the third DLC for Bioshock Ulimate, in that one of the trophies requires you to play Elizabeth in a style very similar to Garrett from Thief).
5. Lego: Star Wars Complete (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Lego%20SWC_zpsn3qajxo9.jpg)
Yeah, I know, I’m an adult, but the first toy I can really remember, back in the early ‘70’s, was a Lego truck and a Lego classic car (I actually still have them). I saw Star Wars in the theater upon release; it wasn’t the first movie I ever saw, but it was the first one I saw more than once in the theater (my dad and brother and I went three times). So this was a cool thing; combining two of my favorite franchises… I played through all of this. All the trophies, all the minikits… there was a lot of game here, and it took a fair amount of play to work through all of it. Another game that my daughter would sit and watch me play. Lots of great memories here, and a lot of fun.
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Only familiar with Lego Star Wars of these two. It almost made my own list, but I ended up going with a different Lego game instead. This was the first one I played though, and is still a lot of fun. :tup
I actually have the individual OT / PT releases before they re-released them combined. Basically the same though as far as I'm aware.
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One day I'll go back and try to play through thief for real
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I've had Thief for a while as I picked it up free on 360 with 'Games with Gold'. Actually started playing it the other day. Not bad so far but I've only finished the prologue.
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I haven't played either but one of my friends from High School got into the game industry because his maps were so good for Thief.
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4. Batman Arkham City (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/batman_zpswfeu6hc2.jpg)
Unbelievable game. Playability, repeatability, faith to the canon (I’m a huge Batman fan, and in fact I have a running joke with my daughter that I AM Batman. It’s funny to us. ). Oddly, this was the game that increased my ‘gaming’ skills more than any, as I spent hours perfecting combat moves for the challenges; flying through hoops, literally, or combining eight ridiculous moves into one long string. Loved the characters, loved being able to play as Catwoman, loved the Joker (Mark Hammill!!!), loved the villains, loved being able to change the costumes to reflect the various incarnations of Batman over the years… just a great game all around. I could easily include “Arkham Asylum” here, but the scope of AC was so much better, that I limited to that game. I have Origins, but I haven’t played it yet.
3. Ultima VI and VII (inc. Add-ons) (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Ultima%20VII_zpsmwom07yx.jpg)
Couple things: first, any of these games are basically interchangeable. Pick a game after IV, and we’re in the holy grail for gaming. Second, I’ve lumped a couple together, but let me say that despite the bugs, despite the hassles of getting the hardware to match the software, I have put more hours into the Ultima series than all others. I played these games for HOURS. I had notebooks. I had cheat sheets. And piles and piles of floppy disks. But I would go back and play all of them again. The one issue is that they were so technologically advanced that almost all the ports sucked. I didn’t care much for V on the NES, and pretty much stuck to the PC. I have all the disks still (there are probably 20+ overall) but they are alas, unusable at this point. If anyone has played any recent versions (and liked them), please let me know.
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Fuck yea with the Batman series. I also have not played Origins, but Asylum and City were amazing games. Probably one of my, if not my, favorite combat systems. It's just so fun when you are surrounded by like 10 villans and you get some sick combo going to take them all down. Plus the ugrades and RPG like features makes the game worthy of sinking the hours into.
Also, as noted, the voice acting is great in those games. I usually don't get caught up in this aspect of gaming, but it really is well done that it left a lasting impression.
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Fuck yea with the Batman series. I also have not played Origins, but Asylum and City were amazing games. Probably one of my, if not my, favorite combat systems. It's just so fun when you are surrounded by like 10 villans and you get some sick combo going to take them all down. Plus the ugrades and RPG like features makes the game worthy of sinking the hours into.
Also, as noted, the voice acting is great in those games. I usually don't get caught up in this aspect of gaming, but it really is well done that it left a lasting impression.
Between Batman, Thief, and a game I'm about to mention, I've REALLY been aware of the voice acting. It brings SO much to the game in some cases.
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2. Bioshock I, II, and Infinite (PS3)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/bioshock_zpsyf0ksp6m.jpg)
It should be clear, but for those that are not in the know, there’s little difference spiritually between this and the number one spot. Developed by Looking Glass (the same company that did Ultima Underworld as well) and Ken Levine, who did System Shock, Bioshock is widely acknowledged as a spiritual successor to the System Shock franchise. I wasn’t going to include “Infinite” here, but I just finished the first of the two “Buried At Sea” add-on packs, which serve to connect Infinite (set in “Columbia”, a floating city) to the first two (set in the underwater city of Rapture). This set continues the underlying premise of SS by reinforcing the idea of “immersiveness”; and boy did I get immersed in those worlds. Really enjoyed them, and even got into the combat challenges. I liked the I and II games better as games, but in terms of immersiveness, Infinite blew them out of the water. I felt as I sometimes do after a good book; Booker and Elizabeth were people with a story. As I understand it, there are no plans for any subsequent games, at least from Ken Levine (who is the real braintrust behind these games), which is a shame.
1. System Shock I and II (PC)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/sysshock_zpsnvkdwbpa.jpg)
I’ve noted the connection between these and Bioshock, but even though I played this so long ago I can barely remember it, it came first so it gets the premium spot. I remember II being much better (more expansive) than I, but that’s about it. I do remember it being so different, and so much more deeper than the games I had played before. I loved the immersiveness of the story. I loved the way the elements came together, and I loved the way things were layered and revealed piece by piece. I understand that there was a re-release of the first two, and I also understand that a new one - not a remaster - is planned for 2017. I'm not holding my breath, but I am, sorta. ;)
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Bear with me if this is creepy (it's all in fun), but I thought of this when putting together the last couple entries, and it was really driven home with the comment about "voice acting":
Three hottest video game vixens:
3. Claudia Auditore de Firenze
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/800px-Ezio_and_Claudia_zpsudmrpjdd.jpg)
2. Catwoman (Arkham City)
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Catwoman_zpsegixnqfj.jpg)
1. Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite) - Courtnee Draper just nails this voice over. REALLY brought a lot to the game in terms of realism and immersiveness. Probably my favorite voice acting in a game, with Mark Hammil's Joker second.
(https://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q591/Stadler111/Elizabeth-Bioshock-Infinite_zpstwk3fioo.jpg)
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Done, and thank you for reading!! I imagine some of these are too old to hold much interest, but I thought my list had a number of games that don't get much mention, and it might be fun to see some games that don't get a ton of press anymore.
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Hottest video game vixen has to include Lara Croft if you ask me.
Also, Bioshock games were amazing, awesome games, and an awesome setting. Never played the system shock games.
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I love the BioShock games so :tup from me.
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I didn't contribute this time because I was on holiday without internet :metal
Anyway, thanks for running this, always cool to see the favorites of someone else and why they love those games. I have played about 1/3 of the games you mentioned, some cool choices. Was surprised to see Ultima Underworld there, I spend countless hours on those games back in the days.
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
I'm going through that now. I've played Bioshock I and II, and Infinite was good but seemed a little tangential. But the two DLC's, Burial-At-Sea, have neatly pulled everything together. I'm guessing I'm about 2/3 through BAS Part II, and there was just a scene where Elizabeth (current) saw her and Booker in the events of BI, and she said something about missing Booker, and as it played through, my daughter said "Dad (who's name is Elizabeth, by the way), are you crying?" I wasn't but if it was a movie and not a video game, I can't tell you the answer would be the same. She actually went back and read a synopsis of the whole thing on the internet and texted me with "WOW".
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I loved the Ultima games. Started with Ultima 2 on the Apple IIe way back and played 3 and 4. Missed out on 5 and 6 since they were on pc and I didn't have one at the time. Got 7 and was blown away. I don't think I ever finished but had a great time just exploring. It'd be great to have another Ultima game. I really miss Iolo and Shamino.
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Hottest video game vixen has to include Lara Croft if you ask me.
I'm a big fan of Vanille from Final Fantasy XIII. Good God, that voice! (among other things :P)
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
I'm going through that now. I've played Bioshock I and II, and Infinite was good but seemed a little tangential. But the two DLC's, Burial-At-Sea, have neatly pulled everything together. I'm guessing I'm about 2/3 through BAS Part II, and there was just a scene where Elizabeth (current) saw her and Booker in the events of BI, and she said something about missing Booker, and as it played through, my daughter said "Dad (who's name is Elizabeth, by the way), are you crying?" I wasn't but if it was a movie and not a video game, I can't tell you the answer would be the same. She actually went back and read a synopsis of the whole thing on the internet and texted me with "WOW".
Ok, so I've never played the Bioshock series. Looked it up online and Bioshock the collection is coming out mid September. I, II and Infinite. I suppose it would behoove me to wait for that release?
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
I'm going through that now. I've played Bioshock I and II, and Infinite was good but seemed a little tangential. But the two DLC's, Burial-At-Sea, have neatly pulled everything together. I'm guessing I'm about 2/3 through BAS Part II, and there was just a scene where Elizabeth (current) saw her and Booker in the events of BI, and she said something about missing Booker, and as it played through, my daughter said "Dad (who's name is Elizabeth, by the way), are you crying?" I wasn't but if it was a movie and not a video game, I can't tell you the answer would be the same. She actually went back and read a synopsis of the whole thing on the internet and texted me with "WOW".
Ok, so I've never played the Bioshock series. Looked it up online and Bioshock the collection is coming out mid September. I, II and Infinite. I suppose it would behoove me to wait for that release?
Yes. You can get "Bioshock I and II" in a set, and then the "complete Bioshock Infinite" (with all the DLCs) but that's two packages, not the one.
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
I'm going through that now. I've played Bioshock I and II, and Infinite was good but seemed a little tangential. But the two DLC's, Burial-At-Sea, have neatly pulled everything together. I'm guessing I'm about 2/3 through BAS Part II, and there was just a scene where Elizabeth (current) saw her and Booker in the events of BI, and she said something about missing Booker, and as it played through, my daughter said "Dad (who's name is Elizabeth, by the way), are you crying?" I wasn't but if it was a movie and not a video game, I can't tell you the answer would be the same. She actually went back and read a synopsis of the whole thing on the internet and texted me with "WOW".
Ok, so I've never played the Bioshock series. Looked it up online and Bioshock the collection is coming out mid September. I, II and Infinite. I suppose it would behoove me to wait for that release?
Yes. You can get "Bioshock I and II" in a set, and then the "complete Bioshock Infinite" (with all the DLCs) but that's two packages, not the one.
Am I missing something? I'm only seeing the collection release as one package of all 3 games.
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I've only ever played BioShock Infinite but that game felt so original and unique to me. The world that the game built up was nothing short of breathtaking. And also, that ending... :'(
I'm going through that now. I've played Bioshock I and II, and Infinite was good but seemed a little tangential. But the two DLC's, Burial-At-Sea, have neatly pulled everything together. I'm guessing I'm about 2/3 through BAS Part II, and there was just a scene where Elizabeth (current) saw her and Booker in the events of BI, and she said something about missing Booker, and as it played through, my daughter said "Dad (who's name is Elizabeth, by the way), are you crying?" I wasn't but if it was a movie and not a video game, I can't tell you the answer would be the same. She actually went back and read a synopsis of the whole thing on the internet and texted me with "WOW".
Ok, so I've never played the Bioshock series. Looked it up online and Bioshock the collection is coming out mid September. I, II and Infinite. I suppose it would behoove me to wait for that release?
Yes. You can get "Bioshock I and II" in a set, and then the "complete Bioshock Infinite" (with all the DLCs) but that's two packages, not the one.
Am I missing something? I'm only seeing the collection release as one package of all 3 games.
Im guessing Stadler might not realize that there is a new release coming out with all of the games in one package plus all of the DLC. I would say wait for that if you are interesting in playing the games. It's also remastered.
https://www.2k.com/games/bioshock-the-collection (https://www.2k.com/games/bioshock-the-collection)
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Sweet! Looking forward to it. Thanks Cram. :biggrin:
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Ok, so I guess I should get started with mine.
Just a warning: These games will be around 90% Nintendo games. Almost all the games you see will be by Mario. I grew up in the Nintendo world and it is still my favorite. And I'm not talking about those old Mario games. The majority will be new.
Hope you guys can relate to this.
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That sounds like my type of list. :tup
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Oh really? Hope you enjoy it then!
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Scar's Top 25 Video Games v. Mario, Mario, Maria, Merio
Welcome to my top 25 video games list. I will try my best to update this list daily and I hope to finish this list in a month. Hope you guys enjoy this top 25 list!! I'll also try to be as descriptive as possible.
Number 25: Cytus
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/kokfb4q9oyyeutl/cytus%202.jpeg?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/z9rpnaqxriv4bop/cytus%203.jpg?dl=0)
Clocking at number 25 is the game Cytus. Cytus is a rhythm game developed by Rayark Games, an independent game developer in Taiwan.
Plot:
The name Cytus is taken from Cocytus, the Greek mythological river of wailing or lamentation. Cytus features a story plot that is carried through its 10 main chapters as well as a prologue. The story revolves around the protagonist, Vanessa, who lives in a 22nd-century world where robots with human memories are the only remaining sentient beings while living humans are killed by a mutant virus. Due to limited memory space, human emotions are stored in the form of music in "Cytus", and by playing the songs, the robots are able to revive their human emotions. The plot features the disaster and the protagonist's struggle with identity. The story is told in-game through various cut-scenes that are unique to the chapter title songs; in comparison, the other individual songs within each chapter are at most only marginally relevant to the plot, except for a limited few.
Gameplay:
The main gameplay of Cytus features the Active Scan Line, a black line that move up and down across the screen. The player taps circular objects, referred to as Notes, as the Active Scan Line passes over them, following the music.
Three types of Notes are used. The Click Note, a single circular note, requires tapping the object in time. The Drag Note, a continuous track of notes, requires dragging along the track. The Hold Note, a note with an extended ribbon meter, requires holding over the note until the meter is filled. Notes to be hit as the line rises are colored blue and purple, while those as the line drops are colored yellow and green.
Each Note is judged by the accuracy to be either Perfect, Good, Bad or Miss. The better the accuracy, the higher score is given. The maximum score is 1,000,000, and a minimum of 700,000 is required to clear a stage. After a stage ends, various metrics are provided to show the player's performance, including score, TP, a letter grade, and numbers of hits in each type of judgement.[/color]
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/phlgr9epl21ny7v/line.jpe?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/6cfepyupxnxvxzk/line%202.jpe?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/q5gaazbwov04f73/line%203.jpg?dl=0)
Cytus includes more than 100 songs available for play in the game, spanning a variety of genres including pop music, trance music and drum and bass. The music is composed and performed by independent composers and artists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Vocaloid engines are also used.
How I found about this game and why I like it:
In my U.S History Class, my friend was playing this rhythm game and I could hear the songs. His hands moved everywhere and I was impressed when he aced a song. I asked him what this song was and he simply replied, "Halycon." The music in this game was superb and that was what peaked my interest. Now, it's not any rock or metal genre's, but still the music was super catchy. I learned that this game on Google Play was free so I managed to download and I soon fell in love with it. Some of these songs are in my music playlist.
Here are my favorite Cytus songs. You should check them out if you have time......
1) Halycon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6r0pfKDxNE
2) Freedom Dive (Also the hardest song, featuring the fastest BPM with 222.22): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI3C9qQlb1U
3) L (Really nice piano+violin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqaJ8KhlAzE
Most players make the mistake of using only 2 index to play some songs, but all 10 fingers are needed for most songs! The songs are divided into Easy and Hard. Easy has much more less notes than Hard and they are both ranged from 1-9 (1 being the easiest and 9 being the hardest).
Chapters and Songs:
Chapter I - Operators
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/npd2o5zm2cyrzwr/Chapter%201.jpg?dl=0)
“Operators, preserving & continuing lifetime memories eternally; desire for immortality finally comes true through pioneering technologies.”
~2130 A.D. ExtenLife Corp. World leading Operator manufacturer
1. Light up my Love
2. Ververg
3. Ververg ver. B
4. Visions
5. Les Parfums de L'Amour
6. Retrospective
7. The Silence
8. D R G
9. Secret Garden
10. Hot Air Balloon
Chapter II - Disaster
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/uaiw6135uvw6nki/Chapter%202.jpg?dl=0)
"A mutated virus that is deadly contagious starting to spread out the universe sweepingly while there is absolutely no antidote to the disease, thousands of years of civilizations are on the line thereof. Cruelty shown forth, under the paling moonlight, calamity of destruction brought upon."
1. Iris
2. Sanctity
3. Sacred
4. Green Eyes
5. Nocturnal Types
6. Precipitation
6. Precipitation Ver. B
7. Hard Landing
8. Entrance
8. Precipitation Entrance at the Entrance I
8. Precipitation Entrance at the Entrance II
Chapter III - Cytus
[29/Jul/2970:12:57:55] OPERATOR 201173V: requesting memory data, name=Vanessa
[29/Jul/2970:12:57:56] OPERATOR 201173V: 200 OK
[29/Jul/2970:12:57:56] OPERATOR 201173V: requesting emotion data, name=Vanessa
[29/Jul/2970:12:57:57] OPERATOR 201173V: ERROR: 501 not implemented
[29/Jul/2970:12:57:57] OPERATOR 201173V: redirect to CYTUS to resolve conflicts
1. The Riddle Story
2. Libera Me
3. COSMO
4. Prismatic Lollipops
5. Otome
6. Spectrum
7. Halycon
8. The Black Case
9. Saika
9. Saika ver. B
Chapter IV - The Silence
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/szdlbcz5tpre5rd/Chapter%204.jpg?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/szdlbcz5tpre5rd/Chapter%204.jpg?dl=0)
1. Evil Force
2. New World
3. Landscape
4. Future World
5. Parousia
6. Skuld
7. Darkness
8. Beyond
9. Area184
10. Sweetness and Love
Chapter V - Vanessa
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/pnsy8qjqa1hsl7p/chapter%205.jpg?dl=0)
"Dear Diary:
Is it a fortune or misfortune, to take part in the program of memory transferring?!
I would be able to survive in such a way, when everybody else close to me passes away..."
1. Holy Knight
2. Dino
3. Majestic Phoenix
4. Sleepless Jasmine
5. Chocological
6. Recollections
7. Total Sphere
8. Just a Trip
9. Zauberkugel
10. Biotonic
Chapter VI - The Lost
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/h15we62q4mlra80/chapter%206.jpg?dl=0)
"function Operator:allocateStorage(size)
local db = self:acquireDatabase()
while db:getAvailableSpace() < size do
local dated_item = db:query{
number = 1,
tag = "emotion",
sort = "timestamp",
}
db:remove(dated_item)
end
local chunk = db:reserveSpace(size)
zeroMemory(chunk)
return chunk
end"
1. Dragon Warrior
2. Selfish Gene
3. Realize
4. Colorful Skies
5. It's A Wonderful World
6. Bloody Purity
7. Logical Steps
8. Niflheimr
9. Old Gold
10. The Blocks We Loved
Chapter VII - Loom
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/0rw0go8lt923vw9/chapter%207.jpg?dl=0)
1. Black Lair
2. The Last Illusion
3. Galaxy Collapse
4. L
4. L2 - Ascension: Act 1 (Loneliness)
4. L2 - Ascension: Act 2 (Liberation)
5. Gate of Expectancy
6. Rainbow Night Sky Highway
7. Quantum Labyrinth
8. Musik
9. Hercule
10. Aquatic Poseidon
Chapter VIII - Another Me
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/rr903q71q2hw1ge/chapter%208.jpe?dl=0)
1. Masquerade
2. Her Sword
3. Morpho
4. ∅ (Slit)
4. ∅ (Slit) O
4. ∅ (Slit) I
5. Laplace
6. Q
7. Scherzo
8. AXION
9. Code 03
10. Reverence
Chapter IX - Buried
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/guqmuz0hl4dvnrx/chapter%209.jpe?dl=0)
1. Oriens
2. Hey Wonder
3. Brionac
4. First Gate
4. First Gate Overdrive
5. Qualia
6. East West Wobble
7. Warlords of Atlantis
8. To Further Dream
9. COMA
10. Codename : Zero
Chapter X - The New World
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/4suiul1mg3f27xg/cytus%20chapter%2010.jpe?dl=0)
1. Freedom Dive
2. Halloween Party
3. YURERO
4. Twenty One
5. Solar Wind
6. Red Eyes
7. Finite Circuit
8. Set Free
9. Do Not Wake
10. Gatorix
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Incredibly good and well-constructed writeup. I may check this out despite my aversion to post-90s electronica.
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h - o l - y c - r r -ap
also that actually looks pretty neat tbh, even if i didn't read all of it :lol
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That sounds like one hell of an interesting game. Great write-up :tup
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Thanks guys. :D
I want to provide you the best description of the game, lest you guys want to try it. :)
And is it alright if I put sequels in this game? For example, Final Fantasy I, II, III, IV, V, etc all in this list?
Oh, Final Fantasy won't be included, but this is the only game I know with so many sequels.
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24: StarCraft: Brood War
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/starcraft%20broodwar%20image_zpsfkvnbsfn.jpg)
Now, we have StarCraft: Brood War, a game I have been playing since the 5th grade. StarCraft: Brood War is the expansion pack for the award winning military science fiction, real-time strategy video game StarCraft.
Gameplay:
StarCraft focuses around three distinct interstellar species:
1) The Psionic Protoss
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/protoss_zpsngwx5xrk.jpg)
2) The Adaptable Terrans
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/terran_zps28off488.jpg)
3) The insectoid Zerg
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/zerg_zps6wx4v4bl.jpg)
The game revolves around players collecting resources to construct a base, upgrade their militia, and ultimately conquer opponents. Brood War's gameplay remains fundamentally unchanged from that of StarCraft, although it made small alterations to unit costs and some abilities. These changes make rushing tactics—a factor that gained some criticism in the original StarCraft—less practical.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/base_zpszi1auh41.jpg)
(A StarCraft Terran's base. SCV's (workers) rush to gather minerals and gas to form their army to defeat the enemy team)
The single-player campaign has an increased difficulty; missions are no longer entirely linear, and a greater focus on strategy is needed to complete missions. In addition, the game's artificial intelligence (AI) has been augmented so that AI-controlled players are more intelligent and tend to use tactics more effectively.
Brood War introduces seven new units. Each race is given access to a unique ground unit: the Zerg can create a defensive unit that can attack from the concealment of its burrow, while the Terrans can train combat medics. The Protoss are able to produce dark templar units, a powerful cloaked melee unit only given to the player in special missions of StarCraft. Protoss players can merge two of these units to create a special spellcaster unit. Each race is also given access to a dedicated air-to-air attack unit.
Some New Units to StarCraft BroodWar
Terran: Medic and Valkyrie
Medics heal biological units, but can't heal mechanical units.
Valkyrie's are the Terran's anti air, doing splash damage and devastating grouped up enemies.
Protoss:
Dark Templar's are cloaked and deal massive damage to bases that don't have sufficient detectors (units that can see cloaked/invisible units.
Dark Archon's are merged by two Dark Templar's and are spell casters. They can freeze biological units in place and Mind Control enemy unints.
Corsair's like the Valkyrie's do little damage, but do splash damage.
Zerg:
Luker's burrow under the ground and deal massive splash damage in a line.
Devourer's are the Zerg's anti-air specialists. They fire out acid spores that reduce the attack speed of enemies.
Synposis
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!
Brood War takes place in Chris Metzen's StarCraft universe, set around the early 26th century. Terran exiles from Earth have colonized a distant area of the Milky Way galaxy called the Koprulu Sector, having established several governments. Eventually, a civil war breaks out and ends with the formation of the Terran Dominion. However, humanity soon becomes caught in a war between the Protoss and the Zerg, which culminates at the end of StarCraft with the death of the Zerg leader, the Overmind, on the Protoss homeworld of Aiur. Without the Overmind to command, the Zerg rampage mindlessly across Aiur, while the cerebrates—the secondary commanders of the Swarm—attempt to regain control. After the discovery of alien life in the Koprulu Sector, the United Earth Directorate (UED)—the international body governing Earth—decides to send an expeditionary force to secure the sector and prevent the aliens from finding Earth. Brood War begins two days after the conclusion of StarCraft.
The story of Brood War is presented through its instruction manual, the briefings to each mission, and conversations within the missions themselves, along with the use of cinematic cut scenes at the end of each campaign. The game itself is split into three new episodes, one for the player to command each race.
In the first episode, Aldaris, Zeratul, and the newly promoted Artanis work to evacuate the surviving Protoss from their devastated homeworld through a warp gate to a dark templar colony on Shakuras, where they meet the matriarch of the dark templar, Raszagal. Although the Zerg are able to follow the Protoss to Shakuras, Raszagal informs the survivors of a Xel'Naga temple on the surface of the planet with the power to scour the Zerg from the surface if activated. Reluctantly partnering with Sarah Kerrigan, who informs them of a new Overmind growing on Char, the player joins Zeratul and Artanis in an operation to recover two key crystals (Khalis and Uraj) necessary to operate the temple. Upon their return, it is revealed that Aldaris has begun an uprising against the dark templar over their alliance with Kerrigan. The uprising is crushed, and Aldaris is killed by Kerrigan, who reveals that her motives are to ensure the destruction of the Zerg cerebrates on Shakuras so she can gain control of the Zerg herself before departing the planet. Despite knowing that activating the temple will accomplish Kerrigan's objectives, Zeratul and Artanis proceed with little other choice, wiping the Zerg off Shakuras' surface.
Cinematic cut scenes are used at key plot points during the single-player campaigns.
In the second episode, the player leads the United Earth Directorate's initial incursions against the Terran Dominion. Upon meeting Samir Duran, the fleet's vice-admiral Alexei Stukov conscripts Duran as a special advisor. The UED soon discovers a "psi disrupter"—a device capable of disrupting Zerg communications—on the former Confederate capital Tarsonis. Although Duran persuades admiral Gerard DuGalle to have the anti-Zerg device destroyed, Stukov's forces relieve Duran at the last moment. The UED proceeds to the Dominion throne world Korhal IV where the player defeats Arcturus Mengsk's armies, although Mengsk is rescued when a Protoss fleet commanded by Jim Raynor arrives. The UED tracks Raynor and Mengsk to the Protoss homeworld of Aiur, but the two escape the massive UED assault when Duran inexplicably moves his forces out of position and allows the Zerg to interfere with the operation. Having understood that the UED invasion had caused Mengsk, Raynor, and the Protoss to band together against a common foe, Stukov realizes that Duran's actions and the Zerg attack were too much to be a coincidence—the Zerg were also allied with the Terran Dominion and the Protoss, and Duran had been working to undermine the UED. While Stukov takes a contingent of troops and reconstructs the psi disrupter on Braxis, DuGalle is unaware of his intentions and becomes convinced that he is a traitor. The player helps Duran hunt down Stukov inside the psi disrupter, but before he dies, Stukov reveals to DuGalle that Duran is the real enemy. Duran flees after the player foils his attempt to sabotage the psi disrupter. Using the psi disrupter's capabilities, DuGalle and the UED are able to assault the Zerg world Char and take control of the new Overmind growing there.
The final section of Brood War sees the player helping Sarah Kerrigan defeat the UED. With the Overmind falling under the United Earth Directorate's command, all operations amongst native factions in the sector are damaged, including Kerrigan's forces. To begin the campaign against the Directorate forces, Kerrigan and Samir Duran form a reluctant alliance with Jim Raynor, Protoss praetor Fenix, and Arcturus Mengsk to destroy the psi disrupter. After destroying the psi disrupter, the player leads Kerrigan's forces in a full-scale assault on Korhal, quickly breaking the UED's hold over the planet. In the aftermath, Kerrigan betrays her allies, destroying a large number of Dominion forces and killing both Fenix and Mengsk's right-hand man, Edmund Duke. Angry at Kerrigan's betrayal, Raynor promises that he will kill her one-day and then retreats. Kerrigan travels with Duran to Shakuras and abducts Raszagal, who she uses to blackmail Zeratul into killing the Overmind on Char, thus bringing all Zerg forces under Kerrigan's control. Zeratul attempts to rescue Raszagal, but the player prevents their escape, and Zeratul eventually kills Raszagal when it becomes clear she has been irreversibly brainwashed by Kerrigan. At that moment it became clear that Aldaris's uprising in the first episode was an attempt to stop the brainwashed Raszagal from betraying her people any further. Upon leaving Char in search of Artanis, Zeratul stumbles upon a genetics facility run by Duran without Kerrigan's knowledge where a Protoss/Zerg hybrid is being developed. At the same time, Kerrigan is attacked on Char by the Dominion, the UED, and a vengeful fleet commanded by Artanis. Despite being outnumbered, Kerrigan defeats all three fleets and eradicates the surviving UED fleet, leaving her the dominant power in the sector. Before the UED fleet was wiped out, Admiral DuGalle sent a final message back to his family before committing suicide with his pistol.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/kerrigan_zpsdxzzgkwc.jpg)
Kerrigan before her infestation
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/kerrigan%20infest_zpsvxks9ddi.jpg)
Kerrigan after her infestation
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/nuke_zpsjzkjydfr.jpg)
Devastating nuke attack
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/battle_zpscwhzcqk9.jpg)
Massive air battle by the Protoss and Terran
How I Found Out:
I take swimming lessons and there was a teacher named Charlie. He has this extensive reward system in which he gave winners or leaders candy or other special prizes. I knew him personally and he would give me some free items here and there. When were doing a 200 Butterfly race, I came out in first place and he promised me a game. He asked me what game I wanted and I didn't know. After thinking, Charlie gave me StarCraft: Broodwar. I booted up this game and tried playing it. I felt stupid after I lost badly against an easy computer and I did some research for this game. Slowly, I gained the hang of it and soon this has become my favorite's.
StarCraft 2 is on this list, but since it's divided into three games, I just chose my favorite and it is way ahead of BroodWar, simply because much better graphics and story plots.
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I've never played SC, my best friend however was obsessed with it. I heard that there was a rumor floating around that there is going to be a SC Broodwar remaster on the horizon.
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is it alright if I put sequels in this game? For example, Final Fantasy I, II, III, IV, V, etc all in this list?
I'm a little conflicted on how I feel franchises with multiple entries should be handled. Some people tend to bloat their list by shoehorning more than one entry of a franchise into the same number like having Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3 both coming in at number 20, for example. I just feel like this dilutes the accuracy of the list since the odds are against the list maker actually liking those games identically so the number ranking for it becomes irrelevant and it basically comes across as a way to skirt the limit of 25 games.
I'd rather just make it the option of each list maker to choose from either 25 or 30 of their favorite games since then games can all have their own unique number in order to preserve the accuracy of the rankings. Basically, if someone wants to do 30, that's it since they're already being given five bonus spots to work with so it's not like they need to keep inching their list toward a top 50 which was what Sacul, the original runner of this thread, was trying to avoid all along and I feel like his format is perfectly fine.
That said, feel free to have as many entries as you wish to include from any franchise but just give each one their own unique number.
Beyond all of this, your writeups are really fun. I like the thoroughness, the layout, and the passion behind it. It definitely reminds me of reading EGM and Gamepro as a kid.
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Wow, heck of a write up on SC! :tup Although I went with SC2 over SC1 as also said you did, SC1 is amazing and I sunk so much time in the game. It's so smooth playing.
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Reaper: They do have a remastered version of it. I played it and it was amazing. Good game!
Black Floyd: Thanks! I will put sequels as different numbers. And thank you again. I really want the reader to get the true meaning of the game. The write ups will get much longer as we get to my favorites. All for the readers.
CableX: Thanks! They both were amazing games! I agree.
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And CableX, I especially loved your write up
You hooked me with Undertale. I was going to have only a paragraph worth of write up, but yours changed that. Thank you! :tup
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Number 23: Mario Superstar Baseball
Mario Superstar Baseball is a Mario sport title for the Nintendo GameCube, and is the first of two titles on which Mario and his friends play baseball. The game features an addition of unique Power Shots, minigames, and special abilities characters can perform on the field. There is also a chemistry feature that displays good, neutral, and bad relationships between characters. It also featured a single-player mode where a selected captain wanders on a map and challenges other captains. This game also introduces a Toy Field where individual characters play on an interactive baseball field and get coins based on where the ball lands. Its sequel, Mario Super Sluggers was released for the Wii in 2008.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mario%20baseball_zpskqajawfp.jpg)
Gameplay:
Mario Superstar Baseball plays similarly to actual baseball; teams take turn batting to run on the bases and fielding. The team who bats hits the ball to the field while the fielders attempt to make the batters out. Once a runner touches the home base, their team earns a point. There are three outs on an inning for the batting team. Once a team gets three outs, they switch sides. Whichever team obtains the most points wins. Teams, led by specific team captains, can have up to nine members.
Controls:
Controls for batters and runners.
A Button: Confirm
B Button: Cancel
Control Stick/+Control Pad: Select menu items
L Button/R Button: Switch between positions and line-ups
L Button: Changes color of certain characters
Y Button: Deselect all members
X Button: Change hand type of a character
Z Button: View profile of a character selected
In-game controls (batter)
A Button: Normal Swing (holding A Button causes the swing to charge)
B Button: Bunt
L Button: Reset batter to default position
Control Stick/+Control Pad: Reset batter to default position or aim the hit
A Button + R Button: Use Star Swing
In-game controls (runner)
Control Stick: Choose a base when stealing a base
Y Button: Steal a base/Advance a base
X Button: Return to base/Dash
B Button: Tapping it makes characters dash
In-game controls (pitcher)
Control Stick/+Control Pad: Change pitcher's position on mound/control the ball
A Button: Normal Pitch (holding A Button causes the pitch to charge)
A Button + R Button: Throw a Star Pitch
Control Stick + B Button: Check a runner
L Button: Reset pitcher to default position
In-game controls (fielder)
Control Stick/+Control Pad: Move
Control Stick + A Button: Choose a base and throw
Control Stick + A Button: Diving Catch
A Button: Jump
A Button: Use unique talent (if any)
B Button: Tapping it makes characters dash
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/controls_zpsz0gxasow.jpg)
Star Skill:
A new feature in this game is the ability to use a Star Skill. Star Skills can be activated either while pitching or while batting. Anyone in this game can use a Star Skill, but a team captain's Star Skill is superior to a sub-character's Star Skill. Team Captains have mostly different Star Skills, however, captains that usually pair with each other (Mario and Luigi, Peach and Daisy) have similar Star Skills. The amount of Star Skills that can be used is represented by 5 Team Stars in a meter. The amount of starting Team Stars depend on the sub-characters' chemistry with the team captain.
Star Skills can be replenished by hitting ball park features. They can also be replenished by striking a player out or making a batter reach a base safely when the words, "Star Chance!" appear. Team captains and sub-characters use up one Team Star while captains as members use up two Team Stars.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/star%20skill%202_zpshs2qtiwh.jpg)
(The picture you will see before a star skill is activated.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/star_skill_zpshfgjr7ht.jpg)
(Mario's devastating fireball skill.)
List of Star Skills Users, Names, and Description:
Fireball - (Mario)
Green Fireball - (Luigi)
"Fireballs also appeared in Mario Superstar Baseball, where they are Mario and Luigi's special pitch. It, unlike most other pitches, goes in a straight line. The ball, as the name says, turns into an extremely hard-to-hit fireball (red for Mario, green for Luigi)."
Heart Ball - (Peach)
Flower Ball - (Daisy)
"Heart Ball is the name of the Special Ball that Peach uses in Mario Superstar Baseball. When pitching, Peach will throw the ball with many scattered hearts on it. This will disguise the ball and confuse the batter on where the ball actually is.
If Peach is batting, she will hit the ball with scattered hearts surrounding it. This will also confuse the opponents on where the ball is while it is disguised in the hearts. However, as it moves closer to the ground, the hearts will disappear, and reveal the real ball.
Same goes for Daisy. The only difference is that the ball is disguised with daisies, not hearts."
Egg Ball - (Yoshi)
Weird Ball - (Birdo)
"While pitching, Yoshi throws the ball and it will bounce on one side of the ground, and then bounce farther to the other side as it passes the batter. This can trick the batter, as the ball quickly bounces from one side to the other.
If Yoshi is batting, the ball will be shot to the infield, and will bounce around the area. It works just like Birdo's Weird Ball, except the Egg Ball has green spots rather than pink spots."
Phony Ball - (Wario)
Liar Ball - (Waluigi)
"Phony Ball is the name of the Special Ball that Wario uses in Mario Superstar Baseball. While pitching, Wario is able to throw both a regular baseball and a clove of garlic, confusing the batter as to which one to hit. The player must obtain the Gnarly Garlic Power-Up in Challenge Mode before being able to use this move.
If Wario is batting, he hits both a clove of garlic and a baseball, confusing the fielders as to which ball is real to catch. It is similar to Waluigi's Liar Ball with the only difference being is that Waluigi uses an eggplant."
Banana Ball - (Donkey Kong)
Boomerang Ball - (Diddy Kong)
"Banana Ball is the name of the Special Ball that Donkey Kong uses in Mario Superstar Baseball. While pitching, DK will toss a Banana at the batter. This will act as a Boomerang, as it will curve greatly when thrown, and then curve straight past the batter. Hitting this ball requires careful concentration, as it curves.
If DK is batting, he will also hit a Banana out into the field, which will also curve greatly, as it slices through the field. This is still hard to catch, but it it not necessarily impossible to catch the Banana Ball. It is a direct copy of Diddy's Boomerang Ball."
Killer Ball - (Bowser)
Killer Jr. Ball - (Bowser Jr.)
"Killer Ball is the name of the Special Ball that Bowser uses in Mario Superstar Baseball. While pitching, Bowser is able to throw a Bullet Bill at the batter. The Bullet Bill moves slowly towards the player, flips around, and then flies past the batter at high speed.
If Bowser is batting, he is able to turn the ball into a Bullet Bill once contact is made. If caught, the Bullet Bill pushes the catcher far back. The only difference between Bowser's Killer Ball and Jr.'s, is that the Killer Jr. Ball wears a bandanna, just like Bowser Jr. himself."
Challenge Mode:
Challenge mode (the main game mode of Mario Superstar Baseball) is a game mode where one player selects one of five Team Captains (Mario, Peach, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Yoshi) and plays with a pre-made team. The player wanders a map of the Mushroom Kingdom and can play minigames to earn coins and spend at a Shop, where power-ups can be bought. The player's objective is to beat the other four captains in a game of baseball, on their own course. In order to get the others, the player should see the scout flags for the match. Scout flags are earned by completing scout missions, such as getting a hit, or scoring a run. If the scout mission is not completed, you will not earn the scout flag(s). There are scout flags next to the characters' faces. These flags serve as a purpose for recruiting other characters to the player's team. Each character has a set number of Scout Flags (up to five flags), with team captains requiring more Scout Flags (3 on the Mushroom level, 4 on the Flower level and Star level, and 5 on the Special level) and sub-captains and characters of race (excluding the characters with color changes) needing the median number (2 on Mushroom and on Flower, 3 on Star, and 4 on Special) and minor characters needing the least (1 on Mushroom, 2 on Flower and Star, and 3 on Special).
The only exception is Donkey Kong's team, with all his teammates needing only one scout flag on the mushroom level. Bowser's team cannot be recruited due to no scout flags; the only way to do so is when Bowser is selected as a challenge mode captain. When Bowser is chosen, the team players require the same number of flags as the captain when he is not chosen. Before the match, the opposing team's has the message "Round up Players" on their batting order screen. The order of the opposing team is random as well as the fielding position, with the exception of Bowser's team, whose batting order and fielding positions remain the same. Players from other teams can be recruited after clearing certain missions. When the player recruits the captain they are not able to recruit other characters on their team unless the player faces Bowser Jr.
After beating all four opponents, the path to Bowser's Castle opens, where the player is able to challenge Bowser's team. Once Bowser's team is defeated, Challenge Mode is cleared. Additionally, Bowser Jr. wanders the map. Coming in contact with him starts a short, one inning game where the player is put in various situations. If the player has had a captain join their team, they can unlock characters on their team from Bowser Jr. Sometimes, they are ahead by a point and must defend their position. Other times, they are behind and must make a comeback. Challenge Mode is the only way to unlock characters.
There are four difficulties to Challenge Mode: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special. Once Special mode is cleared, Bowser becomes a playable captain. In Bowser mode, Bowser must beat the other five captains, and then play a team of nine of the ten captains and sub-captains, led by Mario (the excluded character is random). Bowser can recruit other characters, excluding the captains and sub-captains, and in Bowser mode, Bowser Jr. does not wander the map.
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Number 23: Mario Superstar Baseball part 2
(not enough space for the other one, lol)
Stadiums/Minigames (The Stadiums are where you play actual baseball and the minigames are held in the stadium. The minigames can be found on a different option):
1. Mario Stadium/Bob-omb Derby
"A stadium belonging to Mario in a sun-drenched beachside area. There are no features in this stadium, so this stadium is well suited for pure baseball."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Mario_Stadium1_zpsusyokbmi.jpg)
Minigame: Bob-omb Derby is a minigame in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers. It is set in the Mario Stadium, and is played during nighttime. A roulette will start, and the player must press the A Button in order to stop it. It will land on a certain image, and a machine that looks like F.L.U.D.D. will shoot out a Bob-omb at the player. The player must then hit the Bob-omb, in order to score a Home-Run. A Home-Run is always succeeded, but sometimes it will become a Foul Ball for going past the boundary line.
The Bob-omb will be a different speed depending on the image:
Mushroom: The Bob-omb will be slow, and will be easy to hit.
Fire Flower: The Bob-omb will travel at the normal speed rate of the normal Baseball.
Star: The Bob-omb will be somewhat fast.
Fireball: The Bob-omb will zoom pass the batter very fast, making it harder to hit.
King Bob-omb: A large Bob-omb will be shot out at a random speed and, if hit, will score more points than a normal Bob-omb
Question Mark: One of the previous Bob-omb speeds except for King Bob-omb will be fired.
The player can score more points if they keep hitting the Bob-ombs, without missing one. This is called a Combo. However, a combo can easily be thrown off if a Bob-omb is missed.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Derby_zpslis3n4ze.jpg)
2. Peach Garden/Wall Ball
"A courtyard ball park just outside Peach's Castle. Blocks float high above the fielders in this ball park. When a fly ball hits one of these blocks the ball will bounce and fly to a random direction. Brick Blocks can be destroyed while Note Blocks can't be destroyed. Blocks also give out Star Skills when hit."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Peach_Garden1_zps5o5splh3.jpg)
Minigame: Wall Ball is the name of a minigame found in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers. The minigame is hosted in Princess Peach's stadium, (Peach Garden in Mario Superstar Baseball, or Peach Ice Garden in Mario Super Sluggers). It is a four-player minigame (although, the other three can be CPU players). The aim of the game is to score the most points out of all the players. In Mario Superstar Baseball, each player takes a turn at throwing a very strong ball into a row of Brick Walls. In Mario Super Sluggers, it is the same, but players do not take turns. This is done by using a bar on the side, which tells the player how strong or weak the throw will be, and only the last wall they hit determines how (or if) their points change. Players with the most points in the end, wins. It is played in Challenge Mode in Superstar Baseball as well, where the player will have to verse three Toads.
There are three types of walls in Mario Superstar Baseball:
Brick Wall – Hit this, and the player will earn five points for each wall they hit.
♪ Wall – Hit this, and the player will earn 100 Points.
Bowser Wall – Hit this, and the player will lose half of their points, which will be divided amongst the other players.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-War_Ball_zps2keh28rt.jpg)
3. Wario Palace/Chain Chomp Sprint
"A ball park owned by Wario in a middle of a desert. Chain Chomps guard the extreme right and left fields where the ball is fouled when landed upon there. Chain Chomps will attempt to bite the ball and they can hit characters if there is any contact. Sandstorm generators also float and make the balls change direction where it will land by generating whirlwinds. Star shaped dunes can be found in the sand and they will give a Star Skill when a ball rolls into it."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-WarPalace_zpswv6m0v9p.jpg)
Minigame: Chain Chomp Sprint is a minigame in Mario Superstar Baseball. Wario Palace is where this game is held. It involves four players (at least one has to be a human player), and they must collect jewels, which are spread across the four bases, within sixty seconds (ninety in Special Mode). The player with the most jewels in the end wins. Commonly, a large row of normal jewels will appear. Rarely, a large Red Jewel will appear on one of the bases. If it is collected, the player will earn ten Jewels. There is a Chain Chomp in the middle of the field, however, who will wake up occasionally. Each player must stop or else the Chain Chomp will tackle him or her, making the individual lose half the jewels. If players run into a Mushroom, they will run much faster, but this makes it more difficult to stop. This minigame is also seen in Challenge Mode, where the player is against three Magikoopas.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Chain_Chomp_SprintMSB_zpsixo0nhut.jpg)
4. Yoshi Park/Piranha Panic
"A scenic ball park owned by Yoshi. Piranha Plants grow widespread across the field and attack anyone who goes near a stray ball. Yellow Piranha Plants don't harm players and they give out a Star Skill when hit."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Yoshi_Park_zpsjeqeksgp.jpg)
Piranha Panic is one of the many four-player minigames seen in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers. Yoshi hosts this minigame in his stadium, Yoshi Park. The four participants in the game sit in four pipes with colored Eggs behind them and three differently-coloured Piranha Plants in front of them. Sometimes one of the Piranha Plants will duck down into its Warp Pipe, with a differently Piranha Plant appearing to take its place.
The goal is to throw the red, yellow, green and blue eggs into the Piranha Plant of the same color to earn points. If the wrong egg is thrown into a wrong colored Piranha Plant (e.g. Red Egg into Blue Piranha Plant), the Piranha Plant will proceed to spit a Fireball at the player who gave them the wrong egg, forcing them to duck. Occasionally, the players may find a Bomb amongst the eggs. If thrown at a Piranha Plant, the player will get three points. If thrown at a rival player (forcing them to duck for cover, as with fireballs), they will lose some points. Also, every now and then a giant Purple Piranha Plant will replace the other three for a few seconds; it will be able to eat all kinds of eggs, but will spit Fireballs at all players. The player with the most points at the end of the sixty-second time limit (90 in Special Mode), wins the game.
Piranha Panic is also featured in Challenge Mode, where the player is able to challenge three Shy Guys to a game of Piranha Panic.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Pirahna_PanicMSBar_zpsg8brfy2g.jpg)
5. Donkey Kong Jungle/Barrel Batter
"A stadium set in a jungle, owned by Donkey Kong. Barrels get launched from a cannon and hit any player they touch. Klaptraps are also found in a stream and they will bite a player who comes too close. When hit with a ball, Klaptraps give out a Star Skill."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Donkey_Kong_Jungle1_zpswlbhhtaz.jpg)
Minigame: Barrel Batter is a Minigame located in the Donkey Kong Jungle in the game Mario Superstar Baseball. The player must hit the ball into the row of Barrels, which appear in front of the player. The Barrels come in three colors:
Blue Barrels
Red Barrels
Yellow Barrels
The more Barrels of the same color touch, the more points the player can score if they hit that color Barrel. After hitting a certain amount of Barrels, a Bob-omb Barrel will drop down onto the wall of Barrels. If it is hit on the first swing after it drops (which is very hard), then all of the Barrels will blow up, earning around 860 points and three extra balls. The player has to score as many points as they possibly can. It can also be played in Challenge Mode.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-BarrelBatters_zps9xejbx6r.jpg)
6. Bowser Castle/Star Dash
"A ball park inside Bowser's castle. Flying fireballs are found in chain link lava picts and they harm anyone who touches it. Thwomps also crash down to stop any would-be home run balls. Star panels give out Star Skills when they get touched in this stadium."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Bowser_Castle2_zpss4tmszjc.jpg)
Minigame: Star Dash is an unlockable minigame that is used in Mario Superstar Baseball. It is set in the Bowser Castle stadium, and is a four-player Minigame, however only one has to be Human. The players must scramble to collect all the Coins that are shot out of a tube. The player with the most coins in the end, wins. Stars will occasionally shoot out, and will make anyone who touches them invincible. It will also make them slightly faster. Mushroom's will also occasionally be shot out. This will make the player run faster, which will allow them to collect more coins. There are also many Thwomp's hanging over the field, and they will fall down on occasion to squash one of the players. Bowser laughs when a player gets hit by a Thwomp. It is the only Minigame that cannot be played in Challenge Mode. In the first three difficulties and in multiplayer, the time limit is 60 seconds, while in Special Mode in single player, the time limit is ninety seconds.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-StarDash_zpspok1n0tn.jpg)
The Toy Field:
One of my most favorite's on this game. First, the players select their characters. Then, they will choose to have 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 turns for the whole game. Then, the game starts. If the pitcher strikes out the batter, the pitcher will earn 30 coins, and bat next. If a fielder catches a ball, the fielder gets to bat next. If the caught ball is a fly ball, the fielder steals 50 coins from the batter.
Hitting the buttons on the field have various effects. 1B hit advances all runner lights one base forward, earning 10 coins plus 30 (10 from each opponent) for any RBI. 2B Hit advances the lights 2 spots forward, earning 20 coins and again 30 for all RBI. 3B Hit spaces are the same, except earning 30 coins for the base score. The HR space in center field acts as a homerun, removing every runner light and giving you 40 coins for landing there, and again 30 for all RBI scored.
? spaces start a slot wheel. If the wheel shows three Bob-ombs, then the player loses 90 coins, 30 to each opponent, and if nobody catches the ball after it lands there a random player is selected to bat. Three red shells steal 30 coins from a random player. Three blue Spiny Shells steals 100 coins with the leader. Three lightning bolts switches coin totals with the leader. Three lucky 7's changes all spaces to HR for 1 turn and gives a bat again. Three 1-UP shrooms lights up all the runner lights and earns a bat-again. In the Japanese version, the letters in the word "slot" are all capital while in the North American version, the first letter is capitalized and the rest of the letters are lowercase.
Hitting the "COIN" spaces causes many coins to appear on the field. The fielders can collect the coins for a few seconds. After that time is up, the batter gets any remaining coins.
Hitting a button right next to the back wall reveals a letter. Hitting all the letters will spell HOMERUN, and the player will get a home run, earning them more coins. If the ball is not caught when a batter hits it, the batter will go again.
In Challenge mode, Toy Field last for ten turns and the player is pitted against Bowser Jr., a Dry Bones, and a Red Dry Bones. If either of these three are chosen (on Bowser's Challenge Mode), that character will be replaced by Mario.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/200px-MSB_ToyField_zps3alt01gk.jpg)
How I Found Out About This Game:
It was either this game or Super Mario Strikers. I thought baseball to be a much better sport than soccer and it did not disappoint. I played this game with my sister a few times and with extremely few friends. Stealing the bases was so much fun and it was one of the games that made me and whoever else was playing laugh and joke around. I can still smile, remembering a few sweet spots this game brought to my life.
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I'll also try to be as descriptive as possible.
(https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/files/2014/10/George-W.-Bush-Mission-accomplished.jpg)
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xD :metal
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Just a thought - all that write up about how to play the game, but then only the last couple of lines covering what you like about it. Each to their own of course, but I'm definitely more interested in reading about why you like the game, and your experience of it, than how the game is played. :)
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I never knew there was a mario baseball but it looks like it was a lot of fun to play. I've always had a soft spot for Mario theme sports games.
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Just a thought - all that write up about how to play the game, but then only the last couple of lines covering what you like about it. Each to their own of course, but I'm definitely more interested in reading about why you like the game, and your experience of it, than how the game is played. :)
Sorry ariich, I got too carried away. I was having fun and I didn't realize it would turn into this monster. Anyways, I apologize for that. :)
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I don't mind the long write-ups, in my opinion people can do these lists how they want to do them
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When you said "Mario", you really meant Mario! I've never extensively played anything outside of the platformers, both 2D and 3D, and the Mario Kart games. Consequently, I cannot really comment yet. Well, except for one thing.
I thought baseball to be a much better sport than soccer
I take issue to this egregiously false claim. :lol
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Awesome entry! This game was actually on my list a little while back. If you have the time and a friend, I highly recommend trying out a World Series. These are the rules me and my best friend use (and we still do this about once a year or so):
1. Flip a coin. Whoever wins the coin toss decides if they want home field advantage or first pick.
2. Pick all characters, going back and forth until all are chosen.
3. All games are 9 innings, no mercy rule.
4. Starting pitchers need at least two games off.
5. Relief pitchers need at least one game off.
6. No rules on who you can use more than once, but everyone on the team needs to play at least one game before Game 4.
7. Home field advantage gets to pick at which field the game is played. Once a field is picked, it cannot be picked again. Game 7 is always played at Mario Stadium.
Could be more I'm forgetting, but those are the main basic rules we play with.
But anyway, like I said, great pick!
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So much fun was had playing Mario Baseball. That would be our go to game when my friends came by and chilled.
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Thanks all of you.
Open your eyes, really enjoyed your list. And once we get to the top 20ish all but 1 or 2 will be Mario
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Just a thought - all that write up about how to play the game, but then only the last couple of lines covering what you like about it. Each to their own of course, but I'm definitely more interested in reading about why you like the game, and your experience of it, than how the game is played. :)
Sorry ariich, I got too carried away. I was having fun and I didn't realize it would turn into this monster. Anyways, I apologize for that. :)
Nothing to apologise for, 'twas only a thought/suggestion, and nothing to do with the length of the posts.
There's no right or wrong way to do these lists, and I think it's really awesome a) that you're doing things a little differently and going into so much detail, and b) that you're so enthusiastic about these games. It makes me want to understand a bit about why you're so enthusiastic about the games (especially as I haven't played any of them so far), and so a bit more of the write-ups being about that would add a lot. Completely appreciate that it's not always easy to articulate why you like something though. :)
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Ah, I totally understand. I think I know how to do that while keeping the list as is. Thanks ariich, you're helping me a lot.
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Ok, so there will be some adjustments. I will add much more to how I found out about the game and every write up, I will provide a piece of something in the beginning. It will build up to the end and hopefully that will make you guys understand what I'm feeling and how games have saved my life. Yes, they have.
I hope you guys will enjoy this.
"You know, I feel my life to be more of a curse than a blessing. I didn't choose to be born. I didn't choose the mother or father I have today. Thinking that, has really changed my life. I always contemplate how precious life is, if it's worth living or not....."
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Number 22: Plants vs Zombies II
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/plants_vs_zombies_2_zpsovamlvuq.jpg)
FLASHBACK (to the best of my ability):
Me: "Mom, can you please buy me a video game at Target?"
Mom: *Sigh* "Zacky, you ask that every time...."
Me: "But you never buy me anything! This is like my tenth time asking."
Mom: "Fine. Just this once. What game? Keep it under $30 please."
Me: "Yeah, no problem."
*browses through store*
Me: "Plants vs Zombies? That sounds so cool. I'll get that."
Mom: "Plants vs Zombies? How much is it?"
Me: "$19.99."
Mom: "Go for it."
Clerk: "You want to buy this game? Let me share you a secret. You can download this full game online for free. There is one. If I were you, I'd buy the second Plants vs Zombies available on IOS or Android."
Me: "Sure I'll do that."
That was how I was introduced to Plants vs Zombies and ever since I played it, it did not disappoint, even if some levels were ridiculously hard. Before I go on, let me explain to you the gist of Plants vs Zombies 2, to those who don't know.
About:
Plants vs. Zombies 2 (previously Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time) is a tower defense game released by PopCap Games. This game is a sequel to the award-winning game Plants vs. Zombies. It was released for iOS devices on Thursday, August 15, 2013 and on Android devices on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. In this version, the player battles new zombies in a time travel motif.
After the events of the game Plants vs. Zombies where the player defeated Dr. Zomboss at the rooftop of the house, zombies once again attacked the front yard and after the zombies are all defeated, the player gets the hot sauce and gave it to Crazy Dave. Crazy Dave ate his taco, and wanting to eat the taco again, he wants to time-travel and the player is introduced to his partner, Penny, a supercar that can time travel. Unfortunately, they went back to the Ancient Egypt, revealed that they time traveled 4500 years ago. And the journey goes on!
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/taco_zpsdy0n42tc.jpg)
(Oh, Dave. The trouble you have caused.....)
Plants vs Zombies 2 was a major sequel from Plants vs Zombies 1. Being an app available on the phone, this app goes through constant development and update whereas Plants vs Zombies 1 was a game that was released, but never ever changed.
Goal of the game:
The zombies are hungry for your brain and they will do anything to get to it and have a nice feast. There are a variety of plants and zombies.
The game starts with one lane on the lawn and the first plant you get is the Peashooter. The zombies appear once you plant your second Peashooter. After defeating all the zombies, you win the Sunflower.
The lawn expands to three lanes and the zombies appear once you plant three Sunflowers. After defeating all the zombies, you win the Wall-nut.
In the fourth level, the player encounters the Buckethead Zombie, and after winning the level, he gets the hot sauce. Crazy Dave arrives and eats his taco with the hot sauce. Then he wants to eat it again. His time-machine Penny arrives and, along with them, you time travel to eat the taco once again, but you "accidentally" arrive in Ancient Egypt.
In Ancient Egypt - Day 2, the player is introduced to Plant Food, when Crazy Dave mentions that a Peashooter "Looks hungry".
In Ancient Egypt - Day 5, the player is introduced to Power Ups (after receiving a jar of them in the previous level) that are Power Snow, Power Toss, and Power Zap. Power Pinch used to be featured in this level but was replaced with Power Snow in the 1.9 update.
Before the initial battle in Ancient Egypt - Day 25, Dr. Zomboss tries to infer that there were brains in Crazy Dave's taco. After the battle, Crazy Dave remembers that he had no meat in the Taco, so Dr. Zomboss is proven false.
The player can be sent to the Pirate Seas and when Penny asks why they were there, Crazy Dave only replies with "But Pirates!".
Before the initial battle in Pirate Seas - Day 25, Dr. Zomboss asks how Penny was created, as its "Temporal Signature" is almost identical to Dr. Zomboss's creations. Penny questions Crazy Dave if she is a Zombot, but Crazy Dave only mentions his sandwich.
The player can be sent to the Wild West and with Penny's calculations: "0.015% of Taco" and "0.016%" margin of error".
In Wild West - Day 1, the player is introduced to minecarts, a feature exclusive to the Wild West. Players plant in them and are able to move the carts across lanes.
Before the initial battle in Wild West - Day 25, Dr. Zomboss wonders if you considered that you are "Sharing in Crazy Dave's madness" and that "The zombies and I are normal people trying to help". But Crazy Dave only mentions that Zomboss is probably going to say there are "No spoons". After the level is beaten, Crazy Dave exclaims that no spoons were used in the level. Dr. Zomboss replies that he is right since zombies have no information known about spoons.
The player can be sent to the Far Future and is introduced to Power Tiles, that spread the Plant Food effect to other plants on tiles of the same type when one plant is given the boost.
Before the initial battle in Far Future - Day 25, Dr. Zomboss talks about how Crazy Dave is very helpful in the fight against the zombies and then says that "My sleeper agent will turn against you when the secret word is said." Then says "Hypno-Zombnosis" and Crazy Dave shows up and asks to borrow your brains, but then says he meant hot sauce. After the level is beaten, Crazy Dave snaps out of "hypno-zombnosis" and Dr. Zomboss tries to hypnotize him again, only to forget how to say "hypno-zombnosis".
The player can be sent to the Dark Ages and is introduced to graves that drop sun and Plant Food and night time, where sun does not fall from the sky.
Before the initial battle in Dark Ages - Night 20, Dr. Zomboss tries to infer that the reason Plant Food causes plants to be so violent, is that Plant Food is made from zombies. After the level is beaten, Penny says that from her research Plant Food does not contain zombies or zombie byproducts.
Crazy Dave also notes that plants should not eat zombies, except for Chompers.
The player can be sent to the Big Wave Beach and is introduced to water and wet sand, where Lily Pads have to be planted.
Before the initial battle in Big Wave Beach - Day 32, Dr. Zomboss tells you about how that Chomper and Bikini Zombie have been extra cozy lately, making him think that a plant-zombie romance is in bloom and how Chomper has the appetite of a zombie. After the level is beaten, Penny says that Dr. Zomboss was trying to sow "seeds of discontent" with Crazy Dave saying that they're the only ones that are going to "sow the seeds".
The player can be sent to the Frostbite Caves and is introduced to sliders, frozen plants or zombies, the chilling wind and a new Power Up, Power Flame, exclusive to Frostbite Caves. After beating Frostbite Caves - Day 15, the player will get a stone tablet with brains and zombies in it.
Before the initial battle in Frostbite Caves - Day 30, Dr. Zomboss questions Crazy Dave's taco if it is a trap and a trick. After the level is beaten, Crazy Dave and Penny were going to explain the second reason why they were time-travelling in the first place, until Dr. Zomboss interrupts that he isn't defeated, is going to reveal a "BIG SURPRISE" and will stop speaking in third-person.
The player can be sent to the Lost City and is introduced to Gold Tiles, where once a plant is planted on a gold tile, it will give a sun every twenty seconds.
Before the initial battle in Lost City - Day 32, Dr. Zomboss tells Crazy Dave and Penny not to think about usurping his discovery of Lost City, as he and his zombies have already submitted their find to the "Eminent Journal of the Missing and the Mislaid". After the level is beaten, Crazy Dave complains that he still does not have his taco even after all of his discovering. Penny tells Crazy Dave that the search will no doubt continue.
The player can be sent to Neon Mixtape Tour and is introduced to jams that vary in different kinds of music that can speed up or slow down zombies and give certain zombies special abilities.
Before the battle in Neon Mixtape Tour - Day 32, Dr. Zomboss tells Crazy Dave that he is in danger above and that he is a fool and so knew him. He then questions Crazy Dave if he shall ever give up and be down. He also tells him that he will run aground and hurt him, he intends to make him cry and means for him to say goodbye and alerts him that he is not really that nice a guy. Crazy Dave is then offended and says "Ouch!" After the level is beaten, Penny exclaims that that was close, with so many timing and rhythm changes and fears that we only have hit a pause on Dr. Zomboss' heinous deal. Dr. Zomboss agrees saying that his next verse is same, but yet worse and goes where they cannot imagine. He then moonwalks and jumps into his portal.
The player can be sent to Jurassic Marsh, where dinosaurs are introduced. They don't harm the plants but they help the zombies reaching the Player's House. After finishing Day 15, the player gets a tiny asteroid which Penny believes to be the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, creating a further speculation that time travelling changes history (in this case resulting in the shrinking of the meteor responsible for the K-T extinction event).
By Day 32, before the battle against the Zombot Dinotronic Mechasaur, Dr. Zomboss, out of his epochal infuriation, wonders aloud if he will ever be able to go to any time period where he can avoid the meddling of the player and his company, after which he tells the player that he has a rock scheduled to become their acquaintance. After the level is beaten, Penny detects an incoming meteor, the rock Dr. Zomboss had promised earlier (the real meteor responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, proving Penny's previous theory wrong), after which Crazy Dave bids farewell to the dinosaurs, and, foreshadowing the evolution of the raptors, mutters "You'll be birdies in no time." before he and Penny leave the timeline.
Zomboss, the sore loser of the fight, then proceeds to state that he has no choice but to enact "Project Paradox" (a possible hint that the next world is the last). Before warping out, he then leaves his final, chilling line "I will perceive you soon, fools!"
The player then arrives to the Modern Day, where Zomboss had already activated Project Paradox and the player has to defeat zombies from every world ultimately discovering the Taco (revealed to be a trap set by Dr. Zomboss) at the end of Day 15. On the next level, the player needs to defeat a horde of Gargantuars from almost every time period.
When the player completes Modern Day - Day 34, a "Taco with a Waffle In It" is rewarded. Crazy Dave, Penny and Dr. Zomboss' dialogues may hint that their mission to consume the taco again is completed.
List of places you fight off the zombies:
Player's House
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/house%201_zpsuichz9bb.jpg)
The Player's House is the first area in Plants vs. Zombies 2. It takes place on the front yard, which is exactly the same as Day in Plants vs. Zombies and Modern Day. At the beginning of the game, the player's lawn will only have one lane, and as they continue, more lanes will come in (three in Day 2 and 3, five in Day 4) like in the beginning of the original Plants vs. Zombies. Beforehand, the player has the option to play the tutorial or to skip it, skipping it will make them instantly go to Day 4.
After the player beats these levels, they get a bottle of hot sauce and meet Crazy Dave, who eats the Magic Taco from the first game with the hot sauce. He decides to eat it again, so he uses his time machine, Penny to go back in time to a place where it was not eaten. However, there were mistakes that happen when they are going back. The player, Penny, and Crazy Dave go back to Ancient Egypt, where the player's trip starts.
Ancient Egypt
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/egypt_zpsciiqxe6l.jpg)
Ancient Egypt is the first world in Plants vs. Zombies 2. The player's real journey starts here and the world itself is home to a variety of mummy zombies. There are 25 levels in this world, 7 plants to be obtained and 12 zombies to fight against.
Ancient Egypt does not have a game description on when the event took place in the timeline unlike the other ten worlds. It is assumed that it is approximately between 3100 BC to 332 BC. However, when Penny and Crazy Dave arrived, Penny said that Crazy Dave should wait 4,500 years for his taco, which he ate in 2009, therefore, they have arrived around 2491 BC, well into the start of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt (2494 to 2345 BC).
In this world, the lawn functions exactly as it normally would on a daytime level from the original Plants vs. Zombies. The main difference here is that tombstones spawn in at the start of the levels (just like night levels from Plants vs. Zombies, except that it is considered daytime with sun dropping from the sky).
Pirate Seas
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_zpsupird4oc.jpg)
Pirate Seas is the second world in Plants vs. Zombies 2 and its Chinese version. It is based on an old pirate ship on the open ocean. It is home to pirate zombies. It can be unlocked after beating the Gargantuar battle of any world by using the World Key obtained.
The events in Pirate Seas takes place in the Golden Age of Piracy, assuming to be in the period of buccaneering which was characterized by an Anglo-French seamen based on Jamaica and Tortuga where in the assault of Spanish colonies. Judging by its description, it is assumed that this world takes place on the Caribbean Sea, which is the most well known for the main setting of countless literary efforts related to piracy and swashbuckling.
In this world, the player's lawn is split up into three sections. The first section, the half towards his or her lawnmowers functions as it normally would. The section towards the entry point for zombies is quite different. Planks connecting the zombies ship to the player's allow them to passage onto your lawn. While some rows do not have any planks, they can still be attacked by ambush zombies landing halfway across his or her lawn. The sections with the planks will function as normal, with the exception that a few plants cannot be planted on planks (such as underground plants, like Potato Mine). The third and final part is the sea tiles, which no plants (not even water-orientated plants like Lily Pads) can be planted there and zombies instantly die if they land in the water. This is also the main part of the lawn where Swashbuckler Zombies start to swing forward towards the non-water parts of the lawn.
Wild West
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_1__zpsrr0l6yrh.jpg)
Wild West is the third world in Plants vs. Zombies 2, available since the game's launch.
Wild West appears to take place in the middle to latter part of the 19th century and is based on America's Wild West - home to a hot, arid climate and cowboy zombies.
In this world, there are minecart rails and minecarts on your lawn in different locations and positions, depending on the level. While nothing can be placed on a minecart rail, plants can be placed into a minecart and moved along the rail at will.
Far Future
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_7__zpstvqx5q5b.jpg)
Far Future takes place in the 24th century where the zombies have already mastered science and have successfully mass-produced advanced technology and weaponry to combat the plants of all the worlds, such as laser technology, mechanised walkers, etc. There are seven new plants and twelve new zombies that are introduced in this world. The player can unlock this area by using a World Key if the player has one, obtainable at the end of Gargantuar battles.
This world contains Power Tiles, the environment modifier of this world. Power Tiles come in different colors with different symbols corresponding to each color Power Tile. Power Tiles link Plant Food to any plant on a Power Tile of the same color. After Plant Food has been given to a plant on a Power Tile and it has finished its Plant Food power, it will also activate a Plant Food power on any plant of the same color as the previous Power Tile. This gives a distinct advantage to the player, as Power Tiles do not hinder the player.
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Number 22: Plants vs Zombies II (part 2)
Dark Ages
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Dark Ages is the fifth world in Plants vs. Zombies 2. It is the first world in Plants vs. Zombies 2 to be in a night time setting, similar to Night from Plants vs. Zombies. The mushrooms make their debut here.
As it namesake says, Dark Ages takes during the tenth century where culture and economy slowly deteriorates mankind that follows the decline of the Roman Empire. Also, the use of Black Magic like Necromancy became the center of usage for evil purposes.
Like in Ancient Egypt, tombstones appear in Dark Ages. However, they can now occasionally spawn by themselves and summon zombies through an ambush called "Necromancy!". Certain tombstones marked with a sun or Plant Food icon reward players with 100 sun and one Plant Food when destroyed respectively. Sun does not fall from the sky in Dark Ages as it is set during the night. If a grave spawns where there is a plant, that plant and all plants in front or behind it will move forward one column. Sunflowers and Twin Sunflowers still do produce Sun in these levels, but it is still recommended to use Sun-shrooms or Gold Blooms due to their lower costs.
Big Wave Beach
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_4__zps2t6wai2c.jpg)
Big Wave Beach takes place in the 1960s, when surfing gained popularity. Due to that, lots of beach gear like woodie (a car body style), necklaces with tiki faces, and beach clothes, like bikinis, have been invented. The surfers also invented skateboarding during the 1940s to the early 1950s, and the very first skateboard - which is just a piece of wood with wheels underneath it. According to them, skateboarding is what they do when tides are low - when they do not surf.
The main stage element of this world is the water. In each level, there is an arrow and a line of seaweed called the "tide line" that divides the land and water. This changes in every level. "Low Tide!" is the surprise attack for this world, which summons the Imp Mermaid Zombies in random lanes, similar to Bot Swarms in Far Future. However, powerful zombies, all at once, can summon.
Frostbite Caves
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_5__zps6isae5gj.jpg)
Frostbite Caves is the 7th world in Plants vs. Zombies 2 that takes place in an ice age. Its new special sneak peek Piñata Parties started on January 6, 2015, with the release of the new gem premium plant, Hurrikale. It introduces new zombies, such as Hunter Zombie, Dodo Rider Zombie, Troglobite, and Weasel Hoarder. It can be played by using a World Key, which is obtained by beating a Gargantuar battle or paying $4.99.
It appears the scene takes place at the Player's House which is a cave that's been outfitted to serve as a home. On the zombie side of the lawn there is a giant cave shaped like a zombie head made of ice, and there are also two mammoth tusks with one of them being broken.
The environment modifiers of this world are slider tiles, chilling winds and the surprise attack "Snowstorm!". Slider tiles are ice blocks that float on tiles with water and have a zombie hand frozen inside with its index finger pointing either up or down. This finger determines the lane the zombies that get in contact with it will go towards. (A finger pointing up means the zombie goes to the lane above it. Same mechanic applies to the finger pointing down.)
Chilling winds appear randomly during the level, partially freezing plants and they can eventually leave the plant completely incased in a frozen block, which renders the plant useless and also behaves similar to a tombstone. Finally, "Snowstorm!" is a surprise attack which is similar to the "Sandstorm!" surprise attack in Ancient Egypt. Zombies will come directly onto a tile, even behind a slider tile, then continue moving. Zombies that come in by the snowstorms are not affected by the slider tiles.
Besides the things mentioned above, there will sometimes be available plants, zombies or both that are frozen in the lawn from the beginning in some levels. The player can release them by using thawing plants, such as Hot Potato. There is also a new Power Up called Power Flame that replaces Power Snow and is exclusive to this world.
Lost City
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_2__zps0gvkgyqm.jpg)
Lost City is the eighth world in Plants vs. Zombies 2, released along the 3.6.1 and 3.7.1 updates.
This world was first revealed with the official trailer released on May 22, 2015.[1] Next Tuesday the sneak peek Piñata Parties had begun, showcasing the Lava Guava, the gem premium plant for Part 1, and the developer diary was released on May 28, 2015, the same day of the soft release. The official update of Part 1 was released on June 2, 2015.
After three weeks, Lost City Part 2 trailer was released on June 21, 2015, along with the developer diary two days later, on June 23, 2015, on the same day as the teaser parties and the release of Toadstool, the premium plant released alongside the second part of this world. Another 2 days later, Part 2 was soft released for Android devices. Next Tuesday on June 30, 2015 the official update was released.
The timeline of this world has yet to be revealed, and it appears to be set in early Mesoamerica, but it also seems to take place on the beginning of the 20th century, since the zombies come from a more modern era of exploration, modern inventions like planes are present, and the city seems to have been decaying for a long time.
The main gimmick of this world are the Gold Tiles. When a plant is placed on a Gold Tile, it will immediately give the player 50 sun, and then produce another 50 sun every 20 seconds until eaten, crushed, or moved by the zombies. Replanting a plant on a Gold Tile generates initial sun. Nothing special happens when the player uses Plant Food on a plant located on a Gold Tile.
Neon Mixtape Tour
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_7__zpstvqx5q5b.jpg)
Neon Mixtape Tour is the ninth world in Plants vs. Zombies 2 released with the 3.9.1 update. Cactus and Electric Blueberry are the premium plants released alongside this world for Part 1 and Part 2 respectively showcased in the teaser parties.
This world takes place in the 1980s, when there were a lot of bands representing a variety of musical genres, such as pop, punk, or metal. Jams, the environment modifier of this world, represent that variety through gameplay (more info below). Crazy Dave also claims to remember this period from when he was a kid.
Despite appearing to be a nighttime world, sun still falls from the sky and the levels themselves are called days.
Jurassic Marsh
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/download_8__zps1t22wiqw.jpg)
This world takes place during the Jurassic Era, long before the events of Frostbite Caves, where dinosaurs were still a reality. Although the lawn is located in a marsh, water is not a relevant environment modifier in this world. However, water can be seen above the lawn.
All the plants obtained in this world except Perfume-shroom are "primal" versions of the Player's House plants. The premium plant released alongside Part 1 of Jurassic Marsh is Grapeshot, and the one released alongside Part 2 is Cold Snapdragon.
Modern Day
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/house%201_zpsuichz9bb.jpg)
It is set in the present, more precisely a few moments before Crazy Dave eats his taco (and further begin his time travel journey), and features Dr. Zomboss trying to negate and alter the history. The lawn is the same as the Player's House and the music is a combination of themes from the first game with instruments from every world.
This world is a mash-up of every time period encountered before, and the main environment modifier, portals, reflect that. Portals summon a special zombie from any time period to the lawn. The tiles where portals appear and the zombies summoned are scripted and never change. The gimmicks from some other worlds are also present, elevating the challenge to the point of being the second world with a five Jalapeno difficulty rating.
Since the player can encounter zombies from every previous world in this world, it can be a good option to complete multiple tasks at the same time from Travel Log that involves killing certain zombies.
PLANTS
Plants are living organisms that belong to the Plantae kingdom. They obtain most of their energy from sunlight in a process called photosynthesis. However, not all plants absorb energy via photosynthesis. They are the protagonists of Plants vs. Zombies 2 and the player's main defense against the undead assailants. There are a grand total of 103 plants, 31 of which are premium plants and among the premium plants, 7 of them cost gems, 7 are available for a limited time, and, out of the premium plants, 3 can be obtained via Epic Quests, and one of them is only available via Zen Garden.
Plants are your main defense and you use them to stop the zombies from breaking into your home and eating your brain. Pleasant, right?
Plants can be fed plant food to upgrade the plant for a short amount of time.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/plant_food_zpsr2iatzvm.jpg)
(A Peashooter firing a barrage of peas. They normally shoot only 1 pea at a time.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/all%20plants_zpswyidbtsx.jpg)
(All the plants in Plants vs Zombies 2)
ZOMBIES
Zombies are reanimated, mindless, decaying corpses with a hunger for human brains. They are the main antagonists of Plants vs. Zombies 2, as the objective of the game is to prevent them from eating the player's brains. Zombies, like their defensive counterparts the plants, are varied in strength as well as speed, and command unique aspects which must be countered appropriately.
A total of 135 zombies appear in the game.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/gargantuar_zpslci0m3og.jpg)
(All Gargantuars. They one shot your plants and need 2 insta kill plants to destroy them.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/zombos_zpsoenwbj0f.jpg)
(The mastermind of all evil....Dr. Zomboss)
Why I Love This Game:
1) Originality: This is the first and only game that has this kind of plot. Sure there were other tower defenses, but this game pushed it to the limit. Seriously, how the heck do they think of so many plants, zombies, and worlds? This game never ceases to impress me.
2) Music: What I find in video games are music. Music is THE one of the main reasons why I love a video game for what it is. A video game with stellar music and a meh plot wins against a game with a brilliant, stellar plot, but not a lot of music that sticks with me. That is why I put Mario ahead of this list. Music. Some people just don't have time for music anymore. I love Mario music and I have some on my phone and playlist and I've been judged. A lot of people have called me "weird," "unoriginal," among other harsh insulting words, but I don't let that get to me. This will be a big factor in future write ups. Plants vs Zombies 2 has some nice music. All the world's have different music and the music actually fit the world you are playing in.
3) Difficulty: Ah, how I wanted to rip my hair out multiple times.....This game compared to Plants vs Zombies 1 is super difficulty. I finished PVZ 1 in 2 days, while this game is taking me over a year and I am not halfway done yet. This game keeps me on my toes and always has me scrambling. One mistake and the zombies will eat your brain. Very hard, but keeps me very active. It requires patience and dedication.
4) Time: Just like difficulty. It takes a lot of time. I love games that consume my time because there is so much to explore, so much to enjoy. This game does exactly that.
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Hope you enjoyed this one a bit more ariich. :)
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Yeah that's great dude, I like the expanded introduction and "why I love this game" sections. I played the first Plants v Zombies back when it first came out on iOS/Andriod, and I found it fun to play but never saw it through. I know a few people who, like you, really enjoy games where there's a level of challenge and dedication, but as I get older I find I don't have enough patience for that. :lol
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I'm a huge fan of TD games and while I've heard of Planets versus Zombies I've never played it. :tup great write up and I'll have to give it a shot sometime.
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Alright, so this write up is shorter than the previous ones.
Number 21: League of Legends
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/league_zps3ujrdfkm.jpg)
How I Found Out About This Game:
Well, well, well. Clocking at number 21 is League of Legends. I stumbled upon this game on Youtube while I was viewing some StarCraft 2 matches. This game caught my eye and after watching so many videos on Youtube, I knew I had to download this game. After all, it was free. It was a freemium game (download is free, but skins, ward skins, some champions, etc require RP (Riot Points), which you must by (ranges from $5-$100). I first picked this game around 2011 when this game was still gaining popularity. I put this game down until around 2013 and played it back again and there was so many changes. I was awed and I knew that I had to resume playing it. Since then, I play this game once in a while, enjoying it.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/rp_zpskzzp3jo6.jpg)
(RP currency on left (buy with own money) and IP currency on right (earned through winning games)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/rp_2_zpse8hho4od.jpg)
What The Heck is League of Legends?
League of Legends (previously known as League of Legends: Clash of Fates) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre video game developed by Riot Games. It was designed to operate on the Microsoft Windows operating system. The game was first announced on October 7th, 2008 and released a year, later on October 27th, 2009. The game was in beta from April 10th, 2009 to October 26th, 2009.
Players are formed into two even teams primarily comprised of three or five members. Each team starts at opposing sides of a map, near what is called a "Nexus." To win a match, a team must destroy the opposing team's Nexus. To do so, each team must work through a series of towers called "turrets" that are placed along a path to each base (commonly referred to as a "lane"). Along the way, each player gains power by completing game objectives, earning them experience points and gold that are used to increase the player's level and to purchase powerful items, potentially giving players an advantage over their opponents. Examples of these objectives include killing the opposing team's turrets, players, and "minions" (small NPCs that constantly spawn and attack the other team).
Matchmaking
League of Legends is a session-based game. Matchmaking occurs based on the average Elo ratings of each player. The game can be currently played in four different modes: normal, Co-op vs. AI, custom, or ranked.
In a normal game, the server attempts to match up players of equal skill level. It is possible to enter an arranged team of players, in which case the arranged team is considered to be more powerful than the individual players.
A co-op game requires you to team up with four other randomly selected players to play a five versus five match against a team of five randomly selected bots.
Custom game allows players to create a session and set its properties, or find an existing session to join. Unlike co-op, custom allows you to make any range of teams on either side from one to five. Empty spaces can be filled in by bots or players, or remain empty.
Ranked games are competitive matches open only to players who have reached the highest level, level 30. It features a draft mode champion selection process, where a handful of champions are banned before picking begins.
Game Types and Maps
There are currently three game modes: Classic, Dominion, and ARAM. The Classic game mode is a base defense in which one attempts to battle their way gradually to the opponents' Nexus with the help of minions, through turrets and inhibitors. The Dominion game mode is a capture and hold game in which players battle over strategic map areas. Capturing these areas, and killing enemies will damage the opponents' Nexus instead of directly damaging it. The ARAM game mode, All Random All Mid, is a mode where base defense similar to Classic game mode but is situated on a smaller, one path, map.
Maps in League of Legends are called "Fields of Justice."
Summoner's Rift
Summoner's Rift resembles the Defense of the Ancients map with three lanes and supports five players per side.
Twisted Treeline
Twisted Treeline is a smaller map with two lanes and supports three players per side.
The maps put two teams with a fixed number of players against each other. Each team has its base, which contains the re-spawn point, item shop, and Nexus. The two bases are connected by lanes. Periodically, waves of minions spawn from the Nexus. Minions are AI-controlled NPC's that move down the lanes, engaging any enemies they encounter. The lanes are lined with turrets that engage enemies within range. Once a turret is destroyed, it will not respawn. A new element in League of Legends is the inhibitors. Each lane has an inhibitor on both ends. If a team destroys the enemy inhibitor, more powerful "Super Minions" will spawn for that side. Unlike turrets, inhibitors respawn after a few minutes.
Besides the lanes, the maps also contain "jungle" areas, populated with neutral monster camps. These monsters can be killed by a champion for gold and experience. Some large monsters will grant the killer a buff, such as Summoner's Rift, which grants its killer the ability toCrest of Insight.png Crest of Insight help them in battle. Another special terrain feature is the brush. A brush blocks the line of sight of units, allowing champions to hide and set up a surprise attack, or "gank".
The goal of each team is to destroy the enemy Nexus. The first team to achieve this is the victory. It is also possible to surrender using a voting system.
All Random - All Mid
The Howling Abyss is exclusively available for ARAM. It has similar gameplay with the classic maps where players must destroy the Nexus to win here with a few changes.Unlike the classic maps, ARAM only has one lane and has no jungle, the re-spawn point will not restore health or mana, and players cannot purchase items after passing the Nexus. Players must die to purchase items again. With the lack of health and mana restoration from the re-spawn point, ARAM features Health Relics.
Like Dominion, players will begin at level three, have an increase in starting gold and gold income, base XP generation, reduced respawn time, and a map-wide aura that increases mana regeneration, provides base armor/magic penetration, and reduces healing, as well as other changes to make it a different, faster-paced game. Some items have been removed, with new ARAM specific items added.
Champions
Each player controls a single champion. There are currently different132 champions available in the game, each with unique characteristics. Certain champions are tagged with certain attributes such as 'tank', 'fighter', 'mage' or 'support' to describe their play style. Champions have more than one attribute, and can be played in a variety of ways though some are more viable than others.
At the start of each battle, every player must choose a champion to fight for him/her in battle. The choice of champions is limited by what the player has unlocked. Each week, ten champions are made temporarily free so that players can try them out without unlocking them, a service known as the free champion rotation.
Champions gain experience by killing enemy minions, neutral monsters, champions, or structures. After reaching a certain amount of experience, the champion levels up. Each level increases the champion's stats and adds an ability point that can be spent to improve one of the champion's four unique abilities. Normally, each champion has three basic abilities that can be learned at any time, with a maximum rank of five (with some exceptions). They also have the ability to level up their ultimate ability at level 6, to a maximum rank of three. The maximum level for a champion is 18.
Players can gain gold by landing the killing blow on an enemy minion/monster, by killing a champion/assisting in a kill, or will receive global gold from the destruction of structures, or killing of some epic monsters. Some abilities and items also generate extra gold. The acquired gold can be spent at the item shop for various items. These items boost stats of the champion. Some items can be combined into more powerful items by following predefined recipes.
Summoner
The Summoner acts as the persistent element in the game and is the common term used to describe the League of Legends players. Summoner accounts are used to track statistics and scores for each player.
Summoners gain experience points and Influence Points after each battle they participate in. They level up after receiving enough experience, and can unlock new champions and runes with their Influence Points.
Summoner Spells
The Summoner can choose two summoner spells to use in battle. These spells significantly impact gameplay and have a high cooldown while costing no mana. All spells can be improved with masteries.
Masteries
The summoner can focus their experience on three specific categories, which collectively are known as masteries. Some of the more advanced masteries require not only a working knowledge of previous masteries within a single category but also the knowledge of a specific mastery. As a summoner gains levels of power within the League of Legends, they can select which specific areas of interest to focus on. The points allocated in the mastery trees can be changed at any time before the match begins.
Rune
Runes are enhancements that the player provides for his champion before a match on a field of justice begins to augment their champion's abilities. Runes can only be bought with Influence Points from the Riot Store. Each rune grants a small bonus in a specific category, which stack upon each other to grant larger bonuses.Runes can't be sold back to the store, but can be combined.
What I Like About This Game:
What can I say about this game? This game has only one thing I dislike about, but it is still a major factor. You might be asking why I would write why I dislike something when this clearly is a "What I Like..." piece? Good question. I have no idea.
This game sure keeps you busy. The first few minutes, all you have to do is just harass the enemy while killing minions and gaining gold for your items. After around the fifteen minute mark, things pick up. You have to constantly have map awareness as the enemy might pop out anytime and kill you. This game will keep those fingers moving, those eyes looking, and the brain perceiving and reacting.
Winning a game gives you a huge sense of accomplishment. You might suddenly end up very competitive and if you love the feeling of adrenaline rush, then this game is just for you. I am so focused on the game that I sometimes put my whole attention to it, shutting down the world around me. It's quite an amazing feeling.....
The Major :tdwn :tdwn
THE COMMUNITY IS SUPER TOXIC.
95% of the games I've played, there have been toxic players. Many people quit league because of the toxicity of the league. Any mistake you make, be prepared for a barrage of curse words and curses upon you and your family.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/toxic%20league_zpspkom8umv.jpg)
(I tried looking for the nicest, nicest insult and after 20 minutes of browsing over super mean comments, I found one.)
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I come from a dota/dota2 background and I thought dota2 had a rough community, but then I installed league of legends. It was laughingly bad, seriously comical the hate that goes on.
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:metal
Definitely. I haven't seen a community so toxic before! Is Dota any good?
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I never really had a problem with the community, it's really bad but I just ignored most of it.
But the gameplay becomes really really bad after a while. The game doesnt bring anything new to the table after a handful of matches and unless you're a pro player it'll stay the same the entire time. U.R.F. is a great gamemode and Riot knows the people like it, but they still only want to let us play it one week per year.
Eventually the reason I quit was because the game glitched during every new patching session and I ended up spending hours just trying to start up the game. Their customer service is absolutely attrocious.
Okay, Im done ranting :lol
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:metal
Definitely. I haven't seen a community so toxic before! Is Dota any good?
Dota2 is great! Dota2 is based off the original dota which inspired moba style games. You can download it for free and you get all the heroes for free. The only thing that will cost you money is skins and voice packs. If you're a LoL player you'll pick up dota very quickly.
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Interesting! I'll be sure to try it out!
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This write-up will be short. My top 15 and onwards will start seeing the length increase, because I have much more nostalgia and ecstasy of it.
Number 20: StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sc2_zpsaokjynch.jpg)
History:
As soon as I finished StarCraft II, I knew I had to get the trilogy: Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void. I played all three games and this title received the icing on the cake.
StarCraft 2:
Heart of the Swarm is the name of the StarCraft II zerg campaign and episode.
It is released separately from the other two games and was priced as an expansion. The basic set costs $40 USD and the deluxe set costs $55 to $60. The Collector's Edition costs $80. It has been collected into a battlechest alongside Wings of Liberty. On July 15 2015, Heart of the Swarm was made a standalone title, allowing play without having first purchased Wings of Liberty.
It follows Wings of Liberty and precedes Legacy of the Void chronologically and storywise.
The game is so named as per it being the most in-depth look into the zerg that Blizzard has ever carried out, allowing players to look into the 'heart' of the Swarm.
Description:
The Queen of Blades is gone. On the hellish planet Char, Jim Raynor harnessed the power of an ancient Xel’Naga artifact in a desperate bid to stop the zerg Swarm from overrunning the Koprulu sector, and the relic restored Sarah Kerrigan to her human form. Without their queen to guide and unify them, the Swarm has fractured into several broods scattered throughout the Koprulu sector. One of the greatest threats to the galaxy has been neutralized...or so it seems.
Sarah Kerrigan is on the loose. Even without the terrible powers of the Queen of Blades or the might of the Swarm at her command, the former Ghost remains a foe not to be taken lightly. But if the artifact really did set her free, then why is Kerrigan seeking out zerg broods scattered throughout the Koprulu sector? What happened to Jim Raynor? Is she still pursuing her quest for vengeance, or has her transformation given Kerrigan a new purpose?
Who is Sarah Kerrigan?
Storyline:
SPOILER ALERT!
"How many innocents have you killed? How many more have to die?"
- Horace Warfield
Heart of the Swarm is a sequel to Wings of Liberty. It focuses on Sarah Kerrigan and the development of a zerg empire. Kerrigan is no longer considered the Queen of Blades. Questions remain about why Kerrigan is no longer with Jim Raynor and whether her transformation has given her new purpose. It begins three weeks after the end of Wings of Liberty. Kerrigan is treated as an anti-hero storywise, and will have to make peace with her relationship with the Swarm over the course of the story. Themes of identity and responsibility will be present, of how responsible Kerrigan is for her actions and whether there are some crimes that can't be forgiven. She is torn in a sense, with her love for Raynor pulling her in one direction, and her hatred for Mengsk pulling her in another.
Following the Dominion victory on Char, the Zerg Swarm was scattered, and Kerrigan was transformed into a human form but still has some infested elements (such as her zerg "dreadlocks"), and whether she had her original personality back. Kerrigan was taken by Jim Raynor and Valerian Mengsk to a Umojan Protectorate lab in order to escape the pursuit of Arcturus Mengsk, who wanted her dead. Valerian and the Umojan scientists experimented on her control of the zerg swarm, which angered Kerrigan, and she sent zerglings against the robotic defenses of the lab. Valerian later let her go, but a Terran Dominion force under Nova stormed the facility to capture Kerrigan. Kerrigan escaped, but Jim Raynor was captured. Kerrigan went to the rendezvous site to find Jim, but found only a Dominion force that had set up a Drakken pulse cannon. She reclaimed the Naktul Brood in the region, and destroyed the Dominion forces, but Jim was nowhere to be found. She tuned into a UNN broadcast reporting that Jim Raynor had been killed, which set her on the path of revenge against Mengsk.
Kerrigan boarded a Zerg Leviathan, and took control of the broods there. She found Abathur and Izsha aboard it, who had served as her assistants when she was the Queen of Blades.
The following section contains timeline information which isn't necessarily in chronological order.
Kerrigan sought to regain the broods of the rogue broodmother Nafash on the planet Kaldir. When she arrived, she found the brood feral and scattered, and that the protoss colonists there had slew Nafash. They tried to contact Shakuras to bring their fleets against her, but she destroyed their psi-link spires and ark shuttles before they could contact the Golden Armada. The colonists then attempted to escape on the Daelaam Ark, but using a larva implanted in the protoss Lasarra, Kerrigan spawned a broodmother on the shuttle. All protoss on board the ship were killed before they could contact Shakuras.
Kerrigan set her broods to reclaim the planet Char, which was under the control of the Terran Dominion under General Warfield. She first fought against the rogue Broodmother Zagara, who did not recognize Kerrigan's authority as the leader of the swarm. Kerrigan spared her, and began having Abathur manipulate her to make her more powerful. She then broke through Warfield's Bone Trench, and assaulted his base. The Dominion on Char were broken, and Kerrigan killed Warfield. However, his last condemning words gave Kerrigan a moment of mercy, and she allowed the wounded Dominion forces to escape.
In the aftermath, the Leviathan was boarded by Prelate Zeratul. Kerrigan was initially hostile to Zeratul, but he granted her a vision of Zerus, the zerg homeworld, and that the prophecy demanded that she be remade there as a primal zerg. Kerrigan was hesitant, but acted on the prophecy, and moved on Zerus, wanting the power to get revenge on Mengsk. She battled the pack leaders of the planet, and awakened Zurvan, the most ancient primal zerg on the planet. Zurvan told her of the first spawning pool, where she could be reborn as primal zerg. Kerrigan did this, leaving her assistants to defend her. After battling the pack leaders, Kerrigan was reborn with more power than she ever had as the Queen of Blades. A primal Zerg named Dehaka saw her power, and offered his allegiance, but the other primals gathered their packs to challenge her. Kerrigan used her new power to defeat all of the pack leaders, including Zurvan himself, and gathered the primal zerg under her control.
Kerrigan was then contacted by Mengsk, who told her Raynor was alive and if she attacked the Dominion he would kill her. Kerrigan could not sense Raynor, but swore to find him. She contacted Matt Horner and Valerian Mengsk, who knew only Colonel Orlan could get through the Dominions deep-encryption network to find Jim Raynor. The group met with Mira Han who had him in custody, but refused to give him up. Matt Horner lead the Hyperion against Mira Han, and destroyed her fortress, getting Orlan back. Orlan found Jim Raynor on the Moros, a secure Dominion prison vessel. Kerrigan raided the vessel and found Jim, but he refused her as she had reinfested herself. He left the ship, but refused to talk to her.
The Swarm got a psionic message from an infested terran named Alexei Stukov, who told Kerrigan of the Dominion Hybrid Breeding Program on Skygeirr Platform. Kerrigan agreed to help Stukov, and boarded the platform, infesting the marines guarding it. She broke into the facility, discovering the ancient xel'naga Narud in the guise of a Moebius Foundation terran. Kerrigan destroyed the Hybrid dominators he sent to assault her, and pushed further into the xel'naga ruins the base was built on. The swarm engaged the Tal'darim guarding the inner ruins, and Kerrigan engaged with Narud in single combat. Stukov set about commanding the swarm to deactivate the xel'naga shrines powering Narud, allowing Kerrigan to push his null zone back at him. He was wounded, but not killed. Kerrigan then pursued Narud into the ruins, where he took the guise of Jim Raynor, then her in her uninfested form. After a close battle, Kerrigan slew Narud, but he told her of the fallen xel'naga Amon and his return. She was rescued by Zagara, who commanded the swarm while she recovered. Kerrigan swore that after she killed Mengsk, she would face Amon.
Kerrigan then began her final assault on Korhal to kill Mengsk, bringing her broods in for the final battle. Valerian told Kerrigan to set her brood down outside the city so he could evacuate the civilian population, to which Kerrigan reluctantly agreed. Korhal's orbital defenses were heavy, and destroyed millions of zerg upon entry. Kerrigan engineered bile launchers that were able to destroy Korhal's defense network. As they closed on the capitol, Mengsk unleashed the psi destroyer, a platform that could destroy any zerg connected to the hive mind. Dehaka lead the primal zerg unconnected to the hive mind to destroy the power generators on the platform, allowing Kerrigan to destroy the weapon. In the final assault, Mengsk sent his elite guard against Kerrigan. Jim Raynor moved in with the Hyperion to support Kerrigan's forces. After fighting their way through his elite guard, Kerrigan entered the palace herself to kill Mengsk. However, Mengsk was prepared with the Keystone, which could still harm Kerrigan. Raynor was close behind, and crushed Mengsk's control device. Without his artifact, Kerrigan sent a psionic pulse through Mengsk, killing him. Kerrigan thanked Jim, then mobilized her broods to face Amon.
Gameplay:
A few updates have been made to the game's graphics engine, including upgrades to the look and behavior of zerg creep, as well as some changes that allow Blizzard artists to better showcase the worlds in the game. However, Blizzard intends for the expansion to have the same minimum hardware requirements as Wings of Liberty.
A new feature is the rock pillar/collapsible rock tower, which can be destroyed in order to block off a choke point.
Main and gas-extracting structures now display by passing the cursor the number of workers related to it. For example, passing a cursor on a hatchery will show "workers: 10/24" and on an extractor will show "workers: 0/3")
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/theovermind_zpsgfsl7o1a.jpg)
(Broodwar vs SC II Overmind Comparison)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/kerrigan_zpsyqxhvrxe.jpg)
(Kerrigan SC Broodwar vs SC II Comparison)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/terran%202_zpsrgjdkchv.jpg)
(Broodwar Terran base)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/terran%201_zpszrvji2cy.jpg)
(SC II Terran Base)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/zeratulcomparison_zpsrbpbilvx.jpg)
(SC Broodwar Zeratul vs SC II Zeratul)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/terran-nuke_zps2mv6d2ab.jpg)
(Devastating SC II Nuke Attack)
Why I Love This Game:
1. Graphics: I mean, who doesn't love better graphics? This game looks very real. The animation, character death, etc is so improved from the original and the voice acting is much better and filling.
2. More Units: I love new stuff. The units added were super fun and gave me much more variety on my build. I loved making up unit compositions and throwing some wackiest compositions at the enemy, only to be met with little or no resistance to my composition.
3. Really Strong Plot: This was the only StarCraft Plot that had me begging for more. There were a a lot of twists and turns. The death of Warfield was sudden and unexpected and we finally got to kill Mengsk!
4. Difficulty: I love difficult games and this game was hard. I still haven't completed this game 100% without using any cheats. I grew so used the cheats that I can't win without it! Well, it's time to start fresh. New difficulty arises.
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Sweet a game I played on your list (well kind of)! I used to love the RTS games growing up, was mainly a Command and Conquer fan, but the old Warcrafts and original Starcraft were great. I played through Wings of Liberty but never played the rest. I really enjoyed it, but I think my liking of RTS games has faded over time. I think it has a lot to do with being terrible at them online or at any difficulty other than easy.
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I played both WoL and HoTS campaigns and I thought WoL was far superior. I've bought HotS only because I really liked WoL campaign, but HotS campaign was a major disappointment for me, so I didn't even bother to find out when Legacy of the Void is coming out - or maybe it's out already, hey, I don't know.
I'm not even too bothered with the plot (which was cheesy beyond belief, but it was expected), but rather with the campaigns' difficulty. I had a really hard time beating WoL's campaign on the maximum difficulty, and that was fun as hell too, and I mean, it was difficult to just beat all the levels without the additional achievements for me. And I had no problems with this at HotS at all, the whole campaign was a piece of cake except one or two missions. That took a lot of my enjoyment away. Maybe I just learned to play better, but I don't really think so. :lol
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Never played SC2 but loved the write up. I have a close friend who loves the series.
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SC2 is (as was SC:BW too) really fun online if you're up and ready to compete against fellow players. Loads of strategies employed and lots of skill needed. I haven't played HotS online, but WoL was a lot of fun indeed. But you had to practice your builds with bots and all that in order to be at least decent in PVP and get to Platinum / Diamond league. You couldn't just make up your strategy and builds on the fly (well, maybe some of the guys could but I couldn't :lol )
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WoL was all in better IMO, but to me HotS had a better story. Even though it got panned. I haven't played much of LotV, but I do like the additions they have made. The Carrier got nerfed further, so that kind of sucks.
Great write-up again Scar!
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Thank you, thank you all you guys! I really hope you guys played the rest of the games on this list. I know you must have played at least 5 of them. Will have another up soon. :metal
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Number 19: Maplestory
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/maplestory_zps7ibbnsuy.jpg)
How'd I Know About This Game?
I was looking for some fun MMORGP's and the first game on the list was Maplestory. Sure enough, curiosity got the best of me and I ended up clicking the site. It looked really fun and very vibrant, so I downloaded it. It did not disappoint at all. League and Maplestory had been my main players, but Maplestory's super sweet community, and casual gameplay was the hook, line, and sinker.
What is Maplestory?
MapleStory is a free, two-dimensional, side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game developed by Wizet and distributed as several versions by various companies. The game takes place mainly in the "Maple World", where players must fight against monsters while completing quests. As in a typical online game, players can mold their characters to their liking by increasing their abilities and skills. Interaction between users is encouraged in a variety of ways, including chatting, trading, marriage and playing mini-games.
Though the game is free to play, players may purchase various enhancements and upgrades in the Cash Shop using real money converted into the in-game currency.
Description
The controls of the game utilises the keyboard and the mouse. The keyboard is used mainly for combating skills and opening lists that are crucial to make use of during the gameplay, one can choose to keep or change the default key configuration to suit their own needs. The mouse is mainly used for triggering quests from NPCs and moving of items in their inventories.
World
In the tutorial stage of the game, one will learn about stats, monsters, skills, and most importantly, how to play the game. Leveling up in the beginning will be easy with the starter quests, but as the player's level gets higher, difficulty of the game increases and the player may experience events such as death that will cause a loss in experience that will delay one's speed to level up.
Players can chat with others, trade, hang out, and much more. There are also Party Quests where players must play in a group, or "party", as said in the world of MapleStory, called. Later, players can also learn Professions to extract resources and craft items.
Elements of the Game
1. Meso is the main currency of the game. Mesos are dropped by monsters and can also be obtained through quests. You may also gain mesos by selling to shops within the game, or even to any player in the game willing to buy what you have to offer.
2. Character Statistics (stats) is the build of a character, and determines how powerful or weak a character is.
3. Quests are tasks that players are able to perform for Non-Player Characters, or NPCs, in exchange for a reward. There are many quests available to players, each having certain requirements that a player must meet before being able to start said quest.
4. Party Quests are quests that only allow a group of players in a party to complete them. This is a great way to make new friends and escape from quest grinding or training. Party Quests usually offer large amounts of experience points or useful Equipment to the players.
5. Monsters are the natural inhabitants of the Maple World. Players have to kill them to gain experience to level up, complete quests, collect items, or obtain mesos.
6. Cash Shopis a store that allows users to buy items with cash. These items do not need to be purchased in order to play the game. However, some might want to buy the items to enhance their gaming experience.
Characters/Classes of the Maple World
A class is essentially the selection of jobs to choose for pursuing in MapleStory. Every new player has to create a character that belongs to one of the classes to get started in the game. After the creation, one will start off as a novice and begin their journey in MapleStory.
Novices start off in their respective beginner areas (eg. Explorers at Maple Island), and they are guided through in the area to help them understand the gameplay of MapleStory, the guided quests will provide training in order for them to level up. When a novice reaches a particular level (usually level 10), they will meet their first Job Advancement, where the novice will receive a new set of skills to make trainings more efficient.
Classes like Explorers, Cygnus Knights and Resistance contain sub-category jobs for players to choose from in-game. Most start off at level 1 but classes like Mercedes and Demon start off at 10 as their tutorial are mostly covered by cut-scenes and videos.
1. Resistance
The Resistance is a group of rebel forces from Edelstein going against the Black Wings. Their base is located under the city and is accessible via a pipe.
Edelstein is a quiet mining village. The people are prosperous, polite, and peaceful and have a knack for using technology – particularly robots. Indeed, Edelstein was such a calm place that neither Explorers nor the Cygnus Knights had been there in hundreds of years. Yet Edelstein has a dark secret. Edelstein is where the Black Mage was born. The town is now the home of the Black Wings, a secret cult dedicated to the resurrection of the Black Mage. They recently came out of hiding and took over Edelstein, oppressing the populace into silence while working hard to resurrect their foul master.
They succeeded.
The Big Bang was the day that the power of the Black Mage touched reality. For a brief instant all of existence…ceased to exist. When it returned, nothing was the same. Even as the citizens of Maple World explore their new reality, the Black Wings of Edelstein continue their dark work.
But the Black Wings' arrogance may yet be their undoing. Deep in the hearts of the down-trodden populace, a flame sparks and the good people of Edelstein think the unthinkable.
They must resist.
The Resistance is the flame in the darkness. They are the rebellion against the Black Wings and they will free their town, no matter the cost. Using new magic and their natural skills, new heroes will join the legends of Maple World to battle the minions of the Black Mage. Hiding as ordinary Edelstein citizens by day, by night a growing legion will band together to overthrow the Black Wings.
In the first blockbuster, the key members of the resistance helps to fight the Black Wings. In Act 1, the Resistance members reveals to have Orchid, who was still unconscious in front of the Empress. As a way to find out the Black Wings future plans, the player have to enter Orchid's memories.
After the Black Wings were destroyed for good, the members celebrate their victory and liberation of their city.
The Citizen is the Beginner class for the Resistance. The Citizen must train and complete missions to become an official member of the Resistance.
The Resistance was formed in an underground base in Edelstein, a town occupied by the Black Wings. For now, the Resistance follows the orders of the Black Wings , but below the facade of good will, revenge burns, waiting to be unleashed on the Black Wings when the time is right.
As a Citizen, you will learn of the Resistance through various episodes that take place at Behind the Mine, Edelstein, Suspicious Laboratory, and other locations.
At level 10, you can a full-fledged member of the Resistance by talking to Headmaster Ferdi, and start down the path as a Battle Mage, Wild Hunter, Blaster or Mechanic to drive the Black Wings from Edelstein!
2. Explorers
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Explorers are the original classes of MapleStory. They are the main branches of Maplers who fought in the general effort against the Black Mage and his horde of evil monsters. Cygnus Knights, the Heroes, and other warriors later joined the Explorers to lead the battle against the Black Mage. Explorers are then given their own storyline in RED.
Beginners are a class in MapleStory. All new players who are in the category of Explorers start the game as Beginners on Maple Island. At level 10, Beginners may make the first job advancement and become either a Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Thief, or a Pirate. Though Beginners are not considered one of the "main" character classes, some people choose to remain as a Beginner past the first, second, or even third job advancements. They do this for a variety of reasons, the main one being that it is a challenge to take a Beginner that far.
Permanent Beginners, also known as Perma-Beginners, are Beginners who choose not to make a job advancement. They get several perks, including no EXP-loss upon death and plenty of respect after reaching a certain level. However, disadvantages to being a Perma-Beginner include having less HP and MP (Health and Mana Points), lack of skills, and very limited access to equipment. Their build is similar to that of a Warrior's so they rely mostly on melee weapons, but they will also never hit as high as most Warriors. It is hard to level up as a Perma-Beginner since a majority of quests are job-restricted, and it is harder to take down most monsters than other characters. Nonetheless, plenty of players are proud to be Beginners.
3. Cygnus
The Cygnus Knights are special knights who fought towards one goal - to defeat the Black Mage. The Black Mage was trying to take over the land of Maple World, but this act was stopped by the Cygnus Knights, temporarily. Now it is time for them to rise again and challenge the Black Mage once more.
A long time ago, there used to be a kingdom within El Nath's boundaries. This kingdom belonged to the Lion King, Von Leon.
During that time, a rumor stated that Von Leon pledged himself and had sold his soul to the Black Mage. The Cygnus Knights immediately stormed El Nath to catch the Black Mage in his tracks, but at the same time, Von Leon's wife, Ifia, was murdered and a Cygnus Knight Crest was left behind, bringing rage and vengeance within the Lion King.
After Von Leon's Castle was stormed by the Cygnus Knights, he felt that he had no choice but to willingly join the Black Mage. After the Black Mage was defeated by the Heroes, Von Leon retreated to his castle, casted a spell that killed every citizen of El Nath and changed them into the monsters in the present day, and swore that he would return when his master would do so.
In the Gate to the Future, all of MapleStory was taken over by the Cygnus Knights, all but Neinheart succumbed to the Black Mage's trickery and corruption.
Many years into the future, Empress Cygnus, who felt that her Knights could not match up to the other classes, tried locating an object known as the World Tree, which could make them stronger. Neinheart, admitting that the Cygnus Knights are a "failure", begged the Empress to not steal what did not belong to them and disband the Knights so they may reform themselves, but refused.
After the Cygnus Knights found the World Tree, they were caught in the Black Mage's trap! After the darkness had spread through the Knights, Ereve fell out of the sky and crashed near Victoria Island, unleashing the dark terror of the Cygnus Knights throughout all of MapleStory...
At the end of the series of quests, Wence reveals that the Silent Crusade was a top-secret organization created by the Cygnus Knights in order to gather information about the Black Mage and to prevent disasters from occurring.
In the Knights of Cygnus class, players start out as a Noblesse instead of a Beginner. The Knights of Cygnus class starts with a very simple tutorial where it teaches the basis of the game, such as how to attack and pick up items. Then, players enter Ereve, home of the Knights of Cygnus. On Ereve, players are then guided through quests which involves hunting monsters as a Noblesse, and eventually choose between five different job advancements: Dawn Warrior, Blaze Wizard, Wind Archer, Night Walker, or Thunder Breaker.
Some skills can be unlocked according to job at levels 90, 100 & 110. A quest will be sent to the player and it must be completed to gain new skills.
4. Heroes
The world of MapleStory was not always such a cheerful place. There has been evil in the past, most noticeably the evil Black Mage. However, the reason the Maple World is a happy place, it is today, is due to the efforts of six selfless heroes who fought the Black Mage, sealed him away, and brought peace and prosperity to the Maple World.
However, their efforts were not without sacrifice, and in the process of sealing away the Black Mage, they were then themselves sealed in ice, and Aran's memories were wiped clean. However, the six heroes have awoken and are prepared to counterattack the Black Wings, the army of the Black Mage.
All of the six heroes were together again to fight against the Demon Army and the Commander of the Black Mage who was predicted to destroy the World Tree in the second blockbuster.
Why I Love This Game:
1. Music: The music is really enjoyable. It adds to the game. Mario games have perfect music that fill me with a lot of emotions and that is why Mario games are near the top. Anyways, we're not on Mario yet. Maplestory's music is really nice. There is music that soothes the soul, that pumps you up, etc.
2. Casual: This is no competitive game. Just get yourself a snack and just casually sit back and enjoy it! No stress necessary.
3. Community: Super sweet community. Need help? Ask anyone! Everyone here is helpful, but usually, you have to be the one to initiate. If you wait for someone to initiate, you might be waiting a long time.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/skills_zpsu4juiqfz.jpg)
Skills. You have to use skills to effectively kill monsters.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/resistance_zpsysbh4ssg.jpg)
(The Resistance Group.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/cygnus_zpsqa6hauvk.jpg)
The Cygnus group.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/heroes_zpssuga9gwc.jpg)
The Six Legendary Heroes
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Explorers_intro_zps9d0htshp.jpg)
The Explorers
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/kill_zpskl9mag5s.jpg)
(Kill or be Killed)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/henesys_zpscph03hus.jpg)
Henesys, the main hub of the Maple World.
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Never even heard of it, but that sounds like a really nice game! Interesting that it's both side-scrolling and massively multiplayer - can't really imagine how that might work.
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I think I may of heard the name maplestory by someone on Giant Bomb but that's it. Not sure if this game is my cup of tea but good writeup nonetheless.
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Number 18: Left 4 Dead 2
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(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Left4dead2cover_zpsrvntt98h.jpg)
How'd I Know About This Game?
[/size]
Well, for this game. This was one of the hottest games released during 2009 and the fans gibbering about this caught my attention. I hadn't played the first game yet and the idea of controlling zombies and killing people was awesome. I soon picked up this game and it did not disappoint at all!
Description
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Left 4 Dead 2 is a single-player and multiplayer co-operative survival horror FPS game developed by Valve Corporation. It is the sequel to Left 4 Dead, it was first announced June 1st 2009 by Valve Corporation at Microsoft's E3 2009 press conference.
The sequel picks up one week after the events of the first game (four weeks after the first infection) where The Infection has spread to the southern United States. [3] Left 4 Dead 2 introduces three new Special Infected, new weapons, melee weapons, new items, upgraded Infected, the Uncommon Common Infected, five new campaigns, and two new game modes: Scavenge Mode and Realism Mode. Realism Versus and Mutations were later released with the The Passing DLC, a new campaign which chronologically fits in as the second campaign out of six.
Plot
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The plot is similar to Left 4 Dead; it involves the aftermath of the the Infection one week after the events of the previous game, now being around three weeks after the first infection.
The story starts around noon in Savannah, Georgia. As the last rescue helicopter leaves the building, four unlucky Survivors climb up the hotel to find that they were just a couple of seconds too late. With this newfound predicament, the group decides to go to a mall, where it is said that another evacuation center is still in operation. When the group reaches the mall, they find that it has been overwhelmed by the Infected. In desperate hope, they decide to pierce deeper into the building in hopes that the evacuation center was simply deeper inside. It turns out that the center was decimated, and all the CEDA agents are either dead or infected. In despair, the group wanders into the mall's atrium and finds a functioning stock car, albeit without gas. A new idea appears in their heads; to scrounge around the atrium in search of gas cans, for the purpose of filling the car's tank. This proves successful, and the Survivors escape Savannah.
During their escape, the group stops at a bridge raised by three of the original Survivors from Left 4 Dead. One of them will meet the Survivors and inform them that they cannot lower the bridge for the group because the generator used to lower the bridge is out of fuel, and they must tend to one of their own who is wounded. After battling through a wedding with the Witch bride, the streets, and a "historical sewer," the Survivors then meet up with the other three again. After the three original Survivors agree to help by defending them from higher ground, the Savannah group is able to fend off most of the Infected, find gas cans, fill up the generator, cross the lowered bridge, and drive off while exchanging farewells as they continue to New Orleans.
The escape car works well until the Survivors find that the highway is blocked by abandoned vehicles, seemingly going on for miles. Finding no other way past, the Survivors leave the car behind and proceed by foot. When they go below the overpass, they see searchlights still online in the distance. The group then decides to head for the lights, in hope of finding some uninfected people. The searchlights turn out to be originating from Whispering Oaks Amusement Park and Fairgrounds, which is now a hunting ground for a large number of Infected individuals. The Survivors wander through the park for a bit of time until they see a helicopter fly over head. Newly inspired, they decide to hold a rock concert set up for the Midnight Riders in hopes that the loud music and Grammy-award-winning pyrotechnics will attract the helicopter. When they finally enter the amphitheater, they activate the controls and find out that the sound is attracting a massive amount of Infected along with the helicopter pilot. After much fighting, the helicopter finally decides to make a pick-up and the Survivors barely escape the abandoned carnival.
But once again, luck is not on their side, and the helicopter is forced to do a crash landing after the helicopter pilot turns out to be infected and was shot by one of the Survivors. The Survivors exit the wrecked helicopter to find that they landed in a bayou. They pass through a small village and find that the populace decided to take matters into their own hands and barricade themselves against the Infected. Without any other option, the Survivors decide to try to find the barricaded area. They travel through a swamp, fight numerous Infected, and find a crashed airliner in their path to the safe area. When they reach it, they discover that the townspeople were overwhelmed by the infection, but luck turns out to be on their side this time as they find someone wrote on a wall about an old plantation house and a nearby dock. The Survivors head toward it and find a radio, and manage to contact a man named Virgil who has a boat further down the river. Virgil and the group have a short discussion via radio, and the Survivors tell him that they are at the plantation home. Virgil recognizes the location and begins to navigate his way to their location. After the Survivors fight off hordes of Infected, Virgil arrives and blows down the gates that blocked their way to the river, the Survivors then jump on the boat to safety.
However, along the way, Virgil's boat begins to run low on fuel, so he drops the Survivors off by a small town in Ducatel, Mississippi, with instructions to get diesel for the boat from the gas station across the road. Unfortunately, this gas station is out of fuel, and the Survivors forgot the bag of guns, and have to travel two miles east, navigating through a Witch-infested sugar mill to collect gas. Even more unfortunately, they have to once again walk those two miles back, except uphill, in the midst of a torrential downpour. The forgotten bag of guns also held the flares to contact Virgil. So they decide to signal Virgil by lighting up the Burger Tank sign near the dock. They defend themselves once more against hordes of Infected until Virgil finally arrives for them.
At long last, Virgil drops the Survivors at a waterfront in New Orleans. He then leaves, saying he is on his way to find other Survivors. The group of Survivors then fight their way through the waterfront, a park, a cemetery, and the French Quarter, coming to a bridge in the middle of being bombed by the military. On the other side of the bridge is a military chopper about to leave. The Survivors manage to contact the military over the radio and then run across the bridge to the awaiting chopper pilot who carries them to a military cruise ship.
The Survivors
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The Survivors are people in the world who have not (yet) contracted the Infection (by virtue of natural immunity). The term, however, is commonly used to refer to the eight playable characters from the Left 4 Dead game series. Although the playable characters are immune, a comment by Bill suggests that they could become an Infected at any point. In addition, The Sacrifice comic presents the hypothesis that the Survivors are Carriers of the Infection―and as such are a positive danger to any uninfected humans they encounter.
To portray their personalities, Valve used (perhaps deliberately and with tongue firmly in cheek) a standard screenwriter ploy to populate B-grade action, Western, sci-fi, sitcom and costume drama scripts with characters that are instantly recognizable to "popcorn" audiences. This involves casting four main characters, each of whom have nothing much in common with one another but who are thrown together to face a challenge. Each character is then assigned a stereotyped personality selected from four distinctive types:
Cynic: self-centered, hostile, fires off put-downs and sarcasm, questionable morality, shady past, street or book smart. Francis and Nick.
Optimist: moral, friendly, feelings trump facts, naive, does the right thing, loyal. Louis and Ellis.
Realist: objective, lives by a personal code, disciplined, builds bridges, leadership role, adaptable. Often cast as The Hero. Bill and Coach.
Apathetic: aloof, neutral, from a different social background, enigmatic, along for the ride, swept up in events, victim, suffers bravely, supporter, observer. Zoey and Rochelle.
The Infected
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The Infected are Left 4 Dead's take on the classic movie and pop-fiction zombie. But rather than being undead, they are living humans who have been Infected by the Green Flu virus, causing massively increased aggression and loss of many higher brain functions such as speech and self-preservation. Like cinematic zombies, those present in the Left 4 Dead series attack human victims and will attempt to bite them, unless they are immune or a Carrier.
In the case of Common and Uncommon Infected, observed aggressiveness manifests itself primarily in the form of frenzied physical blows and kicks. Bite attacks are of a secondary nature and may even be incidentally delivered. The Infected primarily attack uninfected humans who have attracted attention through noise, movement, displaying bright lights, or anything covered in Boomer Bile, whether it be from a Bile Bomb or the Boomer itself. Common Infected are also frequently observed displaying mutual aggressiveness towards one another. However, these attacks cease when the Infected find an uninfected human.
The Infection might also have changed their physiology. Some Infected suffer severe tissue damage and dismemberment from moderate blunt force, yet they can still jump down from heights of approximately 20 feet with perfect physical coordination and without harm. They have no fine motor control and their gross motor control functions are heavily degraded, thus rendering them incapable of picking up objects and operating simple mechanisms such as door handles.
When passive and unstimulated, Common Infected lean against a support (such as a wall), sit, lie recumbent or stagger aimlessly in short uncoordinated steps. Many will vomit profusely or display visual signs of being unwell (e.g. slumped over cradling the head). Unusually, the Common Infected have also been seen to attack and kill one another, The cause of this is unknown. Special Infected and Uncommon Infected tend to be less inert in their passive state since they are invariably observed to be in a standing position.
When active and stimulated, Common Infected display extremely contrasting characteristics, as their speed of movement is rapid, their gait is highly coordinated and their focal direction unerring. Uncommon Infected display the same behavioral qualities with the exception that they appear to be more sensitive to external stimuli and are thus more easily aroused and provoked.
Through some unknown mechanism, a small percentage of Infected humans will undergo a dramatic mutation, eventually turning into one of the Special Infected. There are eight varieties of these Infected, seven of which are playable. These eight varieties have special abilities in addition to doing more damage against the Survivors. In turn, two of these eight varieties are considered "Boss Infected", namely the Tank and the Witch.
Weapons
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The primary weapons in Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 are divided into two classes or tiers. First tier weapons (also called Tier 1 weapons) are restricted in choice, and available to all players at the start of any campaign. Second tier weapons (also called Tier 2 weapons) are relatively superior in combat effectiveness to Tier 1 weapons and are only found once players have partly completed a Chapter.
Melee combat differs between Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. In the former, melee is a simple violent "shove-back" on an Infected at arms length distance using whatever Tier 1 or 2 weapon the player happens to be wielding at the time. Melee attacks can also be mounted using a Gas can or Propane tank if a player is carrying one of these items. Left 4 Dead 2 melee combat is greatly enriched because it carries over Left 4 Dead's Tier 1 and 2 "shove-back" and introduces a wide range of new melee-specific weaponry such as the Katana, Chainsaw and Crowbar. Melee shoves and attacks can be made on any class of Infected although their effectiveness is questionable in the case of Tanks, Chargers and Witches (except in some situations).
There is no way to distribute weapons or ammunition among teammates without picking up another weapon to replace the dropped (donated) weapon's slot in the donor's inventory. All weapons have an attached flashlight powered by a battery with unlimited life.
Picking up a new weapon from a table or other location (but not from a dead Survivor) provides a full ammo refill for that weapon and equates to restocking from an ammo pile. This is useful since a player can fire off a large volume of ammo from one weapon and then simply pick up a fresh weapon to get a full ammo resupply. This avoids having to waste time reloading the original weapon or visiting an ammo pile to restock. If all Survivors select the same weapon from a pile or arrive at an arms pile identically armed with the same weapon, that weapon type will not appear at a subsequent arms pile. To fix this, a player can trade that weapon out for another type of weapon in the pile whereupon the absent weapon will reappear. Ammo piles can resupply any type of weapon apart from the Grenade Launcher and the M60 in Left 4 Dead 2.
Weapons will continue reloading despite the lack of reloading animation during melee attacks, provided that reloading starts before the melee attacks. This is extremely useful if out of ammo, or both primary and pistol need to be reloaded as it allows the player to shove back attacking Infected while their weapon reloads in the background. When it is fully reloaded (after 2-3 melees' time), it can be used to kill the staggering Infected.
All bullet-based weapons have bullet penetration which means a player can shoot targets through thin walls and various in-game game objects (desks, chairs, etc.). This also means that if two Infected are positioned one behind another, shooting at the first one will also damage the one behind it. There are two exceptions to the penetration rule: all shotguns, which have infinite character penetration up to 300 game units (roughly five meters) and hunting rifle/sniper rifle, which have infinite penetration no matter the distance.
Mutations
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Mutations is the name for a set of modified gameplay modes, the first of which was released alongside the campaign, The Passing in Left 4 Dead 2. The Mutations are special game modes that were initially available for one week each before being retired, and replaced by a new Mutation each week following an announcement on the in-game Blog Post every Friday.
Periodically, a poll was conducted for players to vote for their favorite Mutation, which returned the following week as an Encore Mutation, meaning it would re-appear the next week (See below for Encore Mutations). With the download of The Passing DLC it is possible to choose what Mutation you get to play. All mutations were made freely available for play at any time on 07/24/2012.
Why I Love This Game
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1. Addicting:Really, games get boring and I move on from them easily, but this game, I just can't seem to move along! Really fun to play and offers unlimited gameplay.
2. Mods: Mods are addons you can download to the game. Recently I found an add on where the survivors would be replaced by John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, and Mike Portnoy. I had fun bashing Lord Nafaryus zombies with a guitar.
3. Versus Mode: Who doesn't love playing with people? Who doesn't love playing against people?
4. Challenge: This game has many options for challenges. If you want laid back, complete the game in easy or normal. Not satisfied? Try advanced? Too easy? Expert. Still too easy? Then try Expert Realism with bots and I can guarantee that it will take you many, many tries. Throw Bleed Out into that and that will be one tough monster.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/survivor_2_zpsc17tdv9n.jpg)
The Survivors of Left 4 Dead 1
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The Survivors of Left 4 Dead 2
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(Common Infected)
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(Special Infected)
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(Weapons)
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I've played L4D once or twice but my brother and his friends play this game all the time.
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Wow, did you enjoy it? It's a fun game.
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Number 17: Minecraft
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(http://)
How'd I Find Out About This Game
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This game was recommended to me by a friend. After playing this game, I realized how beautiful and how speaking this game was.
Description
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Minecraft is a 2009 sandbox indie and arcade video game created by Swedish programmer Markus "Notch" Persson and later published by Swedish company, Mojang AB. Markus Persson was inspired to create Minecraft after he and a few friends played Infiniminer. The first published video of Minecraft was called "Cave Game". Only later on did it become Minecraft. In October 2014, Microsoft purchased Mojang AB and the rights to Minecraft for 2.5 billion dollars (US), followed by Notch and a few other original developers retiring from the company shortly after. According to Jeb, Minecraft had 20 million copies sold as of June 30, 2015.
Upon starting the game, the user is greeted with a login screen. To play, the user has to input his or her login information: This includes a username, or if the user has signed up for a Mojang account, that user's email as well as the user's password. After logging in, the user is greeted with the Minecraft Launcher. The Minecraft Launcher allows for customizability, and modifications in Minecraft. It also displays news about Minecraft updates, and bug fixes. The launcher will lead the user to the main menu screen. The menu screen is composed of buttons, and text that allow for easy access to Minecraft's features. The four menu features include:
Singleplayer: Allows the user to create custom worlds, and load previously created world.
Multiplayer: Allows the user to interact with other users via custom Minecraft servers, or interact using Minecraft's built-in LAN feature (which allows single-player worlds to be played with other users via a local area network).
Minecraft Realms: Allows the user to play custom, miniature Minecraft servers, often created with the intention of playing a mini-game. Invitation is required from the owner.
Options: Allows the user to customize Minecraft's in-game features.
The player first spawns in the Overworld. The overworld consists of Biomes, such as extreme hills, or the Ocean biome. The Overworld is intended to generally resemble the terrain of earths Lithosphere. Although the overworld often tends to be littered with impossible, gravity-defying natural structures.
Upon Spawning, the player is free to explore the overworld. However without equipment, such as a Sword, or sustenance such as Porkchops, they are limited in how far they can trek.
Gameplay
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The player has a hunger bar and a health bar. The hunger bar, if full, can slowly recharge the health bar, but not vice-versa. If either of the bars reaches zero, the player is at risk of death, either from starvation, lack of health, or other instances of death. The hunger bar normally decreases slowly. However, activities such as sprinting or mining can lower the bar faster than usual. Usually foods such as Porkchops and Steak can fill the hunger bar back to healthy levels, and can be acquired by simply punching the animal to death.
But for long-term survival, the player is recommended to take or build a shelter. Building a shelter is a critical first part to exploring a world. Shelters are important, as they can protect the player from hostile mobs, and can serve the same purpose as a home in real life. Most shelters take the form of houses such as to the right. Houses are favored often because of their simplicity, and the short amount of time necessary to build. The player usually starts mining after the house is made. Mining is a very important part of Minecraft, hence the name.
Mining is a key part of Minecraft's gameplay. Mining is important to experience the full extent of what Minecraft has to offer. Mining is also important for long-term survival, as you need metal ores to craft armor, better swords, and much more. However, metal ore is only usually found underground. As most of Minecraft centers around the mining experience. Mining is necessary to acquire the resources needed to build portals that can access the Nether, a hell-like world, and to fully explore the expanse of Minecraft. There are many ways to go about mining in Minecraft. Some ways are more common than others. Below listed are two strategies Minecraft players commonly use, please note these don't cover all the tactics.
Mobs
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Mobs are living game entities that are affected by physics and Player interaction. They are divided into various categories, such as Utility, Passive, Neutral, Hostile, Boss, Unused, Unimplemented, and Removed.
Most mobs are useful in some way to the player: Hostile and Boss Mobs often drop useful items, along with Experience Points when killed; Utility Mobs can protect players and villagers from Hostile Mobs, with the exception of Creepers (The downside being that they will sometimes attack Passive or Neutral Mobs too); Neutral and Passive Mobs can sometimes be tamed, other Passive Mobs can give beneficial items to players, given that they have the right tool (For example, Wool or Milk), and like utility mobs, Tamable mobs can protect the player from hostile mobs.
Utility Mobs are Mobs that are created by players and will attack other mobs. Utility mobs usually attack Hostile mobs, but can sometimes also attack Neutral Mobs, Passive Mobs, or the player if provoked. (With the exception of the Wither which attacks all mobs except for undead mobs).
1) Iron Golem
2) Snow Golem
3) Wither
Passive Mobs are Mobs that are harmless to players, and will run away if attacked. (Except for tiny Slimes which will attempt to attack the player, but will deal no damage).
1) Slime ("Tiny" Slimes are Passive, but "Small" and "Big" Slimes are Hostile.)
2) Chicken
3) Cow
4) Mooshroom
5) Pig
6) Sheep
7) Squid
8) Villager
9) Bat
10) Ocelot (also Tamable)
11) Horse
12) Donkey
13) Mule
14) Cat (Domesticated Ocelot)
15) Dog (Domesticated Wolf)
16) Rabbit
Neutral Mobs are mobs that will attack the player, but only when provoked. however, they can sometimes attack other mobs as well.
1) Enderman
2) Zombie Pigman
3) Wolf
4) Spider
5) Polar Bear
Hostile Mobs are mobs that will attack the player when he/she gets within a certain range of them. Most hostile mobs will attack when the player gets within 16 blocks of them without any obstructions, except for spiders which could see through obstructions before P.C. Version 1.8 and ghasts which can detect the player from 100 blocks away.
1) Blaze
2) Cave Spider
3) Creeper
4) Ghast
5) Magma Cube
6) Silverfish
7) Skeleton
8) Slime
9) Spiders
10) Spider Jockey
11) Zombie
12) Zombie Villager
13) Wither Skeleton
14) Witch
15) Shulk
16) Chicken Jockey
17) Endermite
18) Guardian
19) Elder Guardian
This game speaks to me loads. It has a really chill environment and the music itself is really soothing to listen to. This game is really famous and a lot of people have played it. I really enjoyed building my own fantasy world and doing all kinds of things there. My greatest achievement was creating a space shuttle and changed it to outer space and the graphics look really fancy.
There is no limits to this game and you can make whatever your heart desires. Go forth and make paradise.
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This game speaks to me loads. It has a really chill environment and the music itself is really soothing to listen to. This game is really famous and a lot of people have played it. I really enjoyed building my own fantasy world and doing all kinds of things there. My greatest achievement was creating a space shuttle and changed it to outer space and the graphics look really fancy.
There is no limits to this game and you can make whatever your heart desires. Go forth and make paradise.
It's funny - I totally understand all this, and why so many people love the game. But I've never played it and for some reason just don't feel all that inclined to.
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Minecraft is a game that I really tried to get into but couldn't. I just don't think that I have the imagination for it :lol
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Number 16: The Walking Dead
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/walking%20dead_zps373cp4ld.jpg)
Description
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The Walking Dead, also known as The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series, is an episodic video game that takes place within Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead comic series' universe.
The game is developed and published by Telltale Games, associated with Skybound Entertainment.
Telltale released the start of Season 1 at the beginning in spring of 2012.[1] The first episode of the adventure game debuted on April 24, 2012, for PC, Mac, and the PlayStation Network, on April 27, for Xbox Live Arcade, and on July 26th, for the iOS.
Due to the late release of the game for iOS, episode 2 became available for download on August 29th. The entire first season, (along with the "400 Days" DLC), was released on August 20, 2013, for the PlayStation Vita.
Kirkman has said that, unlike typical zombie games such as Left 4 Dead, it focuses more on characterization, character development, and emotion than action.
It is also the first game from Telltale to use the PlayStation Move. It is a point-and-click horror adventure, focusing on problem-solving rather than combat.
Season 2 was confirmed to be planned by Telltale Games in July 2012. Later on, they pushed the release date towards Autumn 2013. The first episode of Season 2 was released on December 17th for PC/Mac via Steam and on PlayStation Network. It was released for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network Europe and iOS on December 18th. It was released for PlayStation Vita on April 22nd in North America and on April 23rd in Europe.
The 'Game of the Year' disc edition for Season 1 was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 14, 2014. A retail disc version of Season 2 was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 21, 2014 in North America and on October 31, 2014 in Europe.
On June 15, 2015 during E3, Telltale Games announced a new mini-series titled The Walking Dead: Michonne, which follows Michonne's story during the events in the Comic Series. It was released as a stand-alone series on February 23, 2016. Telltale has announced that further information regarding Season 3 will be released following the completion of this series.
Plot
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History teacher Lee Everett is on his way to prison, having been convicted for killing a state senator who had slept with Lee's wife. While leaving Atlanta for prison, being driven by a police officer, the police cruiser he is in runs over a walker (as they are referred to in the series) and crashes off the highway.
After fighting off the police man (who turned into a walker after the crash), Lee meets Clementine, a young girl who was hiding out in her tree-house, as well as Shawn Greene. Shawn takes Lee and Clementine home to Shawn's family farm, owned by his father, Hershel Greene. Lee meets a family, consisting of husband and wife, Kenny and Katjaa, and their young son, Duck.
After failing to save Shawn from walkers, Lee, Clementine and Kenny's family are banished from the farm. The group heads to Macon, Georgia where they meet a group of survivors, led by a woman named Lilly, who saves them from a herd of walkers. Lilly's group is situated in a drugstore which Lee's parents owned. The group goes into a scuffle with Lilly's father, who quickly encounters a heart attack afterwards and requires medication from a nearby pharmacy. Another member of the group, Glenn, decides to salvage for supplies in a motel; however he is stranded in the motel, leading Lee and a news reporter, Carley to rescue Glenn.
Glenn decides to help a stranded survivor named Irene; however, Irene is revealed to be bitten and commits suicide upon taking Carley's gun. Upon returning to the drugstore, Lee comes to the conclusion that his parents were killed by walkers. Carley tells Lee that she knows Lee's past, but keeps his secret. Lee and an IT technician, Doug head out to find the keys of the pharmacy.
Lee is forced to kill his reanimated brother in order to retrieve the keys. Upon entering the pharmacy, the alarm sounds, forcing the group to leave the drugstore after giving Larry his medicine. Upon leaving, Lee saves either Carley or Doug from walkers, and he is knocked out by a vengeful Larry. Lee is rescued by Kenny, and the group heads to the motel for shelter. Upon hearing Atlanta is overrun by walkers, Glenn leaves the group and heads for the city in order to rescue his friends left behind. Despite finding comfortable shelter and water, the group's glimpse of hope is short-lived when electricity is suddenly shut off.
The group has survived three months at the motel, but food is scarce, and their explorations of nearby facilities have yielded little, though that have found and rescued Mark. Later, they come across high schoolers, Ben Paul, Travis, and their band teacher, David Parker. Ben's two companions die in the chaos of saving one from a bear trap, and the other dies and reanimates despite not being bitten. Ben reveals that being bitten is not the only way one can become a walker; simply the act of dying can cause one to turn.
Brothers Andrew St. John and Danny St. John from a nearby dairy farm offer food and shelter in exchange for gasoline for their generators that power their electric fence. The group accepts though remain uneasy about them. While there, Mark is hit by a crossbow arrow from a group of bandits attacking the farm, and Brenda, the brothers' mother, takes him into the house for medical treatment. Lee goes with Danny to find the bandit camp but instead come across a crazed woman named Jolene, who appears to know something about the farm but is killed before she reveals it. Lee finds a battery-less video camera among her possessions.
Still uneasy about the farm, Lee and Kenny discover a butchering room in the back of the barn before they are called for dinner. Lee excuses himself to look for Mark, and finds him near death, his legs cut off. He warns the others that the St. Johns practice cannibalism, but the family overpowers and separates them. In the butcher's freezer, Larry suffers a heart attack, but before Lilly can administer CPR, the others smash his head, realizing it is too late for Larry and fear being trapped with a Walker. Clementine helps their escape, and they quickly rescue the rest of the group from the St. Johns, leaving them to their fate as the electric generators go and Walkers invade the farm.
On the way back, the group finds an abandoned car with food and other supplies, including batteries. Lee watches the video from Jolene's player, and finds she had been watching the motel, knowing that the group was safe as long as the St. Johns maintained their deal with the bandits.
Without the St. Johns, the bandits have turned their attention to the motel, and Kenny expresses an urge to move on using an RV he has fixed up. Through Lilly, Lee discovers someone has been slipping the bandits medical supplies. But before he can determine the culprit, the bandits attack, followed by a horde of walkers. The group flee in the RV, forced to leave most of their supplies behind. Katjaa quietly reports to Lee that Duck has been bitten by a Walker.
Lilly, furious over the theft, accuses others of the theft and demands they deal with the issue now. Her rambunctious accusations agitate the group, and Lilly ends up shooting Doug or Carley dead (depending on who the player chose to save in Episode 1). The player has the option of leaving Lilly behind or continuing on with her. They find the road ahead blocked by a locomotive, along with a homeless survivor Chuck. Lee and Kenny look at how to move the train; if the player kept Lilly with the group, she flees from the others in the RV.
Eventually they find the train still in usable shape and heading towards Savannah, where Kenny assures they can find a boat to flee the mainland. En route, Duck's condition worsens, and Lee convinces Kenny to stop the train to deal with him. Katjaa takes Duck out into a forest to shoot him, but Lee and Kenny realize at the last minute that Katjaa had intended to shoot herself. Lee and Kenny are forced to shoot Duck; the player can choose to have Lee or Kenny do the shooting. After a brief mourning, they continue the train towards Savannah. Ben then reveals that he was the one who had been slipping the bandits supplies.
When they get to a bridge where a tanker car has blocked the way forward, they encounter a dating couple Omid and Christa, who decide to help clear the blockage and offer to join them. Shortly before the tanker car was cut loose, it was revealed that the noise made by the train during the travel to that point caused a large number of walkers to congregate and pursue them, who managed to catch up to the train at this point. Lee and Omid were able to successfully cut the tanker car free before the walkers got too close; however during the escape Omid injures his leg, though is safely brought aboard the train. As the train nears Savannah, Clementine's walkie-talkie suddenly perks up, with a voice on the other end seemingly aware of the actions of the group so far.
The group has made it to Savannah, and is walking through the streets toward the river. However, an unseen person rings a bell in a church, before the man who has been talking to Clementine on her walkie-talkie warns the group to hide as walkers are approaching. Overrun by walkers, Ben panics and leaves Clementine, causing Chuck to be separated from the group saving her. Lee, Clementine, Kenny, Ben, Omid and Christa make their way to the backyard of an empty mansion, where they break in by digging up a buried dog and unlocking a pet door with its chipped collar. The house is found to be safe, save for a young walker Kenny finds in the attic: a starved and dehydrated boy too weak to even attack, and who resembles Duck. Lee decides if he or Kenny should kill the walker, and while Lee buries the body with the exhumed dog, he notices someone watching him. Omid's leg begins to worsen, and Kenny wonders out loud if it is time to leave him behind.
The next morning, Lee and Kenny head for the waterfront, when another church-bell goes off, luring the walkers away. Reaching the docks, Kenny and Lee finds all boats sunken or stripped for parts. Looking for boats, Lee spots a figure climbing down from a building. The duo attempt to sneak up on the stranger, resulting in a struggle between her and Lee, until Clementine appears and stops the fight. The stranger introduces herself as Molly, and explains she rings the bells to draw the walkers away from the areas she scavenges. Molly also warns of Crawford: a para-militant, survivalist community that upholds itself by adopting a draconian brand of Social Darwinism.
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A misfired shot from Kenny's gun during the fight soon attracts walkers, and forces the group to split up. Lee escapes into the sewers alone, and, after finding Chuck's remains being eaten by walkers, discovers a hidden community of cancer survivors hiding from Crawford's soldiers. He is greeted by Vernon and Brie, the former being a doctor in charge of the group, who at first assume that Lee is from Crawford, and Lee persuades Vernon that he isn't, to show him how to get back to the house, and to give medical attention to Omid.
Back at the house, Lee and Clementine discover a shed containing a boat. The boat requires gasoline and a battery, will not accommodate everyone, and Omid will soon die from an infection without antibiotics, prompting the group — along with Vernon and Brie — to head for Crawford for the supplies. The player can then choose whether or not to take Clementine along. After realizing that Crawford is overrun by walkers, the group hides in an old school, where they find most of the supplies they need. Getting a battery from a neighboring repair garage, Lee returns to the school and blocks the main doors with a hatchet.
Rescuing Vernon and Christa, Lee assists them in opening a locked supply closet. By viewing the recorded medical examinations of Anna Correa, a citizen of Crawford being forced into terminating her pregnancy by her doctor, the group see the doctor input the security code before he is killed by Anna, her actions unintentionally causing the outbreak at Crawford. Watching the optional third tape reveals Molly was a citizen of Crawford, and was trading sexual favors with the doctor in exchange for insulin for her diabetic sister.
Lee meets Molly and can confront her about the tape, only for Ben to remove the hatchet from the main doors in order to help Kenny open the armory. A hoard of walkers from outside then crash through and Molly tries to hold them off; if Lee fails to save Molly and did not bring Clementine, she is separated from the group and forced to flee, leaving her fate ambiguous. Ben finally admits his deal with the bandits to Kenny back at the motel and the guilt he feels, deeply angering Kenny as he indirectly caused the deaths of Duck and Katjaa. Brie is devoured by the walkers as the group escapes through the armory door and up the school's bell tower. Ben is suddenly snatched by the reanimated leader of Crawford who had hanged himself in on the bell, but is grabbed by Lee before he falls over the edge; Lee can either let him go (as Ben tells him to) or save him.
After making it back to the house, Vernon gives Omid the medicine and talks to Lee in private, offering to take Clementine into his own group, where he claims she will be safer. Lee can either agree or disagree with him, either way, Vernon leaves. If Molly was saved, she decides to leave the group and says goodbye. Tired from the day's events, Lee sits down to watch over Clementine and falls asleep. When he awakes the next morning, he finds Clementine gone, and discovers Clementine's hat and walkie-talkie lying outside. While reaching for the latter, Lee is bitten by a walker before killing it. Lee is found by the group, and is given the choice of showing or concealing the bite. Determined to rescue Clementine, the player's previous decisions and attitudes towards Kenny, Omid, Christa, and Ben (if saved) influence who joins Lee in his search. Alternatively, the player can insist on going alone. Lee and any of the group members joining him then go searching for Clementine at Vernon's shelter, only to find it empty of supplies and people. Suddenly, Clementine and the man contacting her are heard over the walkie-talkie, revealing that the latter has Clementine and is not Vernon. The man warns Lee to "choose his next words carefully", and the episode ends before Lee responds.
Lee continues to speak with the stranger, who claims he hasn't stolen Clementine, but rescued her from Lee. Lee collapses from his bite, and can choose to have his infected arm amputated to slow down the rate of infection. Returning to the mansion, the group finds Vernon's crew has stolen the boat, causing an argument; if Ben was saved, Kenny finally forgives him following an outburst. Making a stand against an incoming horde, the survivors try to hold the mansion, and are ultimately forced to hide in the attic. Contacted briefly by Clementine, Lee learns she is at the Marsh House Hotel, where her parents were staying. As the group finds a way out, Lee converses with several members, and eventually has a talk with Kenny and Christa, and when offered alcohol. Christa drinks most of the bottle, causing Kenny to realize she is trying to induce a miscarriage, which causes him to snap out of his depression. Breaking through to a neighboring house, the group comes across a couple who committed suicide together, and Kenny reaffirms a hopeful look on survival and admits to blaming himself for the death of Katjaa and Duck. The group jumps from a balcony to a rooftop.
If Ben was saved in the previous episode, the balcony collapses and Ben is impaled; Kenny refuses to leave Ben and spares him the pain with his last bullet, before he runs off and is assumed to be taken down by walkers. If Ben was killed in "Around Every Corner", Kenny sacrifices himself by helping Christa retrieve Clementine's walkie-talkie, before he is presumably devoured by walkers.
With only Omid, Christa, and Lee remaining, the trio reach the coast and attempt to cross rooftops over a sign, however Lee is separated from them, and tells them to either return to the train, find a boat, or meet back together to help save Clementine. Fighting through walkers in the street, Lee reaches the Marsh House Hotel, where Lee meets Clementine's captor. Revealing himself as the owner of the station wagon seen at the end of "Starved For Help", he explains how stealing his supplies resulted in his wife leaving with his daughter, before they were killed by walkers. The man then lists off the player's choices over the course of the game, explaining how Lee's actions make him a monster, and how Clementine is safer if he kills Lee; however, as they are talking, Clementine quietly escapes her locked room as the man starts addressing his wife's reanimated head which he carries around in a bowling bag, giving Lee the option to either attack the man, or allow Clementine to strike and distract him. Apprehending the stranger, Lee can decide whether to kill him or let him reanimate. If Lee is overtaken by the stranger, however, Clementine shoots him in the head, saving Lee from dying.
Reunited with Clementine, Lee is ambushed by a walker, who does not attack him and goes for Clementine. Realizing that the walker blood covering him from his earlier fight is disguising him, Lee guts the walker and covers himself and Clementine in its blood, hiding their smell from the walkers, and allowing them to safely exit the Hotel. As Clementine spots her undead parents, Lee collapses from blood loss and/or infection, forcing Clementine to drag him into a storage facility. Close to death, Lee explains to Clementine he was bitten, and, too fatigued to walk, instructs her on killing a trapped walker and finding another escape route. Handcuffed to a radiator or handcuff the trapped walker, Lee imparts advice with Clementine, and, depending on the player's choice, the game ends with a broken-hearted Clementine either shooting Lee, or escaping after he passes away from blood loss and/or infection, leaving him to reanimate.
During an epilogue, a distraught Clementine, mourning over the death of Lee, walks through the countryside, and stops to rest on a log. Noticing two silhouetted figures walking in the far distance, they notice her as she stands, only for the game to end as Clementine decides between calling out or remaining quiet.
Why I Love This Game
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1. Plot The plot thickens....I love this game's plot so much. There are a lot of twists and turns, some of which make me sick to my stomach in grief.
2. Emotional Ok, this game hits me in every level. The ending was the closest ever to make me cry and once she left me, and I replayed this game again....guess what? I cried. I hate sacrifice. I hate death. This game hits me every time I played it, how this young girl who had grown very close to the main character, and saw him as a fatherly figure, had been bitten by the infected and now the girl must kill him. I know that if this apocalypse was real and my girlfriend had been bitten, there'd be no way in hell I'd shoot her. Hell, I'd just stay next to her and have her bite me so we can both be undead. Really hard choice for such a young girl, super emotional.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/lee_zpsbty2dz2m.jpg)
(Lee Everett, the main protagonist you control.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/clem_zpsifnpwfw3.jpg)
(Clementine, a main protagonist whom you must keep alive.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Rip_zpsssbvaiuh.jpeg)
(Rest in Peace Lee, I'll miss you.)
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Excellent game, and you're spot on about how emotional some of the stuff is, especially at the end. Have you played the second 'season'?
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I couldn't pull myself to play the game. Is it any good? All I know is the Clem looks waaay older.
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Second best TTG game after The Wolf Among Us, for me.
I didn't particularly liked Season 2 of TWD, but S1 was stellar.
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I couldn't pull myself to play the game. Is it any good? All I know is the Clem looks waaay older.
It's good, yeah, but maybe less emotionally impactful. And yeah a bit of time has passed between seasons 1 and 2 so Clem is older. Looks like it's going to be the same between seasons 2 and 3.
Second best TTG game after The Wolf Among Us, for me.
Yeah The Wolf Among Us is definitely superior. The problem I have with some Telltale games is that they can be really frustrating and feel quite forced, especially the biggest name ones like TWD and Game of Thrones. My favourites are Wolf and Borderlands as they both feel more natural (the former is just a great story and the latter is superbly fun and entertaining).
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I haven't played any of the TellTale games aside from the Back To The Future game. I've heard a lot of the games can be hit or miss but I've heard nothing but good things about the walking dead.
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Number 15: Super Mario Maker
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/maker_zpsyuqexccq.jpeg)
Bring on the Mario! Starting from Number 15 to Number 1, every game will be about Mario and Luigi. God bless those two heroes who possibly changed the course of my life forever!
What Is It?
Super Mario Maker (previously called Mario Maker when announced at E3 2014) is a game creator application for the Wii U which allows players to insert blocks, enemies, items, and more from the Super Mario Bros. series to create and share their own 2D Super Mario levels. The game was announced at E3 2014 and has been released in September 2015 (originally set to be released in early 2015), as part of the 30th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
The eShop version of the game requires at least 1.4 GB[2] of storage memory to be downloaded. Additionally, as many as 100 different Mystery Mushroom costumes are available in the game, but the player can unlock them without scanning the proper amiibo by completing the 100 Mario Challenge.[2]
Also, while the game typically uses the GamePad, the Wii Remote, Wii Classic Controller, and Wii U Pro Controller are also usable.
A port of this game is planned to release for Nintendo 3DS in December 2016.
Pre-Title Screen Animations
Each day the startup screen has a different animation associated with getting Builder Mario off the screen. All of the objects are in Super Mario Bros. style.
Sunday - Luigi enters in, shoots a fireball at Builder Mario causing him to fall off, and then runs across the screen. A bunch of characters (including Peach) and a "Happy Sunday" ("Today is Sunday" in PAL versions) banner are also shown on top of the logo alongside text saying, "Let's get making!"
Monday - A Koopa Shell goes across the screen hitting Builder Mario causing him to fall off the screen.
Tuesday - A Magikoopa appears and turns Builder Mario into a Goomba which walks off the screen.
Wednesday - A Super Mario Bros. style platform with wings carries Builder Mario off.
Thursday - Three Goombas enter in, pick up Builder Mario and carry him off while tribal music plays.
Friday - A Gnat picks up Builder Mario, but a fly swatter swats it causing Builder Mario to fall off the screen. (NOTE: At the beginning, in English versions, the day of the week is called "Flyday", but after the gnat has been swatted the word falls with Builder Mario and is called Friday.)
Saturday - A Thwomp falls on Builder Mario causing him to fall off the screen and then raises back up.
Gameplay
The game is set up so that players can design their very own 2D Super Mario courses. They are able to set up and edit the length and width of the stages, the course's theme, and game styles, and are able to use various objects, items, and enemies. Players are able to switch between editing and playing their created stages, and can easily make any changes using the tools provided. A outline mode can also be used to show Mario's movements and to make positioning objects easier.
The game starts with only one row of course elements, as the game features a unlocking system, in which a set of elements will be available for the next day, so long as they spend at least five minutes using the tools they have. As part of a Day 1 patch, however, the elements can be made available immediately by spending enough time placing elements on the course. Players can also add sound effects to their courses, using the SFX frog (which uses the frog icon from Mario Paint). These effects happen when Mario walks over them in the play mode, with some effects generating visuals. Players can even record their own sound effects and add them to the game. However, these custom sound effects are replaced with a generic parrot/chicken squawk when uploaded to Course World.
Players can save up to 120 different courses onto their Wii U profile. In Coursebot, the course selection screen, locally saved and downloaded courses can be arranged into worlds, which are set up like in Super Mario Bros., with four courses per world. There is no way to upload courses in worlds; players can only upload single courses.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/MarioMakerGraphicStyles_zpsga2o1ena.gif)
(The versions of Mario Maker)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/SMM-_CourseStyles_zpslwpwmqkh.gif)
(The courses of Mario Maker)
Why I Love This Game:
I love this game so much. I always had dreamed of replicating Mario levels and adding my own spins and twists to it and I didn't have the chance until this game came out! My girlfriend and I used to share our levels together and we had a competition of who can make toughest level, who can clear the level the fastest and all those nice challenges. She ended up winning the fastest challenge, and I won the toughest level challenge, only because I made things impossible while she at least made the game possible.
This was one of the games we shared our greatest joy at, the others being #1, #3, #4, among others. It really is a unique, cool game.
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TWD S1 is pretty great, S2's alright but not as strong.
I wasn't hugely impressed by TWAU either, it was good too but not as great imo as everyone makes it out to be
also maybe i'll actually put together my list of 25 games soon, i probably should get around to this eventually :lol
edit: like yeah put me down to do one after scar's is done, i'm already on the "will go eventually" list so
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We finally hit the Mario titles... and it's one I haven't played. :lol
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I've never played Mario Maker but it's provided an endless amount of fun time on the Game Grumps channel so I will forever love it just for that. :heart
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edit: like yeah put me down to do one after scar's is done, i'm already on the "will go eventually" list so
:corn
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I already spoiled my #1 tbh but my top 10 is gonna be a lot of obscure indie stuff so it should still be fun times
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Number 14: Paper Mario: Sticker Star
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sticker%20star_zpsvlw0ti9a.jpeg)
What is Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Paper Mario: Sticker Star is the fourth title in the Paper Mario series and is exclusively available for the Nintendo 3DS, thus making it the first installment to be supported by a handheld device. The game was released on November 11, 2012 in North America and December 7th, 2012 in Europe and was preceded by 2007's Super Paper Mario for the Nintendo Wii.
The game was intially announced at the Nintendo Conference at the Electronic Entertainament Expo (E3) 2010 on June 15, 2010. Unlike the side-scrolling gameplay of it's predecessor, Paper Mario: Sticker Star returns to the series' roots and focuses on the RPG-style gameplay established in the original Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64.
During the game, players take control of the titular character Mario as he explores the overworld and challenges enemies into RPG turn-based battles, as well as obtaining items and power-ups, solving puzzles, etc.
Plot
The story starts during the night of the Sticker Fest, where the citizens of Decalburg come to witness the Sticker Comet which is said to make everyone's wishes come true. As Princess Peach, Mario and the Toads celebrate the event, Bowser and his troops suddenly crash the party to claim the Sticker Comet. The Toads try to prevent Bowser from touching it but fail, and the comet breaks into six Royal Stickers, one of which falls on Bowser’s head making him more powerful. Mario tries to attack him, but is overpowered and later wakes up with the Sticker Fest in a disaster: Toads have been stuck everywhere by Bowser, and the Princess missing. After regaining consciousness, Mario meets Kersti, a sticker fairy and the caretaker of the Royal Stickers. After a conversation with her, Mario then suggests that he will help her get the Royal Stickers back, and Kersti finally agrees with him and gives him an album.
Mario starts by freeing the Toads affixed in tape placed by Bowser in the damaged festival, gaining a hammer in the process. After liberating the Toads, Mario heads towards the plaza east of town and discovers the area rolled up. The Toads push to unroll the Plaza and bring it back to normal, accidentally trapping a Green Toad under the fountain in the process. As Mario leaves the town, he gets ambushed by a trio of Goombas. Kersti uses the opportunity to explain how battling foes with stickers work and Mario defeats the Goombas.
Mario starts his travels through the grasslands and across mountains. In the Warm Fuzzy Plains, Mario and Kersti meet a group of Toads hunting for stickers. They stumbled onto one Toad who dropped a rare Scissors sticker and quickly flees before warning them about Bowser Jr., who appears and demands that they give up the sticker. Mario defeats him using the Scissors sticker, and infuriated Bowser Jr. tears up the bridge using paperization and throws the bridge up onto a high ledge Mario cannot jump onto. Mario and Kersti get help from the group of Toads, who form stairs for them to walk onto the ledge, and Kersti teaches Mario the ability to paperize to fix the bridge. A similar incident occurs in Water's Edge Way, this time with Kamek who is chasing a Toad for his album page, and after losing to Mario uses paperization to toss away the Sticker Comet, which must be found to proceed.
Eventually, Mario and Kersti arrive at Goomba's Fortress, where the first Royal Sticker is being held. Mario travels through the fortress, dealing with its forces to reach the top where he and Kersti confront a Goomba corrupted by the Royal Sticker and his minions, who form into Megasparkle Goomba. Near the end of the battle, the Megasparkle Goomba splits and the other Goombas abandon their boss, claiming that the Royal Sticker is destroying who they are, and saying that they would prefer to be normal Goombas again. The enraged boss begins to battle alone, but Mario defeats him and obtains the first Royal Sticker.
Mario and Kersti then head to doorway which requires stickers to be placed on it to enter the desert. They travel through the world to Drybake Stadium, which requires three tablet pieces gain entrance. One of them is in Drybake Desert. The second one is in Yoshi Sphinx, where Mario battles Kamek again to safely collect it. The last one is in Damp Oasis, where a Vacuum is used to remove the sandstorm and then a Faucet to fill the pond with water. After restoring Drybake Stadium, Mario faces Tower Power Pokey, the guardian of the second Royal Sticker, at the top. By defeating him, Mario and Kersti recover the second Royal Sticker.
The next location is a forest. At the entrance is a sleeping Wiggler who must be awakened. He says that he was looking for food, due to the entire forest being polluted by poison. Mario and Kersti decide to help Wiggler and go to his house. However, deeper in the forest, Wiggler is snatched by Poison Bloopers, although both heroes think he just ran ahead. When Mario and Kersti arrive at Wiggler's Tree House, they find that Wiggler has been broken into five segments by Kamek's magic, four of which have run away to different parts of the forest. Mario and Kersti must find the Wiggler Segments and bring them back to the Wiggler's head. After the Wiggler Segment is initially found and the level cleared, it will run away to another level where it must to fought due to being enraged. On the Outlook Point the poison is discovered to come from an island near Whitecap Beach. Here, the last Wiggler Segment, after freeing it from Poison Bloopers, is enraged by this and runs to Surfshine Harbor to get a boat and reach the island. The Toad that owns the boat refuses, because a fishing boat was recently lost at the island. After this, the Wiggler Segment decides to finally return home.
After Mario and Kersti reattach Wiggler, he decides to help them by taking them to the island where the poison comes from. There, it is shown that Gooper Blooper, corrupted by the third Royal Sticker, is the cause of the poison in the forest. After defeating the Blooper, the poison disappears, reverting the forest to its normal state, and Mario gets the Royal Sticker. Wiggler can again find himself food.
To reach the other worlds, Mario and Kersti require the boat from Surfshine Harbor. The sailor Toad helps them with this after finding and placing back the boat's wheel. However a Big Cheep Cheep suddenly attacks the ship. After Mario defeats it, the frightened Toad retires from sailing, letting Mario to use the boat as he wishes.
This world is snow-themed. As Mario and Kersti travel through it, they come across The Enigmansion, where its steward is sitting outside due to the mansion being haunted by "Terrifying Things", Boos, freed from the Book of Sealing. He tasks Mario to find all 100 of them, reseal them in the book, and place it on the pedestal in the basement. After the task is completed, Kamek then reveals himself, claiming that he released the Boos by accident when he was looking for a novel about stickers. He tears out all the pages of the book, and crumples them together to form the Big Boo, and leaves. When the Big Boo is defeated and sealed again in the book, the steward thanks Mario by inviting him to enjoy tea, as well as letting Mario have Forebear's Portrait, which is of the Enigmansion's previous steward.
Mario and Kersti head to Whiteout Valley, where they use the portrait to fill the hole with the portrait. The forebear thanks Mario by starting up the ski lift, which Mario rides to reach Bowser's Snow Fort. This place is a minecart coaster which Mario must ride to reach Bowser Snow Statue. After breaking it down, it's revealed to be Mizzter Blizzard, a snowman who only wanted a body that wouldn't melt, and although the Royal Sticker gave him that, it also corrupted his mind. When Mizzter Blizzard is defeated and the fourth Royal Sticker is obtained, his final words are to beg Mario to rebuild him next winter, so they can meet on more peaceful terms.
If the player returns to the Mansion, the forebear has returned there, and the former steward is now a servant. Also, leaving the world causes Bowser Jr. to intercept and fight Mario. By defeating him again, Bowser Jr. retreats once more, returning to his father's castle.
At the next world, Mario and Kersti travel through a forested area, going on a raft, and getting chased by a massive cardboard Cheep Chomp. This is followed by Chomp Ruins, where Mario has to battle a massive Chain Chomp, afterwards is a more volcanic area. At Rumble Volcano, Petey Piranha, powered up by the fifth Royal Sticker, eats Kersti, so Mario must reach and defeat Petey to both free Kersti and retrieve the fifth Royal Sticker.
Arriving at the Gate Cliff, the five Royal Stickers begin to react. As Mario places them on the wall, he can paperize the wall and flip it, revealing Bowser's castle which flies to the sky, out of Mario's reach. Upon hearing mention of a creature flying over the forest and by heading to Wiggler's house, they find out Wiggler has grown up into Flutter. Wanting to repay Mario and Kersti for restoring the forest, Wiggler flies the pair up to Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla. Here, Mario defeats Bowser Jr. for the final time, and is able to reach Bowser's Sky Castle.
At the castle, Mario again faces and defeats Kamek for the last time. With him out of the way, Mario is able to continue on to Bowser at the final area of the castle, where Princess Peach is taped to a chain. During the final showdown, Bowser falls down into a pit with the last Royal Sticker, and emerges seconds later as a massive cardboard version of himself. With any attack dealing little damage to him, Kersti powers-up Mario to face him by sacrificing herself, apologizing for all the hassle she has caused him. With this power boost, Mario defeats Bowser, releasing him from the Royal Sticker's control. Mario frees Peach and uses the Royal Stickers to return everything to normal. After Peach congratulates Mario and the rest of the kingdom for their success, Bowser attempts to steal the Royal Stickers again, only for the revived Kersti to intervene. She jokes that she wants to change her career, and Mario, Peach, and Bowser laugh.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/kersti_zpsqexwlxu0.jpeg)
(Mario's helper in this series, Kersti, a sticker.
Gameplay
After forgoing the classic battle system in favor of a sidescrolling platformer-style system in Super Paper Mario, Paper Mario: Sticker Star returns to the turn-based system from the first two installments. However, players have to gather stickers, which are necessary both for solving puzzles and gaining battle commands. Stickers are a major part of the gameplay and storyline. Some real-world objects (called Things) appear in the form of stickers, and they also have the ability to be used to attack and overcome obstacles. Instead of leveling up from experience points as in the previous installments, Mario must find HP-Up Hearts, which each increase his current HP by 5 and increase attack power from First Strikes. Stickers replace Badges from the first two installments of the series. A new feature is the "Battle Spinner" slot machine which allows Mario to attack with multiple stickers in one turn, gain coins, or cause a different event to occur, depending on the combination received.[1].
In addition, the gameplay places a lot more emphasis on the "paper" aspect than the previous games, containing status elements directly related to paper materials such as "soggy," "clipped," or "tacked;" additionally, the enemies sometimes transform themselves to better reflect the papery nature of their designs (eg, a Goomba occasionally becoming a cone Goomba), transform as part of an attack (eg, the Koopa Troopas), or simply resemble paper to begin with (eg, the Big Boo fought in World 4-3). Many characters actively refer to themselves as existing within a paper world, most notably Kersti. The world's environments also resemble craft materials like cardboard. A few enemies that debuted in Super Mario Bros. 2 are back such as Shy Guys Snifits and Ninjis.
When Mario battles an enemy, the screen will flash a certain color with the word saying "Fight" when the battle starts. It is a blue screen when Mario touches an enemy outside battle. If Mario hammers or jumps on an enemy, the words will say "Nice" with the blue screen. However if Mario jumps on a spiky enemy such as a Spiny or a Piranha Plant or if Mario gets hit by the First Strike outside battle in this game, the screen will be red and orange as soon as Mario enters it. If Mario defeats all of the enemies on the first turn of the battle, then "Perfect Bonus" will appear on the screen, which earns Mario bonus coins.
Stickers
Stickers are the only items to appear in Paper Mario: Sticker Star. They serve as the only method of attack, items to solve puzzles, and the like. Stickers can be found anywhere in levels, being stuck across the environment and inside blocks, and can also be purchased in shops. Any stickers collected are stored in the album.
There are many types of stickers, but the two main types are Jump stickers and Hammer stickers. Jump stickers include Jump, Hopslipper, Line Jump, and Iron Jump. Most Jump stickers can attack all enemies that are not spiked or have some other hazard on top of them. Hammer stickers include Hammer, Eekhammer, Slaphammer, and Hurlhammer. Most of them can hit all enemies except ones that wield wings, Spear Guys when holding their spear horizontally, or some other type of flying device, such as Kamek's broom.
There are also stickers that support Mario in battle, such as Spike Helmets that give Mario a helmet that damages all enemies that attack him from above. Also in this category are Mushrooms that heal Mario and Leaf stickers that execute all action commands perfectly for one turn.
Other types of attack stickers include Fire Flower and Ice Flower stickers that burn and freeze enemies, respectively. Certain enemies also occasionally drop stickers that represent their weapons - for example, Sombrero Guys occasionally drop Sombrero stickers, and Bob-ombs drop Bomb stickers.
There are 2 special stickers that only appear in battle and then disappear when the battle is finished. Kamek turns all of Mario's stickers into Flip-flop stickers during the Kamek battles in World 2-2 and 6-3. Flip-flop stickers are similar to Eekhammers because they strike multiple times in a hammer-like fashion. Flip-flop stickers also retain their power status, i.e. a Shiny Jump sticker is a Shiny Flip-flop, a Megaflash Slaphammer is a Megaflash Flip-flop, etc. Flip-flops of the same size will appear the same, even if it is Shiny or Flashy. Once Flip-flops are used, they are gone from the sticker book, meaning that the player cannot get that sticker back once the battle is completed and their inventory is returned to normal.
The second sticker of this kind is none other than Kersti, who will enter Mario's sticker book during the final stage of the Bowser battle. She will activate the Battle Spinner and will automatically give Mario a whopping five slots for stickers per turn. Even though Kersti will disappear from the sticker book once used, Mario wishes her to be alive again, so he can still Paperize and talk to Kersti after the battle.
Although neither sticker can be tossed or sold in shops, selling Kersti is mentioned twice in the game: entering Decalburg's shop for the first time, and right before Kersti enters Mario's sticker book when battling Bowser. Also, if Mario is able to overpower Bowser without using the Kersti sticker, he is able to toss Kersti away. However, this action does not alter the storyline.
Finally, there are Secret Door stickers that Mario is able to paste onto the environment via the Paperize ability. These doors reveal secret underground rooms containing rare stickers and/or Things that are usually not used for storyline purposes, such as a Thumbtack and a Squirt Gun.
Every single sticker except Thing stickers sometimes have special traits applied to them, such as "Shiny", "Flashy", and "Big". These stickers usually sparkle in Mario's album and do more damage than usual to enemies. Stickers that have traits like "Big" and "Megaflash" take up more space in the album, not unlike Secret Door and certain Thing stickers. Typically, stickers wielding special traits are rarer than normal stickers. Battle Stickers and Thing Stickers come in three sizes: Small (4 Spaces), Medium (9 Spaces), and Large (16 Spaces).
Worlds
World 1
1-1: Warm Fuzzy Plains
1-2: Bouquet Gardens
1-3: Water's Edge Way*
1-4: Hither Thither Hill
1-5: Whammino Mountain
1-6: Goomba Fortress
World 2
2-1: Drybake Desert
2-2: Yoshi Sphinx
2-3: Sandshifter Ruins
2-4: Damp Oasis
2-5: Drybake Stadium
World 3
3-1: Leaflitter Path
3-2: The Bafflewood
3-3: Wiggler's Tree House
3-4: Strike Lake
3-5: Loop Loop River
3-6: Outlook Point
3-7: Rustle Burrow
3-8: Tree Branch Trail
3-9: Gauntlet Pond
3-10: Stump Glade
3-11: Holey Thicket
3-12: Whitecap Beach
World 4
4-1: Snow Rise
4-2: Ice Flow
4-3: The Enigmansion
4-4: Shaved-Ice Cave
4-5: Whiteout Valley
4-6: Bowser's Snow Fort
World 5
5-1: Shy Guy Jungle
5-2: Jungle Rapids
5-3: Long Fall Falls
5-4: Chomp Ruins
5-5: Rugged Road
5-6: Rumble Volcano
World 6
6-1: Gate Cliff
6-2: Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla
Final: Bowser's Sky Castle
Why I Love This Game:
1. RPG: Finally. Finally. After that experiment with Super Paper Mario (which I absolutely love to death) this game goes back to its original RPG structure.
2. Underrated: Many people bash this game and says that it is sub par and is horrible compared to the other 3 games before it. I agree, but it is not horrible at all! This game is not mentioned as much as other games when it has the right to be mentioned. Man....
3. Fantastic Series: I love the Paper Mario series to death. Really. This along with the Galaxy series are my favorite Mario games. Thousand Year Door and Super Paper Mario are top notch. This series has created a standing impact on me and that's what makes this game fantastic also.
Starting from the next right up is when true nostalgia begins....oh god.
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TWD S1 is pretty great, S2's alright but not as strong.
I wasn't hugely impressed by TWAU either, it was good too but not as great imo as everyone makes it out to be
also maybe i'll actually put together my list of 25 games soon, i probably should get around to this eventually :lol
edit: like yeah put me down to do one after scar's is done, i'm already on the "will go eventually" list so
Done and done! :)
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Number 13: Super Mario Galaxy 1
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/galaxy%201_zpshfexdyv9.jpg)
How'd I Find Out About Super Mario Galaxy 1?
I was at a Target when I was browsing some games for the Wii. There was this game I wanted to get and my mom promised me a game. The game I was originally looking for was sold out so I was about to go to another Target, when Super Mario Galaxy 1 caught my eye. Now, I've never played this game before, but something about it was very interesting. I picked it up and at first, I raged because of the difficulty, but it ended up turning really well. I introduced Galaxy 2, a year later to my girlfriend, and that has become our favorite.
What is Super Mario Galaxy 1?
Super Mario Galaxy is a 3D action-adventure platformer game for the Wii console, first released in 2007. It is the third Mario 3D platformer, and the follow-up to Super Mario 64 as well as Super Mario Sunshine. Unlike the previous two 3D adventure installments for the Mario franchise, this game takes place in deep space. Most of the game's levels consist of many small planets and planetoids, while others have bigger planets. Upon release, Super Mario Galaxy received some of the highest review scores and appraisals of any Wii game to date. Since its release, the game has sold over 12 million copies, making it the eighth best-selling Wii game, and earning a Nintendo Selects rerelease. Super Mario Galaxy received a sequel titled Super Mario Galaxy 2 which was released for the Wii in 2010.
The Story
Every hundred years, on the eve of the Star Festival, a comet passes over the Mushroom Kingdom and causes magical stars and stardust to fall to the planet below. Peach invites Mario to her castle to join in the festivities and receive something she wants to give. As Mario arrives in the Castle Gardens, Bowser suddenly attacks the Toads with his airships and freezes them in crystals. He "invites" Peach to the creation of his brand new galaxy and cuts the castle off the ground with a UFO to carry it to the center of the universe. Before Mario can reach Peach, Kamek casts a spell at him, sending him into space. A Luma, whom Peach was carrying before her abduction, flees to look for Mario before Kamek warps the castle away with another spell.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/toad%20town_zps0zfmilzc.jpg)
(Toad Town, as seen in game.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/lifted_zpshxhq4yln.jpg)
(Peach's castle being lifted up and taken away...)
When Mario later wakes up on a small grassy planet he meets Lumas and eventually Rosalina, a mysterious woman who acts as the protector of the galaxies and the mother of the Lumas. She tells Mario that her ship, the Comet Observatory, had its Power Stars and Grand Stars stolen by Bowser. Without these, the Comet Observatory is unable to move through space. Rosalina asks him to rescue the Grand Stars in order to defeat Bowser. Mario also receives help from Luma, who grants him spinning powers. Mario and Luma complete missions from galaxies in opened domes in order to receive Power Stars. Once a mission is completed, Mario collects a Power Star and unlocks the next mission. There are normally five galaxies per dome, and once Mario has collected enough Power Stars, the next galaxy in the current dome would be an enemy base where either Bowser or Bowser Jr. would be using the power of one of the Grand Stars. His next mission would be to defeat Bowser or Bowser Jr. and rescue the next Grand Star. Rescuing the Grand Star unlocks the next dome. When enough Power Stars and Grand Stars are collected, the Comet Observatory can take Mario to the center of the universe.
Here, Mario defeats Bowser in his brand new galaxy, retrieves the last Grand Star, and rescues Peach. Just then, the sun of Bowser's near-complete galaxy undergoes a supernova and becomes a supermassive Black Hole which begins pulling in everything. The Lumas throw themselves into the Black Hole in order to neutralize it, and it soon disintegrates in a massive explosion. Mario appears in front of Rosalina, who tells him that this is not the end, but a new beginning for the universe, which never repeats itself in exactly the same way.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/space_zpsuxdcu45p.jpg)
(Mario flying with Peach after defeating Bowser.)
Mario later awakens in the Mushroom Kingdom near Peach's Castle. He sees everyone he's met throughout his adventure celebrating, while Bowser and Peach lie next to him with no recollection of the past events. When he looks in the air, he notices the reconstructed galaxy, and exclaims "Welcome! Welcome new galaxy!" as the camera zooms out into space, revealing that the universe has been reconstituted. If 120 stars are collected, a special cut scene plays after the credits. There, Rosalina thanks Mario before flying off with the Comet Observatory. The Luma that accompanied Mario is shown to be alive, inside a derelict Starshroom.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/ebdubg_zpsrpt4xe99.jpg)
(Various characters celebrating after the universe's recreation.)
Gameplay?
Gameplay is somewhat different from previous Mario titles, rather than being strictly 2D or 3D, the game occasionally shifts from 3D to 2D (A practice that became popular in other games, such as the Sonic games), although the core gameplay is mostly 3D. The game uses sphere walking, which would become popular afterward, too. Despite the changes, the gameplay heavily resembles Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, with a similar camera system and similar gameplay mechanics.
Collecting all 120 Power Stars and defeating Bowser once more unlocks "Super Luigi Galaxy" mode, which replaces Mario with a playable version of Luigi and presents a few gameplay differences to reflect this change. Like in a number of previous Mario games, Luigi boasts higher jumps, but lower traction compared to Mario. Luigi is also faster than Mario, but loses air faster while underwater. Cosmic Luigi is more challenging than Cosmic Mario, and Luigi receives 20 1-Up Mushrooms from Peach's letter (although if Luigi's 1-Up counter grows too high, he will only receive five). Outside of these changes, the storyline is almost completely unchanged, and even includes the original NPC Luigi. When the player has defeated Bowser again and continues with "Super Luigi Galaxy", Rosalina again says if Luigi collects all 120 stars, the player can travel to a new world. When the player collects 120 Power Stars, they can travel to Grand Finale Galaxy, which shows the celebration of the Star Festival and is where the 121st Power Star is found.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/pull%20star_zpsde0bny9f.jpg)
(Pull Stars are used by pointing the Star Cursor at them and pressing the A Button.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/spin_zpsuqx4ykyx.jpg)
(Mario's Spin move can defeat enemies or activate machines.)
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Galaxies
Power Stars make a comeback, last being seen in Super Mario 64. The main goal of the game is to collect a minimum of sixty stars and defeat Bowser. Similar to Princess Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64 and Delfino Plaza in Super Mario Sunshine, the Comet Observatory acts as the game's hub area. There, Mario can access the galaxies from domes. New areas in the Comet Observatory become accessible as Mario gains Power Stars and Grand Stars. A minimum number of Power Stars is required to have enough power to go to each multi-star galaxy, single non-Grand Star galaxies with a ? Block icon when locked are bonuses for finishing certain star missions. The game has a level intro for each star, as in Super Mario Sunshine.
Mario encounters Luigi in four levels (located in the Good Egg Galaxy, the Honeyhive Galaxy, the Battlerock Galaxy, and the Ghostly Galaxy). In Ghostly Galaxy, Luigi is at the end of Luigi and the Haunted Mansion holding a star. After Luigi is rescued, he can be seen in the observatory and helps Mario reach secret stars that he could not get alone. When Luigi is in other galaxies, Mario receives a letter from Luigi every time Luigi has found a Power Star, including a picture which helps Mario find Luigi. After the main game is finished, Mario can return and collect up to 120 stars. Super Mario Galaxy contains a few different types of stars, including red, green, and comet stars. The Green Power Stars are secret stars which are used to unlock the Trial Galaxies and one Red Power Star appears when Mario returns to the gate, which allows usage of the Red Star in the Comet Observatory.
After finishing a level, Mario's highest score of coins for the galaxy is recorded and the collected Star Bits are transferred to the Comet Observatory, where Mario can later use them to feed Hungry Lumas. The requirements for opening up each galaxy is listed below, with Star Bits if the galaxy is created by a Hungry Luma. Note, however, that some galaxies are not unlocked by simply obtaining a number of stars but by completing a specific star. This is true for all Hungry Lumas except the first, and all bonus galaxies from Buoy Base Galaxy onward.
There are a total of forty-two galaxies in the game.
The amount of Power Stars and Star Bits listed after a galaxy is the amount of the corresponding collectibles that is required to unlock the galaxy.
The Gate:
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/the%20gate_zps2nd21k2d.png)
“There's a connection here to deep space, far from your lands. We call it the gateway to the starry sky.”
—Luma, Super Mario Galaxy
The Gate or the gateway to the starry sky is a portal from the Comet Observatory to the Gateway Galaxy which appears in the Wii game, Super Mario Galaxy. It is a small floating island above the comet observatory with two of the observatory's "portals" linking to it; one from the Engine Room and one from the Garden. It is impossible to access the gate if one has not recovered the sixth Grand Star by defeating King Kaliente in the galaxy Bowser Jr.'s Lava Reactor. Once that star is recovered the Engine Room will be beaten and the Warp Pad to the gate will open creating a path to both the Gate and the Garden.
By passing through the Gate, Mario is able to return to the Gateway Galaxy and take another Warp Pad to the Garden. Just beside the gate is a Hungry Luma who will unlock and allow Mario to travel to the Boo's Boneyard Galaxy if it is fed with 1,200 Star Bits.
There is also a 1-Up Mushroom underneath the gate which can only be accessed by using a Red Star and flying right underneath it. The Red Stars are by the Garage and on the roof of the Bedroom after Mario completes Gateway's Purple Coins in the Gateway Galaxy.
Galaxies in the Gate:
1. Gateway Galaxy - This is the first Galaxy that the player encounters in the game. However, after completing its first mission, the player cannot revisit the Galaxy until they have unlocked the Gate dome. It contains a grassy starting planet with patches of flowers, miniature houses, and other features. A Grand Star and a Red Power Star can be found in this Galaxy.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/gateway%20galaxy_zpsjj3xxpar.png)
2. Boo's Boneyard Galaxy - The player encounters the Spooky Speedster for a second time in this Hungry Luma Galaxy; this time, the player races as Boo Mario in an underground course.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/boos%20boneyard_zpssyhdmzgx.png)
The Terrace:
“You should go to the Terrace first. Please rescue the Power Stars in the galaxies you see there.”
—Rosalina, Super Mario Galaxy
The Terrace is a dome in Super Mario Galaxy. It is the first dome that Mario or Luigi have access to, and is unlocked once the Grand Star from the Gateway Galaxy is recovered. The Terrace's exterior resembles an Earth-like atmosphere; it is grassy and sits on a plain-like patch of the Comet Observatory.
Inside, the Terrace has starry wallpaper with a castle design in silhouette. It is the most realistic observatory in the game, due to it not having a clear theme (such as Kitchen, Bedroom, etc.) and featuring an inside that looks like a real observation room would look like in the Mario franchise. There is a small telescope in the corner, presumably for looking at galaxies. It's possible that this is the telescope that once belonged to Rosalina's father, as mentioned in Rosalina's Storybook. As with all domes, the Terrace has a Pull Star in the center used to access its galaxies.
The main boss of the Terrace is Megaleg.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/in%20the%20terrace_zpsqws3ajes.png)
(Inside the Terrace.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/out%20the%20terrace_zpsyeesyxd2.png)
(Outside the Terrace.)
Galaxies in the Terrace:
1. Good Egg Galaxy - This is a fairly basic Galaxy. There are two bosses, Dino Piranha and King Kaliente, fought here during the first and third missions, respectively. Dino Piranha is also fought under Speedrun conditions.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/good%20egg_zpsffbnpxew.png)
2. Honeyhive Galaxy - This is a bee-themed Galaxy. The Bee Mushroom is introduced here. Bugaboom is fought here during the third mission. Queen Bee lives here. The Toad Brigade is first found here.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/honey_zpsc5hi2veq.png)
3. Loopdeeloop Galaxy - This is a Manta Ray Surfing Galaxy. Penguins are found here.This is a Manta Ray Surfing Galaxy. Penguins are found here.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/loop_zpsw5arbfui.png)
4. Flipswitch Galaxy - This is a Galaxy made mostly out of one Flipswitch Panel-filled planet. Other planets exist, but are inaccessible.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/flip_zpsuyklkkop.png)
5. Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor - This is the boss Galaxy of the Terrace. Megaleg, the first major boss of the game, is fought here.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/robot_zpspodkz336.png)
6. Sweet Sweet Galaxy - This is a rather large Hungry Luma Galaxy. It is made entirely out of candy-themed platforms and structures.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sweet%20sweet_zpsmsydhjgp.jpg)
The Fountain:
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/inside%20fountain_zpszsfyez4e.png)
(Inside the Fountain.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/outisde%20fouuntain_zps9zbayvs4.png)
(Outside the Fountain.)
The Fountain is a dome in Super Mario Galaxy. It is the second dome that Mario or Luigi can unlock, provided he recovers the Grand Star from Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor.
The exterior is made of white stones and has water spouting from the sides. The interior has blue tiles and water running through it like channels. Polari describes the dome as being very relaxing. As with all domes, the Fountain has a Pull Star in the center which is used to access its galaxies. The main boss is Bowser.
Galaxies in the Fountain:
1. Space Junk Galaxy - This is a Galaxy centred around space junk. Scuttlebugs appear prominently here. Two bosses, Kamella and Tarantox, are fought here during the second and third missions, respectively. There are platforms here that only appear when Mario is close to them, and vanish when he leaves them. Finishing the second mission of the Galaxy, Kamella's Airship Attack, will make Prankster Comets appear.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/space%20junk_zpsjinax6ig.png)
2. Rolling Green Galaxy - This is a golf course-like Galaxy. A Star Ball must be carefully manoeuvred in a Star Ball Rolling minigame to acquire the Galaxy's one Star.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/rolling_zpsk5ea37tc.png)
3. Battlerock Galaxy - This Galaxy contains many floating metallic saucers and a large Battlerock equipped with cannons. Topmen can be found here during the second and third missions. Topmaniac is fought here twice, once during normal conditions during the third mission, and once under Daredevil conditions. This is one of the three Galaxies in the game to feature a Green Star mission, the other ones being Buoy Base Galaxy and Dusty Dune Galaxy.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/battlerock_zpsto4lsra0.png)
4. Hurry-Scurry Galaxy - This is a Galaxy that prominently features Shrinking Tiles. Music Notes must be collected on the main planet of the Galaxy to obtain the Galaxy's one Star.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/hurry_zps2ox7kgki.png)
5. Bowser's Star Reactor - This is the first Bowser Galaxy in the game. As such, it is the first time in the game where he is fought.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/bowser%20star_zpsrj0df9fr.png)
6. Sling Pod Galaxy - This is the Hungry Luma Galaxy of the Fountain. Like the name implies, Sling Pods are featured prominently in this Galaxy.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sling%20pod_zpsgx8fliog.png)
The Kitchen:
The Kitchen is a dome in Super Mario Galaxy. It is the third accessible dome, and must be unlocked by recovering the Grand Star from Bowser's Star Reactor. The main boss of the Kitchen is Bowser Jr.
The Kitchen has brick walls with an eternally-smoking chimney on top. Inside is a wooden floor with a raised star-shaped platform in the middle. The Kitchen also has a sink and a fireplace. There is also a 1-Up Mushroom behind the tower that the Kitchen is situated upon. As with all domes, the Kitchen has a Pull Star in the middle which is used to access the dome's Galaxies.
When the black hole of Bowser's Galaxy Reactor was formed, Princess Peach's Castle was forcefully pushed through the nothingness and collided with the Comet Observatory, sending the kitchen off into space without the Observatory.
The Galaxies in the Kitchen:
1. Beach Bowl Galaxy - This is a water-themed Galaxy. Penguins are featured prominently here. This is the first time in the game where the Ice Flower is obtainable through the secret Star. A notable area of this Galaxy is the The Cyclone Stone, later reused in Super Mario Galaxy 2's Stone Cyclone Galaxy.
2. Bubble Breeze Galaxy - This Galaxy prominently features a poison swamp that instantaneously kills Mario when touched. The main method of transport in this Galaxy is careful maneuvering of Bubble Blowing.
3. Ghostly Galaxy - This is a Ghost House-themed Galaxy. Luigi is first found here, and completing the first mission of the Galaxy will unlock Luigi missions in previous Galaxies. Bouldergeist is fought here twice, once during normal conditions during the third mission and once during Daredevil conditions. The Boo Mushroom is introduced here.
4. Buoy Base Galaxy - This Galaxy, like its name implies, is mainly focused on a large buoy. This is one of the two Galaxies in the game to feature two Stars, the other one being Gateway Galaxy. This is one of the three Galaxies in the game to feature a Green Star, the other two being Battlerock Galaxy and Dusty Dune Galaxy.
5. Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada - This is the boss Galaxy of the Kitchen. The boss here is Bowser Jr.. As the name implies, there are many Airships here.
6. Drip Drop Galaxy - This Hungry Luma Galaxy is composed entirely out of one large spherical planet made almost entirely out of water. Three Gringills are fought here to obtain the Galaxy's one Star.
:lol :lol
Ok, I think that's enough.....Anyways.......
Why I Love This Game:
1. Exploration - You know, the two galaxy games will always have my heart. Galaxy 2 will way ahead of this list. I really wish that Super Mario Galaxy 1 was real. Galaxy 2, which we will get on about way later, was my girlfriend's favorite and we had so many memories of it. Sticking with Galaxy 1, I just wish I could visit some of these galaxies with my girlfriends and have a future there. A world that is really peaceful and with no one to disturb us.
2. Music - I can't emphasis how much I love video game music. Music and exploration are real softies with me and Galaxy 1's music does not disappoint. Me writing this won't spread the message effectively, so I want you guys to check this out.
My Favorite Musics:
a. Gusty Garden Galaxy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcZhJDUFb58
(Filled with orchestra, this face paced song will not disappoint. You latch on to flowers and fly to the wind. Imagine this playing while you are doing something fast paced like sky diving.)
b. Deep Dark Galaxy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcWp7wTMO5Y
(This music is really haunting. It fits the level well. You are exploring a dark level with a lot of ghosts and just darkness. The whole scene is unsettling.)
c. Space Junk Galaxy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuYNxzSFRk8
(Really soothing piano. This is my lullaby. So refreshing....)
d. Buoy Base Galaxy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z29bt-wjS88
(An abandoned fortress with extremely cool music playing.....can I ask for more?
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I thought the story of this game was blah, I totally glossed over everything Rosalina talked about. I don't need any story to enjoy a Mario game. And I enjoyed the hell out of this game.
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My girlfriend has super mario galaxy and I'm still kicking myself for not playing it.
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Hell yes! Literally the only thing I don't like about Galaxy is how it makes you play essentially the same game twice to get 100%. The differences in how Mario and Luigi handle aren't large enough to make the experience novel.
The top, let's say, 10% of Galaxy 1 (for me, the Freezeflame, Toy Time, and Melty Molten galaxies) easily beats out anything from Galaxy 2. However, the typical Galaxy 2 stage is stronger. I honestly cannot decide which one I like better.
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:tup :tup
I thought Galaxy 2 had the stronger galaxies. Though, Toy Time is great and Freezeflame is godly. The only galaxy I didn't like was Shiverburn....in Galaxy 2.
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hi bump
I should work on my list tbh
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Sorry about this everyone. Will post soon.
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Sorry about this everyone. Will post soon.
No need to apologize, your write ups are the most unique out of all the writers IMO. And they are worth the wait! ;)
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Thanks CableX. :) :D
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Number 12: Paper Mario 64
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Due to the delay's, this one will be a tad quick. Next one shall be up tomorrow for sure.
The gameplay of Paper Mario draws many parallels to the typical style of Japanese role-playing games, but also includes Mario-esque features, such as the ability to jump. The player controls Mario through a number of locations, explores dungeons, manages stats, and battles enemies. The game derives its title from its arts and crafts aesthetic; The game environments are three-dimensional while nearly every character in the game is drawn as a flat 2D sprite, as if cut out from paper.
Paper Mario tells the story of the Star Rod, a magical staff the Stars of Star Haven use to grant the wishes of the denizens of Mario's world. Over the course of the game, the Star Rod is stolen by Bowser who, after lifting Princess Peach's Castle into the sky, uses the staff's wish-granting powers to make himself invincible.
Being unable to defeat Bowser the conventional way, Mario must travel the Mushroom Kingdom and rescue the seven Star Spirits, who are the only ones able to counter the Star Rod's power and make Bowser vulnerable again. Along the way he is helped by several characters in various ways, by becoming his partners or supporting him otherwise. All the while Bowser attempts to intervene wherever he can, by empowering his minions with the Star Rod.
In the end, Mario and his friends face Bowser atop the Princess' castle and defeat him. The Star Rod is brought back to Star Haven and the castle returns safely to where it was.
The reason I love this game very much is because it is an RPG game! I love turn based games as it is one of my favorites. The music here also is not too shabby and provides a lot of exploration.
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I've never played paper Mario but I've always loved the looks of the game.
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This is the only Paper Mario game I've played, and I quite enjoyed it. Not as much as the straight up platformers, but still nice for a bit of a change. I'm not an RPG fan by any stretch, but those elements were done in a simple and accessible way.
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I liked this one a lot too.
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:tup
Number 11: Luigi's Mansion
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(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mansion_zpsdu7fatwz.jpeg)
Here is Luigi's Mansion. I used to watch Youtuber's play Nintendo games and when I saw Chuggaconroy play this game. I saw him play it for the first ten minutes and instantly, I knew that I had to grab a hold of this game. Thankfully, I was able to download it from the Wii shop and there began my adventure with Luigi's Mansion.
What is Luigi's Mansion?
Luigi's Mansion is a launch title for the Nintendo GameCube, released in September 2001. It marks the second time where Luigi is the main character, with Mario playing a supporting role, the first being Mario is Missing!, and introduces Professor E. Gadd & King Boo. A sequel, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013.
Background
One day, Luigi received an unexpected message: You've won a huge mansion! Naturally, He got very excited and called his brother, Mario. "Mario? It's me, Luigi. I won myself a big mansion! Meet me there and we'll celebrate, what do you say?"
Luigi tried to follow the map to his new mansion, but the night was dark, and he became hopelessly lost in an eerie forest along the way. Finally, he came upon a gloomy mansion on the edge of the woods. According to the map, this mansion seemed to be the one Luigi was looking for. As soon as Luigi set foot in the mansion, he started to feel nervous. Mario, who should have arrived first, was nowhere to be seen. Not only that, but there were ghosts in the mansion!
Suddenly, a ghost lunged at Luigi! "Mario! Help meee!" That's when a strange old man with a vacuum cleaner on his back appeared out of nowhere! This strange fellow managed to rescue Luigi from the ghosts, then the two of them escaped...
It just so happened that the old man, Professor Elvin Gadd, who lived near the house, was researching his favorite subject, ghosts. Luigi told Professor E. Gadd that his brother Mario was missing, so the Professor decided to give Luigi two inventions that would help him search for his brother.
Luigi's not exactly known for his bravery. Can he get rid of all the prank-loving ghosts and find Mario?
Storyline:
Luigi, having won a mansion in a contest he did not participate, enters Boo Woods and locates it. He enters the mansion and is soon attacked by a ghost, but Professor E. Gadd appears and fights off the ghosts with a vacuum. He tells Luigi that the mansion is an illusion that has appeared out of thin air, where Mario has been captured by King Boo and his minions. He gives Luigi the Poltergust 3000 to vacuum up ghosts and the Game Boy Horror to communicate with E. Gadd, scan objects and see a map of the mansion.
Luigi enters the mansion, sucking up ghosts and finding keys, while meeting Toad along the way, until he encounters a portrait ghost, Neville. He defeats him, sucking him into the Poltergust 3000. He does the same to Lydia, Neville's wife, and fights their baby, Chauncey, who sucks Luigi into his crib and fights him as a giant ghost, but is defeated and sucked into the Poltergust 3000. With his ghost-hunting vacuum filling rapidly, Luigi returns to E. Gadd's lab and empties it, turning Neville, Lydia and Chauncey back into portraits.
Luigi enters Area 2, another area through a previously blocked door and fights more ghosts. After defeating the Floating Whirlindas, he enters the Storage Room and hits a switch, which opens a trapdoor where 50 Boos and their leader, King Boo, are hiding. All of them escape, flying into different rooms of the mansion. Luigi returns to E. Gadd's lab and E. Gadd tells him that the Boos were the ones who released the portrait ghosts - Luigi must capture the Boos to weaken their power, as they are stronger in greater numbers. So Luigi goes through the many rooms of the mansion, vacuuming up any Boos he sees. He also meets Madame Clairvoya, a fortune teller ghost, who tells him to bring her any of Mario's items he finds lying around in the mansion so she can get details on his whereabouts. The items are: Mario's hat, Mario's glove, Mario's shoe, Mario's letter and Mario's star. After sucking up Shivers the butler, Melody Pianissima, Mr. Luggs and Spooky the dog, Luigi enters the Cemetery and fights the shadowy ghost, Bogmire. He defeats him and sucks him into the Poltergust, which he then empties at E. Gadd's lab to turn all the Portrait Ghosts into portraits.
Luigi enters a third area into the courtyard. Down the well, he sees into King Boo's altar and discovers that King Boo has imprisoned Mario in a portrait. He goes through new rooms of the mansion, finding Mario's items and vacuuming up ghosts, including portrait ghosts Biff Atlas, Miss Petunia, Nana, Slim Bankshot and twins Henry and Orville. After Luigi brings Madame Clairvoya enough of Mario's items, she tells him that she sees Bowser in a vision, which is shocking because Mario defeated Bowser and she suspects that King Boo revived him. With her job done, she tells Luigi to suck her into the Poltergust so she can return peacefully to her portrait. After he does so and defeats enough Boos, he enters the balcony and fights Boolossus, a big Boo made up of fifteen individual Boos. He throws him into a spiky statue to split him into his individual Boos and sucks them all into the Poltergust. He then empties the Poltergust at E. Gadd's lab to turn all the portrait ghosts, including Boolossus, into portraits.
When Luigi enters Area 4 in the attic, the mansion is suddenly struck by lightning, creating a blackout throughout the mansion. He then goes to the breaker room to turn the power back on, but finds it locked. Luigi looks for the key and soon encounters a ghost named Uncle Grimmly and defeats him to get the key. After he turns the power back on, he catches more Boos and portrait ghosts, including the Clockwork Soldiers, Sue Pea, Jarvis and Sir Weston, before entering the room of Vincent Van Gore, one of the most prominent portrait ghosts who is painting regular ghosts. He sends several waves of ghosts after Luigi, but Luigi defeats them all, causing Van Gore to go into a state of depression and Luigi sucks him into the Poltergust without much resistance. He then goes to the Secret Altar down a creepy hallway in the basement and encounters King Boo, who reveals that he was the one who told Luigi that he won the mansion in a contest and set it up as revenge for all the trouble they caused him (though they may not have met him before, they have been fighting against Boos for years, plus King Boo works for Bowser). King Boo goes into Mario's portrait (which turns into a Bowser portrait) and sucks Luigi into it. In an arena resembling the roof of the mansion with fire for a background, Luigi fights Bowser (as Madame Clairvoya had seen), but when he hits him in the head with a bomb, the true opponent is revealed to be King Boo. Luigi defeats King Boo while avoiding Bowser's head and sucks him into the Poltergust.
Luigi returns to the lab and turns all the portrait ghosts, including King Boo, into portraits again. E. Gadd then reverses the Portrificationizer to release Mario from his portrait. After Mario goes through a reverse-procedure of all the portrait-ghosts captured, he rockets out of the machine, colliding with Luigi, but otherwise alright. Luigi laughs and cries with happiness that his brother is safe. Since King Boo has been defeated his illusion of a mansion fades away, though the money and jewels Luigi collected in the mansion were real and with it he gets a new mansion or house. But if Luigi gets H rank, he ends up with only a tent.
Why I Love This Game:
1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere here is quite spooky. Although this game has a few light moments, most of them will keep you on your toes and I think it's pretty dark for a Mario/Luigi game. Though, Super Paper Mario takes the cake with the darkest atmosphere.
2. Difficulty: Not too easy and not too hard. Keeps you on your toes, but doesn't take days and days and guides to complete. Perfect balance, really.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/poltergust_zpscyeymgcn.jpeg)
(The Poltergust 3000)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/boss%20ghosts%20luigi_zpstg6rxxov.jpg)
(Boss Ghosts)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/depressed_zps8nqdm9vh.jpg)
(Depressed Luigi)
In the beta version of the game, if Luigi had failed to save Mario within the given time limit, Luigi would fall into depression and commit suicide, becoming a ghost and forever wandering the house.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/head%20slicer_zpsljlbcdfr.jpeg)
(Head hunter ghost in beta)
In the beta version of the game, a hunter was suggested for a boss. The hunter would threaten to cut Luigi's head off and add it to his collection. This idea was quickly scrapped.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/luigi%20hang_zps2ik7ckjg.jpeg)
(Luigi's hanging shadow?)
Many people claim that they can see Luigi's shadow being hung.....
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I've never played it but it looks really good. I really wish I got a gamecube at some point.
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I really wish I got a gamecube at some point.
You didn't miss out on much, IMO. Metroid Prime and Wind Waker are the only real stand-out titles I remember playing.
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Really? For some reason I thought there were a lot more titles for gamecube?
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I liked Super Mario Sunshine, but that is a hit or miss for quite a lot of people.
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the gamecube has some good games but the PS2 absolutely dominated that console generation as far as game library goes
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Really? For some reason I thought there were a lot more titles for gamecube?
There was, I always thought the GameCube was somewhat underrated as a console. Except for the already mentioned, you have Mario Kart Double Dash, Paper Mario, Pikmin, Eternal Darkness, Star Wars Rouge Squadron II, updated versions of the Sonic Adventure games, and more. :)
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Number 10: Super Mario 64
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mario%2064_zpsgwpmypz8.jpg)
Ah, here it is. The very first Mario game I was introduced to when I was young. Nostalgia always floods me whenever I play this game. This game introduced me to Mario and this game is the only reason why I was able to always play Mario with a smile.
What is Super Mario 64 (Really?! :tdwn)
Super Mario 64 is a 3D action-adventure platformer game released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996. This game was one of two (three in Japan) launch titles for the Nintendo 64, along with Pilotwings 64, which helped drive initial sales of the console. To this day, it has sold nearly over 11 million copies, and is marked as the best selling Nintendo 64 game of all time. It is also the second most popular game on the Wii's Virtual Console, after Super Mario Bros.
Being the first 3D Mario game, Super Mario 64 has introduced many moves that would be used in almost every later Super Mario title: Triple Jumping, Ground Pounding, Long Jumping, Crouching, and Somersaults. Punching and kicking were also introduced, but would not be used in any later main title (besides its DS remake).
Though not the first 3D platforming game, Super Mario 64 codified many of the controls and designs conventions of the genre. It is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest and most important games of all time.
In 2004, a remake of Super Mario 64 was released for the Nintendo DS entitled Super Mario 64 DS. The remake had various differences from the original game such as Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario becoming playable characters. There was also a sequel called Super Mario 64 2 planned for the Nintendo 64DD, but it was cancelled due to the 64DD's commercial failure. The game was rereleased digitally on the Wii U's Virtual Console service on April 1st 2015, making it and Donkey Kong 64 the first two Nintendo 64 games to be released on the service.
Storyline:
Princess Toadstool (or "Peach", as she is called for the second time in the western world since Yoshi's Safari introduced it) sent a letter to Mario to come and have some cake with her in the castle. When Mario arrives, he finds one of the Lakitu Bros. who follows him around holding a camera and filming him. Together, they go inside and hear a familiar voice telling them to get out of the castle, actually being Bowser. Toad informs them that Bowser has kidnapped Peach again and is holding everyone hostage inside the castle walls. He has also stolen the 120 Power Stars and given them to his minions who are hiding in the paintings that are accessible from inside the castle. Mario must jump into each painting scattered around the castle in order to retrieve the power stars.
Toad informs Mario about a Bob-omb field where King Bob-omb must be faced. The first of many power stars can be found here. By obtaining more Power Stars, Mario unlocks doors to three more paintings in the castle including the Whomp's Fortress, Jolly Roger Bay, Cool, Cool Mountain, and the ability to collect more stars.
When Mario collects eight Power Stars, he can open the Star Door at the left side of the castle. He then falls through the floor in the room and enters the first Bowser Course, Bowser in the Dark World. After traveling through the course, he enters a warp pipe, which leads him to Bowser. After evading Bowser's attacks and grabbing his tail, Mario throws him into a bomb on the edge of the stage defeating him. Unfortunately, it turns out that Bowser doesn't have Peach with him. Instead, he floats into the air and disappears, leaving a key for Mario to collect. Mario then obtains the key that allows him to enter the basement of the castle. The basement contains four levels, which are Lethal Lava Land, Shifting Sand Land, Hazy Maze Cave, and Dire, Dire Docks. After collecting 30 stars, Mario is granted with the ability to open another star door in the basement. The Star Door leads to a room with the entrance to Dire, Dire Docks and the second Bowser course, Bowser in the Fire Sea. After navigating through the course, Mario jumps into another battle with Bowser. This battle can be more challenging than the last one, since Bowser can now teleport and tilt the stage. Also, the distance between the arena platform and the bombs has increased. When Mario defeats Bowser for the second time, Mario gains a key to the second floor leading to even more paintings. After Mario collects his 50th Power Star, he can go up to the third floor, and once Mario collects 70 Power Stars, he can access the door into Bowser's final stage, Bowser in the Sky, and go through another one of his obstacle courses. After he finds the warp pipe at the end of the course, Mario finds Bowser waiting for him. The two then begin to engage in battle. This time, Bowser has to be blown up by a bomb three times. When Bowser gets blown up twice, certain parts of the arena fall away, leaving the platform in a shape of giant star. Bowser ends up defeated, and is surprised when Mario tells him there were some Power Stars he missed; the Castle's Secret Stars. Bowser gives up, and then hands Mario the final Grand Power Star before he disappears. When Mario grabs the last power star, wings appear on his cap, allowing him to fly. He circles the star-shaped arena, and flies away. Eventually, he lands in front of the castle.
As his wings fade away, Mario uses the power of the Giant Power Star to save Peach and take her back at the front of the castle. The star goes into the stained glass window over the front door of the castle, the window flashes, and Peach slowly descends to the ground. Mario rushes up to her as she opens her eyes. Thanking him, Peach kisses Mario on the nose and says she will bake a cake for him. Peach and two nearby Mushroom Retainers walk into the castle. Mario starts to do so himself, but then pauses and turns around to look at the upward. Peach calls him, and he rushes after her. It should be noted that if a second controller is plugged into the system, it can be used to control the camera while Peach congratulates Mario, as well as during the credits. After the credits roll, Mario, Peach and two Toads wave goodbye to the player, followed by the cake, with Peach and Mario figures, shown at the very end. The game will then freeze, and the console will have to be turned off or restarted. (This was customary for beating the final Boss at the time, since "extra mode" was not a popular concept.)
Courses
Levels are laid out inside paintings in the castle, or sometimes the walls themselves. They can also be found in holes, portals, oil pits, and inside a clock. Each world has seven Power Stars. Within each, one of which is gained by finding one hundred coins in the level. The other six Power Stars are found by performing "missions", fighting bosses, winning races, etc. Every course has boundaries to limit the player from going too far, either as a strict wall or an invisible boundary. If Mario hits either, he falls down (quite often losing a life). Otherwise, Mario is free to roam the large expansive levels at his leisure.
Levels often feature pink Bob-ombs called Bob-omb Buddies. They open cannons littered around the levels for Mario to fly with. When the cannon is open, Mario simply falls into the pit where it is, and it raises. The player targets the cannon with a cross hair shot, and fires. This helps Mario reach high or far away areas. It is often a good idea to use the Wing Cap with cannons.
There a total of 15 levels in the game, not including secret stars and Bowser levels.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/peach%20message_zpsazfpqgz0.png)
(Peach/Toadstool's letter)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/first%20painitn_zps9mdsskba.jpg)
(Mario's first painting.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/bye_zpsp0clqocr.jpg)
(Good bye!)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mario%20cake_zpsdilfqph5.png)
(Mario finally gets his cake!)
Why I Love This Game:
1. Exploration: Even though it isn't heavy as Galaxy, to be fair, this game was released way earlier than Galaxy. This game still provides decent exploration. My favorite places to go are very mysterious places like coves or under water places and that's why my favorite courses are water based levels.
2. Music: This game has one fine sound track. Two of my favorite soundtracks are in this game. One is Dire Dire Docks and the other one is Bowser final battle. The soundtracks are really enjoyable to here and this paved the way to even better soundtracks. Cheers!
3. Originality: Must anything be said? This game paved the way for a lot of other games and has been labeled as one of the most influential games of the world.
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YES!
I will never forget the first time I walked into Toys R Us and seeing the N64 display with Mario 64. My mind was blown, I couldn't believe my eyes.
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A very immersive game at the time, I loved it, and I can still go back to it and enjoy it almost as much!
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Finally a couple of games that I've actually played! :lol
Both very good games. :tup
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I enjoyed Mario 64, and I've finished it twice, but imo it doesn't hold up as well these days, with its twitchy controls and camera problems that are common to the era. I didn't play it until years after it came out, so I don't have much nostalgia for it, but it's still a landmark 3D platformer for the time. The DS version was very well done, and I liked most of the changes (except for that damn awful dash when holding the run button and not moving).
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I enjoyed Mario 64, and I've finished it twice, but imo it doesn't hold up as well these days, with its twitchy controls and camera problems that are common to the era. I didn't play it until years after it came out, so I don't have much nostalgia for it, but it's still a landmark 3D platformer for the time. The DS version was very well done, and I liked most of the changes (except for that damn awful dash when holding the run button and not moving).
I've been meaning to pick up the DS version but saw mentioned that it was difficult to control due to the DS not having any analog sticks. Surely, you can use the 3DS analog sticks with it, right?
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I enjoyed Mario 64, and I've finished it twice, but imo it doesn't hold up as well these days, with its twitchy controls and camera problems that are common to the era. I didn't play it until years after it came out, so I don't have much nostalgia for it, but it's still a landmark 3D platformer for the time. The DS version was very well done, and I liked most of the changes (except for that damn awful dash when holding the run button and not moving).
I've been meaning to pick up the DS version but saw mentioned that it was difficult to control due to the DS not having any analog sticks. Surely, you can use the 3DS analog sticks with it, right?
The game isn't programmed with the 3DS in mind, so you'd just get digital movement. They've implemented a more classic Mario system where you regularly move at walking speed, or you can hold down a button to run, so you get two speeds. You can also use the stylus on the screen for movement, but I found that awkward.
There are definitely areas where the lack of finer movement make things more difficult, but Mario 64 has so many control issues that I didn't find it hindered it too much over the original.
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I enjoyed Mario 64, and I've finished it twice, but imo it doesn't hold up as well these days, with its twitchy controls and camera problems that are common to the era. I didn't play it until years after it came out, so I don't have much nostalgia for it, but it's still a landmark 3D platformer for the time. The DS version was very well done, and I liked most of the changes (except for that damn awful dash when holding the run button and not moving).
I've been meaning to pick up the DS version but saw mentioned that it was difficult to control due to the DS not having any analog sticks. Surely, you can use the 3DS analog sticks with it, right?
The game isn't programmed with the 3DS in mind, so you'd just get digital movement. They've implemented a more classic Mario system where you regularly move at walking speed, or you can hold down a button to run, so you get two speeds. You can also use the stylus on the screen for movement, but I found that awkward.
There are definitely areas where the lack of finer movement make things more difficult, but Mario 64 has so many control issues that I didn't find it hindered it too much over the original.
Thanks for the answer. :tup I can't imagine playing a 3D platformer like Mario without an analog stick. We'll see if I'll bother getting it.
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M64 was my #1 so I definitely love it and contrary to Blob, I find it still stands the test of time. Sure the controls aren't perfect with those N64 analog controllers, but I've never experienced any issues to make me think less of the game.
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I had control issues with SM64 when I tried playing it on the original hardware, but it controlled perfectly when I used my PS3 controller and an emulator. Yet another reason why I consider the N64 controller to be one of Nintendo's worst. :)
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I really missed something with Mario64- I feel like it's the most recurring game on people's lists!
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Number 9: New Super Mario Bros U
(http://)
What Is This Game?
New Super Mario Bros. U is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game, and a launch title for the Wii U. It is the fourteenth installment in the Super Mario series, the ninth installment in the Super Mario Bros. series, and the fourth and latest installment in the New Super Mario Bros. series. Released on November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30th in Europe and Australia, and in Japan on December 8th, it is the first Super Mario series game to be released as a launch title for a home console since Super Mario 64. An expansion pack for this game was later released in 2013, titled New Super Luigi U.
Storyline
Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are with Princess Peach in Princess Peach's Castle having dinner together. Bowser and the Koopalings suddenly arrive in their Airships, with the former sporting a giant mechanical fist, that smashes and launches the brothers and the Toads away from the castle. Mario and his friends crash into the Acorn Tree, launching Super Acorns through the area. They then tumble out of the tree, passing a Bubble Baby Yoshi and Balloon Baby Yoshi, while they're at it, and look into the horizon to see Bowser beginning a siege on Princess Peach's Castle, setting the Mario Bros. and the Toads to go on a new adventure and save Princess Peach.
As the game progresses, the view occasionally shifts to Peach's Castle, showing the flags being replaced by Bowser's flags, and the castle being surrounded by a thin tornado-like cloud that is made thicker, entirely obscuring the castle. Mario, Luigi and the Toads also have to deal with Bowser's forces, including the Koopalings, Boom Booms, Kamek and Bowser Jr., who occasionally attacks the heroes with his dad's airship. None of them is enough to stop the heroes from progressing, and Bowser Jr. causes the airship to crash after making the mechanical hand punch through it. After reaching Peach's Castle and defeating Bowser, the group moves onward, but Bowser Jr. appears and urges Kamek to spread his magic across the area. After heading to the castle exterior, Mario and the others see Peach in a tower. Before they can save her, she is locked inside and Bowser appears, now at a giant size. Eventually, Bowser is defeated and Bowser Jr. runs away in fright. Mario (or whomever delivered the final blow to Bowser) gets to Peach and bows down to her, and is then kissed by her, to their shock and delight, as the clouds surrounding the castle disappear, restoring it to its former state.
Outside the castle, the Koopalings and Bowser Jr. are fleeing on the airship as Bowser recovers. Noticing the escaping airship, he climbs up onto one of the castle towers and leaps onto the ship, but his additional weight causes it to plummet into a hill nearby; they then fly away hanging on to Bowser Jr.'s Junior Clown Car while Mario and Blue Toad watch. They then turn back to the others, who are cheering, with Mario delivering a final victory pose.
Worlds
Unlike previous New Super Mario Bros. titles, where the worlds are separated like in Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U has a seamless world map with areas named after different foods and drinks, similar to Super Mario World. Like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Worlds include Toad Houses and Enemy Courses that players will encounter in the game. The music changes instruments throughout the world map similar to Yoshi's Island. Though, like the previous games, there are Towers, Castles and Ghost House-related levels within each part of the world. And like Super Mario World, the worlds are connected jointly.
Yoshi's
Green Yoshis make a return, acting like in New Super Mario Bros Wii. Green is the only color available for Yoshis that the players ride on, unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Yoshi now has a meter that tracks how many berries he eats, instead of showing a number each time he eats one. As usual, eating 5 makes him lay an egg containing an item. Like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Green Yoshi isn't able to leave the courses he appears in.
New Super Mario Bros. U also features the return of Baby Yoshis, having been absent from the Super Mario series since their debut in Super Mario World. The game features three differently-colored Baby Yoshis, each one with a special ability. They differ from the adult Green Yoshi in terms of gameplay. Being babies, they can't be ridden, so characters must carry them throughout the levels. Baby Yoshis also instantly eat almost any enemy that is in front of them. Unlike in Super Mario World, Baby Yoshis don't grow into adults after eating several enemies. Two types of Baby Yoshis found on the overworld can be taken into any course, with the exception of Fortresses, Airships and Castles.
Why I Love This Game:
I had been a major, major fan of these series. When I first picked up New Super Mario Bros Wii, I was shocked. The graphics were very nice, the level was challenging enough and when I finished it, I was greeted by a whole new challenge. Another main reason is exploration. Each course is unique (and yes, you will here me say exploration a lot), and provides a lot of visuals. It was also one of the highest point for me and my girlfriend when we would get into a friendly contest of killing our characters. I even smile at some of the nostalgic moments we've had but doesn't compare to the other games ahead of this. Anyways, this game provided a lot of humorous laughs, a lot of fun, and quite a lot of challenge.
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Sweet, one of my favorite 2D Mario games. My only complaint is that, aside from a few world 9 stages, the game was too easy. Otherwise, nice pick. :tup
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Definitely. :)
Thanks!
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Number 8: Mario Party 10
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/party%2010_zps0ge44hye.jpg)
Clocking at number 8, is Mario Party 10. Another really fun and famous spin-offs, this game brought definitely a lot of giggles, rage and fun. My girlfriend and I would almost play this game at a rainy, hazy day. Amidst the storm, we wanted to show that we can have fun and not reflect on the mood of the weather outside. Too bad she isn't here anymore....
What Is Mario Party 10?
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Mario Party 10 is a game for the Wii U. It is the tenth home console installment in the Mario Party series, and features many reused gameplay elements from its predecessor. The game features a standard Party Mode (similar in gameplay to the Party Mode from Mario Party 9), and a new mode called Bowser Party, in which one player controls Bowser using the GamePad, and exclusive minigames can be played. Mini Stars return in normal party, as well as vehicles in all modes. The game is also compatible with amiibo.
The characters have to get to the end of the path with the most Mini Stars. Characters move around in vehicles taking turns being the captain and rolling the dice. The Mini Stars are thus returning from Mario Party 9. A brand new feature is that Bowser is locked in the Gamepad with dice numbers. Each time the die is rolled, the corresponding lock will be unlocked (there are six locks, one for each number on the die). The player who unlocks the last lock loses half of their mini stars and Bowser will add a lot of Bowser spaces on the board. If Bowser isn't free until the "Almost There" event, he will remain stuck there and his son will add Bowser Jr. Spaces instead. Also, item shops return, this time in the form of Toad Houses, where a dice block is given to all players. All players are required to use Wii Remotes, as the Wii U GamePad is incompatible with this game mode.
Sorry, I'm pretty sick right now, so I couldn't commit to a full fledged write up. When I get better, I promise I'll provide more.
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I played a lot of Mario Part 8 & 9, so I'm guessing the WiiU one is a good successor.
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wow you weren't kidding about all the mario :lol
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:tup
Yeah. :)
I love Mario.
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Man they have Mario Party 10 now? The last one I played was Mario Party 3.
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Number 7: Super Mario 3D World
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/3d%20world_zpsjkl1g2cz.png)
What Is Super Mario 3D World?
Super Mario 3D World, another Mario game for the Wii U and rivals Galaxy for its exploration.
Super Mario 3D World is a 3D platformer action game for the Wii U. It is a direct follow-up to Nintendo 3DS installment Super Mario 3D Land, the fifteenth title in the Super Mario series, the sixth original 3D Mario title, the seventh 3D Mario title overall, and the fifth 3D Mario title on a home console after Super Mario Galaxy 2. The game also received a prequel/spin off based on The Adventures of Captain Toad levels in this game titled Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which was first released on November 13, 2014 in Japan almost a year later.
Story
On an evening in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad come to view and enjoy the fireworks outside of Princess Peach's Castle, when they discover a slanted Clear Pipe along the path. Mario and Luigi fix the Clear Pipe with hammers and wrenches, causing the pipe to eject a large number of items as well as a Sprixie Princess[6], a fairy-like creature of the Sprixie species. The Green Sprixie Princess begins to explain that Bowser has kidnapped six of her fellow Sprixie Princesses and that she needs their help; thereafter, however, Bowser emerges from the pipe and traps the princess inside a bottle before disappearing back down the pipe with her. Peach, in trying to stop Bowser, falls down the pipe herself, and the others soon follow in order to assist her. The heroes soon end up in the Sprixie Kingdom, where the journey mainly takes place.
After going through six worlds, the group encounter Bowser in World Castle, where he is keeping the Red Sprixie Princess; the only Sprixie Princess whom has not been saved yet. After the group successfully defeat Bowser, the Sprixie Princess is saved. However, the celebration is cut short by Bowser surprisingly returning, capturing all seven Sprixie Princesses in a large bottle, and escaping to World Bowser: a theme park modeled after the Koopa King.
The heroes make their way through this world, and encounter Bowser again in The Great Tower of Bowser Land. Here, Bowser makes use of a Super Bell, turning into Meowser, and initiating the final battle. The group manage to defeat Meowser after climbing the tower, and rescue all of the Sprixie Princesses. Now safe from Bowser, they thank the heroes as they go through a Clear Pipe back to the Mushroom Kingdom.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sprixie_zpsosxje3fn.png)
(Bowser captures the Green Sprixie Princess during the game's intro. Finally this one time, Bowser doesn't kidnap Peach!)
Gameplay
Super Mario 3D World is a platform game which plays very similarly to Super Mario 3D Land, being a 3D platformer though with gameplay similar to the 2D games. This game retains its predecessor's similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3 (with colorful blocks, the Super Leaf, Spikes and the Lose a Life theme returning from that game); many elements from Super Mario World are returning as well, such as Chargin' Chucks and Kuribons, now with an official English name, Galoombas. Stages are once again open yet linear, have a time limit, and end by grabbing the classic Goal Pole at the end. Green Stars return from the Super Mario Galaxy games, taking the role of the Star Medals from Super Mario 3D Land. There are also various stamps that the player can find. There is one in each level and they can be used in Miiverse posts. The game also seems to be slightly more puzzle-focused than its predecessors. The path from the start of the level to the goal is no longer a straight shot, and the players would often have to use certain power-ups and items in order to find the way ahead. Additionally, the game also features a score system, the first time one has appeared in a 3D Mario game.
Power-ups, like the Fire Flower and Super Leaf, make a return, along with almost every item from Super Mario 3D Land (excluding the Statue Leaf and P-Wing). The Mega Mushroom from New Super Mario Bros. also make an appearance. There are also several new power-ups and suits; The most prominent of the new power-ups is the Super Bell, a power-up that grants the player a Cat Suit, allowing them to lunge at and claw enemies and climb up walls.
For the first time in a 3D Super Mario title the game supports up to four player simultaneous multiplayer, allowing players to control Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad and Rosalina.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/really%20rolling_zps2turbe1g.png)
(Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach all running in Really Rolling Hills.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/confront_zps2flgvzka.png)
(Mario and co., in their Cat suits, confronting Spikes.)
Main Worlds
World 1: A simple grassland world, where the Green Sprixie Princess is captured. The boss is the first encounter with Bowser.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%201_zpsutl1wxzi.png)
World 2: A desert-themed world, where the Yellow Sprixie Princess is captured. The boss is Boom Boom.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%202_zpsagsadyoa.png)
World 3: An ice-themed world, where the Blue Sprixie Princess is captured. The first boss is Pom Pom, and the second boss is Hisstocrat.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%203_zps13ruqfi0.png)
World 4: A canyon and mountain themed world, where the Orange Sprixie Princess is captured. The boss is Boss Brolder.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%204_zps1h2d3anb.png)
World 5: A beach and ocean world, where the Purple Sprixie Princess is captured. The boss is King Ka-Thunk.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%205_zpsi6pvsqub.png)
World 6: A cloud-themed world, where the Cyan Sprixie Princess is captured. The first boss is a second encounter with Boom Boom, and the second boss is Motley Bossblob.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/world%206_zpsz2vphu57.png)
World Castle: A large castle submerged in lava, where the Red Sprixie Princess is captured. The boss is a second encounter with Bowser.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/castle_zpsornexoni.png)
World Bowser: The eighth and final world, which is a large amusement park modeled after Bowser. Prior to the player arriving at this point in the game, they encounter news that Bowser makes a surprise return at the end of World Castle, and captures all seven Sprixie Princesses again; they are now being held hostage in this world. The first three bosses are Pom Pom, Queen Hisstocrat, and Motley Bossblob, and the final boss is a final encounter with Bowser.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/bowser_zps8cagcefu.png)
World Star: The first bonus world with Lumas and Star Bits. Rosalina is found in the second level in this world.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/star_zpsefejqmnz.png)
World Mushroom: The second bonus world. (This world contain levels from previous worlds, with a twist, such as making it a night level or a speed run. For this reason, there are no stamps in these worlds.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mushroom_zpsqpmzhwqu.png)
World Flower: The third bonus world. (This world contain levels from previous worlds, with a twist, such as making it a night level or a speed run. For this reason, there are no stamps in these worlds.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/flower_zpstu7fk05o.png)
World Crown: The final bonus world. This is the shortest world in the game, containing one main level (Champion's Road), a Captain Toad level (Captain Toad's Fiery Finale), and a Mystery House containing 30 Green Stars (Mystery House Marathon). This world also contains the last Sprixie House, where the player can obtain a stamp of a pixelated Luigi.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/crown%20world_zpstptikbgx.jpg)
Why I Love This Game
1. Exploration- This game reminds me a lot of Super Mario Galaxy. Every level is unique, and provides unlimited exploration. My dream is that I could visit one of these fantasy worlds because it would be awesome. Every time I played Galaxy and Super Mario 3d World, I wished I could just be there, peacefully. Too bad that can't happen.
2. Music- The music is really lively! Music will be on Why I Love This Game section for all of the games now, because as I've said before, music is a really big factor! Video game music is one of my favorites and some VG music also can be used as a lullaby. I've tried it before and it works, though I've been criticized for it, but meh, for each their own.
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Number 6: Super Smash Bros U
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One of my favorite games, I fell in love when Melee first came out. I was excited and awe'd that we could use characters from multiple universes to fight. When Brawl came out and the Smash Ball was introduced, I grew more and more excited. Finally this game came out and man, must anything more be said?
What Is This Game?
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the fifth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series, and was developed by Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Games. While this game and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS were developed simultaneously, the Nintendo 3DS version launched earlier due to its earlier completion of development.
Like with most other Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software titles, this title can be purchased at retail stores or from the Nintendo eShop, with the digital version requiring 15700 MB (approx. 15.3 GB) of memory to be installed. Due to the amount of space that it requires, standard set Wii U consoles are not able to download this title without an external storage device, but deluxe set Wii U consoles can.
Gameplay:
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U have some similarities and differences from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as differences between the two versions. Final Smashes and Footstool Jumping make a return, while the "tripping" mechanic has been removed. The pace of battles has also been stated to be in between Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Both games have the same roster of playable characters in order to keep them consistent. The movesets and animations of some returning characters were changed more significantly than during the transition from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with many returning characters having completely new moves, and major alterations (such as Pit). Aesthetically, the games are much more stylized and visually intense than previous entries, with the overall colors being bolder and brighter and many elements having been redone to stand out more.
The Wii U version does not make much use of the GamePad's touch screen during gameplay. However, in addition to Off-TV Play, the Wii U GamePad can display in-battle stats, such as damage percentages. Like in all games, Smash has its traditional fighting game mode with its customized rules where four chosen fighters play on chosen stages. This includes the Stamina mode (where players get HP that decreases), Time (time limit), Stock (lives) and Coin Battle (winner is the one that collects the most coins). Special Smash also returns in this version, allowing players to battle under certain conditions.
I love this game very much. The only person I'd play this game would be with my girlfriend. I simply don't go out of my way to find friends so she would be the only one to comfort me. Now, with her gone, I just play this alone, kinda making it boring, but it is still bearable and still makes me smile about the memory we used to have. RIP.
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I haven't played either of these games, although I did watch a full 100% playthrough of Super Mario 3D World on Youtube. :lol Looked really fun and creative, and the Bowser world music is super catchy. I like the way it dealt with the 3D aspect of it and solved many of those issues too. Definitely one I'd like to play.
I haven't played Super Smash Bros U, but I've played others (64, Melee, 3DS), and have always enjoyed them. :tup
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There is a whole world of Mario games I am not at all familiar with. If I had endless time, I'd pick up a Wii or Wii U and play these as I bet they are fun.
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Super Mario 3D World is the one 3D Mario game I couldn't bring myself to finish. I was bored out of my mind by the end of world 4.
I love Smash, though, especially the Wii U installment. :tup
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3D land was the Mario games where I realized they were out of ideas for 3D Mario games. Never ended up playing 3D world as a result.
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Number 5: Super Mario Sunshine
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sunshine_zps4rompjiz.png)
What is Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer first released on July 19, 2002 for the Nintendo GameCube. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. The 120 total Shine Sprites in this game is the same number of total Power Stars in Super Mario 64. This game also introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D.. Super Mario Sunshine is the second game in the Mario series to feature extensive voice acting, the first being Hotel Mario, making it the first, and thus far, the only 3D Mario game with said voice acting.
Story
The game starts off in the Toad Express, where Mario, Princess Peach, a few Toads, and Toadsworth are flying out to Isle Delfino for a vacation. While watching a video advertisement showing its numerous attractions, Peach notices a Mario-shaped shadow figure jumping around in the background. Mario and Toadsworth don't notice this, as they dream about the food and having a good time.
They make a rough landing on Delfino Airstrip, as a large amount of strange, moving goop in the shape of Mario's head is blocking the runway and has formed a pit. Mario goes on a brief search for something to assist him and soon finds a unique water pump invented by Professor E. Gadd named F.L.U.D.D., the Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device. The machine scans Mario and identifies him as its customer. After user instruction, Mario uses F.L.U.D.D. to clean the goop and defeat a Polluted Piranha after which the runway returns to its normal condition, and a Shine Sprite appears, which Mario collects.
After collecting the Shine Sprite, however, a pair of Pianta Police officers arrest Mario. In court, the prosecution reveals that the island is covered with similar goop, and the graffiti has forced all the Shine Sprites to flee. Eyewitness accounts indicate that Mario is the guilty party, and despite Princess Peach's attempted objection, Mario is found guilty and is ordered to clean up the entire island.
After defeating another Polluted Piranha, the Grand Pianta Statue comes out of the ground with the mysterious character resembling Mario on top. This Shadow Mario attempts to kidnap Peach, but Mario foils his plan and he escapes into the Rainbow M he paints on the base of the statue. This allows Mario to access Bianco Hills and recover more Shine Sprites. Later, similar incidents of various landmarks disappearing in goop happen around Delfino Plaza, and cleaning the goop reveals that these places also have portals to different areas of Isle Delfino.
Once Mario recovers ten Shine Sprites, Shadow Mario kidnaps Peach again and flees to Pinna Park. Mario chases Shadow Mario there and takes down his weapon, Mecha-Bowser. Shadow Mario comes out of Mecha-Bowser's head and reveals himself to be Bowser Jr., Bowser's son. He says that Bowser told him Peach is his mother who got kidnapped by a bad guy named Mario. He also reveals the graffiti to be the work of his magic brush, which he claims was given to him by "a strange old man in a white coat". Bowser Jr. then takes Peach to Corona Mountain by flying in Mecha-Bowser's head. Unable to rescue Peach, Mario returns to cleaning up and recovering Shine Sprites. He also finds Yoshi and new Nozzles for F.L.U.D.D. to use, and unlocks more areas of Isle Delfino to explore. In Episode 7 of these areas, Mario must chase down Shadow Mario to a Shine Sprite from him. When these episodes are cleared, Delfino Plaza is suddenly flooded after a surge of water came gushing out of the cave behind the Shine Gate. This flood also wound up destroying the barrier obstructing the cave entrance, allowing Mario access into Corona Mountain. Working his way to the top of the volcano, Mario finds Bowser and Bowser Jr. relaxing in a huge hot tub of sludge with Peach with them. Mario then battles Bowser and Bowser Jr. by using Rocket Nozzle and then Ground Pounding from high up onto the five platforms protruding from the tub while avoiding Bowser and Bowser Jr.'s attacks. The force of the Ground Pound on the last platform flips the tub end-over-end and everyone plummets down out of Corona Mountain, while a large Shine Sprite hidden in the pool flies out.
Bowser, Junior, & Mario fall from the sky, Mario landed head-first onto an island just west of Delfino Plaza, while Peach is floating down with her umbrella and lands softly on the same island Mario has landed on. However, their reunion is cut short when they see F.L.U.D.D. malfunctioning. After looking at Mario giving its last words, F.L.U.D.D shuts down. The Shine Sprite from the hot tub returns to the Shine Gate as the residents of Isle Delfino apologize to Mario for falsely accusing him. Far away from the island, Bowser and Bowser Jr. (who landed on a raft) watch the celebration from a raft. Junior says he knew all along that Peach wasn't really his mother, and wants to fight Mario again. Bowser praises Junior and says that they rest a while. Later on, as Mario and Peach enjoy a sunset at Sirena Beach, they notice the Toads carrying F.L.U.D.D. which is okay and states, "The vacation starts now!" Pictures of their vacation are shown during the credits, showing Mario and his friends enjoying the island and its wonders. After the credits, a picture of Il Piantissimo discovering the Magic Paintbrush in the sands of Gelato Beach is shown, along with "The End" displayed in the lower right hand corner. However, defeating Bowser after collecting all 120 of the Shine Sprites replaces this picture with a group picture of friendly characters in the game posing in Hotel Delfino, with the the phrase "Have a relaxing vacation!" on the bottom.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/polluted%20piranha_zpsgujodao6.png)
(Mario faces the Polluted Piranha.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/shadow%20mario%20is_zpsmkerppx3.png)
(Shadow Mario's true self, Bowser Jr..)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/ending_zpsvbehx1bu.png)
(The ending screen for collecting all 120 Shine Sprites.)
Gameplay
Super Mario Sunshine is the first game where Mario extensively uses an accessory to complete his mission. F.L.U.D.D. (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device) features spray and hovering capabilities when it is first acquired; other nozzles can be unlocked to extend F.L.U.D.D's functionality, such as the "Rocket Nozzle" which propels Mario high into the air, and the "Turbo Nozzle" that lets Mario sprint on land and water, as well as break down wooden doors.
The game contains a number of independent levels which can be reached from Delfino Plaza. Gameplay is based around collecting Shine Sprites by completing various tasks in the levels and over world, very similar to Super Mario 64, but with Shine Sprites instead of Power Stars. However, unlike in Super Mario 64 where the player could usually get most Power Stars no matter which mission was chosen, this game usually lets Mario obtain only the Shine Sprite the player selects from the screen prior to the level.
There are 120 Shine Sprites in the game, and 240 blue coins. Ten blue coins can be traded in for a Shine Sprite at the Boathouse in Delfino Plaza. There are two Shine Sprites at the airstrip, seventeen in the plaza (including one for collecting 100 coins and one in Corona Mountain), and 11 in each of the seven other areas (eight from main episodes, two hidden, and one for getting 100 coins). There are 30 blue coins in each of the seven areas, making 210, there are 19 in the plaza, one in the Airstrip, and ten in Corona Mountain, making 240 altogether.
At first, each of the seven areas features one task which may be completed to acquire a Shine Sprite. The player is then returned to Delfino Plaza and a new task is unlocked in the area they just played. Each area consists of up to eight of these tasks, as well as two hidden tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed. Once the player has collected enough Shines in total, a new level is available at Delfino Plaza, either by the acquisition of a new ability or some plot-related event, such as Shadow Mario appearing in the Plaza.
Gameplay proceeds in this fashion until all of Shadow Mario's related missions are completed (the seventh mission of each level), which unlocks Corona Mountain, containing the final boss. As the total number of Shine Sprites available to obtain at any given point is greater than the number of Shine Sprites needed to unlock the next area, players may choose which tasks they want to attempt.
Mario can also ride Yoshis in this game, making Super Mario Sunshine the first 3-D Mario game to incorporate this functionality, being followed by Super Mario Galaxy 2. Yoshis can be used to eat enemies, as well as certain insects and birds that can produce Gold, Blue, or Red Coins, and even Shine Sprites in a few cases. Yoshis can also eat fruit and squirt the juice of the color of that fruit, just like F.L.U.D.D sprays water. This juice can be used to dissolve certain kinds of pulsating goop acting as obstacles, as well as to briefly transform enemies into platforms for Mario to step on. The color of the Yoshi, as well as the effect of its juice, depends on the type of fruit last eaten. However, Mario can't take Yoshi with him when he accesses a new area, meaning that Yoshi is only usable in certain areas and certain missions, and if Yoshi runs out of juice or touches deep water he will vanish, requiring Mario to find the egg and hatch it again.
Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka produced the music for this game.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/star_zpsizqe55ri.png)
(Mario and Yoshi earning a Shine Sprite in Pianta Village.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/blue%20coin_zpszx9frls9.png)
(The game's Blue Coin Shop.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/sirena%20beach_zpsn0ck7tkv.png)
(Sirena Beach, a level in Mario Sunshine.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/manta_zpspvexxjkr.png)
(Mario battling Phantamanta on Sirena Beach.)
Why I Love This Game:
1. Difficulty: This is actually one the games I have yet to complete. The difficulty of this game is so hard that I almost came close to snapping. My girlfriend was better than me at this game and she too had a difficult time trying to get all 120 stars. Some people criticize this game for being too difficult and I can feel them, but it still provides a unique challenge.
2. Music: Here it is again. The music in this game is phenomenal, and barely scrapes the number five spot. The music in 4,3,2, and 1 is the one that I feel like is the strongest. Still, the music here is very enjoyable.
3. Exploration: Ah, many different places and world's to discover. Ranging from haunted hotels to an amusement park, to space, this game offers a lot of content.
4. Epic Boss Battles: This game introduced many bosses such as Bowser Jr, and Petey Piranha. The boss battles weren't redundant and they each provided a new challenge.
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I have this game, but never completed it either. The platforming stages (without FLUDD) were just downright cunts. :lol
Aside from that, very enjoyable game, although probably one of my least favourite Marios if I were to rank them.
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Good assessment BVD. I enjoyed playing it alot when it came out, but have little to no desire to go back and play it again, unlike any other Mario console game which I could pick up an any time and enjoy.
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I have this game, but never completed it either. The platforming stages (without FLUDD) were just downright cunts. :lol
Aside from that, very enjoyable game, although probably one of my least favourite Marios if I were to rank them.
Huh? Those were easily the best part of the game!
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I have this game, but never completed it either. The platforming stages (without FLUDD) were just downright cunts. :lol
Aside from that, very enjoyable game, although probably one of my least favourite Marios if I were to rank them.
Huh? Those were easily the best part of the game!
Platforming just doesn't work that well in 3D to begin with due to lack of depth perception and precision, and Mario's controls are too twitchy. If you're slightly off with your angles, he'll do a sideways flip or backflip instead of a regular jump, and if you just catch the edge of a wall instead of making the platform and go to jump, he'll do a kickflip backwards to his death. I'd say 90% of my deaths in those levels are because of either Mario doing the wrong jump, or the complete inability to judge where a moving platform is in 3D.
I really liked the FLUDD mechanic though, and it was fun to jetpack around and clean stuff up. I also like the exploration and challenges around the levels. But focusing that heavily on pure platforming in 3D in such an unforgiving way was a bad idea imo.
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Number 4: Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
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(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/cover_zpswizbsvbq.jpg)
Ah, now we get to the butter and bread games of Mario. These four are my absolute favorite's and without them, my life would be a lot more different. And scraping the edge of this list is a birthday gift from my girlfriend. Best girlfriend ever! :angry:
What Is This Game?
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is a Nintendo DS game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo. It is the third title in the Mario & Luigi series, preceded by Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time for the Nintendo DS, and succeeded by Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam for the Nintendo 3DS. Unlike its predecessor, this game makes much greater use of the DS touch controls and microphone.
Story
After the Mushroom Kingdom's citizens start contracting the Blorbs, a mysterious disease that swells Toads to gigantic proportions, Princess Peach holds a conference meeting to find a solution for the problem. Mario, Luigi, Toadbert, Toadsworth and a Star Sprite named Starlow are all in attendance. Bowser crashes in uninvited, and when his temper fires up, he has to be defeated by Mario and sent flying out of the castle by Peach and Starlow. Bowser awakens in Dimble Wood and eventually comes across a mysterious cloaked merchant who gives him a so-called "Lucky Mushroom", but when he eats it, he begins inhaling everything in sight. The figure is revealed to be Fawful, who brings Bowser back to Peach's castle, where he inhales all the conference-goers and passes out.
Mario reawakens inside the Trash Pit area of Bowser's body, soon finding Starlow and Luigi, and using some newly-found hammers to hit an exposed nerve and rouse Bowser, who had been dumped in Cavi Cape Cave. Deciding not to tell Bowser that the Mario Bros. are inside him, only Starlow speaks to him (eventually under the alias "Chippy") in an attempt to figure out what happened, but Bowser cannot remember. Bowser makes his way outside and encounters Fawful, who explains that the Blorbs and the Vacuum Mushroom he gave Bowser were all part of a plan to conquer both the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Castle. He then has his minion, Midbus, battle Bowser, who is unable to breathe fire or fight effectively, bringing the battle to an early close as the villains simply leave the weakened Koopa King to "work on [his] skills".
Incensed, Bowser sets out for his castle. Travelling along Plack Beach, he helps Broque Monsieur get back to shore after the piece of land he was on floated away - a feat made possibly by the Mario Bros. powering up Bowser from the inside. As a reward, Broque gives Bowser a Vacuum Block, allowing him to control his sucking abilities. After defeating the Sea Pipe Statue, Bowser drinks some water which causes changes in his body, allowing Mario and Luigi to enter a new area and defeat the Scutlet bug that was blocking Bowser's fire breath. After subduing Broque's rambunctious pet dog Broggy, Bowser enters Dimble Wood, where he eventually comes across Sergeant Guy, Corporal Paraplonk, and Private Goomp. The trio are planning to retake Bowser's castle with a Banzai Bill launcher, but it falls to Bowser to find ammunition. He tries to procure a giant carrot as a makeshift missile, but the Wiggler who had been growing it makes Bowser eat it instead and then attacks him, yielding up an actual Banzai Bill upon his defeat. On his way back to his minions, Bowser is overcome with stomach pain, and Mario and Luigi discover that he had eaten a large worm-like creature named Durmite along with the carrot; they defeat it in battle and it surprisingly shrinks and runs off.
Bowser returns to the cannon and fires the Banzai Bill at his enemy-occupied castle, however Midbus flies the rocket-powered building over the incoming missile and lands it on Bowser. The Mario Bros. revive him with adrenaline from the Rump Command, which has the unintended side-effect of turning Bowser as giant as the castle, which he then fights off with his bare hands. The castle flies away and Bowser gives chase, travelling through Bumpsy Plains and Bowser Path to reach his destination. Midbus launches a giant iron ball at Bowser, but he throws it back, knocking the castle out of the air and back onto its moorings for the last time. Entering the castle, Bowser discovers that Fawful has turned it into a theater and brainwashed all the Koopa Troop members into a pack of his own adoring fans. Fawful himself arrives and tricks Bowser, forcing him to perform a cage match with Midbus on stage. When Bowser wins, his prize is being forcibly fed fattening foods cooked by Fawful, gaining so much weight that he breaks through the floor and becomes trapped.
Exploring the newly opened Flab Zone and defeating some Kretin enemies, Mario and Luigi are reunited with Princess Peach, who explains that Fawful is actually after the Dark Star, an evil entity locked away under Toad Town that can only be revived using Peach herself. Fawful then uses a laser to extract Peach from Bowser and he and Midbus leave with her, while Bowser falls the rest of the way through the floor onto a treadmill they placed beneath him in the basement. He literally burns off all the excess fat, igniting a crate of Bob-Ombs in the processm which sends him blasting off back to Cavi Cape. He meets up with some Monty Mole minions and helps them drill all the way to Toad Town, but when Bowser wanders into the corridor leading to the Dark Star, the security system activates and electrocutes him into unconsciousness.
Mario and Luigi gain access to the Pipe Yard in Bowser's body, which allows them to use warp pipes to return to the outside world. They emerge in the Toad Town Tunnels themselves and try to head off Fawful, but arrive to late. Fawful takes the Dark Star to Peach's Castle and uses its power to create a barrier preventing the Mario Bros. from following him. With no other option, they head to Doctor Toadley to try and do something about the Blorbs problem instead, but Bowser arrives at the clinic as well and the three battle, with Bowser losing. Toadley then tells Mario and Luigi that they need to collect three Star Cures to cure the Blorbs and possibly find a way into the castle. Bowser awakens, hears this and rushes off, determined to find the cures before the Bros. Toadley then reveals to Mario and Luigi that the first cure is held by Durmite inside Bowser's body, and they head back in to get it. They locate Durmite immediately, but it flees through an impassable barrier of Boo Blocks, stopping the Mario Bros. in their tracks.
Meanwhile, Bowser heads to the shores of Blubble Lake, where his sneezes raise the propeller-topped Tower of Yikk out of the water and straight onto him. The Mario Bros. supersize Bowser again and he defeats the moving tower, venturing inside once he shrinks back to his regular size and meeting the ghost of Yikk, who shines his invention, the Boo-ray Machine, on Bowser's gut. The light from the machine causes the blocks to disappear and help Mario and Luigi navigate the maze beyond them, allowing them to track down Durmite, whose reveals herself to be a sage named Wisdurm. She battles them over the Star Cure, turning to a butterfly after her defeat and flying off.
Bowser leaves the tower and meets up with Private Goomp, who tells him that he already had one of the Star Cures locked away in his treasure chamber, having recently stolen it from an old Koopa named Kuzzle. Bowser returns to his castle only to find that the Monty Bros. were now under Fawful's control and had built a railway straight through the treasure vault. They use their train to push Bowser out of the castle bowels and into a boulder, resulting in another emergency revival and giant battle between Bowser and the train. Returning to his vault after wining the fight, Bowser realizes that he's forgotten the combination to the safe that the Star Cure is stored in, and asks "Chippy" to retrieve it for him. In the Memory Banks, Mario and Luigi have to defeat blocky doppelgangers of themselves, crafted from Bowser's own memories of them. After that, they reassemble a puzzle representing the memory and Bowser opens his safe, only to be pushed in by Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk, who had turned to Fawful's side. With nothing else to do in the cramped safe, Bowser eats the Star Cure, and it is retrieved from his gut by the Mario Bros.
Mario and Luigi return to Toad Town and are sent after the final Star Cure by Toadley. Guided by the doctor's messenger bird, Birdley, they meet the sage known as Chakron at the top of a cliff over Plack Beach, but he refuses to give them the Star Cure unless they can knock him out of the pose he has held for a thousand years. After a cryptic hint from Chakron, Mario and Luigi head for Dimble Wood to collect Attack Pieces for the ground-shacking Snack Basket move, but Mario is kidnapped by a Sockop and has to be rescued by Luigi, who wears a knocked-out Sockop like a Kuribo's Shoe to sneak into the enemies' territory. Reunited and having gathered all the pieces, the brothers return to Chakron and knock him over, so true to his word, he gives them the final Star Cure.
Back at the clinic, Doctor Toadley creates the Miracle Cure from the three Star Cures, which flies around ridding all the Toads of the Blorbs and then allows Mario and Luigi to blast their way through the barriers to get to Peach's Castle. They search the gardens for a way in and are attacked by Midbus, who uses the remote-control Junker robot to fight them. The Mario Bros. win the battle and the robot goes haywire, throwing the safe containing Bowser into a pile of garbage, breaking it open. Bowser's back seized up from being in the cramped safe for so long, so Mario and Luigi go back inside him to fix it, allowing him to break into Peach's Castle for them.
Bowser fights his way to Fawful and Midbus as they are slowly awakening the Dark Star. Fawful supercharges his minion into Blizzard Midbus, but Bowser wins the ensuing fight and Midbus's new ice powers end up freezing him solid. Bowser punches out Fawful as he tries to absorb the Dark Star's powers and he only gets a portion of it, with the rest of the revived evil entity sucking up Peach and then forcing its way inside Bowser. Mario and Luigi chase the Dark Star around as it absorbs Bowser's DNA and takes on his characteristics, eventually emerging as an incomplete copy of Bowser and floating off in search of the rest of its power. Bowser goes after it but is sidetracked by a final giant battle against Peach's Castle, which had been transformed into a giant robot by Fawful. He then battles Fawful himself, now souped-up by the Dark Star's powers into Dark Fawful. Bowser wins the fight and Fawful turns into a small ball of dark energy and tries to get away, but is absorbed by the Dark Star, allowing to fully transform into Dark Bowser.
The real Bowser goes after his copy, chasing it to the tallest tower where it deposits the unconscious Peach before being confirmed by Bowser, who aims to collect Peach, both castles and the Dark Star's powers. The final battle is waged on two fronts, starting off with Bowser fighting his clone, before punching it in the gut and forcing it to spit up Fawful. Bowser sucks up the little ball of energy and Mario and Luigi take over the fight, defeat both Fawful and the Dark Star Core inside Bowser. This leaves Dark Bowser unstable, and the real Bowser punches it until it explodes, freeing the Mushroom Kingdom from the Dark Star’s influence forever.
Inside Bowser, Fawful is then revealed to be on his way out, and with a dying grin, he attempts to take the Mario Bros. with him in a final explosion of his own, but all this accomplishes is making Bowser eject everyone he had inhaled. The liberated Toads and the now-conscious Peach move to congratulate Mario and Luigi on a job well done, and Bowser, confused and angry, realizes that the brothers had been inside his body the whole time. Starlow dismissively tells Bowser to not worry about what's in the past, but discovering that she was his supposedly loyal minion "Chippy" throws Bowser into a complete rage. The Toads and the Princess flee from the scene, and the credits roll over a montage of still images showing that Bowser loses the ensuing fight.
Afterward, the heavily-injured Bowser is seen lying in bed at his castle while Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk beg him for forgiveness over their treason. Birdley arrives with a package from Peach, but when Starlow pops out of it to check in on him, Bowser angrily tells her to leave, as he is too busy fixing his castle to attack again anytime soon. He then lets the trio rejoin the rest of the Koopa Troop in helping with the repairs, and only once he is sure he's alone does Bowser open the package, revealing a thank-you cake with himself, Mario, Luigi, and Peach on it.
As in the other two Mario & Luigi games, there is no "Endless Play" feature. As such, if the player plays the game after it is beaten and the ending is done, the game will just start from the last save point, before the final battle.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Bowsers_Inside_Story_ToadBlorbs_zpsbkkzv2cj.png)
(The Blorbs being discussed.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/PeachDarkStar_zpsgul3zmxo.png)
(Peach tells the story about the Dark Star.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Booraymachine2_zpszad7whgz.png)
(Yikk presents the Boo-Ray Machine.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/Miracle_Cure_zpsziyw37bv.png)
(The Miracle Cure curing the blorb-infected Toads.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/cake_zpsb2kla2we.png)
(Bowser's cake.)
Battle System
The battle system of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is similar to that of its predecessors. There are some new additions to the system. In this instalment, all Action Commands are evaluated based on how well they are performed. There are five evaluation levels. Ranging from the worst to the best, these levels are: Nothing, OK, Good, Great, and Excellent. The better an Action Command is performed, the more damage an attack does. Receiving a Nothing is equivalent to not performing an Action Command at all. This is carried into all later instalments of the series.
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Mario and Luigi's Battle System
The battle system with Mario and Luigi is similar to the battles from previous titles. There are now six categories of attack during battle, as opposed to Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time 's five, or Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 's four. These are Jump, Hammer, Attack Pieces (Bros. Items), Items, Bros. Badges and Escape. The Bros. can defend with their jump and their hammers. The Jump makes Mario and/or Luigi jump to dodge an attack or to counter-attack. The Hammer is used to counter-attack. The music played while battling is the same as the music played during the debut trailer, as seen in the Japanese site.
A new element has been added to battles, a gauge at the bottom of the screen with Mario and Luigi's heads on either end. When Mario or Luigi pull off an action command, that brother's end of the bar fills slightly. When they meet in the middle, it's possible to use a Bros. Badge move. The effect varies with the equipped badge. The normal effect is to restore 20% of both brothers' HP. Badges can be bought in one of the shops in Toad Town. Some of the badges require that the Action Commands be pulled off perfectly (EXCELLENT is displayed), and some only need GOOD!. An extra block that appears in the battles can be used to swap the badges that brothers use.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mario%20battle_zpsea3lytv2.jpg)
(Mario and Luigi's Battle System.)
Bowser's Battle System
Bowser has almost the same battle system as Mario and Luigi's, but with a few differences. He has different options: Punch replaces Jump, Fire Breath replaces Hammer and Enemy Attacks replace Special Attacks. However, he does not have Bros. Badges. Instead, Bowser gains a vacuum ability after the player advances further through the game. He can swallow enemies with this new ability to make Mario and Luigi fight them in his belly. He can also swallow parts of enemies that can restore his HP, raise defense or attack power, or rescue a Blitty. Bowser's defenses are the Punch and the Shell. Bowser's Punch can counter-attack an enemy, while his spiky shell can hit enemies that try to jump on his head or protect him from attacks.
Enemy Attacks are special attacks that use mostly members of Bowser's army, which are Goombas, Koopas, Shy Guys, Bob-ombs, Magikoopas and Broggy. These attacks require the stylus to perform. These characters need to be liberated to unlock these attacks.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/battle_zpswqpspm1v.jpg)
(Bowser's Battle System.)
Giant Bowser's Battle System
At certain points in the game, Bowser gets crushed by a large object such as Bowser's Castle. In order to revive Bowser, the Bros. must play a 2D-Shooter-like minigame in the Rump Command. When revived, Bowser grows to a giant state. In order to complete these battles, the player must rotate their DS sideways to play. In these battles, Bowser only has three options of attack. Punching requires quickly sliding the stylus across the screen to execute. Fire requires the player to blow into the DS microphone. The last option, Healing, requires Mushrooms found within the battle itself. Defending includes an event where the player must tap the touch screen in certain areas to counter-attack, punching to deflect blows, and blowing huge flames at the enemy. After each giant battle, Bowser returns to normal. There are four such battles in the game. This battle feature also makes a return in Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, except the player controls a gigantic Luigi instead of a gigantic Bowser.
Why I Love This Game
1. Music: The music in this game is beyond awesome. What I expect out of video game music is to allow me to feel like I am there. If there is a boss battle, I want the music to be intense, to keep me on my toes. If I'm in paradise like in a beach, I want the music to soothe my soul. This music does that.
a. Cavi Cape - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqLfHtOhzuI&index=56&list=PL6akIKaXBeU0hqxDzOjQNdg0aUE8U8KE9
(You're basically in beach paradise and the sun is shining down on you. Starlow once said Cavi Cape was once a mysterious place with only fog. Many people got lost and isolated in Cavi Cape. Doesn't this music give you the feeling of loss?)
b. Deep Castle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66y6456xAWg&index=9&list=PL6akIKaXBeU0hqxDzOjQNdg0aUE8U8KE9
(All hope is lost as Fawful takes over Peach's castle. The castle once brimming with joy has its fires snuffed out. What dangers lay ahead?)
c. Bumpsy Plains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFg3CLbcgUw&list=PL6akIKaXBeU0hqxDzOjQNdg0aUE8U8KE9&index=27
(A grassland paradise. One of the only carefree songs out there.)
d. Giant Bowser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5A9xBIE5-w&index=52&list=PL6akIKaXBeU0hqxDzOjQNdg0aUE8U8KE9
(You become sooo big! This theme suits Bowser really well.)
e. In the Final - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6M2xt_Ks4Y&index=32&list=PL6akIKaXBeU0hqxDzOjQNdg0aUE8U8KE9
(Here is the behemoth. Hailed as the greatest song for this game, I couldn't agree. They even made an orchestral version of it. This theme keeps the pace of the battle going. This theme is set on my alarm clock.)
Music in video games shouldn't be overlooked. I once thought that music in video game was cheesy, but it brings atmosphere and just like good gameplay or a good story, a good music is what keeps games alive.
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Number 3: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
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What is Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door?
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the second installment in the Paper Mario series, with the first being Paper Mario. It was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. Its plot revolves around Mario, who embarks on a mission to collect the seven Crystal Stars in order to open the Thousand-Year Door. After learning that Princess Peach has been kidnapped, he also sets out on a mission to rescue her from the X-Nauts. The game has intermissions between each chapter, in which the player assumes the role of Bowser, as well as Peach, who have their own stories that complement the main plot.
Plot
The adventure begins when Princess Peach goes on a cruise to Rogueport where she meets a hooded woman, and buys a box which contains a map, which the princess sends to Mario, along with a letter asking him to help her search for the map's treasure. Soon after that, she is kidnapped by Sir Grodus. Mario receives the letter with the map and decides to help her, and thus boards a ship to Rogueport.
Shortly after Mario reaches Rogueport, he finds Lord Crump attempting to interrogate Goombella about the Crystal Stars. Mario intervenes and Lord Crump tries to defeat him. After defeating the X-Naut general and escaping from the X-Nauts, Goombella introduces herself, and Mario explains his quest to her. As Goombella is also searching for the map's treasure, she decides to join Mario. Then, Goombella suggests to go to Professor Frankly's house, to consult him and show him the map. At the professor's house, Frankly explains that the map is related to the legend of the treasure of the Thousand-Year Door, and that, to obtain the treasure, one must first open the door with the seven Crystal Stars. Said objects can be found by holding the Magical Map before the Thousand-Year Door, which is located in the town's sewers. So, Mario holds the map before the Thousand-Year Door, revealing the location of the first Crystal Star.
Mario and Goombella show the updated map to Professor Frankly, who reveals that the first Crystal Star is in Petal Meadows. To reach this place, they must find a pipe in Rogueport Sewers. After finding it, Mario and Goombella arrive to Petal Meadows, where they see Hooktail and her castle. The duo stops at a nearby village called Petalburg and discover from the mayor that the dragon Hooktail has been terrorizing the village. The mayor tells them that Hooktail guards the Crystal Star in her castle, and that to access it, they must find the two stone keys in Shhwonk Fortress. After finding them, Mario and Goombella march to Hooktail's castle, with Koops in tow (who wants to defeat Hooktail to avenge his dead father and become stronger). After navigating through the castle's traps with the help of Koops, they encounter the dragon and defeat her, allowing Koops's father to get out of the dragon's gut and present Mario with the Diamond Star.
Somewhere else, it is revealed that Princess Peach was abducted by the X-Nauts. When a X-Naut tells Sir Grodus someone got the first Crystal Star, Peach accidentally blurts out Mario's name. Grodus hears this and orders the Shadow Sirens to steal the map in Mario's possession. Peach soon meets TEC-XX, who develops an interest in Peach's concept of love, and asks for her help to understand it. Peach agrees; in exchange, TEC lets her send e-mails to Mario. During another scene transition, at Bowser's Castle, Kammy Koopa tells Bowser about Mario's quest to find the Crystal Stars and Peach's abduction, things that motivate Bowser to hunt for the Crystal Stars and kidnap Peach back. He and Kammy head for Rogueport.
Back in Petalburg, the group receives an e-mail from Peach, who tells them she has been kidnapped. Mario and co. head back to the Thousand-Year Door and reveal the location of the next star.
The second Crystal Star is revealed to be in The Great Tree, home of small creatures known as Punies, deep inside Boggly Woods. When searching for the pipe leading to Boggly Woods in Rogueport Sewers, Mario and his partners encounter Punio, who tells them that the X-Nauts have invaded the Great Tree, capturing most of the Punies and that the Jabbies, the Punies' enemies, have allied with the X-Nauts and are trying to expulse the Punies from the Great Tree. Mario and co. decide to help out the Punies, and therefore Punio leads the group to the Boggly Woods. After getting there, Mario and co. encounter the Shadow Sirens with a necklace, who do not recognize him due to having lost a sketch of him. The group continues and arrives to the Great Tree. However, they realize that the tree is locked. Punio suggests they find Madame Flurrie; to find the secret entrance. However, upon reaching her home, Flurrie reveals she has lost her necklace and doesn't want anyone to see her without it. After defeating the Sirens and returning the necklace to Flurrie, she joins them in their quest. The group finds the secret entrance and enters the tree; after freeing the locked Punies with the aid of a special orb and after solving the Great Tree's puzzles and defeating the Jabbies, they get the second star at the bottom of the tree. There, Lord Crump snatches it, and activates a time bomb to blow up the tree. After chasing him to the entrance, he stops the bomb and uses Magnus Von Grapple to fight the heroes, but he is defeated by the group. Afterwards, the X-Nauts evacuate the tree and Mario and co. obtain the Emerald Star.
At the X-Naut headquarters, the X-Nauts inform Sir Grodus that Mario has taken the Emerald Star. Meanwhile, TEC-XX calls for the Princess, and asks her to dance with him. TEC then lets Peach e-mail Mario.
Bowser can be seen arriving in Petalburg, and then talking to what he thinks is Peach, but is revealed to be a poster by a nearby Koopa.
As Mario and his team move on, they receive another e-mail from Peach, who tells them that the X-Nauts are searching for the Crystal Stars. Mario and his team reveal the location of the next Crystal Star, and they visit the Prof. for details.
The third Crystal Star appears on a large arena in a floating town. To reach Glitzville, Mario and the gang must visit Don Pianta. He offers them the ticket they need after doing him a favor. Once Mario and his team arrive in Glitzville, they enter the Glitz Pit, a popular place in which fighters brawl everyday, and spot the Crystal Star on the Champ's Belt, held by Rawk Hawk, the current champion of the Pit. They sign up in the Pit, battle through the ranks, and eventually gain a newborn Yoshi as a partner. Soon, a mysterious figure known only as "X" starts sending cryptic e-mails to Mario. The e-mails lead Mario and his partners to discover that the Star on the belt is a fake, and that the real Crystal Star is being used by Grubba, the promoter of the Glitz Pit. Mario & co. expose his wrongdoings and chase him into the arena, where he transforms into Macho Grubba in order to eliminate Mario and his friends. However, the group manages to defeat him. After the battle, Jolene, Grubba's assistant, appears and reveals herself as the mysterious X, explains her story, and gives Mario the Gold Star.
At the X-Naut base, TEC-XX asks Peach to go ask Grodus a question relating to his plans. The Princess goes undercover in an X-Naut disguise and learns that Grodus is plotting to use the Crystal Stars to take over the world. TEC allows her to send this message to Mario. Meanwhile, Bowser and Kammy are searching for one of the Crystal Stars in the Great Tree, where they discover that Mario has already got the Crystal Star.
Mario & co. receive another message from Peach; they promptly reveal the fourth crystal star's location.
Prof. Frankly tells the group that the Crystal Star is located in the Creepy Steeple, near a small town named Twilight Town. When Mario & co. get to Twilight Town, they discover that the village is under a curse cast by a monster who lives in the steeple. Using a new Black Chest Demon power, the group reaches the steeple, and battles the monster. During the battle, the monster uses an ability to steal Mario's name and body, transforming Mario into a shadowy version of himself. Mario's partners claim the Crystal Star and leave with whom they think is Mario. Meanwhile, the Shadow Sirens are in Twilight Town, planning on defeating Mario and his partners with their new weapon: the Superbombomb. However, Beldam seems to have lost it, prompting her to blame Vivian and to force her to search for it. The real Mario returns to Twilight Town, and helps Vivian with her problem. Out of gratitude, she joins Mario's party. They eventually discover that the monster's name is Doopliss; after telling Doopliss his name, he is weakened and flees to Creepy Steeple. Mario and Vivian chase him there and they fight once more. Mario and his new partner defeat Doopliss, allowing Mario to regain his name and body and to reclaim the Ruby Star.
At the X-Naut base, TEC-XX asks the Princess to participate in a sort of "quiz show" with him. By doing this, she discovers what the "treasure" of the Thousand-Year Door really is: the "treasure" is actually an ancient demon. The Princess then sends these news to Mario. Meanwhile, Bowser continues his quest for Crystal Stars by flying up to Glitzville in his Koopa Clown Car. However, it malfunctions halfway there, and he travels underwater to return to Rogueport. After he and Kammy return, he orders Kammy to continue her research on the Crystal Stars.
Back in Twilight Town, Mario and his friends receive the message from Peach. They reveal the next Crystal Star and visit Prof. Frankly for details.
The English name for the chapter, as well as its Spanish, Italian, and French translations, are referencing the Ernest Hemingway novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls.
The fifth Crystal Star is located deep within a pirate's lair on the southern island of Keelhaul Key. To reach the island, with the help of Flavio and Admiral Bobbery, they sail to the island with some Toads and Lord Crump in disguise (known as "Four-Eyes"). On their way to the island, Mario and co. are attacked by Cortez's Embers, which shipwrecks them on Keelhaul Key. Later on, some of the crew members are attacked by more Embers, and Bobbery sacrifices himself to save them. Bobbery says he is close to death, and after giving him his last request, they found out that he was just asleep; after Mario wakes him, he joins Mario's party. With the aid of Bobbery and Flavio's Skull Gem, Mario and co. enter Pirate's Grotto. After solving some puzzles, and after gaining another ability from a Black Chest Demon, they finally reach the lair of Cortez. After a battle, Cortez gives Mario his Sapphire Star. Afterwards, Lord Crump abandons his disguise and tells Mario that he will continue attacking him with his ship's cannons, until he hands over the Crystal Star. With the help of Cortez's ship and Flavio's Skull Gem, they defeat the invading X-Nauts, along with their leader.
In the X-Naut base, TEC-XX wishes to gain access to a disk at Grodus's room, and asks Peach to help him. After making an invisibility potion, she helps him and he promises to analyze the data. Peach then sends another e-mail to Mario, informing him of this. Meanwhile, in Twilight Town, Bowser and Kammy Koopa run into Lord Crump. The three get into an argument, which escalates to an armed confrontation between the Koopa Troop and the X-Nauts. However, Bowser inadvertently ignites the Superbombomb, knocking out both armies.
Back at Keelhaul Key, Cortez ferries Mario and his teammates to Rogueport. Mario gets the e-mail from Peach, telling them about what TEC is analyzing. Mario and his team then reveal the next Crystal Star's location, and visit Prof. Frankly for information.
The sixth Crystal Star is in the Poshley Sanctum of the town Poshley Heights. The only way to reach the town is on the famous Excess Express. After doing Don Pianta another favor, he gives Mario the train ticket.
On the first day at the Excess Express, Mario and his team found many mysterious happenings, including thefts of items and messages threatening to blow up the train. On their second day of travel, Pennington, a Bumpty detective, helps Mario and his friends to solve the crimes and they manage to capture a fake Zip Toad who was really Doopliss in disguise, and was the one who attempted to halt the train by causing an explosion with some stolen items. At sundown, when the train stops at Riverside Station for refuel, Doopliss escapes capture. Mario and company find that the drawbridge has been lifted, preventing the Excess Express from continuing its route. The gang enters Riverside Station and flips the switch to bring the drawbridge back down. They discover that a group of Smorgs are behind it. On the third and final day of the journey, a stowaway Smorg monster attacks the train, kidnapping all of its passengers. Mario and his friends defeat the creature, rescuing the passengers in the process, and finally reach Poshley Heights. They venture into Poshley Sanctum, a museum that happens to belong to Pennington. The Shadow Sirens happen to be already inside, and snatch what appears to be the Garnet Star and run away. However, Pennington reveals that what they stole was a fake, and lets Mario find where the real Crystal Star is. After some exploring, Mario and company manage to find the real Garnet Star.
Back at the X-Naut base, the X-Nauts tell Grodus that Mario has six of the seven Crystal Stars. They also tell him of TEC's betrayal. Meanwhile, TEC tells the Princess the data he gained from Grodus's data disk, and prepares to help Peach escape. Before he is able to, Grodus enters with two X-Nauts and orders them to initiate the data-wipe procedure. TEC tells Peach "I love you" just before he is shut down.
Meanwhile, Bowser is searching for another Crystal Star in Rawk Hawk's workout room, which he has found in the form of the Champ's Belt. However, he quickly learns that it is not a real Crystal Star, just a glass fake.
Mario and his team return to Rogueport and receive an e-mail from Peach, telling about what the X-Nauts plan to do with her, but an important part of it is cut off due to TEC being shut down. Back in Rogueport, Mario and co. reveal the next Crystal Star's location and visit Prof. Frankly for details.
The last Crystal Star appears to be on the Moon. To reach the Moon, Mario and his companions travel to Fahr Outpost to find a cannon to shoot to the Moon. After searching for Goldbob and General White, whose blessings are needed to operate the cannon, Mario & co. enter the cannon and are shot to the Moon.
On the Moon, the group discovers the X-Naut Fortress. Once they arrive at the end of it, Lord Crump appears, bragging about his latest creation — Magnus Von Grapple 2.0, and tries once more to defeat Mario and company. After Lord Crump is defeated, the Crystal Star is released.
Meanwhile, Bowser is searching for another Crystal Star in the Poshley Sanctum. A Paragoomba flies in and tells Bowser that Mario has collected every Crystal Star and is heading for the Thousand-Year Door, which contains a great treasure. Bowser announces that he will steal this treasure and defeat Mario.
As Mario and his allies prepare to leave the fortress, they discover that all of the doors have been locked, except for one. In this room, the heroes find TEC, who is running on backup power. He recognizes Mario and tells him to rescue the Princess, who has been taken to the Palace of Shadow, a place that lies beyond the Thousand-Year Door. He then activates an emergency transporter. The group is transported to a room in Rogueport Sewers. After exiting the room, Prof. Frankly meets them at the entrance and urges them to open the Thousand-Year Door.
After Mario has received all seven Crystal Stars, the time has come to open the Thousand-Year Door and enter the Palace of Shadow to rescue Princess Peach from Grodus.
Mario and his friends open the Thousand-Year Door with the seven Crystal Stars, allowing them to enter the Palace of Shadow. The palace itself is full of enemies, puzzles, and traps. Eventually, Mario and co. battle and trounce the Shadow Sirens and a black dragon named Gloomtail, older brother of Hooktail. After the dragon's defeat, he relinquishes the key to access the Riddle Tower. After solving the puzzles of the tower, a secret passage is revealed, which lets Mario continue forward. Finally, Mario reaches the Throne Room of the palace, where he finds and defeats Sir Grodus. Bowser and Kammy, who drop in unexpectedly, also battle Mario, but are thwarted in the end. Grodus uses the distraction of the battle to bring the Princess into the deepest part of the palace. There, he opens a sealed coffin and frees the Shadow Queen, the ancient demon of legend. Beldam suddenly appears and announces that she was the one who orchestrated the plot to free her mistress. The Shadow Queen refuses to be controlled by Grodus, and fries him with a lightning bolt, supposedly killing him. The Queen then possesses Princess Peach, using her as a vessel to sustain her life. The world is then covered in darkness. Mario and his allies fight the Queen, but she eventually decides to fight in her real form, in which she is invincible. She proves too much for the group to handle, however, the Crystal Stars suddenly react to the evil of the Queen and fly throughout the world, each returning to where they were found, allowing the people of the world to cheer on Mario and his party. The hope of the people of the world break through the Queen's invulnerability, and this also allows Peach to give the heroes the last of her power. Strengthened, the heroes seal the Shadow Queen forever, saving the world.
Goombella later sends Mario a message, explaining what everyone has done: she works with Professor Frankly, while Koops plans on becoming the Mayor of Petalburg. Flurrie has returned to the stage and enacts "Paper Mario" as her comeback smash while Doopliss plays the role of Mario. The Yoshi Kid fights in the Glitz Pit as the "Great Gonzales Jr.", while Vivian has forgiven her sisters and lives in Twilight Town. Admiral Bobbery sails the seas with Cortez, and Ms. Mowz runs her Lovely Howz of Badges. Lord Crump, Grodus and the X-Nauts survived and are spending their time in Poshley Heights. TEC survived as well, and hopes to see the Princess again one day. The game ends when the Princess arrives with another treasure map.
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Gameplay:
In terms of gameplay, The Thousand-Year Door brings over the core mechanics of the N64 original and enhances them. Mario now has a voice used for jumping and attacking, and starts his adventure with a hammer. Action Commands can also be performed from the start. However, he has lost the ability to Spin Dash from the original game.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door brings up new gameplay elements not present in the original Paper Mario game. Throughout the game, Mario finds four black treasure chests, which give Mario special abilities to use in the overworld. They all base on the Paper element of the game's graphics. With the first ability (called Plane Mode), Mario is able fold himself to a paper airplane at certain spots, allowing him to fly over large gaps. The second ability (called Paper Mode) allows him to turn sideways, making him as thin as paper, so that he can get through very narrow passages. With the third ability (called Tube Mode), Mario can roll himself up, allowing him to roll through low passages. With the fourth ability (called Boat Mode), he can fold himself to a paper ship at certain docks, allowing him to move over water. It is noticeable that, to use Tube Mode, Mario has to activate Paper Mode first, and then roll himself u
The partner system is also enhanced. Unlike the original, where partners had a simple fine/injured status system, this game gives partners their own Heart Points. As such, partners can fall in battle, and items such as the Mushroom can be used on them as well. Several partners are similar to ones seen in Paper Mario, like Koops being the counterpart of Kooper, but generally have more abilities available. Timed moves are more abundant in this game. In addition, battles are set up on a stage, like a play; this greatly affects battles, and characters can interact with the audience and stage.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-PM2_Hooktail_zpsweziaoym.jpg)
(Mario and his partner encountering Hooktail.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-PMTTYD_Petalburg_screenshot_zpsuncieycy.png)
(Petalburg.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/tumblr_npqo5mPiDZ1rlbxluo1_500_zpshoi2x1t1.png)
(The Shadow Queen/Peach.)
Why I Love This Game:
1. Music - Once again, the music strikes back. This time, it just gets more badass then the others. :zydar:
The boss battle is sick and each boss has new themes that really get you going.
a. The Shadow Peach Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zZtBuZ1uI4
(This music really puts you in the mood for the game. With the creepy organ and synth and the mysterious noises....you are in for quite a fight!)
b. The Shadow Queen Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0m0d4aE8NE
(Here it is! The final battle! I find this theme to be one of the most complicated boss themes Koji Kondo has thrown to us. This is filled with almost everything and this was my favorite theme for quite a while.)
c. Rawk Hawk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYwcHDAcxVM
(The closest "rock" song, this theme really gets you going. After all, you are competing for the prize to be the greatest master! Just defeat this hawk!)
d. Macho Grubba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCSbw-HHBc
(This is my favorite theme of this game. With percussion and a nice piccolo solo, man, this takes it in the bag.
e. Dooplis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvug9_xljlY
(This is one fun theme to listen to. Whenever I have a test the next day, I have an alarm go off with this song. Puts me in my place. Love the organ solo.)
2. Exploration - Once again, eight new worlds to explore. Each world takes us to a lot of places such as the moon, a grotto, an arena, a train, and many more! I loved hanging around Poshley Heights because that was where the rich people lived.
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I loved Bowser's Inside Story. One of my favorite DS games, and a really satisfying 100% completion.
Has anyone here played the 3DS M&L games? If so, which one(s) would you recommend? I recall that a recent Mario game - I'm not sure if it's the new Paper Mario or M&L, or something else entirely - was really controversial.
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I really want to try Paper Mario. The more I read about it the more interested I am.
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You should play it! It really is an amazing game.
:tup
Number 2: Super Mario Galaxy II
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/galaxy%202_zps5ouyrdkx.jpeg)
What is Super Mario Galaxy 2?
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a 3D action platformer game for the Wii. It is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy and is the fourth 3D platformer entry in the Mario franchise; it is also the first 3D platformer in the Mario series to be released on the same console as its predecessor (Super Mario Galaxy 2 was released on the Wii; the same console that Super Mario Galaxy was originally released for). The sequel retains many elements from its predecessor, such as the adventure being in outer space, the element of gravity, and recurring objects such as Launch Stars and Sling Stars. Returning items include the Bee Mushroom and the Fire Flower. However, the game introduces new elements as well, such as the utilization of Yoshi, new power-ups like the Cloud Flower, and the use of a guide within the game for beginner players. All releases of the game except for the American version include a beginner's DVD to help players understand the controls and items if they haven't played Super Mario Galaxy. In North America, help for beginners is found on the official website as well as on the Nintendo Channel.
Plot
The game's story takes place in a parallel world to that of Super Mario Galaxy[1]. Every one hundred years, shining stardust falls on Mushroom Kingdom. On this particular day, residents of the Mushroom Kingdom come out and enjoy throwing and playing with the stardust.
Princess Peach invites Mario to share some cake while watching the shooting stars. On his way to Peach's Castle, Mario finds a lost Baby Luma, who seems to like Mario and jumps into his hat, granting him spin power. Near the castle, Mario discovers it under attack by Bowser, now gigantic thanks to the Power Stars, who kidnaps Peach and takes her away to the center of the universe. In response, Lumas who crashed near the castle offer to aid Mario to chase Bowser by transforming into a Launch Star and launching Mario to space.
After collecting a Power Star, Mario arrives on a planet-like object, where he meets Lubba, who tells his crew and their spaceship were attacked by Bowser. Realizing both him and Mario need each others' help to collect the stolen Power Stars and rescue Peach, he uses the Power Star to fix his ship and transform it into Starship Mario, which is used to travel through space and find more Power Stars. During his travels, Mario has to deal with Bowser's forces, including Bowser Jr. and Giant Bowser himself.
Finally, Mario and friends locate Bowser's Galaxy Generator, where Bowser is fought for the final time. After Bowser's defeat, his empire becomes undone, and Peach is saved. A comet which was caught by Bowser's fortress is also freed, and is revealed to be the Comet Observatory. Rosalina then appears, happy to see that Baby Luma is safe. Baby Luma, overjoyed that he's reunited with his "mama", heads back to his home, and takes Mario's hat as a souvenir, much to Mario's surprise. After the Comet Observatory leaves, Mario and Peach return to their own home using the Starship Mario. Along the way, Bowser is shown in a tiny form near Peach's Castle.
If the player collects the first 120 Power Stars and battles Bowser again in his fortress, an extra scene is shown after the credits, revealing Rosalina and her Lumas in the Comet Observatory's Library. She has finished reading a story to them (possibly the events of the game itself) and plans on telling the Lumas a new story about the Green Power Stars. A new feature is then unlocked in which all the galaxies are visited by green Prankster Comets. From there, the player must hunt down all the Green Stars. When they are all collected (adding up to 240 Power Stars), the Grandmaster Galaxy will be opened in World S. It houses the last two Power Stars, and when the last one is reached, Rosalina will congratulate the player, and will appear on Starship Mario.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SMG2_Prologue2_zpsjhu5v0ft.png)
(Giant Bowser.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SMG2MarioLuma_zpshcbk0yxb.png)
(Baby Luma bidding farewell to Mario and Peach.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SMG2Rosalina_zpsnqcytgat.png)
(Rosalina telling stories to the Lumas.)
Gameplay Elements:
The gameplay is similar to Super Mario Galaxy, with a focus on platforming based on and around 3-D planets of varying sizes and with many different types of surfaces. Power-ups, such as the Bee Mushroom, Boo Mushroom, Spring Mushroom, and Fire Flower make a return, along with new ones such as the Rock Mushroom and the Cloud Flower, as well as various enemies and Airships. Launch Stars reappear for interplanetary navigation, along with a Luma and Mario's spin action. Additionally, the concept of "Dark Matter" appears as the medium of which Cosmic Clones are composed, and as a portal through which Airships emerge from. 2-D stages featured in Super Mario Galaxy are also included in Super Mario Galaxy 2, introducing many new features. The game has only 3 file slots to use, unlike the 6 files in the preceding game and files can no longer be copied.
Galaxies:
All forty-nine Galaxies can be accessed via the Grand World Map with Starship Mario. There are seven more galaxies in this game than in the first game.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SMG2_Map_W1_zpsyi9mqeff.png)
(The Grand World Map.)
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Now, here is why I love the game. It is both music and exploration again and I will tell you the key elements to why this is at my number two spot.
My Favorite Galaxies:
1. Cosmic Cove Galaxy - "Cosmic Cove Galaxy is a galaxy in World 2 in Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is primarily a water-themed level, where players can freeze the water in the first mission to skate on the ice and up water falls, or swim through caverns to find key objects. Penguins such as Coach and Penguru appear as inhabitants of this galaxy, where they can assist players by giving them helpful hints. Common enemies here include Skeeters and Koopa Troopas, as well as underwater enemies such as Snoodles. This is the only galaxy in World 2 with two main missions. One of its levels, Catch that Star Bunny, makes Cosmic Cove Galaxy the only galaxy in the game that has a mission that involves catching a Star Bunny."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/cosmic_zps3zvjscjb.png)
The Cosmic Cove Galaxy.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-CCG1_zpsyldnidr5.png)
Mario in the Starting Area.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Cosmic_cove_zpsggnspe7z.png)
Top view.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Penguru2_zps7bdgyx1c.jpg)
Penguru explaining to Mario what to do at the Twin Falls.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-CCG4_zpsnpsn1exv.png)
Mario swimming in the Cosmic Cavern.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-Watermazeccgsmg2_zpssqddpdon.jpg)
Mario swimming in the Water Maze.
Isn't this place beautiful? This is what I call paradise. I always adored Mario games for its graphics and this Galaxy is not an exception. This is basically a water paradise. If there is one place I would like to visit in my lifetime, it'd be this place. So calming, so haunting, and so chilling.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlIdlrlv6Ak
This music is amazing and it is basically a lullaby to me, when I can't sleep because of a nightmare or because I keep on waking up, calling my girlfriend's name. This helps me with my panic attack and I'm grateful for this music. I have finally found some peace with this music. The harp and piano duet can soothe anyone's soul. Why not give it a listen?
2. Slimy Spring Galaxy - "Slimy Spring Galaxy is a galaxy appearing in the game Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is located in World 6 and it mostly takes place under water. It makes extensive use of the Green Shell to move around underwater. Common enemies here include Snoodles, Urchins, and Boos. This is the only galaxy in the game that can be accessed after getting a star in a galaxy made out of a Hungry Luma. (Besides the Grandmaster Galaxy)."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/375px-Slimy_Spring_Galaxy_zpslljs7p14.png)
(The Spring Galaxy.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSpG1_zpsy3uyhlvt.png)
(Luigi in the Starting Area.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSpG2_zpsjja04cpp.png)
(Luigi swimming in the first area.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/images_zpsjjhzag0b.jpeg)
(The slide.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSpG6_zpswz6gbtmr.png)
(Luigi in the Oasis Area.)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/g6f0AIn_zpsbxgoc49r.jpg)
(The Sunset.)
Another beautiful underwater Galaxy that speaks to a lot. I find this place to be another piece of paradise. When I am in this Galaxy, I feel like I am choking. The place is really foggy and it is almost like it's claustrophobic. After traversing through this entire, beautiful Galaxy, you are greeted a beautiful view of the sun. People praise the sun as one of the most visually appealing in Mario games and I agree. It nearly made my heart stop. Another paradise where I can be alone with my girlfriend, staring off as the sun sets.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suv32a4HBIM
The music....sounds awfully chilling, yet is like a warm embrace. I find myself shivering every time I listen to this music. There is something about it.....I can't describe it.
3. Starshine Beach Galaxy - "Starshine Beach Galaxy is a galaxy located in World 4 of the game Super Mario Galaxy 2. The galaxy is beach-themed and has some elements from the game Super Mario Sunshine's Isle Delfino, including Piantas that can hurl the player to other parts of the galaxy and a statue similar to the Grand Pianta Statue in Delfino Plaza. The tower in this galaxy also bears a resemblance to the Shine Tower from Gelato Beach. The galaxy is also slightly shaped like a dolphin, much like Isle Delfino, and the background music uses similar instrumentation to Super Mario Sunshine's Delfino Plaza music. Yoshi is also found in this galaxy. Crabs and Lakitus are common enemies. Dash Peppers and Blimp Fruits are also found in this galaxy."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/375px-Starshine_Beach_Galaxy_zpsfcgggf8y.png)
Starshine Beach.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSBG1_zpslgz1zwzi.png)
Mario on the Starting Planet.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSBG2_zpsno84dpva.png)
Approaching the beach.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSBG_M1_zpsbwaypkkp.png)
Mario and Yoshi about to collect a silver star.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SSBG_M2_zpswkgurnyq.png)
Luigi near the star.
Ah, Starshine Beach. Next time you go to a beach, seriously, do yourself a favor by grabbing a coconut and a straw inside it. As you lie in your chair and hear the waves, take a sip of that coconut while listening to this music. Seriously, it is satisfying. This galaxy, compared to the other two, have water, but it is much brighter. Super Mario Galaxy 2, why do you have to torture me like this?!
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFeCJyXmUSA
The music itself is refreshing to hear. Are you having a stressful day? To unwind, listen to this music while closing your eyes and remembering happy thoughts. Does it help you?
4. Melty Monster Galaxy - "Melty Monster Galaxy is a galaxy in the game Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is located in World 6, being the first galaxy in that world. The galaxy is completely covered in lava, with a magma tide that rises and falls every so often. The main obstacle here is the magma and its tide. As the name suggests, the most common enemies in the galaxy include giant lava monsters known as Magmaarghs and Magmaws. However, Octogoombas, Li'l Cinders, and Pinheads are also found. This galaxy doesn't have a Prankster Comet until the player unlocks the green stars."
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/375px-Melty_Monster_Galaxy_zpsjiqeatdu.png)
Melty Monster Galaxy.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-MMG0_zpsp42afuu4.jpg)
Mario on the starting planet.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-MMGI1_zpstsmgrmp7.jpg)
Mario using the Pull Stars to get past among the Lava Planets.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-MMG2_zpsamyrpf6n.jpg)
Mario using a Galactic Tornado on the Magma Sea.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SMG2MSM1_zps15o4pure.png)
Mario near the Magmaw Planet.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-MMG3_zpskzonh8q8.jpg)
Mario on the Magmaw Planet.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UYXABAC06s
A really beautiful galaxy, filled with lava and monsters that want you dead. Still, this place basically feels like hell. I don't know how Mario can survive all this heat. Kudos to him, though. The music itself is very frantic and fast paced, you don't know what is coming until it's too late. I always used to have trouble with those huge Magmaw's. They are a pain, but otherwise, this level is great and is home to one of the hardest level in the game.
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And just a very quick warning.
My number 1 game, the write up will be super long. This game has been in my heart forever and the loss of my loved ones just made it jump in nostalgia, sadness, and comfort. I will post it tomorrow and please only read it if you have time to spare. To those who read these write ups fully, I suggest you read it when you have the willing time and effort. To those who scan it, you can scan it quickly if you want and if you are a scanner, disregard this message.
I will pour out my living heart and soul, anger, pain, comfort, and happiness in the next write up
Thank you.
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I'd argue that Melty Monster Galaxy was the biggest disappointment in Galaxy 2, but your other favorite stages align with some of my own! Most of my other favorites have some sort of above and beyond creative level design (Chompworks, Beat Block, Clockwork Ruins, etc). Slimy Spring and Cosmic Cove also occupy my #1 and #2 spots. :)
My only complaint, once again, is that the game is too easy. Aside from that bullshit final stage, I had very little trouble completing the game.
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Nice! I'm glad we agree! And why is Melty Monster your least favorite? And yeah, The Perfect Run is a pain in the.... :)
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Number 1: Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/super%20paper%20mario_zpso9srlf0h.jpeg)
Alright everyone, are you ready for this?? I know I am! You have to understand the story and when you do, I hope you feel what I feel.
What is Super Paper Mario?
Super Paper Mario is an action-adventure role-playing game for the Wii. Unlike other Paper Mario games, Super Paper Mario is a platformer and doesn't use a turn-based battle system, but rather incorporates RPG elements with platforming. The game fuses elements of 2D and 3D gameplay together, shifting back and forth between dimensions, once being described as a "2.5D" sidescroller by Nintendo Power magazine. In addition to the regular Paper Mario aesthetics, the game also uses many novel character, enemy, and background designs, including a fully pixelated world and the use of sprites from the classic Super Mario Bros. for certain techniques.
The story focuses on Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser journeying across various dimensions to stop a villain named Count Bleck from destroying all of existence. In addition to the four playable characters are fairy-like Pixls that grant the main party members various extra abilities, such as hammering objects or calling up a temporary shield. As the players defeat enemies, they accumulate points and level up, making their own attacks stronger. While the plot is considered dark by Mario standards, as in earlier Paper Mario titles, humorous dialogue and references to other games, nerd culture and even mythology abound.
The game was originally planned for a 2006 release on the Nintendo GameCube, but was moved to the newer Wii console. Motion controls were added to certain gameplay features, pushing the release date back to April 2007 for North America and Japan, and September of that year for the PAL region.
The Story:
The story opens with Mario and Luigi being informed by Toad about Princess Peach's latest kidnapping. Believing Bowser to be the culprit once again, the brothers immediately head off to his castle, only to find him preparing to attack. A villain named Count Bleck then appears with his assistant, Nastasia and Princess Peach, who is his prisoner. He announces his plans to use Peach "to destroy all worlds", renders Mario unconscious with his dark powers, and kidnaps Bowser as well, with Luigi and the Koopa Troop being sucked away too.
Elsewhere, Peach regains consciousness to find that she and Bowser are dressed in wedding outfits and standing at an altar, with Count Bleck officiating. Nastasia uses mind control powers to force Peach to say "I do", and the marriage between her and Bowser calls forth the Chaos Heart. Luigi awakens in the Koopa crowd watching the ceremony and attempts to intervene, but he is too late as Bleck uses the Chaos Heart to open a dimensional rift known as The Void, fulfilling a prophecy he read in an ancient book known as the Dark Prognosticus, in which all worlds are destroyed.
Back at Bowser's Castle, Mario is awakened by a Pixl named Tippi, who brings him to the town of Flipside and introduces him to Merlon. He owns the benevolent counterpart of Bleck's book, the Light Prognosticus, which indicates that a hero fitting Mario's description can stop the Void, which is visible in the sky above Flipside and slowly growing. Merlon gives Mario the first of eight Pure Hearts that he will need to counteract the Chaos Heart, which he places into the first Heart Pillar to cause a door to appear on the top of Flipside Tower leading straight to Lineland, where the next Pure Heart is. Merlon also tells Mario that he must also learn the "dimensional technique" from his friend Bestovius there in order to find the rest of the Pure Hearts.
Meanwhile, in Castle Bleck, the Count and Nastasia meet with the other three minions, Dimentio, O'Chunks, and the shape-shifting Mimi. Count Bleck promises to replace the destroyed worlds with a perfect world where all his minions' dreams will come true, and when Nastasia mentions that the hero of prophecy may be active, O'Chunks volunteers to take care of him, with Dimentio tagging along to watch the show.
Meet the Main Heroes:
1) Mario - Mario has the ability to flip between dimensions using A Button. When Mario flips, everything shifts between 2-D and 3-D, revealing interesting secrets, hidden enemies, and a whole new perspective on the world. Most enemies appear only in one dimension, but some can flip between them.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/91px-Curious_Paper_Mario_zps7xfbsvy6.png)
2) Luigi - Luigi can jump higher by pressing the +Control Pad down key to activate his Super Jump to reach enemies and high places.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/89px-Paper_Luigi_zpsrsoyrnwy.png)
3) Princess Peach - Peach can float through the sky with her parasol using Two Button. She can also shield herself with her parasol by pressing down.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/67px-Peach_2_SPM_zpsduix3yid.png)
4) Bowser - Bowser can incinerate enemies with his fire breath by pressing down, Bowser will breathe fire on anything in his path. Also, note that when enemies jump on Bowser's spikes, Bowser is harmed. Bowser cannot climb ladders.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/112px-Pprbwsr_zps7xfwgbze.png)
5) Tippi - Tippi is the first Pixl that Mario will find. She resembles a butterfly, and can find secrets and areas previously inaccessible without her. She will also give information on characters and give the crew hints. Tippi is unique because she is always active, so Mario will always have two Pixls out at once (one of which is usually Tippi except in certain parts in the game). Tiptron will get this power at the end of the game when Tippi permanently leaves the player.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-SPM_Tippi_zps3fgk4x2x.png)
Other pixels:
1. Thoreau - Use One Button to grab objects and enemies and press One Button again to throw them. Just remember, you can't pick up spiky enemies. You can also press One Button to throw Thoreau and activate switches at a distance.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-SPM_Thoreau_zpsjpxvuewr.png)
2. Boomer - Press One Button to set down Boomer, and press One Button again to detonate him. You can do this to attack enemies or break blocks. If you wait long enough, Boomer will explode even if you don't press One Button.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/68px-BoomerPixl_zpsjrzdazql.png)
3. Slim - Slim will allow Mario and crew to turn sideways, and squeeze through tight spaces such as rails. Also, if the player stands still he'll become invisible.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-Slim_zps4jbsy7hu.png)
4. Thudley - Thudley resembles a weight. Thudley will give Mario and friends the ability to Ground Pound. It deals double damage with Mario, Peach and Luigi, and four times the regular damage with Bowser.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/64px-Thudley_zpsks6fuhar.png)
5. Carrie - Carrie is able to turn into a platform that can carry Mario and Co. through dangerous places, to safety. She can travel over spikes and take no damage. She can also jump on spiked enemies without sustaining damage.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/71px-Carrie_zpsz6mwfjfb.png)
6. Fleep - Fleep can flip objects caught in a different dimension back to its original one. Mario and co. should look for shining objects that resemble a lightning bolt. He can also make enemies dizzy so the player can pass them by. Fleep is also the only Pixl that cannot be used in 3D, and is the least used of all the required Pixls in the game.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/89px-Fleep_zpsybwcyidz.png)
7. Cudge - Cudge resembles a mallet. Cudge lets Mario and co. use a hammer like in previous Paper Mario titles. It can slam down posts, break open areas, and does double damage.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/111px-Cudge_zpsfak394z7.png)
8. Dottie - Dottie has the ability to shrink the main character. The player can then go into little red doors (Shops with hard to find items). Enemies will not notice the player, but if Mario and co. touch them they will still take damage.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-Dottie_zpspk5fmydj.png)
9. Barry - Barry can surround the main character with a strong barrier that can destroy enemies in its way. He can also shoot sound waves that can hurt enemies when he turns into a barrier. He is obtained by visiting The Bitlands after rescuing Tippi and talking to him. (optional)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/84px-Barry_zps0guyasnl.png)
10. Dashell - Dashell provides a speed boost for the party. It is best useful when traveling from place to place. He is obtained by completing the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials. (optional)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-SPM_Dashell_zps80s3hwkb.png)
11. Piccolo - Piccolo plays music (different styles with each character) that can cure Mario and his team from any status problems, excluding poison. Using music, she can break blocks with her outline carved in it and can also put the Underchomp to sleep. She is obtained by completing a side quest from Merlee after Chapter 5 and unlocking the door in the alleyway of the first floor of Flopside. (optional)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/113px-Piccolo_zpsjn69qglt.png)
12. Tiptron - Although not a Pixl, Tiptron can be bought off of Francis for 999 coins as an additional partner. It replaces Tippi at the end of the game and has all of the same powers as her, even her consciousness. (optional)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/76px-SPM_Tiptron_zpsrkxywqw5.png)
Meet the Villains:
1) Count Bleck - “Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... The man known as Blumiere died long ago. Now there is only Bleck! The Dark Prognosticus's choice to fulfill the prophecy. Nothing more!”
—Count Bleck, Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-CountBleck2_SPM_zpspwrsuguc.png)
Lord Blumiere (also known as Count Bleck) is an evil count and is initially the primary antagonist of the Wii game Super Paper Mario. While "Bleck" is normally used as onomatopoeia for disgust, it could be interpreted as a corruption of the word "Black" (as in darkness); his Japanese name is also a play on the French word for "black", noir. His real name is likely a combination of blue, referring to his coloration, and lumière, the French term for light and a reference to his status as a member of the Tribe of Darkness.
Count Bleck was responsible for bringing forth the Chaos Heart by forcefully marrying Princess Peach to Bowser, so he can use the Heart to open The Void, which would shortly destroy all dimensions. He leads a troop of minions with him, including Nastasia, O'Chunks, Mimi, Mr. L, and Dimentio, the last of whom ultimately betrays Bleck towards the end of the game. In the end, however, he changes his ways after being reunited with his love and redeems himself by destroying the Chaos Heart, thereby helping Mario and friends save all worlds.
2) Dimentio - “Master of dimensions... Pleaser of crowds... I am... Dimentio!”
—Dimentio, Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/200px-DimentioSuperPaperMario_zpsguepd1xh.png)
Dimentio is a villain in Super Paper Mario. His name is a pun on dementia and dimension. Like Mario and Mimi, he can flip between dimensions, but he can also manipulate them (an ability he shares with Merloo) and controls Dimension D, which he designed. Skilled in duplication, teleportation, and invisibility, Dimentio is one of the four main minions of Count Bleck, along with O'Chunks, Mimi, and Nastasia. However, over the course of the game, Dimentio eventually reveals himself to be the true main antagonist, using his "master" merely as a way to further his plans to obtain the Chaos Heart and use its power for his own agenda. According to the InterNed, his theme is called "Dimentio, Charming Magician" and his battle theme is called "It's Showtime".
3) Nastasia - "I'm just gonna pencil you in for a ten o' clock brain washing, K?”
—Nastasia, Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/225px-SPM_Nastasia_zpsidgmt8q8.png)
Nastasia is a villain in Super Paper Mario, and is the right-hand woman of Count Bleck, the main antagonist of the game. Unusually for such a high-ranking adversary, though, and unlike the rest of Count Bleck's minions, she is never fought directly; instead, most of Bleck's minions were brainwashed by Nastasia's powerful hypnosis abilities. She can even use it to force people into doing things they would never contemplate in their right mind, most notably when she made Peach marry Bowser so as to allow the Chaos Heart to be created. She functions as if she is Bleck's secretary, trying to keep things running according to his schedule and relaying his orders, even going so far as to repeat them verbatim to give them emphasis. Like many of Bleck's minions, she is very close to her master. Bleck trusted Nastasia enough to let her know the story about his identity as Lord Blumiere and his lost love, Timpani. Her name is Greek for "She who shall rise up again", possibly a reference to her only falling unconscious from a deadly attack, or the story with the bat and the man. It is also a pun on the word "nasty" and possibly "Anastasia" or "Natasha".
4) O'Chunks - “Now I'm going to 'av teh get chunky on yeh!”
—O'Chunks, Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/o%20chunks_zpssluwrufr.png)
O'Chunks is one of the main villains in the game Super Paper Mario and a minion of Count Bleck. He is fought a total of four times in the game, making him the most encountered boss in the game. He speaks with a Scottish accent and his bushy ginger beard and eagerness to brawl are both Scottish stereotypes. However, the fact that his name begins with "O'" is an Irish tradition. Other translations use the Scottish patronym "Mc" instead, while in the Italian version, he has a stereotypical Roman accent. According to The InterNed, his theme is called "O'Chunks, Warrior", and his battle theme is "Ready, GO!"
5) Mimi - “You DUMMIES! The only reason I'm even HERE is to get in the way!”
—Mimi, Super Paper Mario
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/mimi_zpsjg0b4pxr.png)
Mimi is one of the main villains in the game Super Paper Mario and a minion of Count Bleck. She has a violent and cruel temper and uses her appearance as a cute and innocent girl to lure travelers into becoming slaves. She possesses the ability to shape-shift, often taking the disguises of Merlee and other characters, hence her name, that is derived from the word "mimic". According to the InterNed, Mimi's theme is called "Mimi the Copycat", her first battle theme is called "Mimi Battle" and her second and third battle theme "I'm Not Nice". Her true form is that of an evil-looking robotic spider, seen during most of the battles against her. Whenever Mimi is in her true form, her dialogue box is in a shade of purple with white text color, similar to the Shadow Queen and Bonetail in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/wedding_zpsytekdtci.png)
(The Wedding.)
-
[size=13Chapter 1: The Linelandpt][/size]
Mario was called upon once again to save the world... no small task.
Could he prevent Count Bleck from pulling off his sinister plot?
Would Mario reunite with Princess Peach?
A truly interdimensional adventure was about to begin...
Lineland is the setting of Chapter 1 in Super Paper Mario. Its skies are full of strange, surreal mathematical formulas, such as (translated into literary form) "Fire Flower is greater than or equal to some kind of Block divided by Warp Pipe."
Lineland's Chapter 1-1 pays a homage to the original Super Mario Bros. with its level design, which resembled the classic Level 1-1 throught its positioning of Items, ? Blocks, and Enemies like Goombas. The music is also remixed from the Super Mario Bros. overworld theme and the Super Mario World overworld theme.
Lineland Road (Chapter 1-1: The Adventure Unfolds) is a grassy plain populated with many different species, though oddly enough most are not native to the dimension. It is also home to Bestovius, the wizard that teaches Mario how to flip.
In the first section, Mario meets a Goomba and a Squiglet. A door which is seemingly blocked off with Blocks appears, which Bestovius's house appears. A Save Block can be found outside his house. When Mario enters the house, he reaches an empty room. When Tippi notices that Mario is stuck, she gives a short tutorial on how to use her Tattle ability. The ability helps reveal a hidden door in the room, where Bestovius awaits.
Upon meeting Bestovius, Mario asks him if he can provide him with the Flip ability, which would enable Mario to flip between 2-D and 3-D. Bestovius is skeptical, claiming that Mario does not seem to be the real hero that the Light Prognosticus has predicted to appear. To ensure that Mario is the hero, he asks him to pay a fee of ten thousand Coins. If Mario declines the offer, Bestovius lowers the price to all the coins Mario currently have. Should Mario decline the offer yet another time, the ability does not cost anything at all.
Once Mario Leaves Bestovius's house, he can jump on top of the save block and onto the roof of Bestovius's house to find a Squiglet card.
Once granted the Flip, Mario is able to proceed through the seemingly blocked off door by flipping into 3-D. While there, he has to use the flip ability to pass a Warp Pipe. Koopa Troopas appear past the Warp Pipe. Mario can find and obtain the Catch Card for Goombas in this section. Mario is then faced with a gap that is too wide for him to leap over, which requires the [Flip] ability to traverse. After Mario crosses the gap, he encounters Sproing-Oings and Squigs.
Upon making it to the third section of the level, Mario encounters some high walls. He can chose between either jumping on the springboard or to flip into 3-D. If Mario chooses the latter, a group of Squiglets can be seen hiding behind the wall.
When he makes it to the final section, Mario is able to use the Mega Star. In this section, Paragoombas, and a Piranha Plants are encountered. The Star Block can then be found, which ends the chapter and begins the chapter on Mount Lineland. However, Mario may flip into 3-D at this point just before hitting the block, revealing a narrow pathway that will lead him to a chest with the Koopa Troopa Catch Card.
Mario and Luigi return here much later on in the game while chasing Dimentio through the seven worlds. This is the first area they chase him through.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/lineland%20road_zpsznund4m8.png)
(Lineland Road.)
(Access to a door previously blocked off.)
Mount Lineland (Chapter 1-2: Afoot in the Foothills) is a mountain that houses Yold Town, as well as Thoreau the Pixl.
And so Mario came to learn the stupendous ability of flipping between dimensions.
But there was no time to celebrate: Mario still had a Pure Heart to find.
The trail ahead was overrun with savage beasts.
"Follow me," Tippi said, as she flew toward the mountain that loomed ahead.
The Pure Heart was hidden somewhere on the other side.
After adventuring through Lineland Road, Mario and co. scale the mountain and eventually reach Yold Town, where they make it to the town's main square after a chat with Red. After Mario shows Old Man Watchitt Thoreau, his requirement to lift the bridge leading to Yold Desert, the old mayor calls up Green and orders him to let Mario through. Soon after that, the plumber crosses the bridge to the Yold Desert.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SPM_Mount_Lineland_zpsyy1wf1ml.png)
Mount. Lineland
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-SPM_Thwomp_zpsvalcwgo5.png)
Underground Thwomps.
Yold Desert (Chapter 1-3: The Sands of Yold) serves as the first encounter with O'Chunks and the entrance to Yold Ruins.
With a bold quiver of his magnificent mustache, Mario let loose a hearty sneeze.
A single grain of sand had flown along the warm wind and tickled the hero's nose.
It wasn't long before Mario and Tippi found the source of the sand: the Yold Desert.
Along the endless, sunbaked expanse, Mario and Tippi continued their search...
Yold Desert is an area in the outskirts of Lineland from Super Paper Mario. Throughout the desert, there are clues that the Ancients left on signposts on how to advance and reach Yold Ruins.
Following his trek through Yold Town, Mario advances along the desert until he meets O'Chunks, who was sent by Count Bleck to defeat the plumber. Mario eventually outpowers O'Chunks, who retreats after the battle. After some more trekking, the plumber comes upon a blue platform which requires the player to press the One Button and Minus Button buttons at the same time when Mario is on the platform. The entrance to the Yold Ruins is revealed after completing this task.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SPM_Yold_Desert_zpswvvjrmkl.png)
Yold Desert.
Yold Ruins (Chapter 1-4: Monster of the Ruins) is where Mario and his Pixls have to explore before meeting Fracktail and recieving the Pure Heart.
Somehow, Mario had found the strength to cross the desert's sweltering dunes.
Ahead was a sprawling complex of ruins rising out of the sand.
Thankful for the shade, Mario and Tippi ventured deeper inside.
They were the very ruins Old Man Watchitt had warned them about.
What dangers lurked in the shady corridors ahead?
Like the desert before them, the ruins are riddled with numerous quicksand pits, as well as Firebars and Spiky Tromps.
Mario reaches the ruins after his trek through the Yold Desert. They serve as the dungeon for Chapter 1, and house numerous puzzles that can only be solved by Flipping. The player must also use Thoreau on a select few occasions to grab out-of-reach objects and activate switches. At the ruins' end, Mario encounters Fracktail, the robotic guardian of the complex, who initially agrees to let him pass - however, he malfunctions due to Dimentio's interference. Mario is forced to defeat him before proceeding inside the sanctum of the ruins, where he is given a Pure Heart by Merlumina, one of the ancients who wrote the Light Prognosticus and lingered after death to await the hero.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-YoldRuins_zpsxzdo8nvp.png)
The Ruins.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-SPM-Firebar_zpsdp5ifq1r.png)
Fire Bars.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-SPM_Blue_Switch_zps7rcnkkfl.png)
This blue switch reveals a big red switch.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-SPM_Yold_Ruins_Big_Red_Switch_zpsbabf9opx.png)
A big red switch to dump a bunch of Spiky Tromps into a pit.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/fracktail_zpsjvbuvx2q.jpg)
Fracktail.
Ending Text: Before disappearing, Merlumina had entrusted Mario to save every world.
She had waited 1,500 years to deliver the message to the legendary hero.
With the second Pure Heart at hand, Mario was in great spirits.
But six Pure Hearts still remained to be found, and the journey had just begun.
With a flutter, Tippi said, "I think we'd better return to Flipside..."
The weight of every world's fate once again rested on Mario's shoulders...
Meanwhile, O'Chunks reports back to Castle Bleck in shame, so the Count sends Mimi to deal with the hero, while Nastasia goes to look for any "goons" in the castle who still aren't under the Bleck's control.
Soon after, Peach (now in her usual pink dress) wakes up in Castle Bleck and joins two Koopas in search of an exit, but they are soon cornered by Nastasia, who brainwashes Bowser's minions. Peach, however, is teleported away before she can be hypnotized.
Far away, Mario returns to Flipside to bring the Pure Heart to Merlon, and the group learns from a panicking citizen that a girl has fallen from the sky. They then go to investigate, and discover that the girl is Peach, whom they revive with Spicy Soup. Feeling responsible for the opening of the Void, Peach insists on joining Mario in his quest and helps him reach the next Heart Pillar, and Merlon sends them through the new orange door to the next world; Gloam Valley.
Chapter 1 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Timpani: (I remember that day well... The room was warm. The whole place was at peace.)
Blumiere: Ugh... Uuugh...
Timpani: You're awake at last?
Blumiere: Where... am I? This this... a human's home? Bleccch!
Timpani: Don't wiggle like that. I found you at the cliff base. You took quite a fall.
Blumiere: You're a human, correct? I don't... repulse you? I am of the Tribe of Darkness...
Timpani: Why would that matter? Anyone with a heart would not ignore an injured soul!
(That was the day our paths crossed. That day... That was the day our tragedy was set in motion.)
The Light Prognosticus:
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/270px-LightPrognosticus_zps72xgzyrp.png)
"The Light Prognosticus... The Ancients wrote it to fight the Dark Prognosticus... It tells what the hero can do to save the world...”
—Tippi, Super Paper Mario
The Light Prognosticus is a book of prophecies in Super Paper Mario. Written by either Merlumina or Merloo (both are stated to have written it in-game) and created to counteract the Dark Prognosticus, it tells the future in a more optimistic view. Its main role is to instruct how the universal destruction prophesied by its grim counterpart can be prevented but, as Merlon says, its main purpose was to counteract the Dark Prognosticus, and so it is not actually prophetic. In other words, it says what one can do but, unlike the Dark Prognosticus, it does not say what will happen.
The Light Prognosticus tells of a "legendary hero" who can stop The Void from engulfing all dimensions through the use of the Pure Hearts, and about the Heroes of Light. The book also tells of three other heroes who will aid in the legendary hero's quest to save creation. However, it also claims that the "man in green" will determine which Prognosticus states the truth.
The Light Prognosticus says that all worlds will be destroyed unless the one protected by the dark power is destroyed.
The Light Prognosticus is in Merlon's possession, who studies the book to find clues in order to clarify events. From his studies he determines that Mario is the person who fits the legendary hero's physical description.
-
The Dark Prognosticus:
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/the%20dark_zpsksbie1kp.png)
“Though the man in red shall wield formidable powers, one shall stand against him. The man in green shall use the Chaos Heart's power to bring darkness to all.”
—Count Bleck, Super Paper Mario
The Dark Prognosticus is a book of prophecies that appeared in Super Paper Mario. The author of the book and the source of his or her knowledge is never revealed in the game. At the beginning of this powerful object is a warning: anyone who has possessed the book has never found happiness.
Over the years, many have fought over the Dark Prognosticus. Garson states during his story on the book that entire countries fell in a war over possession of the book, though the fall of these countries were already predicted in the book itself.
Another one of Garson's stories states that the very first Pixl, who came to be known as the Pixl Queen, was created by a magician using knowledge obtained from the Dark Prognosticus. After defeating the Pixl Queen, the being took the Dark Prognosticus to prevent a second Pixl uprising from occurring.
At one time, the Tribe of Ancients possessed the Dark Prognosticus. However, several of the tribe's members became possessed by the book's great power. They stole it, ran away, and hid the book. Officially having broken off from the Tribe of Ancients, these members became known as the Tribe of Darkness. The tribe guarded the book for centuries afterward, until it Blumiere took it and became enchanted by the book's power, turning him into Count Bleck, the final owner. Bleck desires to use this book in hopes of "destroying all worlds," the book apparently stating that the marriage of two beings that fit Bowser and Peach's description would create the Chaos Heart, which would open The Void to destroy the worlds. However, the book also speaks of a hero that would rise up and attempt to stop the destruction of existence. The Light Prognosticus was also written to counter this book, telling the prophecy from a more optimistic view.
Carson's story on Dimentio implies that Dimentio himself may have written the book; supporting this is that Count Bleck did not originally want Dimentio as his minion until he found the description of a similar being within the Dark Prognosticus. The Dark Prognosticus also states Luigi (simply called the "man in green") is the perfect host for the Chaos Heart.
After the events of Super Paper Mario, the Dark Prognosticus "faded back into history."
Chapter 2: Gloam Valley
Gloam Valley is the setting of Chapter 2 in Super Paper Mario. The valley itself only appears in the first section of the chapter.
Chapter 2-1: Bogging to Merlee's
"With Princess Peach at his side, Mario set out once again, bound for adventure.
This time, our heroes were tasked with finding the mysterious charmer, Merlee.
If Merlon was right, then Merlee was the key to finding the next Pure Heart.
Never one to flinch from danger, Mario set out to find Merlee's mysterious mansion.
But little did he know, the evil works of dastardly Count Bleck awaited at every turn..."
Gloam Valley becomes accessible after finding the orange Heart Pillar in the Flipside Outskirts. The dimension introduces pools of water meant to impede the player's progress, with Princess Peach's parasol often being the only way to cross them and proceed. Later on in the chapter, the Pixl Boomer is found and joins Mario's team, and his explosive abilities are used to continue forward and reach Merlee's Mansion, the setting for the remainder of Chapter 2 and the resting place of the third Pure Heart.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/450px-Gloam_Valley_zpsurw5gz56.png)
Chapter 2-2: Tricks, Treats, Traps (Merlee's Mansion)
"On the far-side of a beast-ridden swamp, Mario and Co. found an imposing residence.
"This must be Merlee's Mansion!" squealed Princess Peach with glee.
If our friends could only find the Pure Heart quickly, their quest here would end.
But when has fate ever set Mario on such a simple path?
Brimming with anticipation, our plucky heroes plunged into Merlee's Mansion..."
In the twilit Gloam Valley, Mario and Peach discover Merlee's Mansion. When the duo reach the inside of the mansion, they meet a maid, Mimi, who constantly gives Mario or Peach wrong information when he/she asks for the whereabouts of Merlee. They eventually find a key to a door which allows them to exit the level and go deeper inside the mansion.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/2-2%20merlee%20is%20gone_zpszslkkch4.png)
Chapter 2-3: Breaking the Bank
"Mario and friends kept up their search, delving ever deeper into the mansion.
Wherever they looked, though, they found no sign of Merlee.
Where was this mysterious woman?
"Ah, maybe...this way..." So said Tippi, trying to sense the Pure Heart's location...
With dread dangling like a broken chandelier, our heroes hurried through corridors..."
As Mario and Peach delve deeper into Merlee's Mansion, they come upon a ? Block with a vase on it. They hit the block, but the vase falls off and breaks. Mimi rushes in and forces Mario and Peach to pay her 1,000,000 Rubees as a consequence for breaking the vase. They also discovers some other men who fell for the same trick and are now Mimi's prisoners. There is a normal generator room where workers should hit blocks repeatedly to earn Rubees, and another VIP room where workers can run in wheels to make volts to earn Rubees faster. The password to the VIP room is 5963. This password can be traded from a worker for 100 Rubees. Mario and Peach soon learn of a secret Rubee vault hidden away in the attic. With the help of a newly-acquired Pixl, Slim, Mario and Peach reach the vault which has 1,000,000 Rubees. These Rubees are held in a safe with the password 41262816. This password is heard from Mimi sleeptalking by a worker and can be traded for 10,000 Rubees. Eventually Mario/Peach pays off their debt to a shocked Mimi, who explodes out of anger. Mario and Peach now advance further into the mansion by entering Merlee's Basement, hoping to find Merlee.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/2-3%20slave_zps7j9cb4oz.png)
(Mario being used for slave labor to pay off the debt he owes Mimi.)
Chapter 2-4: The Basement Face-Off
"The mysterious handmaid Mimi disappeared in a bizarre explosion...
What exactly was her plan, and why did she try to enslave Mario and friends?
After the incident, Princess Peach notice stairs going down. "Here we go!" she said.
"I wonder if Merlee is down here?" thought our heroes as they traded worried glances...
The two solemnly made their way down, knowing there was no other path to follow."
As Mario and co. go into Merlee's basement, Merlee contacts them via a magical projection. She tells them that she is hidden in the basement and warns them of potential danger. As Mario and Peach advance through the mansion, they meet Mimi disguised as Merlee wanting to bribe them so they have to work of 10,000,000 Rubees again. If Mario and Peach refuse every offer, Mimi will turn into her true form and start chasing them across the mansion. Mario and Peach eventually find Merlee hidden in a toilet, but Mimi appears and shape shifts into her. Mario and Peach then play a "That's My Merlee!" Show to pick out the fake Merlee, but no matter who they choose, Mimi gets furious and attacks them. A battle ensues, where Mario and Peach defeat Mimi and Merlee gladly gives them the Pure Heart.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/300px-SPM_Merlees_Basement_zpsvgtpyz3d.png)
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/true%20form_zpskoi5gd3h.png)
(Mimi's True Form)
"Count Bleck's servant Mimi had laid a nasty trap for Mario and friends...
But with the help of Merlee, faithful defender of the Pure Heart, the day was won.
But who were the other two heroes mentioned by Merlee?
With five Pure Hearts yet to be found, Mario knew this adventure had only begun..."
Chapter 2 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Timpani: You're late. Did something happen?
Blumiere: Yes, my father caught me. Sneaking out of the castle wasn't easy after that.
Timpani: I was worried you wouldn't come...
Blumiere: You are a strange girl... You know what I am and yet you don't seem afraid.
Timpani: I don't care what you are. I just wanted to see you. Is that... Is that so wrong?
Blumiere: No. No, of course not. I wanted to see you, too.
Timpani: Blumiere... Do you mind if I sit next to you?
Blumiere: Please do, Timpani. Let's return to our conversation. I must know more of you...
Interlude: With Mimi defeated, Count Bleck decides to send Dimentio to go after the hero of prophecy, while Nastasia resumes her hunt for non-hypnotized stragglers around the castle.
Meanwhile, Luigi wakes up and is manipulated by two Goombas into helping them find a way out, but they run into Nastasia. One of the Goombas is hypnotized and the other Goomba joins Nastasia's side, and they restrain Luigi so that Nastasia can brainwash him as well.
The Void grows over Flipside when Mario, Peach, and their Pixl friends return. After finding the third Heart Pillar, a yellow door to The Bitlands appears on the tower.
Chapter 3: The Bitlands
Upon the heroes' arrival in the pixelated Bitlands, Tippi is kidnapped by the geeky, butterfly-collecting chameleon, Francis. Another Pixl named Barry witnessed the scene from behind a bush and tells the heroes how to reach Fort Francis. After passing through an underground area just like level 1-2 in Super Mario Bros., Mario and Peach come across some castles occupied by Koopas, Hammer Bros., Bullet Bills and Bowser himself, who proceeds to lose a one-on-one fight with Mario. Bowser explains that he was locked up in Bleck's Castle and doesn't know how he appeared in the Bitlands, and with some persuasion, agrees to join Peach and Mario on their journey. The three swim across the Tile Pool, where they meet a new Pixl, Thudley, and use him to defeat a monstrous Big Blooper. Beyond the pool, the heroes climb The Dotwood Tree in order to use the winds at the top to float over a gorge and reach Fort Francis. Along the way, they battle Dimentio, who brushes off his defeat as a mere amusement, and was in fact using it to gauge the heroes' strength in order to ensure they can defeat Count Bleck when the time comes. Unaware of Dimentio's plotting, Mario, Peach and Bowser continue on to Fort Francis, where they find another trapped Pixl named Carrie and navigate their way through a sea of puzzles, Meowmaid robots and nerdy memorabilia to get to Francis, who immediately develops a crush on Peach and attempts to flirt with her using an electronic chat interface Swoon.exe. She rebuffs him and he is defeated in battle, and the surge of trust and happiness from the newly-freed Tippi calls forth the next Pure Heart from the castle itself, which Merlon later explains used to belong to the Tribe of Ancients.
Back at Castle Bleck, Dimentio muses that the heroes might be able to defy the prophecy, but Bleck is confident in his plan and calls for an unnamed new minion to take care of his foes. Nastasia lingers after the other minions leave and tries to get Bleck to reconsider, but while he won't give up after coming as far as he has, he kindly gives her a chance to leave with his blessing, which she declines out of loyalty and love for Bleck. Unbeknownst to both of them, Dimentio eavesdropped on the entire exchange, but decides not to worry about it, since he has his own "projects" to attend to.
When the heroes return to Flipside, Merlon explains about the castle and decides that Bowser is the third hero of the prophecy. After returning to the Bitlands to collect Barry, who's impressed that they managed to save Tippi, the heroes open a new green door and continue on their quest. Barry is the first optional Pixl.
Chapter 3 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Blumiere: Timpani, why? Why do you avoid me?
Timpani: Ow... OW! Unhand me!
Blumiere: Huh? You're crying! Why? Timpani, you must tell me what has happened!
Timpani: It's nothing... Don't worry about it... Just forget it...
Blumiere: Oh no... Timpani, is my father behind this?
Timpani: I'm... I'm just an ordinary girl. No matter how much I love you, we must part.
Blumiere: Timpani... I...
Timpani: This is good-bye, Blumiere. There's no other choice. This is our fate...
Chapter 4: Outer Space
The realm beyond the green door turns out to be Outer Space, and the heroes are forced to return immediately to Flipside and procure a Goldfish Bowl to use as a helmet in order to breathe in space. They soon meet an alien named Squirps who serves them as both a guide and a living ray gun for attacking enemies. They made a pit stop on Planet Blobule so that Squirps could go to the bathroom, but the outhouse is occupied by the Pixl Fleep, who doesn't exit until the heroes find him some makeshift toilet paper. He then joins them and they all proceed through the Outer Limits to the warped, maze-like Whoa Zone. Here they are confronted by another one of Bleck's minions, Mr. L, who they think they know. They defeat him, and defeat him again in space using Squirps' lasers when he summons his massive Brobot robot for a rematch. Squirps then brings the gang to the Pure Heart and a statue of his mother, where he remains behind as they return to Flipside.
Back at Castle Bleck, Nastasia introduces Mr. L to the other minions and after he leaves, Bleck identifies him as the "man in green" that is destined to bring destruction to all, although the other minions are unenthusiastic about the newcomer. After they leave too, Nastasia voices her concerns that the heroes will come for Bleck and once again appeals to him to call off the plan. She reasons that he used to cherish the world and muses that if she had been "that girl", things would be different, but Bleck says the girl couldn't be replaced, especially by Nastasia, and leaves.
Upon returning to Flipside, Tippi faints and is left at Merlon's as the group finds their way across a three-dimensional bridge to Flopside, the mirror counterpart to Flipside. They find the next Heart Pillar and meet Merlon's counterpart, Nolrem, before returning to Flipside, collecting Tippi, and entering the next world.
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Chapter 4 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Timpani: What... What are you thinking? There's no possible way... No one would allow it!
Blumiere: If we can't be happy here, we must leave for a place that will accept our love.
Timpani: But, Blumiere, is there such a place? Think... I can't bear to see you hurt again.
Blumiere: If our love has no home... let us spend our lives searching together! So I beg of you again... Timpani, marry me! I promise I will make you happy.
Timpani: You... just won't give up, will you? Of all the crazy... stubborn... foolish men...
Blumiere: Timapni, answer me, please!
Timpani: Blumiere, I love you. Take me away. Take me to a world where we can be happy.
Chapter 5: Land of the Cragnons:
he heroes drop into Downtown of Crag and are tasked with saving Cragnon citizens who had been kidnapped by Floro Sapiens. They fight O'Chunks again, but even with Dimentio's help, he is defeated. The heroes then collect another Pixl, Cudge, and enter the Floro Caverns, where they meet up with the famous Cragnon journalist, Flint Cragley and his crew, and discover that the Floro Sapiens had been using Floro Sprouts to brainwash their captured Cragnons into doing manual labour for them. They meet yet another Pixl, Dottie, and fight O'Chunks once again, although this time he has been dumbed-down and powered-up by Dimentio through the use of a Floro Sprout. Upon O'Chunks' defeat, the Floro Sprout falls off dead, and the heroes use it to trick the Floro Sapiens into letting them gain access to their leader, King Croacus IV. They battle and defeat him too, and only then learn that pollution caused by the Cragnons had driven him mad and led to the kidnappings. Flint Cragley vows to spread the word and make his fellow Cragnons curtail their pollution in a first step towards peace between the two nations, and the three heroes are given the Pure Heart that had been in King Croacus's possession.
Back at Castle Bleck, Nastasia punishes O'Chunks for his repeated failures while Mimi complains about being bored and Mr. L picks fights with the others. Dimentio appears and quietly coaxes Mimi and Mr. L to attack the heroes, and they steal away from the castle.
Meanwhile, the heroes uses their two new Pixls to unlock the next door to the next world, Sammer's Kingdom, and are informed by Nolrem that the Void will destroy all soon.
Chapter 5 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Blumiere: Look, Timpani. The stars are beautiful, aren't they?
Timpani: There's a tradition in my village. We believe that wishes on stars come true.
Blumiere: Oh, is that so? In that case, we'd better get wishing, don't you think?
Timpani: I don't need to wish anymore.
Blumiere: Mmm?
Timpani: I already have everything I need right here.
Blumiere: Timpani... Aren't you cold?
Timpani: Not at all. I'm very warm... Can we stay like this? Just a little longer?
Chapter 6: Sammer's Kingdom
In the Sammer's Kingdom, the Void is almost at full size. After defeating the first Sammer Guy, King Sammer arrives with 99 more combatants and explains that the heroes have to defeat all of them to get the next Pure Heart, as per the laws of the land. After the heroes defeat twenty Sammer Guys, Count Bleck himself appears to inform them that Sammer's Kingdom is about to be destroyed, but when Tippi confronts him, he beats a hasty withdrawal. The next five Sammer Guys recognize the direness of the situation and let the heroes pass for free, at which point the King returns and appears to present them with the Pure Heart, but it is just a bomb in a treasure chest, and the King turns out to be Mimi in disguise. She fights them with a barrage of rubees and is defeated, but she had only intended to stall the heroes. They hurry, but are unable to get farther than the 30th gate before the world is demolished and they are forced to flee back to Flipside. The door to the Sammer Kingdom remains so they go through, but all they find is an endless expanse of whiteness, and a deadened Pure Heart, now turned to stone. Mr. L appears with Brobot L-type to try to stop the heroes from getting the dead Pure Heart, but loses the fight and the Heart.
After Mario, Peach and Bowser leave with the stone-like Pure Heart, Dimentio shows up and appears to destroy Mr. L.
Meanwhile, at Castle Bleck, Nastasia reports to Bleck about Mimi and Mr. L's disobedient hero-fighting and leaves Bleck to his ponderings about whether Tippi the Pixl was really Timpani, although he pushes the thought aside and reaffirms to himself that no one can stop the prophecy now anyway.
Back at Flipside, the heroes are despondent over the now-useless Pure Heart, when Dimentio shows up at Merlon's house and before anyone can stop him, he appears to destroy Mario, Peach and Bowser just as he had dispatched Mr. L. Mario wakes up to find himself alone in The Underwhere, the video-game Underworld. He wanders around the area, breezily meeting Luvbi before finding his way to her mother, Queen Jaydes, the queen of the underworld. She tasks him with collecting Luvbi for her, and in return, she agrees to revive the Pure Heart. Along the way back to Luvbi, Mario tracks down Luigi, who can't remember how he was sent to The Underwhere at all. After Luvbi is back with her mom and the Pure Heart is restored, Jaydes revives Mario and Luigi, sending them back to Flipside, where they meet up with Tippi again and open the next door.
Chapter 6 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Blumiere: Timpani! What did you do with her? I must see her!
Blumiere's Father: Still your tongue, Blumiere... Can't you see you've been duped by a dirty human? You have brought shame to my name... and to the entire Tribe of Darkness!
Blumiere: And so what if I did? That doesn't matter to me! She's my entire world!
Father: Well, then it will interest you to know... that she no longer resides in this world.
Blumiere: What... What do you mean by that?!
Father: This is the price those who resist their own fate must pay, my son.
Blumiere: She... No... It can't be so!
Father: Someday you will see, Son. Our kind and humans must never mix.
Chapter 7 (World 7): The Underwhere
The door takes them right back to The Underwhere, where Jaydes gives them a new task of escorting Luvbi to The Overthere, where Luvbi's father Grambi lives. They make their way past Underwhere Road, where they find Bowser, get past three Door Guardians (Dorguys the First, Second, and Third), and fight the three-headed Underchomp. They then ascend the Overthere Stair, finding Peach en-route, once more in need of revival, although this time it is because she took bite of a forbidden Golden Apple, and must eat another apple to recover. When they reach The Overthere, they find it already overrun with evil Skellobits, while their leader, Bonechill, had already frozen Grambi as part if his bid to take over The Overthere. He reveals that Luvbi is the final Pure Heart, having been given Nimbi form by Grambi, and intends to use her for his evil purposes, but the four heroes defeat him and his skeleton army falls to the Nimbis. After a fierce argument with her parents and a final, tearful goodbye, Luvbi transforms back to her Pure Heart form and is taken back to Flipside by Mario and the gang.
Back at Castle Bleck, Dimentio lets the others know that the heroes are alive and the other minions scramble to get ready to fight them when they come to the castle. Before Dimentio leaves, he then asks Bleck if the name "Blumiere" rings a bell, saying Mario's Pixl mentioned the name. Nastasia once more tries to get Bleck to call off the prophecy, calling him Blumiere, but he denies his old name and identity and refuses to back down.
Chapter 7 Interlude (Hints of story of the past between Tippi and Count Bleck. Pay attention to this part.):
Blumiere's Father: Blumiere, my son, don't! Even your ancestors could not handle that dark book... If you open it, there's not telling what might happen!
Blumiere: I do not care, Father! A world without her is empty. A LIFE without her is empty. Speak, Dark Prognosticus! Teach your dark history. I await your command! BLEH HEH HEH! BLECK!
Father: Blumiere... What have you done?
Blumiere: Silence! The first prophecy beckons. I will erase every inch... of this blasted world!
Father: Blu-Blumiere! Don't do this! Blumiere!
Bleck: Blumiere is no more! I am Count Bleck! And no one shall stand in my way! BLEH HEH HEH! BLECK!
Chapter 8: Castle Bleck
After the heroes insert the final Pure Heart into the final Heart Pillar, the final door to Castle Bleck appears on Flopside Tower and Merlon and Nolrem see them off. The castle is large and filled with enemies, and the heroes are soon confronted by O'Chunks, whom Bowser battles and defeats on his own. After the fight, the roof collapses, but O'Chunks catches it and holds it aloft to let his worthy opponents pass. Bowser also stays behind, and after Mario, Luigi and Peach exit the room, they hear a crash and find that the door won't open up again. Now one hero short, they carry on and are confronted by Mimi in the disguises of Merlon and Merlee, trying in vain to pry information on their weaknesses from them. She and Peach get in an argument and fight, with Mimi once more taking her "true" spider form, but still being defeated. The heroes turn to go, but Peach lingers to try and talk Mimi into leaving too; the floor then crumbles beneath the girl but Peach dives forward and tries to save her, only to fall in herself.
Mario, Luigi and Tippi carry on, coming up against Dimentio, who forces them to chase him through portals to the various other worlds, before ending up back in the castle. Dimentio then tells them that he had actually been helping them all along, such as by saving Peach from Nastasia and by sending everyone to The Underwhere to undo Luigi's brainwashing and get the Pure Heart fixed. He explains that he wanted the four heroes to unite and defeat Bleck, claiming that the Count had no intention of creating a new world once the old one was destroyed, but that he didn't have enough strength to stop him on his own. Tippi warns Mario and Luigi not to accept Dimentio's offer of an alliance, and when rejected, he proceeds to goad Luigi into a one-on-one fight. (If the player chooses to ally, then Dimentio plants Floro Sprouts on Mario and Luigi's heads, causing a Game Over.) Mario, Tippi and the Pixls go on ahead while Luigi remains behind and defeats Dimentio, who responds by trapping them both in a force field in order to destroy himself and Luigi, rather than letting Bleck get his hands on the "man in green" from the prophecy.
Mario and Tippi hear the blast and fear the worst, but know they have no choice but to continue to the castle's inner sanctum, where they are greeted by Bleck and Nastasia. Tippi and Bleck acknowledge each other as the star-crossed lovers Timpani and Blumiere, but Bleck still holds fast to his plan to destroy all the worlds and Tippi knows she and Mario have no choice but to defeat him. Bleck sends Nastasia away and Mario tries to fight him, but Bleck is completely shielded by the Chaos Heart. Fortunately, Bowser (who fell through the floor before the ceiling collapsed), Peach (who landed on Bowser), and Luigi (who was simply found unconscious by Peach and can't remember what happened) arrive to help Mario, with the uniting of the four heroes shattering Bleck's shield and leading to his defeat in the subsequent battle. As Bleck pleads for death and Tippi pleads for Bleck to live, Dimentio emerges and tries to finish off the Count, but Nastasia dives in front of the blast to shield him.
Knowing it doesn't really matter if the Count's alive or dead, Dimentio simply takes control of the Chaos Heart himself, thanking the heroes for using their Pure Hearts to defeat Bleck and pave the way for his own evil plan. He activates a Floro Sprout he had implanted in Luigi's head earlier and turns him back into Mr. L, before fusing him and the Chaos Heart together into the monstrous Super Dimentio. After sending Bleck, Tippi and Nastasia away to deal with later, he adds himself to Super Dimentio and attacks the remaining heroes, who are unable to damage their new foe. All hope seems lost until O'Chunks and Mimi rejoin Bleck and help Tippi convince him to not give up, with the love and hope shared between them all conjuring up a new set of Pure Hearts, which Tippi brings to the heroes. Breaking through Super Dimentio's defenses, they defeat the enemy, but while Luigi is released unharmed, Dimentio leaves a portion of his power behind to continue controlling the Chaos Heart fuelling the Void. Bleck quickly brings the group to the alter from the start of the story and he and Tippi renew their vows of love and commitment to each other, creating another set of Pure Hearts which cancel out the Chaos Heart, make the Void disappear and restore all the destruction it had caused.
The four heroes and Bleck's minions, including Nastasia, all awaken on Flipside Tower and are greeted by Merlon, who tells them the world is saved and invites them to a celebratory dinner. They wonder what happened to Bleck and Tippi, but believe them to be alive, and at the end of the credits, two distant figures, implied to be Timpani and Blumiere, are seen on top of a tranquil grassy hill.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/super_zpsje0i214t.jpg)
Super Dimentio, the final battle.
(https://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u537/ZackyBeverly/end_zpsuwjl3tgz.png)
Tippi and Blumiere?
Why I Love This Game:
This game was hailed to be one of the darkest Mario games ever. Count Bleck is so far the only villain in the entire Mario universe to have lusted for the destruction of the world because of love. He had lost his loved ones by this father and went forth to transform himself into Count Bleck. None in this world mattered to him and he would rip apart all the worlds and even himself because he had lost the true meaning of life. Back then, my girlfriend and I loved this game. After we finished this game, she was crying because of the sacrifice. We went into the conversation of what would happen if we were in the shoes of Count Bleck? If I had lost her, how would I react? How would she react? We both agreed that life would be shrouded in total darkness if this happened to either of us and we vowed that we wouldn't leave each other. But, she did. She left me and this left a big wound on my chest that is still bleeding. That is when I fell into severe depression. This world itself held no more joy and I wanted to destroy everything. Now, a pathetic mortal like me can't do anything much and I would never kill, but the thoughts were too strong. I know she is waiting for me out there and even I want to depart this world early, I know I can't, because my parents and friends would never forgive me. I don't have much friends, but the ones I have right now, understand me and we are like glue. They have helped me through tough times and right now, they only know about the death of my beloved. This game will forever be in my heart because I can sympathize with the Count. This game will always be my favorite and I will miss her sorely with all my heart.
Rest in peace Alexandria, you changed my life and I will forever be grateful. I don't think I will be able to move on......
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Nice! I'm glad we agree! And why is Melty Monster your least favorite? And yeah, The Perfect Run is a pain in the.... :)
It's not my least favorite, but was the most disappointing. I love lava levels, and the original Melty Molten is one of my favorite stages in the first game. Melty Monster abandoned its theme after its excellent first star. The second was still good, but it belonged in a different galaxy. I was annoyed that Galaxy 2 only had 1 lava themed star in the entire game, especially since many other Mario games have great ones.
Overall, nice list! I liked seeing a list where I've played over half of its entries.
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Heh, thank you. :heart
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I preferred ttyd tbh but this one was good too
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Wait, did you manage to make a Mario-centric top 25 video games list and leave out Super Mario World :'(
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Ah, yeah. :blush
Besides 64, I love the Mario games in this era.
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Wait, did you manage to make a Mario-centric top 25 video games list and leave out Super Mario World :'(
Though a very good game, I'm completely fine with any omissions of it since people seem to have retconned it as being far superior to SMB3 and that could not be any more of an inaccurate representation of how people viewed these two games comparatively before the 2000s. It seems like Kaizo Mario and all of its immitators have contributed to SMW getting an unrealistic bump in popularity compared to SMB3. SM Maker has certainly only furthered this kind of thing.
I'm not of the mindset of thinking either one is noticeably greater than the other but I do personally prefer SMB3 by a wide margin for my tastes.
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but uhh yeah I'm good to run one of these if we're waiting on someone to start
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Sure thing :tup I'll update the OP in the next few days. You don't have to wait for that though. Start whenever you wish.
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alright, gimme like a day or two to finalize my list and maybe get a headstart on writeups
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I actually went and bought Super Paper Mario. You made it sound so fun. I just beat Mimi, loving it so far.
That jail guy when you talk to him with peach was hilarious.
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:corn
alright, gimme like a day or two to finalize my list and maybe get a headstart on writeups
:corn
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Just sent him a PM.
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Parama's Top 25 Video Games Lists v. Cool Games You've Probably Never Heard Of
First off I want to rattle off a long list of games that didn't make the cut even before I get to the 10 honorable mentions I have lined up.
I put in place a strict "one game per series" rule that I didn't really need to break anyways, honestly, maybe one or two games I won't put anywhere on the list but will probably mention in writeups for the games I did pick.
In no particular order, then.
Final Fantasy X - Not a series I've ever been a huge fan of but I do have fond memories of this one. Sadly XII killed any interest I had in the series and I've never bothered to revisit any of the games since. It's a bit vanilla as far as RPGs go but I liked the characters and especially the world they live in. Also some of the music is just fantastic.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - Another game I have a lot of fond memories of, but I could never get into the sequel and outright never played the first in the trilogy. Do want to go back and replay this one sometime though because the world the game takes place in is gorgeous. I've played Super Metroid too but honestly that game doesn't have the same sense of wonder of atmosphere to it and came off as a little dated to me. Dunno.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor - Another case of "liked the game, couldn't finish the sequel", though I do intend to go back and try to play through this at some point... Anyways, I particularly like the event system of this game and the combat is pretty solid too, decently strategic without relying on too much luck. The many different endings and the way a lot of your choices can come back to bite you I also quite like, though the story as a whole is maybe a bit cliche.
Rhythm Heaven - I love the idea behind this game and series but the flicking mechanic on this game has always been a sticking point. Especially in that ping pong minigame. Nightmares. Ugh. Still a cool game on the whole though, a lot of creative uses of basic mechanics and just a lot of charm to it as well.
Pokemon Ruby - I skipped a few gens (4 and 5) and only got back into the series recently so I could totally be missing out on a better game in the series, but as it stands this one's always been my favorite. A lot of my favorite 'mon designs, a pretty diverse world that feels a lot more interesting to explore than previous games, and at least this game poses a bit of a challenge compared to the gen 6 games.
Kingdom Hearts 2 - Another game I played the heck out of (as well as the original), but then 358/2 had to come along and completely destroy my interest in the series. I haven't played this game in so long though, and every time I do go back to it I don't ever seem to make it past the long prologue, which is a sign that it probably hasn't aged well for me. Still have fond memories regardless.
Rock Band 2 - Great setlist, heck, probably a better setlist than the guitar hero game I ended up going with (spoilers) but the game engine has always held this series back from being truly great. Would probably crack my top 40 though, consider it like #38 or so.
The Stanley Parable - A fantastic experience, but once you've played it for a few hours you've seen all there is to see and it's hardly replayable. A bit hard to really even call it a game, but, definitely something everyone should experience once in their lives.
Castle in the Darkness - A retro-styled metroidvania that's got great pacing and is pretty great fun, though lack of a map and a bit of an excess of instadeath holds it back a little. I dug this a fair bit when playing it but I haven't really felt the urge to return to it since. Still a pretty fun game and a pretty good metroidvania on the whole.
Fract OSC - I just think this game's aesthetic is absolutely beautiful. Like, damn. Looks gorgeous, sounds gorgeous - and it better since sound is a major aspect of its gameplay. It's a bit short though and really lacking in replayability, but it's an enjoyable world to explore once, and has a decent amount of puzzle variety to keep it interesting.
Grow Home - Quirky physics aside this is a pretty chill and pleasant exploration platformer that goes on just long enough and has just enough hidden away to keep it from ever feeling stale. Oh, and, tons of charm, just like, a lot of it. The weird climbing mechanic can get a bit annoying after a while though and it's a bit awkward to play at the start as well.
Velocity 2X - An unsurprisingly fast-paced shmup/platformer hybrid that has one of the highest damn barriers of entry to its convoluted control scheme I've ever seen but once you do get the hang of it it's really quite fun to play. And there's enough variety to keep the game from getting stale, though there are some notable misses that turn from fun to frustrating pretty fast, and 100% completion is a bit of a nightmare (but I pulled it off, somehow...)
Before the Echo (aka Sequence - Cool little RPG//rhythm game hybrid with quite fun gameplay and a great soundtrack provided mostly by Ronald Jenkees, with solid characters to keep the story engaging and a decent sense of humor as well. Can end up a tad grindy, especially when drops are as luck-based as they are, but it's a great core concept.
Blocks That Matter - A simple but elegant block-based puzzle platformer that takes into account both the puzzle and platformer elements of the genre quite well. The puzzles tend to have a few different solutions and there's incentive to find the most efficient ones that gives the game a surprising amount of replayability.
La-Mulana - I'm hyped as hell for the sequel to this game despite only ever kiiiind of being on board with the original. For every clever puzzle there's one stupidly obscure one and the game is practically impossible to beat without a walkthrough, on top of being one of the longest metroidvanias I've ever played. The real gripe I have though comes with the stiff controls, and some of the boss designs (especially boss #5) can be particularly frustrating. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this one, I guess. And the stuff it does best, well, a game in my top 5 does just as well without any of the frustrations.
Mark of the Ninja - Stealth games are a genre I tend to not be a fan of but this one pulls it off well for me due to it being primarily a platformer at heart, though the stealth elements definitely play a major role. A bit awkward to start playing but once you get used to the controls it's pretty fluid and can be pretty fast-paced if you know what you're doing. I tend to prefer playing the pure stealth route, personally.
Outland - A gorgeous game to look at and a solidly fun one to play, but by the time I did get to playing this one I'd seen everything it had to offer done better. Doesn't keep this from being a pretty great game nonetheless, though.
PixelJunk Eden - This game is insufferable if you don't figure out the right way to play it, but once you do, it's... it's actually pretty chill and a really fun game to explore around in. I dig the aesthetics and I dig the stripped-down gameplay, and while it could maybe end up being a bit monotonous to some people I find it easy to get lost in the game for the same reason. I haven't actually played this one in ages and now I kind of want to go back and replay it, haha.
Portal 2 - it's p. good
Psychonauts - A cult classic with great writing and decent gameplay, but it just barely missed the cut for my proper honorable mentions due to being... a bit rough around the edges. Not quiiiite as good as everything above it. But still a great game. Maybe my honorary #36. Probably. I wouldn't put it above what I have at #35, at least, but it's close.
Retro/Grade - Continuing the trend of great genre fusion games that didn't quite make my list is the shmup/rhythm game hybrid that would be so much better if it had more than 10 songs. That being said the game has a pretty smooth difficulty curve and the tunes are actually pretty bangin'. And the patterns on some of the final levels... it's really tightly made, a blast to play, and it can be pretty dang tough too. Getting 100% completion on this one is an achievement I'm quite proud of.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse - I dig this more than I dig the standard Shantae games, mainly for its better pacing and its powerup selection, but it's a bit on the short side. Some of the bosses are a bit weak too and the island-style level design means for smaller, isolated areas instead of one bigger map like I'd prefer. A fun game but maybe a bit lacking in flavor or anything that really stands out.
Terraria - I played the heck out of this a while back and was never able to get into any of its copycat games as a result (maybe because they're all inferior). Crafting sandboxy type games don't tend to be something I like but the sense of exploration you get in this one made it worth playing to me, and it's easy to accidentally lose an afternoon playing it because you keep going "just a little more" a dozen times in a row.
Valdis Story: Abyssal City - A game with so much potential and some pretty enjoyable and diverse playable characters, that often shoots itself in the foot with frustrating level or boss design. Oh and the fact that towns can literally vanish off the map leaving you with no way of upgrading some of your equipment. If you miss certain events that is. Which you may or may not accidentally do. That being said it's pretty great aesthetically and when you do get the hang of it pretty dang fun to play. It's just got a lot of minor annoyances that keep me from really loving it.
VVVVVV - One of the indie games that was largely responsible for the indie game boom and it's a pretty great one in its own right, though it's a bit on the short side. I still go back and replay this from time to time though, especially because of how brief it is.
...whew, I think that's about all I have for now. I'll start the honorable mentions proper tomorrow (yes, I have 10 more before we even hit the main list, because there are just so many games I can't go without talking about). I maybe forgot to mention something here but, ehh, shrugs, whatever, y'know, y'know.
One thing you'll probably notice is that I don't really value nostalgia a lot in deciding my favorite games. I believe in the progress of the medium as a whole and as such a good number of my picks are quite recent, with only a handful in the top 25 being more than 5 years old. Maybe it's because the newer games are fresher in my mind, but also because whenever I tend to go back and replay older games I find myself quickly picking up on all the little imperfections the medium as a whole has ironed out since their release. You won't see Super Mario World here, you won't see Sonic 3 & Knuckles here, heck, you aren't even getting any Zelda games period. There are none. I realize this is likely going to be really alienating for a lot of people who follow the thread but hopefully I can make up for it by introducing you all to a lot of Cool Games You've Probably Never Heard Of.
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A lot of good games so far, can't wait to see that actual list
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VVVVVV - One of the indie games that was largely responsible for the indie game boom and it's a pretty great one in its own right, though it's a bit on the short side. I still go back and replay this from time to time though, especially because of how brief it is.
Great pick! Such a fun game with an amazing soundtrack.
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I'm kinda a gamer and I love games very much. The games I usually play are based off my favorite youtubers like Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, Pewdiepie, CinnamonToastKen, etc and I absolutely love The Stanley Parable's. Really, it's a brilliant game that made me laugh many times. Kevan Brighting is an awesome narrator.
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It you liked Stanley Parable you should play "The beginners guide" if you haven't played it. It's from the same creator as the Stanley Parable
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oops I need to update this tonight or something I'll just do all 10 honorable mentions in one go I guess sorry :lol
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It's fine! We can wait! Wouldn't want you rushing over your list!
It you liked Stanley Parable you should play "The beginners guide" if you haven't played it. It's from the same creator as the Stanley Parable
Ah, I've heard of that game before, but never played. I'm addicted to this anime game right now, but I'll be sure to check it out!
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I would hardly call The Beginners Guide a game, have a couple drinks on standby (if that's sort of you're thing) and play through. It's a great story.
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yeah i liked the beginner's guide, it's a very interesting experience. too short though :lol
also uhh i forgot :x
i'm really bad at this. i ended up playing straight through another short game tonight 'cause i'd been meaning to and spaced on this haha. maybe i'll hammer out a few of the honorable mentions real quick though.
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I'll try to get the rest of these out in the next day or two but here's a few to start with. Literally the two biggest names on my entire list right here, fair warning. No Mario or Sonic in the top 25.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (well, some of them)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E8eSjgtuqxE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Sonic Advance 2
This is maybe a bit of a weird choice, since most people would point to Sonic 3 & Knuckles as the highlight of the series. And I wouldn't really contest that, in all honesty. It's basically a coin toss between this one and that one for me because they're both pretty great platformers in their own regards. But there's one category where Advance 2 really wins out for me where I think Sonic 3 & Knuckles struggles.
The game's pacing is just... great. I know Sonic is always supposed to be a game about serious speed, but it never really truly felt like it until this game. There's a lot of ways this game gets you moving fast. A lot of running and loops, a lot of springs bouncing you off in different directions, the actual functionality of grind rails compared to the previous Advance game that introduce a whole new element by themselves, the tricks your characters can do to gain some extra height or speed. And the boss fights, constantly running and playing catch-up while dodging attacks. It all just creates a great pace for the gameplay that really is only held back by the small size of the screen; I'll fully admit there's some cheap shots caused by the small screen size and it's far from perfect. I also like the special stage mechanic in this game; hunting around the levels for the 7 special rings, then the (admittedly pretty easy) unique collection special stage that places its focus on chaining and, again, speed. I probably know the levels of this game better than any other Sonic game (well, except maybe Sonic CD, which, for the record, was also a hair away from taking this spot) simply due to its special stage entry mechanic. I'm sure some people would find it really boring but, I dunno, I really liked it. The levels tend short enough that I don't really mind replaying them anyways. And as usual for the series the game both looks and sounds great, the themes of some of the levels are pretty cool and unique (Music Plant and Techno Base especially).
On the whole though it's an enjoyable game that I've played and replayed many times. Not quite good enough to be one of my absolute favorites and it's slightly flawed but still a blast to play.
(https://freebirdgames.com/system/wp-content/uploads/TTM-Ss3.jpg)
To The Moon
Pushing the boundaries of what's considered a "game", perhaps, since this is a completely linear experience with very little in the way of challenge, just the occasional simple puzzle. But where it succeeds is in its narrative and booooyyy does it succeed hard, this is easily one of the most emotionally riveting games I've ever played.
The premise is pretty simple; the main characters are two doctors who work for a company that allows people to experience their wildest dreams... in their minds. But the treatment they give also ends up killing the person they perform it on, so it's only performed on people who are already on their deathbeds, and only at the request of the person receiving the treatment. The game is the first in a planned series of games (where's that second game though, I want it) based around these treatments. The patient of To The Moon is Johnny, and his dream is to, well, go to the moon. The plot seems pretty simple and straightforward at first but the more you dive into Johnny's memories to figure out what would have to be changed to allow him to live out his dreams, the more devastating it becomes, to the point where the doctors face a serious moral dilemma proceeding further with the operation.
And I won't spoil anything beyond that, but I can say; god damn. There's at least two big moments in this game that are just. Absolutely heartbreaking. Especially the second moment, where the game's main theme song Everything's Alright (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP-AAlZlCkM) plays in full. To the point where even hearing a few seconds of this song makes me tear up remembering this moment. It's just... something you have to experience.
It's really hard to talk about this game without completely ruining it and this is about all I'll allow myself to say. It's an RPGmaker game, which I know has a kind of stigma against it, but this is definitely one of the examples of using the game engine in an interesting way to tell a damn great story. I can't believe I have to cut games this good from my list.
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/5a81384ce97b4f644f43d705f1a7b73e/tumblr_neqjcurQ4m1tliyz4o1_1280.png)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Of all the games that made this list, this is probably the game that I played at the earliest age. Because I wasn't really playing games until the 2000's and I was spoiled between the catalog of good retro games that I could go and play and the many great games coming out during the PS2/Gamecube era. i think I actually played the GBA port of this one with the added secret levels.
Yoshi's Island is just one of the most solid platformer games all-around. There's a decent level of challenge (it was THE HARDEST GAME EVAR to little old 10 year old me), there's a lot of content and tons of replayability, the level design is diverse and generally pretty good fun, it's visually incredibly pleasant, just looks great even by today's standards. And I really like the exploration element that was added into this game, I love going around and collecting all the red coins and flowers in a level and the need for 30 stars to 100% clear a level as well encourages staying alive and avoiding damage. And of course, all that's absolutely optional if you just want to charge through the levels to the end, but the levels are all non-linear enough that you'll likely be doing some exploring anyways. The game also was the very first mario game to feature diverse and colossal boss fights, and in spades; a dozen of them throughout the game if I'm remembering correctly. The game is so jam-packed with creativity that there's some elements it only gets the chance to use once or twice and never again because it's just constantly aiming to do something new and creative.
There's a high chance this will be the most played and revered game on my entire list and there's probably a good reason for that; it's just a damn great game. The best game the Mario series has ever put out in my opinion and I highly doubt they'll ever top it.
also black_floyd or someone go change the thread title :lol
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Fuck yeah Yoshi's Island. :metal Amazing soundtrack too.
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7 guests viewing :omg:
Man I love Yoshi's Island, I was very young at the time and I was always afraid of those shy guys whenever Yoshi got hit, like really afraid :lol
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Yoshi's Island and To The Moon are basically opposite games but both awesome in their own way! :tup
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Now I want to play To The Moon.
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Really nice honorable mentions!
Saw Markiplier play To the Moon and I agree with everyone here, it is really an awesome game! I love the title music and all the music, it is filled with nostalgia.
As for Yoshi's Island, I had the same experience with Train of Naught. I was really scared once I lost Baby Mario and it gave a warning sound and the Shy Guys took them away. Really frightened me when I was young.
Anyways, nice entries! Looking forward for more.
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Speak of the devil, To the Moon just went on sale on steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/206440/
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The games I usually play are based off my favorite youtubers like Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, Pewdiepie, CinnamonToastKen, etc
I don't ever want to crack on someone else's taste, except for my wife for watching those hideous "Real Housewives of XXX Town" shows, but I have no idea how Markiplier and Pewdiepie have more than 17 subscribers. I can't watch either of them for more than 5 seconds without wanting to punch them in the face.
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I think that they just appeal to a younger audience.
I prefer channels like Lazy Game Reviews and Super Bunnyhop
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Yeah, for me, they make me laugh a lot and they've brightened my day a lot.
Normally for me, I used to so afraid of jumpscares that anytime there'd be one, I'd just flip out like crazy and injure myself in the process. I just feel calm when I see how Mark of Felix is there with me and it beats having to play the game all alone at night. :)
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I think that they just appeal to a younger audience.
I prefer channels like Lazy Game Reviews and Super Bunnyhop
LGR is swell. Clint is such a bottomless pit of interesting tidbits and I love being taken down memory lane to the exciting time in the tech world that was the mid 90s. The internet seemed so full of potential and it's certainly made good on that. If we could somehow offset the sociopathic effect it seems to be having on younger generations, we'd really be on to something.
Also, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a fantastic game. So lighthearted, fun, and well executed
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1. i can't stand markiplier or pewdiepie but whatever
2. wow okay you can shorten the title to like "Cool Games 'n' Stuff" or something i'm sorry :lol
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Agreed. Pewdiepie is so fucking annoying. What a dickhead.
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Agreed. Pewdiepie is so fucking annoying. What a dickhead.
With you loud and clear.
The popularity of these idiots is one of my four signs of the apocalypse.
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Agreed. Pewdiepie is so fucking annoying. What a dickhead.
With you loud and clear.
The popularity of these idiots is one of my four signs of the apocalypse.
It's not just them too. Pewdiepie and Markiplier are obviously the most well known, but there are soooo many LetsPlayers it is crazy. Even someone like James Rolfe/AVGN has gotten into them. And for what, watching people play games? I remember how that was *not* fun in the NES days. I know the reactions are sometimes humorous. But so many people, and so-many-video-clips. The GameGrumps must have like 10 exabyte's of videos up, they put out a handful of LetsPlay clips a day.
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James Rolfe (and Mike and Ryan) do 'Let's Play' videos, but they are heavily edited, and often are them just messing around. They'll be upfront about how they never read through a game's manual. I watch their videos more for their interactions with each other.
GameGrumps is just they two guys laughing uncontrollably the whole time.
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^ yup. I watch them too for the conversations. Pat the NES punk started one up too with Ian from Cupodcast. But I'm just overall saying that lots of people are doing them, as AVGN and Pat did just reviews before. But now they are playing games too. All this is not really counting Twitch stuff. But with the speed running community, and even walkthroughs, it is different as speed runs are quite entertaining. And walkthrough's are useful if needed.
It's really crazy when the biggest Youtube draws are people playing video games, and acting over the top IMO.
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I like listening to Pat and Ian, they talk just like they would talk to each other normally, not hamming it up for the camera.
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Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Pokemon Ruby
The Stanley Parable
Portal 2
All of these are top 20 material - well, maybe not Stanley, but Portal 2 is top 10 stuff :P
Approve of To the Moon, beautiful game.
Really looking forward to this one :tup
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Game grumps is mainly for Earthbound.
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The only people I find annoying than Youtubers are reactors. They just sit on their lazy asses and just react. Number 1, why is that even a thing and number 2, WHY THE HELL IS THAT EVEN A THING?!
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Scar Reacts To Reactors! YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW HE REACTS!
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This is my post reacting to Blob's reaction to Scar's reaction to reactors.
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i am prepared to disappoint, Sacul.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/227000/ss_87e24f8fcf51147c432d7d5cf0488fc1c31b7fec.1920x1080.jpg)
Primordia
Adventure games are generally a genre I wish I could get more behind than I find myself actually enjoying. Dialogue and worldbuilding focused games with puzzles and a generally chill atmosphere? Sounds like my kind of thing. But a lot of adventure games tend to have either pacing problems or puzzle problems (or both).
I won't say Primordia avoids either of these; the first sequence of the game can be a bit slow and there are a few awkward moments of pixel hunting, but in general the game hits the right notes quite a lot. And what really makes this game work is the characters and the world of the game. It's dark, but not bleak; the banter between the two main characters as well as some of the scenarios the game presents are pretty amusing, but at the same time the oppressive and grim atmosphere is always present throughout. And the two main characters, Horatio and Crispin, play off each other really well. The voice actors for the roles really sell them. The overarching story also poses a lot of deeper questions and never really provides definitive answers to them, but does make you think about them. I'll fully admit that it's been long enough since I played this one that the details of the plot are a bit fuzzy but I have very fond memories of this one regardless, probably one I'll need to revisit sometime soon.
The gameplay is also generally above average for an adventure game. Very little "how was I supposed to figure out I needed to use X on Y" types of puzzles, and a number of straight up logic puzzles as well with fairly minimal pixel hunting. The game also doesn't make you arbitrarily write down every last thing in the hopes that it may or may not be needed to solve a puzzle later; any relevant information or passwords get automatically stored in a notebook-like system. And there's fast travel via a map, which is much welcome.
As far as straight up adventure games go I'd say this is about the best I've played and, again, even if the littler details are kind of escaping me at the moment I quite enjoyed this one from beginning to end and it's stuck with me ever since I played it.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e5/4a/ca/e54aca75e88b4b26e9ad307f163bbe8d.jpg)
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
The Layton series of games has always been an interesting one, an adventure game-styled framework where all the puzzles are a variety of brainteasers. It's basically an improvement on an already solid formula, but what really tends to make these games stand out is the story. And Unwound Future is, for all intents and purposes, the best of the bunch.
The basic premise is that Layton and Luke get sent 10 years into the future after receiving a letter from Luke's future self and thrust into a crapsack dystopia version of the London they know and love... controlled by a criminal organization, the leader of which is Layton's future self. Of course, saying much more would be giving away some major plot twists but the story here is just full of tons of great twists and turns and easily more emotional weight than any other game in the series (though some parts of Azran Legacy certainly come close). The game's story is also pretty standalone and there's no need to have played the previous games in the series to be able to follow this one, though I'd definitely recommend playing the first two.
The puzzles in this game actually tend towards the easier side of things; I think this is the only game in the series where I solved every puzzle without having to look up a solution, though that may be due to the lessened number of those damn slider puzzles this time around. A change which I am plenty grateful for, mind you. There's a solid variety in the puzzles, and as ever the foundation of the series' gameplay is basic but strong. There's very little frustration to be had here.
This is definitely a game that's hard to talk about much so I'd just suggest you go and play it yourself, honestly. The entire series is a pretty strong series, just barely missed my main list but I still love this game quite a bit.
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/1450/1616647-1_junkyardunderground.jpg)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Near impossible to find a good screenshot of this game that 1. is big enough and 2. doesn't spoil anything and this isn't a great one but I apologize. Anyways. Rounding out a trio of games driven primarily by great stories is Ghost Trick. The game starts off with Sissel, the main character, being killed. Game over.
Nah, instead of expiring, he becomes a ghost, with no memory of who he was, nothing but a peculiar power. He can travel back to four minutes before a person's death and, through a rube goldberg-esque series of small interactions with the environment find a way to prevent the death from occurring. But this power can only be used on people who were recently killed, and of course he can't use it to save himself. The story primarily involves Sissel trying to figure out who he was and along the way uncovering a conspiracy. And for a game very, very heavily centered around death (basically every major character will die at least once over the course of the game by its nature, but of course you can save them all), it's... quite lighthearted. There's a major macabre running gag and a general sense of humor throughout, even as you watch the grisly deaths of the innocent time and time again. The game's brimming with interesting, likeable characters. And the core gameplay is really fun and clever. You're on a time limit but there's no true game over, you can retry as much as you want, and the game even has checkpoints in some of the puzzles to prevent frustration. And there's a weird twisted logic to every puzzle; some of the solutions themselves create comical or absurd scenarios. It's just a generally great atmosphere based around a great story and great gameplay.
It's a bit on the short side, or at least feels like it, and while the game's overall story is good, it's not fantastic by any means, but definitely satisfying. Really a great game all around and it's a shame I can't just do a proper top 30 or 40 or whatever else. But yeah, definitely check this one out, a real underrated gem if there ever was one.
I'll try to do the rest of the honorable mentions Friday night or something and then finally begin the list proper after that.
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Great list! I'm glad that you have Professor Layton on your list. I love playing the Ace Attorney series. It's really fun! :tup
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These sound pretty neat, will add them to my list.
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Great list! I'm glad that you have Professor Layton on your list. I love playing the Ace Attorney series. It's really fun! :tup
Ace attorney made my list somewhere, spoilers :P
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Are those the list or honorable mentions?
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I'll try to do the rest of the honorable mentions Friday night or something and then finally begin the list proper after that.
Are those the list or honorable mentions?
Honorable mentions. :)
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(https://learningworksforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/jumpman.jpg)
Braid
Ahh, this game. One of the most prolific indie titles out there and arguably one of the games that fueled the indie boom. And it's definitely a game worthy of the attention it gets. The game is a puzzle platformer that provides a variety of levels based around time manipulation mechanics. And there's no way to "lose"; you can rewind any mistakes you make and get another chance without having to restart the entire level. It's a great anti-frustration feature that many games (including a game pretty high up on my list have incorporated as well.
What really makes this game work is the sheer variety of the puzzles. You start out in World 2, which is just straightforward platforming to get you used to the game's controls and basic mechanics. Then World 3 throws in rewinding time being a major element of the puzzles. And World 4 has this fantastic gimmick where time moves forwards when you move right and backwards when you move left. Probably my favorite world of the game even if it contains the most infamous level of the game as well. World 5 is focused around time-clones of yourself that repeat actions you perform when you rewind, and World 6 gives you a ring that creates a sphere of time distortion around it when dropped. And World 1, the last world, well, I'm not going to spoil that one. The puzzle design is pretty consistently strong with only one or two minor annoyances. The secret content has a lot more annoyances (including a rather infamous puzzle that literally just requires waiting for two hours) but it's all optional stuff that I'm not really bothered by, if I want to replay the game I can just outright ignore it all. The game is primarily puzzle-focused but there is at least a solid degree of execution involved which is the trait of a well-made puzzle platformer, one that keenly fuses both aspects of the two genres.
The game still looks pretty visually solid over 8 years later and the soundtrack is pretty nice as well. The story is a bit pretentious, there's no real dodging that, but it's so minimal that I can't really be bothered by it. I still haven't gotten around to playing The Witness despite being pretty intrigued by it, and if the puzzles are anywhere close to as strong as this game has I imagine it'll be an enjoyable game, different as it is. But yeah, this game is well-praised for a reason and deserves the attention it's gotten.
(https://lh6.ggpht.com/QRSqG7P8NsDuZtsuDb4QiDEJljCD03noPrXQCmqZziG2no_IKtDImOaCZc3QGx5CYRk=h900)
The World Ends With You
This game is the kind of game I've kind of moved past in general, but it's also the kind of game that, looking back on it, still feels like a really good game, one that holds up. Granted I haven't played it in years but I'd imagine if I did I'd still get plenty of enjoyment out of it. The game is an RPG with an interesting dual-screen combat system that... kind of sort of works, but usually ends up just being a lot of button mashing in practice. But it hardly matters as it's still pretty fun, and the rest of the game more than makes up for it.
The main appeal of this game is really its sense of style. The game does its best to emulate the culture and atmosphere of modern Shibuya in its game world and, while I don't have any real world experience to compare it to, I'd say they did a pretty great job at capturing that atmosphere. There's a lot of in-game landmarks and the game just looks great, the overworld, the character designs, the monster designs, everything. The soundtrack also attempts to emulate the kind of music you'd expect to hear in the city (well, at least in 2008) instead of going the usual "epic and orchestral" route of a lot of Square Enix games, and the tracks in the game are all the more memorable for it. I wouldn't say I necessarily love the soundtrack, but I definitely respect it, and there's still a number of earworms that pop up in my head from time to time. The game's story, as well, it was the kind of thing that was riveting to 14-year old me but looking back on it now, it's still a pretty solid story. The characters all have lots of personality, there's enough interesting twists and turns, and it's a game focused around teenagers that avoids most of the cliches (though there is a decent share of angst, but given the context I'd consider it excusable). The basic premise is that, when you die, you're drawn into a game where losing means you are outright erased from existence and winning means you can be brought back to life. Oh, and whatever you value most is taken away from you. That's the gist of it anyways, and with a heavily story-based game I'd rather not say more.
The game plays out as a series of missions with combat interspersed between, and generally no random encounters. The lower-screen combat involves a variety of touch commands, and the button screen in theory involves pressing buttons in a specific order, but in practice usually just devolves to button mashing while you pay attention to the bottom screen more. And the game has a decent amount of playtime to it, with all the main story points being quite neatly wrapped up at the end of the final day.
Without saying much more I'll just say that this is easily one of my favorite RPGs and one of the few I can still keep coming back to and enjoying. Maybe because it's not very grindy in nature, maybe it's because it's super easy to replay since you can play through the story as many times as you want on one save file and keep all your overpowered endgame equipment, maybe because the story is pretty solidly compelling, maybe it's because the atmosphere is great. Whatever it is I'd personally call this Square Enix's crowning achievement, though I doubt many would agree.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGJ02wsq_uc/ULcnEr-HENI/AAAAAAAABEs/Hlvk7-HHZt8/s1600/lyft.png)
Fly'n
This was actually the game on the list whose placement I had the most trouble with. At first it was off the list entirely, then I put it somewhere near the bottom of the list, and ended up actually going back and revisiting it to determine where it should end up, and my judgment lead me to believe that, yes, it does belong just baaaaarely off the main list. Which is a shame, since I do enjoy this game quite a lot.
The first thing that will strike you about this game, if the above screenshot doesn't make it clear, is that this game is absolutely gorgeous. One of the best looking games I've ever played, bar none. The worlds are all vibrant and colorful and diverse enough to stay interesting to look at as you progress through the game, all while keeping the main elements of the level plainly visible. And the gorgeous aesthetic doesn't end at the visuals; the soundtrack is also fantastic, one of the few game soundtracks I've gone back to revisit by itself in recent years. It's just a gorgeous game on a purely spectacle front.
And gameplay-wise it is generally pretty solid too. It's a platformer with light puzzle elements and some exploration elements, and the levels generally stick to three major styles. First, the chill exploration-focused levels that are probably my favorite levels in the game, you best get the chance to stop and appreciate the scenery in these levels and there's a bit more variety to them than the other levels. Second, the chase levels where you have to outrun a rising wall of death while overcoming a series of platforming challenges. These levels tend to focus around each particular world's main power, barring the last world where all powers come into play equally. Third, the bonus levels you unlock by clearing the chase levels without dying, which tend to be more experimental and centered around one gameplay mechanic. I generally find that these levels are a bit clunky but well-intentioned and generally pretty interesting. There's also boss levels at the end of each world which are... okay. The bosses themselves vary, I don't particularly like the first two bosses but the last three are cool, and each boss also features a platforming segment where you go inside the boss machine and destroy it from the inside, which tends to be pretty cool as well.
The major flaw the gameplay has, at least for me, is that the game is a bit mean to completionists. There are a lot of levels with spots where you can end up missing collectibles either through a "gotcha" moment where you have no point of return or a one-shot piece of level that you can't complete if you fail it the first time. As well, some of the collectibles often end up hidden too well; the only indication of fake walls is this faint orange sparkle which can be hard to see sometimes, especially in the chase levels. As well, the controls aren't perfect; the characters all tend to be a bit touchy to control, and the physics of the bounce power are a bit weird. But in the grand scheme of things the game is still pretty fun to play and has kept me coming back to it many times to replay through.
It's a game that definitely won me over with its aesthetic more than its actual gameplay but I still do enjoy playing it a decent bit and most of the mean tricks aren't really too punishing in the long run, just a bit annoying at worst. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of 2D platformers and I imagine you'd have a pretty good time with it regardless of how much you want to clear in the game.
(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2tTWFtReaRfs3JpCY6mgz9.jpg)
Crypt of the Necrodancer
Oh man, here's a cool idea. Combine rhythm games with an action-puzzle style of roguelike and what you get is an intense and addictive game that's just, plain fun to play. As someone who generally isn't a fan of roguelikes (and sticks to rogue-lites whenever I do play them) I can say that this is easily my favorite in the genre. Just the way the game plays, and the various ways the difficult escalates. It's really cool.
The game is controlled entirely by the four directional arrows on your keyboard, controller, or heck, dancepad if you're a DDR fan and want to use that here; yes, the game was entirely designed with that in mind. You have to defeat the miniboss monster of a floor and find the exit to reach the floor below, and every world is capped off with a boss fight. Sounds simple, but the game ups the complexity in quite a variety of ways. The enemies in the first world are all pretty basic and easy to deal with, but they get more and more complex as you descend the crypt, to the point where most of the enemies in the last world are quite weird, and the boss that caps off the last world is a fair bit more difficult to deal with than the standard bosses as well. The game plays out at the pace of the song being played, which tends to escalate the further you get into each world, and the further you get into the game in general. And they have a lot of fun with the rhythm as well; there's a boss with a really fast pace to it, and another with a missing beat, and as well a few of the many alternate characters change the rhythm of the game as well.
And of course the soundtrack is fantastic. At least, two of the three versions; I'm not a fan of the dubstep soundtrack but the standard soundtrack and the metal soundtrack are both just, great and intense, really good at getting you pumped while being damn fine songs on their own merits. There's also a lot of variety; every floor is procedurally generated, there are quite a lot of different weapons and accessories, and a fair number of different characters to play as, each with their own unique playstyle. And there's a true roguelike mode where you start from the first floor and have to make it all the way to the bottom on a single life with no starting bonuses like you get in the standard gameplay.
So the game on the whole is great and the kind of game that kept me hooked for a long time. Why did it just miss the list? Well, aside from that fact that I probably would consider all the games above it better in general... I have not beaten this game. I never cleared Aria's story mode, which is definitely part of the main game. Because Aria is absolutely insane. Brutally unforgiving and incredibly stressful to the point where it stopped being fun after a while and I have barely played the game since I gave up on beating Aria. It's honestly completely uncalled for to have one of the hardest to play characters be part of the main story and just incredibly disheartening to fail over and over due to even the tiniest mistake. So I do have that one major gripe with it, but on the whole this game is still tons of fun and definitely worth checking out.
And that is... finally... the last of the honorable mentions.
I intend to have even longer write ups for the main games on the list which will mean posting less at a time but I'll try to keep the pace at least fairly reasonable.
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What a nice list!
I love the amount and time you put into describing a game. All the games I've never heard of before, but they all look mighty interesting to play, especially The World Ends With You and Crypt of the Necrodancer.
Really nice. Keep it coming! :tup
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I really need to get Braid. That whole rewind element really intrigues me and the music was very nice too.
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Braid is the only game I recognized on that list (it was on my list as well) but I really enjoyed the write ups. Can't wait to read more
Floyd, you definitely need to give the game a try, it's amazing.
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Don't get too excited, I feel like I'm gonna have even less games being recognized in my proper list :lol
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I don't mind, I enjoy reading about games I've never heard before.
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Is Braid like Donkey Kong?
Looks purty similar.
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that level is specifically a reference to donkey kong, yes, but the game as a whole is noooot similar in the slightest
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that level is specifically a reference to donkey kong, yes, but the game as a whole is noooot similar in the slightest
Yeah, it's true they're both platformers but Braid has some unique mechanics that makes it very different. Amazing game, I need to go back and finish it. :tup I would love to get a hold of a physical copy but I'm not sure if it's possible?
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I'm not sure that they ever made a physical copy. . .
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maybe i'll do this tomorrow night, obviously it wasn't happening tonight though
it's hard to care atm
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(https://d3cw3dd2w32x2b.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/gc-1.jpg)
25. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
The first game to just barely make the list, and one of my favorites from the PS2 era. Honestly I just as easily could've put the third game in the series on this list as well, since it's also quite good, but I've always favored this one by a smidgen. The series as a whole sticks to a pretty strong formula; it's halfway between a 3D platformer and third-person shooter with some light exploration elements as well, and generally a decent helping of spaceship combat thrown in for good measure. What this sums up to in practice are games with a lot of variety that still keep a strong core gameplay style to them.
Starting with the story, it's probably my favorite of the original trilogy. There's no obvious villain in the whole ordeal, at least not right away. The first half of the game is spent tracking down the thief to retrieve the parapet... and then the second half is spent undoing the big mistake of the first half and stopping the parapet menace from overrunning the galaxy. And while, yes, there is ultimately a "true" villain it's less direct than the other games; you have Drek in R&C 1 and Nafaryus Nefarious in R&C 3. The goal of stopping them never changes, and they're both a bit too straightforward as villains (though the latter is pretty hilarious, admittedly). There's a lot of twists and turns in the story and a lot of small hurdles you overcome to reach the ultimate goal at the end.
The game's variety of weapons and gadgets also feels stronger here than in the other two games. For one, you have the bouncer, which is not only the strongest weapon in this game but the strongest weapon in the next to boot. The core weapon selection is also pretty solid, and the RYNO II is a lot more satisfying to use than the RYNO weapons in the previous and subsequent games as well. Also, the sheepinator. 'Nuff said. That's just great. A lot of the weapons from the first game make a return too, most of the better ones in fact. And the weapon leveling system is a great way to both power up your favorite weapons as well as provide an incentive to use every weapon. The gadgets in this game also provide a lot of incremental updates on the first game; the gravity boots are just, infinitely better than the slow magnet boots of the first game, and the two lock-puzzle tools are both a good mix of action and puzzle. Plus I'm just always thrilled there's two, double the fun. There's a good variety of gadgets to create a lot of different puzzle and platforming scenarios.
(https://images.psxextreme.com/screenshots/ps2_ratchet_2/ps2_ratchet_2_04.jpg)
The game's aesthetic is pretty good too. Sci-fi alien landscapes mixed in with some modern or semi-futuristic city environments is the general theme but each world comes off pretty unique, and the music is generally pretty solid though not always too memorable. And maybe I'm the only one but I like how much of a collection aspect there is to this game. I really enjoy the two big treasure hunt areas, scouring this giant wasteland for those last crystals and fighting titanic behemoths of monsters along the way... it's just really enjoyable. The third game's take on this same concept was a much more restrictive and annoying-to-navigate area and I definitely prefer the take here. And between those, all the platinum bolts, and all the skill points, there's a heck of a lot to do in the game besides the main plot which creates a lot of replay value, at least for me.
It's just a game that's well-rounded on every front, and it's hard to muster up any complaints with it. It's not too hard, but not too easy. It's got a lot of charm and humor to it but doesn't just rely on that, delivering a lot of solid and diverse gameplay. And it's just a damn great series as a whole, it's a real shame this kind of game has faded in comparison to the bland, military shooter dreck that controls the triple-A game industry these days.
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(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/the-swapper-shot-08-us-25jun14?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
24. The Swapper
The first thing that should strike you about this game is how gorgeous it looks. Because this is a damn beautiful game. Made 100% with claymation. Yeah. It's really quite impressive on just that front alone. But a game looking great isn't enough for it to make my list on its own. Fortunately, The Swapper backs up its aesthetic with a unique and really clever style of puzzle.
The basic mechanics are - you have the ability to create up to 4 clones of yourself, who will mimic your movement, and that you can switch control to, but you can only directly control one at a time. There is also light shining in a lot of places - blue light prevents you from creating a clone, red light prevents you from swapping with a clone, and purple light, purple light is just a bastard that doesn't like you and won't let you do anything. A fall from pretty much any non-trivial height will kill you, but you can create a clone right above the ground and swap to it to avoid this fall damage. That's the gist of it, and boy, do they create a lot of cool and unique puzzle designs based on these mechanics and a few other minor mechanics that get introduced along the way.
(https://www.eggplante.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/The-Swapper-Gameplay-10.jpeg)
The game is set up kind of like a metroidvania, where you have a big overworld map and small puzzle rooms scattered throughout, each with an orb at the end. And to progress, you must collect enough orbs to open each door you come across - and inevitably, you need every last orb to clear the game. The only points of interest outside of this are the secret messages hidden throughout the game in general pretty devious and hard-to-find spots that just expand on the story a little bit. The game isn't particularly long - 4 or 5 hours to play through the entire thing, I'd expect - but it doesn't waste its time and the puzzle design is clever enough and does about as much with the mechanics as it could without getting boring or repetitive.
The story of the game is decently interesting - you are stranded alone on this spaceship with only one other person, and you have to find a way to return home while also discovering what happened to the abandoned spaceship. The atmosphere is very, very dense and dark, a haunting loneliness that feels pretty oppressive. Aside from, of course, being absolutely gorgeous. The ruin of the spaceship and the vastness of space surrounding you, the dark environment and the variety of lighting styles keep things consistent but still fairly diverse.
But in the end it really comes down to those puzzles, which go from pretty tame near the start to pretty complex and involved by the end, ramping up at such a smooth curve that you barely notice it happening. There is, of course, one or two "that one puzzle" moments in the game but the puzzles and their mechanics are constantly evolving; there's no "do the same thing you just did but in a slightly different way", mostly "apply what you've learned to this new scenario and maybe discover something new in the process". There is a small execution factor here as it is technically a puzzle platformer, but the largest aspect of these puzzles is figuring out what to do more than actually doing it. And the game just excels in that category. I go back and replay this game every once in a while once the puzzle solutions have faded from my memory and it still feels fresh and interesting the whole way through each time because of how concise the game keeps itself.
It's at its core a bit simple and a bit straightforward, but if a game can do two things, puzzle design and atmosphere, consistently well across its entire runtime and do them well enough to be plenty replayable, then I think that's definitely deserving of a nice heaping of praise.
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Ratchet and Clank! That is a very good game indeed. I remember playing that once on my brother's PS2. Really nice choice.
I've never heard of The Swapper, but yes, the graphics indeed look gorgeous and looks fun to play.
One thing I look for in a game is length. Is the game finished too early? Does it drag on? What is the length for The Swapper? (for you?)
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Described that in my writeup so :P
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Lol, how'd I miss that? XD
My bad and thanks.
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The R&C game is the only one I've heard of before but never played.
The Swapper looks super interesting, love the write-up. I'll have to check some videos of the game out .
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(https://lutris.net/media/games/screenshots/dust-an-elysian-tail-xbox-360-1345475788-017.jpeg)
23. Dust: An Elysian Tail
This game always sticks in my memory as "the game that brought me to steam". It was not the first game I played on steam (amusingly, the first game I played on steam will be showing up in a few days when I post the next two games) but it was the one where I got on the platform and stayed on the platform with. Like, the first game to really give me an appreciation for indie games. I could put it on this list for that fact alone, but even aside from that the game is quite a great game in its own right.
So first off, the visual style. This game is just, really beautiful to look at. Gorgeous scenery designs, fluid character animations, what more could you ask for? If I did a list of the best-looking games I've ever played this would easily rank pretty high on that list. And the music is pretty great too, not especially memorable but nice and cinematic and good at setting the tone. The one thing about this game's aesthetic that does detract a little is the voice acting; some of it's alright but a lot of it... could use some work, a lot of the voice actors sound pretty amateur and a few of the voices are pretty grating as well. But it's a minor complaint really.
The gameplay itself is a variety of metroidvania, though one where the game is broken off into self-contained sublevels; but all the other major staples of the genre are present. Hack-and-slash sword-based combat, a healthy dose of platforming, new skills acquired as the game goes on and lots of secrets to explore for, some requiring backtracking after gaining new skills, an RPG-style levelling system and a fair number of optional quests, even a basic crafting system is in play. The backtracking in this game is for the most part not mandatory either, and all the levels are small enough and with enough convenient entry/exit points that even the optional backtracking is never very annoying.
(https://apollo2.dl.playstation.net/cdn/EP4526/CUSA01367_00/FREE_CONTENTrXmNZ8NTyQJBbd4B82EK/DUST%20AN%20ELYSIAN%20TAIL_01.jpg)
It's a very solid game on the whole but it does have some minor faults; the game's a bit easy because on most difficulties you can end up pretty overpowered by the later levels if you do enough exploring; though of course this problem is mitigated by the higher difficulty settings that I don't even dare to touch. And the story is a bit... ehhh. Nothing special, a bit childish and cheesy, but it's serviceable, it gives the journey of the game a point. And the platforming can be a liiiittle bit stiff in a few places, but for the most part it's pretty great. These are really all minor nitpicks and the game as a whole is quite fun the whole way through so there really isn't a lot worth complaining about.
The most impressive part about this game, to me at least, is that the vast majority of it was made by just one guy. The only things that aren't are the character voices and the soundtrack. It's a labor of love and it definitely shows, it's just a generally pleasant and remarkably beautiful game to look at and play and one I've gone back to revisit quite a few times.
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I just recently watched an IGN review of the game and it indeed looks gorgeous.
Nice entry. I wonder how many games you'll lure me too. :tup
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(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/O4JpS1H_Hl-W-YwDSg0LnNLsstTofWTn0K1kN-C_iwAglaFdPg0fcUc4TRHQbg2fJbJZC2uPTrVZ9UXindEamg5kLlMXGelmzj3FKIqu8MUDwo9ciWWmnnIk2o07xC83E6vvdn94)
22. Guacamelee!
And following a metroidvania is... another metroidvania! Though this one definitely trends in a bit of a different direction. This game also has a very strong sense of aesthetic - specifically, a Mexican aesthetic. As someone who is not cultured or familiar with Mexican culture in general, I can't personally say how good of a job with that aesthetic they did, but I can say that I quite like it. The game is very colorful and visually distinct from, well, any other game I've ever played, and the music backs up that aesthetic well while also giving the game a bit of a modern feel to it. Oh, and there are memes because that's everyone's favorite. The game is from like 2013 too so they're all dank memes now, too. Okay yeah the writing in this game can be pretty funny at times but it could definitely use some work in other places.
But as ever will be the case, the aesthetic is only one of the reasons why this game is on my list. This game plays absolutely wonderfully. That's basically the gist of it. By the end of the game you've got a large number of attack options and every last one of them is viable and usable in most every situation - the combat feels fluid and fast and just balanced enough to still be a challenge while making you feel like a pro at the same time. Between the normal punching and kicking, dodge rolling, throwing, special moves, and general emphasis on chaining, it's got a fighting game sense to it quite aided by the luchador inspiration of the moves. Sure there are a few combat scenarios that can feel a bit spammy or awkward but that doesn't really detract from how good the game plays in most normal scenarios.
(https://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2559425-guacstce_screens_07.jpg)
The combat and the platforming in the game are also very, very finely interwoven - nearly all of the combat upgrades in the game will be used during platforming sections, and vice-versa, nothing is useless either way. And, again, this is a metroidvania, so there's going to be some backtracking involved and some clever combinations of the various skills in order to complete everything the game has to offer. And the game can get pretty tough with its platforming sections, especially in a lot of the optional secret areas - some real legitimate challenges in there that mostly manage to stay enjoyable even when you fail for the tenth or twentieth time. And the map is kind enough to show you juuust enough so that you can find where you're missing secrets but never too much so as to give away its location blatantly and obviously.
The story of the game is a pretty simple "hero must rescue princess and save the world" scenario, with a number of minions of the main baddie thrown in for good measure; and they're all given a fair bit of screentime and pose a solid threat, too. they're fun villains with pretty basic motivations. Won't win any awards for writing or anything, especially with the memes, but it's a serviceable and simple story that never really intrudes on the plot too much.
There's really not a lot to say negatively about this game - it's got a fair bit of content just in the main game alone and all the secrets to be found give it even more replayability and challenge, and it's a fun game to go back to; especially since they've rereleased expanded versions of the game twice now, haha. For the record, make sure you pick up the Super Turbo Championship Edition if you want to check this one out as that's the most complete version of the game and by default the best as a result. Definitely another shining example of the metroidvania genre, which you'll definitely be seeing more of in this list's future, hint hint.
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Mm dat some good taste there BOI
Ghost Trick, TWEWY, Guacamelee, excellent.
To add my two cents to the earlier Let's Play discussion... I think Pewdiepie sucks, Markiplier is occasionally funny, and jacksepticeye is usually funny.
Those solo with a facecam type LPs aren't really my cup of tea, though. You need someone like Game Grumps, Best Friends Play, or Super Beard Bros for dat quality.
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honestly the only lper i watch consistently is raocow because he's just genuinely funny in the weird way that ticks my sense of humor but also tends to play interesting stuff when he's not just playing smw romhacks
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Great write-ups! :tup
I've never heard of Dust but I just watched some youtube videos and it is indeed gorgeous. I have guacamelee! but I've never played it.
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Metroidvania is my favorite genre of game, so I'm loving the list so far. Guacamelee and Dust are fantastic games, although I found Guac a bit tough and Dust a bit easy... it's hard for a game to be in that "just right" sort of area for difficulty for my tastes, but both are worthy games of the MV genre.
In case it doesn't make the list, I'm playing through another MV right now called Song of the Deep for PS4. Not too difficult so far, but LOTS of areas to explore multiple times, and treasures to find. Also, like Dust, it's absolutely gorgeous.
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Mm dat some good taste there BOI
Ghost Trick, TWEWY, Guacamelee, excellent.
To add my two cents to the earlier Let's Play discussion... I think Pewdiepie sucks, Markiplier is occasionally funny, and jacksepticeye is usually funny.
Indeed. This thread is even more interesting than I have ever imagined. Ashamed or proud to say, I'm one of their fans and I follow them. But I can tell you that some subscribers of Pewdiepie and Markiplier can be...what's the word, kind of mean. But they are funny LP'ers and they help a lot of charities.
honestly the only lper i watch consistently is raocow because he's just genuinely funny in the weird way that ticks my sense of humor but also tends to play interesting stuff when he's not just playing smw romhacks
Thanks Parama for these lists. I can imagine how much time and dedication it takes to write these lists. Kudos to you and keep them coming!
Great write-ups! :tup
I've never heard of Dust but I just watched some youtube videos and it is indeed gorgeous. I have guacamelee! but I've never played it.
Just curious, what is your background on video games? What kind of video games do you enjoy playing?
In case it doesn't make the list, I'm playing through another MV right now called Song of the Deep for PS4. Not too difficult so far, but LOTS of areas to explore multiple times, and treasures to find. Also, like Dust, it's absolutely gorgeous.
YES! I love that game! I just recently got all the upgrades avaliable in the Hermit's Crab store. This really helps a lot.
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I need to get song of the deep yeah it looks pretty solid/beautiful
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I once got stuck at Braid and ragequited it :lol Will eventually try to finish it.
A friend of mine heavily recommended that Dust game, so I guess I should check it out, love Metroidvanias.
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(https://lh5.ggpht.com/e09gEMFs275CVPvDfmK5LHSuBBOzN2n-agoregnRAmbv_lry7iC7pB8GrwCdPPTfgLg=h900)
21. The Walking Dead (Season One)
A story-based game is all fine and well on its own, sure, but to get me really invested what you have to do is make the player a part of the story. Not simply an observer but a vital driving force of the plot. And I definitely think this game accomplishes that to a pretty strong degree. The Walking Dead is a style of adventure game primarily driven by its narrative and plot decisions, with most of the rest of the gameplay being reaction-based quicktime events and simple puzzles. It's not a difficult game; I'd be surprised if someone was unable to beat the game due to "challenge", since the game really never feels that out to get you. Of course, you probably will die; failure just doesn't carry much weight, beyond a quick death scene and then being kicked back to the start of whatever sequence you failed.
But damned if the game doesn't make its gameplay feel meaningful. As with the comic and show (neither of which I am particularly familiar with) the game world is a post-apocalyptic scenario where zombies "the walkers" are lurking around every corner, prepared to violently and gorily kill any living person they come across. The player controls Lee, a convicted murderer (who may or may not have actually killed anyone, the game never outright says it as far as I remember). And the walkers want to kill Lee, judging by how frequently your life is in danger. There is a 50 minute compilation of various death scenes from the game on youtube, just for context. Don't watch it, obviously, it's filled with spoilers, but. I think what that also shows off pretty well is that the game puts you in a lot of different scenarios where your life is threatened - whether it be by the walkers or by fellow humans.
Lee is not the only character whose life is in danger, though; along the way Lee gets a pretty solid number of companions - and you get to start worrying who will live and who will die. What this game definitely does better than Season 2 is make the deaths all have a bit more weight to them - there are some really tense, emotional scenes here, especially in chapters 3 and 5. Some characters that you get really attached to only for them to unceremoniously bite the bullet out of nowhere. And that's what really does it - one or two of the deaths is built up a little, but most of the rest just come out of nowhere; a surprise attack by walkers, one person just up and shooting another, an offscreen but plainly heard suicide. Death is cheap. It will just happen and there's not a lot you can do about it. I do like that aspect of this game. Season 2 got a bit carried away with that and the end result is way too many characters you don't have time to get attached to die in unceremonious ways, even if you previously saved them like two scenes ago, like christ what was even the point of that one at that point, sheesh.
(https://i.imgur.com/iJemEFN.jpg)
The driving plot point of this game is Lee's quest to save Clementine, the first person he ran across after the whole zombie apocalypse started, and the most defenseless of all the characters (well, again, in this game, though not in the sequel ::)) due to being a young girl. If you take the word of the law that Lee is in fact a murderer, then it's a great redemption story, with Lee often putting his own life below Clementine's in a rather selfless display of character. You can sort of choose what kind of attitude Lee is going to have through dialogue options and the like, but regardless, Clementine will remain his key motivator, even if he hates everyone else he travels with.
The sense of player choice is admittedly not as strong as it could be, given the overall linear nature of the story and how a good number of your choices end up being pretty meaningless by the end; save someone only to have them die later, spend a lot of time building a positive relationship with someone only for them to be axed unceremoniously, etc. But there's enough interactivity to put you in the role of Lee and make his motivation your motivation, and the overarching story is strong enough with enough twists and turns to keep me interested the whole way through and keep me in suspense of what's going to happen next. It can be hard to put down the game after each chapter since they tend to end on cliffhangers like the massive teases they are, and I think that's just a sign of really good storytelling. The second game in the series is... not awful, but definitely pales in comparison to the original. I'd definitely recommend you check this one out, though.
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(https://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2830328-lifeisstrange_conceptart_16_1426514596.03.2015_01.jpg)
20. Life is Strange
I'm noticing I have a habit of grouping two or three similar games on my list, at least in these lower rankings. I guess my mind just goes "I like both of these narrative-and-choice-driven adventure games about equally, but not as much as the games right above them, so they'll be right next to each other". And I guess that's fine, since this is another great game in a similar style as the last one. Heavily narrative-based adventure with a lot of player choice - much more so here than in The Walking Dead, which is probably why I prefer this over that one - and a healthy dose of puzzle solving gameplay with an occasional stealth moment thrown in.
This game starts out pretty unassuming - you play as Max, a fairly average high school student who's really into photography. Through some completely unexplained course of action (literally, never explained or even tried to rationalize - and I'm okay with that, honestly, it's better than some shoehorned "destiny" or convoluted magic reasoning; just a thing that happens), Max gets the ability to rewind time, at least a short distance. The rest of the game is Max using this ability however she and the player chooses.
Other early events that occur in the game's runtime include Max reuniting with her old friend Chloe, who she hadn't seen in years, and finding out that Chloe had made a new best friend in that time period who had mysteriously gone missing about half a year ago. I won't say much more on that front as telling any more would be spoiling a lot of the great twists and turns of the story, but suffice to say it's a very intimate coming-of-age tale more than anything else, using its time mechanic less as a main focus and more as a way to move the story forward.
(https://d1vnh8mbrp67em.cloudfront.net/image/file/9/2b/78439/LifeIsStrange-2-2-2015-8-27-28-PM-149.jpg)
The game does start off a bit awkward with a good dose of high school drama and I'll freely admit the first episode can be a bit offputting on the whole. But by the end of episode 2 I was absolutely hooked on the story following an incredibly heart-pounding and terrifying sequence, and the game only escalates from there, with further time shenanigans and higher stakes. The atmosphere of the game in the last three chapters changes tone entirely, becoming a lot more dire as Max grows as a character, with some pretty chilling sequences occurring and some pretty messed-up characters rearing their heads, but, well, you'll just have to play to find out.
The choices in this game mostly don't add to up major changes, but it's a lot of smaller, intimate details that can change the other characters' personalities and attitudes towards you. And with the time rewind mechanic, you can see all the possible outcomes of any scenario and be certain of which one you want to pick - though odds are it's not going to be a very black-and-white decision, there are a number of moral dilemmas throughout the game but it never really feels like the game is judging you, more than you have to live with the consequences of the actions you take, full well knowing the outcome. And it can be the difference between someone living or dying, in quite a few cases.
I feel this writeup isn't particularly helpful but more than any other game on this list this is really a game you have to experience for yourself to see the appeal of, and while I love it I'm also aware it may not be for everyone. It's far less showy and extravagant than The Walking Dead, but I feel I can connect with the characters better and feel that choices carry more weight, especially since people aren't dying left and right here. But yeah, definitely a good game and a really memorable experience.
Oh, and did I mention the soundtrack? Lots of indie rock, and one of the endings is accompanied by Spanish Sahara (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoINidnLRQ). which only made a really sad ending even more heartbreaking. Yeah, the soundtrack is excellent. And Spanish Sahara is also excellent.
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it turns out all the videos of spanish sahara are filled with people spoling the ending of the game though so don't read the youtube comments :lol
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surprised that these are the games i'm getting no comments on, i know i've seen at least the walking dead on someone else's list already :lol
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Dark Souls or GTFO
J/k not really
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Interesting game. Love your write ups again, so descriptive and they tell a lot about this game. I should try it out. Looks fun enough.
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(https://braktheman.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/2014-03-11_00003.jpg)
19. Hexcells (Series)
This is probably going to be a pretty short writeup as there's not really a lot to say about this game. It's a logic puzzle game that plays like a mixture of picross and minesweeper with a few other mechanics and set on a hexagonal grid. It's simple, it's elegant, and it's absolutely genius. Seriously, the developer squeezes so much out of this basic concept and makes a genuinely challenging but interesting type of puzzle with enough meat to it to last three full games, as well as a procedurally generated mode in the last entry in the series. On pure playtime alone, I'm sure I've dumped more time into this game than most if not all of the other games on this list, and that infinite puzzle mode in the last game is a big reason why.
The first in the series is basically an extended tutorial but the last dozen or so puzzles do get somewhat tricky if you're not familiar with the puzzle types, but Plus and Infinite really expand on the basic mechanics and put the same rules into quite a nice variety of scenarios while introducing one more major mechanic that adds a nice layer of depth to the puzzle design. And each and every puzzle has a unique solution, there is absolutely no guessing required, and if you think you can't find the next move to make you're just not looking hard enough or not putting the right pieces together. Some of the puzzles took me upwards of half an hour or more when I first solved them, too, and with over a hundred designed puzzles between the three games in the series there's really a lot of playtime in the standard puzzles alone, much less the procedurally generated ones. And while those tend to be easier, they're still fun and can be tricky on occasion.
But yeah, really not much else to say here. Straightforward but enjoyable puzzle game that I urge everyone to check out. The developer also released Squarecells last year, which combines picross and nurikabe in an interesting way, and while I'm not as big a fan of that game it's still pretty fun and elegant in its own way.
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(https://www.tri-game.com/pics/141004_12.jpg)
18. TRI: Of Friendship and Madness
On an objective level, this is probably the "worst" game on this list. It actually does have some glaring flaws; for one, there's no autosave, so you do have to frequently manually save your progress once the game introduces scenarios where you can actually die. The game also really likes hiding its secret collectibles behind fake tiles, and while there's generally some indication that the tile is fake, it still happens a bit too frequently for my taste. And there can be a sense of tedium in its mechanics; constantly making tiny rearrangements to the triangles you create to get juuuust the right triangle to progress. There's also one or two puzzles that are just plain garbage.
And frankly, none of that even matters, because this game is just so. damn. clever. The mileage this game gets out of two basic premises - drawing triangles to use as platforms, and creating angles with triangles to shift gravity - is stunning. There are so many cases where you see a new room and go "wait, is this even possible" and then after screwing around with it for a bit you start to see what new way they want you to use your singular tool and it's just, such a great feeling. By the time you get to the end of this game, you'll know the ins and outs of the game's mechanics almost as well as the developers do.
(https://madewith.unity.com/sites/default/files/game/image/tri_level8_wingsinthevoid_01.jpg)
And there's a lot to do in this game. With 15 levels the game managed to squeeze in 20 hours of gameplay out of a single playthrough from me, including all the time spent hunting down the secret golden fox statues for 100%. And I really do feel like you'd be missing out on a lot if you didn't - the game never really forces you to explore every last path but it hides these statues in some of the most insidious places imaginable that I can't help but crack a smile every time I see one in a particularly absurd place, because I just know there's going to be some insane solution that doesn't even feel intended that the developers knew you could get to - it's one of those games where they thought of every last thing. I don't think it's possible to get to any place in the game where the developers didn't intend you to get to, because of how thorough they are in placing the secrets in every single possible point of the level you can physically reach - which, for most levels, is practically every single side of every physical surface. I just, adore that game design philosophy. It wins me over in a heartbeat and keeps me playing to the bitter end, even with the small frustrations the game has.
Aesthetically the game is also pretty damn visually gorgeous, which is sort of impressive for how low-res a lot of it looks. A lot of basic, block shapes, simple brick textures, the iconic yellow/red of the triangles (which, for the record, signals whether or not you can stand on the triangle from your current point of gravity). There's a lot of cool structures built from the basic geometry as well, some of the levels give off a really nice sense of scale, others feel really claustrophobic and mazelike. The music is... weird, sort of japanese folk inspired but still, very weird. I think it works though since the game world itself is kind of bizarre in its own way. The story isn't anything to write home about - all I really remember is that there's a fox who loves screwing with you and making weird things happen.
I definitely do have my gripes with this game but they are absolutely pummeled to bits by all the things I like about this game. Though it's not quite my favorite in the land of first-person puzzle games (there are two more upcoming on this list, though neither are particularly similar to this one) it's still a real hidden gem and one of the biggest surprises I've run into on steam since I honestly didn't really know what to expect going into this one and what I found was a game I absolutely adored. Really, do check this one out if you get the chance. I'm half considering it's too low on this list at this point now that I've written up all this but I locked the list in place when I started the writeups and I don't intend to write another full writeup tonight anyways so eehh oh well.
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Just catching on the write ups now. I've heard some great things about life is strange.
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it's quite good, definitely check it out if you're interested
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I have TWD but haven't played it yet.
Will probably try LiS one day, despite the common opinion being that the end is meh. Seems like my kinda thing :P
That Hexcells one seems pretty neat, will put it on my list.
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honestly i liked the ending of LiS, though the end of TWD is better for sure :P
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Hexcells is one of my favorite puzzle games. Nice choice. :tup
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wow sorry for not posting any of these for a while
(pokemon happened oops)
to make it up to you all i'll do three right now and then try to get another two up tomorrow or saturday
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(https://www.gamesreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/fez.png)
17. FEZ
FEZ is a puzzle platformer, but that's not really true. It's more of an exploration game that has elements of platforming and puzzling, but really, the exploration aspect of this game is what makes it enjoyable to me. The game world is very vibrant and colorful and there's so many little details put into absolutely every last screen that it makes seeking out new places an adventure by itself. And the game boasts a pretty decent size, as well as unbounded exploration - aside from the intro and outro, and a small small number of locked doors, you can go anywhere in the game any time you want. It's not a metroidvania, though it certainly has some of the sensibilities. And that's the kind of game I just tend to be drawn to more than any other. Spoilers; my #1 game of all time absolutely fits into this category. Just a strong sense of discovery and exploration.
That's not to say that the base mechanics of this game are bad; in fact they're pretty clever. The main gimmick is the ability to rotate the world, which serves to make each screen a sort of maze where you have to find the right place to be in and the right place to turn to progress. And there's a fair number of little gimmicks done with this mechanic, though the core mechanic itself just serves as a neat way to make these more compact areas really open up and give the game a nice sense of three-dimensionality despite being displayed as a 2D game. There's of course a lot of moments where 3D space is "flattened" and two places that are very far apart in 3D space are right next to each other in 2D space, which is where a lot of the puzzle aspects of the game come from.
(https://eskipaper.com/images/fez-game-44.jpg)
The other main aspect of the game is its sort of collectathon nature; the goal is to collect all 64 cubes, 32 normal cubes and 32 anticubes. The former tend to be either 1. basic platforming/puzzling challenges that you don't have to poke around too much to find or 2. collected by gathering 8 cube pieces. The latter though is where a lot of the weirder, more "meta" puzzles come into play; decoding symbols and decoding the game's language, amongst other more well-hidden secret areas. There's actually a third kind of collectible, but those are the reeeally weird/kind of dumb meta puzzles, including the infamous black monolith that literally had to be brute-forced by a group of players for the solution to be found (and I'm not sure anyone has ever figured out how it's supposed to be solved, if it's meant to be at all?) Regardless I tend to ignore the third kind of collectible in my playthroughs and the game has more than enough to explore with just the standard collectibles so whatever.
The game's atmosphere is really pleasant and chill, on the whole. The music is very ambient for the most part, and the penalty of death is always very minor, usually just going back a platform or two. No lives, no restarting from your last save, there aren't even any "enemies" to speak of. Combine that with how pretty the game world is as well as the various worlds you visit throughout the game and it never really gets boring, even if the game itself never really feels "hard". It puts me in a good place. Again, my #1 game evokes the same reaction from me, just to a stronger degree. Doesn't discredit how great this game is though.
Definitely a worthwhile experience, this one, and I'm glad it got a fair bit of attention when it came out... though maybe not for the right reasons. Shame about the developer, yeah, but the game itself, still great. Definitely check this one out. Especially with the steam sale going on right now, hint hint.
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(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/809580-undertale-windows-screenshot-d-aww-a-friendly-flower.png)
16. Undertale
Ooh lord. I got this right when it came out, had known about it for a while and was glad to see it finally released. And then it blew up. Bigtime. Became utterly inescapable on the internet, to the point where I actually got kind of sick of it. I will fully grant that this probably would be higher on my list if not for the overexposure. But that doesn't discredit that this is just a fantastic little game, absolutely deserves all the praise it's gotten.
I'm also fully aware this isn't the kind of game for everyone; on a gameplay level it really isn't anything that special, and for an RPG it boasts a pretty short game length, somewhere around 6-10 hours depending on how fast you play and what ending you go after. And if you don't like the writing of this game, chances are you are not going to enjoy the game at all. I understand that. Me, personally? I love the writing. The quirky humor, the fleshed-out main characters and all the little side characters where you only get to see a slice of their lives yet each of them has their own personality and feels unique. And the humor in this game is generally pretty on-point; and even if one or two jokes don't work for you there will be plenty more to make you chuckle.
More than anything though this game is just ADORABLE. There's a pleasant atmosphere running through everything that makes it really hard to want to hurt any of the monsters (unless you're a soulless monster, I guess). And the game will totally let you do that; you can play through the entire game without killing a single monster. Or you can kill every last one of them, I guess, but, don't do that. The game takes place in a society distinctly different but not too far distant from our own, and it's interesting to trek through the various environments and see all the little details of monster society.
(https://indiehaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2785369-cp_undertale_ql.00_18_55_32.still001.jpg)
The combat of the game is pretty interesting, as well. It's presented as a standard RPG confrontation not dissimilar to Earthbound (which, yes, this game was decisively inspired by) but doesn't really play like one. To avoid killing monsters you go out of your way to interact with them in nonstandard ways that vary for each and every monster type, and monster attacks are presented as a small shmup game, minus the shooting; you just have to dodge attacks, and again, for every monster type the attacks are unique. You really get a lot of personality out of these encounters due to how each monster differs, and there's enough variety in monster types that you won't see the same monsters more than a few times either, so the game ends up feeling pretty diverse.
I've sort of had to dodge around talking too in-depth about the game since a lot of the enjoyment comes from the story and interactions themselves, which I definitely don't want to spoil; the two screenshots I've used here are both from very early on in the game, the first area which was used as a demo years before the game was officially released, so there's nothing particularly spoilery happening. I'd just definitely recommend everyone give this game a chance and if you're anything like me you'll be sucked into the charming world of Undertale for a brief but pleasant stay.
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(https://www.hardcoregamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Freedom_03.jpg)
15. Freedom Planet
And here's the biggest reason there's no Sonic games on my list proper; this game takes all the lessons learned from the 2D sonic games and improves upon them while cutting out all the biggest issues. A sense of speed that isn't hindered by slow, awkward level design? Check. Boss battles that feel exciting and rewarding to fight instead of being slow, drawn out, and simplistic? Definitely check. Cutting out the godawful lives/game over system older games have? Yeah, in a sense. I mean it's there but there's no penalty for game overs, so whatever. And the game keeps intact a lot of the positives - vibrant, colorful worlds, sprawling levels with many different paths to take, an undeniable 90's charm, a memorable and catchy soundtrack, short enough to be played through in an afternoon but replayable enough to sink days worth of playtime into. It's just a classic example of iterating on a formula and doing it just right.
And of course, the game doesn't really play exactly like a 2D Sonic game anyways. Sure, it started out as a Sonic fangame but it very decisively evolved beyond that into more of a love letter to the vibrant platformers of the sega genesis/mega drive/whatever. Gunstar Heroes, Rocket Knight, even some shades of the Mega Man X series are present here. But none of the characters are the traditional "jump and spin dash" style of gameplay that Sonic games focus on. Lilac is my personal favorite, having a mixture of fluid combat moves and a sense of general speed alongside a double jump and charge dash. Carol has weaker but swifter attacks, can climb walls, and can get a bloody motorcycle to ride around levels on. And Milla is... weird. The hardest character to learn but overall the fastest, as far as I've seen - her speedrun world record is the shortest of the three by several minutes. What this means is that the 12-level main game for each of the characters plays vastly different for each of them, with levels often having paths specifically designed for one character or another and a few levels being character-exclusive as well.
(https://cdn.destructoid.com//ul/313356-FFF.jpg)
The level and boss design also tends to be quite good; each stage is quite lengthy, some of them taking over half an hour for me to complete the first time through, with lots of different paths and secrets scattered throughout. And each stage has its own gimmicks and little gameplay mechanics; heck, each half of the levels tends to have its own mechanics as well, since the first 8 stages are designed sort of like act 1 and act 2 of a sonic zone combined. The levels are also design in such a way that there's few points where you really have to stop and wait; you can just keep moving and speeding through levels once you know your way around. The bosses are all fairly unique encounters, some of them having a massive scale to them, others being more like one-on-one fights in fighting games. There's a lot of them yet enough variety to them that they never feel repetitive, and some of them can be damn hard - the bosses later in the game especially. The final boss was hard enough that the developer had to go and tone it down just to keep it from being a massive difficulty spike right at the end of the game; though the original form of the boss is intact on the hardest difficulty, regardless (and actually really fun once you learn how to fight them).
I won't say it's a perfect game or anything - the story is a bit cheesy and predictable, though it fits in with the "90's saturday cartoon" style of story pretty well, and the levels could prooobably serve to be a bit shorter in a few places, but really there's not a lot to complain about here. It's just a really enjoyable 2D platformer that's always fun to come back to. And there's a sequel coming out at some point, which should definitely be exciting to play. Great game though, for sure.
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I've never heard of Freedom Planet but now I really want to play being a huge Sonic fan.
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i am glad that my list is being a positive influence
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FEZ and Undertale have been on my radar for quite a while but I haven't gotten around to either yet.
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Tried to play FEZ once, but I just got lost and lost and... geez, my OCD hates no having a map or a guide of where everything is :lol But I'll eventually try it again, have it on Steam.
Ugh, Undertale's too tumblr for me :P
I'll take a guess that your fav game ever is Journey.
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FEZ has a map, and a very useful one :lol
lets you see how rooms are connected, lets you know when you have everything in a room
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...did it have a map?!? :facepalm: :rollin
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(https://www.dealspwn.com/writer/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Fez-map-vita.jpg)
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Two of my favorite games from last year in LiS and Undertale.
Fez is also great. I finished it but never really completed it, too much of a task.
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Fez is incredible. And the deeper you get the better it becomes
I've never played anything quite like it
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And the deeper you get the better it becomes
A lady acquaintance of mine once uttered such a phrase.
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:lol
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so i'm super bad at this "keeping timely posts thing" apparently also i just totally forgot uuhhh
well i can try to do one or two before bed :lol
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(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RenbHZykuaA/maxresdefault.jpg)
14. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
The first (and not last) visual novel style game on my list, Danganronpa is a hybrid mystery/horror story that's pretty well-known for being absolutely vicious to its characters. The basic premise: 15 students are locked in a school. The only way to escape is to kill someone - and get away with it. After each murder a trial is held and the remaining students have to decide who they think the killer is - if they're right, only the killer gets executed, but if they're wrong, the killer walks free and everyone else gets executed. And ooh boy are the executions a thing to watch. If this sounds halfway between Phoenix Wright and the Zero Escape series, then you'd be right. It's basically a comfortable middle between the two.
Gameplay-wise this is fairly interactive for a visual novel; you can run around the school that serves as the game world and interact with other characters or points of interest to find clues to solve the mystery of the day. And the trials play out like a combinations of cross-examinations from the ace attorney series and a variety of minigames; shooting the correct statement with the correct evidence, shooting at letters to spell out a word, heck, there's even a rhythm minigame thrown into the mix. It's certainly an interesting style of gameplay and while I'd say it's far from perfect, and as well there are moments where figuring out what exactly the game wants you to do can be a bit frustrating, the gameplay elements are still minor enough compared to the story so as to not get in the way.
(https://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1365/13658182/2422653-2013-11-04-163138.jpg)
Where the game's strengths really lie is in the writing and the characters. Sure, there are a few characters who die a bit too quickly to really get to know, and there's a few who are not particularly great characters either, but there's a lot of interesting personalities clashing here. Some friendly personalities, some more mysterious ones, some aloof or outright evil ones. I'd say my personal favorite of the bunch is Celeste but there's more than enough personality to go around. And you do get the chance to learn more about each of the characters outside of the main storyline as the game has a sort of dating sim aspect to it that allows you to also unlock new skills for use during the trials. And with the number of great characters the game has, it can be all the more painful when one shows up dead, or worse, you have to find them guilty of murder. And they seemed like such a nice person, too. Oh well.
The overarching story... well, it's hard to say much about it, but it's an interesting mystery in itself, trying to figure out the mastermind behind this whole ordeal and figuring out just exactly how the students all ended up locked inside the school to begin with, completely isolated from the rest of the world. A running theme of the game is hope versus despair and the protagonist, Makoto, does have to face a good deal of both in order to survive. But yeah, talking further about the game's plot would be spoiling too much, so you should definitely go and check it out for yourself.
The second game in the series has even more interesting murder mysteries and probably a better cast of characters overall, but a weaker overarching plot and mildly disappointing final chapter, alongside a large number of gameplay changes I feel was for the worst, which is why I chose this game over the sequel, but they're both pretty good games in their own right and anyone who likes a good story should definitely check this series out. Just be prepared to have your heart broken when your favorite character shows up dead in a puddle of pink blood.
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/de9Nafo0gwvcwBuFKeSw6s0WbiITB2myybh5heXzQtFP52Wo68pimKgln1GEIBMWtw=h900)
13. The Talos Principle
This game is here more for its puzzles than anything else. Because the puzzle design in this game is pretty dang solid, constantly evolving and changing, adding new elements and combining them in interesting ways to make you think outside of the box, all while never feeling overwhelming or ever getting to frustratingly difficult and obscure solutions like some puzzle games tend to. And the weird part is that a lot of the mechanics are pretty basic. You have gates you need to open, a jammer to disable one piece of machinery, laser redirectors to point lasers towards a receiver, buttons to press down, boxes to stack or hold down buttons with, fans to blow you or objects in a direction. A few more complex mechanics like the time-clones and rideable platform that get introduced later in the game too, I guess, but they mostly keep it pretty simple.
What strikes me most is how many different puzzles they're able to squeeze out of these mechanics and still remain interesting. So many puzzle, in fact, that they were able to release a decent-sized DLC bonus story that added absolutely no mechanics and yet had a variety of unique puzzles all to its own. I'd honestly say that the DLC is actually better in every regard than the main game, refining the puzzles and removing some of the more frustrating elements (less enemies, no rideable platforms) to make for a more tight and consistently enjoyable experience. And yes, I'm kind of factoring the DLC into this game's placement on my list, but really the game would still be here even without it. It's just a really good puzzle game.
And that's without talking about how gorgeous the game's atmosphere is. Sure, it's very "standard" looking but just looks pretty damn gorgeous, and there's a lot of massive monuments throughout the levels to keep the scenery interesting. The game's three main areas all have a different general theme - forests, desert, mountains - and a theme of ruins running throughout them all, with some puzzles for the secret stars taking good advantage of these environments for some pretty interesting puzzle design.
(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/the-talos-principle-screenshot-01-ps4-us-8aug14?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
The story of the game is also pretty interesting too. You play as an AI, and the framing of the puzzles is that some deity-like voice speaking to you throughout the game guiding you through the puzzles to test your capability to learn and adapt. All the while there's a backstory to discover the reason why you're being put through these trials in the first place. One neat touch about the game is that while you spend the majority of the game alone, it never feels like a barren wasteland - there are messages left all over from other AIs who have come to the same realms before you, solved the same puzzles you have. There's also interaction with a devil-like figure through a computer terminal that tries to convince you to leave the path that the commanding deity figure is trying to set you on, and there's a lot of philosophy involved in those discussions, without ever trying to force any ideals on the player and letting them make their own decisions in the end.
It's a very engrossing game between the atmosphere and the engaging puzzles that left me playing for hours on end many times over, and quite a meaty experience with well over a hundred puzzles to solve and 40 more secret puzzles to really see everything there is to find in the game. Just very well-crafted in all regards and while I definitely wouldn't say quite every puzzle hits the mark, there are so many puzzles doing so many interesting things that I can't complain if there's a miss every so often. And do make sure to get the DLC for this game, because again, the story and puzzles are both superior to the main game in basically every way, and the main game was already pretty great to begin with. So yeah. Good stuff, definitely check this out if you're a fan of puzzle games.
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The Talos Principle has been on my Steam wishlist for, like, forever, but I've never got round to buying it. It does look great though!
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shoulda picked it up in the steam sale that just ended
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shoulda picked it up in the steam sale that just ended
I did it today, just in time. :lol
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i can die happy knowing i have positively influenced your life :tup
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That Danganronpa game sounds edgy af, so might add it to my to-play list :corn
Also this:
The Talos Principle has been on my Steam wishlist for, like, forever, but I've never got round to buying it. It does look great though!
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i can die happy knowing i have positively influenced your life :tup
:heart
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(https://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/27/26100/56767567.png)
12. Full Bore
While every game on my list thus far has ranged from "pretty dang good" to "really dang good", I still think that there's a very noticeable gap between how much I like the remaining 12 games on this list and everything else beneath them. Really, any of the upcoming games from now until about #6 could go toe-to-toe with each other, and the remaining 6 aren't a massive step up, but. Yeah, we've definitely reached the "really freaking fantastic" category of games on this list.
And what better way to start out that category than with a very unassuming game about a cute little boar? Ahaha. Okay. Story time. I got this game from a $1 humble bundle tier well over a year before I even played it. I had absolutely no expectations going into this game except that it looked like it would be pretty solid. Needless to say I was absolutely floored by what I found. This game, while it may look like a puzzle platformer, is almost exclusively just a pure puzzle game, with a small number of execution-based puzzles scattered throughout its game world. And the game world itself... well, it's pretty expansive. There is, again, no place you can't immediately go to, no puzzle you can't immediately solve. The game world is set up very much like a metroidvania but there are no powerups or locked doors.
What makes this game so great is how the exploration is handled - finding new and clever ways to get to places. The puzzles are all block-based; blocks you can dig through, blocks you can push, blocks that interact with other blocks to perform a variety of functions. And the game goes through great lengths to explore as many different possible puzzle setups as they can get out of the basic setup. Anywhere that it looks like you might be able to get to, you probably can, but it won't be immediately obvious. And every puzzle you come across that looks impossible probably has a very elegant solution, but one that you have to chip away at to discover.
(https://www.wholehog-games.com/fullbore/img/fb-2.png)
Seriously, the puzzle design is beautiful, and it never once feels repetitive despite the fact that there are well over 200 distinct puzzles throughout the game world. The game keeps itself fresh by constantly introducing new mechanics - there are four major worlds, the first being fairly standard to introduce all the basics but the other three each introducing and playing around with a new set of mechanics. And the puzzles can range from "solving effortlessly in a single attempt" to "I've been here for half an hour and I still have no clue what I'm doing" but in nearly every case when you solve a puzzle you feel a distinct sense of accomplishment. That's what I like. That's rewarding game design right there.
Aside from the gameplay itself there's a lot to like about this game. It's got a semi-retro style but still modern enough to end up looking pretty darn beautiful, and each world has its own atmosphere to keep the game feeling fresh. And the soundtrack, it's really bloody good - something like cowboy garage rock, is the best way I can think of to describe it. It's not something I can say I have any point of reference for but damned if it doesn't set the tone for each of the worlds perfectly. And the story is pretty interesting as well; a lot of it is hidden away in computer terminals you find throughout the game, shedding light on the backstory of how the boars and boarkind all came into sentience, and what happened to the rest of the world in the process.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say that the true final boss battle is... not particularly good. But that's maybe, at best, 2% of the entire game's runtime, and the positives absolutely crush the negatives here, so it's just a shame it ends on a bit of a sour note. But I digress. The game basically has everything I'd want in a puzzle game and provides a very compelling and atmospheric world to explore alongside it, and considering the sheer quantity of puzzles here it's also surprisingly replayable. I went back only about a year or so later and was still quite challenged by a lot of the puzzles despite having solved them all before. And I imagine in a year or two I'll be able to come back and have a pretty fresh experience with it a second time. Just, really wonderful little game, a definite hidden gem of the indie scene.
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(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--eVds_cYg--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_center,h_450,q_80,w_800/1372124923971215976.png)
11. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations
Okay, it's absolutely impossible to find decent-sized screenshots for this game given that it was a originally a GBA game so excuse the use of wallpaper. Anyways. This was pretty well foreshadowed I'd imagine, considering that I outright said so (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=47383.msg2233561#msg2233561) and also made passing reference to both this series and another series yet to appear on my list in a previous writeup. But yes. I was half-tempted to cheat and put the entire original trilogy on my list since it is bundled that way on the Wii shop, but no, I definitely have to stick with the best overall game in the series. But, seriously, go check out the entire trilogy. Heck, check out the entire series. Aside from the weird detour of Apollo Justice, every other game is pretty damn great at worst and absolutely fantastic at best. And even now I bet if I let it sit, the newest game in the series could possibly dethrone this one as my favorite, we'll see.
But this game in particular. For those who are unaware, the Ace Attorney series is a visual novel-styled game where you play as a defense attorney (specifically Phoenix Wright in the original trilogy, though not exclusively; you spend two cases in this game playing as Mia Fey, for one). It's very over the top and hammy in the best of ways. The writing in the series tends to be really great and diverse; you have a lot of great humor, you get a lot of great and complex mysteries, you get a variety of interesting and unique characters, and you get a good number of heart-wrenching, emotional moments to boot. And nowhere is that best exemplified than in the third entry in the series and the final game in the original trilogy.
The game doesn't go out of its way to add any new mechanics to the gameplay; it uses basically the same gameplay formula as the second game in the series. A formula that, for the record, is pretty damn good. About half the game is spent investigating crime scenes - poking around for evidence in a number of locations, and talking with witnesses and with the defendant to squeeze as much information out of them as you can for the trial. The second game added the Psyche Lock mechanic that really breathed life into these segments, which tended to feel really slow and often a bit guide dang it in the first game; instead now you know flat out when someone has something they want to hide, and it's up to you to figure out how to wring it out of them.
(https://nintendoinvader.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/objection.jpg)
The trials are, as ever, still the more exciting part of the game however. You get to really put the pressure on witnesses and expose their lies, new evidence and testimony appearing all over the place to really provide some wild twists and turns. The trials are mostly spent either presenting the right piece of evidence or pressing the correct witness statement to uncover a contradiction, and slowly the pieces will fall into place to reveal who the true culprit behind each murder is. And it's always murder. Always. Which is a great storywriting device honestly, sets the stakes really high for every case, so I can't complain. The game is probably the hardest in the entire series, with a lot more instant failure scenarios and a lot of higher penalties in general. Save scumming is recommended, for sure.
Of course where this game really shines is in its story and characters. This game introduces quite a strong group of characters - a new, enjoyable prosecutor, some great new villains - one of the most loveable and one of the most hateable, both in wonderful ways. And the game brings back a loooot of the older ones, from both the first and second games. And not just the really major characters, a good number of the smaller roles from both games are back in this one. And with good reason - the final case of this game ties up so many hanging plot threads from the first two games, and it's probably largely responsible for this game's placement alone. Though the final case of the second game still stands as my absolute favorite in the series. There's also, easily, the most shocking outcome of any trial in the series in this game, though I won't say when.
It's really hard to say much about this game especially, since it's both a heavily story-based game, and the third game in the series, for which a good deal of context would be needed just to fill in the gaps. Which I don't intend to do. I'd instead recommend playing through the original trilogy by yourself, since really all of them are pretty great games. They're all great at evoking a wide variety of emotions and providing solid mysteries for the player to unravel, and just really enjoyable for it.
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by the way i intend to do the top 10 one at a time but i'm gonna try and keep a better pace for the rest of these
especially with how mcuh i want to talk about them all, they're all so good
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(https://media.gamerevolution.com/images/misc/dustforce-review-2.jpg)
10. Dustforce
I will preface this with a warning that this game is, no joke, one of the hardest games to "beat" in all of existence. Because this game goes hardcore. This game demands perfection, quite literally, to even unlock all its stages, much less clear some of the hardest ones. I have not "beaten" this game and I never will. I haven't even cleared two of the hardest stages in the game, much less perfected them. And that's... fine. I've cleared the vast majority of the game several times over despite the challenge, because this is just a damn fun game to play.
Dustforce is a parkour platformer where you play as a janitor sweeping up dust, leaves, slime, and whatever else needs cleaning. And the controls are... very tight and polished, with so many little quirks to them that keep the platforming varied on its own. You have a basic jump and double jump. You have a dash maneuver. You have a light, fast attack and a powerful, slow attack, and a special move you can use when your special gauge is full. And you have so, so many ways to combine them. Killing an enemy gives you a jump charge, which lets you use either one more midair jump or dash. You can dash downwards to gain a lot of momentum and keep dashes going to maintain speed. Killing an enemy also keeps your vertical position fixed for a second, resulting in scenarios where you bash through enemies while moving directly sideways through spiky corridors. You can slide on just about anything - slide up a wall after a jump, slide down a slope with momentum, slide on a goddamn ceiling if you have the speed for it, sure. You can run up a wall or across a ceiling for a brief period of time too. There are so, so many gameplay quirks to this game and watching it in motion is an absolute joy.
(https://www.justpushstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Dustforce-_PC_Editeur_004.jpg)
And the game's scoring system is really well-designed. You are scored on precisely two things: Keeping your combo going as long as possible, and cleaning as much dust or trash as possible. Your combo runs out after about 5 seconds of not cleaning anything, and also breaks if you are hit or die, and thus getting a perfect rank requires both not dying and completing things fairly fast - but there's no arbitrary time limit where being a fraction of a second over is the difference between ranks. And clearing all the dust is pretty straightforward - anything at all left and you don't get that S rank. This includes defeating every last enemy in the level, naturally, as they're all dirty and in need of cleaning. And the game does another great thing - there's no lives system and frequent checkpoints, probably every 5-10 seconds or so on the harder levels. There's not a lot of trial and error and tedious replaying of levels to clear them. No, the game lets you practice each individual hurdle of the level separately, but the real challenge is to chain them all together for that SS rank that you absolutely need to unlock the higher tiers of levels. And yes, perfection is absolutely required, you cannot unlock all the levels in each tier without getting SS in all the levels of the previous tier.
The end result of all this well thought out game design is a game that's probably the hardest "fair" game I've ever played, but one that almost never gets frustrating, even it its most impossibly hard moments. There's really only a few places this wavers - the level Hideout is notoriously hard for all the wrong reasons and not particularly fun, and while I can see the appeal of the Difficult levels in the highest tier, I don't find them particularly fun to play. But I can just, choose to not play them, which I do tend to do. Hideout's the only one I take real issue with since it's part of the main game itself. But then, when you have over 65 decently-sized levels and only one of them's a real clunker... that's pretty impressive on its own.
(https://irrationalpassions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/dustforce_d-2011-09-12-20-51-22-00.png)
And it definitely helps that the game's aesthetic is just gorgeous. The level design is kind of blocky but there are so many little details and the art style is very pleasant to look at. And the soundtrack is utterly fantastic, a lot of very chill electronic tracks that help keep frustration in check. Some games blast this loud pump-up music while providing really difficult challenges and that usually just serves to make me hate the music for backing this already frustrating task and creating a spiral of misery. This game avoids that by having the music work counter to the challenge and I really, deeply respect it for that. I do legitimately think the choice of chill music is one of the best game design choices here.
The game is basically everything I'd want a precision platformer to be - very smooth to play and more interesting in chaining acrobatics than making you go through absurdly tight platforming, while still providing a very high level of challenge. Some of the gold tier levels are absolutely fantastic pieces of level design - Night Temple and Backup Shift especially, love them to bits despite how difficult they are. If you're up to the challenge I'd definitely recommend this game, but I really honestly would not recommend this to the casual player, as it's a pretty inaccessible game with a steep learning curve. But it definitely gets some of my highest personal recommendations, easily. A pure gameplay game that works on practically every level.
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Yeah I want to play the Phoenix Wright games one day :corn
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play them all bcuz they're great
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(https://www.thescoreonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/07-09-Review-999-03.png)
9. Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Okay, I swear to god this placing at #9 is a total coincidence, but it's a pretty hilarious one. 999 rounds out the trio of visual novel games on this list, being the most straightforward visual novel of the bunch, though still having its own gameplay to boast. It's the first in the Zero Escape trilogy of games, as well, and my personal favorite, though I recommend playing through the entire trilogy for sure. In order though, absolutely, no other way to play it, since each has massive spoilers for the previous game in it by nature. And the story of the series is the real big draw here, the story and the characters together.
The premise is that nine strangers have all been gathered up and locked on a sinking ship to play the Nonary game. In nine hours, the ship will sink, drowning the players along with it. To win, they have to open the door with a 9 on it to escape from the ship. And the big catch. Each player has a bomb inside them that will go off if they break any of the game's rules. Just to throw a bit of a life-or-death stakes into the mix, you know. The players also have no reason to trust each other and they all believe the mastermind of the whole game, Zero, is among them, leading to plenty of betrayal and violence from within the group, even aside from the players who break the rules. Yeah, it can be a pretty bloody game.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/477740/ss_c240213c771d8e1b1e0cb70044aef5648f4b1967.1920x1080.jpg?t=1478256373)
Or... it might not. There are several points in the game where you choose which path to take (which numbered door to open) and the story can change in significant ways depending on the path you take. There's only one correct path to see the true ending of the game that wraps up the overarching story and allows the players to escape, as well, though you will definitely stumble upon some other paths before you see it. The multiple path structure of the game keeps replays feeling fairly fresh, as does the ability to skip over any text you've already seen, though it comes with the minor annoyance of having to replay puzzle rooms that you've already solved.
Oh yeah, the main "gameplay" of the game is escape-the-room type puzzles scattered throughout the ship. None of them are particularly difficult but they're not too easy either, they hit a nice sweet spot of challenge, and since the scope of the puzzles is confined to a pretty small area even if you get stuck it's not hard to eventually figure out what you need to do. The only real gripe with these is the need to replay them, something the sequels did away with entirely to their benefit. The true ending is also a lot harder to find in this game than in the other games in the series; there's really no indication until you stumble upon the path that you've found the right one.
What this has over the other games, at least in my opinion, is its aesthetic and its story. Visually this game looks the nicest to me out of all three games - I prefer the 2D spritework to the ugly models of the second game and the awkward animations of the third game, though neither of them look really that bad. And the music here is definitely the most memorable in the series, and the most foreboding as well - some of the tracks really help create a suspenseful, terrifying atmosphere, it's great. And there's one track in particular that plays during some of the most emotional scenes in the game that's just really fantastic.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/477740/ss_1a22b8251f307da905a4d4fa156d417f1e5ecb3e.1920x1080.jpg?t=1478256373)
It's really hard to say much about the game without spoiling major details of the story, but it really is quite fantastic. Things go downhill pretty fast and there's a lot of great twists and turns, some of them pretty cleverly foreshadowed, and I don't want to spoil them here. The characters are all pretty great too, each having a strong and distinct personality and each having their own motivations and relationships with the other characters. The writing is much more like a novel than the other games in the series, too, the localization team did a great job with this one in particular.
This is just all-around a great game and probably my favorite story in all of video games, really. It lacks the gameplay polish of the other games in the series but the writing is where it shines the brightest and definitely makes it a strong contender for one of my favorite games of all time. Unfortunately it loses out to the 8 above it mostly on lack of polish and lack of much gameplay, but still, definitely would recommend checking this game and this series out. The first two games are coming to steam next year and the third game's already there so very soon you'll be able to grab the whole series rather conveniently, hint hint.
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I wonder if my entire top 10 is gonna get this little love lol
#1 and #2 will at the very least and #5 too but the rest are at least a bit more well known
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I've got this one on my list, so I'll grab it whenever it's on Steam - can't be bothered with DS emulators :P
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(https://www.oriblindforest.com/wp-content/uploads/galleryimages/JijEe0ml7GmPC5WV.jpg)
8. Ori and the Blind Forest
No, that's not some painterly concept art I've used for the game image there. That's an in-game screenshot. The entire game is that beautiful. If that's not justification for this game being so high up my list, well then... good thing everything else about this game is fantastic too. But yes let's get that out of the way, this is one of the most visually stunning games I've ever seen. Forget all those FPS games that try to emulate the real world as closely as possible. This is the kind of game I want to look at. Astounding levels of detail, tons of colors and a very vibrant and cohesive world that really feels like a living, breathing environment due largely in part to how great it looks. And on top of that the soundtrack is gorgeous as well. On aesthetic alone I'd probably give this game a perfect score.
But beyond that, what really draws me to this game is that - surprise - it's a metroidvania. And one that pulls of the concept very well, might I add. While the game does have a combat system, it's not very in-depth nor is it a major selling point of the game - which I'm glad for, really. It keeps the focus on the platforming and the fact that the combat and platforming go hand-in-hand makes it work all the better for me. Especially when you get the bash move that completely redefines both the combat and platforming of the game. Really makes the game fun to play. This game's controls in general are really damn great. Ori is fairly light but not floaty in the slightest, the gameplay is kept fast and fluid, and the majority of the powerups exist only to add even more depth to the platforming. It's a really fun game to play.
(https://www.oriblindforest.com/wp-content/uploads/galleryimages/8X3BM5C1L4S4iYjL.jpg)
Good controls alone would mean nothing if it was paired with poor level design, though. Thankfully this is not the case - the large, sprawling world is full of a great variety of challenges both in terms of platforming and combat, every powerup you get has good use made of it, and the difficult scales up at juuust the right pace. And the game can get pretty challenging, though certainly not as hard as Dustforce or some of the upcoming games on this list. I'm not sure the game ever puts you in the exact same scenario twice throughout its length, and considering that the game world is pretty meaty (but easy to traverse from end-to-end once everything opens up, and the definitive edition also added a nice fast travel feature) that's a pretty impressive task. Add to that a number of area-specific gimmicks that integrate smoothly into the standard gameplay and the game's diversity keeps it quite replayable - I should know, I've probably played through this one front-to-back a half dozen times at least.
The game also decides to forgo boss fights in favor of some grand chase sequences that really put your platforming skills to the test, and these tend to be some of my favorite moments of the game. I saw a lot of people complaining about the first sequence being a big difficulty spike but I honestly am not sure I agree with that sentiment - I think it's just right for that point in the game. They're able to pull off some cool cinematic moments that really show off how gorgeous the game's animation is during these sequences as well.
And the story of the game! It's... pretty fine. I'll admit, I think they made it a bit more of a selling point than they should have, especially with one of the later twists in the game being a flat negative as far as I'm concerned, but it's a serviceable and pleasant story for the most part and the main villain is imposing enough to feel like a real threat, appearing numerous times throughout the course of the game.
(https://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/screenshots/OriandtheBlindForest/Ori_Gamescom_Ginso_Heart_Dead.jpg)
Here's the part where I would nitpick about the game. Would, but can't really, since the developers released a definitive edition of the game about a year after the initial launch. And from the state of that edition, you can tell the developers really, REALLY listened well to criticisms the players had. One of the biggest gripes was the inability to revisit certain areas after you'd cleared them, and the inability to continue your file after you'd cleared the game. This could leave a few collectibles permanently missable as well as leave 100% map completion impossible, but this was revised in the new edition so that you could go back to these areas - and as well, one collectible placed in area you still can't return to (for valid reasons) was moved elsewhere leaving nothing permanently missable. Add to that the addition of fast travel and a new area with a few new powerups and the game ends up feeling quite polished at the end of the day.
A running trend with all the entries in this top 10 (and, well, honestly looking over my entire list, ever single game up to now, but the top 10 especially) is that the games here are games I can sit and play for a long time. Case in point, I got this game on release day, and only started playing it after I was done with classes for the day, like 3 PM or so. And I just... played straight through the game from beginning to end before I went to sleep that night, taking like one or two short breaks for dinner and all. Because this game is just that engrossing and gorgeous. I knew immediately that it would stand as one of my favorite games of all time and, yeah, I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. Just a fantastic game on every front. The tiniest of tiny issues with it, but it's really a joy to look at.
Also, Ori is adorable. Just saying.
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I have Ori but yet to really sit down and play it. It is an incredibly stunning game though.
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I have been aware of the existence of this game for some time, but have yet to play it.
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>beautiful art
>metroidvania
I'm sold on this one :corn
Also I'll take some guesses for the rest of the games on the list, in no particular order:
Okami
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime
Pokemon Platinum? or 4° gen
Unlikely but:
Limbo
Journey
ICO
Shadow of the Colossus
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One of those is correct
Two of those are series that had honorable mentions and thus didn't rank on my list proper :P
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Oh gotcha. But really, get the Metroid Prime Trilogy if you can, amazing games imo.
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I meant Mario more than metroid tbh but maybe I put metroid prime 2 on my hms I forget lol? all three aren't on my list though
I've never even played gen 4 pokemon btw
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Cave Story is a possibility.
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(https://antichamber-game.com/press/Antichamber/images/Antichamber14.png)
7. Antichamber
Oh yeah, now this is the kind of puzzle game I dig. Instead of following the standard first-person puzzle formula, this game seeks to make its own rules as much as possible and a large part of the game is figuring out those rules. And the rules tend to be preeeetty weird. The game delights in non-euclidean spaces and you can find yourself going through a long hallway that opens up into the room you just left, or taking half a dozen right turns in a row without looping in on yourself. The game's map is also pretty decent expansive, resulting in getting lost in the nonsensical maze being a pretty easy task. The inclusion of a central "hub" room you can warp back to at any time that also contains a map of the game where you can warp to most rooms from is very, very much appreciated.
The game does eventually include some more standard puzzle elements after it gets out the introduction of its weirder mechanics, too. The central mechanic of the game is a gun that lets you shoot blocks, and throughout the course of the game this gun gets upgraded several times to allow you to do more with these blocks. There's quite a number of puzzles scattered throughout the game map and they tend to integrate with moving through the map in various ways; climbing up a wall using only two blocks by creating a staircase by removing and replacing the same blocks over and over as you climb, guiding a connected chain of blocks a specific way to create a bridge, among others.
(https://thegia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Antichamber-Screenshot-6.png)
The game also has an interesting collectible - nothing physical, but scattered throughout the game are black & white pictures that, when you click on them, reveal a short phrase, often relating to the puzzle you just solved to unlock it, or hinting at the solution to a future puzzle just up ahead. And there's quite a lot of them tucked throughout the game providing their own incentive to explore as much as possible. The game is decisively non-linear and there are a lot of different paths you can take to end up at the same goal points, but going out of your way to explore as much as possible to find everything is sort of a joy in itself since there's more puzzles to solve and different scenarios to overcome. There's also the hidden pink cubes which serve no real purpose and tend to be tucked away in the hardest-to-find areas, just as a little bonus. Nothing keeping track of them though.
Speaking of those, the one unfortunate thing about this game is that the state of the game is perpetually in "mostly complete, but not really quite finished" due to the pink cubes and the extra area they were intended to unlock. There's been no word or update from the developer in over 4 years and it's safe to say that's never going to happen at this point, but honestly, even without the extra secrets there's still a lot of meat to the game and if you don't know about those pink cubes you'd never tell the game was never quite finished, so it really doesn't bother me much.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/219890/ss_c02435ac01bff1e3af6c69e9ddeb77f6bf40caf2.jpg?t=1447356555)
On the subject of the game's aesthetic, I'd have to describe it as "very minimalistic, but really bloody gorgeous". That goes for both the visuals and the audio. The main color of the game is definitely white, but there's so many vibrant rooms and nice colors as well as some really cool geometry and I really find this game is a joy to look at, even if it's not the most detailed and elaborate game on the market in terms of style. And the soundtrack is very ambient and soothing, really incites a chill feeling. This game as a whole is very zen because of its aesthetic, there's very little frustration and no pressure or rush to reach the end, you're totally free to move at your own place and explore the bizarre world you've found yourself in.
I'm trying to avoid spoiling any of the interesting mechanics of the game itself here since it's really best to be experienced and learn things on your own, but this is definitely one of my favorite puzzle games of all time and one I'd recommend anyone check out. It's interesting I get to talk about this one at the same time as I'm playing The Witness (another fantastic puzzle game that I'm sure would've made this list if I'd played it earlier) as they both have a lot of "learning mechanics through experimentation instead of tutorials", a kind of puzzle-solving that really works well for me it seems. That feeling you get when the puzzle suddenly clicks into place and you get a moment of epiphany and understanding - that's what I really look for in puzzle games more than anything else and it makes solving puzzles feel all the more worth it.
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I started anti-chamber right before my move and I haven't gotten back into it but I loved the little bit I've played. I'm really not into puzzle games (I'm terrible at them) but I am looking forward to playing more.
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I've had this one on Steam for quite a while. Will probably install it and play it soon, sounds pretty interesting :corn
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Was introduced to gaming by my parents for Final Fantasy. I have a Playstation 4 I love to play with my friends and siblings, even my parents.
Got a Steam account just recently and have been addicted to this fun game. Nice read so far and Antichamber seems bloody interesting.
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(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/29/b4/08/29b4080ecbcb68196ce12e131ca3a540.jpg)
6. Rayman Legends
Rayman was always one of my favorite series growing up. Moreso than Nario for sure and almost as much as Sonic, but unfortunately the poor guy was never as prolific. The original Rayman game remains far more creative and interesting (and challenging!) than the older Mario and Sonic games, and while it wasn't perfect it's a game I've gone back to replay through quite a bit. I actually had the three-in-one pack of the original game and two games' worth of custom levels on the PC when I first played this, and there was always a sense of wonder to the game, even if I was never good enough to clear very far into it. And Rayman 2 I missed entirely, and didn't really enjoy when I went back to play it since it was the beginning of the 3D platformer and all and none of those games have aged well, but Rayman 3 was another game I adored and played the heck out of as a kid, again with a lot of the same vibrant qualities as the first game had.
Then nothing happened for almost a decade... and Rayman Origins came out of the blue to suddenly be, easily, the best game in the series up to that point. Boasting a speedy, parkour-esque style of platforming, breathtakingly beautiful visuals, and just as much creativity as you'd come to expect from the series (plus some nice nostalgia bait), it was basically the perfect platformer. Was. Rayman Legends has all but ruined Origins for me now. Because it just takes everything Origins does and does it better. The engine is more polished - and that's the real dealbreaker with Origins, you go back to playing that right after playing Legends and it just doesn't feel nearly as smooth to play. The graphics are even more beautiful. The creativity is upped to the extreme. The only slight drawback is that Rayman Legends is a fair bit easier than Origins, which had a very satisfying difficulty to begin with. But that doesn't matter since the game is just so damn fun to play anyways.
(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/ps3-game-7080-ss10?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
The game boasts quite a lot of different level styles. There's the standard but diverse levels, the quick-but-tough rescue levels, the very tightly-designed speedrunning challenges, the boss battles, and best of all, the musical levels. Oh, those musical levels. There's potential for an entire game in just those levels alone, the best execution of the concept I've ever seen and probably will ever see. Seriously, you see the trailer for the game that has the first music level (a reworking of Black Betty by Ram Jam) and you're just instantly hooked. What a way to make an impression. The levels all feel great to play, and they're never -too- hard, but they are definitely fantastic spectacles and the music is pretty great for most of them as well.
Oh, and if you did miss out on Rayman Origins, well... something around 2/3rds of the game is in Rayman Legends in remastered level form, so you don't have to miss out on much at all! Granted, the difficulty of a lot of the levels has been toned down (especially the chase levels) and they did bring back the moskito levels, the weakest levels from Origins, but they're still plenty of fun to play and they do have a pretty distinct feel from the Legends levels. I'd still recommend playing Origins anyways since, let's be fair, it's still a great game even if going back to it I have my gripes with it.
(https://ubistatic9-a.akamaihd.net/ubicomstatic/en-US/global/media/rl_ocean_world__dragon_attack__1_160486.jpg)
The game is just a great balance of spectacle, creativity, and fluid, enjoyable gameplay. It's ridiculously diverse and quite long for a 2D platformer as well, with a great collection aspect to make it even more replayable. Nearly every stage has its own gimmick mixed in with straightforward platforming that keeps the game constantly feeling fresh while also still making it feel like a cohesive game and not a series of unrelated gimmicks. It can be challenging, but never overly difficult or requiring too much precision or finesse. And if you get bored of the main levels, there's daily challenge levels procedurally generated from small pieces of level that are a sort of "how far can you get before you die" kind of challenge that can be pretty fun on their own.
There's really very little I can critique about this game, it's just a joy to play start to finish, and a game that I've come back to several times to replay because there's just so much creativity and quality gameplay on display here. It's gorgeous to look at, fluid as heck in motion, the engine is complex enough to have a lot of little tricks to make going fast in levels an interesting challenge by itself, and those goddamn music levels are just some of the best things I've ever played. Only the highest of recommendations for this one and it's one of the games on this list I expect to appeal to the widest variety of players. We really need another game from this new Rayman series. Any day now whenever you're ready, Ubisoft. I'd hand over the money in an instant.
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Just bought the game on steam recently. Awesome timing!
This game is filled with fun and I don't regret this purchase.
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What a coincidence; I literally started Legends yesterday. It's been a blast so far.
Rayman was also one of my favorite series growing up. The first Rayman was my own number one entry, and I also thoroughly enjoy 3. The scoring system added so much to that game.
Just one correction:
Then nothing happened for almost a decade...
Except something did happen. To this very day, I'm still disappointed in Ubisoft for cancelling Rayman 4 and demoting the character to a series of stupid motion control minigame collections.
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Haha, no, Nothing Happened
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(https://thevideogamebacklog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/LovelyPlanet-2014-07-28-05-16-52-77.jpg)
5. Lovely Planet
Let me tell you a story. I'm not a fan of FPS games in general. I've probably played less than a dozen in my lifetime. Shooting is not a very satisfying form of combat and the games tend to be repetitive slogs lacking in gameplay finesse that gets tiresome really quickly. I've played Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite, they're okay, combat doesn't do it for me. I've played Borderlands, it's okay, sniping is kinda fun, generally doesn't do it for me. But this. This game. The moment I started playing it I was hooked. It's basically super meat boy in FPS form. Quick levels, quick iteration times, one-touch death, a decent level of skill and precision needed. Except super meat boy is a weird game where the player character and level design feel like they come from two different games.
Obviously that's not the case for this game. The level design is super tight and fluid to the point where there is no point in the game where you absolutely have to stop moving and wait for something to happen. The gameplay pacing is quick, and the levels are kept quick as well - the longest is still under 30 seconds and some can be as short as 5-10 seconds. Yet the game's difficult enough that its 100 bite-sized levels kept me occupied trying to 100% this for about 15 hours. The main goal of each level is to 1. Get to the exit and 2. Kill all of the red guys (baddies) along the way. Miss one, and you fail the level even if you reach the goal. And there are stars to earn in each level - one for 100% accuracy in shooting, and one for beating a time limit - both can be pretty hard to achieve on a lot of levels, even aside from the difficulty of clearing some of these levels.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBqSijyqs1c/VD0c195uwQI/AAAAAAAADVw/A41Roni8ZmU/s1600/LovelyPlanet%2B2014-07-26%2B01-53-14-16.png)
The levels are designed in a pretty linear fashion where there's one expect path and taking that path will make all kills and shots line up pretty nicely. The levels start out very basic, standard enemies to shoot and walls in your way, but it's not really until the introduction of some of the tougher mechanics - the apples that cause you to fail if they hit the ground, the slow homing bullets; and don't even get me started on the weirdness of world 5. By the end the game is practically a puzzle game of figuring out the intended path and how to shoot every enemy along the way and levels can be just as hard to figure out as they are to solve, but there's a convenient lookahead feature that can really help in solving some levels.
The game's difficulty curve is also fairly smooth, with only a bit of a difficulty spike at the start of world 4, but in general the pace that difficulty escalates is great; the pace of actions you have to perform increases, the amount of things trying to kill you, the distance of shots you have to make, the reaction time, the complexity of the levels. It all scales up so well. And reaching the end of the game your first time through really feels like an accomplishment, much less reaching the end with all stars collected. The game is just the best realization of the precision platformer formula I've ever played, and it's not even a precision platformer itself.
(https://n-europe.com/images/games/lovely_planet/WiiU_LovelyPlanet_gameplay_01.jpg)
How about another story. I'm not really someone who takes to speedrunning games. It's too frustrating and too based on muscle memory and I've never really made any serious attempt to do so... except with this game. I frequented the top runner of this game's streams for quite a while and got to witness the game's current WR live, which lead to me trying to speedrun the game myself. My best time for all levels is 25:29 for the record, which is still 5 minutes slower than the WR, but hey, I'm pretty proud of that. I did a lot more individual level running than full game running though, a lot less stressful. But yeah, I've kind of played the heck out of this game, probably the game I've played the most in comparison to how much content it has. I've seen each of the hundred levels in the game probably hundreds of times each.
The cool thing about speedrunning this game is that most of the time, you end up deviating quite a bit from the intended path, to the point where some levels change entirely. Some of the hardest levels casually end up really easy with a speedrun path, and some very unassuming levels become really challenging. And there's just so many cool tricks you can do, jumping up places you're not supposed to reach, doing some cool trick shots to hit targets from far away, finding ways to avoid triggering some obstacles so you don't have to waste time dealing with them. The gameplay of this game is just so inherently satisfying and it's really what makes this game a joy to play, at least for me.
I should also mention the aesthetic briefly. The basic, pastel colors are pleasant enough to look at and it keeps the game from being too visually busy allowing every obstacle to stand out. The music is pretty bright and bouncy but not really obnoxious and it fits the tone of the game well. It's not really the selling point of the game but it all works. The game's sequel, Lovely Planet Arcade, came out earlier this year and while it was pretty solid, it wasn't nearly as fun and didn't provide the same sense of freedom making it not particularly interesting to speedrun; it basically just took the more puzzle-based levels of the first game and limited your movement so you couldn't break them. Clever at times but ultimately forgettable. But the original, the one I've spent too many words talking about, it's really something special.
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Your description of the game reminded me a lot of 10 deacons ninja except that 10 second ninja was a 2d game. I'd love to give this a shot some time as it seems like something I'd get hooked into.
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Yeah 10 Second Ninja is kinda similar though a lot faster paced & a lot shorter. Just picked up 10 Second Ninja X recently too, need to give it a play.
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(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/9/99198/1452475-guitar_hero_warriors_of_rock___3_highways.jpg)
4. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Okay, c'mon now, who didn't see this coming? There was no way I was getting away with not putting probably the game series I've spent the absolute most time with on this list. I got into the games starting with Guitar Hero 3 and bought pretty much every release from there to this one. And selecting just one game from the series to represent it was a tough choice as a result; Guitar Hero Metallica was a close second mostly for the metal-oriented soundtrack, but I think this game wins out for a few reasons, but more than anything else, the fullest realization of the GHTunes engine.
But first the setlist. I think this setlist is about cleanly divided into "songs that are kind of meh on guitar" and "songs that are friggin' fun as hell on guitar". Guitar being the only instrument I've dumped serious time into, that is; I've played some drums sure but the kit broke really fast on me and I couldn't be bothered to replace it (so I just got a real drum kit instead, which is way more fun than playing fake plastic drums, let me tell you). But yeah. A lot of the lower tiers of the game are pretty drab tracks, honestly, probably included for other instruments, though some of them are kind of boring all-around. But then you also have a looong list of really great ones. How long? Ahem.
Bat Country, Been Caught Stealing, Black Widow of La Porte, Bloodlines, Burn, Call Me The Breeze, Dancing Through Sunday, Deadfall, Fury of the Storm, Ghost, Hard to See, Holy Wars, If You Want Peace..., It's Only Another Parsec, Machinehead, Modern Day Cowboy, Move It On Over, Nemesis, Ravenous, (You Can Still) Rock In America, Scumbag Blues, Speeding, Sudden Death, Suffocated, This Day We Fight, Ties That Bind, Tones of Home (one of my favorite songs in the entire series), 2112 in its entirety, Unskinny Bop. All of them varying levels of "pretty dang fun". And there's a solid number of tracks besides that are enjoyable but not quite as much. That's a lot of fun tracks.
(https://gamingsnack.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Guitar-Hero-Warriors-of-Rock-PS3.jpg)
For those not in the know, guitar hero is a rhythm game based off of playing guitar, with 5 buttons representing the frets alongside a strum bar. It's pretty basic to pick up but also pretty tough to master. I'm decently good, I'd say, but never really close to the top players, just outright not physically capable of some of the insane stuff they pull off. It's a solid simulation and some of it translates okay to real guitar, some doesn't. It'd probably be harder for guitarists to go from playing real guitar to the fake plastic one, I'd imagine. But it's loads of fun, especially when you nail a tricky solo and feel like a pro. I've spent probably thousands of hours playing the games. I don't know why. They're fun.
Anyways let's get to the real point. GHTunes. Was a brilliant idea that never quite reached its maximum potential. But still was flexible enough to allow people to make some pretty rad covers of songs, or write their own if they wanted to. Here's a cover I did once (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2P9IRD0Ls). And here's a song I wrote (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LXJgkRoZLg). The song I wrote is kind of proggy wanky stuff, which is maybe not great to listen to but fun as heck to play. That's really why the engine works, it's pretty easy to make songs that sound decent and are fun as hell to play.
(https://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/screenshots/GuitarHeroWarriorsofRock/GuitarHeroWarriorsofRockMedia/Guitar%20Hero%20Warriors%20of%20Rock%20-%20Two%20Highways.jpg)
The conclusion to this little story is that guitar hero sort of gave me the confidence to write music proper, and GHTunes especially helped teach me a lot about scales and chords, even if indirectly. And considering there's literally tens of thousands of tracks uploaded to the platform (at least until they pull servers for the console, that is) it also adds loads upon loads upon LOADS of replay value to the game even beyond the already extensive setlist. It's pretty easy to see why I've sunk more time into this entry than any others. The GHTunes system was introduced in GH:WT, sure, but this was the most expansive implementation of the system and the one I spent the most time in - probably because this is the only game I got on the 360 and not the Wii, which had a limited version of GHTunes compared to the other consoles for some arbitrary reason. Oh well.
It's basically impossible for me to objectively judge this game, but some other things. The game engine is definitely one of the better ones in the series. The hammer ons/pull offs have a fair timing window, strumming isn't as broken as it was in some of the previous games, and the slider notes work fine here as well. The timing window isn't as loose as GH3's but it's not as strict as GH2 or the rock band games. It's just right, makes it easier to pull off fast runs while still requiring the actual finger speed to do so. And the game's pretty graphically solid, they put a lot of work into animations and designs and it's nice enough to look at though my attention tends to stay focused on the notes themselves. Uhh. The guitar that came bundled with the game was pretty decent too, though nothing ever topped the GH3 Les Paul for me, personally. So yeah that's it. Top 3 next, woo.
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(https://www.beneaththetangles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2_Okami.jpg)
3. Okami
Okay, let's get this out of the way right away. Look how goddamn gorgeous this game looks. The aesthetic is wonderful and the game just looks beautiful as a result, very colorful, lush, and vibrant. And there are so many unique and interesting locations, all giving off a distinctly Japanese vibe to them. That's not even getting to how good this game looks in motion. Very fluid animation style that keeps the painterly look intact. And oh man, oh man that soundtrack. One of the best video game soundtracks out there, bar none. Northern Country Kamui alone is probably one of my favorite video game tracks of all time but there's sooo so many good tracks here and very few bad or mediocre ones, if any at all. And again it all keeps the Japanese feel of the game, using lots of traditional instruments. Capturing lots of moods; from the epic and bombastic to the gorgeous and beautiful to the playful and bouncy to the haunting and unsettling. Just. Gorgeous game on every front.
Of course, it's up this high on the list so you know it's also a blast to play. Let's have another story. I've never really been a fan of Zelda games. I've tried playing Majora's Mask. Didn't finish it. I only got through like one dungeon of Wind Waker when I tried playing that. And the classic games have never really looked that appealing to me either. Yet here I am, putting a Zelda-like game right near the top of my list. I guess, this just does everything I'd want that type of game to do. A massive game world to explore with many secrets and hidden challenges scattered throughout, and a world that feels enjoyable to explore simply because of how gorgeous it is? A simple but really engaging story based deeply in Japanese mythology? Enjoyable combat that has just enough depth to it but never gets too technical? Massive, memorable boss fights that are creative and challenging? There's so much to do in this game and it's just. Fantastic. The game never feels too long but it's definitely quite satisfying with what you do get.
(https://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/OkamiHD_Gamescom2012_0006.jpg)
And of course I'd be remiss not to mention the game's core mechanic - a lot of your special powers are activate by drawing symbols representing each attack. It's a bit fiddly at times and sometimes it feels like the game has trouble recognizing the symbols, but on the whole it's a rather unique and enjoyable way to fight and gives you a few seconds of breathing room in fights whenever you use it. On top of that a lot of the abilities find their use both during the game's platforming and puzzling as well as during combat, and most every power really feels like it has a reason to exist. There's a lot of basic abilities like the elemental brushes, but also the ability to cut, create bombs, bloom or revive plants, slow down time, etc. And there's even slight metroidvania elements where you can return to some earlier areas with new abilities and find treasures you couldn't get to before using your new powers.
The map and level design in the game also tends to be quite good. Each large overworld really feels like a real place, often providing a vast landscape to explore with some challenges along the way. And the way enemy encounters tend to work - scrolls roaming the mainlands that initiate a battle if they catch you, though you can choose to escape the battle if you want. The dungeon designs also tend to be quite creative too, often taking advantage of a few of your powers and creating some interesting platforming or puzzling sections out of them, all while providing some striking scenery and locales. Oni Island in particular is one of my favorite levels in any game ever, both for its interesting main mechanic and just the sheer quality of the challenges it presents, while also being quite mazelike in its structure.
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/capcomdatabase/images/2/2e/Okami_HD_Screenshot.png/revision/latest?cb=20130507134815)
The combat itself is pretty basic; there are three main weapon types and aside from wailing on enemies with your basic attack you're often required to use brush techniques in-battle to dispatch of foes. And every enemy has a particular weakness where after the final hit if you finish them off with a specific technique, they drop demon fangs that allow you to buy rare items. Have I also mentioned how EXP works in this game? EXP is Praise, and it's not gained from battles; rather, it's gained from reviving plants and rejuvenating the land, or helping out citizens with various side-quests. It's an interesting system that provides good incentive to run around and explore as much as you can, and honestly it just feels good to help out the people with their troubles - there's a lot of small minigames and sidequests to keep things from getting boring.
The other incentive to explore and do side-quests is the 100 stray beads, which serve as a requisite secret collectible with a great reward at the end. I won't say exactly what the reward is and you can't get it until your second playthrough of the game, but it's... quite a satisfying reward to say the least. And the stray bead challenges tend to be harder than the rest - a difficult sequence of battles, a tougher minigame, a treasure chest hidden away in a secret spot underground or after a tricky platforming sequence. And none of them are missable in any way, no beads are hidden in places you can't return to. I quite like this mechanic and it provides a lot of extra, enjoyable content to the game to keep me playing it.
I'll admit that the game is certainly a bit rough around the edges and it's now over a decade old, but despite its small flaws it's held up quite well and is easily one of the most enjoyable and memorable games I've ever played, and a game in a genre I usually don't find myself enjoying too. Just a really great game, shame that the sequel was a bit disappointing and shame that the studio was closed shortly after this came out too, really a letdown that we didn't get another game of this quality from them.
Oh and, yes. You absolutely should run around barking everywhere.
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:hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Okami is really a fantastic title, replayed it last year on PS3 (which is in HD and looks fantastic), and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first time. As you mentioned, it's a little rough on the edged, but has aged better than lots of games from those years. And the soundtrack is fucking lit.
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it's pretty much awesome in every way
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(https://cdn.destructoid.com//ul/290644-8pfkx8ek.jpg)
2. Environmental Station Alpha
Let me tell you a story. I found this game completely on accident, via a random steam review on another game I was interested in. Axiom Verge to be precise, the okay-but-not-great metroidvania that was heavily influenced by the original Metroid. And I did eventually play that game, and it was... disappointing to say the least. In part because it's not a great game on its own, but also in part because, only half a year earlier, I'd played this instead. It was cheaper, it looked more up my alley, and the review in question made a great positive comparison of ESA vs. Axiom Verge. Obviously, he was spot-on, considering this turned out to be one of my favorite games of all time.
Honestly? This is the perfect metroidvania. I don't think it's ever going to be topped. The game world is a pretty decent size, there are quite a number of secrets to discover, the atmosphere is fantastic, the combat is basic but very heavily skill-based; especially the bosses, which can be kind of tricky but are all pretty unique and challenging fights, the game captures a retro look in the best way, there are quite a lot of great powerups and controlling feels great in this game, the story itself is pretty interesting, and there are even a lot of sequence breaks that were somewhat intended by the developer as sort of a homage to the older metroid games, that of course can let you obtain one of the most powerful items in the game very quickly.
(https://i.imgur.com/VNgfC.png)
One of the most important aspects of this game is its world and map design. This game does the one thing that will make me immediately love a metroidvania/exploration game in general - a 100% dense map. If you see a hole in the map, there -is- a way to get into it, for sure. And i think that element alone makes exploration so much more interesting - instead of trying to futilely hunt for those last few rooms, you can feel out the entire game map without assistance simply by trying to find the way into blank spots on the map. The only exceptions are secret areas hidden at the edges of the station and even those can be sussed out by searching the perimeter. And alongside the good game design inherent in this kind of map design, it's also really cool how the map of the game very nicely fits into the image of the station presented at the title screen. Very clever.
The combat of the game is very simple - you have a short-range gun that basically functions as a melee weapon. Along the way there are a few powerups, including the obligatory charge shot. What this makes the combat turn into a lot is an exercise in learning patterns and dodging while finding the right moment to strike - something that, honestly, makes for really interesting battles, far more than any long range weapon would. This may have become apparent but I much prefer close-range combat in games that have combat systems - it feels better and makes it easier to avoid the pitfalls that a lot of failed combat systems fall into. There's a nice variety of normal enemies and aside from them there is quite a number of bosses throughout the world, nearly every one of them posing a challenge and all of them being fairly distinct from one another.
The game does hold your hand slightly, directing you towards where you need to go via the map, but figuring out how to get there is up to you, and it often requires a good bit of exploring around, even aside from looking for secrets. There's some backtracking to old areas, sure, but you always take them on with new abilities and explore new paths, and the end result is a fairly decent sized campaign taking you all over the station, confined to a relatively small amount of space. The map fits into about a 25 by 35 rectangle of rooms but due to its density there's still quite a lot of explore. And the story unfolds as you explore, finding the secret of the station and what lead to its abandonment - and the entity behind it all. The atmosphere of the game is great, really capturing each sub-area of the station separately as well as the overall atmosphere of the space station.
(https://i.imgur.com/kj5mG.png)
And once you complete the Metroid-esque maingame and discovered all the secrets of the station... you find the extra area. And the entire game changes. Shifting away from combat and platforming towards a very La-Mulana-esque level of environmental puzzling, cryptic hints and a hidden language to decode, more and more secrets with no clear ending in sight. The post-game is what really takes this game from "great" to "basically flawless". I'm not going to get too in-depth to keep from spoiling anything but the way the game changes is so fantastic and adds an entire new layer to the game. This game, it really well and truly has it all at this point. Great combat, great platforming, great exploration, great puzzling, great atmosphere, great level of challenge.
I might sound like I'm just raving about every aspect of this game. And you'd be right! It's one of the deepest and most satisfying gaming experiences I've ever had, and one of the most diverse, coming from what looks like a fairly unassuming metroid-like at first. Sure, it doesn't have the greatest graphics or music, but it still manages to create its unsettling atmosphere without it and makes the tribute to the original metroid feel all the more convincing, but this game goes so far beyond the official metroid games to become, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the entire genre. It's probably not perfect and I do have minor gripes with it, sure, but they utterly pale in comparison to how tight and enjoyable the game is as a whole and when I get right down to it I wouldn't really change a thing about it.
But it's not quite the best gaming experience I've ever had, unfortunately, so it lost out to my #1.
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I like the look of this, so I will play it. Eventually.
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Yet another game I haven't heard of :lol but when I read the title of the game I thought of Space Station 13 which this game is not. Great write-up and i'm looking forward to reading about number 1
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Never heard of it, but reading the words Metroidvania and your writeup and I'm adding it to my list :tup
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the thread title reigns supreme
My #1 was actually on someone else's list (though fairly low) and I looked and found it and I'd commented that if I did my list it'd probably be my #1.
past me was pretty spot on apparently
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(https://www.knyttunderground.com/resources/wallpaper/knytt-wallpaper-1-1366x768.jpg)
1. Knytt Underground
Is this the best looking game on my list? No. The world design is pretty gorgeous, a mixture of black foreground and colorful backgrounds, but the character designs are... not as great, very basic and not particularly appealing. That doesn't matter. Is this the hardest game on my list? Not at all, there's no real difficulty curve to this game due to its nonlinear progression, and even at it's hardest it's not too tough. That doesn't matter. Is this the largest or most varied game on my list? Nope, runs about 20 hours at max and primarily sticks to its two main styles of gameplay without really having any extra side missions. That doesn't matter.
Simply put, playing this game is one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had. The first time I played it, specifically, but due to the sheer size of the game map it's actually quite replayable, since every playthrough is going to be quite different just by necessity. There's just something about getting lost in this strange but slightly familiar world, exploring the many different areas of the tunnels. Some of them beautiful and soothing, some of them unsettling or outright terrifying. It's really all about getting lost in the atmosphere of the game above all else for me, because it's probably the best and most compelling atmosphere of any game I've ever played. And the soundtrack definitely helps with that; a lot of chill ambient stuff but it's very moody, almost always matching the environment each track plays in perfectly.
(https://indiegames.com/KNYTT%201.jpg)
What is the gameplay like, you ask? Basically, it's an exploration platformer - specifically NOT a metroidvania, as once you hit the main game after the two short tutorial chapters, you're free to go almost anywhere you want to immediately.You play as Mi, who can climb any vertical wall, though not across ceilings, and the only other move she has is the ability to jump. And due to shenanigans, Mi has ended up fused with Bob the Ball, whose gameplay mostly consists of bouncing around, using momentum to get to places Mi is unable to get to herself. It's an interesting mix of more precise but limited platforming and less controllable but more free platforming, and there's a lot of interesting scenarios set up across the game's world.
There's also some platforming puzzles centered around the colored orbs of light you can pick up which generally give Mi a bit more mobility (or an actual attack, which she lacks normally) and there are again quite a number of interesting puzzles based around these. As with Environmental Station Alpha, one thing that makes exploration in this game really enjoyable is the fully dense map - and here, the map is quite a bit larger, a solid 48 by 30 rectangle of rooms, nearly 1500 rooms in all, even discounting the secret stuff lying outside of the main map. And with a few exceptions, a few small areas locked off by quests, you can get anywhere you want, so if you see a hole in the map and don't know how to access it, you're usually just missing a hidden passage into the room tucked away somewhere not quite obvious.
The game also features quite a number of quests, which tend to be just going off and collecting an item or two in the overworld and returning to the NPC, but there's usually a small bit of story tied to each quest, and some of them can get pretty interesting. It's small peeks into the lives of the other denizens of the underground, and often they reveal the lore of the world in bits in pieces alongside the small tasks accomplished. The game brings up a lot of philosophy and moral dilemmas but it never really forces the answers down your throat, just leaves them there for you to think about. Oh and the moral choice system of the game, yeah. Mi is mute and has two fairies who have to do all the talking for her, and while they start out as "the nice one" and "the mean one" there's far more depth to their characters than that. There are even some quests you can't start until the fairies have developed more as characters, and it's really interesting to see the two very basic personalities fleshed out into interesting characters.
(https://www.knyttunderground.com/resources/wallpaper/knytt-wallpaper-2-1920x1080.jpg)
The overarching plot itself is pretty basic - Mi has to ring 6 bells or the world is going to end... maybe. And the game is set after some apocalyptic event that ended all life above ground, leading all the surviving creatures to take up residence underground. One of the common elements throughout the game is human technology being vastly misinterpreted - but not really in a comical way, more of a "what would other beings think of human technology and language if they had absolutely no context given and had to make assumptions themselves". And there's even a god metaphor pushed onto humanity itself, but not in a preachy way. The writing as a whole is generally just pretty clever, decently funny and usually pretty smart, while having its main characters develop during the long journey.
Honestly I could probably ramble on for hours about how incredibly good this game is, and how everyone should go play it and experience it for themselves and all but. You really should, it's #1 here for quite a good reason. No frustration to be had, no unpleasant or stupid themes, just great atmosphere and enjoyable gameplay and a lot of surprisingly unpretentious philosophy that really does make you think. To think that I got this game from a bundle without really thinking much of it at the time, and when I did get around to playing it I loved it enough to consider it one of my favorite games of all time. And heck, it's my favorite now, apparently, unless something comes along that I enjoy even more. Excellent game. Probably not for everyone, but for me it's just... the best.
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Yes!
After I read your write up, I went ahead and bought the game on Steam since it is really cheap and when I started playing through it, it did not disappoint and I am glad you put this game up on your list.
I had around 3 dollars left in Steam so I browsed through some games that were cheap and couldn't decide on which one I wanted, but at that almost exact time, you posted this write up and I was quick to check it on Steam and bam, I bought it and it did not disappoint.
Thank you Parama :tup, you just made my New Years much more better.
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Yeah this one sounds pretty interesting, I'll add it to my list :corn
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Holy shit! A game I've heard of!
Whoa, crazy Steam sale going on right now. Loading up, and including this one.
Now, do I splurge the $0.69 on Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015?
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heck yeah :metal
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the thread title reigns supreme
My #1 was actually on someone else's list (though fairly low) and I looked and found it and I'd commented that if I did my list it'd probably be my #1.
past me was pretty spot on apparently
It was MEEEEE!!
Great game, and list! I actually almost posted about this game on your write up of #2, when you said the map filled all the way up, I was like "that reminds me of KNYTT!" Haha, sure enough, number one.
But this game is totally deserving of high praise. As you said, it's a beautiful game, and so much fun to play. I did love the different approach to the metroidvania genre, where you can literally go anywhere from the beginning, you just have to figure out how to get there.
:)
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I haven't heard of the game but I'll put it on my wishlist for the next steam sale. It looks really interesting.
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Hey black_floyd, would it be possible if you can put me down on the waiting list? I just created the list and I'm going to refurbish it. After that, I'll be good to go. Thanks!
:)
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Sweet :tup
Keep the lists coming!
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yeah someone else start so I can go back to not recognizing any games posted
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Hey black_floyd, would it be possible if you can put me down on the waiting list? I just created the list and I'm going to refurbish it. After that, I'll be good to go. Thanks!
:)
Will do. I'm gonna update the OP to include your name in its proper place on the waiting list. Welcome aboard :tup
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I already contacted jarlaxle and adace a few minutes ago to ask if either was ready to start their list. I'm giving jarlaxle til Tuesday and adace until Wednesday to respond and if neither is ready to go, Blind Faythe will hopefully start her list on Thursday. If not, Serah Farron can start on Friday. Just check into this thread daily and I'll keep you all posted on who gets to start and when depending on who responds to me based on the original waiting list order of Jarlaxle>adace>Blind Faythe>Serah Farron.
Thanks to all of you for your continued participation and interest in this thread ©2017 _floyd holdings LLC.
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Awesome, black Floyd! Thanks for running this! :tup
And once more, nice list Parama.
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No prob :) I gotta give plenty of credit to sacul as well since he started it all and ran the original thread for way longer than I have. Running this thing ain't too much effort anyway, fortunately, since all I have to do is send like 3-5 PMs and spend about 10 minutes updating the OP every 6-8 weeks. I'm just glad everyone bonds and enjoys this as much as they do plus discovers plenty new games to play.
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No prob :) I gotta give plenty of credit to sacul as well since he started it all and ran the original thread for way longer than I have. Running this thing ain't too much effort anyway, fortunately, since all I have to do is send like 3-5 PMs and spend about 10 minutes updating the OP every 6-8 weeks. I'm just glad everyone bonds and enjoys this as much as they do plus discovers plenty new games to play.
:tup
Ah yes, I enjoyed reading the past lists and I'm happy to say that I found lots of amazing games to play. I'm glad you have time to run this and spend your life, it means so much.
Hopefully people will play some games that are in my top 25 because I fell in love with those games for a reason and some are free.
Anyways, I appreciate you running this again.
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No prob. I have no kids, am single, not currently in school, and only work like 35 hours a week so this doesn't impose on me much but you're quite welcome regardless.
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Yea this is definitely one of favorite threads on the forum.
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So yeah, bf and I PM'ed and we decided I'll go on Thursday if Jarlaxle and Adace don't respond. :)
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Sweet!
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Sweet!
I hope you enjoy my list and maybe even play or buy some of them. :D
Thanks for waiting! :tup
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Well, Black_Floyd gave me an O.K to start today, so I guess we can begin? Yes, let's begin! Alright, every day, I will try to make 1-2 write ups a day, if not more, if time permits. Most of these games on my list are free to play and you play it online, so why not give it a try, if you'd like.
The top three things I love to do when I'm bored are: music, reading, and games. Mostly, I find myself gearing towards gaming and it ranges from either PC games or PS4 games. Funny thing is 24/25 of these games are all PC games, but that doesn't mean I don't like the PS4, I just find myself playing the PC much more.
So grab a popcorn, prop your feet on your desk, and relax as I take you through..........
25 (Mostly Free) Games That I <3 To Death
I will be posting the honorable mentions soon. Enjoy!
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25 (Mostly Free) Games That I <3 To Death
lol thought this was a link.
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:lol
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Yea you had me fooled too :lol
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Honorable Mentions:
Presentable Liberty - This game.....is soul touching in many, many different ways. At first, when I played the game, I had absolutely no idea what the heck was going on. Who the heck is sending me letters, why am I in a jail cell, who the heck is Dr. Money? As the story progressed and I fell deeper into confusion, I grew very irritated (this game can take over an hour to complete), and I gave up on the game. After I had gathered myself and resumed playing it until the ending, that was when the pieces in the puzzle fell in slowly. After this game had wrapped up, I stood there for the longest time, speechless, shocked. After you have finished playing this game, there is a big chance this game could change your life and make you rethink about the world. Honestly, this game has hit me huge as I completed the game. Do you want to reveal Dr. Money (this game's antagonists) dark secret? Play it for yourselves and find out.
7 Days - Here it is, a survival horror game. First off, this game has no real main objective except to the survive and the developer's are working on this game to make it linear and have real objectives. As each day passes, the zombies get much more harder and more difficult, which I enjoy. This game has many challenges as you can get hungry, the zombies are more aggressive during the night, yet you can break, create, and repair items to help you fend off against the zombies. Really keeps you on your toes as you are playing it and you must be alert and aware of your surroundings or else one of those things are going to......
Maere - YOU NEED VIRTUAL REALITY OR AN OCULUS RIFT TO PLAY THIS GAME
"They've promised that dreams can come true ,but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams too."
- Oscar Wilde
This quote man, is the truth. Aren't nightmares considered dreams also? Anyways, this is another horror game with one straight objective. Dude, GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE! This also features one of my most embarrassing moments because this game scared me sooo freaking much, the sight was not pretty. My parents must've thought I was being murdered or something! There are 21 corridors in the room and a lot of turns and corners. Ok, so there is this meanie monster named "Le Mange Lumière," who stalks you like a big freak. To avoid him, you must walk in the opposite direction and turn corners to lose him as he is much slower than you. If you feel your flashlight die and your screen go wobbly and you see lightbulbs screwing off, that means you are dead, ok? Game over. Though the main scare isn't from him. There is this really creepy girl who claims she is helping you and teleports suddenly to where you are. She can't harm you, yes, but her jump scare is freaking creepy! I almost had a heart attack. This game....
Slenderman - Yes, I know that this game is super old, yet this horror game paved way for me other horror games which I've played and enjoyed. I'm sure a lot you have heard of or even played this game. You are a girl lost in the forest and this really sharp looking faceless man with tentacles keeps on stalking you. If you stare directly at him for too long, your screen goes static and you will die. You must collect all 8 notes to (beat)? the game. He can't move as long as you are in his direct line of sight so look at him and back away slowly, though staring at him for too long means death. What I love about this game is ambiance. First off, this game is super silent at the beginning with Slenderman not active at all (unless you wait for too long). As you collect more notes, more sounds begin appearing. The howling of a wind....booming....weird static noises and when you look at him, BOOM! That sound. After you collect all 8 pages the sounds immediately stop and silence. Then......DEATH.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Action Unleashed U - Ok, ok, I'm going to contain myself to a paragraph because this game can get me going and going for like forever. A game in this series occupies my number one and three spots because this is awesome! I will not go on to why it's awesome until waaay later into this write up, but I will explain why a game from my favorite series ended up in the H.M and no the actual list. Well, although this game is very fun, the plot for this game is absolutely weak and is the one and only game from this series I've grown bored of. Basically, there are two reporters: Dengekiko and Famitsu who want to write a juicy story about a nation's CPU and its candidate. Basically, there are 4 CPU's, four female goddess' who rule over each world: Lastation, Lowee, Leanbox, and Planeptune (more info. later), and 4 CPU Candidates, the younger sisters of the CPU. Dengekiko ends up teaming with the CPU's and Famitsu teams up with the candidates to see who can think of the most ground breaking stories. Later, an evil comes in and uh....strips their clothes (yeah, this game is kinda perverted, but cute at the same time) and they are shamed in front of everyone. They team up and defeat the evil as Deng and Famitsu decides to team up. So yeah, as I've said before, this game is mostly directed towards male audiences, but I still find the game to be sometimes cute and addicting.
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Yea you had me fooled too :lol
:D Gotcha!
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I've haven't heard of any of those games except Slenderman. I loved that game, talk about a blast from the past. I'll give the other ones a quick google.
Great writeups :tup
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I've haven't heard of any of those games except Slenderman. I loved that game, talk about a blast from the past. I'll give the other ones a quick google.
Great writeups :tup
<3
Thanks Reap! Hope at least one of them catches your eyes. :D
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Number 25: Night Blights
Here is Night Blights! This is a survival horror game and you have to spend seven days with the really cute Night Blights!! Ok, that was a lie. That was not cute at all. They are hungry for you. They want to eat you as they rip your flesh piece by piece as your or-......ok, I'll stop. Seriously though, they do want you dead and the only way to satisfy their hunger is to feed them your toys. ^.^ You are playing as a little boy and you have to survive 7 nights and on the 7th night, end their poor miserable lives once and for all...:(....using glowsticks. :)
The first night is very easy and gets you accustomed to the rules of the game. Ok, just so you guys understand the plot, I will explain it. As the Night Blights peek out of their locations, you must either trigger something or feed them your toys scattered around the house and it will satisfy them for a while. It gets increasingly difficult each day as the Blight's movements become more sporadic and aggressive and as much more things need to be kept in check in order for you to survive. The Night Blights can be in two sets of locations: 1) under the bed and 2) in a wardrobe. If you hear the Blight's growling from the bed, feed them your toys and they will go away. Also, the wardrobes will creak open and you must close it before the Blight's escape.
Tuesday is a bit more challenging as you now also have to press the red button to shut the garage door when you hear the garage door opening and spin the baby mobile to scare away a Blight who wants to eat your baby brother. Now, in addition to checking the beds and wardrobes, two more tasks are added. Wednesday has two more tasks: 1) flush the toilet when you hear the Blight's in the restroom and 2) fan the fireplace with the bellows to keep the fire going, as well as all the tasks from before. Thursday is the final night where new threats appear. You must keep track of Blight's hiding in plants and the air vents.
Friday and Saturday are extremely difficult nights so better say your prayers. The Night Blight's will appear very constantly and you must be on your toes. Let your guard down even for a bit, you will soon find the Blight's all gathered and ready to end your life. Then on Sunday is when you face the Blight's and they will end your life or you will end theirs. You wield a gun made out of glowstick and each time you see a Blight, you must fire and kill it. Do that to all the Blight's and you are home free.
There are a lot of good things to say about this game. When I first downloaded this game, the rules and mechanics seemed simple enough so I thought this game was a piece of cake. I managed to win the first night. That gave me overconfidence. When you are playing this game, there are very important rules. First, do not be overconfident, and second, DO NOT underestimate the Blight's. You must be on your toes constantly checking for everything. Do not lose sight of what you are trying to check. Doing things in a routine may help in the beginning, but once the game progresses, their sporadic behavior will counter your routine.
This game (as well as many other horror games) are best experienced in complete utter darkness and headphones. The aesthetic's of the game aren't the best, but take it for what is. If you are looking for a short and simple, yet a bit challenging, fun horror game, you might want to think of trying this game out.
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Seven Nights at Night Blights
Honestly, something about the limited polygonal models makes these horror games more unsettling than normal for me.
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Number 24: Fran Bow
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/362680/header.jpg?t=1466698191) Fran Bow is another indie horror game that is available in Steam and was created by Game Jolt. In this game, you play as the main character Fran Bow. You are a young girl stuck in this crazy asylum. Her parents were killed and she ran away with her cat, Mr. Midnight , fainting in the middle of the woods. Poor girl. :( Two figures approach her as her cat runs away and tells her to find her and you wake up in an asylum. After that, you have through maneuver through the asylum and find your way out of here. The room might seen normal at first, but you can take a pill that "distorts" reality and shows the ugly side of the real world. But to escape, you have to use the combination of pills and no pills to find your way out of this gruesome game.
(https://lh6.ggpht.com/4cSf_G0SZT8MvTbC9IDNBLvi3PtQid-Sf51igBs3GnJ7WmhbaxmsJXDY282PP4GNV5A=h900)
(https://lh3.ggpht.com/qsjAdjJ-jPseg4vMQLG69xnWiIacf1dPBKxBMj8oOYVjRcB7pbKga91wXA_bAfXN_YVJ=h900)
This game does not have much jumpscares (thankfully), though after taking the pill, you are in for a sight. What used to be an innocent room is filled with corpses and unsettling shadows that will sure haunt you the rest of the night. If you want to avoid taking the pill....well, be prepared to stay in the game forever. You can not progress unless you take the pills. The ratings for this game on Steam is really high and rightfully so.
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That is one disturbing screenshot on the bottom. I'm putting this on my wishlist, it seems like it's right up my ally.
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Agreed, most of the pill scenes are pretty disturbing, but still a good game nonetheless.
Once you get it, I hope you enjoy it! :)
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Number 23: Give Up
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gqvOWi0DjHM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Here is a game....a game which gets more difficult and difficult as you progress. This game will make you rip your hair out and scream in agony as you curse life. This game is a travesty and a huge burden and will stress ANYONE beyond their peaks and limits. You will have nightmares and you will never wake up from it, which is why I love this game so much. No game has ever challenged me this much and the way this game takes you out there is brilliant.
The first level is simple enough. If you have a hard time getting through the first level, do yourself a favor and STOP PLAYING. It is literally impossible to get stuck on the first level. As the level progresses, much more features are added like blocks, guns that shoot you, spikes, pits, traps and it just keeps on adding and adding and adding up. Just when you think they are out of idea's and room, they keep on adding more! Though there is this robot dude named Tasselfoot who is a monitor that follows your every move. He may be helpful at first, but his evil side is shown as he throws insults and insults at you. His goal? He wants you to GIVE UP. There is a huge give up button on the bottom left of the screen. Do not press it until you've had enough. If you press Give Up, a huge sentence on the screen will pop up saying: "YOU GAVE UP!" So, do NOT press that give up button or he wins!
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O2KCPHoIXqw/maxresdefault.jpg)
A game that starts off really innocent and easy shows its true colors on the later levels. If you make it through all the levels in 50 deaths or less, man, you are just amazing. It took me over a thousand deaths to beat this whole game and trust me, it is not easy. Far from that. I find Tasselfoot to be much more annoying than any spike or pitfall or flame that either impales me, drops me to my death or burns me alive. His taunting can get really tedious and his words sometimes block the screen so you can't see where you are properly going. How did you end up in the room in the first place? Why the heck are you blue? Well, these are questions only Tasselfoot can answer and he doesn't seem to want to.
Oh well. You can find this game online for free. If you want a time waster, this game is just for you. You will be dying so much that you forget all other stress you have and direct it on this game. Besides the difficulty, this game is pretty cute to play. Well, if you die on a spike, it does not get pretty. Go on, try it out! Though don't be afraid if white hairs begin growing at a much more quicker rate!
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Kinda seems in the vein of Super Meat Boy. Have you played that one?
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Kinda seems in the vein of Super Meat Boy. Have you played that one?
Ah yes, I've found out about Super Meat Boy after playing Game Over. It was in the recommended list. Good game also! :tup
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Number 22: Calm Time
(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/calmtimecreepy.jpg)
You are a person who lives in a small house in the countryside, far away from civilization. There, silence and quietness are the norm, and only the wind and the birds break that silence from time to time. Still, things can get lonely from time to time, so you have invited some people to the house for a party. Everything seems to be going pretty well during the party....
Well, what a nice way to start this game eh? You are playing as a man who have been living out of society for the longest time and you have grown bored so you invite everyone into your house so you can have a big party! This game does not stay innocent for so long. Everyone here is happy and wondering why you, an outcast would want to have anyone in your house? Things start going downhill when people start saying that they are very bored and they grow unsettled. This game starts peaking when you walk into a kitchen and a woman asks you for help.
(https://images.jayisgames.com/calmtime.gif)
Wait, what? She wants you to hand her a kitchen knife so she can cut the bread to serve it to everyone? Sure! As you grab the knife and give it to her, you stab her, killing her. Someone watches you and warns everyone as they all scatter. That is when you realize....you are the villain. You are the main antagonist of the story and your mission? Kill every single people who came to your party. You aren't the one who is running away from a killer or a monster, you aren't the one that has to survive the night. Instead, you are the one people have to run away from. You are the one who must hunt down any unfortunate soul that may cross you in your path and the game begins.
(https://i.imgur.com/whEIOv2.jpg)
You have to kill everyone in your house, and you have to stab them twice to finish them off. They are very quick and WILL outrun so you can either time your stabs right or you can utilize another mechanic, which I will go into later. The first stab cripples them, drastically reducing their speed. Once you stab them, you won't have to worry about them running away. They are done for. And the second stab, obviously kills them. So, the other mechanic. The guests run away and hide. When they hide in a room, they will look forwards and backwards. When they are staring away from you, you can approach them and they won't notice, but if they are staring at you and you start running to them, they will run away. Hide and when they are not looking at you, stab them. Once you do, you can finish them off easily.
Do you see the lady in chains at the top of this write up? Well, she plays a role in this game also. Even though you are the killer, there are still minor jump scare moments. That lady follows you around once you kill your first victim. The lady can't harm you at all. She just stands there and stares at you. You can ignore her, or you can stab her. After you kill someone, she usually appears next to their corpse. If you stab her, there is a static noise that may catch you off guard and she will disappear, though she will appear again.
Also, there is a moment you will have to kill a little boy. That part for me is the hardest part of the game. Well, killing the innocent's is hard, yes, but to kill that boy? His cries of agony is heart wrenching to listen to and I almost cried after I killed him. It was just too sad. Seeing his blood trailing on the floor and to see him crawling so weakly, that can affect you.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9M-MOGa8_e8/maxresdefault.jpg)
The graphics of this game are pixels, but don't let that bother you. This is still a very powerful, though a little disturbing game you can play. If you wanted to be an antagonist and wanted to experience a killing spree, then you might enjoy this game. Playing this game may affect you as it is surprisingly powerful, and you will see what loneliness and being cut off society for quite a time can do to you.
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horror games aren't really my thing (obviously) but i'll be following this nonetheless :corn
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It's a mix between horror and non horror games. Thanks for following. :)
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Another really interesting list of games. Usually when people talk about horror games they go to the same handful of games but your list has a lot of new stuff I've never heard of.
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Number 21: I Saw Her Standing There
(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1298158.jpg)
(https://images.pcworld.com/images/article/2012/04/isawher-11349780.png)
Here is an adorable little game you can play if you want to kill time. It's not a horror game, just a casual game and your goal is to keep your zombie girlfriend locked tight and secure. So, you play as this black stick figure and you meet this pink stick figure and want to mate with her or whatever. Ok, ignore that. That sounded creepy. :P So, your goal every single level is to lure her to a cage and that will shut her tight. The level will get more difficult as you progress through the game so keep that in mind. There will be more obstacles as you go on through the game and there will also be other zombies that will interfere with your work. What do you do? Shoot them down!! Thankfully, even if you spray your gun at the female zombie, she won't be affected. This game is pretty short and simplistic so I won't go into a detailed write up.
Anyways, this game sure can kill time for me and I can only sigh in awe as I see the poor male stick figure not being able to get the girl because she is a zombie. The ending is pretty sweet so if you want to figure out what happens in the end, try it yourself. Anyways, this is it for this game.
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Number 20: Achievement Unlocked 3
(https://gamemedia.armorgames.com/13196/icn_heroimage.png)
Here is Achievement Unlocked 3! Here is another time waster just like I Saw Her Standing There, but this game is much more longer and has more depth to it. Your purpose for this game? Unlock all the achievements in the game! There are 400 achievements so have fun!
Hey, hey, don't click away from the game yet! It will be very easy to get the majority of all the achievements. Some achievements are as simple as jumping or running. This is a really cute game as you assume the role of a tiny blue elephant. <3 You are stuck in a dark room with and a pipe that has the words: "Free Candy?" labeled over the top. And since you are a greedy elephant who loves candy, you enter the pipe, right? Of course you do! Even if you aren't greedy, and if you don't love candy, you still have to enter the pipe. Why? Why all these questions? Just enter it, jeez!
There is a really fat and grumpy guinea pig that is stuck in a tube and you have to feed the guinea pig pellets. The pellets are scattered throughout the rooms and every time you give him a pellet, you unlock the achievement. And as I've said ahead, don't let the 400 achievements deter you. In the first ten seconds of the game, I earned 53 achievements, just by mashing the keyboard.
(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/kongregate/images/b/b0/HamsterofMight.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20121206190834)
There are so many places to explore and much things to do, you will not grow bored of this game. Once this game has grasped your attention, you will finish playing it. This game is also pretty bright. If you hate bright things like I do, be prepared to hiss like a vampire when it see's sunlight. Other than that, this is a cute game you will find yourself immersed in. Also, the guinea pig is very annoying so when you reach the ending....you will surely be satisfied, but if you love the guinea pig, this game will reduce you to tears.
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I haven't heard of either of those games, not sure if they would be something I'm interested in but regardless great writeups!
I think this list is going to go down as the one with the most games I haven't heard of :lol
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Thanks Reap! And yeah, I would have never found out about these games if I hadn't wasted over 10 hours of my life searching for games online because I was bored. :D
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Number 19: The Visitor Returns
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/markiplier/images/f/f2/TheVisitorReturns.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150922010637)
Here is another point and click horror game and in this game, you assume the role of an alien bug or insect who has come down in a meteor. You must devour and assimilate your prey by clicking on various environments. The visitor can die so be careful of that. The scenes here can also be pretty gruesome because you have to kill and consume prey's so there's a warning. You first find yourself in the backyard with a raccoon who is trying to dig through the trash. Get rid of him and unlock the trash. Your goal here is the consume the raccoon without him squishing you. Once you do consume him, you have the claws of him and now it is time to devour your next prey.
(https://ahkong.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-visitor-returns-waklthrough-01.jpg)
Next, you must consume the spider and the skunk to make your way inside a trailer. Eating the spider gains you a venomous sac of poison in your thorax and consuming the skunk allows you to squirt that nasty spray the skunks let out. Once you spray inside the crack of a window, you hear a man coughing as he opens the window fully. You must now enter, but there are two problems. 1) A dog, and 2) a man are there posing a problem. You have to figure out how to kill the two problems. And it hurts me, but yes, you have to kill the dog. One thing I'm against is killing animals, but to progress on towards the game....you have to do what the game wants you to do.
(https://ahkong.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-visitor-returns-waklthrough-03.jpg)
Eating the scorpion in the room gains you a stinger, but that dog bark and barks, making you unable to progress. Lure the dog outside, kill it :(, then return in with fangs. Now your target is the man. You have to light his sleeve on fire and once you, this distracts the man and you must jump under the table. Once you are there, he is yours. You rip is neck out and he dies. A woman screams and slams the door. You must make your way outside to the other window, but beware, the woman has a gun and she will shoot once so don't go barging in. Once you waste her ammo, you go in her room and you see her terrified, aiming a gun at you. Now, you have five choices and you make a combination in killing her. Here are the lists of ways you can kill her.
1) Decapitation
2) Evisceration
3) Suffocation
4) Envenomation
5) Ventrical Penetration
6) Mutation
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FanA1FyPo3o/maxresdefault.jpg)
This game is pretty brutal and disgusting and I almost lost my lunch after this and some scenes here still a bit unsettling for me, but overall, I came to enjoy this game with all the choices this game gives you. Really a brilliant little game. There is a third game also, but I enjoy the second one of the trilogy because it offers more choices than the first one, but the third one deviates away from point and click.
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I actually have played the achievement unlocked games, they're pretty silly
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I actually have played the achievement unlocked games, they're pretty silly
They are pretty silly. :D
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Number 18: The Static Speaks My Name
(https://infiniteindie.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_images/public/Screen%20Shot%202015-03-09%20at%206.01.19%20PM.png?itok=-Fb9hPnQ)
Here is a really dark horror game that has absolutely no jumpscares, but the plot behind this twisted game will send shivers down anyone. I remember the first time I played this, I had not expected the ending and I broke down crying because this game had scared me and had touched me in many different ways I had never expected to feel before. Basically, this really short ten minute horror game has steps you must accomplish. On the top left corner, there will be steps you must follow. It will say things like: 1) Objective 1: Use the bathroom, Objective 2: Eat Breakfast, etc and you must follow them. This game is as linear as it gets and just follow the steps that appear on the top left corner and you will reach the end in no time. The things that disturbed me the most in this game was 1) Eating your live pet shrimp, 2) Visiting a naked, starving man who you have locked in your cave for no apparent reason, and 3) Your death.
It will be better if you played this yourself so you can actually feel the darkness of the game, but the ending is not for the faint of heart.
(https://www.forcesofgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1.png)
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That's sounds like a game I might enjoy. I'm not big on the jump scares but the psychological horror stuff I'm down for.
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Ohdamn, just heard about this a few days ago, added it to steam. Gotta play it soon :tup
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That's sounds like a game I might enjoy. I'm not big on the jump scares but the psychological horror stuff I'm down for.
Yeah, those games are sometimes great, yet they affect us a lot. It was a good experience! :D
Ohdamn, just heard about this a few days ago, added it to steam. Gotta play it soon :tup
Oh really? Nice! You won't regret playing it! :)
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Number 17: Gretel and Hansel
(https://www.rustyarcade.com/uploads/articles/Main-gretel-and-hansel.jpg)
Quite the innocent looking picture and game right?? :angel:
WRONG!!!!!
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wXJgrdzQP-U/maxresdefault.jpg)
This is a click and point horror game where you assume the role of Gretel, the female character and you must save yourself and Hansel from the horror filled adventure. There are no jumpscares here, but there are some pretty disturbing deaths so there's a warning for you. You're goal is pretty similar from the original story, Hansel and Gretel, find your way home after your step mother dumps you in the middle of the forest, but there are some twists to the story. Now, I'm not going to spoil what happens in story as that is for you to find out, but I have to say that this game might possibly ruin your childhood. I know it ruined mine. It was bad when the story says that the witch were going to eat Hansel and Gretel, but this game? Man, it's a whole new definition of twisted and sick. Still enjoyable. And adorable. <3
Kinda. ;)
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Number 16: Corpse Party
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/00/e4/76/00e47677982adece446f4433ebc3de92.jpg)
Ah, Corpse Party. I found out this game on Steam by accident and because it was going through a major sale. When I bought it and finished it, I immediately bought all the games and haven't regretted the purchase ever since...same with my number one. Anyways, this game, as well as most of my previous list of games is a survival horror/adventure game. When you play this game, you will play in a linear, third person, top down style. You are trapped in a haunted school ground and must escape this hell hole. You have to interact with people and objects while avoiding enemies to survive. There are also multiple endings for this game so watch out for that too.
So, you are in this school that has been torn down due to murder and disappearances of students and staff alike. But, some genius' decide to rebuild the school and when they do, they hold a party. A group of people say a charm that would keep them as friends for eternity, but it goes haywire and they are transported to an alternate dimension, in the haunted school. The main character you control is Satoshi Mochida, a timid yet kindhearted high school student who is teased by his classmates for his cowardly nature. Hee hee. Reminds me of me. There are also three other characters you can play, who are students from Satoshi's class: Naomi Nakashima, Satoshi's childhood friend; Yoshiki Kishinuma, an intimidating yet good-natured student; and Ayumi Shinozaki, the class representative. Rounding out the group is Yuka Mochida, Satoshi's younger sister. The game's antagonist is Sachiko Shinozaki, the red ghost of a young girl who kills the students in Heavenly Host in anger over her and her mother's murder. Ouch....brutal.
(https://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple1/v4/05/d4/3c/05d43cac-9ea3-bfdc-88c5-630f87b69732/screen520x924.jpeg)
Anyways, this game has strings of dark history and tragic events that will make you gasp in disbelief. This game has no jumpscares, but the tension you feel throughout the game is real. Still, it is still a very fun horror game that I'd recommend anyone to play. Just wait for it to go on Steam sale and grab it. You won't be disappointed.
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Ok so I gotta play Gretal and Hansel, that sounds super interesting from the art style to a twist on an older story.
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Just saying I have heard of Give Up! I watched a Let's Play of it. Interesting enough concept!
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I've had the 3DS release of Corpse Party ever since it came out, but have yet to start it. I like both visual novels and psychological horror, so it should be right up my alley.
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Number 15: Reimagine :the game:
(https://freemusicarchive.org/file/images/albums/Nicklaus_Liow_-_Reimagine_The_Game_-_20130815121504756.jpg?width=290&height=290)
Here is a really fun game which I love to play. This game is like a parody and satire of the real world. This is the third installment of the trilogy of :the game: The purpose of this game is to kill stick figures by making them fall to their doom. You get to control your character and each level has something different to throw at you every single time. After you play this game, I won't blame you, if you don't have a single clue of what the heck is going on. Also, there are some jokes you may not understand, it still is worth it to play. There is nothing much I can say about this game, but you should go ahead and give it a try. Don't let this small line of text deter you.
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I literally don't know any of these games. :lol
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:lol
I can understand. Most of these games might be like that. :tup
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Number 14: That Level Again 3
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lLMtHY1nmEzdlyj0ojrCQAP1lI3f3Usm8NVo549eowbXIGdaof2YpWuV_m_LZuKA-A=w300)
Ok, so the first two games of this trilogy was simple. You had to guide your character across from point A to B for all 50+ levels with some twists as the levels went on.....
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kv4yIoXPMRRv4HOb67k-Td1SznzOaZaE5FCj6tpDuXrn9YL1w71b9utpa0uLYtoF3w=h900)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Jw1uzvFKR0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Sometimes, all you had to do was rack your brain if you wanted to pass the level. Simple enough. Then came the third game which changed every thing. I have been a fan of this trilogy and I find 3 to be the best I've played because the story has an actual plot to it. This game guides you as you play along through it and it is filled with a lot of thinking outside the box, adventure, and one of my favorite, romance. :heart :heart
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AgMYy6U6lUQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
So, as you progress through the story, you realize that the main character's girlfriend or wife....I honestly have no idea, but she died a year ago from whenever you play the game.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dSkpqgROPdI/maxresdefault.jpg)
The solution? Go and push the date backwards one year. After you revive her, you must go through another set of puzzles, utilizing both the characters and racking your brain once more. Once you reach the near of the story, or so you think, something tragic happens. To save yourself, you supposedly leave your girl to a painful death. She falls into a pit and she's gone. You are grief stricken and that causes your body to stay still. You have the will to live as you slowly fade away and the screen turns blank. Isn't it sweet?
THE END!!!!!
If you thought that was the end, well, it's not. You find yourself in the main screen again and you must replay the first part again, but by the time you have reached the first ending, you should have learned the secret move. Use the move and you'll find the once blocked pathway open. Once it's open, you reunite with your girl and you both have to get out. The next part of the game uses a totally different atmosphere and are brain teasers. Every time you pass a level, you must touch the girl. Once you do, she fades away. This keeps happening until the last level. You must stop her from fading away. Once you do, the screen seems to glitch and after solving that part of the puzzle, you get the escape outside of the nightmare. You are finally free and the game ends there.
There is also a sad ending, but you must pay to unlock it. Basically what the sad ending is, is like the final part of the level. But, instead of touching her and keeping her from fading, you must jump over her and ignore her. Once you do that sufficient times, you fade away and the girl starts shedding tears as the screen darkens.
I recommend you play the entire trilogy for the full effect. This games requires a lot of thinking out of the box. Logic will get you nowhere, which is why I enjoy this game. :)
:tup
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Number 13: One Chance
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/markiplier/images/b/ba/One_Chance.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150501020622)
Ok, here is possibly one of the saddest games I've ever played online and this game made me cry like a lot. It was so bad I cried myself to sleep and had a dream about this game and I woke up with tears in my eyes. No joke. This game is really powerful and it should touch you. One Chance is a game about choices and dealing with them. Scientist John Pilgrim and his team have accidentally created a pathogen that is killing all living cells on Earth. In the last 6 remaining in-game days on Earth, the player must make choices about how to spend his last moments. Will you spend time with his family, work on a cure or go nuts? What is most important for you? If you choose to spend time with your family, you will all eventually die, but if you work on a cure, you still will lose someone really special.......
So, you live with your wife Penny and your young daughter, Molly. All 6 days, you have a choice you can use. The first day, you are congratulated for finding the cure for cancer as the stocks go up and you feel very proud of yourself, but the next day......you realize that the contents in the cure mutated, killing every single cell in your body and ultimately leading to the earth's demise. The gravity of the situation sets in as you find your coworker committing suicide because he feels like he is partially responsible and after death, the deaths start coming painfully.
(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7f140d05e8950e7dcd3404bccb1430ec.jpg)
If you decide to spend the time with your family, you lose yourself, your wife, and your daughter. If you choose the find the cure, you lose your daughter and your wife. What decision are you willing to make? If you choose to spend time with your family, your coworker rushes in your house and kills your wife and your daughter in their sleep. You can see a knife sticking through your daughter's chest and your wife hung and a knife sticking out of her. You rush to work and the cure can't be found because it's too late and outside in the park, you die from the virus.
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7401/2225820-onechance.png)
You can choose to take your daughter with you to work on the last day to prevent your daughter's death, for now. You take her to work, but you can't find the cure, because you haven't been working on so you both fade away. Better than her being stabbed, right?
(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/902b5c2b7cd26d62cca97b6318888a98.jpg)
If you choose to find the cure, you must work on it for the whole week, not including the first day. If you do that, your wife commits suicide in the bathroom.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x_9m1o3R21I/hqdefault.jpg)
Once you find the cure, you put the cure in yourself and you are cured, but unfortunately, it is only enough for you. You don't have it for your daughter as you take her to the park and you spend with her, her last moments and she ends up dying from the virus, but you are still alive. Still pretty tragic.
(https://jesusmanero.blog.br/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/the10worstwaystheworldhasendedinvideogames_1.jpg)
This game is really dark with all the endings resulting in the death of your loved one. Something cool about this game is that you can only play this once. If you have an ending and try to play it again, this game won't let you. You indeed had only One Chance.
When I first played this game, I couldn't help the tears that were coming out. Also, the depressing doesn't help at all.
Here is the song in case you are interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJrHJu2txfE
Play this game. I want all of you who are reading this to play it. Tell me how it goes...
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Number 12: For One Night Only
(https://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/33/32636/Boxshot.png)
Here is a horror game with some jumpscares. This game is For One Night Only. For this game, you play as a little girl named Hannah who is lost in a circus. You must find your way outside of this circus, but there is an alleged child rapist (I know, disgusting...>:()dressed as a clown that stalks you. Once he finds you, he will, *you know what* and then kill you, just as he did to other unfortunate children who stumbled their way in the circus. Your friends in this game is your conscience who is kinda a jerk as she mocks you and calls you a stupid little girl. Your other friend, who can become an enemy is a candle. You must have the candles on because if you don't, you will start hearing voices and you will possibly collapse and die from shock(?) But, if you have your candle on, the clown can spot you. Once he spots you, he will start running towards you and you must blow out your candle to avoid being seen. Doing that puts in you the situation of you dying if you don't relight the candle up again. If you run into the clown when your light is off, he will still kill you so stay away from me.
All in all, this is one rough game. The jumpscares are pretty high for this one so you should constantly be on your toes. The atmosphere of this game is also very thick and sooner or later you might find yourself being choked by the atmosphere. Still, a great game though.
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Some of these sound absolutely terrifying. Not scary as in "makes you jump" but as in "creeps you the fuck out".
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Heh, definitely.
I love the feeling of my skin crawling away from my body. It's pretty satisfying, once you get over the shock. There is this warmth that spreads all over me.
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Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
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Great write-ups as always.
Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
I played amnesia that way and I needed take breaks :lol I would get so tense
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Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
Heck yes. But it was quite a while ago. And yep! That scared the living crumbs out of me. This is a game I wouldn't want to revisit.
Great write-ups as always.
Thanks Reap! Thanks for taking your time reading it! It means a lot.
Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
I played amnesia that way and I needed take breaks :lol I would get so tense
Oh man, isn't that the truth? :P
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Number 11: Fleeing the Complex
(https://www.fleeingthecomplex.net/img/fleeing-the-complex.jpg)
Here is Fleeing the Complex. This is the 5th installment and the most current for the series, Henry Stickman. You assume the role of Henry Stickman who loves breaking into banks and he loves to steal a lot of things so he go locked in a complex. The complex is tightly guarded and you must find a way to escape. There are many endings and so many different pathways you can take. Usually, you are given a choice and must choose. Doing so can result in something good and you progressing, or can lead to your death, whether it be painful or not.
(https://www.freegameplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fleeing-the-complex.gif)
In this game are also many, many references to many different things. This game is definitely something you should try out as it can kill time really quickly. Also, some deaths here are pretty brutal for a stick game, but there is absolutely no blood or gore in this game.
And since this write up was so short, I will be adding another entry.
Number 10: Bloons Tower Defense 5
(https://1079638729.rsc.cdn77.org/androidgame_img/bloons_td_5/real/1_bloons_td_5.jpg)
I'm sure you guys have tried tower defense games at least once in your whole life. This game has a really similar concept to those games. There are different types of balloons and different types of towers/monkey's you can use to pop the balloons. There are many different maps you can choose from and they are labelled as Easy, Medium, or Advanced. The more advanced the map is, the more pathways there are for balloons and it is a pretty short path, allowing the balloons to reach your main base at a quicker time. The first level starts off really easy as there are only red balloons. They get popped in one hit so don't sweat over it. As the level progresses, you will be introduced to new colors of balloons who take a longer time to pop. Then there are Camo balloons that can't be detected by towers until they have the "Detect Camo" ability, and also a rainbow balloon which unleashes every single colored balloons out there when popped, and the legendary ZOMG blimps which take freaking forever to pop and once you do, they dispose of BFB's another massive blimp and once destroyed, leaks out MOAB blimps, a big blue blimp. After you finally destroy that, it leaks out Ceramic balloons which are really tough and once you break its defense, lets out rainbow balloons which spells out a whole array of balloons trying to end you....
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/b__/images/5/57/ZOMG_iOS_Description.png/revision/latest?cb=20130103110828&path-prefix=bloons)
Don't worry though, you have a lot of monkey's to help you out. There are many many types of bloons and towers that listing them would take forever. I encourage you to actually try out to game, if you want, to know more about these bloons and monkeys. But once you start playing, it could be pretty difficult to stop playing. Overall, this game offers a lot and you can tell the developer's put a lot of work into this game. A great game.
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Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
I played amnesia that way and I needed take breaks :lol I would get so tense
Oh man, isn't that the truth? :P
Seriously. I tried it that way for a bit but couldn't keep going like that, so had to play it daylight. :lol While clearly quite different games, the creepyness of some of your list definitely reminds me of that experience.
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I love Bloons. Bloons (I think Bloons 3) got me through my senior year in college at work :lol
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Have you played Amnesia? And if so, did you do it the way you're supposed to, with headphones on and the lights off?
I played amnesia that way and I needed take breaks :lol I would get so tense
Oh man, isn't that the truth? :P
Seriously. I tried it that way for a bit but couldn't keep going like that, so had to play it daylight. :lol While clearly quite different games, the creepyness of some of your list definitely reminds me of that experience.
Heh, I'm glad it does. ;)
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I love Bloons. Bloons (I think Bloons 3) got me through my senior year in college at work :lol
<3 em very much. Got me through high school. ;)
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Number 10: Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise
(https://www.xblafans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/naughtybeartitle.jpg)
Ok, this game. This game! This game!!!! :lol
This game might seem cute first glance because look at that cuddly bear!!! I could almost die from how freaking adorable that bear is! AHHHHH!!!
Anyways, this game isn't cute at all. Nosireebob. It is pretty messed up and once you play this game, your reaction might be:
(https://media.giphy.com/media/KTHFxuEtrVoGI/giphy.gif)
I'm serious. Because you play as that brown bear and your mission is to brutally kill and mutilate all the other bears and MAKE THEM SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/Naughty_Bear.jpg)
Yeah, apparently, all the other bears hate you and they either not invite you to their party or try to kill you so you must give them a taste of your own medicine. Basically all the levels will begin with this picture:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RvglcxRvoGU/maxresdefault.jpg)
The narrator gives a description of the bear and what wrong they have committed. Then he tells you how you should kill the bears. Your mission is to kill all the bears in one mission. That can be done in various ways. You can slice them down, make them commit suicide, or use various objects to kill your victims. The cutest part of this game is when you are about to kill them. When you hold their neck to choke them, they make this very CUTE <3~ squeal and squeaks that make me go: "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!" And then you either strangle them to death, hammer their face, or do this:
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTM6bWH6KLkL8d1H7p2GqtrYrDqJUC5JaSX0pnGODY1nZpDNob)
or this.....
(https://www.gamepur.com/files/images/2010/naughty_bear_screen.jpg)
and even this!
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0CidcOaEXA/U-zYt00jFII/AAAAAAAABHw/zFvQwl69OwQ/s1600/what-a-scamp.jpg)
A darker part of me awakens when I play this game. Killing all those cute things are so fun! <3 <3
And I've creeped many people out when they watch me play this game. I laugh like a maniac when I'm about to kill the bears and burst into a fit of laughter at their death. Yeah, I'm not right in my mind, but it's still a very game nonetheless.
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Man, Bloon Tower Defense was my shit.
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Naughty Bear sounds a little bit like Hitman, except with bears :lol
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Number 9: Dead Space 3
(https://gamingbolt.com/wp-content/gallery/dead-space-3-wallpapers-in-hd/dead-space-3-hd-wallpapers.jpg)
Clocking at number nine is Dead Space 3! So this is a third person shooter horror game and I love it very much! I very much love the third game in the trilogy and rightfully so. This game has the most added to it and in terms of gameplay and plot, this game is at its peak. So, in this game, you are Isaac Clarke and you team up with the Earth Gov Sergeant John Carver as they travel to Tau Volantis, an ice-covered planet, to end the Marker and Necromorph threat for good. Oooh, very scary!
So the Necromorphs, these guys below:
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/deadspace/images/c/c4/DS2_Necromorphs.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20101212220129)
and these guys are the main antagonists you will be facing. Also, the very lovely Resource Integration Gear is used for this game also! Remember the holograph which showed how much ammo you had remaining and showed you how much life and armor you had left? Yes! Also, another mechanism is introduced, the roll and take cover method. I found myself using a lot of the maneuver throughout boss fights and when I was outnumbered. ABUSE IT. It sure helps a lot. New enemies were also introduced here with extremely cool models and extremely cool ways they killed you. You know, the deaths here are pretty gruesome and disgusting, but I'm going to be honest with you...for some of them, I sorta enjoy it..............Yeah, I'm going to edit that out. Scratch that!
Also, guess what? This game also has co-op! How cool is that!
Anyways, this game is super fun to play and I'd definitely recommend this game to anyone who wants to enjoy some horrors, while shooting and killing monsters. Now, I'm not going to start putting the plot in there because I want you guys a chance to play this game for yourselves, if you are interested and to go on from there. So, no more spoilers! But definitely check it out.
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Never got around to playing the third game. I played the hell out of the first two, and I still love the first to death.
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Number 8: Catherine
(https://andydecarli.com/Video%20Games/Collection/Sony%20PlayStation%203/Scans/Full%20Size/Sony%20PlayStation%203%20Catherine%20Love%20is%20Over%20Deluxe%20Edition%20Front%20Cover%20Alt%203.jpg)
Ah, here it is...Catherine. Here is a really fun, yet quite disturbing "romantic", horror, puzzle platformer game. In this game, you assume the role of and the story follows Vincent Brooks, a man who is beset by supernatural nightmares while torn between his feelings for longtime girlfriend Katherine and the similarly-named beauty Catherine. The gameplay is divided between daytime hours, where Vincent interacts with the characters, and his dreams where he must navigate three-dimensional tower puzzles. The game's ending is affected by moral choices made by Vincent over the course of the story. The choices are indeed interesting and ask about real life experiences such as, "Does life begin at marriage?" or "Does life end at marriage?"
(https://rpgrabbit.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/catherine-question-and-answer.png)
After that, they show you the results of what people voted for and is separated into two categories: male and female.
Now, the actual gameplay. Here is how it looks like.
(https://72pins.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/cathgameplay.jpg)
So, you must progress your way up the tower, but don't idle in the bottom for too long as the floors will start falling down and if you fall down, you fall to your death as your body will be.....ugh.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vky5GPqNlhA/maxresdefault.jpg)
Anyways, I won't be getting into plot because I want you guys if you are interested to play it and find it out for yourselves. This game has many endings you can unlock. Basically, you have to choose between getting together with Katherine, or Catherine.....Yeah.
Anyways, the bosses themselves are pretty disgusting. You are in the nightmare realm and it twists reality to something very disturbing. Here, have a look.....blech.
(https://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/61G-+0IO+oL.jpg)
That was the baby you and Katherine had together and there are more, but I don't want to give any of you guys nightmare's. :P
Anyways, this game is very fun to play and I highly suggest it.
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That looks like the weirdest game.
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Number 7: That Dragon, Cancer
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/419460/header.jpg?t=1456855096)
Here is another really sad game that left me really emotionally drained, especially at the ending. This game is basically around a two hour, autobiographical, point and click game. This game is based on the mother and father, the Greens' raising their son, who was battling against terminal cancer, and given only a short time to live. Joel lived for four more years, but unfortunately, succumbed against the disease. That is very sad, knowing that your son or daughter has only mere moments to live before they will inevitably pass away. No cure, no hope, no more life....
This game is basically an exploration game that is played in both first person and third person point of view. You assume the role of the parents, Ryan and Amy Green and the troubles and emotional times they had to face as they helplessly watched their son succumb to cancer, but all wasn't lost though. They made sure that they made this best time of Joel's life. You also get to make choices and interact with objects and characters, similar to how Ryan and Amy interacted with others during their son's battle with cancer.
This game has a lot of detail put into it. The graphics are top notch and by the end of this game, this game might leave you as an emotional wreck. It sure did to me. RIP Joel.
(https://www.criticalhit.net/images/2016/01/That-Dragon-Cancer-feature-8.jpg)
Number 6: Avion Flight Simulator 2015
(https://1079638729.rsc.cdn77.org/androidgame_img/avion_flight_simulator_2015/real/1_avion_flight_simulator_2015.jpg)
Ah, here it is. This game is available on Android, but I'm not sure about IOS. I've downloaded this game a couple of months ago, and I am enjoying it like crazy! This game is very simple. You control various airplanes and this game has various missions. As the title implies, this is a simulation game where you get to control an airplane. Um, I don't think there is much I can say here besides that for me, it is addicting!
They have many choices of aircraft's you can use like the Boeing 777, FA 18 Super Hornet, Sukhoi SU 37, among many others. There are 13 aircrafts and 5 missions for each. After you complete their fifth mission, you can use the aircraft to go on free flight missions where you can just have fun.
(https://allaboutwindowsphone.com/images/reviews/avion/avion3.jpg)
Number 5: Make it Rain
(https://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple6/v4/96/64/9c/96649ce6-18ce-f30a-87dc-52b47b3296a1/screen568x568.jpeg)
Here is a game that can pass boredom very quickly. Basically in the beginning, all of you have to is swipe the money to earn money. Once you have enough money, there are three extra options you can purchase to help you to earn money much more. Let's go over them shall we?
The first option is: Financial Investments. With it, you can earn money without swiping. Once you buy some stuff, you get to upgrade them and they will progressively give you more money, but will also cost more.
The second option is: Business Investments. With it, you can earn more cash with each swipe. Each time you swipe, you add one dollar to your total, but you can upgrade the dollar bill to five dollar bills, ten dollar bills, twenty dollar bills, etc.
The last option is the: Political Bucket. You can earn money when you are not in game with the bucket. You can upgrade the capacity of the bucket or how quickly the bucket makes the money.
So yeah, that's about it. Keep buying, keep swiping, and keep upgrading to make you the richest man in this game. :)
(https://35wmrr2htzue38ph9kt270l1711.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Ways_to_earn.png)
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdd5hENznlI/VKQaRHGbnKI/AAAAAAAA03Q/PdgCJSFYA_k/s1600/IMG_1797.jpg)
The next four of the game are my absolute favorites so expect a bit more detailed write ups. :)
Thanks guys for so far hanging on.
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I've heard a lot of that dragon cancer. There is a great NPR article on it that I heard that gives a lot of backstory to the family and the games development. You should check it out with your interested however it's heartbreaking.
I haven't heard of the other two but I'll check out the airplane game, I need some more mobile games.
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Number 4: Final Fantasy XIII
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Final_Fantasy_XIII_EU_box_art.jpg)
Here it is. The first game my parents introduced me to and the introduction of my namesake, Serah Farron!
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Final_Fantasy_XIII_Cast.png)
So, a little backdrop about this game.....
The game takes place in the fictional floating world of Cocoon (nice world name lol), whose government, the Sanctum, is ordering a purge of civilians who have supposedly come into contact with Pulse, the much-feared world below. The former soldier Lightning begins her fight against the government in order to save her sister who has been branded as an unwilling servant to a god-like being from Pulse, making her an enemy of Cocoon. Lightning is soon joined by a band of allies, and together the group also become marked by the same Pulse creature. They rally against the Sanctum while trying to discover their assigned task and whether they can avoid being turned into monsters or crystals at the completion.
The story in this game is just amazing. This game will take you on a roller coaster, an emotional one, that's for sure. With its sad moments, fun moments, funny moments, happy moments...by the end of this game, you will be in awe. The reason I love this game is the battle system. It is so very similar to Hyperdimension Neptunia and RWBY, both of which will make this list.
There are six main playable character here in this game. All of them have really nice dialogue's and their personalities are very unique like a snowflake. The six main playable ones are Lightning (Serah's older sister (:heart)), Snow Villiers (Serah's fiancee and leader of NORA), Oerba Dia Vanille (the narrator and an exile), Sazh Katzroy (a pilot and a father to a young boy), Hope Estheim (a young boy who is struggling with the relationships between his parents), and Oerba Yun Fang (a l'Cie from Pulse who is working with the Sanctum's Cavalry branch).
The other characters are Galenth Dysley (the ruler of the Sanctum and main antagonist), Cid Raines (a Sanctum Brigadier General in the Cavalry who does not trust the government) and Serah Farron, Lightning's younger sister and Snow's fiancée. :heart
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/LR_XIII_main_cast_artwork.png)
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/4/49/FFXIII_First_Mission.png/revision/latest?cb=20141205192045)
This game is amazing. This game is the best in the series and rightfully so. Why? The plot is just awesome. There are some twists and turns, which I enjoyed, but it kept my interest piqued for the entire game. The characters are unique and lovable, each in their own way and the music. Man, the music! A good game needs good music and this game delivers everything!
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Final_Fantasy_XIII_Cast.png)
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Number 3: MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies
(https://orig04.deviantart.net/36dc/f/2016/083/b/1/megatagmension_blanc___neptune_vs_zombies_icon_by_masouoji-d9wco0x.png)
Ah here it is. My favorite game series.....This game is part of the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, which is basically a role playing game. Now, let me just give a brief history about Hyperdimension Neptunia. In this whole series, the games take place in the world of Gamindustri which is divided into four regions/nations which are each ruled by one CPU: Planeptune, Lastation, Lowee, and Leanbox. (These are the region names, not the CPU.)
Each region is completely different from the others in appearance and atmosphere, with each representing a specific video game console. Lastation represents the PlayStation, Lowee represents the Wii, Leanbox represents the Xbox, while Planeptune represents the cancelled Sega Neptune. And you can already know what my favorite region is. (Hint: I only have a Playstation.)
The bolded talks more about the past and is taken from the wikia. Skip if you wish to go straight to the game's point.[/u]
Long ago, before Gamindustri was ruled by four seperate CPUs, the world was ruled by one benevolent goddess, Arfoire. With Histoire on her side, Gamindustri was peaceful and prospered. It was then that Arfoire's powers had corrupted her, and the humans couldn't stand her rule any longer. A team of four heroes, each possessing powerful weapons, created an access to Celestia and defeated her. Realizing her corruption after her defeat, Arfoire gave up her powers to Histoire and requested to split her powers into four different goddesses so that the events that followed her corruption will never happen again. Histoire complied with her wish, using Arfoire's powers to create four different CPUs. The records of Gamindustri were rewritten by Arfoire to erase any existence of her rule, and the new CPUs were "born." Thus, Gamindustri was split into four different nations, each ruled by the newly created CPUs.
After the split of Gamindustri, Arfoire's corrupt nature came back and overcame her. She decided she wanted all of Gamindustri for herself. To reclaim what she previously ruled, she used her manipulative skills to set the events leading to the Console Wars. The spark to the initial conflict that started the conflict was when Arfoire manipulated the four CPUs into battling each other for the title of the True Goddess, the one who would "unify both the human world and Celestia." With tensions already existing between the CPUs due to their constant changing of things on Gamindustri as they see fit, Arfoire's "consultation" worsened the tensions. Thus, the Console Wars started. The conflict would then last for thousands of years.
Blind from the truth and Arfoire's true intentions, the CPUs inexhaustibly battled for thousands of years. Seeking change, they finally came to the conclusion that simply exchanging blows wasn't enough to bring about the end of the Console Wars. CPU Green Heart suggested that they should eliminate or exile one of them to bring closer the end of the Console Wars. Seeing CPU Purple Heart as the greatest threat, the rest of the Hearts exiled her from Celestia, bringing in a change of course in the almost endless conflict.
(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/hyperdimensionneptunia/images/6/6c/The-neptune-gang_(1).jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/660?cb=20130717003319)
(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/hyperdimensionneptunia/images/5/54/SuperDimensionalGameNeptune.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110701181610)
Now, the whole story of what happens is known in the main series, the Hyperdimension Neptunia Rebirth series. There have been a couple of spin offs that take place in a different dimension, so it doesn't pertain to the story. Now this game, does not have any relevance to the story, but takes place in a different dimension....a dimension full of zombies.
In the alternate dimension, the CPU's are students, rather than what they popularly came to be known as. Neptune is the manager of the film club and invites Blanc to help make a movie with her. Noire is the vice president of the student council, and Vert is the president of the student council. Nepgear and Uni are both in middle school, while Rom and Ram are in primary school.
Unlike the other games, this game and Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed, you can control the characters as they can roam freely....like a hack and slash.
So this game.....breaks the fourth wall a lot, is kinda perverted (but cute), and makes a lot of references and is very funny. I mean, seriously. I guess that is the reason why I've fallen in love with this game. If you are looking for a serious game.....don't play this game. Although there are serious moments, it is quickly broken by something. Instead, if you just want to have fun and have nosebleeds (for you male audiences ;)), this game might be just for you.
All the characters you can play here are female. Basically, all the main characters are female's and male's are really, really rare.
Anyways, I found out this game by pure chance and I think...I think I was destined to meet this game because I can't stop playing! NOOOOOOO! Awesome game.
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I know some people don't like FF XIII because it's so linear until the very end, and that is for sure a limitation in terms of gameplay. But it's got some of the best story and narrative of any of the FF games. I actually think the fact that it was so linear allowed them to have much tighter narrative. So yeah, great choice!
XIII-2 I thought was pretty weak; the story was fairly silly and all the jumping around in time just didn't quite work.
I'm only playing through Lightning Returns for the first time right now, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. As with all the FF direct sequels, they've done something a bit different and slightly experimental, but I'm finding it works for the most part and it's a pretty good game. Definitely much stronger than X-2 and XIII-2.
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Well, they do have a point.
But yeah, the story definitely makes up for it. Also, this game introducing me to FF and the introduction of my namesake, though Final Fantasy VII comes a really close second.
Thanks Ariich! I definitely treasure the series and I couldn't agree more on XIII-2. First FF game which I just couldn't get into that much. Also, Lightning Returns is pretty fun also! Enjoy it!
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Number 2 - RWBY: Grimm Eclipse
(https://oceanofgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RWBY-Grimm-Eclipse-Free-Download.jpg)
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/rwby/images/5/5b/RWBY_Grimm_Eclipse_Art.png/revision/latest?cb=20160630165231)
Another hack n slash...another of my favorite series! RWBY was originally an animated series, but Rooster Teeth decided to expand on the anime to create this gem. I love the animated series and I've been growing addicted to it more and more. <3.<3
Thankfully, this game features its own unique plot that is canon within the show continuity. The writers of the story of RWBY collaborated with the game development team for the story, making this game a true gem, for all you RWBY fans. The story of the game lies between season 2 and season 3. This game is a co-op survival, action based adventure where you get to control the four girls: Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna, the main characters, among many others.
(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSkGTK7LyPBUbMKF8tGo0nu7TvEK5KasbUTHi90lOvUYBSmldZC)
The story for this game is just brilliant. If you watched the animated series, you would expect what was coming, but even then, you would get caught off guard by some twists that make you think that the game completely deviates away from the story, but while delivering that surprise factor, still follows the canon plot. The graphics on this game is alright. The atmosphere part of it like the tree's, the sky, etc are awesome, but the actual character designs....some are really glitchy and iffy. You can upgrade a character's skill by upgrading their skill tree. Also, there is a paid DLC and when you buy it, you can have access to Team JNPR, four whole new sets of characters that are really useful.
Also, like Left 4 Dead, there are also ways to mod this to make the game much more interesting.
(https://screenshots.en.sftcdn.net/en/scrn/69713000/69713629/image-10-700x393.jpg)
All in all, I've grown in love with hack n slash/anime games and man, am I on a binge right now. My number one should be pretty obvious, but it's another anime game which I enjoy. This game delivers on every level and is my second most played game on Steam. Nice stuff. :tup
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Looks interesting, I think the only thing that doesn't click with me is the art style of the characters
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Number 1: Hyperdimension Neptunia Rebirth 3
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/hyperdimensionneptunia/images/a/a9/Re%3BBirth3VGeneration.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20150914184503)
Here it is....my favorite game of all time. I swear, I was fated to meet this series.....it was all destiny. I mean, I found out about this game by total chance. So, to those who haven't heard the back story, I will tell it again. So I was playing Left 4 Dead 2, which unfortunately did not make the list, and I was modding the game and switching everything when I checked out the anime section of the mod site. Hyperdimension Neptunia was a very popular mod and out of curiosity, I downloaded it. The survivors were replaced with the four goddess' from Hyperdimension Neptunia: Neptune, Noire, Vert, and Blanc. I grew curious so I checked the wiki page and read over them as my interest for it piqued. I purchased this game first and after the first few minutes, I bought the entire game and it did not fail to disappoint at all. This is the epitome in my opinion for the Hyperdimension Neptunia series.
So, the evil deity of sin, the creator of the goddess' Arfoire has risen and Histoire, Planeptune's oracle wanted the goddess and the goddess' sister, the CPU candidate Nepgear to get off their lazy butts and do something, not spending their entire lazy lives playing video games, which the goddess' like to do so Histoire sends them off on a mission to stop an anti-CPU activist Rei Ryghts. Well, they go to stop her, but Rei, gaining mysterious powers banishes Neptune to another dimension, back to the 80's, where the first console war started, though things have changed because in that dimension, Neptune did not exist as Planeptune's CPU and she had lost all her CPU powers.
Neptune befriends Plutia, a lazy, ditsy girl like herself who is the alternate Planeptune’s CPU albeit with a sadistic side (no really, her sadistic side is very......lol. Wouldn't want to piss her off), as well as future-CPU Noire (who personifies the Sony PlayStation). Together the three work together to track down artifacts known as CPU Memories to transform Neptune and Noire into CPUs, which they acquire by defeating the CPU-like sorceress, Arfoire, and her assistant Pirachu. Well, that's enough of the plot. That was the introduction, but in this game, you roam around dungeon's and when you encounter an enemy, it is a turn based battle, like an RPG. For me, the true gem in this game is the character interactions.
Here is how a battle looks like:
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxx1grnP2HC0uZQWx6vr2xFUBx6vwaeNXm2715AOsH27aJJntMDA)
Here is how an interaction looks like:
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQBeacMoCQHoNum6p6n1KGqJ8kyOoLzpz2w6NIoY0EbsstfxXDvg)
These interactions are filled with references from many sources like Mario, Pokemon, even Final Fantasy, among others. Some interactions are really cute that can make you go awwwww, some interaction are kinda pervy which makes you go like :eek, some make you laugh, some make you smile, etc. Each character has their own different persona and that makes them really unique.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgk7UAFvB7d4RpKK8vBHS1bag02Lhmp7LrDFcrHAM4vWqGZXtIuw[/img
You can also by DLC's which can help you a lot. They give you various items and also new characters. I definitely recommend Histoire, because she so dang overpowered....seriously. :lol
The music also does not slack off. Some are really catchy and I have to hum it everytime.....crud I'm still doing it. Also, this is called Rebirth because there was an original Hyperdimension Neptunia game, but they remade all of them. There are three rebirths, each a remake of the first, second, and third game. They made the game much more easier, because the original games were focused on grinding. You had to grind over 20+ hours just to defeat a chapter 2 boss. Thankfully, they toned it down, so you can actually enjoy the cutscenes.
This game is fabulous....I mean, it has everything that I enjoy and I'm really glad I was fated to meet this game.....it's awesome! AWESOME!!
Well, thanks guys for following!
:tup
:tup
[img]https://commiesubs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/batch.jpg)
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Clean out your inbox....again
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:tup great list! I definitely have some games to through in the old steam library
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What happened to this thread!?!?
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Nobody has any lists left
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scar took them with him
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Yeah, jakarta and adace were my only waiting members and they're both mia so I think we're on a clean slate as of now. I'll verify that and report back in the next day or so.
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I can do a list if we want to keep this ball rolling.
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Go for it Chris!
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Ok, give me a day or two to get my write-ups going. If someone else wants to cut in line before I get started, please do.
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I'll see if I have another 25 games, it won't be the top list but just more great games
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Yessssssssssss
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I'd do another list but I basically did with all my honorable mentions :lol
There's a small handful of games I've played since my last list that would absolutely be on the list now if I redid it but not nearly enough to warrant a new top 25. Would be like, a top 5 :lol
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I'd be up for doing another list, I don't know if it'd be 25 games but I'll see what I can come up with.
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I am strapped for time, so my list won't be 25. I am finishing up my write-ups tonight.
A bit of background: I am 40, a child of the 80s, grew up on MTV, sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Growing Pains, action shows like The A-Team and Knight Rider, music like Def Leppard and Duran Duran, WWF and NWA/JCP, and toys like Transformers and Lego. My video game history is strictly Nintendo-based, until the mid 90s when PCs and PC gaming became more prevalent. My first console was an Odyssey II. I've never owned a Sega system, PlayStation, or Xbox.
List to begin shortly.
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Can't wait to read it Chris
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15: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II (Gamecube)
(https://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/object/015/015337/Star-Wars-Rogue-Squadron-II-Rogue-Leader_US_ESRB.jpg)
(https://worthplaying.com/press/19/endor1.jpg)
As an original trilogy junkie, I never felt so immersed in the SW galaxy, fighting for the Rebellion against the Empire as I did in this game. Great level design and gameplay.
14. VVVVVV (PC)
(https://www.pixelships.com/misc/screens/vvvvvv_reactor_1.png)
(https://thevitalounge.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-01-08-014635.jpg)
According to Steam: "VVVVVV is a platform game all about exploring one simple mechanical idea - what if you reversed gravity instead of jumping?" Simple, right? It is, until it isn't. This quirky game is so simple in its structure, but such a complex joy in its execution. So fun, and one of the most enjoyable soundtracks I've ever heard. Get it on Steam, it's $5. Trust me.
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VVVVVVVVVVVVVery good game
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Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II is one of those games I quite recently aqquired for my GameCube but haven't played yet.
I can easily write up more lists, maybe for like top 90's and top 00's, if there's any need. :tup
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Should have clarified earlier.... some of these are on the list as I could pick up them right now and play for hours like the game was brand new. Others are on the list more for nostalgia, recalling the enjoyment they brought to me in different times, though I wouldn't necessarily get an equal amount of enjoyment from them now.
13: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (PC)
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/66394-Star_Wars_Jedi_Knight_II_Outcast-13.jpg)
(https://cdn.escapistmagazine.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1018/1018013.jpg)
Another fun SW game, with great action elements and an engrossing story. Not the last SW game on the list.
12: GoldenEye (Nintendo 64)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/36/GoldenEye007box.jpg)
(https://theaverageretrogamer.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/goldeneye007_1.jpg)
I know everyone raves about the multiplayer. I hated it. I always got my ass handed to me. But it was still one of the best multiplayer gaming experiences of my youth. Wait, I was in college. Whatever. I loved the Bond franchise, this movie and appreciated how the single player followed the plot, characters, sequences, and the places from the film.
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Two very awesome games right there. Lots to be said about Goldeneye but Jedi Outcast was such an amazing game. My brother and I got it going a couple years back it was just as fun as when it first was released.
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Three games I worship. Rogue leader, Jedi Outcast (my fav of the jedi series) and of course goldeneye. Hours upon hours of fun.
I want a new jedi knight and rogue squadron game so bad
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Looking at my list, I figured many of them would be crowd favorites. No obscure titles but a few might get some crickets.
Can someone change the thread title? Does the original poster have to do that?
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I remember Jedi Outcast. I was so excited for lightsaber action in the game, but remember it being rather clunky. I don't think I ever finished it, as it didn't live up to it's predecessors (imo)
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Honestly I found the game dropped off a little when you get the lightsaber. I enjoyed the blaster sections more.
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I honestly don't even remember playing the single player :lol. I just played multiplayer all the time.
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I am the total opposite. I absolutely loved getting the lightsaber and perhaps I loved it so much since it was a HUGE step up from the shitty lightsaber control of Jedi Knight part 1. I also loved getting the force powers and force choking storm troopers and throwing them off cliffs and stuff. Good times.
Now all that being said, I did still love jedi knight 1. That was a fantastic game.
I liked the multi player, but only could play it at friends houses. I didn't even have internet at the time, so I just played single player over and over again. God I love that game
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11 Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64)
(https://r.mprd.se/Nintendo%2064/Screenshots/Titles/Mario%20Kart%2064%20(U).png)
(https://r.mprd.se/Nintendo%2064/Screenshots/Snaps/Mario%20Kart%2064%20(U).png)
In terms of hours of my college life wasted, Mario Kart on the SNES takes the gold trophy. Sorry mom and dad. In terms of awesomeness, Kart 64 wins the prize. 1 Player, Multi-Player, Battle Mode..... if you had this game, and a couple friends who similarly didn't have girlfriends, your Friday night was set. Nintendo kept the Kart franchise going, never releasing a bad Kart game. Kart 7 and 8 may be better in some ways. But Kart 64 is tops of my list.
10 Diablo (PC)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3a/Diablo_Coverart.png)
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3k10clNFeGc/Uo7z8TRRa4I/AAAAAAAABDY/oDjJa6rJo5c/s320/Diablo+1.jpg)
I know Diablo 2 might be the a hallmark game in the genre, wonderfully expanding on the original. But I remember my first. That will be a theme here. Not much to say… create your character, collect weapons and armor, and hack and slash your way through several beautifully designed levels to get to the infernal beast. Played it recently, and doesn't feel dated at all. Wonderful soundtrack. Fun quests. Great level design.
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Lots of hours of Fun with Mario kart 64. Diablo 1 was my first as well, I just really sucked at it. It wasn't until I played 2 where I could get obsessively in to the series
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Played a ton of Mario Kart and surprisingly never played anything in the Diablo franchise.
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Can someone change the thread title? Does the original poster have to do that?
I didn't see you give it a formal name unless I missed it. Just let me know what your list is called and I'll change it.
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Thanks b_f, I didn't have a proper name for it. You can title it however you wish.
9 Legend of Zelda (NES)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Legend_of_zelda_cover_%28with_cartridge%29_gold.png)
(https://sites.google.com/site/vegetaman/_/rsrc/1359872748023/home/letsplay/legendofzelda/loz_2q_03/320.png?height=280&width=320)
I didn't own this game in my early NES days, but it was my best friend's prized game. Just taking out the gold cartridge was a joy to us kids, to say nothing of getting through the Lost Woods or finally getting in to Death Mountain. I could pick up and play this game anytime, and to make it even more fresh, the Randomizer available on the net offers great new challenges to an already well-aged classic.
8 Mass Effect (PC)
(https://www.shadowsplace.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/256px-Masseffect_box_cover_thumb1.jpg)
(https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/siouxcityjournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/01/3013f7ae-53a6-56a3-8017-d3310a6c8317/4dd6a044edf92.image.jpg)
I know MS2 is generally considered a better overall game, but being the first, I was swept up in ME's gameplay and story from the onset, and as such, it holds a higher place for me. (told you being my first would be a theme) ME3 is still in my "To be played" queue, to show you how far behind I am on some things. Small detail: I like how you can set up Shepard to be a man or a woman. I played as a woman, and my daughter, while watching me noticed, and thought it was pretty cool I was "playing the woman." Preferable to playing women in real life, as I have been known to do. But I digress.
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I loved the first zelda. It just threw you in to the world and that was it, you were on your own and it was one hell of an adventure.
Mass effect 1 was incredibly fun and I like it about the same as part 2.
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While Mass Effect 2 improved a great deal in many areas and is an amazing game in its own right, the first one had a specific atmosphere about it that went missing in the second one and never really came back. For me, it has a lot to do with the soundtrack - that retro 80's sounding music made it really stick out.
Also, I've always play as a female Shepherd. Voice actor Jennifer Hale is sooo much better. :tup
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Yeah my recent play through was female and her voice acting is so vastly superior.
In narrative terms I can't really separate out the three games - they feel like three acts of the same brilliant story. I do think the gameplay was stepped up quite a bit in 2 an 3, though they also didn't have the same sense of exploration as 1 (although driving the mako around was horrible).
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Putting in some time in Skyrim, I never did play through the DLC's and I got the remaster. Makes for a good weekend.
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Just seeing the photo, and thinking back, makes me want to go fire up the NES right now!
I still will always take Metroid over the other original big 2. But I will also take Zelda easily over SMB1, and possibly SMB2/DD Panic. Zelda was such a smooth game.
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6 The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (PC)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Gabriel_Knight_The_Beast_Within.jpg/256px-Gabriel_Knight_The_Beast_Within.jpg)
(https://episodiccontentmag.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gk2_talk.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo75tLTQ9lA
Wiki calls this a "interactive movie point-and-click adventure game." Which is a mouthful. But I loved this genre of games back in the mid-90s. The storytelling was rich, the characters were compelling, and the gameplay, while limited in the typical sense, focused on problem-solving and advancing the narrative. Video game storylines have developed so much since I was a kid, when I just instructed to "save the princess!" or "kill the dragon!" But in my video gaming prime, adventure games fed my appetite for rich, complex, stories. And this was one of the best, weaving a story about King Ludwig II, Lycanthropy, and Man's relationship to nature and self-discovery. GK1 and GK3 weren't as good. Though they released a revamped version of GK1 with better graphics that make the gameplay more enjoyable.
7 Deus Ex (PC)
(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/win/4/deus-ex-win-cover-front-39523.jpg)
(https://grafxflow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/deus_ex_7.jpg)
Deus Ex put everything I love in gaming, threw it in to a pot, and cooked up a wonderful stew. Many times when a game tries to be too many things, it fails at at least one of them, and can't manage to make something greater than the sum of its parts. Deus Ex did that masterfully. Never played any others from the franchise, though I know I own at least one of them.
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Well..... crickets on those two! And thanks for the title update!
5 Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Sug9nJjB8q4/hqdefault.jpg)
(https://vice-images.vice.com/images/content-images/2016/01/03/super-mario-64-still-matters-even-20-years-since-its-release-945-body-image-1451850616.jpg?output-quality=75)
Ranking Mario games is my Sophie's Choice.. I played the crap out of SMB/2/3, and then Mario World came out and blew me away. I trudged my way through a moderately enjoyable Sunshine, and almost fully completed Galaxy. But the variety of worlds and star quests challenges in Mario 64 captivated me in a way unlike the others. It might not hold up well now, but I'd still get a kick out of playing it.
4 Knights of the Old Republic (PC)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Kotorbox.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OOwTEJQCV78/hqdefault.jpg)
I generally hate RPG games. I am terrible at them. I usually can’t get more than 5 minutes in to them before I lose interest. But I love Star Wars, so I thought I would check this one out. From the onset, I was hooked, and loved every minute of this game. The amazing story is more developed and intriguing than a Trade Federation blockade, the characters and the voice-acting are top-notch, and rarely have I felt as immersed in a game as I have with this one. I made it through part ot KoToR II, but gave up for some reason I can't remember. Still saved on my PC though so I hope to get through some day.
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I loved deus ex. It's one of the first rpgs that I remeber playing. Never did play any of the follow up titles.
Super Mario 64 is fantastic, funny enough it's the only game on n64 I played, beat, and never touched again, all my other games I played over and over.
I've never played KOTOR disputes owning it for years. I've been very slowly making my way through it on my iPhone.
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Also I've never heard of the beast within but I did take a look at some screen caps after your post. It reminds me of a game I played on sega cd that I can't remember the name of.
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My gut wanted to go with Mario World (SNES) as I think the replay value is higher. But in the end, Mario 64 had more of an impact on me. I loved being able to go to different levels on your own, once you had enough stars of course.
Sega CD tried to do the whole Full Motion Video thing, but failed miserably.
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I really want to try Deus Ex one day, I love Human Revolution.
SM64 is just trascendental :tup
A friend gifted me KOTOR, but still haven't played it properly - didn't stop crashing on me. I'll eventually fix it.
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6 The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (PC)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Gabriel_Knight_The_Beast_Within.jpg/256px-Gabriel_Knight_The_Beast_Within.jpg)
(https://episodiccontentmag.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gk2_talk.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo75tLTQ9lA
Wiki calls this a "interactive movie point-and-click adventure game." Which is a mouthful. But I loved this genre of games back in the mid-90s. The storytelling was rich, the characters were compelling, and the gameplay, while limited in the typical sense, focused on problem-solving and advancing the narrative. Video game storylines have developed so much since I was a kid, when I just instructed to "save the princess!" or "kill the dragon!" But in my video gaming prime, adventure games fed my appetite for rich, complex, stories. And this was one of the best, weaving a story about King Ludwig II, Lycanthropy, and Man's relationship to nature and self-discovery. GK1 and GK3 weren't as good. Though they released a revamped version of GK1 with better graphics that make the gameplay more enjoyable.
I never played this one, but certainly remember the box! I miss FMV, or interactive movie games. They were kind of ahead of their time, and certainly were a new twist vs. jumping around or shooting things. Ah, the days of having 3-6 CD-ROM discs. :lol :biggrin:
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I recall GK2 had a large section cut as its inclusion would have resulted in the game needing 9 CDs instead of the 6 it ended up having.
A game that just missed my list and will be an Honorable Mention was the first game to include a DVD-ROM. Boy that was hot shit, not having to change CDs!
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I generally hate RPG games.
wut
You clearly don't as you've had five already, nearly half your list so far! :lol
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KOTOR was amazing. Played it about 10 years ago, and holy fuck did it suck me in. There were times I'd play it from the time that the jingle.family went to bed (about 10pm back then), until 2-3am most nights of the week. Amazing game.
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I worship KOTOR and its probably my favorite SW game. I am replaying it right now and its still just as much fun. I want KOTOR 3 so bad :'(
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3 Metroid Prime (Gamecube/Wii)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/MetroidPrimebox.jpg/250px-MetroidPrimebox.jpg)
(https://nintendowire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Metroid_Prime_Screenshot.png)
This was the first Metroid game I owned. (theme...again...). I never owned Metroid (NES) or Super Metroid (SNES) so only played them via rental or at a friend’s house. So Prime's FPS gameplay didn't phase me (yes I went there) The areas in this game are so beautiful. The Phendrana Drifts is one of my all-time video game environs. I love the scanning feature, being able to gather information about your surroundings and enemies is great. Learning about the Chozo as you progress through the game is a nice touch, and so much better than being lulled to sleep with hours of cut-scenes. The controls are spot on, the music is glorious. I especially love how when you enter a new area, you aren't bombarded with enemies. You are left on your own to explore, taking in the sights and sounds, relying on your wits to figure out how to proceed, before the baddies come out of the darkness and try to kill you.
2 The Pandora Directive (PC)
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/1/2/9/8129_back.jpg)
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/9408/716205-1110657280_00.gif)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5jyKOndZ8
Tex Murphy is my favorite video game character. Never heard of him? Alas. Sam Spade in a dystopian 21st Century San Francisco. The Tex Murphy series (after the first two) seamlessly blended FMV and 3D environments in a way that revolutionized computer games in the mid 90s. It was one of the first games to use branching narratives and have multiple endings based on player choices. The back of the box image (above) sums it up better than I can. Atmospheric music and visuals, fun problem-solving and puzzles, witty dialogue (notice your choices aren't what you will exactly say, they just give a quick snapshot of which direction you want to take the conversation), and a compelling story. They literally (unfortunately) don't make them like this any more.
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Although I prefer the second game, Metroid Prime is a fantastic one :metal
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I generally hate RPG games.
wut
You clearly don't as you've had five already, nearly half your list so far! :lol
HAHAHA Touche!
So.... crickets?
MP2 Echoes is more than a worthy successor to Prime. Sequels that similar to the original can feel just like a retread, while MP2 manages to use the exact same game mechanics, yet still feel like a whole new game. I didn't state that very well.
I normally don't like lists with honorable mentions, but... here are mine (HYPOCRITE!)
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
Blew up my world when it first came out. Played it through a couple times, and the Master Quest once, but honestly can't imagine playing it again, which keeps it off the list.
Super Mario World (NES)
On another day, this replaces Mario 64 on my list. A timeless classic.
Tex Murphy: Overseer (PC)
The last installment of the original Tex Murphy series. And the first game to be developed to specifically take advantage of DVD. NO MORE CHANGING DISCS!!! As it is a flashback story, there is no branching or multiple endings. But the gameplay matches its predecesors, and the story is the best of the series, less supernatural, and more personal to Tex, addressing his backstory and why he is the character he is in the previous games. The makers made the ending a cliffhanger with plans to release at least one more sequel. But the company was sold to Microsoft, who abandoned the project as FMV/3D games like this were losing popularity. It would take another 16 years, more ownership changes, and a successful Kickstarter campaign for the cliffhanger to finally be resolved, and for fans to see another Tex Murphy game. And now, Overseer is getting redone, refined, and re-imagined with new technology
Can I add a twist to this thread? Whoever picks my #1 gets to go next.
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Can I add a twist to this thread? Whoever picks my #1 gets to go next.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Big Rigs Racing? Any of the Zelda's for CD-I?
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Alright I'll guess, Perfect Dark
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Oh I'll go for a Phoenix Wright game.
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Pong VII: Turbo Hyper Fighting
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I know what it is.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Etvideogamecover.jpg)
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I know what it is.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Etvideogamecover.jpg)
:lol
I'm thinking of doing one of these lists (though it won't be until I'm nearing the end of the school year which is in about one and a half month if I pass everything). I can already say it'll be fairly predictable, when I used to be into gaming it was almost exclusively nintendo and I bet those have occurred a million times on these lists. Anyway, gonna see if I can compile a list ASAP so you can put me down on dat waiting list
Anyway, back on topic, nothing in Chris' writeup directly suggests that Legend of Zelda (NES) is his favourite game of the franchise, so I'm gonna guess Link to the Past
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Someone should do a worst 25 games list!
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Anyway, back on topic, nothing in Chris' writeup directly suggests that Legend of Zelda (NES) is his favourite game of the franchise, so I'm gonna guess Link to the Past
Thought that would be easier.
1. A Link to the Past (SNES)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/The_Legend_of_Zelda_A_Link_to_the_Past_SNES_Game_Cover.jpg)
The flagship game of one of the industry's flagship franchises, on one of the best consoles ever made. Too early to say, but does Breath of the Wild end up taking the reigns from ALttP?
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Link to the past still impresses me to this day. Is it one of my favorite games every made? absolutely. Is it my favorite zelda? its probably a toss up between it and Ocarina, but regardless I love link to the past with a passion.
I will finding out how breath of the wild ranks shortly. My switch is on its way :)
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Can I add a twist to this thread? Whoever picks my #1 gets to go next.
I meant to reply to this yesterday. That's fine. But now I realize that Train of Naught ain't gonna be ready until he's done with school so I'll basically make him first on the waiting list which means even if who ever goes next finishes before he's done with school I'll try to remember to at least ask him if he wants to go next before moving on to others much like I'd been doing with jakarta and adace.
I'm probably just gonna leave those two guys on the list in sort of a limbo position in that I won't contact them anymore since they've not replied the last couple times their turns came up but if they ever contact me or post in this thread I'll just let them start as soon as the current list finishes.
All of that said, who wants to go next?
Also, ALttP is a fantastic game and a great choice for #1. I remember my brother and I renting this as 13 and 17 year old kids respectively and in the pre-internet era it was a huge mistake to think we'd beat a game like that during such a time frame. Good thing we bought it later on.
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My gf raves about A Link To The Past. She never plays games aside from Solitaire but she is a huge Zelda fan. The only Zelda game I've gotten around to is Ocarina of Time. I do want to try Breath of the Wild however.
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Thought I was the last on the list, sorry for mucking up the order if I did.
And thank you everyone for reading. I also hope to play Breath of the Wild some day. Ocarina of Time is the last Zelda game that really wowed me.
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I could never get into any of the 2D Zelda games, because I'd played the 3D ones first. I got a decent amount into ALTTP, but it didn't do anything for me. Maybe if I'd played it first it would be different.
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Thought I was the last on the list, sorry for mucking up the order if I did.
No, not at all man. As I said, there were only two other people who might have been waiting but I think they've both told me to indefinitely skip them cuz of life getting in the way of them being able to commit.
Your system was fine except for the fact that the person who'd have been next isn't ready at this very moment.
That said, whom ever wants to go next, holla atcha boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn? My list would have yet more platformers that would potentially make the list that I've played in the meantime, including Inside, The Cave, and Guacamelee.
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I was planning on adding some too, I do want to keep this thread alive.
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn? My list would have yet more platformers that would potentially make the list that I've played in the meantime, including Inside, The Cave, and Guacamelee.
Quite possibly Axiom Verge and Final Fantasy XV.
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I could do a list, but I really don't want to do write ups unless someone is curious about a particular game.
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Just do your list! I only wrote a sentence or two about each game.
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Yeah, I second that. Do the list
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn? My list would have yet more platformers that would potentially make the list that I've played in the meantime, including Inside, The Cave, and Guacamelee.
The Witness
Splasher
Hollow Knight
maybe Hyper Light Drifter too but probably not
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn? My list would have yet more platformers that would potentially make the list that I've played in the meantime, including Inside, The Cave, and Guacamelee.
The Witness
Splasher
Hollow Knight
maybe Hyper Light Drifter too but probably not
I've had Hollow Knight on my wishlist for a little while to get next time it's on sale, looks good. I'm not familiar with the rest yet.
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn?
So many great games I'd almost consider making another list - almost half of it would be new but most of the top 5 or so is still the same so dunno.
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While we're waiting for someone else to get ready, any games that would make people's lists since they had their turn? My list would have yet more platformers that would potentially make the list that I've played in the meantime, including Inside, The Cave, and Guacamelee.
The Witness
Splasher
Hollow Knight
maybe Hyper Light Drifter too but probably not
I've had Hollow Knight on my wishlist for a little while to get next time it's on sale, looks good. I'm not familiar with the rest yet.
tbh hollow knight is underpriced at $15. took me like 40 hours to 100% & it's great fun
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I can't wait to play Hallow knight on Switch. That's a game so beautiful that I want it right front and center in front of me. I don't want to miss a single detail.
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I could do a list, but I really don't want to do write ups unless someone is curious about a particular game.
I'd love to follow your list, but ....
I'd love to do a list, but I know my track record on these things... :-\
;)
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Final round results when
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Hey Mason, if you wanna do a list that's cool. Write-ups or not, it ain't an issue either way. Might even open things up a tad more since sometimes people whom had little to no interest about a game might be mentally fatigued after reading a lengthy spiel about it whereas if they have nothing to go on, they might be curious about the odd detail or two and inquire about it.
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Not to be a newb and just barge in here, but I could do a list if no ones waiting. I've actually been making a personal list on my own, might as well post about it here. :tup
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Sweet! I'm interested in reading.
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I'M AS MAD AS HELL...... THAT SOMEONE NEW HASN'T STARTED POSTING THEIR LIST YET!
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Heh, I need a little more time to get a bigger head start. But I can get going soon. :yarr
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I made a list last night, I'll start when I get home from work.
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Welcome to "Doc teaches Old School and New School games"
A few things to help put my list into perspective:
I'm 38...I've been playing video games for about 30 years. The systems I have owned are: NES, Sega Genesis, Turbo Grafx-16, PS1, PS2, PS3, Wii, PS4, as well as PC. That's a lot of games. Also, being a child of the 80s and early 90s, arcade machines were paid a lot of quarters. All but one of those systems will have at least one game, and one game from a system I didn't own will make the list. I like hard games. Check that, I have always liked brutally hard games. Back in the day, we didn't have the internet to help us figure things out. Games that challenged were always welcome. For this list, one game per franchise, otherwise 20% would be one franchise, and a few other might have had multiple entries. Most of the time, the chosen game will be my favorite from the series, but I think in at least one case a different game is chosen.
I made my list by going through lists of every game published for the systems I owned except PC (that list might not exist or would be too hard). My initial list had 50 nominees, so I'll start with 25 honorable mentions:
NES
Super Mario Bros. 3
Faxanadu
Bionic Commando
Blaster Master
Castlevania
Dragon Warrior
Mike Tyson's Punchout
Contra
Strider
Shadowgate
Sega Genesis
NHL 95
Road Rash III
Shining Force 2
Shining In The Darkness
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sword of Vermillion
Arcade
NBA Jam
The King of Dragons
PS1
Final Fantasy 7
Syphon Filter
PS3
Dragon Age: Origins
Heavy Rain (#26)
PC
Baldur's Gate
Ultima 3: Exodus
Wizardry 8 (#27)
Coming tomorrow: The newest game on the list, and the oldest game on the list
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NBA Jam! I spent so much time playing that game when I was young.
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If I did a list, it would primarily be PC, so seeing a shout out to Baldur's Gate is good. I think I played all the way through that game 4 or 5 times and each time was great. I assume the reason it didn't make your list is because it wasn't particularly difficult?
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No, I just liked my top 25 more. Baldur's Gate also stands in for Icewind Dale, which had better gameplay but lacked the story quality.
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NES
Super Mario Bros. 3
Faxanadu
Bionic Commando
Blaster Master
Castlevania
Dragon Warrior
Mike Tyson's Punchout
Contra
Strider
Shadowgate
Great list of NES games here. SMB3, Faxanadu, Blaster Master, Castlevania, Dragon Warrior, Contra, and Strider are among my favorites for the system. Although, CV and DW had sequels that were better than the original (for each, the final entry on the system were the best IMO), the originals stand up very well even today. I also get the love for Punch-Out!! and Bionic Commando, I was just never good at either. I'm not that familiar with Shadowgate, although I'm sure I've played it before. I'll have to boot up my NES PowerPak and check it out.
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Some love for Road Rash! I was just talking to my buddy about that game, I used to love it as a kid and totally forgot about it until just recently.
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I played the shit out of road rash when I was younger. I completely forgot about the game.
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Lots of good stuff there Doc, especially Heavy Rain, Dragon Age: Origins and of course Baldur's Gate! :metal
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Let's have a little fun. I'll make a double update tomorrow. In the mean time, I'll give you a list of how many games from each system made the list, and people can guess what made the cut. You have my honorable mentions and some other information. There are 15 that I think will be guessed (or at least the franchise), and ten that I will be surprised if anyone gets.
NES - 7 games
SNES - 1 game
Turbo Grafx 16 - 3 games
Sega Genesis - 4 games
PS1 - 1 game
PS2 - 2 games
PS3 - 1 game
PS4 - 2 games
PC - 4 games
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sup maro bro
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Miner 2049r
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Miner 2049r
Damn, that should be an honorable mention. I forgot about me friend's Apple 800 games. Panther was also an awesome game.
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sup maro bro
Metroid.
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I'll guess Super Metroid.
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If I did a list, it would primarily be PC, so seeing a shout out to Baldur's Gate is good. I think I played all the way through that game 4 or 5 times and each time was great. I assume the reason it didn't make your list is because it wasn't particularly difficult?
Baldur's Gate 2 was better in my opinion and Jon Irenicus is the greatest villain in any game.
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OK, no one really wanted to play :(
25. Horizon: Zero Dawn
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91JVFJBkH5L._AC_SX430_.jpg)
PlayStation 4 exclusive
No other games in franchise
This game just released about two months ago, but it made an immediate and deep impression on me based on how the story kept me engaged. It is a post apocalyptic world where robotic animals that are made in the likeness of animals. Humans are less dependent on technology and have formed smaller hunter gatherer tribes for the most part, and used to live in peace for the most part with the robot machines. However, the machines are becoming more hostile. The game centers around discovering what is making the machines more hostile and where they come from. Gameplay can be challenging at first, but once you find what works for you against each machine it gets somewhat easy. The game itself is pretty short, I got all the trophies in just under 62 hours of game play, and unlike games like Skyrim, there isn't a lot different you can do with a re-roll so I'm not sure the replayability is there. However, the story was just THAT GOOD. The best way to play it is to explore and try to get the side quests done, then do the bulk of the main quest, which I found gripping.
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I can't wait to get this game... but still have 4 others that I haven't started yet.
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I can't wait to get this game... but still have 4 others that I haven't started yet.
This is me exactly.
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24. The Legend of Zelda
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Legend_of_zelda_cover_%28with_cartridge%29_gold.png)
NES
Lots of other games in franchise, but I am only familiar with Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link & A Link to the Past
I expect to get crap for my choice in the franchise. I never owned a SNES, and didn't play it til much later in life. However, the original Legend of Zelda holds a special place for me for many reasons. First, it is the first game that I bought by earning the money on my own by collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Also, it was special because in the winter of 4th grade is when my friends and I were playing this game...along with my favorite teacher. With no internet to guide us, all of us would map out the overworld and the dungeons of the second quest since those resources didn't exist. We compared maps, shared information, and talked about the game in home room period every morning. I saw my teacher as an actual person and not an information and discipline dispenser. The game, particularly the second quest was challenging at the time and required mapping to get through the higher level dungeons, which made it more than just a game, but also a learning experience. The game still holds up today for me, and the music is quite impressive for the limited tech available at the time.
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I can't wait to get this game... but still have 4 others that I haven't started yet.
I'll let the cat out of the bag...I'm giving you my copy at RoSFest. No questions asked, I'll explain there if you want.
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23. Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/Landstalker_us.jpg)
Sega Genesis
Other games, but not for North America
This game seemed to fly under the radar at the time of it's release, which is surprising because of the depth of the game and the fact that is was an early 3D adventure/action/RPG. There is a lot to like in this game: a good enough story to keep you interested, interesting NPCs, sword fighting action, jumping/movement puzzles, and a character development that was incremental and not just "leveling up". This is one of those games where everything works together real well and provides a fun, challenging adventure.
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I can't wait to get this game... but still have 4 others that I haven't started yet.
I'll let the cat out of the bag...I'm giving you my copy at RoSFest. No questions asked, I'll explain there if you want.
Cool & a preemptive THANKS! Still not sure when I'd be able to play it though. I'll explain there if you want. :neverusethis:
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Oh geez Landstalker! There's a game I haven't thought of in a long time.
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NES
Super Mario Bros. 3
Faxanadu
Bionic Commando
Blaster Master
Castlevania
Dragon Warrior
Mike Tyson's Punchout
Contra
Strider
Shadowgate
Great list of NES games here. SMB3, Faxanadu, Blaster Master, Castlevania, Dragon Warrior, Contra, and Strider are among my favorites for the system. Although, CV and DW had sequels that were better than the original (for each, the final entry on the system were the best IMO), the originals stand up very well even today. I also get the love for Punch-Out!! and Bionic Commando, I was just never good at either. I'm not that familiar with Shadowgate, although I'm sure I've played it before. I'll have to boot up my NES PowerPak and check it out.
Seconded the love for these exact games. I don't own Castlevania1, Bionic, or Shadowgate, but either own their siblings (Simons Quest & C3, & Deja Vu), or Bionic is on my to buy list. Own all the others, and love them all. Strider is a hidden gem, as is Faxanadu. Shadowgate creeped me out, and still kind of does. Love the music in the game too.
24. The Legend of Zelda
I expect to get crap for my choice in the franchise. I never owned a SNES, and didn't play it til much later in life. However, the original Legend of Zelda holds a special place for me for many reasons. First, it is the first game that I bought by earning the money on my own by collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Also, it was special because in the winter of 4th grade is when my friends and I were playing this game...along with my favorite teacher. With no internet to guide us, all of us would map out the overworld and the dungeons of the second quest since those resources didn't exist. We compared maps, shared information, and talked about the game in home room period every morning. I saw my teacher as an actual person and not an information and discipline dispenser. The game, particularly the second quest was challenging at the time and required mapping to get through the higher level dungeons, which made it more than just a game, but also a learning experience. The game still holds up today for me, and the music is quite impressive for the limited tech available at the time.
No one should give any crap for Zelda. It's still a great game, and meant so much to us that were there with it pre-Link to the Past. Like a lot of things on SNES IMO, LTTP was a bells and whistles version of the original.
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I expect to get crap for my choice in the franchise. I never owned a SNES, and didn't play it til much later in life. However, the original Legend of Zelda holds a special place for me for many reasons. First, it is the first game that I bought by earning the money on my own by collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Also, it was special because in the winter of 4th grade is when my friends and I were playing this game...along with my favorite teacher. With no internet to guide us, all of us would map out the overworld and the dungeons of the second quest since those resources didn't exist. We compared maps, shared information, and talked about the game in home room period every morning. I saw my teacher as an actual person and not an information and discipline dispenser. The game, particularly the second quest was challenging at the time and required mapping to get through the higher level dungeons, which made it more than just a game, but also a learning experience. The game still holds up today for me, and the music is quite impressive for the limited tech available at the time.
To this day, I still worship the first Zelda. So many of the NES games were super strait forward, and limited in a way (mainly due to the technology of the console), but not Zelda 1. Hot damn, this thing is expansive, challenging and so intriguing.
A I came to the first zelda after playing Link to the past and ocarina. Despite seeing more technologically advanced versions, I still fell in love with zelda 1 and played it for hours upon hours. It was just so cool being thrown into this massive open world and the game being like "figure it out bitch". I like when a game respects my ability to figure things out on my own rather than holding my hand to an absurd level (twilight princess)
Now I'm currently playing through breath of the wild, which has really revitalized my love for the series. Didn't like skyward sword and Twilight but I loved windwaker, and it is long overdue to have a zelda that I can fall in love with all over again. Too early to tell where it falls in the ranking, but its pretty damn incredible.
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22. Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Wc3boxart.jpg/250px-Wc3boxart.jpg)
PC and PS1
WC, WC2, WC4, and other spin off games
The Wing Commander series always pushed the envelope, and the third installment was one of, if not the first game to film real actors (and name actors like Mark Hamill, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davis, and others) to film cut scenes. The series is basically dog fighting space ships. The game had some challenge to it, and a good story that changed depending on the choices you made. What I really remember about the game is the ending, and how it was the one time I actually felt bad about beating a completely fictional game. *ancient spoilers ahead* The game centers around a thirty year war between humans and a race of cat-like Chewbacca creatures called the Kilrathi. The game has you flying various missions with different wingmen, and you get to make dialog and action choices in between flight missions that effect various story lines. The final mission, however, is a mission of genocide, where you drop a tectonic bomb on the Kilrathi homeworld, killing millions of innocents. While there were some surviving Kilrathi, your character (and I as the player) felt remorse for going "too far" to end the war. I'm not sure how well the game would hold up today, but the Wing Commander series will always be special to me, and the gut punch of an ending made WC3 the most memorable to me.
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21. Asheron's Call
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/Asheron%27s_Call_Coverart.jpg)
PC only
Asheron's Call 2 existed, but I never played it
So here is the one game you can no longer play, as the servers went offline for good in January. Asheron's Call was part of the first wave of massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG). Asheron's Call went live in Nov. 1999, and while it didn't have the popularity of EverQuest, it had many charms that kept me from looking into competing games. The first months in the game were magical as we explored the world and learned about our alien land/ It had a vibrant community, lots of great quests for soloing as well as ones that required a large coordinated group to complete, and my favorite part, an engaging server wide story that progressed every month in 18 month story arcs where player decisions affected how the developers took the story. All the races and almost all of the enemies were original creations, so there were no hackneyed fantasy tropes like goblins, orcs, and the like. The original magic system had a global component spells had to be researched and every character had a slightly different recipe for higher level spells, and research was required to discover exactly how your level 3 flaming missile was cast. If a particular spell was used a lot across the server, it became globally less effective, and spells that weren't being used became stronger, so research methods were initially kept secret. Eventually, it was eased. A wide range of character archetypes were viable, so it was easy to play the type of character you wanted. They eventually added player housing, guild halls, and vendor halls for players who used bots to sell and trade goods amongst players.
What really made this game special was the community. Much like here at DTF, the friends I made there bled into the real world. Although I stopped playing in 2008, I was really bummed when the final closing of the servers was announced, knowing that such a great game died.
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I'll be at RoSFest, so no updates until Monday. Sorry folks, the park is closed. The moose out front should have told you.
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NES - Kid Icarus, Super C, Nobunaga's Ambition, Commando, Kirby's Adventure, Double Dragon, Ghosts n Goblins
SNES - Super Metroid
Turbo Grafx 16 - I couldn't name 3 games for this system!
PS1 - Symphony of the Night
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24. The Legend of Zelda
I expect to get crap for my choice in the franchise. I never owned a SNES, and didn't play it til much later in life. However, the original Legend of Zelda holds a special place for me for many reasons. First, it is the first game that I bought by earning the money on my own by collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Also, it was special because in the winter of 4th grade is when my friends and I were playing this game...along with my favorite teacher. With no internet to guide us, all of us would map out the overworld and the dungeons of the second quest since those resources didn't exist. We compared maps, shared information, and talked about the game in home room period every morning. I saw my teacher as an actual person and not an information and discipline dispenser. The game, particularly the second quest was challenging at the time and required mapping to get through the higher level dungeons, which made it more than just a game, but also a learning experience. The game still holds up today for me, and the music is quite impressive for the limited tech available at the time.
Love the choice. Both this and Zelda II were on my list. Both are fantastic games that hold up better than some of the newer ones. Now that I see this and the fact that you have 3 TurboGrafx16 games on the list, I'm hoping for Neutopia to be on your list! (and if you don't know what that game is, stop whatever you're doing and go play it! You can get it for Wii Virtual Console, or whatever...)
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22. Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Wc3boxart.jpg/250px-Wc3boxart.jpg)
PC and PS1
WC, WC2, WC4, and other spin off games
The Wing Commander series always pushed the envelope, and the third installment was one of, if not the first game to film real actors (and name actors like Mark Hamill, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davis, and others) to film cut scenes. The series is basically dog fighting space ships. The game had some challenge to it, and a good story that changed depending on the choices you made. What I really remember about the game is the ending, and how it was the one time I actually felt bad about beating a completely fictional game. *ancient spoilers ahead* The game centers around a thirty year war between humans and a race of cat-like Chewbacca creatures called the Kilrathi. The game has you flying various missions with different wingmen, and you get to make dialog and action choices in between flight missions that effect various story lines. The final mission, however, is a mission of genocide, where you drop a tectonic bomb on the Kilrathi homeworld, killing millions of innocents. While there were some surviving Kilrathi, your character (and I as the player) felt remorse for going "too far" to end the war. I'm not sure how well the game would hold up today, but the Wing Commander series will always be special to me, and the gut punch of an ending made WC3 the most memorable to me.
Woo WC3! I lean WC4 as it was #2 on my list, and then Prophecy. Especially with Prophecy, as it has the most polish. But I will concede that out of the last three main games, WC3 probably has the best story. Considering it ended the war in the game universe, and has parallels to WW2.
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20. Warsong
(https://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/sega-genesis/warsong-usa.png)
Sega Genesis
sequel Japanese only
Warsong is a turn based wargame set in a fantasy setting utilizing a square grid. I love war games (more to come), and Warsong featured several different types of basic units with strengths and weaknesses, commanders with unique battle powers and some commanders can cast spells. The game featured a 20 scenario campaign with a fairly basic good versus evil story, but the scenarios had goals that went beyond the generic "kill all the enemies". Sometimes it was securing a fortress, or moving your main character to a certain position, surviving so many turns against a strong enemy until reinforcements arrive, and there was one scenario that required you to fight your way through enemy lines to retrieve an artifact that you need to defeat a dragon that attacks both you and your enemy creating a three way battle. At the beginning of a scenario, you had to purchase your units, which made it more than just loading up with the best unit. You could also assign artifacts and legendary weapons to your commanders, changing their stats or altering their abilities for the battle.
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Leaving town for a job interview, but I'll try to get a bunch done starting Friday.
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Fuck that. No one has ever delayed this thread.
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Well, if no one knew about a Genesis game, I doubt this will get any discussion either...
19. Blazing Lazers
(https://r.mprd.se/TurboGrafx-16/TG16-PCE/EXTRAS/Turbo%20Grafx%2016%20-%20Boxes/Blazing%20Lazers%20(U).jpg)
Turbo Grafx-16
Some games are great because they are inventive, others for breaking barriers, and some games just take what has already been done and execute it perfectly. Blazing Lazers falls into the last category. Blazing Lazers is just a simple shooting platform game in which you control a ship that has to fight through alien forces. Again, the plot isn't important. The gameplay is crisp and responsive, and plays fast and smooth. Hit boxes of both your ship and enemy targets are tight. You had access to four different main weapons that upgrade, along with cluster bombs, and various secondary weapons. If you've been following what I've said about what I like in games, then you can probably guess the last reason I like this game. It is freaking hard. There are nine stages, and if you die in the later stages, it can almost impossible to come back from since you go back to the most basic weapon and lose all upgrades, and working your way back is difficult, which has made the game one in which you have to beat it without dying. And try as I might, I've only managed to beat the game once. I'm sure if I had an emulator with a save state I probably would have cracked the last stage more than once, but that's not my style. I'm not even a big fan of shooter games, but this one has been a favorite for over 25 years.
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I only know about this one due to listening to a podcast with two TurboGrafx/PC Engine fans & collectors. Heard it was the cream of the crop for the system!
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18. Battletoads
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Battletoads_Coverart.png)
NES
several on different systems
Few games are renowned for their difficulty, and if you ask any NES aficionados about this game, their first comment is usually "Yeah, that game is brutally hard." What sometime gets lost in this attempt to cash in with a TMNT knockoff is that the game was not repetitive and was meant to not just be a fun game, but a fun experience. The animations of the big fist, big boot, ram horns, and other growing parts when applying big hits made the game fun to watch as well. There variety of stages: side scrolling and walking, from the point of view of the boss, rappelling down a hole, riding high speed scooters, riding dragons, surfing, climbing towers, riding snakes, flying rockets, crazy wheels, and that fucking last stage. Don't watch a run through and think this game is easy. It will fuck you up worse than Mike Tyson on roid rage after you kill one of his pigeons.
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:tup :tup :tup
This game is the number two hardest game I beat on the NES (used warps and NES Advantage), thus far. At least top six in NES difficulty, and three of one franchise make up three of those spots IMO. This game is definitely above Mike/white Tyson in challenge. It's just a sustained will-crusher, and the game somewhat gets harder as you go. Anyone else get past here?
(https://www.invisiblegamer.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/BattletoadsTurboTunnel.png)
Co-op speed run you say? Incredible = https://youtu.be/pvnsZeDQ8GE?t=16m10s
The only flaw in this game is the arcade style fun is dropped after two and a quarter of the stages. Battletoads & Double Dragon did the beat em' up thing for the whole game. So I'm glad they made the "sequel" more accessible.
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Call me jelly because I'm on a roll...
17. Shadowrun
(https://babysoftmurderhands.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cover-Art-Shadowrun-Genesis.jpg)
Sega Genesis
There was also a SNES game that was different, but by almost all accounts the Genesis version is vastly superior
Shadowrun is a venerable RPG franchise that I loved when I was a teenager. Video game version of it? Awesomesauce.
In the Shadowrun universe, in the future huge corporations basically run the world as shadowy entities, mutated humans such as orcs, trolls, dwarves, and elves are around, magic has made a reappearance along with mythical creatures, cybernetic implants are common among people, which are used for armor implants, increased reflexes and senses, and getting online by jacking directly into the brain. Players make money by taking on runs: jobs that range from package delivery (boring, but easy money), escorting business people, investigating paranormal activity, hacking corporate systems to retrieve data or crash their network, and even breaking into corporate buildings and police stations to steal items. In the Genesis game, you do all this trying to track down who sent your brother on a run that was a set up. While the game doesn't fall under the "damn hard" category, it was extremely fun due to the types of jobs you could take, particularly the high risk - high reward jobs. The journey was what made the game special. With three different types of characters, there was some replay ability, and to be honest I've played through the game at least ten times.
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My buddy had Battletoads growing up and it was a lot of fun but so challenging. I never beat the game but I had a great time trying.
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19. No clue
18. No clue
17. No clue
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19. No clue
18. Awesome, yet hard ass game
17. Awesome game, that I was definitely not old enough at the time to know what I was doing.
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16. Dungeon Explorer
(https://www.pcengine.co.uk/HiRes/Dungeon-ExplorerUS-Front.jpg)
Turbo Grafx-16
There is a sequel, never played it. Dungeon Explorer is available on Wii Console (or at least was in the past), and is available for PS3 on the PSN
The gameplay most closely resembles Gauntlet, and even if some people call this an improved Gauntlet wanna be, that's the equivalent of saying Jerry Rice is an improved Paul Warfield wanna be. In Dungeon Explorer, you chose a character who had an attack, a black magic spell, and a white magic spell, as well as four attributes (speed, attack, endurance, and wisdom). The game could be played solo or with a party of up to five players, because the TG16 was really the pioneer of more than two player games. The premise was simple, the King Natas wanted you to find the Ora Stone, and you had to navigate wilderness, dungeon, and castle fighting enemies and eventually bosses to progress in the game. Like all TG16 games, the gameplay was pretty crisp and smooth. Played solo, the game provided significant challenge in the late stages. What made the game fun is that all players had a collective "extra guy" pool, which meant one bad player could sink you by eating up the extra guys. A good party however could handle swarms of mobs. Dungeon Explorer also had a great soundtrack for a game of that era, one I can still hear in my memory. It's a game that has stayed with me since it has been available on Wii and PS3. Come to think of it, I think Blazing Lazers might be as well. It's worth checking out.
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I disagree CableX, I think the variety of stages made it more fun. A straight beat-em up game would have gotten stale. As for challenge, the game rewarded memorization of parts. Some of those rocket stages or chase stages you just had to learn the path, and even after you knew it you had to execute it.
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15. Super Metroid
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1091224108-00.jpg)
Super Nintendo
More games in this franchise than the 8 or so I am aware of probably, only other one played was original Metroid for NES
This will be one of the hardest ones to write up because I never owned a SNES. I really only got to play this game when a friend and I traded systems for a few months so he could play Shadowrun and I could play this. The original Metroid was insanely hard without the Justin Bailey code. In a lot of ways, Super Metroid was easier, but it was a lot more fun. Aside from the enhancements that came with the improved software, there were more bosses, more weapons, and fewer insane "bomb climbing" areas than the original. It had a more expansive area, and I remember the sound being impressive, including the spooky Metroid sounds. This is the one game I would have liked to have played more, but it's single playthrough was enough to convince me to put it here over the original which I played a lot more.
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Oh hell yeah, one of my favorite games ever made :metal :metal
From the music, to the story, to the gameplay to the atmosphere and tone. Its all just incredible.
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14. Ninja Gaiden
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9b/Ninja_Gaiden_%28NES%29.jpg/250px-Ninja_Gaiden_%28NES%29.jpg)
NES
NG2 for the NES was pretty good as well, NG3 was ok. Resurrected on PS3, but never played Sigma series
Yup, here's another hard game. But that's not the only reason this game made the list. It featured a compelling story told by cut scenes and characters whose immediate intentions were not always known, a good sound track, and like any tough game, a nice sense of accomplishment. A lot of what made this side scrolling classic so hard was the video game logic applied to being hit, especially midair. Getting hit would knock you in the direction of what hit you, and that was often the difference between making the jump and falling into the abyss. I've probably died more times like that than having my life depleted. Something uncommon for NES games at the time, the game featured about 20 minutes of cutscenes that told the story. I think the only game to do this previously was Golgo 13, which I also loved and was actually the last game cut from the initial 50.
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Both of these were in my top 10. Outstanding games.
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Mace likes his games harder than virgin dick on prom night.
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Then maybe we'll see some Dark Souls
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13. Crystalis
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/crystalis/crystalisu.jpg)
NES
There was a remake for Game Boy Color, but I never played it
Crystalis is an action RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic game that has you waking up from a cryogenic sleep to a world that has regressed technologically but magic has reappeared. Throughout the game you acquire swords, orbs, and bracelets that correspond to the elements air, fire, water, and thunder, along with some other items and eight magic spells. The game had an evolving story, a variety of locations, a simple level up system, lots of maze like caverns, and bosses that were written into the story, and not just put in to be a challenging fight every once in a while. Probably the only negative is that after hours of hard work, you get about a 30 second ending. Still didn't keep me from completing the game multiple times.
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12. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/Witcher_3_cover_art.jpg)
I played PS4, but also on PC and XBox 1
The previous titles were on PC and XBox 360
Well, here is the current standard bearer for the eighth generation of consoles. I had not played the previous games, and while they might help with the lore a bit, I found myself able to get into the story once I got past White Orchard. The explorable land is expansive, and there are plenty of side quests to keep you distracted from completing your main quests. The comparison that is usually made is to Skyrim due to the openness, and in some ways that's a fair assessment of the exploration facet of the game. However, the combat is very different since the game takes place in 3rd person rather than first person, and therefore feels more arcade like. The one area where Witcher 3 surpasses Skyrim in spades is in story telling, and that is mostly due to the fact that you are playing a specific character with a history, and not some nameless prisoner who makes a name for himself. I have not delved into the expansion content, but much like Horizon: Zero Dawn I don't see myself making a second playthrough because the lack of character archetypes available.
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11. Metal Gear Solid 2
(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/99/Metal-gear-solid-2-sons-of-liberty-ps2-cover-front-eu-49555.jpg)
PS2 is what I played it on, but it's elsewhere as well
Tons of games in series, two for NES, MGS1 on PS1, MGS3 on PS2, MGS4 on PS3, and MGS5 on PS4. Other games as well on various PS systems
This might be one where I take some heat from my choice. MGS3 came out when I started grad school and I just never got around to getting past the first boss. I had MGS4, but a roommate sold it thinking it was his for some reason. Anywho...
The Metal Gear games were always about silent infiltration. Yes, you could shoot your way though, but that was never the intent of the game, and by the time MGS1 came out, it became easier to make a game that rewarded stealth over firepower. The story of MGS1 was detailed, but rather straight forward. MGS 2 was a mind fuck, and I loved it because it was. I didn't mind playing the somewhat whiny Raiden, despite the "heresy" of replacing Snake, although I do admit that David Hayter might be my favorite voice actor in a game - he nails Snake to a T. Let's start at the beginning. The opening sequence at the time was jaw dropping (incoherent organic molecules aside >:( ) The story kind of plays out relatively straight forward until the very end, and then just goes completely off the rails, but in a good way. For a game that came out in late 2001, the game makes some pretty good predictions about the digitized society we were starting to enter. Towards the end of the game, epic, difficult boss battles were sandwiched between long conversations and cut scenes that pushed the story forward quickly and in an unexpected direction. Right now, I would say I have a stronger desire to play this game than to go back and complete the ones I have missed on. While some previous games had stories with scenes, this was the first game I recall playing to put so much focus on the story telling, which was refreshing since I cut my teeth on the 30 second "A Winner is You!" scenes of the NES.
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Recap:
25. Horizon: Zero Dawn
24. The Legend of Zelda
23. Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
22. Wing Commander 3: Heart of the Tiger
21. Asheron's Call
20. Warsong
19. Blazing Lazers
18. Battletoads
17. Shadowrun
16. Dungeon Explorer
15. Super Metroid
14. Ninja Gaiden
13. Crystalis
12. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
11. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
What's left:
NES - 3
Turbo Grafx 16 - 1
Sega Genesis - 1
PS 2 - 1
PS 3 - 1
PC - 3
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Witcher 3 consumed me for about 10-12 hours per week from last Christmas to the end of March earlier this year. It was my first PS4 experience. I bought the Hearts of Stone expansion pack, which added about another 20 hours. I never played any Gwent, but other than that, finished all the side-quests, and most of the mystery locations.
Brilliant game.
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Mace, I own three of the games on your list (Zelda, Super Metroid, and Witcher III) but haven't played any of them yet or any of them, period, for that matter. I'm really liking what I'm seeing though as a lot of it seems quite intriguing. Your no-frills approach to this list makes it easy to read whereas I sometimes might see a long post from a more detailed listkeeper's list and think "Fuck it. Ain't got time fuh dat shit. Gon hafta read it later." Somehow you've hit a sweet spot, though, since you still put enough info in each entry to make me wanna try the games out. You probably woulda made a good EGM or Gamepro writer when we were teens.
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I also like this less is more approach. I think it gets the job done and Its quick and dirty, just he way I like it.
But anyway, metal gear solid 2 is an awesome game and The witcher 3 might be my favorite game of the generation. I've played loads of open world games in my time, but witcher 3 takes things to a whole new level.
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13. Crystalis
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/crystalis/crystalisu.jpg)
NES
There was a remake for Game Boy Color, but I never played it
Crystalis is an action RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic game that has you waking up from a cryogenic sleep to a world that has regressed technologically but magic has reappeared. Throughout the game you acquire swords, orbs, and bracelets that correspond to the elements air, fire, water, and thunder, along with some other items and eight magic spells. The game had an evolving story, a variety of locations, a simple level up system, lots of maze like caverns, and bosses that were written into the story, and not just put in to be a challenging fight every once in a while. Probably the only negative is that after hours of hard work, you get about a 30 second ending. Still didn't keep me from completing the game multiple times.
A+ for this one. A pretty solid story IMO, and better gameplay than any other Zelda type games- including Zelda1 itself. Clearly it wouldn't exist without Zelda, but such a great game that is underrated. Loved the Warrior Ring for rapid-fire level 1 sword attacks!
I agree about the ending, and also the final boss plus the sword Crystalis. Considering the game is named after the sword, only for it to be used on an easy boss is weak.
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Time to start the top 10:
10. Phantasy Star IV
(https://www.phantasy-star.net/art/covers/cover4main.jpg)
Sega Genesis
PS2 and PS3 were on the Genesis. PS2 was strongly considered for this slot, and PS3 is merely a really good game. I never played the original on the Master System
This was the finale, the game that brings the threads from the previous games together. The gameplay was mostly typical for a fourth generation RPG, but the action was the smoothest, the story was well written and nuanced, and featured some new wrinkles like different characters combining actions to make a more powerful single action. Much like the second and third games, you have a party consisting of a main character, a secondary lead who is more powerful but will ultimately be permanently killed before the midpoint of the game, and you collect better weapons and armor and learn new spells and techniques for combat. PS4 didn't have some of the maddingly frustrating mazes that PS2 had, so in some ways it was easier. The only complaint is that some time must be spent grinding for the sake of leveling up. Still, one of best stories in a game from that era.
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9. Baseball Stars
(https://dugger1981.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/baseball-stars-cover.jpg)
NES
There is a Baseball Stars 2 for NES. Skip it and stick to the original
From a gameplay standpoint, Baseball Stars looks like and in many ways plays like RBI Baseball and other NES era baseball games that aren't Bases Loaded - which in it's own right is a great game. What made Baseball Stars special were a few things - you made your own team, you could name your own players, players had attributes and also a maximum potential, your team earned money which could be used to improve your current players or hire new free agents, and you could play a round robin season in which the game kept track of stats. I don't think there is another NES game that does any of those things let alone all of them - except Baseball Stars 2, but they took away naming players. This was the game that brought the neighborhood together when it was raining and we couldn't play real baseball outside.
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8. Mega Man 2
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/Megaman2_box.jpg)
NES - port available on PS4 as a package of MM through MM6
Lots and lots of sequels
THE platformer to end all platforming games. Think you know a better one? WRONG. This game is the peak. They added more features in later games, but the only good one was the sliding. Best bosses? MM2. Wily castle bosses at their best? MM2. Only game in series that isn't needlessly long or too short? MM2.
Go to stage, kill robot master, gain master's weapon, rinse, repeat. Awesome. Haven't played this game yet? Quit reading the thread and go do it.
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Huh. I did not know there was a Shadowrun on Genesis. Crystalis and Phantasy Star IV are solid picks. :tup Shame you never got into MGS 3 or 4!
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7. Fallout 2
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/2/2a/Fallout2front.jpg)
PC
Fallout was for PC, Fallout 3 and Vegas are solid PS3 games, and Fallout 4 is on the PS4
Yup, this is my favorite Fallout game. Starting at Fallout 3, the role playing aspect was dialed down and traded in for action. The newer ones aren't bad, but the they lacked the amazing humor of the first two. The turn based combat made it more strategic and less reflexive. This added to the challenge of the game, but this real draws of the game were the numerous decisions you made and the far reaching implications of those choices, the heaps of humor, and the great story. Possibly the funniest thing I ever did in a game was in Fallout 2. There is a town where kids stand outside every door in town and pickpocket you as you walk in doors. There are a few ways to deal with this, but mine was one the game didn't necessarily condone or give as an option. I left all my inventory in storage except for dynamite, and then I set the dynamite on a two minute timer and walked by a kid, who pickpocketed it from me. One minute later, I had a doorway I could freely walk through and kid chunks littering the streets. Grab more dynamite, rinse, and repeat. There was also tons of scripted humor with tons of callbacks to the original Fallout as well as pop culture.
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6. Grand Theft Auto 3
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/GTA3boxcover.jpg)
PS2 for me
older games on PC/PS1, Vice City & San Andreas PS2/XBox, GTA4 PS3/XBox360, GTA5 PS4/XBox1
I've actually played all the GTAs except San Andreas. The first two on PC were fun, top-down games; but GTA 3 changed everything. 3D world, tons of characters, radio stations with music - and my favorite the talk stations, and a real story. GTA 4 & 5 are getting too goofy with side quests where you bowl or do yoga...screw that. Steal cars, fuck with the mob, get a tank, cause mayhem. THAT is what GTA is about, GTA 3 took that formula from the first two games and upped the ante a hundred fold. The only reason GTA3 gets the nod over Vice City is that it came first.
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GTA III was my intro to GTA and god did it make an impact. To this day I consider it one of the best party games ever despite being single player. Seriously, how many of y'all remember hangin with friends 15 years ago gettin shit-tanked on piss-tier swill and passing the controller around for hours playing this?
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Gotta say Doc, I HATE the turn based combat in the first two Fallout games. It's so horribly clunky.
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GTA 3 is one of the defining moments of my gaming life. I remember first time I loaded it up and my jaw just being on the floor, and right from there it was off to the races. I would wake up at 5am and play it before school. Think about it all day at school, immediately get home and play it all night long. This went on for months. I just could not get enough and was fully taken by it. Only one other game gave me that same feeling and that is FF VII.
The GTA sequels are cool and I enjoyed them too, but nothing ever game close to what GTA 3 originally did to me.
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Never played anything from the GTA franchise, and I have no interest to do so.
:dunno:
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Gotta say Doc, I HATE the turn based combat in the first two Fallout games. It's so horribly clunky.
This is how I feel, I wonder if there are some mods to change that because I would like to play the first two games.
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Fallout 2 may be my favorite RPG, in fact it's the only RPG that I played through twice. There are so many possibilities, you have such freedom in chosing what to do, it's funny, it's exciting, it's just great.
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I played GTA1, and primarily GTA: Vice City, although I bought VC in a combo pack with GTA3. GTA3 no doubt not only changed the formula of GTA3, but did just so much for the style of GTA. And as a result, changed pretty much all games. Landmark, groundbreaking game.
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GTA III was my intro to GTA and god did it make an impact. To this day I consider it one of the best party games ever despite being single player. Seriously, how many of y'all remember hangin with friends 15 years ago gettin shit-tanked on piss-tier swill and passing the controller around for hours playing this?
Oh totally, we used to play "Do as much damage as possible and survive as long as possible, when you die, hand over the controller to the next guy" So I totally get what you are saying about it being a party game.
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What b_f is leaving out is when he witnessed me commit one of the funniest suicides on GTA 5. I got a bus halfway off an overpass, then fell to my death exiting the bus. The police were about to shoot the bus to death anyway.
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That was fuckin choice :lol Great bacon and fried eggplant pizza that night too :tup
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5. Tecmo Super Bowl
(https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/n-pktq5q/ymgqt/product_images/uploaded_images/tecmobooxjan2016.jpg)
NES
There is an original, and sequels
This was the reason to own a second NES controller. It's not the most accurate portrayal of football, but it hit a magic spot of being realistic enough with most of the NFL players (fuck you Cunningham, Kosar, and cancer-face Kelly), players with attributes that vary depending on the health of a player, and plays that resembled actual plays; along with some humor when you throw a guy several yards in the air when breaking a block, and cut scenes that showed big plays and close plays (the cut scene of the over thrown receiver always made me chuckle for some reason). You could challenge a friend, or play through a season. Then there was Barry Fucking Sanders and Motherfuckin Bo Jackson. The game is so popular it is still being played, both in it's original 26 year old form, and updated forms with current players.
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4. Morrowind
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_k0Ijg90Rfc/hqdefault.jpg)
PC - there is an XBox version, but get the PC version
Arena, Daggerfall, Oblivion, and Skyrim in same series - other spinoffs also available
Yeah, Skyrim is the prettiest so far, and I would even say that the story in Skyrim is the best...but Morrowind is always going to be the most special for me. I had played Daggerfall, so this isn't a matter of being blinded by a first love. There are several things that made this game special. First, was that game encouraged people to create content, as a matter of fact they gave you the construction kit. Want to make a new race, class, weapon, dungeon, NPC, quest, island, tower...what ever you wanted to make and add on you could. You could share things you made and use the things other people made. While some people just made OP game breaking crap, there was lots of good content that enriched the game with new quests, items that allowed teleportation, and areas to explore. The second great thing that was removed from later games was the flight spell. It made the game truly 3D, and it made dungeons and towers even more fun and easy to hide special areas. There were a lot more NPCs in Morrowind because all interaction was by text, the townsfolk would talk as you walked by, but interactions were by text. There are the boots of blinding speed, which double your speed but make the screen almost completely dark if your alpha is properly adjusted. And there are the damn cliff racers. If you've played the game, you know what I'm talking about. But I miss those annoying scrubs. I guess the dragons in Skyrim sort of replicate the aerial combat. Still the best sandbox experience in a game I've ever had.
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Morrowind is definitely in my top 5 favorite games of all time. Its also my favorite elder scrolls game and the last one that I felt really nailed what I am looking for in an RPG. The world is bizarre, unique and very varied, the music is definitely my favorite of the series. I like how it barely held your hand, and you needed to find places on your own. Seeing a guy fall out of the sky in the first 10 mins really sets the tone and has my imagination running wild as to all the possibilities. I got lost in Morrowind's world for months and I loved every minute of it.
I thoroughly liked oblivion, but I personally don't really like Skyrim. The setting in the north just does not do it for me with its barren tundra kind of feel. Its just too strait forward and stream lined as well. Its a game that I consistently pick up and put down, and again pick up and put down. I've never even beaten it all the way through. Still, I eagerly await the release of elder scrolls 6.
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5. Tecmo Super Bowl
(https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/n-pktq5q/ymgqt/product_images/uploaded_images/tecmobooxjan2016.jpg)
NES
There is an original, and sequels
This was the reason to own a second NES controller. It's not the most accurate portrayal of football, but it hit a magic spot of being realistic enough with most of the NFL players (fuck you Cunningham, Kosar, and cancer-face Kelly), players with attributes that vary depending on the health of a player, and plays that resembled actual plays; along with some humor when you throw a guy several yards in the air when breaking a block, and cut scenes that showed big plays and close plays (the cut scene of the over thrown receiver always made me chuckle for some reason). You could challenge a friend, or play through a season. Then there was Barry Fucking Sanders and Motherfuckin Bo Jackson. The game is so popular it is still being played, both in it's original 26 year old form, and updated forms with current players.
Cancer face Kelly; harsh but :lol
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Morrowind. :heart
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3. Front Page Sports Football 98
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IJMAAOSwbPxXP86l/s-l300.jpg)
PC
There were previous versions
"Wait! Another football game?" Yes. This game is my favorite sports game ever. It's sad that in the twenty years since this series has been finished and no game has brought the full package together like FPS Football series did (even back in 1992, which I have played, and was very good and had most of the features that 98 had, just poorer graphics). So, why do I and others still play this game today? It was one of the first games to keep career stats and had a franchise mode. It had basic GM features like having inactive players, injured reserve, and free agents you could sign to fill those holes that crop up over the season. Players had attributes, and you couldn't just get a bunch of fast players (hello Madden and NCAA football). Players had intelligence and discipline ratings to go along with the measurables. A dumb player doesn't execute his assignments well or make good reactions to situations, and undisciplined players get more penalties, especially when mismatched. The game had several default camera angles, but it also allowed you to make your own camera views, which I found incredibly useful. Most of those things are still in games. What FPS Football has that no other game has made as well - and I watch for new games with this feature like a hawk because it is my FAVORITE thing about a football game - is the depth and clarity of the play creator. Yes, you can make your own formations and plays. Want to make a double reverse flea-flicker? You can do that, and I have. Even though trick plays are fun to make, the fact that the game behaved like real football was so important. Tried to make or call too many cute complicated plays? You weren't going anywhere offensively. Defensively, you had lots of options as well. You could create your own man and zone schemes, blitz packages, and sub packages. Another game came out about 10 years ago with a play editor and it wasn't nearly as good.
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2. Military Madness
(https://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/nec-turbografx-16/military-madness-usa.png)
Turbo Grafx-16
Also released as Nectaris on PS, PS3, and iPhone
This game shaped not only my childhood, but a lot of my friends. As you can gather from the title, it is a military strategy game played on a hex map, which I prefer to the square grid map of Warsong (#20). There were lots of different types of units with different offensive and defensive stats, ground or aerial units, fast and slow units, units that can move after attacking, units that attack short range or long range, factories where damaged units could regroup, terrain that effected the defensive ability and mobility of ground units. Your units get seasoned and gain experience, which benefits their stats. You could support your units by placing them next to each other, and create opportunities by trapping opponents by surrounding them. You could win a stage in one of two ways: destroy all enemy units *the fun way*, or by moving an infantry unit onto the opponent's base. You could also capture neutral or enemy factories and have your factories captured. Some of the later stages had you at a large strength disadvantage, and you had to use guile and wits to find a strategy that worked based on your available units. What made this game fun is that my friends and I would play it as a coop game, discussing strategy and executing on the fly. While there was some RNG, very rarely did you feel screwed or greatly benefit from the RNG: A full strength, experienced polar tank unit on hilly terrain are going to put a hurt on unexperienced bison tanks on the road. Reimplementations have included more stages and added some nice paint, and the PS1 version called Nectaris will give you days upon days of fun. More than the average game these days, as it includes two 32 stage campaigns, 100 fan created and vetted levels, and a scenario editor where you can make your own scenarios.
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1. Dark Souls
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Dark_Souls_Cover_Art.jpg)
PS3
Dark Souls 2 and 3 are out there, but this game also covers for it's spiritual ancestor, Demon Souls, and spiritual successor, Bloodborne
Some of you saw this coming. While I concede that Bloodborne might be the best game in terms of gameplay, no game has ever made my jaw hit the floor than my first playthough of Dark Souls, which I played before Demon Souls. Most people know that the Souls games are very difficult. What makes the series special isn't that the game is hard, but the game essentially teaches you how to get good at the game if you are willing to learn from your mistakes. You'll learn the lay of the land, where the enemies lie in wait, and how they react. And that's just the regular part of the game. Then there are the boss fights...oh the boss fights. I'm pretty sure that I never defeated a Dark Souls boss, other than Pinwheel because he's weaksauce, on my first try. Or second try. And in the case of Dragonslayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough, I have no freaking idea how many times. All I remember was when I FINALLY beat them (because I insisted on not summoning help for some reason), it was two in the morning, and I spent the next five minutes yelling and celebrating. That wasn't the only memorable boss fight, just the most satisfying and probably the most difficult boss in any game.
Dark Souls is more than just epic boss fights. The stage design, particularly in the original DS, is just amazing. Other than the beautiful Anor Londo, all the areas that you can explore are seamless, and are connected by short cuts. But seeing how the cathedral connects to Firelink which connects to New Londo Ruins is just amazing. If the game was just all that, it would still probably be my #1 game. But on top of all of that is a great multiplayer system where you can help other players, summon other players to help you, invade other players to regain your humanity, and be invaded by other players looking to take your humanity (if you have it). I generally dislike PvP in games because...well I will suck at it because I don't practice it and dealing with immature 12 year olds isn't my idea of fun. Dark Souls makes it work though. Yes, there are some people who are really damn good at PvP and will hand you your ass sideways; but you rarely have to deal with the negativity. There is a weird honor in the game, people will often bow before fighting you, and ambushing is seen as cowardly. Try your best and lose, and you'll still be honored with a nice gesture. I don't PvP often, I prefer to play coop helping others, which is just as fun and rewarding as well.
Dark Souls reignited what was a dying love of video gaming. It created a world that is rich in lore if you wanted to find it, offered more challenges than most games, gave you the tools to overcome those challenges, and created an in world community where messages of help and humor were there to help your game and your spirits "Try finger, but hole!".
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I started playing Dark Souls 3 for the first time last week. I have all the Dark Souls games but haven't played any of them so I started with 3. I got to the first boss, spent 2 hours trying to kill him and almost through my controller through the window. Don't think the game is for me but I can appreciate people who can take the time to learn it and how great it looks.
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I enjoyed reading this list. Saw a few games that I really like, and a few that I'd be interested in checking out. Also tempts me to craft and share a list of my own.
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Reaper, try a sorcerer. They are terrible at PvP, but good for learning the game as well as very welcome in coop. DS3 probably isn't the place to start. If the first boss drove you nuts after heat up, the third boss would have driven you insane because you some of the nodes on rotting tree require ranged or jumping attacks to hit.
DoC, what games are you interested in trying now?
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Dark Souls. <3 So unique and awesome games. They truly are revolutionary and something special.
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I have dark souls on steam but haven't actually played it yet, guess I should :lol
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I have dark souls on steam but haven't actually played it yet, guess I should :lol
(https://img05.deviantart.net/3f26/i/2012/242/b/a/keep_calm_and_prepare_to_die__dark_souls__by_moginator-d5cyyc7.jpg)
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DoC, what games are you interested in trying now?
Landstalker and Warsong sound great. Growing up, we were a Nintendo household, and while I did end up with a Genesis (and Master System) at some point, I never really explored too many games on the system. So I'd like to check them out at some point. Also, you gave Crystalis some high praise. I never played it, but love the first Zelda.
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I've been intrigued by the Dark Souls games, but the limitations on my gaming time make it seem these would not be best for me at this time.
Who's up now??
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Been waiting for Dark Souls to be on sale for a while to finally get it. Hopefully will do in the next Steam sale.
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Soul games sure are great, I have a hard time even picking a favorite.
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Heck of a list Dr., thank you!
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Yea awesome list Ltup
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Thank you to all who read and or commented.
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Don't know if the waiting list is still valid, but I can start my list if no one objects.
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You're good to go :tup I'll clean up the long-in-need-of-updating OP some time soon.
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Alright lets get this started.
Welcome to Mr. Beale's Top 50 video games of All Time!
Kinda. Sort of. Actually I'm going to limit entries to one entry per series, otherwise I think to list will be too dominated by a few series which would be repetitive to read and write. Spinoffs are fair game though (for example Mario Kart 64, Super Mario 64, and Paper Mario would count as different series). I will be leaving space to write about other entries worth shout-outs if it's a series with multiple notable games. And yes I know 50 is way more than this thread calls actually calls, for but well this did start as a project seperate from this specific thread, sooooo.... yeah.:loser: I will be writing short explainations about why they made the list but nothing extensive in most cases. I'll try to have multiple entries most days to get this done in a reasonable amount of time. For far as personal background I was born in the mid-80s and have always been primarily a console gamer with a soft spot for handheld systems, so my tastes in rpgs tend to lean Japanese, and don't expect many RTS or point and click games to show up.
Now for some honorable mentions (vol. 1?)
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Crash_Bandicoot_2_Cortex_Strikes_Back_Game_Cover.jpg)
I'm honestly don't have strong feelings for either Crash 1 or 3, but Crash 2 is a game I have a lot of fond memories in the early-ish original Playstation days. In my opinion it has the best balance of difficulty and variety in the trilogy.
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/36714-Crash_Bandicoot_2_-_Cortex_Strikes_Back_[U]-9.jpg)
Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/7/9/233579_front.jpg)
This game gets a lot of flack for being highly derivative of Smash Bros. but also deviating from it in a few respects. And while does have some balance issues, I have to admit I'm a weirdo who enjoy this more than any Smash game.
(https://mygaming.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PlayStation-All-Stars-Battle-Royale-review-9.jpg)
Bionic Commando (NES)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/BionicCommando.jpg/250px-BionicCommando.jpg)
It's platformer except to hook is you can't jump: instead you must swing from platform to platform with your bionic arm. Still feels really cool.
(https://www.retrosection.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Bionic_Commando_NES_ScreenShot2.jpg)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/12500/header.jpg?t=1478043255)
What happens when you put rpg mechanics into a match-three game? A much more compelling game. It's almost too easy but it works. :lol
(https://fogstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PuzzleQuestChallengeOfTheWarlords-Screenshot01-InfiniteInteractive.jpg)
But let's get to the real list!
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50. Star Wars: Rogue Squardron
(https://n64media.ign.com/n64/image/object/003/003964/601100.jpg)
The N64 wasn’t my favorite console. Between the software droughts and the high price of the cartridges it sucked if you blew your allowance on a game that was less than great. Rogue Squadron however was a great game that did the property justice. Probably my most played game in the later days of the system’s lifecycle.
(https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/22124/large.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Rogue Squadron II was a great showpiece for the Gamecube, but I never got into that one too much.
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49. Parasite Eve
(https://www.theoldcomputer.com/game-box-art-covers/Sony/Playstation-PS1/P/Parasite%20Eve%20%5BDisc1of2%5D%20%5BU%5D%20%5BSLUS-00662%5D-front.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-Tcl6qvfy4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-Tcl6qvfy4)
It’s a Horror-RPG. That alone makes it unique. While the pseudoscience is pretty laughable, the story does have a lot of wonderfully eerie imagery, and that music! Tone and atmosphere will go a long ways with me and PE has both of those in spades. You probably shouldn’t play this if you find the concept spontaneous combustion terrifying. Man Squaresoft was so godly during the Playstation era.
Also, that moment in junior high biology you learn that mitochondria is a real thing = priceless. :lol
(https://www.relyonhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ParasiteEve2.png)
(https://romhustler.net/img/screenshots/psx_full/ingame/554c514aaf73e.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Short answer = no. The sequel stripped away a lot of the rpg elements (you know, the MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE FIRST GAME) in favor of a more derivative Resident Evil clone, and the less said about Third Birthday the better.
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Probably won't be able to post this weekend so let's get one more in.
48. College Slam
(https://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/sega-genesis/college-slam-usa.png)
The less remembered NCAA version of NBA Jam. Plays exactly the same (enormous jumps, “HE’S ON FIRE!”, etc.), just with college teams. I was always more of a college hoops guy.
(https://r.mprd.se/Sega%20Genesis/Snaps/College%20Slam%20(U).png)
Any other entries worth playing?
Don’t think it had a follow up.
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Top 50 in a Top 25 thread? Shocking behaviour!
Though if you'll get through them quickly (similar pace to others getting through Top 25s) then I'm fine with it.
Crash Bandicoot 2 was amazing. Never played any of the others.
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Yeah I've been working on this for a awhile so I should be able to have a steady pace posting.
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I love crash bandicoot, I can't wait for the rerelease.
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Love Bionic Commando. :tup Challenging game, and has "Hitler's" head explode- big deal back then in the NES censored days.
Parasite Eve also is a :tup :tup . It felt like an Action RPG or something, and was integrated pretty well. A for sure underrated game, and probably because it got lost in all of Square's FFs nailing it (well, not FF8 :P) ) on PSX.
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47. Mortal Kombat (2011)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Mortal_Kombat_box_art.png)
Mortal Kombat (2011), or MK 9 as it sometimes referred to, is a video game love letter to MK fans. It reimagines the glory days of the series’ original trilogy of games in HD while also rebooting the ongoing storyline that had gotten out of control. Seeing those classic MK stages fleshed out in high-def was definitely a personal highlight of the last generation of consoles. But on top of that, it was easily the most competent MK to date from gameplay standpoint. This game gave me everything I want from a MK game to the point it’s going to be hard to ever top this.
(https://www.gamereactor.eu/media/31/mortalkombat_243173.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
I have tons of nostalgia for the original trilogy (more 1 and Utimate MK 3 than fan favorite 2 though) but they really aren’t games to go back to. The newest MK X by all accounts plays better than MK 9, although it didn’t grab me as much.
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46. Injustice 2
(https://img4.meristation.com/files/imagecache/td_image/imagenes/general/injustice-2_td02-605x300.jpg)
I’m not the biggest superhero guy by any stretch, but the colorful character designs and various superpowers really lend themselves well to fighting games. Between the over the top supermoves, tons of unique intro dialogue, mid-battle mini-dialogue scenes in the form of Clashes, and the crazy stage transitions, the Injustice games are extremely cinematic looking for the genre and just a lot of fun even if you don’t play fighting games at a high level. NetherRealm does a really good job of making nearly every character fun to use.
Storywise the game justifies the premise by telling an alternate timeline “What if Superman was pushed over the edge and went full dictator?!” tale. It’s pretty hokey and contrived, but hey what do you expect from a fighting game story (though apparently the Injustice comics are actually pretty good). I might be jumping the gun a bit picking a game so new, but I liked the first game a lot and Injustice 2 builds on a very solid foundation and makes a lot of smart tweaks and additions. I might favor the cast of the first Injustice a bit (we’ll see how the dlc roster shakes out) and think it had a somewhat better collection of supermoves and stage transitions, but the second one just plays a bit smoother, faster, and just more enjoyable overall.
(https://jcphotog.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/injustice-2-swamp-thing-2.png)
Any other entries worth playing?
There isn’t a lot of reason to go back to the first one, but it’s a quality game that’s got some really fun characters that didn’t make it over to the sequel (like my main Batgirl :sad:). Worth grabbing for cheap if nothing else. And weirdly Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, while not a great game by any means, is actually where a lot of the presentation and design ideas of Injustice and the recent Mortal Kombat games came from. Looking back it’s actually kind of fascinating.
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Cool to see Crash and MK getting a nod as I don't remember Crash being on many lists and this might be the first list I've seen with an MK game on it. I should play Injustice 1 some time since it's collected dust since I bought it in a PS store flash sale.
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MK9 was such a blast to play. Those fatalities were awesome, the story mode was cheesy as hell but it was a great time. I never played Injustice but there is a lot of talk about it. I don't really think the game is for me but it does look great.
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45. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
(https://media.vandal.net/m/23455/danganronpa-2-goodbye-despair-201495132240_1.jpg)
Danganronpa are visual novels-esque games with gameplay elements thrown in a la Ace Attorney. The premise is you and a bunch of other anime archetypes are imprisoned, and the only way the mastermind (a rather amusing mechanical bear) will let you out is if someone can murder a fellow captive and get away with it. Despite effort to avoid such a fate, gruesome things inevitably follow, leading to trial sequences that revolve around “spot the contradiction” logic puzzles. Not all of the gameplay elements are great (or even good) but the game has a ton of personality between the strong soundscape and visual style and the self-aware characters that fill the narrative. On the surface it does appear pretty, uh, anime and niche, but it’s interesting enough that I would recommend almost anyone to give the series a try.
Oh and Gundam Tanaka is the best.
(https://cdn.highdefdigest.com/uploads/2014/09/02/2014-08-25-221857.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
The first two Danganronpa games compliment each other so much they are almost two halves of a whole, so play the first one first. I just like the second one a little more because it ramps up the crazy quicker. Ultra Despair Girls is a spinoff you can skip.
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44. Tearaway
(https://www.sidequesting.com/wp-content/uploads/tearawar-ps-vita-box-art.jpg)
Tearaway is a fantastic, striking from the paper-craft visual look of everything to how it integrates all of the Vita’s functions to create a uniquely tactile experience. The art is fantastic, it’s maybe the only game to use the Vita’s back touchpad well, and one of the few to incorporate the camera that isn't lame. It can loosely be defined as a platformer, though it doesn’t try to fit neatly into any playstyle, to its benefit. Super charming with just the right amount of whimsy, the game excellently explores it ideas enough without feeling padded or overstaying its welcome. Just a cool gem that was probably always bound to be overlooked due to its quirky nature.
Unfortunately, it came out on the Vita, so many people will never get to play it. Yes, it was remade for PS4, which I’m sure is fine for what it is, but it can’t fully replicate how the original used all those functions in ways that aren’t frivolous.
(https://www.technologytell.com/gaming/files/2013/06/tearaway-1.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Outside of the PS4 port/remake no.
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DR2 is great but I still prefer the original
Also Chiaki is the best but Gundham is up there
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Cool to see Crash and MK getting a nod as I don't remember Crash being on many lists and this might be the first list I've seen with an MK game on it. I should play Injustice 1 some time since it's collected dust since I bought it in a PS store flash sale.
Nope, the original MK made my list :biggrin: I think this MK game is the only in the last 15 years to get any attention from me though. I just moved away from that style of game in general.
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43. Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61UO7vM-kPL.jpg)
Etrian Odyssey is a great series of dungeon crawlers descended from old-school turn-based rpgs like Wizardry. It’s an excellent entry point for newcomers with gameplay that’s approachable but challenging while not as brutal as the games it takes inspiration from. The other big hook is that you use the bottom screen on the DS to draw you map as you explore the labyrinth, which is an extremely clever call back to the days of drawing handmade maps on graph paper.
Every EO game has been great, but III is the one that really opened up the scenarios while smoothing some rough edges (things like character class balance) that the first couple had. Rock solid games. The only issue I have with them is that they tend to be slow-burns and huge time sinks.
(https://www.dungeoncrawlers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Etrian_Odyssey_III_-_The_Drowned_City-5.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wmO7pH2QgrA/hqdefault.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
The series is very iterative, so the more recent entries in the series are generally the best ones. I easily could have listed EO IV or Untold 2, III is just the one I spent the most time on. The Persona spinoff Persona Q is also a great introduction to this style of game if you have some affinity for that series.
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42. Vanguard Bandits
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Vanguard_Bandits_Coverart.png)
Vanguard Bandits is an old-school tactics rpg that was published in North America by Working Designs. As a game it’s got an enjoyable amount of turn-based tactics going on, but what I love most about it is the presentation. It soooo 90s anime in a way I find utterly charming. It’s a kind of game to bask in nostalgia, despite me not actually playing it until a few years ago.
(https://shrines.rpgclassics.com/psx/vanguard/battlescreen.jpg)
(https://i.neoseeker.com/p/Games/Playstation/Role-Playing/Fantasy/vanguardbandits_image7.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
N/A
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41. God of War III
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/God_of_War_III_cover_art.jpg)
God of War is a violent, dark fantasy take on Greek mythology known for its big set pieces and III had the biggest and best ones. Yeah the story’s not great and Kratos isn’t exactly the most likable protagonist, but it’s actually a set up from the second GoW which was terribly storywise.
(https://guidesmedia.ign.com/guides/886158/images/gow3big_0229.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Ghost of Sparta is the one to not sleep on. Not only is it the tightest mechanically and the best playing moment to moment, it actually gives Kratos some pathos and makes him sympathetic in ways most of the other games fail to do. It also has GREAT final boss scenario that is actually quite emotional.
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Great write ups. I haven't played any of those games but I was always interested i n the god of war series.
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Great write ups. I haven't played any of those games but I was always interested i n the god of war series.
They get ragged on in some circles but they're good times when you just want to play something big and full of spectacle. Although the first one is a little rough to go back to now.
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40. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/8/87790/2412937-box_nnk.png)
Do you like Studio Ghibli? Would you like to play an rpg that looks like a Studio Ghibli film? If so then I hope you've played Ni No Kuni. Level 5 has been a solid rpg developer for some time now, but Ni No Kuni is easily their best game in my opinion. Presentation-wise the game is gorgeous in the way you’d hope a collaboration with Studio Ghibli would turn out. The story in Level 5 game’s tend to run twee, but Ni No Kuni hits emotional beats better than any other Level 5 title I’ve played, and the characters are likeable. Mechanically the game is divisive (it relies a lot on AI-controlled party members) but I didn’t have any problems with it.
(https://lparchive.org/Ni-no-Kuni/Update%2013/50-13SS_051.png)
(https://juegosps3dd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-animeakgame_1.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Not yet although a sequel is on the way!
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39. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles IV: Turtles in Time
(https://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/nintendo-super-nes/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-iv-turtles-in-time-usa.png)
Not much to say about this other than it’s a classic beat’em up with great graphics and a lot of energy that does the property justice. Concentrated Turtle Awesomeness!
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/4/1/5/gfs_62686_2_30.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Eh, not really. There were other arcade TMNT games in the series (as well many other licensed games obviously) but Turtles in Time is the best.
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Bury my shell at Wounded Knee!
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I didn't play a lot of the Ninja Turtle game because my buddy owned it at the time but it was a great time.
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I totally remember thinking Turtles in Time was the most impressive looking game I had ever seen at the time.
38. Fight Night Round 4
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6d/Fight_Night_Round_4.jpg)
A wild sports game appears! The thing with boxing games is that they feel less like a sports simulation and more like a genre closer to my heart: fighting games! The steady progess of getting stronger and moving up the ranks was pretty rewarding. The control scheme primarily uses motions on the analog sticks and is pretty fun too once you get the hang of it.
(https://web-vassets.ea.com/bthumbs/7/9/8/79838348001_l.jpg?cb=1402547061)
Any other entries worth playing?
Fight Night Champion is the most recent one in the series. It’s basically the same game with a lame cinematic story mode.
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37. Devil May Cry
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/DMC1FrontCover.jpg/256px-DMC1FrontCover.jpg)
DMC made a huge impression on me when it came out. The speed of your attacks, the way everything flowed, the moody atmosphere, everything about it spoke to a very strong vision and was like nothing I'd ever seen before. It made you go "Oh, THIS is how you make an action game in 3D." It may have started out as a Resident Evil game but it ended up being something that felt much cooler.
(https://overloadr.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Devil-May-Cry.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Devil May Cry 3 is often considered the pinnacle of the series. 4 and the reboot are decent but flawed.
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Love the EA Sports Fight Night series, except for the god awful rap soundtracks.
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Almost no games that I've played so far. :lol
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I don't remember which fight it was but I remember walking into a Best Buy once and just being blown away by the graphics of fight night.
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One of the great things about Fight Night is that there is relatively so little for the game to process that the designers can put a massive amount of detail into relatively few things.
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Similar to racing games, except probably even less to process in Fight Night
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36. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
(https://www.djod.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/tony-hawks-pro-skater-2-397x399.jpg)
I doubt I need to introduce this to anyone, but this was the sickest game you could own for a period of time in the late 90. It famously gave a boost to skateboarding, but even if you had no interest in skateboarding in real life there was no denying how brilliant these games were.
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/40290-Tony_Hawk%27s_Pro_Skater_2_(USA)-6.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Well 1 and 3 are also really good games, but THPS 2 is a kind of game that is impossible to improve upon in my opinion.
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35. Heavy Rain
(https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4268197268_f0cc2f4316.jpg)
One of the more unique games on this list, Heavy Rain is an adventure-ish game where you mainly use quicktime prompts for inputs. That doesn’t sound super compelling on paper, but somehow committing to it to the degree Heavy Rain does makes it work. You play as multiple protagonists, with the central premise a thriller: a child has disappeared, seemingly at the hands of a known serial killer, and the father will be tested to what lengths he will go to get him back before it's too late. The story certainly has its shortcomings, but the game does conjure an experience with a distinctly somber feel and tone unlike anything I had played at the time.
(https://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/heavy-rain-screenshot.jpg)
(https://cdn.gamers.vg/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/heavy-rain2.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
N/A
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I never played heavy rain but I did watch a playthrough.
It seemed alright.
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I think I had Heavy Rain as an honorable mention.
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Tony Hawk 2 is a god tier game for me. Hours upon hours played and god damn, I love that soundtrack.
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Tony Hawk 2 is a god tier game for me. Hours upon hours played and god damn, I love that soundtrack.
I agree, I wish I knew how many hours I sunk into that game. As a kid it'd pump me up for skateboarding, I'd play the game and then go outside and bust my ass :lol
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34. Chrono Cross
(https://www.icybrian.com/games/chronocross/ccjpbox.jpg)
Now we’re getting into the RPGs. Chrono Cross is a flawed game in a lot of ways. It’s rather experimental, thinking outside the box in terms of rpg mechanics like leveling and how combat works: most of which don’t pan out great. You play as a silent protagonist in a story that seems ill-suited for it. Said story’s pacing is not great, and the philosophical musings the game is reaching for can feel sophomoric.
And yet that’s all worth it when it’s firing on all cylinders and hits those peaks, it suddenly becomes something very gripping. When it’s at its best, the games heavy themes of the transient nature of existence, and all the melancholy that entails, really stuck with me. I love the game’s visual motif of tropical blue skies and white clouds. And there’s no way to talk about CC without mentioning Yasunori Mitsuda’s score, which has a huge presence everywhere and lends so much resonance and emotional weight to everything. And wrapping it all up with Radical Dreamers (which I’m convinced is one of the most perfectly constructed songs I have ever heard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBE3c9X0BoA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBE3c9X0BoA)) leaves you with maybe the best mic drop of an ending there could be. Just damn.
(https://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i426/zachfair999/chronocross2.jpg)
(https://lparchive.org/Chrono-Cross/Update%2020/1-fuckkorcha11.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
So there’s this game called Chrono Trigger that’s often regarded as one of if not the best rpg to come out of Japan. It’s a very polished and clever game with interest design aspects that still feel fresh even today. But to be honest CT has never particularly resonated with me. It’s probably a better game than Cross objectively speaking, but I’ve never found the characters terribly interesting, and Cross just has so much soul.
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33. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
(https://r.mprd.se/fup/up/149610-Akumajou_Dracula_X_-_Chi_no_Rinne_(NTSC-J)-9.jpg)
Rondo of Blood (titled Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo in Japan) is a Castlevania that had some mystique around it because it was not released outside Japan for a long time but had a reputation for being one of, if not the best, entry in the series. Well, it totally lives up to that reputation and more because Rondo of Blood is the pinnacle of old-school Castlevania platforming. It plays similar to its predecessors but has just a total package of good sprite art, soundtrack, level design, and challenge. It also has lots of secrets and branching paths, encouraging exploration (and hinting where the series would turn with Symphony of the Night). I’ve always preferred the straight-ahead platforming of the older games though, and Rondo of Blood is the best. Rondo of Blood actually got a remake (and western release) on PSP subtitled Dracula Chronicles X, while the original version made its way to the Wii Virtual Console. Both versions have their merits.
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/149610-Akumajou_Dracula_X_-_Chi_no_Rinne_(NTSC-J)-5.jpg)
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/149610-Akumajou_Dracula_X_-_Chi_no_Rinne_(NTSC-J)-8.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
These been a lot of quality Castlevania games, but my other favorites are 1 and 3 on NES and Castlevania Chronicles of PS1, which is a remake of sorts of the original.
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*Many are quick to praise chrono trigger, which is utterly incredible in its own right, but there is a special place in my heart for Chrono Cross. I love the setting and I get goosebumps from the beautiful beyond words soundtrack.
*I respect Rhondo quite a bit, but by the time I got to it, I had already sold my soul to SotN and the metroidvania style. Rhondo still kicks ass though
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I've heard of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. I played a bit of Chrono Trigger but never got very far, turn based rpg's don't really do it for me.
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39. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles IV: Turtles in Time
Not much to say about this other than it’s a classic beat’em up with great graphics and a lot of energy that does the property justice. Concentrated Turtle Awesomeness!
Any other entries worth playing?
Eh, not really. There were other arcade TMNT games in the series (as well many other licensed games obviously) but Turtles in Time is the best.
I would slightly disagree, as the first TMNT was more prevalent in arcades I felt. It was more straight forward, and tied to the TV show at the time. And the trio of NES games were not bad, but obviously not as polished as TMNT In Time.
34. Chrono Cross
Now we’re getting into the RPGs. Chrono Cross is a flawed game in a lot of ways. It’s rather experimental, thinking outside the box in terms of rpg mechanics like leveling and how combat works: most of which don’t pan out great. You play as a silent protagonist in a story that seems ill-suited for it. Said story’s pacing is not great, and the philosophical musings the game is reaching for can feel sophomoric.
And yet that’s all worth it when it’s firing on all cylinders and hits those peaks, it suddenly becomes something very gripping. When it’s at its best, the games heavy themes of the transient nature of existence, and all the melancholy that entails, really stuck with me. I love the game’s visual motif of tropical blue skies and white clouds. And there’s no way to talk about CC without mentioning Yasunori Mitsuda’s score, which has a huge presence everywhere and lends so much resonance and emotional weight to everything. And wrapping it all up with Radical Dreamers (which I’m convinced is one of the most perfectly constructed songs I have ever heard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBE3c9X0BoA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBE3c9X0BoA)) leaves you with maybe the best mic drop of an ending there could be. Just damn.
(https://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i426/zachfair999/chronocross2.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
So there’s this game called Chrono Trigger that’s often regarded as one of if not the best rpg to come out of Japan. It’s a very polished and clever game with interest design aspects that still feel fresh even today. But to be honest CT has never particularly resonated with me. It’s probably a better game than Cross objectively speaking, but I’ve never found the characters terribly interesting, and Cross just has so much soul.
*Many are quick to praise chrono trigger, which is utterly incredible in its own right, but there is a special place in my heart for Chrono Cross. I love the setting and I get goosebumps from the beautiful beyond words soundtrack.
Big ups for mentioning Chrono Cross Mr. Beale :tup. I enjoyed CC more than CT, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. The huge cast of characters, in which multiple play throughs was required to obtain (all?) of them added replay value to a genre sometimes without it.
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32. BlazBlue: Central Fiction
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/9/8/598598_front.jpg)
Blazblue a fighting game series that inherited a lot of Arc System Works’s signature Guilty Gear mechanics (bursts, air-dashing, match-ending instant kills) while being more accessible than their older series (fewer buttons, easier execution inputs, slightly less system-heavy). The speed at which Arc System Works games move along can be intimidating to get into, but once you have a grasp of the mechanics and find a characters that gels with you it’s a great time. Featuring great 2D sprite work on 3D backgrounds, the game has a great colorful presentation with very anime character designs, some of which are pretty gonzo, both in terms of aesthetics and more importantly playstyles. Arc have always been good at creating some of the most inventive characters you will find in the fighting game genre, and after many iterations, Central Fiction has a huge roster to choose from.
(https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/img/gmw/docs/578/373/bbcp06.jpg)
(https://gameidealist.com/wp-content/uploads/BlazBlue-Chrono-Phantasma-Extend.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Honestly this spot is more for the series as a whole than Central Fictions specifically, and there are earlier entries I like a lot (like Continuum Shift Extend) but the series is iterative enough there isn’t really a need to go back.
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31. Ys Seven
(https://picfiles.alphacoders.com/672/thumb-67277.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJuFqxAUyog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJuFqxAUyog)
Ys (do you know how to pronounce it?) is a storied action-rpg series by Nihon Falcom that dates back to the 80s. The seventh entry (more or less) changes things up by being the first game in the series to feature party-based approach, instead of just a lone Adol, the series’ the wanderlust filled adventurer and series protagonist. Gameplay is simply but very snappy, full of rapid attacks and quick dashing through the environment. While you are leveling and buying better equipment, the game still demands skillful play to get past bosses that throw a lot of patterns at you and take some time to take down. Being skillful enough to dodge enough of their attacks and get their health down before you run out of your limited health items has a great level of tension, and why it makes this list. Challenge wise it sits on a perfect spot on the difficulty curve: hard enough a lot of bosses will take multiple tries even on normal difficulty, but not to where it feels impossible for newcomers. Everything feels balanced and tight.
The series (and Falcom games in general) are also known for their rocking soundtracks, especially their early work when that was unusual for the time. Seven is no exception, in fact it’s one of the games best features. The bosses fights are great, but playing them while listening to Vacant Interference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frmOygTzswU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frmOygTzswU)) elevates them to epic.
(https://www.rpgfan.com/pics/Ys_SEVEN_PSP/ss-015.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Ys Origins is quite good. Oath of Felghana is the other fan favorite. Ys VIII is getting a western release this year, hopefully that’s a good one.
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30. Soul Calibur V
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/301011-soulcalibur-v-playstation-3-front-cover.jpg)
Soul Calibur V is the latest main entry in the long running weapon-based 3D fighter series. The hook of every character has different weapon types, and therefore have movesets with very different range and speed, is one of the main draws of the series. Between large horizontal slashes and the easy of which you can side-step and circle around your opponent, it really uses that third dimension more than most 3D fighters.
SC V is actually a controversial pick for me, because it wasn’t received very well by a lot of the fanbase. The designers tried to shake things up by having it take place by well after SC IV and replaced some of the cast with younger teenybopper characters. Who are pretty much all lamer than the people they replace. And while they retain the fighting styles, some of them have enough alterations in moves they don’t even play like the people they replaced. Oh and some characters, even some that had appeared in multiple games, didn’t make the cut at all. Suffice to say those things together didn’t win over a lot of longtime fans. They tried to pull a Tekken 3 but did it much worse.
Not only that, it was very apparent that the game was not given the resources and time to live up to the development team’s vision, resulting in a barebones story mode and single-player content that was below the standards of its predecessors. This was a big deal as some of the early games had pretty substantial single-player content for their time.
But it’s still my favorite Soul Calibur. Why? Some of the new characters are great, it looks great, and while I was very skeptical of introducing a meter (in the wake of Street Fighter IV’s success it seemed a lot of fighters where introducing meters and comeback mechanics), it actually isn’t too intrusive of the general gameplay flow, and in fact enhances it in some ways. Hell even the guest character is pretty cool (Ezio from Assassin’s Creed) because he actually fits the time period and could pass as a Soul Calibur design. Unfortunately a lot of people buried it, before it even got a fair shake in my opinion.
If there was ever a game that deserved a “Super” version update it’s Soul Calibur V, but alas it was not too be.
(https://www.intunedonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SoulCalibur-V-5-game-play-screenshot.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
There hasn’t been a bad Soul game really. IV is pretty bland, and III had infuriating balance issues, but I still like it despite them. SC and SC II are of course classics, but people often overlook Soul Edge/Blade, which is a pretty solid PS1 fighter too.
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Josh... you need to change the thread title. I didn't realize that there was a new list underway.
Almost no games that I've played so far. :lol
Same here. Though, I think NBA Jam got an honorable mention from me.
I'm not much of a side-to-side fighting game guy (though, I played a shit-ton of MK and SF2 in the arcade in the early 90s). I tried Injustice Gods Among Us, but there were just way too many player choices and moves to learn. I get the sense that any side scrolling fight game like that takes a lot of time, commitment and practice. None of which I have a lot of at my disposal.
I always heard wonderful things about Heavy Rain, but just never got around to it.
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I'm not much of a side-to-side fighting game guy (though, I played a shit-ton of MK and SF2 in the arcade in the early 90s). I tried Injustice Gods Among Us, but there were just way too many player choices and moves to learn. I get the sense that any side scrolling fight game like that takes a lot of time, commitment and practice. None of which I have a lot of at my disposal.
Understandable. Truth is neither do I but I still have a lot of fondness for that form of game.
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29. Demon's Souls
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/Demon%27s_Souls_Cover.jpg)
Before Dark Souls made Fromsoft a big name, they made a weird game on PS3 called Demon’s Souls. Reputed to be extremely hard but also really cool, I wasn’t sure if this was something I could get into at first. Slowly though you learn what the game is asking from you, and you realize that the game isn’t actually that hard, it’s just meticulous and asks a level of competence when a lot of modern games will let you slide by with sloppy play just to let you get to the next section. These games have a reputation of being “Nintendo hard,” but that isn’t true because they are actually fairer than most of those old games were. What it does do is reinterpret the death fail state and makes it meaningful in a modern context. Much more has been written about what makes the Souls gameplay great, but suffice to say the following these games have is well deserved.
The other thing Demon’s Souls has going for it is the setting. The game has incredible atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife, and so gloomy and oppressive I actually had to stir up some courage to push through it, which makes finishing the levels that much more rewarding. Boletarian Palace, the Valley of Defilement, and especially the Tower of Latria are some of the most memorable palaces I’ve been to in video games. It has a really strong vision of dark fantasy with a tinge of Lovecraftian-horror; at times it feels like a horror game more than anything.
The game doesn’t have a lot of music overall, but what it does have is still the best in all of the soul games in my opinion. When you get to the end of the Valley of Defilement and this starts playing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piElENpvmM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piElENpvmM)) is an incredible moment; I still get goosebumps thinking about it.
(https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/gamespot/images/2009/277/reviews/1056528-954345_20091005_001.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
All of the other soul games (including Bloodborne) are great and worth playing, but didn’t quite make my list. Not because I’m counting them as one series, but they all have a few quibbles that land them slightly below Demon’s in my eyes. Like I’ve said before tone and atmosphere go a long way with me, and Demon’s left the biggest impact on me.
Personal ranking of soul games:
1. Demon’s
2. Dark Souls III
3. Dark Souls
4. Dark Souls II
5. Bloodborne
That said they are high quality games and I like all of them quite a bit.
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I rank the Souls games:
1. Dark Souls
2. Bloodborne
3. Dark Souls 3
4. Dark Souls 2
5. Demon's Souls
But Demon's Souls is still great.
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28. Resonance of Fate
(https://gamefiles.alphacoders.com/boxart/original/front/886-1.jpg)
Tri-Ace is a Japanese developer known for making rpgs with inventive battle systems, and oh man does Resonance of Fate have a doozy. Basically it marries turn-based and real-time elements to create gun fu acrobatics that looks absolutely bonkers. It has a lot of elements to keep track of and plays unlike anything else, so the learning curve can be steep even for rpg veterans, but mastering the battle system is the main draw of the game. Like a lot of rpgs there are a ton of battles, but the core systems are so fun they don’t wear out their welcome. I like my rpg conventions just fine but I wish more titles got this creative with their battle mechanics.
Set in a future steampunk setting, the plot is mostly cryptic anime gibberish unfortunately, although the main characters are actually more developed than you might expect, including a good performance by Nolan North.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3LbCoEHy2U/WGvy3T6KpXI/AAAAAAAAanc/Y5k39htp5mQTYxb91p899eKDLpiTnTbBACLcB/s1600/resonance-of-fate-ps3-screenshot-www.ovagames.com-5.jpg)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4003/4439470628_4ac86a7168.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
N/A
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27. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/6/0/7/106607_front.jpg)
Speaking of Nolan North, he is best known of course for is work as Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series. Uncharted might not be the most original series if they were movies (basically Indiana Jones-esque adventure throwback set in modern day), as a game series they have pushed the envelope how seamlessly cinematic a video game can be. And while I like the moment to moment gameplay in Uncharted 3 and 4 better, and I still maybe like the original the most in terms of story and pacing, Uncharted 2 is probably the most well rounded game overall. The cinematic look and feel of the original was ramped up even more, and the set pieces where much bigger and more kinetic. It also has that train sequence, which is one of the best designed levels ever. Nolan North and the other actors are great too.
To be honest I’m a bit bored of this style of game Naughty Dog has been making for a decade now, but Uncharted 1 and especially 2 felt like landmark games for the medium when they came out. Naughty Dog has gone a long way toward climbing out of the uncanny valley.
(https://psmedia.playstation.com/is/image/psmedia/hanging-train-carscreen1?$MediaCarousel_LargeImage$)
(https://ps4daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Uncharted-2-PS4-Gang-640x360.png)
Any other entries worth playing?
Every Uncharted game has been quality, although the mechanics of the original feel rough now and Golden Abyss feels small compared to the spectacle the series became known for.
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Wow! Resonance of Fate!
I really loved that game, though I was unable to finish it. It got to a point where it was too hard for me. I've thought about going back to it and trying again though. It was a really fun game, and I really loved the characters.
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Uncharted 2 made my top 25. Brilliant game - great improvements over the first, and the third had troubles continuing that trend. Loved all of them, but 2 was something especially special. I haven't played 4 yet, and will only do so because it's on PS4. After that, I think I'll bail on the franchise - not sure how much more originality they can come up with.
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Wow! Resonance of Fate!
I really loved that game, though I was unable to finish it. It got to a point where it was too hard for me. I've thought about going back to it and trying again though. It was a really fun game, and I really loved the characters.
Nice! How far into it did you get? I thought the difficulty leveled off after awhile, pretty much the only times I got stuck later on is when I was forgetting some aspect I didn't use often (like burning things).
Uncharted 2 made my top 25. Brilliant game - great improvements over the first, and the third had troubles continuing that trend. Loved all of them, but 2 was something especially special. I haven't played 4 yet, and will only do so because it's on PS4. After that, I think I'll bail on the franchise - not sure how much more originality they can come up with.
Yeah it's a fine game but it's pretty much more Uncharted. I really want NG to make something completely different after Last of Us II.
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Wow! Resonance of Fate!
I really loved that game, though I was unable to finish it. It got to a point where it was too hard for me. I've thought about going back to it and trying again though. It was a really fun game, and I really loved the characters.
Nice! How far into it did you get? I thought the difficulty leveled off after awhile, pretty much the only times I got stuck later on is when I was forgetting some aspect I didn't use often (like burning things).
Yeah, I think it was maybe Chapter 5 or 6. I remember getting through a few chapters early, and then running to a dungeon that was REALLY hard. It might have been a little bit after we went into a dungeon to get a statue for a guy, or maybe a chapter or two after that. I remember that part, but it's been a while. I was probably just not leveled up enough, and I think I had other games to play. But it's always stuck in my mind as a really cool game, I'd like to get back to some day.
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26. Ape Escape
(https://www.gamemusic.loxblog.com/upload/g/gamemusic/image/Ape_Escape_(PS1).jpg)
The N64 is remembered much more for its platformers than the Playstation was, which is understandable though unfair since the PS1 honestly had a few feathers in that cap too. My favorite of which is Ape Escape, a 3D platformer in which the things you collect aren’t inanimate objects but monkeys! It’s a simple change but makes the collecting much more interesting, because the monkeys have individual personalities. Some are lazy and easily snuck up on, some are skittish and can quickly run away, and some are just aggressive and will attack you, maybe even pull a gun on you! The game has really good vibes, it’s just fun watching what the monkeys are up to or reading about what their hobbies are in the index.
The game also uses an unconventionally control scheme that emphasizes using the analogue sticks for using your tools over the face buttons, which gives the game a different feel too.
(https://romhustler.net/img/screenshots/psx_full/ingame/52a7ddb46f268.png)
Any other entries worth playing?
Ape Escape 2 is solid, but largely a rehash of the first game. 3 is more inventive in its level environments.
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We've reached the halfway point so how about another round of honorable mentions?
Pokemon Emerald
(https://r.mprd.se/fup/up/45224-Pokemon_Emerald_(U)(TrashMan)-1.jpeg)
Pokemon Black & White 2
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vmnPKdCrpHc/hqdefault.jpg)
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/aplus/detail-page/B00GV4V8UK_map_lg._CB364713238_.jpg)
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
(https://www.the-nextlevel.com/reviews/xbox/prince-persia-sands-time/prince-persia-sands-time-5.jpg)
F-Zero GX
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/F-Zero_GX_-_Lightning_Loop_Cross_track.jpg)
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-Professor layton is charming and the puzzle solving is fantastic.
- F-zero GX :metal :metal What a badass, incredibly fast pace and challenging game. I truly love the F-zero series and am dying for nintendo to make a new one or at the very least make all of them available for download on the Switch.
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It is bizarre how Nintendo has let F-Zero languish considering how consistently solid that series is.
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Man that's what Pokemon looks like now-a-days?
I only played original red.
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Man that's what Pokemon looks like now-a-days?
I only played original red.
Nope that's how they looked 5 or 6 years ago. :biggrin:
Now they look like this:
(https://gonintendo.com/system/file_uploads/uploads/000/020/458/original/noice.png)
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layton games are so good. i like unwound future the most but diabolical box & azran legacy are both up there
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25. Fire Emblem
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/fireemblem/images/e/ee/Fire-emblem-gba.244106.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150524041627)
Fire Emblem is actually the seventh game in the series (subtitled The Blazing Sword in Japan) but was the first to be released in North America, seemed to come out of nowhere when it appeared onto my radar. Here’s this rad strategy-rpg series Nintendo has just had in the background all this time?! Taking place on a 2D grid, it wasn’t as deep as Final Fantasy Tactics but could bring a good bit of challenge depending on the lay of the map, and the fact that there is permadeath for every character, even the unique ones. Actually, ALL of your characters are unique, so if they died, you have to either: 1. Restart from your last save, or 2. Continue the rest of the game without them. There is no cannon fodder you can just throw at enemies like in most strategy games. Nowadays I’m not in love with that aspect of Fire Emblem, but it’s a huge thing that makes even relatively easy battles more intense, because the price of screwing up is so high.
The story is pretty boilerplate, but Lyn is pretty good female protagonist I still recall even after all this time, and there is a decent amount of variety in objectives and level designs, and good but not daunting level of challenge. It also has a great colorful look to it, especially the sprite art, which is large and energetic for a GBA game. The best thing about it though is how tight and balanced everything feels. When you screw up and lose a unit or a whole battle it feels fair, as does navigating maps with difficult terrain and figuring out where the best place to make a stand or bottle neck the enemy. And getting a unit leveled up and upgrading their class is always satisfying.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lOrifkD7UEo/hqdefault.jpg)
(https://lparchive.org/Fire-Emblem-Blazing-Sword/Update%2027/73-ravencrit.gif)
Any other entries worth playing?
I’ll be honest, my interest in the series has declined over time. The GBA follow up The Sacred Stones, was not as tight as the first (too easy) but was still quite enjoyable. Path of Radiance on the Gamecube was solid but had pretty ugly graphics. Shadow Dragon on DS was a remake of the original FE that was a little too faithful for how boring it was and it somehow had inferior sprite work compared to the GBA games. The 3DS games Awakening and Fates have given the series a second life, but at the expense of waifu-pandering characterizations and bad writing in general. That said I’m still buying these games, and so far I’ve found Shadow of Valencia a refreshing return to basics.
Maybe I just like the FE7 the most because it’s the first one I played, although from what I gather from hardcore Fire Emblem fans 7 is considered one of the most balanced and well-regarded games in the series.
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24. Burnout 3: Takedown
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/93/Burnout_3_-_Takedown_Coverart.jpg)
Burnout was a moderately successful series before 3, but 3 still seemed to come out of nowhere to knock my socks off. The whole gimmick with Burnout is that, yes, it is a fast arcade racing game, but what distinguishes it is how it encourages driving a little recklessly. Causing other cars to crash or driving through oncoming traffic will give you more boost, which makes it easier to boost through other competitors and get you even more boost. Screwing up and crashing yourself is not the worst thing either. When you yourself are about to crash it will go into slow-mo, and you can manipulate your cars to try to take out others with you! Starting over isn’t very punishing, as the game expects there to lots of crashing on all sides and keeps the pace up. Overall it’s just a lot of fun nonsense.
(https://k33.kn3.net/1BA5DF41F.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
The follow up Revenge was really solid, and Paradise has a strong following. But for me nothing will match the novelty of discovering 3 for the first time.
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23. Valkyria Chronicles
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Valkyria_cover.jpg/250px-Valkyria_cover.jpg)
Valkyria Chronicles is a turn-based strategy-rpg but unlike the grid-based conventions that are usually associated with the sub-genre, VC lets you move and aim attacks with individual unit yourself in real-time. The game has excellent variety of objectives from mission to mission that are really good at pushing you out of your comfort zone. Units have unique personalities and have naturally affinity when group with certain other units. If their health reaches zero, they can be revived, but they can be killed permanently if you aren’t quick to rescue them.
Can’t talk about VC with mentioning it’s unique, water-colored art style and cell shaded graphics. It looks like a storybook, and despite the subject manner (a war vaguely reminiscent of both World Wars mashed together) it remains fairly light (a bit like Advance Wars) while not being too flippant. It had critical acclaim and good word of mouth, but unfortunately as a PS3 exclusive in the early days of the system it didn’t gather more than a cult following. Sega has a knack for making great games that don’t gain traction. :'( Luckily a PC and PS4 remaster has brought this game back into the spotlight to a degree.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/294860/ss_114a127f2a50239dca897e1a7665e39aec947aba.600x338.jpg?t=1457556192)
(https://cdn1-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/2016/05/Valkyria_Chronicles_Remastered_01-555x317.png)
Any other series entries worth playing?
Valkyria Chronicles II was a major step back storywise with some of the most insufferably cliché anime stereotypes possible, and was released on the PSP which couldn’t really pull off the scale and look of the first game. There was a third VC game that was better in the story department but never got a release outside Japan. Valkyria Revolution is a spinoff that looks more like a generic action-rpg than a strategy game, and honestly seems to miss a lot of what made the original so cool. Sega seems to know the series has some cache but has yet to greenlight a true worth successor. :(
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I have this one on steam too. Need to play it eventually
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Awesome list so far, very varied and plenty of titles I have pending. Just sad that Pokemon Emerald didn't make it, that one was #3 on mine :lol
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Awesome list so far, very varied and plenty of titles I have pending. Just sad that Pokemon Emerald didn't make it, that one was #3 on mine :lol
Thanks! Good to find another Emerald fan. :) Don't know why but that's one I've replayed the most.
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I must have almost 200 hours if not more accumulated among many replays.
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22. XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bd/Enemy_Within_PSN.png/250px-Enemy_Within_PSN.png)
XCOM is a series cherished by PC gamers, but the only ones I’m familiar with are the recent revivals by Firaxis. The premise is the you are commanding a special international joint military operation tasked with somehow stopping an alien invasion. The hook of the game is that there’s two level of strategy. The first is the larger overview level in which you must decide what facilities to build, what research takes the highest priority, when to spend resources to get more troops, and what missions to take next. Managing panic level of countries is important too. Because there are more attacks than you can respond to, you need to balance trying to keep all these plates spinning, but you might need to write off a few regions too. If you let too many collapse though it’s game over.
The second level is the tactile, turn-based combat missions in which a team need to either clean up an alien attack or do more specific objectives like disarming a bomb or rescuing an important scientist. I’m a sucker for turn-based tactical stuff like this, and I like the emphasis on getting to cover and flanking enemies, as well as the clear indicators of how likely you are to successfully land a hit (e.g. 68% chance of hit). While it can be infuriating when you miss something RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, it’s ultimately your fault if you gamble and take a risky shot. Once a unit dies they are gone for good, and while there is an endless supply of soldiers that can replace them, getting a fully promoted unit with all their extra abilities is important if you want to get to the end.
It isn’t flawless, after a few games it’s clear what's the critical path in terms of research, and once things start to go sideways it’s pretty much impossible to climb out of the hole, meaning it’s often better to just start a new file than play it out. And purists find it too streamlined compared to the minutiae of the original games. Nonetheless I was stoked about this game and spent a lot of time on it. It is best with Enemy Within, which was an expansion on PC but could only be purchased separately on console, in which there are more enemy types, a second organization that you are fighting against, and more upgrade and loadout options.
(https://svxg.su/uploads/posts/2013-10/1382878415_sk3.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
The original is considered a classic if you’re into older PC games. The newest one had a follow up and while it does expand on Enemy Unknown in smart ways and makes the strategy level more dynamic, it hasn’t hooked me like the Enemy Unknown did (although it’s a game I should try to get back to).
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21. rain
(https://www.digitaljournal.com/img/4/5/4/4/9/2/i/1/4/4/o/Rain_Boxart.jpg)
Rain is wonderful little game that came and went without much fanfare. Set in mid-20th century Paris, you play as a boy that somehow finds himself in a dream world(?) in which he is invisible, but his silhouette becomes visible when he steps into the pouring rain. You must play with this mechanic to your advantage, because there are strange shadow monsters stalking the streets (and will lead to some surprisingly violent deaths if you mess up). Between the gorgeous score and wonderful color palette, the game conjures a pensive and powerfully emotional experience, like a 'need to put the controller down for a bit because there's tears in my eyes' level of reaction from me. If you like walking in the rain and like games like Journey this is worth going back to check out. I might the only person that cares about this game :lol but I think it's something special.
(https://nsx.np.dl.playstation.net/nsx/material/f/ff42a96e0eaba75a3926bc030b0291dbc9b708c4-532246.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
N/A
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I have both XCOM games but I haven't played either of them. My brother is always pushing for me to play, he is a huge fan.
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I was a fan of the original PSOne X-Com, but more in a "I wish I was good at this game" kind of way. When the PS3 game came out I was all sorts of excited, and it did not disappoint, at all. XCOM 2 expanded on the original, and I loved it even more. Anybody with these in their possession should stop being on the internet now and play these games.
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20. Tekken 5
(https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_petite/mig/8/2/2/0/2218220-box_tekken5.png)
Tekken is a long running 3D fighting game series, and while 4 was a disappointment, the series came roaring back with Tekken 5. Incorporating the walled stages while backing off the weirder uneven environments, 5 felt like a measured evolution of the series, with some great stages (include the EPIC Moonlit Wilderness :metal) and a great selection of new characters and veterans returning to the roster. Tekken 5 also took a page (or two) from Virtua Fighter and had more significant single player content in which you fight increasingly difficult AI and gain rank. There was also for the first time cosmetic additions you could unlock to customize the look of your characters. Tekken 5 actually had an update in Dark Resurrection which added Lili and Dragunov (two characters I really like) and later got a PS3 port with online play. That version is the definitive edition and is fantastic in every way except for the fact that most of the stages don’t look as cool as their base versions (though you can unlock the originals in certain modes).
(https://tekkenomics.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/moonlit_wilderness.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Tekken 3 is often considered the best figher on the PS1, but I played a lot more Tekken Tag Tournament during the early days of the PS2. Tekken 7 is supposed to be a step up from Tekken 6 (which I found dull) but I haven’t tried it yet.
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I think I remember playing Tekken 3 long ago. I could never get into the fighter genre that much but I can appreciate them.
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19. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/DK_Country_2.jpg)
Donkey Kong Country was one of, if not the, best revival of a classic video game property. Featuring striking graphics and great music, it famously gave a late push for the aging SNES hardware. The follow-up however took everything the first did well and cranks it up a couple of notches more. I love how even though it’s “just” a mascot platformer, it takes story and worldbuilding seriously. DK, the hero of the first game, has been captured by the Kremlings, and Diddy and Dixie must travel to their land and fight them on their ground to rescue DK, with anxious and foreboding overworld music to match. I’ve alwayed loved that about the DKC games, they go the extra length to convey the world as a real place, and not just a string of levels. And the way David Wise can convey so much emotion through his melodies adds so much weight to what’s going on.
Gameplay wise there’s a lot of levels filled with secrets, and even more challenge to 100% complete. In retrospect these games sometimes get dismissed by some snobs as being only popular because of the flashy graphics and not the substance. And while it’s true they don’t push the genre forward as much as Mario tended to, they are still quality platformers and few games have as much personality as DKC games do, especially 2, and still hold up today.
(https://www.dkwiki.com/images/f/f8/KrocheadKlamber-SNES-7.png)
Any other entries worth playing?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/DKC5_box_art.jpg)
The original DKC is not quite as good but is still a classic. But the big one is really the newest entry: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze by Retro Studios. Their first DKC game was solid, but Tropical Freeze is traditional platformer tour de force. Excellent level design with just the right level of challenge, it is my favorite game on that system. They also brought back David Wise, and good lord is that soundtrack phenomenal! I think it was the best collection of music I listened to that entire year anywhere. It’s easy to overlook it as just another Nintendo platformer, but no, this is seriously one of the best platformers I’ve ever played. It’s probably the best game in the series to be honest, DKC 2 just has a little more nostalgia going for it. Sadly it’s a Wii U game, and doesn’t seem likely to get a Switch port unfortunately.
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18. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
(https://media.vandal.net/m/22424/persona-4-arena-ultimax-2014112011369_1.jpg)
Born of a collaboration between Atlus, an rpg developer known for the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, and Arc System Works, veteran fighting game developer known for creating games with “anime” flair, Ultimax in a lot of ways is better than a spinoff has any right to be. It smartly draws a lot from the Persona series in terms of looks, sound, and style and there plenty of references in character’s movesets that fans will get pleasure from. I can’t stress enough how much those graphics pop, especially in motion.
That said what really makes this great isn’t the fact it’s a Persona game, but where it inspired the developers to take the mechanics. First off, it takes status effects from the rpgs and translates them to a fighting game. Some of them are pretty self-explanatory (poison) while others are less obvious (rage, panic, silence). Seeing how they play out can be pretty amusing, and adds an extra bit of flavor more than most fighting games. Second, knowing that the property would draw in an audience beyond the traditional fighter crowd, they made sure the controls were streamlined and easy to approach. This meant not only does control feel wonderfully light and responsive, but they mapped a bunch of universal commands to simple two button combinations. This means that you know you have access to a bunch of tools regardless of which character playing and makes it easier to remember said tools. And not only do special moves have low input barriers and is generally easy to find some simple combs, there is even an auto-combo system where players can repeatedly press one button to get a scripted combo. It’s not optimal but it gives you can idea of what combos looks like for casuals, and can be a helpful crutch for more serious minded but low-skilled players (like myself), because you can branch off the scripted combo at any point to try your own flourishes.
(https://www.psnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/P4AU_Review_Screens-7.jpg)
Thirdly and perhaps the biggest thing that sets P4AU apart from other fighters is how the Personas themselves work. For the uninitiated, Personas are manifestations of one’s inner psyche and can be called upon to defend yourself by Persona users. How Arc translates this into a fighting game is that about half of a characters move list involves invoking their Persona. The Persona generally hit harder than the character’s normal moves and have much more reach. Combos alternating between the characters normal moves and the Persona’s attacks look awesome, and express their individual personalities better than the turn-based battle system of the games they originally come from! The catch is that these aren’t just projectiles: because they are an extension of the character, they can be hit. You won’t take health damage, but if they get hit too many times they can be broken, meaning you won’t be able to use any moves that involve the Persona for a set period of time until you’ve recharged you stock of hits. That is a HUGE handicap, and while there are a couple of characters that do most of their damage via normal moves, for most characters that is a bad place to be, especially for those whose game really depends on their Personas to get good damage. So you don’t want to be throwing out your Persona without much thought, but at the same time you have to if you want to really go on the attack. That tension, and the fact that your opponents Persona is also blinking in and out of the picture, supercharges movement and spacing considerations, to point of feeling omnipresent. You are constantly making small interesting decisions with this in the forefront of your mind and it is endlessly fascinating and rewarding. I love it. :heart
(https://cdn4.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PErsona-4-Arena-Ultimax-4.jpg)
Ultimax, if you haven’t caught on already, is a follow-up to the original P4 Arena. That game is excellent, but Ultimax blows it away by nearly doubling the roster size and making balancing tweaks you would expect in a sequel. At 22 characters it isn’t the biggest roster by any means, but there are few fighters that have as much variety as Ultimax, and of those none make me want to learn every character the way Ultimax does. EVERYONE is just a lot of fun to use. If I had unlimited time I would love to pick up and learn every character. That, more than anything else, is a testament to how good the game is. And that’s not even getting into the fact that a lot of the characters have Shadow versions, which don’t have access to Bursts (a pretty big handicap in Arc games) and do a little less damage per attack BUT can carry over meter from round to round and can enter a frenzy state in which you have unlimited access to specials and can chain together moves you aren’t normally able to, meaning you can make some stupid broken nonsense. They more for skilled players but they’re fun remixes to change thing up.
(https://i0.wp.com/operationrainfall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/p4au08.jpg)
I only have a few quibbles with the game. The story isn’t great and feels thrown together, which is disappointing after the first game took care to have a surprisingly good one (perhaps the best story in a fighting game?). The second is that Ultimax alone isn’t as good as the Japanese subtitle (Ultra Suplex Hold!) which fits the goofy cover art better. And there’s just the fact that I was too old when this came out to put in the time the game deserved. If I was younger when this came out this would easily be top 10 material. Yeah, that’s it. To me it’s a perfect confluence of being both very deep but also very approachable, has tons of style, and is also very thematic befitting the source material. It’s awesome. :hatSuffice to say I hope we get a Persona 5 Arena someday.
Any other entries worth playing?
The original Persona 4 Arena is an excellent game, but the only thing it does better than Ultimax is the story mode, and if you really want that you can actually import it into Ultimax via dlc.
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I've never played DK2, I wonder how well it'd run on an emulator. I think my gf would enjoy it.
Great write-up on Persona. I've heard so much about the game since Persona 5 came out but never really understood what it's all about.I don't think it's my thing but still an interesting read.
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I respect DK 2 alot, but always sucked at it.
And that's cool there's a persona fighting game. I never knew and that's awesome since I absolutely love Persona 4 and 5. two of my favorites games.
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Just hearing about Persona through podcasts and then seeing the write-up and screenshots, it's definitely not what I envisioned in my head.
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I've never played DK2, I wonder how well it'd run on an emulator.
It runs perfectly. It ran perfectly on emulators almost 20 years ago. :lol And also, PLAY IT NOW.
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Just hearing about Persona through podcasts and then seeing the write-up and screenshots, it's definitely not what I envisioned in my head.
Great write-up on Persona. I've heard so much about the game since Persona 5 came out but never really understood what it's all about.I don't think it's my thing but still an interesting read.
Keep in mind Ultimax is a spinoff, so they aren't that representative of the main games beyond some of the character designs and the comtemporary setting with supernatural elements.
I've never played DK2, I wonder how well it'd run on an emulator.
It runs perfectly. It ran perfectly on emulators almost 20 years ago. :lol And also, PLAY IT NOW.
Yeah you totally should!
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17. Batman: Arkham Asylum
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Batman_Arkham_Asylum_Videogame_Cover.jpg)
I remember being vaguely aware of a new Batman game being out when I downloaded the demo for Arkham Asylum. I wasn’t in love with the overly buff look of some of the characters, but I was soon I was immersed in this Batman game wasn't just some usual licensed schlock. And then I got to the predator section, and oh man, seeing the criminal progressively freak out more and more as I picked off their buddies was amazing. So I finished the demo. Started playing the demo again. After finishing it a second time I got in my car and went to the local retailer. You can guess what I bought.
(https://www.imfdb.org/images/thumb/3/31/Batman-arkham-asylum-20090129054139970_640w.jpg/600px-Batman-arkham-asylum-20090129054139970_640w.jpg)
Suffice to say Rocksteady’s Arkham Asylum hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn’t know how much I wanted a really good Batman game until I played this. The simple but effective way the battle system conveys how the Bat can take on a whole group of goons in fisticuffs, the atmosphere, and especially how cool the stealth sections where you must pick off baddies one by one, either with traps or just by getting the drop on someone. All of it screamed Batman, and a very reverent game at that, while capturing what it is that makes Batman an appealing hero. The tale the game told wasn’t anything special but it was a solid “Batman having a bad night” yarn. I also liked how judicious the story was in its’ selection of villians. One of the things the game really gets right is the atmosphere. I’ve always been a fan of when Gotham is depicted with a gothic feel, an old gnarled place that's cursed in some intangible, karmic way. The setting of Arkham Asylum and the story going on in the background really nail that.
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/3/32924/1352077-1100927_pc12_1_.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Arkham City refined a lot of mechanics and moved the series into open world territory. It’s a good game, but in retrospect the story was pretty poor and outside of some sidequests I don’t think the open world nature benefited the game much. The gothic atmosphere of the first game is gone for a more generic gritty setting. Lots of people wrote off Origins because it recycled assets from the City and wasn’t developed by Rocksteady, but I honestly think it’s a better game, improving upon City in terms of story, atmosphere, and boss fights. Haven’t played Arkham Knight but it’s reception seems sadly mixed.
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I have Arkham asylum and even played it for a few hours but for some reason I never got past that. I did really enjoy the time I played.
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Oh baby, Arkham Asylum :metal
Oh my freakin god do I love that game. God damn. First off, batman is my favorite fictional character and I love everything about him. So to have a KICK ASS game to play as him is like a dream come true. The gameplay mechanics were incredible and it looked gorgeous for the time. And I loved how it almost had a 3d metroid-vania kind of feel somewhat to it. Two of my other favorite games.
Didn't play city, but I loved Arkham knight as well, with the exception of the excessive tank segments, and just in general it got a little repetitive toward the end with taking out the fortifications and stuff. I loved being able to download the Keaton batmobile, but I would have loved to have used it from the beginning and that being the batmobile the game was designed around. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed arkham knight, but Asylum with probably always be my favorite.
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16. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
(https://www.vgblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/16/DQ5%20Box%20Art.jpg)
Dragon Quest V originally came out on the Super Famicom in Japan, the first in the series to move on from the original Famicom where it had become a huge pop culture phenomenon by popularizing the rpg genre, taking inspiration from pen and paper and computer rpgs and streamlining them into something playable with the limited input of the Famicom controller. Dragon Quest V came out in 1992 originally but did not get a western release until the Nintendo DS remake in 2009. And boy it’s a shame it took so long because this would be considered a classic along with other SNES rpgs if it had came out then. It has a lot of the elements all DQ games have: the charmingly familiar Akira Toriyama character designs; the rousing, bombastic music of Sugiyama; and of course the adventurous, occasionally heavy but never glum story scenarios guided by creator and longtime guiding hand Yuji Hori. But what really makes DQ V standout from the pack is the hook that your party in this game isn’t a band of adventurers that have come together to save the world. Instead your “party” is a family unit on a personal quest. Like all other Dragon Quest games you play as a silent protagonist, but in V you begin the game as child, and over the course of the story you will grow up, get married, and eventually become a father. The fact that you don’t play a party as much a family re-contextualizes so many rpg conventions in a brilliant way. Add on the fact that you can recruit monsters to join your team (note this came out four years before Pokemon) and you have a great rpg that stands out even in a series full of quality entries.
(https://www.woodus.com/den/gallery/graphics/dq5ds/screenshot/dq5ds_064.jpg)
(https://1079638729.rsc.cdn77.org/androidgame_img/dragon_quest_5_hand_of_the_heavenly_bride/real/3_dragon_quest_5_hand_of_the_heavenly_bride.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Dragon Quest is one of the most consistently good video games series around, although some of the early entries are so basic they are harder to go back to. IX on the DS is probably my second favorite, and is deceptively innovative underneath the familiar DQ veneer. VI has some story problems (in terms of not knowing where to go next) and doesn’t have the best character designs but is a meaty and epic SNES-era romp nonetheless. VIII on PS2 has outstanding presentation and is a good entry point into the series though I think it’s overly long and doesn’t have the most interesting characters/story. My rankings for series (at least the ones I’ve played):
1. V
2. IX
3. VI
4. VIII
5. VII
6. IV
7. III
The series is finally making another big budget console entry in XI, with a release in Japan this year. Hopefully the wait for a western release won’t be too long.
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Oh baby, Arkham Asylum :metal
Oh my freakin god do I love that game. God damn. First off, batman is my favorite fictional character and I love everything about him. So to have a KICK ASS game to play as him is like a dream come true. The gameplay mechanics were incredible and it looked gorgeous for the time. And I loved how it almost had a 3d metroid-vania kind of feel somewhat to it. Two of my other favorite games.
Didn't play city, but I loved Arkham knight as well, with the exception of the excessive tank segments, and just in general it got a little repetitive toward the end with taking out the fortifications and stuff. I loved being able to download the Keaton batmobile, but I would have loved to have used it from the beginning and that being the batmobile the game was designed around. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed arkham knight, but Asylum with probably always be my favorite.
Interesting, I don't know to many people that skipped City. It's been awhile since I've played any of them so I should get to my copy of Arkham Knight (been buried in the backlog).
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^^^^
Basically I was broke and in school when both Asylum and city came out. The only difference was that a friend has asylum and let me borrow it and I beat it and gave it back. The same friend didn't have city when that one was out, so it was just a simple case of me not having the cash, but I really, really wanted it at the time.
I just ordered return to arkham, so I will be playing it shortly on PS4.
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I thought arkham asylum was a pretty solid game but I can't say I "loved" it
I have city too & need to play it eventually
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Loved all the Batman games of that series besides Knight (never played it due to the issues it had). The fighting mechanics are some of the most fun for any game out there IMO.
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15. Super Mario Kart
(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3826880/2364824-snes_supermariokart.0.jpg)
Super Mario Kart is one of the most evergreen titles on the Super Nintendo. I cannot tell you how much time I spent playing this with friends. Hell, I played a ton of it with parents! Such was (and still is) the draw of Mario Kart. Leave it to Nintendo to innovate on the racing genre to make something that appeals to everyone. What I love about the original is that sure there are the items, but there aren’t that many, and generally aren’t as powerful as they tended to be in later games (e.g. red shells do not track around corners as well), and the emphasis on getting coins to get to higher speeds made bumping into other racers a risky venture. And while it might be hard for some to get used to how the karts handle, I like how easily you can spin out around corner, it makes it feel you are driving a light kart instead of just another generic vehicle. There’s also that sweet, sweet SNES sound chip. Still has the best battle mode in the series too!
(https://gamefabrique.com/storage/screenshots/snes/super-mario-kart-03.png)
Any other entries worth playing?
Mario Kart 64 is a lot of fun, and the most recent Mario Kart 8 on Wii U and Switch is a really polished edition.
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14. Super Mario Bros. 3
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Super_Mario_Bros._3_coverart.png)
It’s Mario.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PuB2MR__pc/VXdTfO9TpQI/AAAAAAAAEM4/H5xot5X4Gxc/s400/super-mario-bros-3-athletic.png)
(https://blog-001.west.edge.storage-yahoo.jp/res/blog-d8-fa/ssstaff98/folder/1724143/25/51877425/img_3?1239542253)
Alright fine, wants a few more reasons? There’s two types of people in this world: Super Mario 3 people and Super Mario World people. Well, now there’s Mario 64 and Mario Galaxy people too. But to me it’s still 3 vs. World, and I’ve always been a 3 guy. I’ve always preferred my platformers traditional and straightforward, and 3 was the culmination of the era of 8-bit platformers. It’s got great music, a ton of levels, lots of fun powerups, and lots of cool ideas like the Koopalings and the badass airships. And Giant World is still the best. As good as World looks and sound, SMB3 is my favorite Mario in terms of aesthetics with the whole stage and curtains thing. To be honest in some ways I’m more attached to the prettier Super Mario All-Stars version with the 16-bit graphics, but I’ve played plenty of the original too.
Any other entries worth playing?
Ha! Few platformers can hang with Super Mario Bros., SMB 3, and SM World. I also have a lot of attachment to Super Mario Land 2: The Six Golden Coins on the Gameboy.
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Super mario 3 is legendary. A defining game of my childhood
My cousins had Super mario kart, so I only got to play it in passing. They also had F-zero, so I typical just pushed mario kart out of the way to get to F-zero. And don't get me wrong, I really like super mario kart, as I do with mario kart 8 deluxe which I am currently playing, but ultimately, my heart and soul craves that insane speed and intricacy that only an F-zero type of game can provide.
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Some amazing games there. True classics.
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My most lasting memory of my first year at college is playing Mario Kart. No, I didn't get laid that year.
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Super mario 3 is legendary. A defining game of my childhood
My cousins had Super mario kart, so I only got to play it in passing. They also had F-zero, so I typical just pushed mario kart out of the way to get to F-zero. And don't get me wrong, I really like super mario kart, as I do with mario kart 8 deluxe which I am currently playing, but ultimately, my heart and soul craves that insane speed and intricacy that only an F-zero type of game can provide.
That's funny, cause for a long time I had little interest in F-Zero because they didn't have items. :biggrin: Eventually found they are pretty cool games, but comparing the SNES games I still like MK a lot more.
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SMB3 is my favorite of the series, great choice!
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13. Lunar: Silver Star Story/Silver Star Harmony
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Lunar_Silver_Star_Harmony.png)
Lunar is a classic Japanese-rpg by Game Arts, also known for the Grandia series. In some ways it’s a bit of a hard sell, because Lunar is not shy about the fact that it is pretty much what you think it: a standard, fairly tropey turn-based rpg. But while it hits a lot of familiar notes, not many games hit those notes as well as Lunar. Originally released on the Sega CD (remember that? Me neither) the biggest hook was it’s use of anime cutscenes. It wasn’t just the cutscenes though, the whole game really feels you’re playing an anime. That might not sound like a big deal nowadays, but it’s much more than just people with spiky hair swinging improbably large swords. Everything from the character designs to the story pacing leans more toward film than most video games. One of the most memorable scenes early on has a character break out into an “I want” song a la Disney animation musical! It’s just so disarming and charming. That’s what Lunar comes down to: lots of charming characters that make me smile.
(https://www.gamersintuition.com/screens/psp/lunarssh_8.jpg)
Lunar’s been reworked and rereleased on a good number of systems, but the best versions are either Silver Star Story Complete on PS1 or Siler Star Harmony on PSP. The later has better graphics, translation, and arguably better voice work but the difficulty is nerfed, though considering the narrative is the primary pull that may or may not be a negative depending on your taste.
(https://i.neoseeker.com/p/Games/PSP/Role-Playing/Fantasy/lunar_silver_star_harmony_image3.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Lunar had one sequel in Lunar 2: Eternal Blue and to be honest it is as good or better than the first game, but I never finished it for one reason or another.
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12. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ogrebattlesaga/images/c/c2/LuCT_PSP_US_Game_Cover.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160711231755)
Tactics Ogre is an isometric, menu-driven tactical-rpg that helped popularize this style of game, especially in Japan. You command a small band of soldiers to duke it out on a grid-based battlefield. There’s a lot of variables to keep in mind, but I’ve always been very into these sorts of menu-driven battle systems. It’s the spiritual predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics, both directed by Yasumi Matsuno, and both are quite similar in terms of tone and medieval-inspired political conflicts and machinations, and lots of morally gray characters. But I’ve always been more partial to Tactics Ogre, both because it doesn’t have the Final Fantasy tropes (which gets a little intrusive in FFT imo) and because I love the worldbuilding in Tactics more.
(https://attachment1.tgbusdata.cn/jpg/9e/87/df1771a04a85a6c3642d61a4f0ae_2f2d0b2ae611aba2401f54030993d97ff501e0371f158051af6df09b7f7d6a6d25d6e3061c2897e1.jpg)
Tactics Ogre is actually part of the Ogre Saga games, which comprise both the Tactics Ogre games and the Ogre Battle games. Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen* was the first game released on the SNES, and unlike Tactics is actual a rare real-time strategy game built for consoles. It’s a cool game, but the best thing about it is it’s distinctly mature tone, and how fleshed out the politics of the world is. Taking a page from Star Wars, Ogre Battle is actually the fifth episode in the overall saga. Tactics Ogre, though a different style of game, shares the same universe, and is episode… seven. Naturally. Honestly the chronology of these games isn’t the biggest deal, but I’ve always been into games (or other types of media) that put a lot of thought in fleshing out their world, and Tactics Ogre was the first to really hook me in that way. To be honest I don’t even remember I got into these games so much (I think a friend rented TO one time?) but I was super into these games that had references here and there about mythic battles and world-shaking events of the past (that presumably occurred in earlier episodes of the saga).
(https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5452152774_49582f0801_o.jpg)
Tactics Ogre was originally released on the Super Famicom in Japan but only got a western release with a (kind rough) PlayStation port. But without question the definitive version is the PSP remake. Worked on by much of the same team that developed the original game, it is rebuilt from the ground up to be what the original game would have been if they had modern horsepower behind it. As such, the in-game graphics and sprites don’t look that much different than their original SNES versions, but things like the spells, portrait art, and music arrangements are leagues beyond what the original hardware could do. Everything about the presentation is stellar, as is the translation. The game also adds an optional rewind mechanic that you can use to get through tougher battles, and more importantly lets you go back to earlier portions of the branching story to see what would have happened if you had made a different story path somewhere (the game has multiple endings). Hands down the best video game remake ever, and for a game worthy of such effort.
Any other entries worth playing?
There’s one other Tactics Ogre game in Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis for the Gameboy Advance. It’s actually a “gaiden” side story and prequel to Let Us Cling Together. It’s not as good (and can move particularly slow) but it’s one of my favorite games for that system. As for the sister series Ogre Battle both the SNES and Ogre Battle 64 are neat games worth checking out.
*That's right, TWO Queen references in one title :hat
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Aaaaaaand we are back to games I've never heard of.
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:lol
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Aaaaaaand we are back to games I've never heard of.
Then I'm doing my job :tup
There's only two or three more niche titles on my list
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Aaaaaaand we are back to games I've never heard of.
:lol yea same here
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11. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky & Trails in the Sky SC
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/251150/header.jpg)
(SC Opening to set the mood): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGmnOxHKbSU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGmnOxHKbSU)
Sometimes it hard to pin point exactly what makes a game deserving of this list. There is no such question with Trails in the Sky (and by extension the other Trails games). Trails is all about narrative and especially worldbuilding, and have massive scripts to to prove it. Trails in the Sky starts out as a relatively conventional Japanese-rpg, albeit an unusually verbose one. If you are the sort of person who skims dialog in games to get back to the gameplay these games are not for you, because the dialog and narrative is the best part about them. If you are willing to be patient and take it all in though, you start to notice just how much detail there is to the world, be it the protagonist's country, it’s relationships with other countries, the technology, even seemingly nondescript npcs have personalities, problems, and moods that will change after story events. There’s just so much texture to world that it comes alive in a way few games do.
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/apps/251290/29f2d4e27f71c0e862ba54cb874e87796b984283.jpg)
And yes I’m sort of cheating by picking two games for this spot, though in this case that feel like a technicality. The fact is Trails in the Sky entered development with the intention of being one game, but the creators eventually realized that the story they wanted to tell would result in a ridiculously long game, so they cut it in two. While the first game actually feels reasonable complete (ending stinger notwithstanding), upon starting the second game it soon becomes apparent that entire first game was ultimately just a first act setup for SC (which stands of Second Chapter). The first game is 40 hours long. The sequel is over twice that. Oh, and Trails in the Sky is just the first arc of an ongoing saga that is over a decade in the making as of right now. Yeah, that’s the scale these games are operating on. And the biggest hook is seeing all of the plot threads being woven into one enormous tapestry. The lead writer was asked after the Japanese release of the lastest game how far they were into the overall story. His reply was 'about halfway.' There’s been seven games in the series so far. It’s easy to roll your eyes at such proclamations like “yeah sure, and George Lucas had all nine episodes of Star Wars mapped out in ’76.” But then you play the games and see there actually are clear plot points being hit in every one, and there does seem to be an endgame the series is moving towards. It is ridiculously ambitious and AWESOME. Only time will tell if they can stick the landing but considering how good they are at calling their shots I can’t imagine they will completely flub it.
The premise of the world of Trails is that until recently people lived in a medieval kingdoms and had knights in armor levels of technology. Then Orbment technology (a fantasy clean energy source) was discovered and unleash a hyper fast technological revolution, and society has gone from medieval kingdoms to approximately early 20th century technology in the span of a single lifetime. As such, while there are some republics, a lot of countries still have powerful monarchies, some constitutional, others more autocratic. Of course, this technology has actually been rediscovered, as there was a technological advance society that spanned the entire continent in the past, but mysteriously vanished seemingly overnight with only a few remnants as record. What happened is one of the central mysteries going on in the background. All these leaps in technology leads to geopolitical volatility, with smaller states having to constantly watch from being squashed by larger powers, as having technological edge tend to be fleeting, or even give aggressors more reason to fear them as much as it protects.
Now that’s a great premise, but what’s really impressive is how coherently individual characters reflect their social conditions. For example, the Erebonian Empire is the big bad militaristic country in the game that historically causes grief for everyone else. But it’s not like they're a bunch of evil dudes: most of the Erebonians you meet a good, decent people. But you can also see how they’re shaped by a culture that put a lot of emphasis on honor, emphasizes strength and masculinity, as well as just the cultural momentum of expansionist policies to juice up their economy, on top of the fact that their society has a lot more rigorous class system then most other countries, you can see how they would tend to be jingoistic assholes to neighbors. And most this is conveyed through little details here and there rather than exposition dumps.
(https://68.media.tumblr.com/e5f684f00aadf3d1aa236dc09659f624/tumblr_inline_nwp4yzkSFa1siwbnr_500.jpg)
And I haven’t even gotten into how grounded the setting feels compared to most ‘jrpgs.’ While it is the type of world where heroes with swords beat nameless guys with guns, it’s also the type of world where leaders worry about rising unemployment numbers, or might freeze foreign assets to destabilize a neighbor’s economy. It’s a type of world where, yes there is a throne room, but it’s mostly for ceremony: the real rule of monarchs is exercised at administration desks, and in heads of state going to economic conferences and signing trade deals. Between that and the generally more reserved fashion sense (Final Fantasy X this ain’t) and you have an rpg that feels very different than your typical Final Fantasies and Tales of games. And when more fantastical elements they seem that much more jarring and otherworldly.
You can’t be a great rpg without a good cast of characters, and Trails in the Sky is no slouch in that department. Most of characters leave a strong impression, especially the protagonist Estelle, who is a bundle of energy and a sass-machine. Over the course of the story she does grow up and mature, but never loses her trademark sharp tongue. And I really like how coherent (yes that’s a word I keep coming back to) characters like Joshua are written, making the (melo)drama feel earned as backgrounds are slowly revealed of the course of the games. The best characters might be the antagonists though. I won’t get into much detail for the sake of leaving things unspoiled, but let’s just say they are built up very well to be dauntingly powerful and menacing, but they are not monolithic: as their multifaceted nature becomes apparent, you must reassess some of your assumptions about them, which hints at some very interesting implications. At this point I’d say they are easily my favorite cast of video game antagonists ever.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tm-u-sR7SDc/maxresdefault.jpg)
As for the gameplay itself, it’s fair standard turn-based stuff with a few twists. Turn order is laid out for you so you can see when enemies and teammates will next get an action, as well as any possible bonuses that occur that turn. You are able to move around the battle screen, so knowing when to bunch up to get buffs and healing on everyone, while spreading your party out to avoid damaging area of effects hitting everyone. It’s one of the few rpg battle systems where it’s more fun to fight larger groups of enemies, because then you have to think more about how one action affects turn order versus another. Battles are honestly a little too slow and too easy in the first game, but they are tweaked for the better in SC, which also gives more options in orbment loadout (think the materia system with more depth as which types of orbments slotted where affects what abilities you have).
It's one thing to have these elements, another to do them as well, but to juggle so many different plot threads and so many kinds of narrative threads (character development, specific plot twists and turns, and a good helping of mystery and intrigue) while also taking place in a world with as much detail and thought behind it as Zemuria? That’s something special. Add in the fact that the stories these games consistently take some unexpected turns and tend to have great endings, and it’s kind of everything I want in this sort of game. And I haven’t even touch on how good some of the music is!
(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/436670/ss_de4d4913d81c7b8ce078710ae1deea3404e83335.600x338.jpg?t=1493829981)
Because of their modest graphical nature and because they have only recently seen a good number of them localized they haven’t gotten a lot of press coverage, but the cult following it does have is pretty ardent. It isn’t for everyone because they do move slow at times (I mean that as a descriptive, not a negative) and there is a certain amount of time investment to really get what it’s going for, but man there are few games with journeys as rewarding as Trails, especially Trails in the Sky SC. These games are easily the most exciting things I have discovered in the past couple years. It might not yet have stone-cold masterpiece to its credit (though Sky SC is knock on the door) like some of the rpgs still to appear higher on this list, but in terms of batting average and just the way the long-form serial nature of the storytelling elevates everything (and the parts are pretty great to begin with!) it could soon become my all-time favorite rpg series. And as someone who's played a good number of them that's really exciting. :tup
Any other entries worth playing?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/LoH_Sen_no_Kiseki_cover.jpg)
If you want to know why I keep referring to these games as Trails even though there’s the whole Legend of Heroes part of the title: basically, Trails is a subseries of an older Falcom rpg series. Watch this for an good overview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRRv4ql8iw) but outside of some mechanical and narrative stylings they have nothing to do with Trails games. Honestly they should have just released Trails as its own thing because a) the long name only deters people from jumping in, and b) The Legend of Heroes is a pretty generic name!
As for the proper Trails games there’s been three arcs so far: Trails in the Sky, the Trails of Zero/Azure duology, and Trails of Cold Steel. There’s was actually a third Trails in the Sky game, but despite the name isn’t a continuation of the first two as much as it is a separate self-contained story, though it does feature much of the same cast and locations as the first two games. It was just released here not that long ago but I’ve been putting it off for the time being. The Zero/Azure games were the second leg and unfortunately due to their native platforms (Azure was only released on PSP) and the fact that they have enormous scripts even by Trails standards they have not been localized yet. But between Falcom’s recent push to make western releases more of a priority, publisher XSEED dappling more in PC ports, and fact that there’s a fan translation project pretty far along, I think there’s a good chance of being able to play them in English someday one way or another. The Cold Steel games are the third and current arc. They have much more modern graphics and while it’s probably best to play the Sky games first, starting with them isn’t a bad option either. Cold Steel 1 in particular is great and has the best explosive cliffhanger of an ending I’ve ever seen in a video game. I have more problems with Cold Steel II, but even that has some really great twists that had me grinning, and I’m chomping at the bit for Cold Steel III whenever that makes it over here. The series has been scattered about on a few systems, but have mostly been or are soon to be consolidated on PC, which is probably the best platform to play them (unless you really want something on the Vita).
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10. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/4340/776455-561378_60049_front.jpg)
Sly Cooper is a series I had an eye on for a long time but never got around to playing, in part because didn’t think I cared much for 3D platformers at the time. Confession: never liked Super Mario 64. It didn’t play at all like the 2D games, and I found its star collection structure dull. I’ve softened on 3D platformers since then, and enjoyed some others to varying degrees, but never to the extent as my favorite 2D ones. Little did I know Sly Cooper, especially the first one, was exactly what I was looking for.
(https://www.gamershell.com/static/screenshots/0/5001/98291_full.jpg)
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is a 3D platformer, but it’s structure and spirit is closer to its’ 2D brethren. Now you are moving around in bigger environments and it’s more open than say the Crash Bandicoot games. There is some exploration and collecting to do, but unlike a lot of other 3D platformers where that’s the main thrust of the game, here it’s fairly minor. Mostly you’re just hopping, skipping, and swinging to get through the level. That might not seem like a big deal, but 3D platformers tend to add more and more elements on top of the platforming, to the point of diluting the platforming. Sly Cooper though is perfectly content to just lean on that joyful sense of movement that makes a good platformer, and even though most of the game is quite easy, I just have a blast with it. Add in some stealth elements for flavor and colorful cartoony graphics and it’s a great package.
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/sly/images/a/a6/Screenshot_sly_cooper_and_the_thievius_raccoonus_35.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130416072153)
Something that caught me off guard however was how much personality the game has. You play as Sly Cooper, a thief descended from a line of Robin Hood-like honorable thieves. Sly and his friends Bentley (the brains) and Murray (the muscle) are on a mission to retrieve his family heirloom the Thievius Raccoonus—the Cooper family’s guide how to become a master thief. That means stealing it back from a gang of crooks, including ringleader Clockwerk, the person who killed Sly parents. And man considering no individual antagonist is on screen that long they leave huge impressions, be it the bulldog Muggshot’s rough and tumble ganster persona, Mz. Ruby’s Lousiana bayou drawl, or Clockwerk’s frankly badass presence, the game is bursting with personality with some wonderfully hammy performances.
I also wasn’t expecting the game to be as funny as it is. While the later games lean into the humor more, there’s still some pretty great stuff in the first one. I specifically remember fall out of my chair from laughing at a pitch perfect deadpan delivery. I wouldn’t expect anyone else to find it quite that funny, but there’s some good lines. Something I particularly appreciate about the Sly games is that it keeps its humor very clean. I like the Banjo and Ratchet games well enough, but I’ve never been a fan of the winking, sneak-in-naughty-stuff-for-the-older-crowd humor. Whereas Sly’s humor tends to solely based in character’s personalities and situations. A seven-year-old can enjoy it, but me having played them as an adult still find it hilarious too. That’s more impressive than using a double entendre here and there.
(https://sethnewman.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/sly-cooper-team.jpg)
Mostly though, the series has a lot of heart, and even though there’s a lot of light-hearted silliness, it’s grounded enough to take emotions of the characters seriously. Even though it might “just” a game with anthropomorphic animal characters, they can get hurt, they can make mistakes, and there can be consequences. And relationships change over time: enemies in one game may become allies in later games, and vis versa. Not bad for “just” another mascot platformer.
Any other entries worth playing?
I love Sly 2 and 3 nearly as much as the first game. They have larger level in which you run around doing missions and collecting thing (so a little more conventional 3D platforming) but are more thematic about scouting the area and pulling off the heist, some of which are pretty elaborate sequences that are a hoot. Sly 2 develops the main cast more (especially Murray) and is actually surprisingly serious at times, and sometimes you must swap out Sly to play as Murray and Bentley who have special abilities. Sly 3 on the other hand leans more into manic cartoon energy with more zany humor, and more fun to play as characters other than Sly. Suckerpunch then handed the series off to Sanzaru Games which made Sly 4. It’s a solid game, and logical expansion of previous games mechanics, though it doesn’t quite have the zest the made the original trilogy so good. And while it's annoying that 4 had to end on a cliffhanger, I'm perfectly fine with the series ending at 4. It was a good run, and I'd rather it leave on a good note. If you have access to a PS3 the Sly Collection is a great package with the original trilogy remastered in HD, which thanks to the cell shaded graphics hold up pretty well.
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as someone who has played the hd remasters of the first two sly games only recently
...i dunno, i found the second game a lot better than the first. the first game feels like it kinda aged poorly though it had its moments but the second game was pretty great the whole way through
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That's not an uncommon opinion although there certainly is a contingent of us Sly fans that like the first one the best. I'm a little odd in that I like 3 more than 2 also, but they're all great in their own way.
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Something tells me you like RPGs :P
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Something tells me you like RPGs :P
They're alright ;)
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9. Rock Band 2
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Rock_Band_2_Game_Cover.JPG)
The period when Rock Band 2 was released and the time following it was the height of music rhythm games. Guitar Hero was becoming a progressively bigger deal, while Harmonix themselves moved on from the ip to create Rock Band, which expanded the number of plastic instruments, including vocals, making it more of a group karaoke experience instead of just a score challenge game. But it was Rock Band 2 is when the series really refined itself and left Guitar Hero in the dust. Its biggest credit is the tracklist: the best that’s ever been in this kind of game. It has a great cross section of different rock eras, with a great difficulty curve and nearly all of the songs are really fun to play. That might seems obvious but not every song translates to plastic instruments so well. The game also had great representation of 90s grunge/alternative and metal representation with some of my favorite band like Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Mastodon, Megadeth, and yes Dream Theater! I say this was the height of Rock Band’s arc because the dlc schedule was never better. Five or six tracks would typically be released every week, sometimes as much as eight or nine. And once in a while we’d get a whole album, like Judas Priest’ Screaming for Vengence or Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Whole albums are kind of overkill but it was a super cool gift if you happen to love an album. Combined with the fact you could import most of the songs from the first game into RB2 and you had an impressive package. More than anything, while Rock Band is a fun video, it a lot of ways it was better than that: it was a way of experiencing music. I loved discovering new artist via Rock Band, or gaining a better appreciation of well-known bands I hadn't cared for.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Rock_band_2_screen.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Depends on what you're looking for. It's sequels have been good but flawed. Rock Band 3 in some ways the biggest and best entry, but I think it suffered from feature creep, and the fact that song selection had to account for me instruments and features resulted in more songs not being fun on a number of instruments, and just didn’t line up with me musical tastes as much. Plus the PS3 version at least was buggy and would crash enough to sour me some. Rock Band 4 actually has a really fun tracklist, but it’s heavy on recent music and didn’t have much sexy headliner songs. Plus it was obviously made on a much smaller budget, and while it’s been fleshed out a good bit since, was released in barebones state. Dlc has also slowed to a trickle, which doesn’t bode well for how much longer the game will be supported, which bums me out.
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8. Resident Evil 4
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d9/Resi4-gc-cover.jpg)
Resident Evil was a franchise that I respected but was never into during the Playstation era. Upon seeing RE4 in action though I knew I had to give this one a shot. Maybe the greatest franchise reinvention ever, RE4 famously moved away from the tank control gameplay the series was known for to a more third person action oriented approach. The over the should camera view when shooting was such a smart idea, and has been copied by many third person games since. It wasn’t complete action though, because you had to be standing still to shoot, it still felt like a RE game at its heart. That might not make a whole lot sense but everything about the game is carefully designed around that fact, so it never seems unfair. It lasts a bit too long, but overall the game is a tour de force of interesting level and scenario design. It has become a bit of a joke the number of times Capcom has rerelease the game at this point, but there’s no denying its status as a true classic.
(https://pm1.narvii.com/6393/88fe86b55ddd210599b5945da39ee14979f54335_hq.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
The remake of the original Resident Evil is maybe the best example of classic survival-horror. Resident Evil 5, while not as good as 4, is a decent action game, especially co-op.
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Fuck yes RE4 :2metal:
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I played RE0 on Gamecube(?) and got my ass handed to me. I couldn't do a damn thing in that game. I liked enough to try for a while, but eventually gave up. Soured my taste on the franchise so never played another RE game until I picked up RE4 on a whim (and on sale). Loved it. Wouldn't rank it high on my all-time list, but it's a fun game.
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Rock Band 2 was probably the best of the rock band games but I dunno I always preferred the guitar hero games
Better engine, usually better setlist too (GH5 can screw off though, wasted maybe the best presentation in the entire series on a garbage setlist with like 10 songs worth playing)
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I played a ton of Rock band. The game was a blast in my college years.
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I played a ton of Rock band. The game was a blast in my college years.
Yeah that was a prime college game for me too.
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7. Valkyrie Profile
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3a/Vpbox.jpg/250px-Vpbox.jpg)
Valkyrie Profile is a classic rpg that like a fair number that didn’t have Mario or Final Fantasy in the title, did not have the highest profile when released, but word of its quality spread in the years afterward and is a highly sought title by physical collectors. VP has one of the more interesting premises you’ll find in an rpg. VP setting is a take on Norse mythology, and Ragnarok is about to begin. You play as Lenneth, a battle maiden Valkyrie that has been recently awoken. You have been tasked to search the human realm of Midgard for souls worthy of being selected as Einharjar, warriors privileged to join the fight on behalf of the Aesirians when the battle of the gods take place. The majority of the story is told in little vignettes about the circumstances that led to the death of these soldiers you recruit (yeah not the happiest game). The rest of your time is spent going through dungeons to strengthen your Einharjar by finding equipment for them and leveling them up. Not only are they gaining typical generally levels and unlocking new abilities, with experience you can boost individual personality traits like bravery or selflessness, and try to minimize bad personality traits like short-tempered or pettiness. There’s a lot of menus to sift through but there a satisfying crunchiness to it all. You are doing these things because the game is broken into segments, and by the end of each period will have wanted some Einharjar sent to Valhalla. Send quality recruits and you are rewarded, disregard these quotas and Odin will be displeased, to the point of ending the game if you are negligent enough. Because you are getting new recruits throughout the game, as well as shedding some, the game has a very unique cadence compared to most rpgs.
(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/ulus-10107-game-ss-5?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
As the second tri-Ace game on this list, it kind of goes without saying that VP has a pretty unique battle system. In your four-character party everyone is assigned to one face button. Depending on the weapon equipped, characters will have up to three attacks per turn (you can assign which attacks and what order beforehand). While your side and the enemies do take turns attacking in shifts, when it your turn you can use your pool of attacks in any order. Because the attacks have different properties, your often experimenting with timing to find the best combos, because if you inflict a bunch of damage rapidly a meter will fill up. Get the gauge to 100 will allow you to do a special over the top attack for big damage. Also encouraging this is the fact that overkilling enemies will give you significant bonus items or extra xp. That last bit can make battles a bit repetitive depending on how much you go after those boneses, but the core idea of these real-time inputs inside of what is ostensibly a turn-based battle system never gets old.
(https://justrpg.com/wp-content/gallery/valkyrie-profile-lenneth-overview/valkyrie-profile-lenneth-gameplay8.jpg)
Besides the cool battle system and stat crunching though, VP is just a really cool game for its presentation and atmosphere. There’s something about the anime take on Norse mythology that lends itself to a really cool aesthetic. This isn’t a game with silly anime hijinks though; because you play as a Valkyrie recruiting the souls of the dead it’s pretty somber and or even morose in tone. I love the 2D art, and the music really helps set the tone too. Beyond that, it’s just such a weird and interesting game. In a genre full of tired conventions VP has a ton of interesting ideas not many games have explored before or since. The worst about it is the fact that getting the best ending, while hinted at in some thematic ways, is beyond opaque and virtually impossible to trigger without a guide.
Thanks to a low-print run, copies of the original PlayStation release are hard to come by, but PSP port with new CGI cutscenes has made it somewhat easier to find. I do wish Square would put it up for digital release though, more people need to play this.
Any other entries worth playing?
Turns out setting a game about the end of the world is hard to make a sequel out of! VP has had two sequels (technically prequels) however. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a prequel to the first game and features Silmeria, another Valkyrie and sister to Lenneth. It isn’t as compelling for a story standpoint but takes the battle system of the first game and fleshes it out into 3D: it’s pretty complex but pretty interesting. Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume is a tactical strategy-rpg on the Nintendo DS. It isn’t great (turns out wildly fluctuating difficulty doesn't lend itself to fun!) and the plot itself isn’t anything special but man to I love returning to that universe. It’s just a really cool setting, and Lenneth is just a cool character.
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6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/The_Legend_of_Zelda_Ocarina_of_Time_box_art.png)
Ocarina of Time was the first Zelda game I played and oh man did it spark a love affair with the series. I did not get many video games as gifts as a kid, but Ocarina was one of the few exceptions, probably due to a superlative-filled Time magazine review. :lol I hadn’t had a N64 that long and the only game device I owned before that was my Gameboy, so playing headliner single-player experiences right when they were current was new to me. And my god was it a showpiece. The graphics were so lush for its time, the soundtrack was amazing (including the brilliant way it’s woven into the gameplay), and the atmosphere is just so evocative it was mesmerizing. I won’t go into detail about how it plays (I’m sure most of you are familiar) but solving puzzles was super satisfying and its status as a masterpiece is well earned. Even though in hindsight I should have gotten a PlayStation instead of an N64 due to how my tastes were developing, there was no deny that Ocarina was a sight to behold.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/OcarinaOfTimeBattle.JPG)
I would like to highlight some particular things that stand out to me about Ocarina. The first is the worldbuilding. Much more than any previous Nintendo game I had play, Ocarina feels like it takes place in a world that has history, that existed before you start a new game file. Between the woodlands inhabited by the Kokiri, to the tribal Gorons, to the all-female desert dwelling Gerudos, the world just comes alive and feel much more than some obstacles in a video game. Instead these different peoples have inhabited these lands for many generations, and have their own cultures. It takes the world seriously. Which also plays into how grounded the game feels. Compared to your Mario and Kirby games, these weren’t cartoon characters. Link’s abilities were pretty tame, he didn’t have unrealistically large jumps, he’s just a guy with a sword and shield. Even down to the color palette the game has: while colorful, employs more muted browns and shades of green than the usual bright primary colors associated with Nintendo, giving it a more realistic and grounded feel, even if it is a fantasy setting.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLefeSM8-ek/hqdefault.jpg)
It’s also fairly dark in tone. Not completely of course, this is a Nintendo game after all, but things like the zombie-like Redeads are genuinely kind of scary. You visit bloodstained rooms of what were once torture chambers. Bits of what looks like blood spark off enemies when you hit them, and Ganondorf pukes blood in the final showdown (red blood at that in the first versions thank you very much!). Seeing Hyrule in ruins is upsetting and genuinely bleak. It really felt like something a little different, with an aim at a somewhat older audience than the Marios I had played as a kid. As good as Mario could be, he just can’t be cool the way Final Fantasy VII was cool. Ocarina of Time however totally was to 12-year-old me.
(https://app.resrc.it/https://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/reviews/n64/zeldaot_1.jpg)
All of that really supported how emotionally involved I got with the story. That does sound weird because Nintendo is not exactly well known for complex writing, and while it is true that Ocarina has a simple plot, I was still very emotionally invested in the journey. The way relationships with people in Link’s childhood has payoff in the future world is really clever, and man is that somewhat bittersweet ending just perfect. Add in a cool villain like Ganondorf and all of the smartly designed dungeons, it just very fulfilling adventure. It is unsurprisingly that the series has lived under its shadow for so long since.
Any other entries worth playing?
It was very hard to decide between Ocarina and Link’s Awakening. I ended up giving the nod to Ocarina for nostalgia and just the fact it’s hard to overstate how much that game rocked my world when I first played it. But Link’s Awakening is probably the Zelda title I’m more likely to replay nowadays, and it might be the best distillation of the series in my opinion. It’s got great sprite art, GREAT dungeon designs, and maybe the most poignant story in the entire series, which for a game that debuted on the fricken Gameboy that’s really impressive. I also love the Oracle duology, which is based on Link’s Awakening engine. Oracle of Seasons I especially dig thanks to its season-changing gimmick which really opens up overworld exploration, and because it just looks really colorful for a Gameboy Color title.
My interest in the series has declined over the years unfortunately, in part because I burned-out on the familiar item-driven puzzle solving formula, and in part because it became more and more clear over time that Nintendo really doesn’t care about story or continuity as much I originally did. That sounds obvious now but there is a reason the Zelda timeline has generated a lot more interest and speculation than the Mario timeline: it did matter, to certain games at least. But Nintendo has always been pretty hand-wavy about that stuff, especially as more and more entries have been produced. The series did finally turned the corner with Breath of the Wild, which is the reinvention that the series has long needed. I’m not enraptured by it, and it definitely has more flaws than the perfect scores would lead you to believe (especially in the story department), but the positives outweigh the negatives.
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I've never played the Valkyrie Profile games but I did back a game using a very similar combat mechanism a while back - dunno if you've ever heard about it, it's called Indivisible: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/indivisible-rpg-from-the-creators-of-skullgirls#/
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I've never played the Valkyrie Profile games but I did back a game using a very similar combat mechanism a while back - dunno if you've ever heard about it, it's called Indivisible: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/indivisible-rpg-from-the-creators-of-skullgirls#/
I have heard of it, and yes it's interesting how much they are taking from Valkyrie Profile.
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5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/elderscrolls/images/c/c5/Skyrim_Cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20160812173034)
You might have noticed there haven’t been a lot of open world games on this list. I was never super interested in them when GTA III showed up. Yeah they were fun to screw around in for a short time, but that didn’t last all that long for me, and putting up with the mediocre individual elements seemed too big of a sacrifice for the scale. I’ve occasionally tried to get into others since then (including Oblivion) but with the exception of Assassin’s Creed II they never seemed to stick. I was intrigued by Skyrim's first phenomenal trailer though and hoped against hope that this could be the first really open sandbox game I could get into. And by god, Skyrim is one of the few games to have a massive amount of hype behind it, and still have my expectations blown away. There was a reason this game seemed to take over the internet for the better part of a year after it came out.
The best thing about Skyrim is the titular land itself. Unlike the fairly generic setting in Oblivion, Skyrim is all about invoking a Scandinavian feel. Maybe it’s because I have some Swedish heritage, but I’m totally into that, and that twists breathes fresh air into a fantasy setting. Never have I been as immersed in a video game environment the way I am in Skyrim. You’re never too far from an interesting landmark or quest point, but there’s enough room in-between them that it doesn’t feel overly videogame-y. There’s a good amount of space just for the effect of feeling like an actual place. And what an interesting land it is. The advantage of being part of a big series like the Elder Scrolls is that it’s content limit itself in types of environments--there’s no need to throw in a desert area and volcanic area like in a lot of video games. While there's still is plenty of variety within Skyrim, it is content to just be a cold climate setting. That doesn’t mean that all of it is covered in snow, but a good chunk of it is. I love that. Again, it makes the setting feel more real. And then there’s just the fact how pretty Skyrim looks. I would often stop just to take in the great weather effects or a view from mountain top while listening to Jeremy Soule’s wonderful score.
(https://images.g2a.com/images/1024x768/1x1x0/d76ab8e4138b/590dd765ae653a04045d02d8)
Another advantage of the scale is all of the history in the background, as well as all of the established lore taken from the previous games. Every place has a history and story to tell, from the old grimy city of Windhelm, to Solitude and its history of troubled rulers, to the corrupted Markarth, even the ugly sides of Skyrim make me love it in some way. It's all about personality.
And then there’s the gameplay itself. The hook of sandbox games of course is the freedom go anywhere you want and do whatever you want. There’s a lot of quests to do and places to explore, and while the writing isn’t outstanding, it tends to be good enough to want to keep doing them, learning about the inhabitants of Skyrim. And occasionally there’s a more involved one that really stands out (like the Daedric quests). While nobody is going to give any awards for Skyrim’s combat, it improved enough from Oblivion that it was no longer a hindrance. Some might gripe how overpowered you quickly become or how there’s little actually role-playing going on for a western rpg, but those are nonfactors to me. The most important character isn’t my avatar but the land of Skyrim itself, and I’ll always have affection for her.
(https://www.mmoga.com/images/screenshots/_p/1022358/4c60f696ad777221d9bd9b64a258a3e6_the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-legendary-edition.jpg)
Any other entries worth playing?
Morrowind is still the crown jewel for some Elder Scrolls fans, and Oblivion has its supporters. You'll probably will need a battery of mods to make them playable in 2017 though.
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4. Final Fantasy VI
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Final_Fantasy_VI.jpg)
Final Fantasy VI is the kind of masterpiece that only appears when a highly skilled group of creative people are firing on all cylinders. It is neither the first or last classic rpg to the series’ credit. But even among giants Final Fantasy VI stands out for just how timeless and pitch perfect everything is. From the opening credits’ incredibly cinematic visuals, the game carries itself with such confidence: it knows what it’s doing, and it’s pretty sure you’re going to enjoy the ride. And it is a great ride. It actually starts with fairly standard plot points (evil empire, rebels, amnesiac protagonist) but tells its story with such plum that you don’t even notice how familiar some of it is. This is partly due to how strong the characters are. Final Fantasy VI is a bit unconventional in that instead of having a clear protagonist the story revolves around, it takes an ensemble approach giving many characters close of equal screen time. While Terra is technically the main protagonist as her story mostly closely ties with the overall plot, you get to know characters like Edgar, Sabin, Celes, and Locke just as much. And considering how big your party gets, the fact that most of them get significant character development is pretty impressive. If I made a top 10 Final Fantasy characters I’m sure it would be dominated by representatives of VI. Not to mention Kefka who leaves quite an impression. Nihilist villains aren’t anything new, especially in Japanese rpgs, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better embodiment than the clown. Kefka actually starts out as almost a likeable goofball, but gets, uh, pretty real as the game goes on.
(https://images.eurogamer.net/2014/usgamer/ffvi-spot1.gif)
Final Fantasy has always leaned on having strong presentation, and VI is certainly no exception. Released relatively late in the SNES lifecycle, few games look as handsome as FFVI, and of those you will not find one with a better soundtrack. How Uematsu-san was able to coax such grand and orchestral sounding melodies out that SNES sound chip is still a marvel.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/WikibattleFF6.PNG)
The one knock against it might be the battle system, which is a little bland, even in a series that generally aren’t that involved. The character specific abilities are cool, but a lot of them aren’t particularly useful during the later stages of the game. Trying to maximize esper level up bonuses is more busywork than it’s worth too. It’s still solid, but it gets a little too repetitive at point.
Still, it all comes back to those characters, the story, and the wonderful presentation. In a series full of gems VI still reigns as the crown jewel.
Any other entries worth playing?
Final Fantasy and the next entry is the main reasons I went with a “one entry per series” rule. There would have been too many games to cover because FF was a huge series for me. But here a truncated rundown of the other great FFs imo:
Final Fantasy VII- the other BIG one. Yes, it was the first rpg I was exposed to (well, the first one I ever payed attention to anyway). Everything from the character design to the world to the flashy battles was just mesmerizing when it came out. In my little world games were just fun things to play with, but Final Fantasy VII said that they could be so much more: they could be emotional journeys with substantive themes, and have music on par with film scores. Yes it does get a lot of love simply because it was a lot of people’s introduction to the rpg world, and yes it hasn’t aged well in some respects, but still think there’s are few games with the fearlessness and moxie VII has.
Final Fantasy IX- A wonderfully warm-hearted culmination of the PS1 era for Square. Great art design, a great world to visit, some rather funny and charming characters, and the best collection of side quests and minigames in the series. If the plot was less derivative of previous games (it began as a tribute game to the series but was eventually converted to a main entry) and had more of the cast gotten more character development it would probably be my favorite.
Final Fantasy VIII- A divisive game in the series, and not without reason. The plot is pretty nonsensical at points, most of the characters are flat, the translation isn’t great, and the experimental approach to rpg conventions, while well intentioned, don’t work out great a lot of the time. Nonetheless, it’s still a lot of fun just for the spectacle, with a lot of fun scenarios, a neat techno-fantasy world, the summons were never cooler, and it has the best soundtrack in the series, and for a series that has a legacy of consistently great music that’s saying something.
Final Fantasy V- Often overlooked because it wasn’t initially released to western audiences during the SNES era, it still has probably the best battle system in the series due to how flexible its job system is. No it isn’t as serious or narrative driven as its SNES brothers, but it actually still a pretty epic romp for the era across multiple worlds. Underrated soundtrack too.
Basically anything released in the 90s is worth playing (yes I’m lumping IX in with them), and I even like the NES games too (especially III).
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1. Ocarina- probably my favorite zelda, although Breath of the wild is pretty incredible and is giving it quite a run for its money.
2. Skyrim- played the shit out of it, but it definitely my least favorite of the modern day elder scrolls. My heart belongs to Morrowind. The beautiful music, the bizarre and eccentric landscapes, huge dialogue trees and options. The list goes on. Personally, I don't even enjoy skyrim all the much and I think it mostly comes down to the setting. I am not really down with the desolate tundra of the North. I like to see lush forests and flowers and giant mushrooms and stuff. The core mechanics are very streamlined, which is nice. but the over streamlining of the game itself leaves a lot to be desired from someone who obsessed over morrowind. Now all that being said, I am going to rebuy it for the switch, because the switch barely has any god damn games and I love the conveniance factor of being able to play skyrim where ever I want.
rant over
3. Final fantasy VI :hefdaddy This is so damn close to being my favorite FF, but VII just barely beats it out. I absolutely adore this game. It is just fantastic
VII is my favorite game ever made
VIII is a game I theroughly enjoyed and pretty much love. Goes way off the rails like disk 3 and onward, but what evs I guess.
IX- just too different than VII and VIII and I just couldn't get into it. I played it up until disk 3 but honestly didn't enjoy it and stopped.
XV- I had a blast playing it
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Skyrim was one of the two games that really got me back into gaming. My little brother called me up one day and told me I need to come over and check this game out so I it looked amazing. I ran home, ordered the game and ordered a video card so I could run it. What a journey that game was.
I've heard so many good things about FFVI. I haven't played any of the FF games but I did see that they have FFVI on iOS so I may have buy it.
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I've heard so many good things about FFVI. I haven't played any of the FF games but I did see that they have FFVI on iOS so I may have buy it.
(https://m.popkey.co/3fc93c/Ve9Y3.gif)
That... uh... verison is pretty notorious for badly redone sprite art. I'd recommend against supporting that nonsense. FF VI doesn't really have a clear definitive version but the original SNES version holds up pretty well.
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Re: Ocarina. This is on the short list of "Mind = Blown" experiences I have had with video games. I've played every Zelda game except Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and BotW, and for a long time OoT was #1 on my Zelda list, based on that initial playthrough I found so memorable for all the reasons you described. I played in again through the Master Quest, and while I enjoyed that, the dropoff from first to second playthrough was significant. So much so it isn't even my favorite Zelda game anymore. Still, a top-notch release at the time
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Ocarina was my #1 with a bullet for a long time, but it's slipped a bit since my love for the series has faded. And it's just a game I may have played more times like I should have, like watching a favorite movie too many times.
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We're getting down there! These top three are my god-tier games and all have jostled as being number one at times.
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/121418-metal-gear-solid-the-essential-collection-playstation-other.png)
I wasn’t excited when I first heard early details about MGS3. A prequel? Set in the 60s? Why? Isn’t half of the appeal of Metal Gear the crazy future military tech stuff? I didn’t see the point. Turns out I was completely wrong because not only does dialing back the tech stuff end up benefitting the game, it ended up being my favorite Metal Gear game by a good margin.
Metal Gear is of course a popular series of stealth-action games that made Hideo Kojima a household name. Sneaking around and taking care of enemies unseen always appealed to me more than the more "common fight everyone you see" approach, and Metal Gear tends to give you a lot of different tools to mess around with, as well as a good variety of difficulty options to choose how punishing you want getting caught to be. The first two games appeared on the MSX2 computer system (a modified port of the first later came to the NES), but it was the cinematic restart on the PlayStation with Metal Gear Solid that really propelled the series into the spotlight.
(https://metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Naked-Snake-Metal-Gear-Solid-3-Mountains.jpg)
MGS3 in particular takes place in Russia in the early 1960s and centers on the original Snake who would become Big Boss. While he was a straightforward villain in the previous games he appeared, in Snake Eater he is portrayed in a much more sympathetic light. It’s a pretty big retcon, but it’s worth it because not only does it paint the rest of the series in a different light, Big Boss himself turns out to be a more interesting character than the Solid Snake most of the rest of the series stars. How he could have become the villainous Big Boss people knew from the lore adds a good help of intrigue to the story, and the answer muddies previous assumptions about the larger lore. And while it still has that Metal Gear wackiness of bizarre comic book characters mixed in with serious military intrigue plots, Snake Eater has a much cleaner emotional through line and plot than most MGS games (2 in particular was kind of all over the place), which gives it more emotional punch at when it’s at its best.
(https://nigmabox.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/metal-gear-solid-3-hd-vita-image-2.jpg)
One of the biggest change it brings to the series is an emphasis on larger wilderness areas. While previous games mostly kept to buildings and corridors, in Snake Eater there were many more large wilderness environments. There was also a stamina meter to manage which you had replenish by eating things, including, as the subtitle implies, the local wildlife. There was also camouflage to manage and switch depending on your surroundings. There was also first aid management to take care of wounds. It’s a lot more micro management stuff, and while not everyone enjoyed it I thought they were all good editions, even if being able to pause mid firefight to clean and bandage a bullet wound is kinda silly. But perhaps the biggest thing is the third-person camera that was added in the Subsistence update and every rerelease the game has had since. It makes the whole thing feel much different than the top down view you often had in the previous games. Frankly I can’t imagine playing Snake Eater without it.
(https://joshrobbinsblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/mg-the-boss.jpg)
If there’s one thing the game does well though it’s the boss fights. Metal Gear has a history of making memorable bosses, but MGS3 is the high water mark in terms of variety and cleverly designed fights. It has easily the best collection of boss fights in any game I've played, with The End and The Boss both would appear on my personal Best of All-Time short list. The battle against The End is a sniper shootout, in which you must outwit the enemy by using all sorts of means to track and sneak up on your opponent. As for the climatic fight against The Boss, let’s just say it feels like a culmination of all of the previous fights you’ve been through, and thematically it carries a lot of weight.
(https://cdn2us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/article_width/public/mgs3-001.jpg?itok=kVQ84RUX)
I haven’t mentioned the set pieces yet beyond the boss fight, but there’s a few really riveting sequences too. At times it feels like playing one of the best action movies ever. Add in the aforementioned great boss fights, a great soundtrack, and a really good story, and you have one of the greats.
Any other entries worth playing?
Like I said earlier, this and Final Fantasy are the main reasons for the one entry per series rule. Metal Gear games probably rank number 1 for me in terms of being consistently entertaining and satisfying. Even the weaker ones (like Portable Ops) are still pretty good, and the best (Snake Eater) are masterpieces or close to. Still, MGS 1-4 are the core of the series, although Peace Walker is also really good. I haven’t played MGS V yet because: a) the mix reception and negative cloud around its circumstances bummed me out, and b) 4 wrapped the MGS storyline well enough I don’t feel a need for more.
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Snake eater is really fantastic. The sniper fight with The End is probably my favorite boss experience in all of videogames. MGS part 1 will always be my favorite, but snake eater is pretty damn good in its own right.
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I've heard so many good things about FFVI. I haven't played any of the FF games but I did see that they have FFVI on iOS so I may have buy it.
(https://m.popkey.co/3fc93c/Ve9Y3.gif)
That... uh... verison is pretty notorious for badly redone sprite art. I'd recommend against supporting that nonsense. FF VI doesn't really have a clear definitive version but the original SNES version holds up pretty well.
That sucks to hear, I'd love to play it during my breaks at work. I'll have to set up an emulator for it then.
I've only played metal gear 1 and 4 but I've heard such good things about 3 that I want to go back and play it
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I love any FF talk, and you're right, FFVI is probably the best entry. Also, you say the '90s were the best, I'm really a fan of all the different eras of FFs. The NES era has two great entries along maybe the worst in the franchise (II), the SNES era may be the strongest (although I was not a HUGE fan of IV), and PS1 era is VERY strong, obviously. But you left out some of my favorite entries with the more recent games: X is very cool and has a different battle system that I enjoy (reminds me of Mega Man X Command Mission - not sure which came first); XII I haven't played a lot of, but I look forward to checking out the HD Remaster next week; XIII is very divisive, but easily my favorite entry in the series... the battles are so fast-paced, and the characters were so cool (except maybe Hope haha); XIV was a cool MMO (my first one) that I thought if it wasn't for the monthly payments, I'd have play so much longer than I did; and XV brought me what I wanted from XIV, the feel of an MMO, but with a single player campaign... it has climbed up the charts and is easily top 5 FF in my book.
and obviously I must rank them now (minus XI and XII)
XIII
VI
V
XV
VIII
XIV
IX
I
X
III
VII
IV
II
Loving the list! Zelda is another series I could go on about, but I won't for now haha.
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^ My other FF takes
FF II- I actually like it. Yes the leveling mechanics are bad, although in the later remakes they are tweaked enough to be somewhat less annoying. I like it because it's weirdly dark and heavy for a FF game, and impressively atmospheric for a NES game
FF IV- I've given it many tries but it hasn't aged well in my opinion. The story is awfully cliche nowadays and it's overly linear in structure and character progression.
FF X- Can't stand most of the characters, dumb story and world building, most of the soundtrack was weak by FF standards, suffocatingly linear and most of the sidequests are terrible. It has its fans but I thought it was a massive drop from the PS1 games.
FF XII- Well intentioned correction from X but story is awfully dry and terribly paced. Kind of split on the gameplay being so automated. Decent game but feels like a missed opportunity.
XIII- Very flawed but I do like the battle system for the most part
XIV sounds pretty cool but I have a hard time imagining being will to commit to a subsciption mmo. Haven't had a desire to try XV. The action-rpg original pitch never interested me much and it just looks messy in a way I'm tired of seeing in the series.
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Time for the feels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk10HftxJm8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk10HftxJm8)
2. Persona 4 Golden
(https://blazekick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/P4G.jpg)
Persona is a series I was aware of for a while but never felt the urge to check out. Despite hearing lots of praise for Persona 3 and 4 (like “best jrpg of all time” praise), it never seemed particularly interesting. It’s like a dating sim or something? The high school setting sounds boring, and there’s like occult stuff or something? Didn’t seem my style. Obviously, I eventually gave them a shot—and I was bowled over, all of the things I was worried about turned out to be strengths, and I had never played anything like it. It was GREAT.
(https://cdn3.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Persona-4-Golden-2.jpg)
The setup of Persona 4 is that you play as a silent protagonist whose parents have gone overseas for a year. In their absence you have been sent to live with an uncle and his young daughter in the rural town of Inaba, Japan (and yes, the Persona games are very specifically about being set in modern Japan). Mostly the stranger in a new place premise is there to explain why your starting with a blank slate with everyone. About the same time as the game begins you begin to visit Igor in the dream world-like Velvet Room (one of the few things that tie all of the Persona games together), as well as a series of strange murders start to occur in the sleepy town. On top of that, there’s also rumor going around the school about a strange tv channel that appears on rainy nights. You soon find out not only is there some truth to the urban myth, but it seems connected to the murders somehow. It’s up to you and your growing circle of friends to figure how all of these things are connected and apprehend the culprit.
(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/psv-game-6188-ss5?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
Doing so will involve awakening to your Persona powers. Personas are the funky looking companions characters summon from their inner psyche and are the main means of dealing with the fantastical enemies you face. Persona has always been rooted in Jungian psychological concepts, hence the name, but Persona 4 takes it one step further with it theme of facing oneself. Over the course of the game you’ll enter alternate realities in the TV world that reflect people’s subconscious, and come across a character’s Shadow, the often less nice sides of their personality they keep hidden, even from themselves. There’s a lot of themes of being honest with oneself and being true to oneself in the face of social pressure. If that sounds like an after-school special, well…yeah it sort is, but it’s very relatable and stirs up a lot of empathy for these characters. It’s very real and tangible in ways rpgs rarely are, because everyone has those sorts of inner conflicts, maybe especially during high school years. I also how sexual these sections have. Yes, there are episodes that touch on LGBT stuff explicitly, but even the ones that aren’t directly about sex still have sexual undercurrents. Which makes thematic sense considering what a Shadow is. The way the game conveys these characters that sexual beings but not yet comfortable about is really nuanced and respectful in ways you just don’t see in other video games, or even in other visual media much really.
Pretty much all the characters you meet are likeable, and even characters like Teddie, who could easily have been just obnoxious if handled incorrectly, I ended up being very charmed with by the end of the game. And even the less interesting party members still play off the group dynamics well. You really feel like a close circle of friends by the end, in part because the game is so long the evolution feels natural. The good writing is only enhanced by the strong localization, which is strong enough to merit a shout out for how sharp and on point it is. It’s also helped by the excellent voice acting the game has, which has to be one of the strong ensembles I’ve experienced in gaming. They really sell both the heavier stuff and the more humorous moments well.
(https://cdn1-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/gallery/funny-persona-4-moments/persona4moment6.jpg)
Roughly half of the time in Persona 4 you’ll be spending in mostly randomly generated dungeons, fighting a lot of monsters and climbing your way to the top floor. Persona shares a similar battle system to the Shin Megami Tensei series in that if you hit an enemy weakness you can knock it down and you’ll get extra turn to do more damage. Knock all of the enemies down and the party can do a big All-Out attack, which will finish off weaker enemies. It’s a solid system, but is less remarkable than what your doing outside of dungeon areas. The second and more unique half part of the game is the social sim part. Basically you will go to school and do normal things after school, like hang out with a friend, practice with a sports club, or do a part time job, or whatever you want to focus on. That not might sound terribly interesting, but in way doing mundane life stuff like studying for a test is weirdly compelling just because you don’t do stuff like this in most games. Social Links are essentially your relationships with other characters you literally level up by spending time with, and are the hallmark of the modern persona games. Every social link has a story to tell and making certain dialogue choices will determine how quickly your social link progresses. They aren’t all hits but they add a lot of personality to a game that is already stuffed with personality.
(https://psmedia.playstation.com/is/image/psmedia/p4g_screens_sociallinksandstatusupgrades_05?$MediaCarousel_LargeImage$)
The way it’s presented in little tidbits makes you want to keeping going a do a little bit more. The other reason it’s compelling is that this stuff actually has benefits to the rpg side, liking boosting a persona’s strength or extra follow-up attacks. The way it’s all enmeshed create a very satisfying gameplay loop, and whenever you’re feeling tired of the rpg or social stuff, you can go do the other. There is also a time management aspect to all of this, so you are often trying to figure out what’s the best course of action that will get you the max benefits. Study to level up your academic skills for an upcoming test? Work a job for some money and social stat benefits? Concentrate spending time with one friend, or spread out time with different social links? There are optimal runs in choosing what when, but you should worry about it too much in your first playthrough, since anything you do will benefit you anyway, it’s just a matter of what and who you want to prioritize.
(https://blog.rpgmakerweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/gameplay03.jpg)
Another asset Persona 4 has is just how stylish the presentation is. Though you can tell Atlus wasn’t working with the biggest budget (the character models are pretty low poly for a late PS2 game) the game makes up for it with strong art direction, be it the large character portraits which actually conveys characters emotions, the strong character designs themselves, how weird some of the enemy designs are, or just the strong use of yellow in the menus as a visual motif. It’s just full of confidence in its vision. And you can’t talk about Persona without mentioning how much presence the music lends. I know I say this about pretty much all the games higher on this list, but Shogi Meguro’s soundtrack is really exceptional here, and adds an immeasurable amount to the game’s contemporary feel. Instead of the sweeping orchestral stuff games like Final Fantasy strive for, Persona 4 has a mix of rock and pop soundscape with a unique emphasis on tracks with vocals. Most of the vocal tracks have English (re: Engrish) lyrics, and while they aren’t good objectively speaking, but I still love it unironically. It’s just part of the game’s charm. And don’t sleep on the more straight ahead rocking battle themes, some of which are pretty killer. The best thing might be how cohesive everything is. I love it when composers take a melody and rearrange and repurpose it to add new meaning, and Meguro might be as good at that as any composer I’ve listened to. Especially in Persona 4 where certain melodies might be used in as many as half dozen tracks, each appearance better than the last. By the time the game crescendos it’s blissful. That track I posted at the beginning? It’s nice track when you first hear it at the beginning of the game, but by the end it has a lot more meaningful connotations. It’s warm and wistful qualities are pitch perfect and brings up plenty of memories.
(https://www.nerd-age.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Picture2.jpg)
What Persona 4 comes down to though is all of the little details it has, be it the specifically Japanese things it touches on or just the more general slice of life. Golden Week? Time for Children’s Day presents! Weather getting cold? Time to bring out the kotatsu! Let’s all get motorcycle licenses so we can go to the beach on our mopeds before the end of summer break! But there’s also stuff like how you slow start to realize at the early hours of the game that your uncle has a pretty dysfunctional family situation. The plot is interesting enough, but it’s the little moments in between the story beats that really makes the world come alive. And as someone who’s spent most of my life in rural areas, I appreciate the small town setting. It’s a little idyllic, but it does feel small and it IS boring, but by the end of the game you appreciate it for that like most of the inhabitants do.
(https://suou.net/media/uploads/p4g-junes.jpg)
Not only is Persona 4 a thematically resonant game, but it’s a uniquely warm game, unabashedly so, to the point it’s sometimes portrayed as the light Scooby-Doo entry in the series. That is most certainly NOT true as it touches on some substantive and real stuff, but it is true that the game aims to warm the hearts of players, and for a game whose plot revolves around a murder mystery has a lot of cheery and feel-good vibes for significant stretches of the game. That just makes the game that much more unique and special. There’s more than one reason why the enhanced Vita version uses the word Golden. The Vita version is the best one to play by the way. I’m sure the vanilla version is still great, but Golden adds a couple more social links which really tie the whole plot together better, as well a as significant amount of new content, including some standout music tracks, to flesh out the game’s connective tissue in ways that really push the game into masterpiece territory in my opinion.
(https://cdn3.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Persona_4_Golden-109.jpg)
It’s a long game with a large script, and while it might not be for everyone, it is a game I’d recommend to almost anyone regardless of their gaming background, because it’s unique enough and twists and subverts genre conventions enough that there’s really nothing like Persona. I’ve heard enough anecdotes of people that don’t play turn-based rpgs (even you COD and Madden bros) that fall down the Persona hole, just because it’s that different and well written. At the end of a lot of narrative-heavy, emotionally-involving pieces of media it’s common to feel bittersweet about the thing being over. Not Persona 4, at least for me. My attachment to the characters were so explored, and the game was so generous with its length, especially with the perfect credit sequence and the true Golden ending, that I got everything I could have possibly asked for, that there was nothing more I could expect from one game. It’s was a little sad to see the end, but there’s nothing bittersweet about it: it’s just sweet. Thinking about Persona 4’s ending just makes me smile and think of the good times of the journey. Now that’s a testament to it’s quality.
Any other entries worth playing?
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8f/11/5b/8f115b7918754d16ffdf6d1f5338eb3c.jpg)
All those positives I wrote about Persona 4? They also apply to Persona 3. I played 3 first and it BLEW MY MIND. From the eclectic soundtrack (has more hip-hop lean) to it’s intriguingly dark setting but with a lot of laugh out loud character moments, I had never would have guessed THIS is what these Persona games were all about. Compared to it’s more cohesive sequels Persona 3 has a more peanut butter and jelly approach in that it straddles between the dark and heavy atmosphere of traditional Shin Megami Tensei games (which the series is spun off from and are technically still related to though for most practical purposes can be thought of as completely separate things) and lighter humorous stuff. First time listening to the normal battle theme with the horn section and a Japanese man rapping in English I wasn’t sure what the heck to make of it. After playing a little more you start to realize how well it fits the tone of the game. The setup was interesting, but by the time I had experience “Junpei’s Believe It or Don’t” and Operation Babe Hunt I knew I was playing something special. The fact that Atlus was able to top it with 4 is still kind of hard to believe. I like 4 a little bit more because 3’s soundtrack doesn’t have as many standouts, it’s themes don’t resonant quite as much as 4, and its mechanics and quality of life stuff aren’t as good as 4’s, but I might like 3’s cast better, and it has arguably a better plot (if not as well paced). It’s still an incredible game in its own right, and probably the one I would suggest starting with if you’re accustomed to rpg but haven’t played Persona yet.
As for the hot new Persona 5 that finally came out this year: it’s really good, has a lot of excellent presentation qualities, the mechanics are better than ever, and it is its own thing while still being very much a Persona game like you would hope from a sequel. I like a fair bit, but I don’t love it: I didn’t get nearly as attached to the characters as in the previous games, I found the plot lacked any hook or propulsion most the of game, and the game’s themes didn’t do much for me. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy, and is a good starting point for someone dipping their toes into the series for the first time, it just seems strange that a game that obviously has as much effort in so many other areas seems a little undercooked on the script level.
Persona 1 and 2 are different beasts from 3 on. Persona 1 isn’t a particularly good game (in fact the original version had an awful localization job), even the PSP remake isn’t particularly great (although it does have a good soundtrack more in line with the modern games. Persona 2 actually is comprised of two games (long story) and while it does have its old-school fans for having maybe the best story in the series, it’s pretty tough to get into. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone unless they have a high tolerance for old crusty rpgs.
EDIT: Bah, hate accidently hitting post when I'm still editing. :mehlin
Whew! As excellent as Persona 4 is though there is still one more game I give an edge to. Stay tuned!
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Oh Hell Yeah Persona 4 :metal :metal :metal
I absolutely love that games and it blew my mind when I played through it. Its so damn unique and there's nothing quite like it. I would definitely say I like it better than 5 as well. Although 5 is decent and fun as well.
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having recently played p5 i can say it probably has the better gameplay of the two (i just like the non-random dungeons a lot mostly) but p4 is stronger storywise, i never played golden so i dunno what all the extra stuff is (except i know there's an ending where you can side with the killer for some reason LOL) but. yeah, i'm sure it's even better than the original, which was already great :corn
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Updated with all 50 games:
By Decade
80s- 1
90s- 16
00s- 19
10s- 14
Platforms (Going by original release)
NES- 1
SNES- 5
Sega CD- 1
PC Engine- 1
4th Gen Multiplatform (SNES/Genesis/Game Gear/Arcade)- 2
PlayStation- 5
N64- 2
5th Gen Multiplatform (N64/PlayStation/Other)- 1
PlayStation 2- 4
Gameboy Advance- 1
6th Gen Multiplatform (PS2/Gamecube/XBOX/Arcade)- 4
PlayStation 3- 7
PSP- 2
DS- 1
7th Gen Multiplat (PS3/XBOX360/Arcade/PC)- 9
PS Vita-1
8th Gen Multiplatform (PS4/XBOX ONE/Arcade/PC)-2
PC- 1
Genres
RPGs- 15
Fighting- 7
Platformer- 6
Strategy or Strategy/Tactical-RPGs- 4
Action-Adventure (including Stealth)- 4
Action (including SW: Rogue Squadron)- 4
Adventure- 3
Sports- 3
Racing- 2
Beat em up- 1
Music-rhythm- 1
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Before I post my finally entry, here's a few more honorable mention and shout outs
Ice Hockey (NES)
(https://www.retronintendoreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ICE_HOCK-2.png)
Dragon's Crown
(https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2962715/Dragon_s_Crown_Screenshots__47_.jpg)
Orisheka: Tainted Bloodlines
(https://psmedia.playstation.com/is/image/psmedia/oreshika-tainted-bloodlines-screen-06-psvita-eu-09apr15?$MediaCarousel_LargeImage$)
Rayman Origins
(https://data2.origin.com/content/dam/originx/web/app/games/rayman/rayman-origins/screenshots/rayman-origins/1008383_screenhi_930x524_en_US_01_%5E_2014-07-14-14-25-21_4bc19b0b377411dd42caa635be6133490cd66414.jpg)
Incredible Crisis
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eOig_PmyRC4/maxresdefault.jpg)
NASCAR Rumble
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/b/a/7/gfs_42560_2_7.jpg)
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^ My other FF takes
FF II- I actually like it. Yes the leveling mechanics are bad, although in the later remakes they are tweaked enough to be somewhat less annoying. I like it because it's weirdly dark and heavy for a FF game, and impressively atmospheric for a NES game
FF IV- I've given it many tries but it hasn't aged well in my opinion. The story is awfully cliche nowadays and it's overly linear in structure and character progression.
FF X- Can't stand most of the characters, dumb story and world building, most of the soundtrack was weak by FF standards, suffocatingly linear and most of the sidequests are terrible. It has its fans but I thought it was a massive drop from the PS1 games.
FF XII- Well intentioned correction from X but story is awfully dry and terribly paced. Kind of split on the gameplay being so automated. Decent game but feels like a missed opportunity.
XIII- Very flawed but I do like the battle system for the most part
XIV sounds pretty cool but I have a hard time imagining being will to commit to a subsciption mmo. Haven't had a desire to try XV. The action-rpg original pitch never interested me much and it just looks messy in a way I'm tired of seeing in the series.
I get and agree with most of what you're saying. What I will say about II, is that it IS a very charming game. The music is great (may be the best of the NES era), and the story and characters are really cool, too. What drags it down for me, obviously, is the leveling mechanics.
Also, if you've played all the other non-MMO games, you should give XV a chance. I really loved it, took me about 82 hours to platinum it and I've come back to it a few times to play more of it. It got a fun fighting mechanic (fast, like XIII, but much more action based, and not as convoluted)... and the camaraderie between the 4 main characters is worth the ride.
Also... love the Ice Hockey shout-out in your last post.
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Rayman Origins & Legends are friggin excellent
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1. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/150930-Virtua_Fighter_4_-_Evolution_(USA)-9.jpg)
I usually think of myself as someone who likes a compelling narrative, stuff with context and world building and characters to get emotionally attached to in my games. Which makes it ironic that favorite game is one that mostly dispenses with story outside of some character bios. If you want story in Virtua Fighter you’ll have to go read the manual. Virtua Fighter doesn’t make any pretentions about what it is: a deep, no nonsense fighting game with meticulous attention to detail, wrapped in a great package.
(https://www.gametronik.com/site/rubriques/DEMUL/Jeux/Virtua%20Fighter%204%20Final%20Tuned%20(Rev.%20D)/vf4tunedd.png)
The first you’ll notice about Virtua Fighter is how grounded it is compared to other fighting games. Street Fighter gave us fireballs of course, and plenty of other games have tried to grab your attention by trying to be more over the top in some way compared to the competition. Virtua Fighter goes the other way: partly because of its legacy as the first 3D fighting game series, VF strives to be a realistic portrayal of actual martial art schools. Now it’s still within the Street Fighter framework, meaning there’s still health bars and stuff like launching opponents into a juggle and stuff, as well as treating things like pro wrestling as if it’s completely on par with actual martial arts, but those concessions aside feels quite authentic. Even if you don’t know your Judo from your Vale Tudo or Aikido, VF is actually a decent introduction to what the various martial arts schools are about. Of all the fighting games out there Virtua Fighter is the only that has made me take a real life interest in them.
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/313560-virtua-fighter-4-playstation-2-screenshot-pai.png)
VF can sell this because of how well-crafted the animation is. The way everything flows from one move to another is so buttery smooth, and more so than almost any other fighting game, every character has a distinct tempo and feel. The attention to detail, especially how they interact, is fantastic, pound for pound the best animation in the genre in my opinion, and the fact that things like every throw also has a unique escape animation is awesome. Being able to pull off a move that has your characters somersaulting off a wall, or a multipart throw is more satisfying than any fireball. Who needs hit sparks when the animation is so graceful? It also helps that Virtua Fighter games have always been graphical powerhouses upon their arcade release, featuring cutting edge detail of things like cloth textures and weight. It might not have the loudest presentation, but the no-nonsense focus on the martial arts gives the series a grounded aesthetic I really dig.
(https://r.mprd.se/fup/up/150930-Virtua_Fighter_4_-_Evolution_(USA)-1.jpg)
Like most fighting games, VF is built on a paper-rock-scissors base of block beat attack, throws beat blocks, attacks beat throws. And despite its considerable depth, Virtua Fighter (with the exception of VF3) only needs three buttons for inputs: punch, kick, and guard. That’s it. The thing is that almost every possible combination with your stick has a specific function. The single button commands are self-explanatory, while P+K are generally stronger and special types of punches (or things like reversals), K+G are stronger kicking attacks, and P+G are throws. P+K+G are generally unique attacks or functions, such as changing stances for characters that use more than one.
The biggest difference compared to most other fighters is how in depth the throwing system is. In most games they're just a check to keep opponents from turtling too much, or maybe get more positional advantage. In Virtua Fighter throws are a whole category of offense, in fact for a couple characters it’s their main way to getting big damage. Even characters that don’t rely on throws general have several different kinds of throws, while grapplers like Goh and Jeffrey will have over a half dozen, not counting their side and back throws which have different states too. Having a bigger pool of throws to choose from matters because of how throw escapes work. While most fighting games let you escape throws with any input or just a corresponding throw input, and can be done on reaction with practice. In VF you have to match the corresponding direction the command ends in. If your opponent’s throw command ends in forward + throw, you must also input forward + throw to escape it. This means you have to be cognizant of what the opponent might use in a throw situation and buffer accordingly. Is he going to go for the big damaging throw, or is he going to go with a less damaging, and therefore less expected and therefore “safer” throw? That’s the mind games VF thrives on.
(https://www.gametronik.com/site/rubriques/DEMUL/Jeux/Virtua%20Fighter%204%20Final%20Tuned%20(Rev.%20A)/vf4tuneda.png)
Those mind games are the heart of what makes Virtua Fighter so appealing. Because of how rock solid the foundational mechanics are, there is always an answer to counter what your opponent is doing. You need to have a basic understanding of the checks and balances the system has (ie why these tools have the properties they do) but once you do you start to appreciate just how thought out and intertwined everything is. Because of how the mechanics are laid out it is very apparent what you or your opponent did to successfully land an attack, or what the mistake was when something fails. In a lot of fighting games you often have to be at a pretty advance level to instantly diagnose these things, but in VF the information is very open. You and the opponent can both tell RIGHT AWAY what happened, and because of this you are adjusting your approach constantly, because there is always an answer to what you or the opponent is doing. Instead being about who can pull off the biggest combos (thought that does help), VF is more about who can read and counteract the opponent better. There is a reason the term Yomi (a Japanese term meaning the ability to read the mind of the opponent) is synonymous with Virtua Fighter. Again, this psychological appeal also applies to most quality fighting games, but in VF even low-level but roughly equally skilled players can have these fascinating conversations. A lot of fighting games boil down to trying to dominate your will over your opponents, but in VF you have to listen to what your opponent is doing in a back-and-forth, almost turn-based manner. Because of this, defensive techniques like a well-timed throw escape or reversal can be as gratifying as any clinching attack.
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/292863-virtua-fighter-4-evolution-playstation-2-screenshot-in-quest.jpg)
I’ve extolled about the series as a whole so far, but what makes VF4 in particular so great? VF4 took the series back to its roots after VF3 experimented with uneven terrain and a fourth reversal button. And for the first time in the series the home release had significant single player in the Kumite mode, in which you faced an endless series of AI opponents of various skill and gradually gain rank. You could also customize the look of you fighters by gaining in game currency and winning special matches, a great feature for a game that thanks to its legacy has some fairly bland character designs. It was an eye-catching game between the great visuals (which were still less than arcade perfect), great animation, and fascinating systems. But it was its updated version Evolution that truly blew me away. VF4’s Kumite mode was fun, and a cool idea for single player content in a fighting game. VF4:Evo’s Quest mode however is still the best single-player content that’s ever been in a fighting game. In Quest mode it simulates the arcade scene in Japan by having certain pools of AI in simulated arcade scenes. As you leveled up and gained rank, more arcades with higher caliber players open up. While the AI had a tendency to rubber band too obviously, they did a great job of exhibiting actual tendencies like real players. They even had AI modeled after real top players in Japan. Sure, they were nothing compared to the real thing, but seeing names like Chibita (a player even I knew from VF forums) appear was awesome. It might not help you too much depending on your skill level, but for a low-level player like me it was a fantastic substitute for real life competition. There were also a ton more items to collect for every character, and you could make some really cool or ridiculous getups. Having a chest come up onscreen (meaning you’d get prize, sometimes a guaranteed item) added a lot of tension and added weight to winning and losing brilliantly. There was also long-term missions that helped you hone your skills (e.g. throw your opponent from a guarantee throw situation 10 times), as some of the later ones got pretty advance.
Not only that, but VF4 Evo still has for my money the best in-game tutorial in a fighting game. Like it’s astounding how far above it was compared to everything else. I used to say it was “like it was from the future!” Nothing came close to how in-depth Evo's tutorial was in explaining both the theory and the application of the games mechanics. Not only could you learn a lot, it did so in way that wasn’t overwhelming. You’d start with the basics, which led to more advance wrinkles and how these nuances overlapped. Even many years afterward it still seemed “from the future” because nobody was even trying to match it, even VF5 didn’t. Which is bizarre considering how severe the genre inherently is, and how most fighting games are tuned with high level input in mind. Nowadays Arc System Works has closed the gap considerably in some of their titles, although I still think Evo’s tutorial has a gentler learning curve and explained theory in more detail. Of course, maybe I just like the elegance of VF’s systems better.
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/virtuafighter/virtuafighter-10thanniversary-02.jpg)
On top of that, there was a 10th Anniversary Mode which reimagined the original Virtua Fighter having the entire Evo cast in their blocky, moon-jumping glory of the original game. It’s a funky version because even though the original cast have their VF1 appearance, their movesets is based on their modern incarnation. Not something you’re probably going to spend a lot of time on but it’s pretty elaborate for what is essential an easter egg for fans.
Evolution weighs in with 15 fighters, which may not sound like a lot, but every character plays very differently and have different strengths to be explored. Whether is be how Aoi can reverse every single move in the game, Lei-Fei's graceful Shaolin-Kung Fu or Goh's extensive Judo grapples on grounded opponents, every character is super interesting to play, although some (like Akira) have higher execution barriers than others. Outside of Rock Band there isn’t a game I’ve put more time into, and I didn’t even explore a good half of the cast to any depth. It is massive in terms of content and is easily my deserted island game. Conquering the quest mode with any character is a huge task, and if you’ve done that there’s 14 more characters which require relearning on a very basic level. As impressive as the cast diversity is, the balance the roster has may be even more so. The cast of the series has grown very slowly, adding no more than two characters at a time because AM2 is meticulous about getting everything as balanced as possible. It’s isn’t perfect of course, no game is, but VF4 Evo is pretty darn close. Yes, there are tiers lists, but unlike other fighting game they really only apply to the highest levels of competition. Some matchups are harder than others but any character should be able to beat anyone else if you have the chops. That’s awesome, though having such clear distillation can be a double-edged sword.
(https://totalplaystation.com/pic.php?file=/media/games/ps2/virtuafighter4/images/old/vf4_12.jpg)
You see Virtua Fighter has a reputation of being this incomprehensibly deep fighting game series that only the most hardcore should even bother trying to play. That is not true, in fact I’d argue if you’re a fight game noob you’d probably have a better time grasping VF compared to playing Street Fighter or Marvel well. Yes, there are a lot of complexities, and yes it’s depth can feel oceanic the more you study it. But you don’t need to be good at all to enjoy it, as long as you’re playing someone of similar skill level. Of course if you are playing someone significantly better than you, you will lose 99%. Other games like Tekken or Soul Calibur are more mashable or more chaotic to muddy the waters some, but VF is precise and exacting in the right hands. Its concise nature is brilliant, but it does turn away casual players to some degree, although again I think it’s reputation is wildly exaggerated. Once you get past the entry stage it’s actually quite interesting even if you aren’t good at putting together fancy combos.
Virtua Fighter 4 was hardly the first fighting game I enjoyed, but it is the first video game to really make me appreciate how detailed and thought out a game’s design could be. It made me appreciate the craft of game design to a degree I had never considered before. Virtua Fighter is the fighting game series I’ve really wanted to research and practice to get better more than anything before or since. My modest VF skills have rusted away due to not practicing anymore, but the time I invested into Evo was some of the most rewarding I’ve had with a video game.
Any other entries worth playing?
Virtua Fighter 5, while never coming into as good a package as Evo did, is a fantastic game in its own right adding two more fighters in Luchador El Blaze and the monkey-kung fu practitioner of Eileen. The original PS3 version like Evo had a quest mode, though the AI wasn’t as good. Unfortunately, it did not have an online mode, a big problem in a console generation that was all about online infrastructure. While the developers insistence maintaining the frame perfect purity of the VF experience was admirable in some ways, the headwind as too strong for that to not be seen as a mark against it. Ironically, the game was later ported to the Xbox 360, which not only had better Quest mode AI, had online netcode that was actually pretty damn good, especially at the time. Unfortunately the game was old news by then and did not sell well. VF5 then had a major revision in VF5 R which included newcomer karate man Jean Kujo and the return of Sumo wrestler Taka-Arashi, who had gone missing since his sole inclusion in VF3. Unfortunately It did not appear outside Japanese arcades, but the final major update VF5 Final Showdown did get localized as a download only. Thanks to outdated XBLA standards they were working with a hard memory cap, and could not include all of the Quest mode stuff of the previous games. It still is the best version of VF5 though, with excellent character balance and a great netcode. The biggest thing is it simplified the throw system, making everything a one in three shot of calling a throw escape. It was a nod to making their complicated throw game more accessible, and while I don’t completely love it, it was a decent compromise without completely losing one of the series’ trademarks.
(https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nx3/news/finalshowdown/finalshowdown-s5.jpg)
Even though pretty much everyone that is seriously into fighting games acknowledges VF as being gems in terms of design, the series has never caught on big in the west. Whether it’s because been tied to later Sega platforms that never had big install bases in the series beginning, the fact that the grammar of the game is very different Capcom fighters (even stuff like when to block and when to attack), the fact that it isn’t as easy to button mash as some other fighters (especially in the early versions), it’s hardcore reputation kept casual players away, or just the fact that they just aren’t as flamboyant next to Tekken or Dead or Alive, Virtua Fighter has never been able to gain a strong fanbase. Virtua Fighter has had a stronger following in Japan, with VF 2 and 4 being big hits. VF5 did not make as big a splash as Sega had hoped though, and even they, who has a pretty big stake in the arcade business in Japan, started scaling back that branch of the company, even in the wake of the Street Fighter IV boom (Sega: masters of timing :-\). It’s not impossible that Virtua Fighter 6 will be commissioned one day, but I wouldn’t count on it. It not clear if they even still have a staff capable of making a new VF. That said, if VF5 Final Showdown is the last VF it’s a fine version to go out on. The various version of VF4 and 5 will still stand as some of the best examples the genre has produced. Oh and VF2 is still pretty darn cool for its time too.
(https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/ps3-game-6181-ss5?$MediaCarousel_Original$)
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Updated with all 50 games:
By Decade
80s- 1
90s- 16
00s- 19
10s- 14
Platforms (Going by original release)
NES- 1
SNES- 5
Sega CD- 1
PC Engine- 1
4th Gen Multiplatform (SNES/Genesis/Game Gear/Arcade)- 2
PlayStation- 5
N64- 2
5th Gen Multiplatform (N64/PlayStation/Other)- 1
PlayStation 2- 4
Gameboy Advance- 1
6th Gen Multiplatform (PS2/Gamecube/XBOX/Arcade)- 4
PlayStation 3- 7
PSP- 2
DS- 1
7th Gen Multiplat (PS3/XBOX360/Arcade/PC)- 9
PS Vita-1
8th Gen Multiplatform (PS4/XBOX ONE/Arcade/PC)-2
PC- 1
Genres
RPGs- 15
Fighting- 7
Platformer- 6
Strategy or Strategy/Tactical-RPGs- 4
Action-Adventure (including Stealth)- 4
Action (including SW: Rogue Squadron)- 4
Adventure- 3
Sports- 3
Racing- 2
Beat em up- 1
Music-rhythm- 1
I've updated these lists with the final count.
Took a little longer than I intended, but it was fun to explain some of my favorite, especially the lesser known ones. Hope someone learned a thing or two. :lol Hope someone steps up to keep the thread going because they are fun to read. :tup
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I think I had played 2 games on this list. But enjoyed following nonetheless. Thanks Mr Beale. Who's up?
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Great list and absolutely fantastic write-ups!
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I think I had played 2 games on this list. But enjoyed following nonetheless. Thanks Mr Beale. Who's up?
Yea, the list didn't resonate with me personally since I didn't know most of the games, but still a cool write up and always interesting to see new games. Thanks for doing that.
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Yep, me too, I haven't commented on anything because I think I knew only one or two games, but it was still an interesting read. So, thanks for that.
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
I've played like the first half hour of Earthbound. Didn't grab me, but I know I need to return to it someday to give it more of a fair shake.
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Is this thing completely dead?
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I hope not. I have some games I'd like, to do some write ups for despite already doing a list
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I'd be willing to do the same. I could do a my top NES game list or something, to put a bit of a different twist vs. all systems top 25-50.
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I have played a lot of stuff since my last list so I guess I could make a new one but excluding the games I already had in the previous iteration :P If you don't mind, I could start on Monday.
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I have played a lot of stuff since my last list so I guess I could make a new one but excluding the games I already had in the previous iteration :P If you don't mind, I could start on Monday.
Sounds cool to me! I'll go after you Sacul. Unless BlackFloyd comes in and squashes the idea!
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I'll go after you cablex
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
I've played like the first half hour of Earthbound. Didn't grab me, but I know I need to return to it someday to give it more of a fair shake.
It hasn't gotten to the good trippy part yet.
I've been playing Persona5 after reading your write up for 4. I'm glad I did, its a great game. The music style and vibe is excellent. Really compelling and just great story telling. Right from the get go it gets intense in the drama aspect.
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Hell yeah Persona 5 :metal
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
I've played like the first half hour of Earthbound. Didn't grab me, but I know I need to return to it someday to give it more of a fair shake.
Yeah the first hour or two of the game is the weakest part of it, mostly due to some excessive grinding imo, but form there it just keeps getting better and better. Definitely give it another try.
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A bit of a tangent, I bumped the top VG Music thread in the Music section to see if there's interest.
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I have played a lot of stuff since my last list so I guess I could make a new one but excluding the games I already had in the previous iteration :P If you don't mind, I could start on Monday.
Sounds cool to me! I'll go after you Sacul. Unless BlackFloyd comes in and squashes the idea!
Nah, this all sounds good to me. Looking forward to it :)
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
I've played like the first half hour of Earthbound. Didn't grab me, but I know I need to return to it someday to give it more of a fair shake.
It hasn't gotten to the good trippy part yet.
I've been playing Persona5 after reading your write up for 4. I'm glad I did, its a great game. The music style and vibe is excellent. Really compelling and just great story telling. Right from the get go it gets intense in the drama aspect.
Nice! It's pretty long but sounds like you're really into it. It's definitely one of the most stylish games out there.
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Forgot to comment but really awesome list! Don't know a good bunch and there are a few I really wanna play (like Persona 4). Since you like RPGs, have you played Earthbound or Mother 3? They're awesome.
I've played like the first half hour of Earthbound. Didn't grab me, but I know I need to return to it someday to give it more of a fair shake.
It hasn't gotten to the good trippy part yet.
I've been playing Persona5 after reading your write up for 4. I'm glad I did, its a great game. The music style and vibe is excellent. Really compelling and just great story telling. Right from the get go it gets intense in the drama aspect.
Nice! It's pretty long but sounds like you're really into it. It's definitely one of the most stylish games out there.
As long as the story is intriguing, the length doesn't matter. I'm into games with a story. Doesn't matter the genre.
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I have played a lot of stuff since my last list so I guess I could make a new one but excluding the games I already had in the previous iteration :P If you don't mind, I could start on Monday.
Sounds cool to me! I'll go after you Sacul. Unless BlackFloyd comes in and squashes the idea!
Nah, this all sounds good to me. Looking forward to it :)
Cool! Already have the list made, doing some writeups now. Will begin tomorrow with some honorable mentions.
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Awesome :tup
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i can't wait for sacul to honorably mention me
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Cool! Already have the list made, doing some writeups now. Will begin tomorrow with some honorable mentions.
:tup
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Yesterday signified a major gaming milestone in TOX's life...
In 2006, I started a playthrough of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I got about a third of the way through the game, stopped playing, then forgot where I was and what I was doing. A few years later, I started another playthrough. I again got about a third of the way through before putting it down. Two or three years back, I resumed that playthrough, got about two-thirds of the way through, and again put it down. Yesterday, I finally beat the game. :hefdaddy
Has anyone else had a weird journey like that where it takes years upon years to beat something? :lol
Edit: Just realized this should have been in the main Video Game thread. Sorry!
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Welcome to "Sacul's alternate favorites list", in which I'll post my top 25 fav games except all those that were already on my previous list. Let's begin with some...
Honorable mentions
Fallout 3
2008
(https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rsz_fallout3-screen-09212015.jpg)(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/a/a8/Fallout3_1_lg.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110529134137)
My first Fallout, I played the shit out of this one on PS3. A big, open post-apocalyptic world filled with raiders, radiation, mutants, two-headed cows, and tons of dialogs and action. It's a western RPG with some FPS mechanics so combat is pretty simple and in real time (and kinda shitty if you don't use the V.A.T.S system to aim at limbs), but also a Bethesda game so bugs and shitty animation abound. It's just tons of fun and it's the most enjoyed if you love exploration imo. Get the GOTY edition, base game can't be beaten without the expansions.
Metroid: Zero Mission
2004
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6EOS4tWC-w/U2tVQf1N7TI/AAAAAAAAdiY/lK3arPWjByc/s1600/metroid-zero-mission-1.gif)(https://ss.pgridcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/04/09171808/MetroidZeroMission-image6.gif)
A remake of the first Metroid! Very solid game with Super Metroid mechanics plus some added powerups and stuff the original didn't have, plus an entirely new level featuring Samus without her Power Suit that leads to some really tense and great moments.
ICO
2001
(https://download.gameblog.fr/images/blogs/5654/16207.jpg)(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/8371/482648-ico__4_.jpg)
This game took a lot of inspiration from Another World (the first "cinematic platformer") in the sense that there's no (intelligible) dialogue and it's kind of minimalistic but taken to an extreme. It's a very immersive, intriguing 3D platformer about a guy trying to escape from an abandoned castle with a princess, but some dark beings will try to take her so you've got to fight them with wood sticks or whatever you've got. Puzzles are simple and level design is awesome although you may find yourself using a guide at times because some solutions aren't always too obvious. Get the HD version ofc.
Hexcells
2014
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l7iNJTlNeec/maxresdefault.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/NsInM2b.png)
This is basically if Minesweeper was a good game, with gorgeous minimalist graphics, hexagonal cells, and ambient music. This one is fairly easy but the other games in the series are more challenging. Still, this is the recommended starting point if you're a fan of puzzles games like Sudoku or others.
To the Moon
2011
(https://freebirdgames.com/system/wp-content/uploads/to-the-moon-promo.jpg)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e0fTJibUyWEP9F-KzOD-hxNr5-5EfZBru5RZ4zIJJv4GD_66ENyehfe8hgap9lXzWvYG=h900)
A pair of scientists work for a company that offer a curious service: memory modifications for the terminally ill, to make them believe their lives were different. To achieve this, both have to get inside a patient's mind and go back through their memories and plant a modified version of an early one and let their minds invent the rest. With this particular patient, he wishes he could have gone to the moon but doesn't know exactly why. Learning about him, the scientists uncover some dark, heartbreaking memories. It's emotional if a little corny at time, well-written, great music, and it's probably one of the best games made with RPG Maker. Pics are from the remastered mobile version - haven't played it but seems just a revamped version of the original so go play that one!
Antichamber
2013
(https://calmdowntom.com/wp-content/uploads/Antichamber01.png)(https://thegia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Antichamber-Screenshot-6.png)
Now this is a very curious game - it's some kind of minimalist first-person puzzle game, in which you have to go through hallways and rooms and solve simple puzzles using colored square block with a special gun, and you can get upgraded versions further in the game that give you some cool new things to do with the blocks, like filling in an area or "extracting" the blocks in one and saving them in your gun. Level design is brilliant, using non-Euclidean spaces and mindfucking stuff that's imposible in real life but works flawlessly on Antichamber. There are also lots of little signs with a drawing and a life-lesson kind of phrase, that normall helps you solve the puzzle. The goal is to follow a strange black, floating being that seems to have special powers and can open doors at will and stuff. It's a pretty "zen" game, quite abstract so I don't understand what it all means but it's a very immersive, interesting experience.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
2007
(https://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s649/BlizzBoyGames/BlizzBoyGames118/servers_wallpapers_486_zps35b0db28.jpg)(https://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s649/BlizzBoyGames/BlizzBoyGames118/dragon-ball-z-budokai-tenkaichi-3-imagen-i182221-i_zpsa984ef1c.jpg)
Yeah I loved the series when I was a kid and although I'm not big on these kind of games, had a blast with it on my own and with friends. Tried other DBZ games but they were lackluster and not half as enjoyable as this one.
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I should buy Zero Mission I guess? I love SM, and the original.
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I should buy Zero Mission I guess? I love SM, and the original.
Yes. Zero Mission and Fusion are as good as any other 2D Metroid... maybe slightly under Super Metroid... but, that should go without saying
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Three games from my list, nice :corn
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I should buy Zero Mission I guess? I love SM, and the original.
Yes, it explores a bit more Samus' origin and the level without her Power Suit is excellent.
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25
Spec Ops: The Line
2012
(https://im.ziffdavisinternational.com/ign_me/screenshot/d/does-dubai-based-spec-ops-hit-a-nerve/does-dubai-based-spec-ops-hit-a-nerve_4r63.jpg)(https://static.trueachievements.com/customimages/025563.jpg)
This is the kind of games I wished modern FPS were like: some bleak, fucked up vision of war, in which you're forced to take awful decisions like choosing which civilian you must kill, or either protecting them or let them die and save the contact that's been captured. You can hear the enemy soldiers speaking of missing back home, of just wanting to go back and have a drink or be with their families. But are they really the enemy when they're American soldiers like you? Is your group actually trying to evacuate what used to be Dubai? What happened to the place and its people? What's the CIA doing around here?
Despite the genric name and gameplay (kinda annoying it's on third person), Specs Ops: The Line is a dark, deep game about obsession, narcissism, and the lack of "good and bad guys" in war times. If you've watched Apocalypse Now or read Heart of Darkness, you know what you're getting into. Also special shout-out to the soundtrack, which is some pretty rad psychedelic/desert rock and some old radio songs.
24
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
2013
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTp1TVmBHfo/VRREwBHelGI/AAAAAAAAAOk/i335ZOkhKBI/s1600/Guacamelee%2BSuper%2BTurbo%2BChampionship%2BEdition%2B2.jpg)(https://i11c.3djuegos.com/juegos/10573/guacamelee__super_turbo_champion_edition/fotos/set/guacamelee__super_turbo_champion_edition-2566653.jpg)
Juan Aguacate is a humble agave farmer who is in love with El Presidente's Daughter. When an evil charro skeleton named Carlos Calaca attacks the village and kidnaps her, Juan is killed by Carlos winds up in the land of the dead. There, a mysterious luchador named Tostada gives him a mysterious mask that transforms him into a powerful luchador and brings him back to the world of the living. It is now up to Juan to stop Carlos from sacrificing his loved one in a ritual that will allow Mr Skeletal to take both the living and dead worlds.
This is a Metroidvania and one that doesn't even pretend to hide it - Metroid references abound (even the way you get powerups and the design and name of the statues is borderline ripoff), but also little winks to other games like Super Mario Bros, Zelda, and many classics. But it's also a brawler and it's got some excellent powerups and combat mechanics, including combos and a "super" mode that makes you stronger for a short time and consumes quickly unless you keep making combos. Abilities to unlock include being able to swith between the worlds of the living and the dead, or movements to destroy certain colored rocks that block your way.
To finish, I found the traditional Mexican artstyle and folklore quite refreshing for this kind of game. And quite well-done despite having been made by a Canadian team :P
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Great write ups so far. I have gucamelee but haven't played it and I'm a huge fan of the fallout series.
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Nice on Spec Ops. Haven't played it, but am aware of the story being superb with the amazing twist. Seemed to paint the bleakness of war.
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I've always been curious about Spec Ops: The Line so I bought it the other day and am playing it right now. While I haven't gotten very far, it's all very interesting so far and I can't wait to play more. :tup
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Spec Ops: The Line is pretty great storywise but the gameplay is so unbearably bad. Intentionally so, I'm aware, that's part of the point, but still.
Anyways heck yeah guacamemes
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Spec Ops: The Line is pretty great storywise but the gameplay is so unbearably bad. Intentionally so, I'm aware, that's part of the point, but still.
Yeah it gets really tiresome when you've got to shoot a lot of enemies every five minutes or so. That's why it's better played in short sessions imo :P
Also sorry for lack of update yesterday, have a new one:
23
Jazzpunk
2014
(https://cdn.gamerant.com/wp-content/uploads/Jazzpunk.jpg.optimal.jpg)(https://www.jazzpunk.net/images/fullscreen/img1Full.jpg)
This is a bizarre title - no, it's not about jazz nor punk, just a very absurdist walking simulator, full of silly Monty Python-ish jokes and situations and some psychedelic moments. You're a spy in the 50s/60s that is assigned several missions, like infiltrating the Russian Embassy and retrieving "the MacGuffin" or beating getting someone's liver because it contains advanced technology your country needs (?). It's both a homage and a parody of old spy movies and series IMO, and its cartoony style fits perfect with the random nature of the game. It's pretty short as it can be beaten in a day but takes a little longer if you dedicate some time to the hilarious mini sidequests, like killing all flies in a room full of ancient Chinese vases with a fly swatter, only to keep the thing and be able to turn random people into flies, or when you get a weird ray gun that makes pigeons unconscious and also gives you pigeon pheromones in a perfume bottle. Yeah it's weird as fuck but a lot of fun and it's easy to follow.
22
Shadow of the Colossus
2005
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--svuTkioG--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/j7pnxm8qy1s8jqoczoit.jpg)(https://sm.ign.com/ign_br/screenshot/default/colosus3_hpsu.jpg)
Boy, this game is truly an experience and I see why some people name it when there's a debate on whether games are art or not. It's basically about a guy who travels to a forbidden land and asks the spirits there to revive his dead girlfriend. But to make that, they ask him to defeat the 16 colossi that live in the area first. And that's the interesting part, because our guy only has an ancient sword, bow and arrows, and a horse. And these beasts are huge and powerful. But they're slow, and have weak points, and it's up to you to figure out where those are, climb on their colossal bodies, and hit it with your sword. Every encounter is brilliantly designed in terms of animation and atmosphere - the colossi really feel overwhelming, the physics system is very realistic, and the grandiose orchestral music just reinforces the majesty of each battle. Also notable is how beautiful the lands are, big and expansive, and no loading screens at all. There is very little dialogue and text yet it's rare to get lost because the design is very intuitive.
Of course, it's not a perfect game. As much as it excels in a technical level (literally pushing the limits of the PS2), and even in terms of atmosphere, I've got some gripes with it. First of all, the game only consists of fighting the 16 colossi. Every time you beat one, you absorb its soul, become unconscious, and magically reappear on the temple were the spirits reside. They tell you where to find the next one in a cryptic way, and you go and beat it. And repeat. Really, that's all there is to it and nothing more, which is kinda disappointing, considering such a wonderful, vast map tha game its set in, it could have encouraged a little bit more exploration or something, so this is an aspect in which the extreme minimalism hurts the experience IMO. Second, some enemies are just frustrating, like the 4th one took me ages to figure out how to climb up to it, or the last one, because, as epic as it is, I had to look up where the final weak point was, only to discover I had to use the sword in a very awkward moment to discover it and didn't leave me time to jump to the part of its body so had to climb up half of it again.
But yeah, if you don't mind those things, or even if you do, play this game. It's a very cinematic, cathartic experience and a cult game for a good reason. Get the HD version for PS3, or wait a bit more if you have a PS4, there's a brand new remaster coming soon and looks fantastic.
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Jazzpunk is really something special. The off the wall humor is incredible.
I really enjoyed shadow of the colossus, but its never something I would play through again. Its minimalist aesthetic was great for one single run, but doesn't hold up to repeat playthroughs. For me at least. Nothing quite like it though. The new zelda borrowed heavily from its core design, but the filled in so much more.
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Jazzpunk is good for what's there but it's just soooo short. I have that problem with a lot of Adult Swim games though, they make these cool experiences but overprice them to heck for the amount of content you get.
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I've heard a lot about Shadow of Colossus. I never got a chance to play it but your write-up makes me really intrigued. I might have to pick up a used copy. I'm sure there are some for cheap
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Jazzpunk is good for what's there but it's just soooo short. I have that problem with a lot of Adult Swim games though, they make these cool experiences but overprice them to heck for the amount of content you get.
Yeah shame it's short, glad it was a gift from a friend :P
I've heard a lot about Shadow of Colossus. I never got a chance to play it but your write-up makes me really intrigued. I might have to pick up a used copy. I'm sure there are some for cheap
That's great! If you have a PS3 there's a digital version as well.
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Yea I have a PS3 that is also backward compatible, id probably pick up the digital copy though.
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Again, sorry, had some rough days but I'm back:
21
The Simpsons Hit & Run
2003
(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/1/18/Hit_and_run_L1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100614194758)(https://s1.mundogamers.com/uploaded/The%20Simpsons%20Hit%20and%20Run/The-Simpsons-Hit-Run-the-simpsons-35372963-1024-768.jpg)
Ah, the memories. I remember playing the shit out of this game back in high school or somewhere in 2007-2009. I replayed it some years later, but I still remember it clearly. It's kinda like a Grand Theft Auto but with The Simpsons. Well not really, there ain't nearly as much freedom as on that one, but it's still a hella lot of fun. Most missions involve car chases, races, destroying statues, etc. Sorry for the short writeup, it's just that it's been so long since I've played it but loved it so much :lol
20
Metroid Prime
2002
(https://gocdkeys.com/images/captures/metroid-prime-trilogy-wii-u-2.jpg)(https://www.gameit.es/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/metroid-prime-1.png)
Speaking of memories, I don't recall whether this or Zero Mission was the first Metroid I ever played. And somehow I don't really recall much from this game? Like, I played it less than 5 years ago, had a blast with it, but for the life of me, can't remember most levels or enemies, only the final bosses. Maybe because I played it on an emulator and my PC wasn't powerful enough to run it smoothly so in many places it went really slow. I really must replay it now that my computer is powerful enough and I've got the Trilogy edition plus some Wiimotes. Anyways, this was the first 3D Metroid and although some panicked when it was announced it'd be in first person, most can confirm it was nothing to worry about - this just create a unique level of immersion and reinforced the lonely atmosphere of the series. It's probably my least favorite game of the trilogy but still a damn solid title. Really wished more Metroidvanias took this approach instead of copying Super Metroid, this is just better imo. Better mechanics, more action, way more exploration, more story if you want to delve into it, dope electronic soundtrack, beautiful art direction. Up my alley.
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I played hit and run for the first time ever a few years ago and it was really fun. I expected it to be crap like most tv or movie based games but it really held my attention.
I've never played a metroid game sadly.
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I played hit and run for the first time ever a few years ago and it was really fun. I expected it to be crap like most tv or movie based games but it really held my attention.
I've never played a metroid game sadly.
Indeed, there aren't many good games that are based on other media. Tried other The Simpsons games but weren't half as fun as this one.
There's the Metroid Prime Trilogy edition for Wii and Wii U if you have those consoles. I personally prefer them to the 2D games :P
Also sorry, been some rough, busy days, and I've been watching quite a bit of Mr Robot but I'll try be more productive:
19
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
2011
(https://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple/v4/41/86/ef/4186ef60-67d7-2b30-c9bf-c3a44e06a330/screen800x500.jpeg)(https://www.omnizine.fr/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Deus_Ex_Human_Revolution_Hengsha.jpg)
Found a cheap used copy of this one for PS3 and couldn't resists - I had heard many good things of this game. And they were true. Officially a prequel to the iconic Deus Ex (which I have yet to play), Human Revolution features very similar gameplay: for each mission you're offered several ways to approach them, like going full Rambo and making the game a FPS, or avoiding being noticed, acting like a ghost, which can make it a stealth game, or some middle ground. Love hacking and minigames? Although there are just a few required panels and computers you must hack, most are optional and worth trying due to the ammo, cash, and very peculiar information about the world of Deus Ex. It's essentially an "immersive simulator", because you can play the game the way you want and you're equally rewarded on any way. Plot will not win any awards, but it's a solid story about a man who got augmentations on most of his body to prevent death after an accident, and must rescue his lover and stop the opposite forces, while uncovering a deep conspiracy. What's interesting is that most of the game's population is against augmentations, and riots and unfriendly faces aren't uncommon. Despite being mostly straightforward, it's a game about choices and the dangers of them, ironically expressed by the iconic protagonist's phrase "I never asked for this". I personally found the ending to be exactly this, and surprisingly well-written and a bit philosophical without trying to be too deep. All in all, it's a hella lot of fun. Get the Director's Cut edition, has some fixes and graphical improvements, and bosses are more balanced than in the original game.
18
Hacknet
2015
(https://otronerd.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/c04e9bdd7a1879c80e82aa7d774c9d4b598cede23d0dca4066aee5ea3121da34.jpg)(https://otronerd.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/441a1e43a925b6bdb37873a3e50ae8ed75f513ae2080735a516f8730feb2ce93.jpg)
HacknetOS is a mysterious OS in which a hacker named Bit had been working on for a certain company as consultant, that has the peculiarity of being impenetrable. But Bit is gone, since he hasn't logged into his system for 14 days, which activates a failsafe that sends pre-written emails to you, the player, asking for help. But first you'll need to get experience about the hacking world: mostly using a terminal, with real Linux commands, you'll have to connect to other computers and servers, bypass the security measures, like firewalls and proxies, and connect through a port and start looking for relevant data or files. Don't forget to delete the logs of your activity.
Most of the game consists on accepting contracts from several hacking organizations that offer their services for just causes, never for malign reasons - fighting to improve on the bad reputation hackers have is a common theme. Most missions are simple, like looking for a certain file, but there are more complex ones like changing the right information is a big database, or a very long one that involves deactivating someone's pacemaker because he and his family got his eutanasia rejected. It's a completely optional contract if your ethics don't agree with it, but if you give it a try, you'll spend hours reading technical documentation about the pacer, how to update its firmware, breaking into the manufacturer's servers, remotely connecting to the device, finding a way to overload it, etc.
Although it's not a very long game (5-6 hours to beat it), it's quite addictive and adrenaline-inducing - there's something to loading several programs to open the ports and cracking the passwords, using shells on other machines to overload a proxy, etc., all of it before the machine can trace you while some dope electronic music pushes you to go. It's quite an intense, wonderful experience (if ridden with some bugs) with a story that's better written than you'd expect, that will make you feel like a Hackerman. Recommended for fans of Uplink (this one doesn't delete your save if you die :lol) and hacking games.
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Bought Deus Ex: Human Revolution on a whim and a huge Steam sale. It's next on my list to play so nice to see a good write-up here.
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i did not find uplink very enjoyable but hacknet was pretty good, yeah. still need to check out the DLC sometime but I liked the main game plenty
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Human Revolution made my Top 25 too. Fantastic game. I just started Mankind Divided a couple of weeks ago. Took a bit of time to get re-adjusted to this style of game, but I'm mostly digging it so far.
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I have the Deux Ex games too, on deck. I spent so much f$%^&%$ time on Oblivion, that I decided I had to clear out some older games first, and at least get into this DECADE for Pete's sake! :)
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The only deus ex game I've played is the original but I own HR, great write up.
Hacknet sounds like something I'd love, I play uplink a bunch so I have to try this.
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Bought Deus Ex: Human Revolution on a whim and a huge Steam sale. It's next on my list to play so nice to see a good write-up here.
I have the Deux Ex games too, on deck. I spent so much f$%^&%$ time on Oblivion, that I decided I had to clear out some older games first, and at least get into this DECADE for Pete's sake! :)
The only deus ex game I've played is the original but I own HR, great write up.
Hacknet sounds like something I'd love, I play uplink a bunch so I have to try this.
You'll have a blast! :tup
Human Revolution made my Top 25 too. Fantastic game. I just started Mankind Divided a couple of weeks ago. Took a bit of time to get re-adjusted to this style of game, but I'm mostly digging it so far.
I'll definitely get MD if I can find a good sale for it :P
i did not find uplink very enjoyable but hacknet was pretty good, yeah. still need to check out the DLC sometime but I liked the main game plenty
Oh yeah haven't tried the DLC either but looks so rad, will get it eventually.
17
The Beginner's Guide
2015
(https://i1.wp.com/media.boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/games.png?resize=930%2C581)(https://i11b.3djuegos.com/juegos/12443/the_beginner_s_guide/fotos/set/the_beginner_s_guide-3203103.jpg)
This game... can hardly be called a game, because it's more of an experience, and one curiously about making games. Yes, it's one of those infamous "walking simulators", this time made by Davey Wreden, the guy behind The Stanley Parable. What makes The Beginner's Guide shine is despite the lack of other mechanics, is due to most of the game revolving around exploring little games a friend of Davey created and shared with him long ago. It's a fascinating journey in which Wreden tries to interpret the meaning behind these very weird, abstract games made with the Source Engine. Because I believe it's a game better played knowing next to nothing about it, I'll just say that, despite being quite short (can be beaten in less than 3 hours), it's a powerful experience that touches on the topics of self-expression and connecting with others, the difficulties and the constant writer's blocks and crisis artists face often, sometimes even crippling their creativity.
16
Super Mario Galaxy
2007
(https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/06_screenshots/games_5/wii_7/wii_supermariogalaxy/Wii_SuperMarioGalaxy_05_mediaplayer_large.jpg)(https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/06_screenshots/games_5/wii_7/wii_supermariogalaxy/Wii_SuperMarioGalaxy_06_mediaplayer_large.jpg)
It's a 3D Mario game except it's set in f*cking space. Really, just look at how wonderful this games looks and plays like. And sounds like - this time Koji Kondo teamed up with some little-known artists and both wrote a magnificent soundtrack, sometimes pure symphonic bliss (Dusty Garden Galaxy leaves me speechless), sometimes going a bit into a more playful, electronic vibe. While the main ones are easy enough to let anybody finish the game, the completionists will find some classic hardcore levels, sometimes involving getting a certain amount of coins before the time is over, sometimes it's beating your own shadow before it reaches the level's star. I don't really have much to say, it's just a magnificent game, with brilliant visual, sound, and level design. It's really worth getting a Wii just for this one and the sequel.
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Yes "The Beginners Guide"!!! It's a fantastic game (if you can even call it that). I remember grabbing some drinks and getting through it one night, I really hope he comes back and makes another game (story/walking simulator?)
Everyone raves about Super Mario Galaxy (even my GF who rarely plays anything). I have the wii set up to play it but never seem to get away from my PC to play it.
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SMG was awesome. I don't understand the full appeal of Mario64, partly because it has control issues. I felt none of this in SMG.
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The Beginner's Guide is great but a tad short for the price, again :V
Both galaxy games are quite good though ofc
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SMG was awesome. I don't understand the full appeal of Mario64, partly because it has control issues. I felt none of this in SMG.
I love it mostly for nostalgic reasons, was the first game I played and got obsessed with :P
The Beginner's Guide is great but a tad short for the price, again :V
That's why I got it on a sale for $4 :^)
Also sorry for the slacking, had some rough days again, so have a double update to compensate!
15
Transistor
2014
(https://images-1.gog.com/cc78179a5ebaa55092293ecf6b30ac1ca827e7b68f04187da7d655b9ef47a64d.jpg)(https://images-3.gog.com/f351a17527e80e5185b31e0a70f272e2224d7a57abaf0641c047a5e198675701.jpg)
Red, a famous singer in a city called Cloudbank, is attacked by the Process, a robotic force commanded by a group called the Camerata. She manages to escape and comes into possession of the mysterious Transistor—the great sword-like weapon she was to be assassinated with. The Transistor is buried into the chest of a man, now slumped over and dead; though his consciousness and voice seem to have been absorbed into the Transistor itself along with Red's voice. The Camerata continue to track Red and the Transistor down with the Process, wanting the weapon for some yet-unknown cause. But enough Wiki, let's go to the gameplay.
Transistor is quite an interesting isometric action RPG that can also be played as tactical, turn-based one. You'll find many "functions" that give you special powers and attacks and that encourage you to combine them to get unique advantages, as you can only have a few at a time and some can be added as "enhancements" to others. You can play just on a fast-paced action mode, but you'll usually end up making use of the Turn() function that enables you to freeze the game and plan your attacks. There's limited energy for this though, and the powerful attacks consume a lot of it, thus a healthy combination of both ways of playing is ideal - it's a tough game, but quite a rewarding one if you take the time to practice.
The story, while not mindblowing, is delivered through the sword's short phrases and a few cinematic cutscenes. But my favorite aspect is how each song that plays on a boss, has lyrics not just directly related to the enemy, but they're written as if Red was singing to them. There are many cool details like these that just add up to the immersion. And the soundtrack is some lovely electronic music, sometimes leaning towards post-rock and trip-hop. The amazing art direction goes without saying by the way.
If you loved Bastion (or not), you should really play Transistor - made by the same team, it just feels more refined and superior in every sense to me. Maybe I'm just a sucker for cyberpunk.
14
Hexcells Plus
2014
(https://cloud-3.steamusercontent.com/ugc/536265614619082089/4F664BA34797AF6522F29B61E8D2DC7DAD2264DE/)(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/13/dec/hexx3.jpg)
Basically like Hexcells but way harder and with a new mechanic. Very, very tough puzzle game on the last levels but incredibly rewarding. I've already written about Hexcells so won't repeat myself - just get this one if you're into puzzle games.
13
OFF
2008
(https://media.giphy.com/media/10oHy7Ad4IefYI/giphy.gif)(https://lparchive.org/OFF/Update%2006/59-047.png)
One of the most unique games I've played. It's basically just a game made with RPG Maker with a very unique style and story - you can see how Undertale took some inspiration from this. Besides enemy encounters there are some simple puzzles, though they're not easy to figure out at first glance. Soundtrack is some electro swing madness during battles, and some lovely ambient and trip-hop/techno tunes during the vast majority of the game. On this game you're commended a puppet, The Batter, and your mission is guide him to cleanse the lands from evil. Seems pretty simple but this game hold a deep, complex story despite its short length.
OFF it's a game of contrasts: the ultra minimalist level design against the very detailed, hand-drawn character sprites during battles; the absolute, calm certainty of our main character of his actions seem magical to the doubtful, stressed inhabitants of this strange world; and mostly the simplicity of the first levels in terms of plot and storytelling to the absolute mindfuckery of the final ones.
A very unique experience that everybody should play, mostly because it's free (https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ojpf2cyfxs0b0d/OFF%20Update.zip?dl=0)! Although it was originally written in French, it has since been translated to several languages, English included. Give it a try.
12
Fallout New Vegas
2010
(https://media.diehardgamefan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/FalloutNewVegassc03.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/1eBeV.jpg)
Ok I'm cheating right here - I haven't finished this game. But I've spent too many hours, done most of the side-quests, and am pretty close to reaching the final missions, so I let it pass. New Vegas takes the base that Bethesda created for Fallout 3 and just expand on it with a more intricate plot, several more factions, and way more content (for a detailed explanation, here (https://imgur.com/olUvIVr)) - it's overall a stronger feeling of freedom, even if you'll end up fighting for Hoover Dam regardless of choice :lol. I sadly bought the basic version for PS3 so haven't played any of the DLCs yet but I plan on buying them and finishing this title. There's not much to say, it's just an amazing title, perfect for fans of exploration and RPG elements like me.
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New vegas is the awesome one. Not that I don't like 3 and 4, but new vegas is wildly imaginative and creative in its story telling and what you can do.
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I've never played Transistor but is that the same studio that made Bastion?
I've started New Vegas but haven't gotten very far. From what my friends tell me is that it's the best Fallout game.
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SMG was awesome. I don't understand the full appeal of Mario64, partly because it has control issues. I felt none of this in SMG.
This is exactly how I feel. SMG was on my list and is, IMO, the best 3D Super Mario there is.
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I've never played Transistor but is that the same studio that made Bastion?
I've started New Vegas but haven't gotten very far. From what my friends tell me is that it's the best Fallout game.
It is!
It's my favorite of all I've played. Starts a little slow but when you get a bit further into it, it just grabs you strong.
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Never got round to playing Transistor, but I liked Bastion a lot.
New Vegas is brilliant! I definitely found it more engaging than 3.
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I've never played Transistor but is that the same studio that made Bastion?
I've started New Vegas but haven't gotten very far. From what my friends tell me is that it's the best Fallout game.
It is!
It's my favorite of all I've played. Starts a little slow but when you get a bit further into it, it just grabs you strong.
I'll have to play it. I loved Bastion. I'm also curious about Pyre.
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I found Transistor reeeeally boring myself. But ehh
Also are all three hexcells games gonna be on here? :lol
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Also are all three hexcells games gonna be on here? :lol
Nah just those two, haven't finished Infinite yet, too brutal :lol
11
Portal
2007
(https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/?url=https://cdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/400/0000002585.1920x1080.jpg?t=1490208592)(https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/?url=https://cdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/400/0000002587.1920x1080.jpg?t=1490208592)
I've always been a little harsh against games featuring arbitrary puzzles that serve no other purpose than solving the puzzle - there's no narrative progression, no logical reason even. So a game literally about solving puzzles is what I prefer. And man, Portal does deliver. Amazing, clever puzzles and witty, sarcastic monologues by GLaDOS, the AI that's designed to make you solve the many tests. It's not particularly long, and it was mostly an experiment, but it went nuts - there's almost no nerd who hasn't heard the phrase "The Cake is a Lie" these days. Just play it, it's brilliant. And the sequel is even better!
10
World of Goo
2010
(https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/?url=https://cdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/22000/0000005587.1920x1080.jpg?t=1447351487)(https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/?url=https://cdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/22000/0000005582.1920x1080.jpg?t=1447351487)
This was one of the first indie games I got into, like almost 10 years ago (holy shit). Don't remember how, I just kept seeing it pop up here and there and just had to play it. It's basically a bit of a logic game, not really a puzzle one, in which you have to use these little creatures called Goos and make solid structures with them and try get the most amount to the pipe that will send them to World of Goo Corporation - the faster you make it, and the less Goos you use, the higher the score for the level. The story kind of makes not much sense, it's about these creatures being awakened by this corporation, and used to make drinks and cosmetics. So the goal is to stop this company and find out of its secret plans. It's pretty goofy and cartoonish but it's a lot of fun. Just a lovely little game.
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Just finished Portal and about 2/3 the way through Portal 2. Great fun!
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World of Goo hype! Nice Sacul! I played it on Wii, had no idea the story behind it for some reason.
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Portal and World of Goo are classics! I've wanted to replay Portal for sometime now.
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I've played 40 minutes of Portal according to steam, but never got back to it. Didn't find it that interesting, and the voice is obnoxious. I don't think I've played World of Goo, but I enjoy other similar puzzle games.
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Two games I had way back in the day and never played much of. Portal gave me motion sickness - the only game to date to do that to me, although Half-Life 2 gave me headaches for reasons I could never pinpoint - and World of Goo was fun as hell but I just never beat it. I think it's on Switch now so I may have to pick it up again, it was such a cool idea for a game!
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Glad to see fans of World of Goo :heart
9
Silent Hill 3
2003
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/e/e3/CancerShoot.gif/revision/latest?cb=20150321081347)(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/e/e7/SH3Otherworld.png/revision/latest?cb=20150817062952)(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/a/a0/MemoryBlock.gif/revision/latest?cb=20160426171302)
This was very hard, choosing the position, for I feel both games are awesome in their own way and each one's strenghts make up for the other's weaknesses, so they're kinda balanced in a way. But today I'll give that extra edge to SH2. So, Silent Hill 3: for some reason, sequel to the first game on the series, although even saying that is a little spoiler, but common knowledge anyways. Story is, again, based on some weird cults that try reviving a god and Heather, the main character, is the key to it all.
Gameplay is similar to that of the previous two installments: puzzle solving, collecting key items, and fighting (or rather fleeing from) monsters to survive. Heather is equipped with a flashlight and radio; the flashlight is often the only source of light, and the radio emits static when an enemy is near.
So, to me, the weak aspects are the lame plot and all those cheesy monologues about God and such. What's great is the excellent graphics, that have aged very well for the most part, and the overall atmosphere and music, quite terrifying at times. It also has my favorite scene from the franchise, that one in which the room gets covered in dark blood. Great game, scary without having jumpscares at all. Wished more games followed that philosophy.
8
Silent Hill 2
2001
(https://media.giphy.com/media/EHEQ5YVZz7b9e/giphy.gif)(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/1/13/Otherworld1F.png/revision/latest?cb=20150519103707)(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/1/17/BHN.gif/revision/latest?cb=20150209023511)
And yes, the most loved games in the franchise, and for good reasons: while the first SH game had this cheesy plot about a cult trying to awake a god or something like that, the second game took a very different direction, towards a more intimate, down-to-earth kind of plot, about a guy who receives a letter from his dead wife. In the letter, says she's waiting for him on their "special place", thus James travels there to see if she really is alive.
Now Silent Hill is no longer a demonic city but rather a surreal place of multiple meanings and symbolism - some think of it as a kind of purgatory. And this is shown by the enemies being direct representations of several aspects of James, mostly his horny side - María, his wife's doppelganger (who dresses provocatively), and the iconic Pyramid Head, both represent his sexual desires and urges. This can also be seen on the sexy nurses, and the leggy monsters. There are other characters, which we're not sure they are meant to be other people that just happen to be in the same purgatory as James but seeing different things, or are also parts of him but in human form.
Gameplay is the same as SH3, with the classics radio and torchlight, a couple of weapons, and little ammo. Music is the excellent combination of Dark Ambient, Trip-Hop, Industrial, and Alternative Rock that has made composer Akira Yamaoka so iconic to the series - he's also the sound designer, and even generated like 70 different footstep sounds for James, and had them slightly delayed do they'd put off the player, making them think they're being followed. Graphics haven't aged very well, the lack of decent lightning and shadows it's a little rough for modern gamers, and textures are of low resolution. And some puzzles don't make much sense and are kinda arbitrary at times. But the story is great, so that makes up for its flaws, just barely enough to prefer it to SH3.
It's one of the very few games I'd say are art, because all the meaning that it's being subtly told via level and enemy design, the careful attention to creating a unique, coherent atmosphere, and the excellent storytelling, just adds layers rarely seen in games.
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I've always wanted to play the silent hill games but I never gave them a chance because the camera view reminded me of Resident evil which I didn't care much for.
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The camera is not fixed tho, it's constantly moving, and the games have options to switch from tank controls to ones you prefer.
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SH2 hype! I just a Pyramid Head shirt from SGDQ 2017. Love this game, and is indeed a piece of art across the board.
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The camera is not fixed tho, it's constantly moving, and the games have options to switch from tank controls to ones you prefer.
:lol yea I realized that a little bit ago when watching some let's play's.
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Wasn't a huge fan of world of goo when I played it but I really do not like physics puzzlers at all so ehh
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Sorry for the silence, been a little busy and also kind of forgot about this :lol But hopefully this will be over soon.
7
The Cat Lady
2012
(https://images-2.gog.com/44a76d9c977dbf047ff86941bc7eec7cf82f74acaac5079ee79f64199457181a.jpg)(https://images-2.gog.com/269402ff40349c2b1921a633865ff6e214ec9e46f6462c78e5e71172009fc18d.jpg)(https://images-3.gog.com/fb265f5fd4c7d9888a34ef7cb926e15bff52de8316bdab933985289aaaef58e0.jpg)
I don't know why I've played so many graphical adventure games if I don't even like the genre and think it features some really bad design: arbitrary, non-sensical puzzles; bland storytelling; point-and-click pixel hunting for random items; finding the key for a door (because it's the only way to put an obstacle it seems); etc. I'm not the only one, Jonathan Blow (Braid, The Witness) has also been very critical of these kind of games. So why the hell is there one of those games here, and so high on the list? Because it avoids pretty much all of those mistakes, and it's a unique game.
The game revolves around Susan Ashworth, a lonely, depressed woman in her 40s known on her building as The Cat Lady, who commits suicide by overdosing. But she wakes up in some weird land, where she meets a being that has cursed her with immortality. But, if she accepts an offer this being gives her, she would be granted something special, something she had always desired... The mission? Get rid of some psychotic people called "Parasites", who will try to befriend her but betrayal is their goal. She'll travel between the world of the living and the dead, tracking down and defeating these Parasites, but she's no hero - just doesn't have any other choice.
Gameplay is basically solving some very simple, but absolutely logical puzzles (the very few times I used a walkthrough felt dumb for not realizing the simple solutions), like using a rock to break a window and stealing a gun, or sometimes something more metaphorical. I love there's no point & click at all - yes, the game is side-scrolling and controlled only with keyboard. When an item is nearby and it's possible to interact with it, a little menu will pop to let you pick it up or interact with it. I was surprised by how mature and well-written the story is, with some strong surrealism mostly serving as metaphors, as well as by the quality of the voice acting. The art style is a beautiful collage of photographs and digital drawings and models, along with some handdrawn stuff. For the most part it works and gives it its charm, although at moments it can feel really forced (although that's kinda the point), playing strong with the uncanny valley. Music is pretty cool ambient along with some very atmospheric noise rock tracks, very enjoyable.
It's quite a visceral, brooding, and powerful game - quite a journey, if you ask me, and wonderfully put together. The Cat Lady has a couple of endings depending of your choices along the way, so chose carefully.
6
Mirror's Edge
2008
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/thegameroom/images/6/6f/Mirrors_Edge_Gameplay.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140311192939)(https://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2000000/Sewer-2-mirrors-edge-2064593-1280-720.jpg)(https://media.gamersnexus.net/images/stories/Reviews/Xbox/mirrorsedge/FaceMeetBoot.jpg)
As with World of Good, I have no clue why I forgot to include this game on my previous - played the shit out of it many times. I'll keep this writeup simple: it's kind of a parkour game, in the sense your character has to run, jump, and climb through everything to reach your destination, or run from it. The story is about a woman whose parents were murdered as the result of some very strict government, and has become this edgy anti-system person. Now they're hunting her (and of her kind) down, and also blaming her sister for some murder? I don't remember a lot of the plot, but it didn't make much sense I guess - it's just crap. However, everything else is fantastic - level design, gameplay, graphics (looks like it could have been released today), the wonderful minimalism and clean aesthetic of a future society, and some dope techno music. Well, gameplay is not perfect - there are many instances in which you'll have to fight or jump around cops and it's tedious. And some levels are a bit obtuse on the design so the way through isn't really clear. But, all in all, it's a fucking blast and lots of fun. I guess I'll eventually play the sequel (reboot?), but reviews aren't positive so we'll see about it.
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the cat lady is cool, i didn't think it lived up to my expectations but i still enjoyed it
mirror's edge is a game i should enjoy a lot more than i do but god. DAMN. is the combat just, awful & honestly ruins the game for me, take out the combat and just make it about the parkour and it'd be great but geez.
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I have mirrors edge but never played it. I've never heard of "The Cat Lady" but it looks interesting.
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Ok, time to finish this soon, 1 game per day, I'll try keep my schedule :P
5
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
2007
(https://i.imgur.com/nKkZnSA.png)(https://extralifereviews.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/metroid-prime-3-gameplay.png)(https://www.hardcoregamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/metroid-prime-3-screenshot.jpg)
Yes I'll admit I'm a big Metroid fan, but honestly, while I find the 2D games pretty entertaining, they hold little replay value to me. Or maybe I'm just very attracted to the unique atmospheres and landscapes from the 3D ones, mostly the Prime Trilogy (even enjoyed Metroid: Other M!). Story is simple: Samus and her fellow bounty hunters are working for the Galactic Federation in a certain planetary system, when her doppelganger, Dark Samus, attacks and incapacitates them all with a mutagenic material called Phazon. After losing contact with the other hunter, Samus has to explore these planets to find what happened to them, while preventing the Phazon to spread and being slowly corrupted herself.
And this bring a unique mechanic - she can enter into Hyper Mode, consuming one of her energy tanks and gaining a temporal overdose of Phazon, making her beam way more powerful. But stay into this too long, and it will start corrupting her, making the Phazon levels go up. If they reach a limit, she dies. If you can hold it enough, her suit will automatically vent to prevent damage. The rest of the gameplay is classic Metroid: solve small puzzles, jump around and climb, discover new areas, go back to previous ones when you get a certain upgrade, shoot enemies, etc.
In my opinion, this all feels way more natural in first person and has aged way better than, say, Super Metroid. This is an epic, dark game, and a fantastic conclusion to the Trilogy, with even more refined gameplay and level design. Although I prefer Metroid Prime 2: Echoes a bit more, this is an excellent starting point for newcomers - don't worry about the plot, the games are barely connected with each other, just by a common enemy. If you have a Wii or Wii U, get the Trilogy Edition. You won't regret it.
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If you have a Wii or Wii U, get the Trilogy Edition. You won't regret it.
This, definitely, and yes I will have played all three Prime games twice through, and only done the 2D Metroid games once. I didn't care for the Phazon Hyper-mode thing, I thought it was actually the weakest part of the game. The only weak part, actually. I also prefer Prime 1 and 2, but not by a whole lot.
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4
Hotline Miami
2012
(https://i0.wp.com/caesoose.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/mask-select.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1)(https://criticasyanalisisdevideojuegos.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/hm-1.jpg)(https://danysk.github.io/images//2014/2014-08-23_00002.jpg)
This is one of the most intense, addictive games I've ever played. You basically are assigned on each chapter a building full of Russian mobs and have to kill them all. But you've got no armor, just a mask, and you'll die very often. But the game lets you restart the level instantly and refine your strategy, because you'll need to sneak in and react fast, think fast. Sometimes even have milimetrical precision and much patience - it's normal to restart a level at least 20 times. There's a wide range of guns and you can throw them to knock down the enemies for some second, and either end or use them as shields. At the end of each level, you get a score based on different factors, and you can unlock new weapons the more points you earn.
That's basically the core of the game, and while I wouldn't normally be attracted to something like it, the strong retro 80s aesthetic, the excellent gameplay, and the goddamned music. Yes, the fucking music is some dope adrenaline-inducing synthwave and has quickly become one of my favorite soundtracks. It's varied, it's creative, and it weirdly fits despite being composed by tracks from 9 different artists. Also, the plot is surprisingly well written and kinda cryptic/hard to follow, but quite inventive and works well.
If you're looking for a very immersive, challenging, and just bad-ass game, get this one.
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I think Hotline Miami may have been my favorite game of that year. Holy shit, from the brutality, to the utterly incredible music. To the 80's aesthetic and fun, frantic gameplay. Hotline miami rules.
I want a switch version real bad
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I have it but haven't played it but I love the style of the game.
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Imma jump on that Hotline Miami dogpile. Fun as fuck.
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3
The Stanley Parable
2011
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitaltrends-uploads-prod/2013/10/The-Stanley-Parable-start-screen.jpg)(https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/stanley1-640x480.png)(https://images.gamersyde.com/image_the_stanley_parable-23477-2837_0005.jpg)
The Stanley Parable is quite a peculiar game made in the Source Engine: about a guy named Stanley (duh) whose job consists on pressing letters that appear in a screen. But one day, when he hasn't received any letter for almost an hour, he goes out of his office to find out his coworkers are gone. He only finds the usual, generic office stuff but no traces of them. Thus, he begins to wander while the narrator's voice tells the player about Stanley's inner thoughts and guides us. That's just the beginning - this game really branches off in many direction, with about 20 different endings depending on what routes you take. Although most people criticise "walking simulators" for a good reason, I feel this one is likely the apex of that kind of games, because the game it's pretty much about choices, that's the only mechanic, and it's exploited in many levels. It's a game about narrative in video games, about the mundane white collar job life, the illusion and desire of freedom, and many more topics depending on how you look at it. It's not very long and can be beaten in a few hours, but those will be some of the most interesting minutes you'll spend in a computer.
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Oops, sorry, been traveling a bit lately and I have some tests in college soon so I'll try wrap this up tomorrow. No love for Stanley tho? :'(
A little batch of extra honorable mentions that didn't make the cut:
- Frog Fractions: This game is on fucking drugs: starts like this silly game suppsedly made to teach children about fractions but ofc it's useless then slowly evolves into a... space game, then a hilarious interrogation, some minimalistic underwater platformer, a text adventure, and a president simulator. It's random in purpose and it's amazing at it. Can be beaten in under an hour and played for free (https://twinbeard.com/frog-fractions/).
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted: I've never been big on racing games beyond some Mario Kart and this one. Dunno how forgot my favorite NfS on my first list, played the shit out of it many times, although I could never actually beat it - last races were too tough for me, and my cars were shit.
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons: A game very inspired by ICO, following its minimalism and lack of dialogue. I'm amazed at how well the plot is told, and how dark it gets. My only complaint is the controls, you need to control each brother with an analog stick and it gets messy. I guess it's made to played by two people.
- Super Metroid: Of all Metroid games, it's actually one of my least favorites - I love the Prime trilogy to death, and just prefer Zero Mission and the bit of Fusion I've played to it. Hell I'd even prefer Other M if it didn't have such awful storytelling. Still, very solid title, amazing atmosphere and graphics, just some clunky mechanics that haven't aged well and some dumb design choices here and there.
- Minecraft: Oh man, got this one back when it was still in Alpha! Played countless hours with my friends and in servers. With the years I have move on and last time I revisited it (least year I think?) they had added some things I didn't like and replaced some of the classic sounds I came to love. Well, at least the soundtrack is still gorgeous as usual.
- Limbo: Pretty atmospheric, cinematic platformer. I dig how much it tells without saying a single thing, and it's quite unforgiving if you aren't paying attention. Can get a little boring at times, but it's a very intriguing game for sure.
- Pony Island: Solid little game about someone whose souls got trapped into a PC owned by the devil and must escape with the help of another trapped being. It's both cute and dark and not really about ponies :lol
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I'd even prefer Other M.....
I might prefer Other M to a colonoscopy, but not much else.
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Oops, sorry, been traveling a bit lately and I have some tests in college soon so I'll try wrap this up tomorrow. No love for Stanley tho? :'(
Heard about Stanley, but haven't played it. My modern game play-age is highly limited at this point. Game seemed like an awesome concept, so I may check it out at some point.
- Super Metroid: Of all Metroid games, it's actually one of my least favorites - I love the Prime trilogy to death, and just prefer Zero Mission and the bit of Fusion I've played to it. Hell I'd even prefer Other M if it didn't have such awful storytelling. Still, very solid title, amazing atmosphere and graphics, just some clunky mechanics that haven't aged well and some dumb design choices here and there.
I believe, seeing these lists and what is on mine, that game fondness is often tied to a person's age and point in time (just wait for my next list! *crickets*). So it's no surprise you like the other Metroid games over SM Sacul. I love SM, and think it is a near perfect game as time has passed for a bunch of reasons. But a lot of my view is because I played the original Metroid on the NES when I was like 12. Where as Metroid Prime 3 was cool for me, but no where near SM for me.
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Frog Fractions is pretty good but a bit dated
Frog Fractions 2 on the other hand was awful, I couldn't even bring myself to finish it
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Let's finish this.
2
Mother 3
2006
(https://ssl-forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0006/3920/noproblemhere2.PNG)(https://sammyjaywalters.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/40-35.png)(https://i.imgur.com/8TzO8u4.png)(https://lparchive.org/Mother-3-(by-Mega64)/Update%2001/98-118.gif)(https://extralifereviews.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/mother-3-krustys-expensive-new-suit.png)(https://lparchive.org/Mother-3/Update%2023/12-abandon-all-hope.gif)(https://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/images/feature/4066/m3.png)
It's hard to talk about this game because it's a direct sequel to Earthbound, although it's not evident for the most part of it. So I'll just sum up what I love about it.
First of all, its very quirky, absurdist nature. Never being too random, never too "normal" either, the Mother games have a very peculiar sense of humor, consisting on dad jokes, puns, self-references, and playing a lot with the player's expectations. It feels quite childish and silly for the most part, but there's a unique charm to it I can't explain, it just never feels off at all, just fits.
Although it's a turn-based RPG, it's also got a rhythm battle system - yes, you have to play in the song's beat in order to accumulate hits. It's not necessary to master this (I could barely get more than 2 or 3-hit strikes!), but I'll admit it's a lot of fun, and thankfully, for you'll need to grind quite a bit. Enemies are really really varied, sometimes completely absurd and random, and I love it. Mother 3 just has a very strong personality.
Music goes from electronic to samba, classical, 80s rock, rock & roll, ambient, even symphonic stuff. May not be as good as Earthbound's, but it's just a very different approach for a very different game. And graphics are some of the most beautiful pixel art I've seen, filled with bright colors and cartoon-ish sprites.
The plot is surprisingly well-written and developed, with great characters, and a lovely silly story paired with some grim, heart-breaking moments. I don't even know where to being talking about it without spoiling big plot points, so let's say it's about a very unusual group of people who become friends and have to save the world, and they're not heroes at all. But, you need to play Earthbound in order to fully understand it and, most of all, appreciate it - it won't have the same impact if you try this game first, and you'll be spoiled of course. I'll just say this game, despite having a bit of a cheesy ending, it's just quite powerful and emotional, and a wonderful way to wrap up the series.
1
Earthbound
1994
(https://i.imgur.com/t42LDL9.png)(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQEogyvUcAETBmT.png)(https://lparchive.org/Earthbound/Update%2018/22-s17.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/Ii6N1c8.png)(https://i.imgur.com/zhpCwUw.png)(https://i.imgur.com/N8hYsRt.png)(https://lparchive.org/Earthbound/Update%2016/11-capture_09032008_105901.png)(https://lparchive.org/Earthbound/Update%2018/33-s3.jpg)
Something strange happened with me and Earthbound - I developed an attachment, the sort of you have when you're a kid playing some really good games and just are fond of them forever. Thing is, I'm 21 and just finished this game some months ago, yet feels I grew up with it, or rather, I should have played it as a kid, for I would have loved it to death. And this feeling is not uncommon, for its a game with a very strong motherly feeling: the obvious lack of a fatherly figure, only present as a phone you have to call to when saving your progress; having homesick and needing to visit your mother to cure it and rest; even the fact your parents give you money every time you beat an enemy yet let you go out to save the world. Yes, the alien Giygas has returned from the first Mother game (this being the second one), and in 10 years he'll dominate Earth, so a bee was sent to the past to warn Ness and tell him it was his destiny to beat the evil. Thus, he'll head into one hell of a journey, finding new friends, discovering his own psychic powers, and stopping Giygas' evil influence.
But that's just part of the charm - Earthbound is a very silly, childish, absurdist game, and I mean it in the best way possible. It's got multiple references and parodies of popular culture, many dad jokes and puns, completely random stuff, crazy, hilarious situations, and more. I think the main theme is childhood and growing up, and it shows. The game only takes some dark twists here and there, and mostly in the final part of the plot, and man, it's just... moving. Really, Earthbound has one of the most beautiful, emotional endings of any game I've tried.
Graphics have aged amazingly well, just look at them! It's really beautiful to look at, easy on the eyes, and looks way better than most other RPGs at the time imo, which tried too hard to be realistic or have tons of details. Music it's mostly sampled, but sounds really really good, with a good portion of the cartridge's space dedicated exclusively to it. Doesn't have any concrete genre, just very charming, innocent songs paired with some dark, heavy ones. Combat is just simple turn-based style, with psychic techniques and physical attacks and items, but some statuses are unique, like crying or feeling weird.
It took me quite a while to get into it, but the more I played it, the more I got absorbed into it, and ended up loving it by the end of it. If you're someone who just plays RPGs for the plot itself, you won't find really much developed story, but if you just love quirky games, this is a must. It comes with the Super Nintendo Classic Mini and can be bought at the Wii U virtual console.
And that's it! Sorry it took me a little more than expected, but hope you found some great games on the list :P
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I believe, seeing these lists and what is on mine, that game fondness is often tied to a person's age and point in time (just wait for my next list! *crickets*). So it's no surprise you like the other Metroid games over SM Sacul. I love SM, and think it is a near perfect game as time has passed for a bunch of reasons. But a lot of my view is because I played the original Metroid on the NES when I was like 12. Where as Metroid Prime 3 was cool for me, but no where near SM for me.
Indeed, a lot of games on this list and mostly on my first list, were there just out of nostalgia and personal value :P
Frog Fractions is pretty good but a bit dated
Frog Fractions 2 on the other hand was awful, I couldn't even bring myself to finish it
Ohdamn, that's sad to hear :'( I guess I'll give it a chance anyways.
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Earthbound is my short list of to play games, a bummer I missed it during it's brief time in the sun. I haven't heard a bad thing about it I think!
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I'll get my thing going again.
This will interest two people here maybe. I could have done another top 25 list, but for one a lot of the games would get more obscure then my top 25 list. And I rather write up about games I’m more familiar with, and/or have played more recently.
NES Nostalgia 15 & 2!
Unfortunately then for more modern gamers, and some otherside-of-the-pond gamers, this could all be boring. The games will all be officially licensed Nintendo Entertainment System games, for mostly better or worse. I will also be using the NA release dates, as some games could have been released nearly two years before in Japan. Also there will be a lot of side-scrolling platforming games, because well, it’s the NES. To attempt to keep it less boring, I will be doing a top 25 NES games, which will include my previously noted ones. I wrote up eight already, so only 17 more to go, nearly already a third done already! Below will be the links for the top eight. Plus, two more of the games are from the honorable mentions! So really, it’s 15 more.
As a result of already doing my top eight NES games, I will actually work backwards, from #9 to #25. So it will be anti-climatic if you will. The new honorable mentions will conclude the list. I figured it is a way to change it up a touch, plus I don’t have much of a choice! I also have another issue; Battletoads and Zelda II are no longer actually #9 & #10, based on them being honorable mentions. I noted them to get the names out there to a degree, not thinking I would rank things further and write it out. So these two are lost somewhere in the ranking, until they re-appear!
1 (4) Blaster Master
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2156221#msg2156221
2 (9) Ninja Gaiden
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2149392#msg2149392
3 (11) Dragon Warrior/Quest IV
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2148735#msg2148735
4 (12) Super Mario Bros. 3
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2146791#msg2146791
5 (13) Tecmo Super Bowl
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2146236#msg2146236
6 (15) Mega Man 3
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2145402#msg2145402
7 (21) Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2142636#msg2142636
8 (23) Snake's Revenge
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg2141944#msg2141944
***What a great game, based on a film with four comedians. No Slimer though***
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(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/nintendo/images/2/23/Ghostbusters-nes.png/revision/latest?cb=20111024231317&path-prefix=en)
9) Ghostbusters {1987?}
A masterpiece, really. It has it all- the four busters. Ghosts. The song, complete with a voice sample if I remember correctly saying “Ghostbusters!” Ecto-1. Stay Puft, Gozer.
It goes beyond just that though- it adds in plausible stuff that maybe happened behind the scenes. We have the Busters driving Ecto-1 around the city, to their office and job sites!
(https://thepunkeffect.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ghostbusters_NES_ScreenShot3.gif)
It also adds in a stair case scene. Obviously the Busters needed to get to the roof of a tall building in the film. So they must have climbed up a bunch of flights of stairs! There is really unique gameplay here too; instead of using the D-pad, you have to mash the heck out of B and A buttons to climb or descend the stairs.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/isSEnYkq9u8/hqdefault.jpg)
Yeah, this game is bad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ghostbusters_video_games#Ghostbusters_.28Activision.29
Investigating the game a bit for this troll, it was initially not a Ghostbusters game (not surprising). And the ending text was programmed by a Japanese developer, as Activision didn’t like the initial ending so that explains the translation challenge.
This is probably the worst game I physically own. Wait, maybe it’s the WWF/E NES game. But that has no ending point, so it sits there on a shelf. I also did not buy Ghostbusters or WFF- both were given to me in a game lot. No one I knew owned this game, I never rented it, and no one spoke about the game. I’m happy for that! That all said, I did beat it once I got the physical copy. I used the NES Advantage to beat the stair case, even though there is a bug I guess. Otherwise, the game is monotonous, and more mindless then Final FantasyI leveling-up. It is pretty bad, although not the worst licensed NES game from what I gather. Might be the worst media-licensed game though. The Ghostbusters theme plays for-the-entire-game.
So onto the actual list then, for now... :)
***Not Mario, Not Zelda, but that other one. Sci-Fi film inspired.***
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(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/nintendo/images/4/40/Metroid_%28NES%29_%28NA%29.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20071214122533&path-prefix=en)(https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/18509-metroid-nes-front-cover.jpg)
9) Metroid {1986}
A truly remarkable game. Despite me ranking this below SMB3, I actually think Metroid is a better franchise. And in some ways, this is a better game. SMB3 has much more weight to it, and I play SMB3 more than Metroid. But this is only because Super Metroid is so much more refined, and I prefer that over Metroid and SMB3. Also SMB3 is more mindless so to speak, so it’s a good tune out vs. Metroid.
So what makes this game awesome? At its core, I think it’s a splendid combination of the other two flagship franchises- the less linear & RPG elements of Zelda, combined with the platforming of Mario. This game is the start of the whole Metroidvania thing, as this had basically all the elements of those games right here and now.
(https://electromagneticproject.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/metroid-lost.jpg)
What else makes this game unique? It is heavily inspired by Alien. It gives you that solitary feeling in space. This is accomplished in a couple of ways, primarily the music. The extra-terrestrial nature of enemies, and a stretch would be to say some of images. Not so much, especially considering the limitations of the hardware. And there are lots of vibrant colors that go against this. But some aesthetics, and the backgrounds are all black. Where as Mario is not. Oh, and yeah, the main character is a woman. So there is that similarity too. And the titular characters latch onto you like a parasite, not too far off a face hugger. Plus the boss Ridley’s name is apparently a nod to Ridley Scott.
(https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/m/metroid-emr/metroid_13.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BcMoL-9ph2g/hqdefault.jpg)
~edit~ forgot I talked about the music here
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2101825#msg2101825
That soundtrack- wow. I didn’t even know its greatness until there was metroidmetal.com. That gave me a fresh look, and really really made me appreciate it. There are some melodies, with Brinstar being the highlight. And what a start to the game with that, as it charges you up only to change not long after. The melodies are mostly forsaken for moody (Norfair), eerie at times (Ridley & Kraid) pieces.
The gameplay is maybe the only downfall to the game. But I give it more credit, as it was 1986. There is item progression, and this game is well known for despite being open, there is a sequence to generally follow. This game is not speed run and sequence broken like SM is. It also is not an easy game to explore, so think Zelda1 burning trees if you haven’t played this. There are items if I recall, and passages hidden within blocks you have to bust. So if you play this blindly, expect to sink a lot of time into it shooting stuff, and jumping in lava.
(https://metroid.retropixel.net/games/metroid/item_varia.gif)
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/312625-metroid-nes-screenshot-another-hidden-passage-there-are-many.png)
So the game is not a technical skill burden, but a chore to explore. If you haven't played this, and want to do it without assistance, you will need to map it out. Also, the story of the franchise is better than Mario (fairytale basically) and Zelda. I also prefer the setting of space and the future, vs. almost medieval or whimsical. Zelda does get the edge for story on NES, as I don’t recall Metroid having any text in-game. Once again, there is the big ? type of feel to the game. Some of this comes down to maybe the time period it was released (similar box to black-box NES games), and Miyamoto wasn't directly involved. A nice explanation of the limitation of NES story telling at that time; it ties it to Alien again, as that movie left us with questions of the heck is that alien about?
***Konami’s horror franchise, better than the first one.***
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Never played any of the Metroid games unless you count playing Samus on Super Smash Brothers, great write though!
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This game is not speed run and sequence broken like SM is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs)
this guy begs to differ, haha... awesome write up, one of my favorites since I was a kid. The whole series is a lot of fun!
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This game is not speed run and sequence broken like SM is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kQ3l-1qMs)
this guy begs to differ, haha... awesome write up, one of my favorites since I was a kid. The whole series is a lot of fun!
Thanks! Agreed, haven't been a bad one I played.
I actually pulled the a lot of what I said about the game being busted for running, which shows; I didn't mean it's not broken at all. :lol. Some of my pull was based on skimming this run. I meant Metroid is not broken apart as much as SM, or speed run to the amount or degree. SM they can do anything anywhere basically sans MotherBrain; there is an item location randomization tournament finishing up right now!
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Castlevania_III_Dracula%27s_Curse.jpg)
10) Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse {1990}
I honestly could still swap this with Simon’s Quest and be happy. And I’ll say it now, no Castlevania1 (C1) on this list. Primarily I didn’t want to be redundant, as C1 could have easily beaten out some games on my list. But C3 and C2 do things differently, and better. C1 is pretty barebones when you hold it up to C2 & C3, and certainly next to what the series became. So we have a platformer here with a horror theme. You have a series staple of the whip, as in C1 & C2. Back from C1 are the same sub-weapons, plus hearts in candles.
This game is also often considered harder than C1, although I don’t fully believe that. If you don’t use “help me” as a name for the 10 lives, then maybe I could see that.
(https://www.protipoftheday.com/sites/default/files/cv3_help_me2.gif)
Three total lives are then the default I think. Also, add in the password system, improved over C2, which made the game easier to progress through. C1 was an all-in-one sitting or leave-system-on type game.
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/9/99/Dracula%27s_Curse_-_Password_-_03.png/revision/latest?cb=20150815175838)
Regardless, the game is a challenge, and you will have many deaths. You can also be cruel to yourself and replay the game after you beat it. The diffuclity is ratcheted up further. And if you really want to nail yourself, just use Trevor Belmont (the whip guy). So maybe if you don’t use help me, play the game after beating it, and just use Trevor, the game might be extreme hard…*goes and tries this*
The game changing addition to C3 is the character “spirits” of Grant, Syfa, & Alucard. I don’t know why they were called ghost spirits originally, as the characters are alive in other games (at least Alucard is). Maybe it’s because you beat two of them in battle. Konami was rotten with actual game stories vs. what was written in their manuals though. I heard that Nintendo of America or others wrote the manual stories, separate from the game creators. Also, a recent development is the Netflix show. I haven’t watched it, but apparently it is this game.
So what these spirits do is give you new attributes. Syfa and Grant are weaker taking damage-wise more than Trevor and Alucard. Grant is probably my favorite, as he can climb walls, seems slightly faster moving, can change directions of his jump in midair, and has a small hit box. This allows you to easily duck axe throwing knights.
(https://images.eurogamer.net/2014/usgamer/castlevania3-spot3.gif)
Syfa has three spells via the candle drop items. Ice and Thunder are generally better than the easiest one to get, Fire. But all three are powerful. I like her base attack too. Alucard is easily the worst, which was funny because we thought he was going to be awesome. He can turn into a bat and fly, which can be useful. Problem is it uses hearts. Grant does not use hearts to climb, so that advantage for Alucard is basically a wash. His hitbox is large because of his height, and his attack is the worst in the game. It can reach the three fireball thing that Dracula does, but it’s so weak. Syfa’s base melee attack is stronger, and I think Grant may be too. If he isn’t, his strike speed makes up for it. So you will frequently be shifting back to Trevor for attacks. Further, his pathway through the game is harder than the other. He is clearly inspired by Bela Legosi’s Dracula, I would say even more so than Dracula himself. Konami however really fixed up Alucard for the better, appearance and skill, via Symphony of the Night.
(https://www.gamingrebellion.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cv3friends.jpg)
The new part of this game is branching pathways. People would cite Dracula X (the PC Engine one) as a great game, and it was heralded for this. But it started in C3. The two paths funnel into the same last handful of stages. And Grant actually requires a terminal stage to obtain, so you literally go up and get him, and come back down. Syfa and Alucard are on different pathes, so while Grant can meet the other two characters, Syfa cannot meet Alucard. So you really get a great bang for your buck with this game, considering C1 had like six stages. There has to be at least 14 in this game, and they are not reused stage assets. Speaking of re-used stuff, some bosses are back here from C1.
(https://i0.wp.com/telebunny.net/toastyblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/130109-cv3-04.gif?resize=480%2C448)
~past music post~
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2101627#msg2101627
And the music, ah the music, the music! I will go with these being the best tunes of all three Castlevania NES games, and rivals many other of the system’s soundtracks. I could consider moving it around of my favorite NES music. Outside of the new stellar tunes, we get a Vampire Killer redo in the Grim Reaper/Death’s stage. I don’t know the names, but the first stage, forest, waterfall stage, stage before second to last, second to last, and all of last stage’s music are awesome right off the top of my head. The ghost ship music fits the mood well there too. If you played C3 on NES and think the music was good, check out the Famicom soundtrack. It had an extra sound channel or something, so there is some cool additions or better sounds.
***A superior Zelda1-style game, with a mishmash of themes set in 1997.***
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Another game I haven't played, I have played any of the Castlevania games actually. Aren't they known for being really tough games?
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1 Blaster Master
3 Dragon Warrior IV
4 Super Mario Bros. 3
6 Mega Man 3
9 Metroid
10 Castlevania 3
I imagine we would get along if we were to play games together. Your top 10 NES games have 6 that I would consider "must-plays". CV3, in particular, might be my favorite Castlevania game in general. SOTN and the two PS2 games are up there, too, but CV3 was the original innovator. While the first one was great, it was a bit too short (and a bit more difficult than CV3). And while the second one was a complete overhaul of the level design, they made it way too easy (infinite lives/continues, starting at the exact place you die after death/continues) and way too convoluted if you don't use a walkthrough. Dracula's Curse was the sweet spot for me. Difficulty was spot on, the branching levels, the friends you meet along the way... everything about this game is awesome. Good pick!
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Another game I haven't played, I have played any of the Castlevania games actually. Aren't they known for being really tough games?
The NES ones yes, especially C1 & C3. Granted, they are not in my pantheon of "the" hardest on NES, but certainly just a tier below. I would say no for more of the modern ones. Symphony of the Night on PS1 (probably on PSN & Xbox Live, maybe Steam?) is pretty easy by comparison, and that would be a good one to start with. It is known as a franchise darling, while also being a bit different (no whip, no Belmont). Super Castlevania IV on SNES is also quite easy. It is basically a remake of C1, and the additions make it a smooth game that isn't too hard. I would recommend those two therefore if you want to try a Castlevania.
1 Blaster Master
3 Dragon Warrior IV
4 Super Mario Bros. 3
6 Mega Man 3
9 Metroid
10 Castlevania 3
I imagine we would get along if we were to play games together. Your top 10 NES games have 6 that I would consider "must-plays". CV3, in particular, might be my favorite Castlevania game in general. SOTN and the two PS2 games are up there, too, but CV3 was the original innovator. While the first one was great, it was a bit too short (and a bit more difficult than CV3). And while the second one was a complete overhaul of the level design, they made it way too easy (infinite lives/continues, starting at the exact place you die after death/continues) and way too convoluted if you don't use a walkthrough. Dracula's Curse was the sweet spot for me. Difficulty was spot on, the branching levels, the friends you meet along the way... everything about this game is awesome. Good pick!
:metal :tup I think you will still like more of mine to come OpenYourEyes. ;D
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:metal :tup I think you will still like more of mine to come OpenYourEyes. ;D
The NES is my jam. I have no doubt I will love at least 75-90% of the games. :biggrin:
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Never had an NES (or any of my high-school friends), but damn those graphics are giving me a nostalgia stiffy. I vaguely recall that Ghostbusters game.
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I really like castlevania III and think is was an awesome return to form after simons quest. Its crazy ass hard, but I still respect it.
Another game I haven't played, I have played any of the Castlevania games actually. Aren't they known for being really tough games?
The NES ones are tough, with III being brutal
Castlevania IV is so so in difficulty
But I honestly recommend just going strait to Symphony of the night. Its available of tons of platforms and its one of my favorite games ever made.
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/Crystalisboxart.jpg)
11) Crystalis {1990}
This should have been on my primary list, if not at least on the honorable mentions. This is clearly a Zelda1 clone. But as I said in the music thread and in the tease, this is a better game than Zelda. It should be anyway, because it was created well after Zelda.
The gameplay is overhead like Zelda, and is pretty smooth to play. Getting hit is the only weird thing, as it doesn’t look right and doesn’t feel right either. You get knocked backwards significantly, and sometimes in unpredictable directions. The one major gameplay difference from Zelda is there are no real sub weapons. There are additional options and stuff, but no alternate attack. That said, there are things such as jumping and flying with make the game quite different than Zelda.
[(https://www.gamespite.net/img/wiki/games2/spot_g6-crystalis-1.gif)
So we move to the RPG elements, and I would say this is all-out RPG. You have many characters with dialogue, exploring, experience levels, and progression of swords and armor. And these inclusions make the game awesome. The swords are elemental, so early to mid- game you have to switch swords sometimes because opponents might be invulnerable. The swords sequently get better too, outside of the game’s namesake sword- that thing sucks. You use it for one enemy, and that is it. And it only does its fancy thing in that battle. There are four levels of attack for a sword- standard sword stab, level one charged shot, and levels two and three. Each hits harder, but level 3 uses magic. For most of the game, level one and two are where it’s at. Also, to use level 2 and 3 attacks you need to find the corresponding sword item to allow this. And each sword has it’s own items. The nice thing about the level attacks is you can carry around your sword pre-charged, as long as you hold down the attack button.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FL69LsIyjwA/Udg_jKmmEoI/AAAAAAAACOw/7uOlVVJqCoc/s1600/Image_050713_094507_00002.bmp)
The armor, shields and items are all enhancers, not including healing/status items. At the endgame, you get some really cool ones like one that does MP regeneration, and another that allows you to spray out level one attacks without charging your sword. The spells are basically support/defense spells, where as the level 3 sword charges are considered offensive spells so to speak. One spell produces some fun of being in disguise, but does nothing else but to move the story along.
(https://lparchive.org/Crystalis/Update%2016/17-e004.png)
That said, the story is pretty good for the NES. And then it isn’t. There is a twist, I think, but it is either translated or written poorly. Also a pretty sad scene, with appropriate music. The world is apparently in a post apocalyptic state or something, but most towns seem alright. I guess the monsters are the apocalypse? It also takes place in 1997 if I recall correctly, but the world is swords and shields and magic. So I’m not sure what happened. But all in all, it works and uses many different characters and situations. It almost is a steampunk blend at times, without looking like steampunk.
This game really doesn’t have a huge amount of challenge, and is more just level grinding (before that was a phrase). I think sometimes you need to be a certain level to advance, but I could be wrong. Places are interconnected, with backtracking which is quick and no sequence breaking that I’m aware of. So it’s pretty linear. That said, this isn’t an easy game to just plow through. Stuff needs to be figured out, spells need to be used in certain situations and so on.
(https://www.retrogameage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Crystalis-201309211825566.jpg)
~music https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2099156#msg2099156
I already hit the music here, it is wonderful. Very fitting to situations- royalty type music, epic music, music that fits the mood, music that fits the scene (desert).
***Some consider this the best blue bomber game.***
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/Megaman2_box.jpg)
12) Mega Man 2 {1989}
It really was between this and MM3 for my initial top25 list, but MM3 has too many good things going on for it. So there, I will debate forever that MM3 > MM2. Without MM2, MM3 would not be as good as MM3 is though.
Mega Man 2, while it can be challenging especially on the Difficult setting, was known to be much more tolerable than MM1. The addition of E tanks was really the big catalyst for this, although people cite the addition password system too. I scoff at this, as the passwords take you only to Dr. Wily1 if I recall, which isn't a big deal. It almost feels the four Wily stages take as long as the main eight stages. This is actually a big flaw IMO with the MM1-MM6 games, in that you always have to go through the final stages if I remember correctly. It would be better if you could have a password that took you to near the end. Not sure if the X series fixed this? I only played MMX1, and don’t recall there.
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mcleodgaming/images/a/a7/E-Tank.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20110126012032)
(https://freexbresse.free.fr/mmf/megaman2/saves/kill8.gif)
Gameplay wise, it is the same as MM1, which is the same as MM6. The animations are all the same, and Mega Man still has the same cannon. There is also no change in his movement, which is why I pick MM3 due to the slide. But the game is smooth regardless.
This game has arguably the greatest boss item, Metal Blade. I also contend this is a big flaw in the game, as once you have that, you can slice through (pun intended) the rest of the game without much issue.
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/joke-battles/images/1/14/Il_340x270.512464163_2jkz.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160501193036)
(https://static.squarespace.com/static/5227cd84e4b02515a5badc7f/522e7089e4b0ae98001e1da2/522e710ae4b0ae98001e4d7d/1340515060000/MM2SW_05.png?format=original)
Where as all the others have a better balance and utility (MM3 being the best IMO), Metal Blade is easily ahead of all the other boss weapons. There is an expansion of the number utilities, as MM now has the ability to fly on a rocket, jump on some platforms, and use an odd wall-climbing item. These have different numbers, I think 2, 1 and 3 respectively.
The stage design is very good, with some challenges (Heat Man pit!) without being unreasonable. Quickman was always a favorite of mine, for having to be quick, and having the best stage tune IMO.
(https://static.squarespace.com/static/5227cd84e4b02515a5badc7f/522e7089e4b0ae98001e1da2/522e70f6e4b0ae98001e4774/1335024459000/MM2heat_20.png?format=original)
~music
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2105508#msg2105508
And to reprise the soundtrack; arguably the best soundtrack on the system. I would take it further and put it up against all VG soundtracks. Limited possibility wise, but the melodies and arrangements are top notch. There pretty much is no weak track in the entire soundtrack.
***Platforming, mainline Nintendo franchise.***
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yes. Yes! YEEESSSSSS!!!
First off, Chrysalis is awesome. Never finished it, though. Got to the last castle and I think I got lost, or couldn't figure out what I needed to do... I dunno, but it's definitely an awesome game and fun to play.
Now as far as Mega Man 2... I mean, I would never argue that it's the best, but I would never argue that it's not. There are so many reasons why I like MM1 and MM3 better. Hell, sometimes I think MM5, MM8, and MM9 are better than 2. But that's just it. The consistency of the series is what makes it Mega Man. They had the formula down on the first game and it really just got better. So, for many people, MM2 and MM3 were their first Mega Man games, and that's why they think of them as "the best," but to me, they are all worthy of being in the conversation (except MM7... f*** that game)!
Another couple of great picks!
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this is going to be my favorite thread in the whole forum. i love video games one of my earliest memories was from the late 80s my uncle brought home a game called the legend of zelda. i loved discovering everything in that world and it sparked a lifetime love of playing.
my top 25 games. (in no particular order.. i could keep going)
suikoden 2
castlevania symphony of the night
the legend of zelda
zelda: a link to the past
metal gear solid
wild arms
chrono trigger
final fantasy 6
final fantasy tactics
final fantasy 9
bioshock
fallout 3
fallout 4
super mario world
persona 5
diablo 2
god of war 2
witcher 3
lunar: silver star story
lunar: eternal blue
portal
uncharted 2
the last of us
mass effect 2
grand theft auto V
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Zelda_II_The_Adventure_of_Link_box.jpg)
13) Zelda II: The Adventure of Link {1988}
This game is awesome, and I take it over Zelda1. Now I'm biased as I was primarily a platform /action guy back then anyway. It is visually like Zelda1-colors, some other minor stuff, but that is basically where the similarities end. The game has less heart pieces, and adds in direct magic for the first time in the series. There also are no sub-weapons, rather items do something to advance the game. This also limits the ability to sequence break the game, and therefore is not really an open world game by comparison to Zelda1. But I could care less, as I really scoff at this open world concept that is so big these days. Back then, no one was saying oh Zelda1, open world game = better than SMB3. Granted, we were biased kids. But these games are not created for niche reviewers and adults primarily.
(https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/LZ2_spellSpell.jpg)
So to the game, it has a unique for the time overworld map, followed by the normal action screen. I think this game predates Final Fantasy, but not Dragon Quest1. However this is unique in that the action screen expands from the map, where as FF and DQ just goes to a fixed battle window. Plus, you can avoid encounters on the main map. Real hard, but things can be avoided.
(https://www.retronintendoreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Zelda2-41.png)
Apparently the game was a challenge, which I never could relate to as I had no significant issue beating it. The speedrunners take it even further, by not getting the Candle! But I do understand how it can be not forgiving, with some poor jumping mechanics at times.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPDkeZ4MDBY/hqdefault.jpg)
And some hard sword fights with these guys,
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i3pe3bbztGM/hqdefault.jpg)
and near impossible fights with these things.
(https://www.zeldadungeon.net/Zelda02/Walkthrough/07/019.png)
The down-thrust sword technique was a big part of making the game easier. Up-thrust was cool, but not as useful. Down-thrust also allows you to basically hop over enemies, and if you do it correctly you will not receive damage. Some enemies are unpredictable, so it’s not always perfect.
(https://www.vegettoex.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/link_graceful_movement.gif)
The music is great, although somewhat limited in the amount of tracks.
Writing this up, I thought about the name; is this the only Zelda game with Link in part of the title? Lastly, this game had a fantastic final boss in your shadow. It was a challenge for me, as it is hard to land a strike. And basically impossible to up or down thrust. That being said, there is a way to cheese the game and beat Shadow Link easily. But it's not as much fun that way.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xw-qaoeEznY/hqdefault.jpg)
***No idea how to tease this one- explore dungeons with a family.***
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I've never seen this game on a list before, usually it's always link to the past or OoT. Great write-up nonetheless!
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Adventure of Link was #3 on my list back in 2015. One of the best games ever made IMO. I still think the original is THE best, but the follow up was just as good, only completely different (which I appreciated as a kid, and still do). Another great pick!
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I liked the adventure of link. Later installments took alot of ideas/staples from this game and really expanded upon it a result is i think the game holds up better than alot of people would think.
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I respect Zelda 2, but I have always sucked ass at it, and have never got very far.
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I will say Zelda 2 was a great game. And I say "was" and not 'is" because of how it has aged for me. It is always tough succeeding a Legend (ha ha), and Zelda 2 did it admirably. I loved it back then, and found it hard, but unreasonable. I recall making a map of the final palace on paper. When I played it through recently, it didn't have any of the enjoyment I recalled from my youth, whereas a game like LoZ will never feel old to me.
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ec/Legacyofthewizard.jpg)
14) Legacy of the Wizard {1989}
Buckle up, this is my longest write up yet! Probably will be the longest one. For some reason it was a long and easily flowing process of talking about it.
So starting with the title, it was known as Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family in Japan, and is part of the Dragon Slayer series. I have no other information or experience with that series. I do wish however that the Drasle Family name would have been in the title, as it fits with the game.
This is a seemingly simple game, but is actually very hard and challenging. LotW is an adventure game, and I would call it an RPG. It is a platformer at its core, so you jump around of course. Your primary means of attack is a magic ranged attack, with characters having different ones which I’ll get to below. Each of your attacks take one magic point, and you start with 90 MP I think. The same with your health. You also have Gold and Keys, and both are equally as vital basically. Enemies drop all these four of this currency so speak, as well as other things that are mostly positive. The game is smart though- you will likely get keys and gold when your health and magic are high. You will get bread (health) and potions (magic) when either of those are low.
So you have a family of seven, and you start out in their house.
(https://satoshimatrix.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/legacy-of-the-wizard.png)
However, two of the family members stay at home and are for passwords; grandmother and grandfather. The passwords are quite long, but not the hardest to decipher- that game is still to come! I did have on more than one occasion password failures when I was younger. These days, if playing the original deal, snapping a pic with the phone works. ;D
(https://multimedia.cx/eggs/images/legacy-of-the-wizard-password-screen.png)
The other five family members are a mother, father, daughter, son, and their pet. Each have different characteristics, powered items they can use, and areas of the world they basically belong in.
(https://img00.deviantart.net/b1e9/i/2009/201/9/3/the_legacy_of_the_wizard_by_axelgnt.jpg)
(https://t00.deviantart.net/1vQRnbhBbYPJswoguBFcpOa8hEU=/fit-in/700x350/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre00/d981/th/pre/i/2012/194/c/a/legacy_of_the_wizrd_concept_by_likelikes-d575a2v.png)
I say powered items as some require one magic point per use, are not dropped by enemies, and are either bought or found in treasure chests. Some have more passive effects (strength increase, magic range increase, shield blocks projectiles), while others enhance things or create abilities (jump high boots, pushing/destroying blocks, jumping on enemies=attacking).
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/draslefamily/legacy-item.png)
I guess this is an open game, but has a lot of trial and error in exploring it. I view it as a hub game. There is only one real sequence break option in the NES version. I saw something else in the MSX version of it, and may be possible in all versions. But this game is not commonly played, so I’m not going to attempt it! It comes down to four out of five of the characters having their own area so to speak. Early game then without help, you need to figure out who belongs where. Further complicating things, the items are required for three out of four of the areas. Something I didn’t say- each character has specific items they can use, with some characters having item(s) only they can use. The picture above shows some items with a purple zero- that means the person cannot use it. And for one of the characters, their items are found or bought in other people’s areas. So the game has somewhat of an order, which is why I like it. The creators clearly designed the game to not be broken to heck, while having a sense of adventure and exploration.
{skipable, long winded}
Talking in depth about the family, ironically, the “hero” so to speak of the game is probably the weakest character. The son Roas is kind of average in his characteristics. The characteristics each person has are Strength, Jump and Distance- distance refers to attack range, as does strength. He has maybe the widest array of items to use, but isn’t real good at anything. Plus one item does basically nothing. But he fights the final boss, and is the only one able to obtain the sword (I think the Dragon Slayer!) to fight the final boss.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FhFeGowTALU/VUJWcTm4aTI/AAAAAAAAWn0/sza12pma8W8/s1600/lw25.png)
The mom Meyna and dad Xemn are debatably the best characters. Meyna has the most unique items, in that she can fly, open key blocks unique to her area with magic points, and “push” blocks. She also has the second best attack- it has decent range and power. Her jump is second worst, but is a moot point with her Wings that allow flight. Her strengths are also her flaws- she burns magic the most quickly due to her items. Her three unique items all use MP, in conjunction with her not being able to use the attack boots. Several Inn stays therefore are for magic replenishment in her stage.
(https://shrines.rpgclassics.com/nes/lotw/images/walkthroughpics/Meyna/meyna_14.jpg)
As a result of Meyna’s weaknesses, Xemn might be my favorite. His jump is tied for the worst, but his attack is by far the best. It has decent range, and is tied for the strongest in the game. He also can push blocks with the Glove, and ride on them basically. Meyna pushes a block, but it flies back and forth across the screen a few times. Beyond that, his item usage is the second worst in the game. He can use the attack boots though, so that becomes useful.
(https://shrines.rpgclassics.com/nes/lotw/images/walkthroughpics/Xemn/xemn_6.jpg)
Lyll is the daughter, and has as weak of an attack as Roas. Her attack range however is the best in the game. She also jumps the highest in the game. This is even further augmented with her Jump boots, and she can use attack boots. She can also break blocks with the Mallet, so she rounds out as a useful character. But without the attack boots, she would fall to nearly the worst in the game.
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/draslefamily/legacy-7.png)
Lastly, we have Pochi, the family pet/monster. He ties Xemn with attack strength, and on the surface beyond that sucks bad. His attack range is the worst, his jump is the worst, and his item usage is the worst. He has no unique items, so items he can use everyone else can too. So why is the pet in the game at all? He is invulnerable to monsters! Well, except to a boss and falling. He can just walk right through (by) enemies. It makes him a great first play and early game option, as he can inform you on what character may belong in an area. And he collect some easy treasure in the general area. Plus the area meant for him is easier with him, although anyone can complete his area due to him not having any unique items. Enemies seem to hit the hardest, collision damage wise however, in his stage. So that is why he is still the best for his area.
(https://www.honestgamers.com/images/assets/12/L/3551/4.jpg)
{/TL:DR}
The game also carries a significant challenge. With the finding out who goes where, and with what items, there is a feelings of slow progress of exploring the area dungeons. Even though I think I can complete the game in an about an hour to an hour and a half, it feels like it takes awhile to get through each character’s dungeon area. Especially Xemn and Meyna, as I would bet their stages actually are longer. There can be some backtracking. Worse though, the end stage bosses are sequentially harder. It seems like button mashing works for the speedrunners, and I guess that is how I did it when I was younger. But now I’m very careful with getting the Shield to block their magic projectiles, and even then taking collision damage from the bosses hurts more and more from the last two. The last boss, the dragon Keela, is the easiest when you figure out his pattern. And so it’s good Roas fights him!
~music
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2098191#msg2098191
And the music reprise is in that thread, top notch beginning to end, with a focus on melodies.
LotW is a game that at times could go higher on my list. While I know the game like the back of my hand, I miss not knowing things about it. But that is what holds the game up, in that first timers will have a heck of a game ahead of them. For me now, knowing the game well, as I said it takes me about an hour or so. And this is something I value with NES games as I age- I like plopping down, and ripping through games in an hour or two. I feel like I'm less likely to finish a NES game if it takes longer. Or at least, knowing a game well to beat in in an hour or two works well for a moderate length distraction for me.
***Konami, Arnold jumps through the jungle and fights aliens with his shirt off.***
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Sorry about the delay, I'm going to try to jam in a few more in the next handful of days.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Contra_cover.jpg)
15) Contra {1987}
Yeah, those cover characters are totally *not* inspired by Predator. Not at all.
LotW was a long entry, Contra will not be as long. And that’s not because it’s a worse game, although lower on my list. It’s because most of us know about this game. If not, some have probably heard about the Konami code- say it with me now!!!
UP
UP
DOWN
DOWN
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
B
A
START (or SELECT START)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j2gai5kT3eU/maxresdefault.jpg)
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/4/49/Konami_Code_-_01.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150819055902)
Funny thing about the code, I only recall it working in this game and Gradius. Gradius III on SNES had a hilarious effect of the code.
So we all used the code growing up, especially two player. And it made the game much more accessible. Without it, the game elevates itself as moderate-hard to hard-very hard. Especially with two players, as the platforming requires coordination.
(https://slateman.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Contra-Jungle.jpg)
I like the one shot deaths, even though you have at least four lives to start. It makes the game slightly more real- then again, your guys are Arnold Schwarzenegger somersaulting 10 feet in the air with large guns. So there are four gun power-ups not including Rapid. I was in a debate with someone thinking Laser was better than Spread. Not sure what that was about, as spread was always more useful to me. It allowed more rapid button presses, where Laser you needed to wait. I guess Laser is like using a Rail Gun in an FPS, but Contra has a lot of action where hiding is not always an option.
(https://assets.ign.com/thumbs/2012/03/20/017Contra_1280w.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mG5UqmuXiA0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Eight stages, bosses at then end of each. It has a futuristic theme, which was expanded and cemented more in the later games. So futuristic that you played a robots in the PAL/Europe release of the game, Probectector. Also, stages 2 & 4 are like this.
(https://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/5/55/Contra_NES_Stage_4a.png)
And that music. Stage 1 Jungle theme, in the earlier days of music video guitar covers, this was like the baseline test of your VG cover skills. It has been covered a lot like MM2 Dr.Wily1, but Jungle theme is more challenging. It still is an awesome track. Stage 2/4, 5,6 and 8 are equally as good to me. Stage 8 can be amazing in a metal context- there is an incredible midi on VGMusic.com of it. I’ll bring up Vomitron’s coverage of the whole soundtrack. This was actually the guy’s first song covered, and made many rounds on the earlier 2000’s internet. As in the music thread, cover is NSFW https://vomitron665.bandcamp.com/album/no-nes-for-the-wicked.
***Ride around in a Jeep with grenades and a gun, Konami again.***
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***Ride around in a Jeep with grenades and a gun, Konami again.***
The Adventures of Bayou Billy. AKA black_floyd's Revenge
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Bayou Billy's music is cool as fuck.
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Lost me with Legacy (which I've just never played, but looks pretty cool), but got me back with Contra! Pretty sure that was an Honorable mention on my list.
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(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maxresdefault6.jpg)
16) Jackal {1988}
(https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/screens/c/2/9/gfs_45502_2_3.jpg)
The Konami block, implying there is another one after this!
(https://mikeydct.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/konami.jpg)
Jackal is an almost underrated game, or at lest in my circle growing up it was. It’s an overhead action game, that can be a co-op game. Which is a big, awesome part of this game. It’s simultaneous, and there are no real deaths by poor coordination that occur in Contra. Researching a bit of history showed the game was in the arcades- I never saw it. But it would have been solid, especially with a joystick vs. the d-pad.
(https://romhustler.net/img/screenshots/nes/ingame/4fe7799889dd4.png)
(https://www.gamingrebellion.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Jackal_NES_Bridge_Gunboat.jpg)
It’s a rather simple game, if not a bit weird in that you ride around in a Jeep that has a machine gun and explosives. Or probably someone firing these things.
(https://media.tasvideos.org/jackal2p.png)
Technically it goes off-road, but you don’t feel you are like in Super Off-Road. Or certainly not like modern off road games. But it’s the 8 bit/arcade era, so conceptually games are limited. Story wise, I don’t think there is really any, but I’m speaking from memory at the moment. This is the extent of the story;
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/23093/2787075-jackal001.png)
You drive around in a vehicle that fires, and is clearly military based. What the enemy is exactly, and why is non-existent. That said, the enemy does have many of your comrades, and a chunk of the game is rescuing these comrades. It’s an easy task, and cute to see them entering your Jeep. And then dropping them off at the helipad.
(https://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/5/51/Jackal_NES_Stage_1a.png)
(https://www.consoleclassix.com/info_img/Jackal_NES_ScreenShot4.jpg)
You go through five or six stages, and the last one is a bear. I don’t think I beat this game yet actually, so it’s on my to-do list.
(https://www.thegamerslibrary.com/uploads/4/6/9/8/46989021/7148862_orig.png)
Continues are limited if I recall, and the only power-up is easy to lose (missiles instead of grenades). The missiles are also progressively powered up, were their explosion has directional sub-explosions that hit enemies. They are powered up by rescuing your comrades, specifically the flashing ones.
Sound; the music is good, just not as rememberable as many others. But it works for the game. The effects work well, and have no real annoying bleeps or bloops.
And that is pretty much it. Just a fun, well-controlled game without much more behind it. More so, the game is great with another player. The push and pull of a game like Contra, and others on my list made entry level co-op a chore. Where as this one is straight forward, and therefore has a good pick-up and go factor
***”FACEOFF! FLIPS/GET(S) THE PASS!”***
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Never heard of Jackal but it looks like it's a fun game. If I ever get around to putting together my raspberry pi emulator set up
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Never heard of Jackal but it looks like it's a fun game.
Ditto. Would've been right up my alley back in the day
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Bayou Billy's music is cool as fuck.
Yes it is. And this remix proves it.
https://youtu.be/xn8zj1--_bg
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BLADES. OF STEEL.
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Got it OpenYourEyes!
BLADES. OF STEEL.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/Blades_of_Steel_cover.png)
17) Blades of Steel {1988}
The last of the Konami/Ultra block. And it just so happens that this game is connected to Jackal, and another game I mentioned in the Contra entry. There is an ad for Jackal after the 2nd period, which I cannot find a screen shot of. And this "demo" also goes down after the 2nd period for Gradius;
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bBJ4_aruDCo/hqdefault.jpg)
This is arguably the most accessible sports game on the system. Complete with voice acting?!
We get the second hockey game that I’m aware of officially on the system timeline wise. Or maybe the second and only other one that matters IMO (Ice Hockey the other). This game is a very arcade style type game. There is no season, the game clock moves fast, and there are not a lot of teams. There is no customization, which is something that Ice Hockey does allow. The controls are simpler than Ice Hockey as well. You shoot with one button, pass with the other. Your normal shot aim is not controlled by you, nor the power or type.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iNUbzWaX2Bg/TYYPaRon5sI/AAAAAAAABJU/ZfesS3A0Rxg/s1600/Blades+of+Steel.png)
Again, things that Ice Hockey allows. The picture above shows an arrow, and that is where the puck goes. So you try to make sure the goalie is not over the arrow, and let it rip. It gets even simpler on defense- just run into the guy. Do that three times, and that’s all.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/Blades_of_Steel_NES_ScreenShot2.png)
Or is it? This game is famous not so much for the hockey, but a sub-part of some hockey: fighting. Now I honestly don’t like physical fighting, so I don’t go nuts in hockey games with fights. Really in any sport. But the fighting in the game was fun! So on the third time you run into someone, you either knock them down and take the puck, or you get into a fight. I honestly don’t fully know what causes which one. In the fight, you can punch high or low, and block high or low. Each player has five hit points, and then a knockout. The funny thing is the loser gets the penalty! The winner gets the power play.
(https://brobible.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/blades-of-steel-fighting.jpg?quality=90&w=650)
The shot control you do get is on a penalty shot. This is really a great part of the game, and I would love to go to a game end shootout with a opponent. You can shoot to 6 spots of the goal, with the goalie being allowed to block the same. So it is not a skate up and shoot, but rather a separate thing like a football/soccer penalty shot that is one on one. I almost wonder if the programmers knew how it works in hockey, as the game almost seems like a sensationalized version of hockey with the focus almost being on fighting.
(https://www.retronintendoreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Blades-of-Steel-14.png)
Music occurs in the select menus, before the teams skate around, 2nd period intermission, and at game end. Otherwise, it is the voices. Which is kind of a unique thing on the NES. There are a handful of simple statements, with the most common “flips (or “gets”) the pass!” There also is the crowd noise, which think is real but really really distorted. Konami did this for Track and Field 2. Track and Field 2 is a much more robust game, so I almost wonder if the crowd noise is a sequenced “music” piece. Anyway, it is repetitive with “get/flips the pass,” but worked and was cool at the time.
A final thing to say here is playing two player. The game shines here, as matching up against someone else can be a lot of fun and hard. I don’t know if anyone plays defence in their area, as you have to be focused on moving your goalie. So what happens is a lot of shots occur on goal, because the AI doesn’t do a good job of getting defensive rebounds. This happens against the CPU, but may be more intense against an in-person opponent. And the skill level is higher, vs. a CPU.
***Bald Bull, King Hippo, Glass Joe.***
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(https://takeontheneslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/nes_miketysonspunchout.jpg)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Punch-out_mrdream_boxart.PNG)
18) Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!/Punch-Out!! {1987, 1990}
This game is amazing, and would be much higher. But it had some limitations, so it makes it lower on my list.
(https://hoz14nes.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/maxresdefault.jpg)
This game is the same as Punch-Out!!!, with Mike Tyson being a palate swap with Mr. Dream (White Tyson). They fight exactly the same.
I also was quietly pissed as a young one at many of people who made claims about this game. And still am to this day, although I’m verbal about it now. That claim was _______ was easier than Mike/White Tyson. No, __________ is not harder. The game is pretty sequential on difficulty of your opponents. Outside of Bald Bull 2 (short-hop bull charge) being subjectively easier than BB1,
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Jglr_un87kA/0.jpg)
and King Hippo is a joke.
(https://punchout.gamebub.com/images/king_hippo_nes.gif)
But both have gimmicks that need to be figured out, and are easily harder than Glass Joe and Von Kaiser if you don’t know the gimmicks. The Great Tiger annihilated me until I was shown how to defend his special attack. As it turns out when I got older, I could TKO (three knock-downs in one round) him before the attack.
So Tyson is harder- he attempts to destroy you in the first 1:30 with one hit knockdown punches. Love the programming equivalent of how Tyson was known to destroy alleged easy matches quickly.
(https://www.dkoldies.com/product_images/uploaded_images/mar2016uppercut.jpg)
There was until recently was no way around this. I never saw someone doing the current technique growing up, or me myself. So we dodged all the punches for the in game 1:30. And it wasn’t just that- the game uses Random Number Generation (RNG) for his punch timing. You feel you have him in a routine, and boom a punch of his connects. The time after the 1:30 isn’t a walk in the park, as Tyson’s timing is still erratic throughout the fight. And he adds a cross/jab type punch as his main attack, a weaker uppercut, and a quicker jab that is unpredictable mostly. His timing is more erratic on a consistent basis more than any of the other fighters. Sandman and Macho Man have very clear times when they do their massive attacks, and those attacks have an exact rhythm. Other fighters such as Tiger have a rhythm on their big attacks also. So I will always hold Tyson up as the hardest, as he should be due to being at the end.
(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/punchout/images/b/b7/Images.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130821181923)
So on the note of “predicting” Tyson, this guy cracked it after all these years.
https://youtu.be/yyEZ7b2zD7Y?t=25m20s
And these guys did it in a marathon race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfyWlWGVa1A&t=195s
With Sinister1, one of the racers saying it couldn’t be done two years earlier;
https://youtu.be/CvzIb53Lcno?t=40m49s
This was a big deal then when Jack Wedge figured it out. It is still not perfect, but it works.
Beyond that, the game is pretty basic. You have the between match screen (select, select, select!),
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/56303-Mike_Tyson%27s_Punch-Out!!_(USA)-3.jpg)
password screens,
(https://www.vizzed.com/vizzedboard/retro/user_screenshots/saves17/170965/NES--Mike%20Tysons%20Punch%20Out_Oct1%2011_11_13.png)
and stuff noting a belt match. Some minor variations on that for a couple. The music is even more basic; intro screen, little ditty pre-round start, knock-down tunes for you or opponent knockdown, and the main theme. They are all good, just simple. This is a limitation. Two more ones are the stationary nature of the game; there is no moving around the ring. Just left or right, block, and a duck-dodge left or right move. The other big glaring hole in this game is there is no pause button! It helps with the intensity of the match, but you have to last the 3 “minutes” without pausing.
This game is also one of the few that makes me keep a CRT TV. I’m not saying it cannot be beaten on emulators, as it does daily probably. Especially with the type of hacks in the videos above. Or that emulators will not get better. But I have said in this forum in the past somewhere, and will continue to say it- there is a noticeable difference playing this game on original hardware and a CRT vs. on an emulated version and/or non CRT TV. I am unable to beat Tyson on anything but original hardware and a CRT. Give me both of those, and the game is over. The game was created for those, and until that is *exactly* replicated, it won’t work. Shoot, Duck Hunt is impossible to play without a CRT, for a different reason albeit. But emulators still have some ground to cover (see Sega Saturn, N64), and it’s not that I don’t respect the work. Especially because they are passion projects. There is a difference though, and I reckon a lot of speed runners in other games especially still run original hardware and CRTs. They attempt frame-perfect moves as they say, and it requires no lag or delay. So if not doing shortcuts in this game, it requires exact movements.
I will conclude with this, as I always found this funny.
***WARNING.*** Non-PC content, direct quote from Tyson;
(https://img.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/punchoutmiketyson.jpg)
***Mario has the right medicine.***
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Ahh Punch Out, the source of a massive amount of frustration. That was one of the few games that drove me nuts when I was young.
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Dr._Mario_box_art.jpg)
19) Dr Mario {1990}
I will not have a whole lot to say about this game. It is a straight-forward game, and came out after the Tetris craze. So even though it may be inspired in a way by Tetris IMO, it is a color puzzle with elements of fitting pieces on.
This game is as straightforward as Tetris, screen wise. You have your intro screen here.
(https://tcrf.net/images/3/38/Dr-Mario-Title-Screen.png)
And your option select menu.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NlIJI8lklYI/hqdefault.jpg)
The screens are a little more user friendly, or at least more colorful than Tetris. But it literally feels like there is the same amount of options; actually less, as there are two song tracks only. The nice thing here is they are not adapted pieces of music, at least discussing the licensed NES & Gameboy versions of Tetris. I always preferred Chill out of the two, and the composer here did the mighty Metroid if my memory serves me correctly.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Dr_mario_screenshot.gif)
So you have two parts of a pill, and you can drop the pill faster via Down, move it left or right, and flip it with A & B. And that is it. The colors are random, so often you will be stacking pills. This really creates the challenge of the game in the higher stages, as the margin for error is less and less until it is basically none. But it is a straightforward game.
(https://www.vizzed.com/videogames/gba/screenshot/Classic%20NES%20Series%20-%20Dr.%20Mario-3.png)
With the options, you have clearly the speed of the pills dropping, and the stage you start on. A thing about the game is I’m pretty sure there is a built in timer. And as it counts up, the pills will eventually fall faster if you are on Low.
(https://www.retrogames.cz/games/061/NES_03.gif)
Lastly is the two player mode. I think Tetris on the NES has this at least, so nothing really different here. But fun, and I feel this lends to a better spectator option for the game, as it comes down to noticeable speed at times.
A large downfall for the NES version is the screen and presentation in game itself! It is quite small, and can be a strain on the eyes a bit IMO.
***A TMNT franchise ripoff, a Mecca of NES challenges.***
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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Battletoads_Coverart.png)
20) Battletoads {1991}
Music https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2096187#msg2096187
An odd game for lots of reasons. It’s a great looking game, a ripped-off theme, a multiple game styles in one game, a quick brawler, a hilarious game at times, and a highly underrated soundtrack. But a controversial game in a way, because it is beyond hard to beat! It seems to be a TMNT ripoff, as I think there was a cartoon or something. This is actually a better game IMO than TMNT1, not that TMNT1 is a bad game.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M4D0YV_FjtU/hqdefault.jpg)
A lot of my fondest memories for the game comes from the challenge. This game is a who's who for the challenge; someone I know was in a conversation about NES with their family member, and I came up and the person I know asked if I beat this. I said yes, and it was like a cool thing to this person’s family member.
That said, I knew of no one who beat this as a young one. And that just comes down I think to patience and intelligence, as this game doesn’t require raw physical skill or something. I think in the pantheon of officially licensed games that can be beaten, the difficulty is objectively in the top 5 of NES games. I would contend top 3, but I haven’t played some of the general consensus top 5 (Silver Surfer & Ghosts N Goblins) yet. Throw in a second player however, and this is the top 1 in co-op challenge, and I would contend top 1 period. Especially if you have to play every stage, vs. warping. And there are still some hacks so to speak exploited when I watched two amazing players do a marathon co-op speedrun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvnsZeDQ8GE&t=1659s
I reckon they could do the run without the minor exploits. The game itself is broken in co-op; stage 11 Clinger Wingers will only proceed with one player, despite having two wheels to ride. So play every single stage, co-op for all but stage 11, and no super easier game hacks = have fun!
So talking about the game itself, it really is combination of different types of games. Each stage brings a new style of play mostly. Stage 1 is straight up arcade brawling, but the signs of insanity being even in the stage. Stage 1 also has a one-off scene/boss fight- a first person from the perspective of the boss, and you throw rocks at it. Stage 2 is a down-auto scroller, pretty unique with hilarity with a friend. Stage 3 begins super fast auto scrolling on a bike, where most of us probably stopped playing this game.
***TRAUMA TRIGGER ALERT!***
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/54899-Battletoads_(USA)-7.png)
I also must say that you can attack your co-op person, which is both funny and awful if actually trying to progress.
Stage 4 is ice, and kind of a platformer with many death spikes/pits.
(https://media.tasvideos.org/1920M.png)
Stage 5 surfing, stage 6 ride on snakes.
(https://r.mprd.se/media/images/54899-Battletoads_(USA)-4.png)
Stage 7 is kind an autoscroller on rockets, with copious amounts of obstacles, and may be the hardest co-op stage. I would always skip it. Stage 8 you go up, with precise platforming among other hijinks.
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/125458-battletoads-nes-screenshot-the-intruder-excluder-level-8-is.png)
Stage 9 is a hybrid, I don’t even know where to begin to describe it! There is swimming involved though, controlling like SMB1 or 3 with no frog suit.
(https://www.vgmaps.com/Atlas/NES/Battletoads-Level09-TerraTubes.png)
Stage 10, yeah screw this stage. You race downward against three different rats. The last one being ludicrous speed. I could beat it with the NES Advantage, and this is where one of the hacks come into play- you can bypass the fast rat. I could never do it, so I just raced the S.O.B. And it was my least consistent stage. Stage 11 is precise controller inputs, and that is it outside of the boss. Apparently this is considered one of the hardest, but I never really had an issue with it. I do need a CRT TV to do it though.
(https://conglaturation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/BattletoadsStage11-300x263.png)
And stage 12, which is an upward precise platformer like stage 8. A unique twist I haven’t seen elsewhere on the system: you have to move your toad left or right to walk “around” the tower. This will allow you to access platforms and enemies. Your toad obviously doesn’t scroll, but it is a cool way to try to move around the tower without being able to.
What makes this game unique then is again the combination of different game styles. It really is a bad teasing game; the first two stages are great fun, especially with a friend. And then game shifts into this insanely hard game. The other games in the franchise shifted to the brawler only style. This being the other one that I played.
(https://adioroyster.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/battletoads-double-dragon-screenshot.jpg)
So I beat the game solo when I was an adult, age 24. It took about two or three months, playing it at least one hour a day. Probably many more hours daily, but the months duration should be close. It was a fun summer: I started dating my ex-wife. In fact, without her, this game would not have charted. Her brother had the game, he said he beat stage 3, stopped playing and then it was on for me to beat it. :coolio :metal I rented the game as a young one, but stopped at the aforementioned point of stage 3. I recently heard someone speak of Turbo Tunnel (stage 3) not being *that* hard, and it really is not in the scope of the game. This game is a much about persistence than anything, but that is a chunk of the charm. I actually would argue that the game kind of gets progressively harder sequentially. Apparently stage 4 is hard, especially co-op. But I don’t consider it harder than later stages.
Looking back on how much I wrote, it shows the amount of memorization and commitment the game takes. Which in my 24th year, at the job I had, I was talking the breeze about games. This game came up, and two people said they beat it. Both of these guys were known as fibbers and story tellers, so it was an easy call-out on their false claims. One initially claimed they beat it long ago, but the game required so much time that one would remember general details *at least* of the stages. I haven’t beaten it since then (11 years ago), and I can still detail the stages. Considering they never brought up the game again, they knew they were outed. :)
***A game in the LotW universe (Dragon Slayer). Save the Elves or something like that, in the world tree.***
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Blades of Steel got a lot of playtime around here with my friends that did have an NES.
Punch Out ... didn't quite have the same appeal as the arcade version, but great game none-the-less.
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Oh god Dr. Mario, that is one of my most played NES games. I got severely addicted to that game.
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Blades of Steel was great, and I also played the shit out of Dr Mario.
Never owned Punch Out - is that line about being a pussy for real? Never owned Battletoads either, or knew much about it till James Rolfe made his Battletoads videos.
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Blades of Steel was great, and I also played the shit out of Dr Mario.
Never owned Punch Out - is that line about being a pussy for real? Never owned Battletoads either, or knew much about it till James Rolfe made his Battletoads videos.
BoS and Dr are pretty simple, but just good clean fun where replays of them are cool!
No no about MT's Punchout :). That quote was from a Tyson press conference with Lennox Lewis, and Tyson said those things towards a reporter or something. Was actually quite funny, and then tragic. There used to a better picture of this text swapped out, where it looked like the actual between round text. Cannot find it anymore though. Below is one of the things he says.
(https://www.retrogameage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mike-Tysons-Punch-Out-U-PRG0-201012281953403.jpg)
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Dr Mario is awesome, great choice! Such a simple game but so enjoyable and addictive too.
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I love dr mario! my grandpa bought a nes to keep at his house so when i would come over i'd have something to do. he wound up buying dr mario and getting hooked. so when i came over it was literally just me and him playing each other at dr mario. such great memories of my grandpa. i will always love this game!
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Love Blades of Steel and Dr. Mario. Both very fun. Punch Out is pretty good, but I was always terrible at it. And while Battletoads is always listed as a great game, and is fun at the start, I have a hard time thinking anything about it is great. It's literally an exercise in memorization after the first two levels. And it's one I never felt compelled to memorize.
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I won’t be able to post to my preferred level for the next few weeks (already have slipped). If someone wants to go ahead, my list can go on break.
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Bump!
I wanted to do a mini list starting next week if that's cool with you guys. I was thinking 5-10 games I'd like to add.
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Do it....I totally forgot about this thread.
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Alright I got a list together, I'll be making my first post tonight. I'll be updating from 1-2 days and it'll be short. I'll put the games in a general ranking but it won't be numbered, I moreorless want to share some fantastic games that I have gotten into since I made this list a while ago.
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Ok here we go!
First game starts out with a classic:
Uplink
(https://i.imgur.com/cHDOe9V.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Kx9GpnR.jpg)
This is an old game that I haven't thought of in a long time. It came back to me because I saw that it was in one of the Humble Bundles I picked up a while ago. I spent a ton of time playing this game when I was younger, I had dreams of being an amazing hacker and this games aesthetic really let you feel as if you were . You play as a hacker whose job it is to do jobs for different companies i.e. break into corp A's server, delete some files, delete any traces of you logging in, and log out all before you're caught. There is a story to this game and it can be a bit challenging as you're not told all the commands to navigate around the server consoles quickly but once you get over the curve the game can be a lot of fun. It's available for dirt cheap now and I think it might even be on some mobile platforms so if it seems interesting I definitely recommend giving it a shot.
There is also a newer game I played called HackNet, I haven't gotten far in it but it feels like a spiritual successor to Uplink, it's not made by the same devs but the game play feels very similiar.
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Next up:
Prison Architect
Prison Architect:
(https://i.imgur.com/JPZMHCH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gHXSUTY.jpg)
This is one of the first Early Access games I bought (along with DayZ but that's another discussion) and I didn't really expect much at first. The game is simple: you are a warden of a prison and you have to build a prison to manage the incoming prisoners, and that's pretty much it. What makes the game a lot of fun is all the variables that you have to manage, you have to make min-max security sections, put prisoners to work, stop escapes, and above all be profitable. The game is surprisingly challenging and rewarding and completely worth the money. The game is complete and no longer in early access but is still being updated by the devs. If you were a fan of theme hospital from years ago check this game out!
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^^^^ Awesome
I need to check that prison game out. It looks so cool.
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It seems really simple at first but the next thing you know 8 hours have passed and you missed work :lol
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I didn't like uplink much, it did feel very archaic & overly punishing
Hacknet was good though
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Alright change of genre time:
Dirt Rally
(https://i.imgur.com/kqDpGaC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/N8mwvyY.jpg)
Another Early Access game! I don't actually know what caused me to buy this game considering I never cared for the genre but I think this was during my time when the only requirement for me to buy a game was that it had to be on sale. This game really left an impression on me and often times when I don't have a lot of time to devote to playing something I'll do a few circuits on dirt. The tracks are great, the cars are modeled well with great damage models not to mention they have fully functional interiors and the controls are precise and are even more so with the Steam controller. Dirt Rally leans more towards the simulation side of racing games so it can be challenging however there are many assists that you can turn on if you really get stuck. If you like rally racing, or even a casual race fan pick this game up on the next Steam sale.
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Up next is:
Metal Gear Solid
(https://i.imgur.com/ZIfwwvr.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/xAvyG90.jpg)
I can't believe I left this game off my first list, I don't know how I forgot about it. I did my first playthrough in 15 years just a month ago and it was just as fun now as it was back then. I completely forgot about the stealth mechanics of this game and I was pretty impressed to this day some of the scripted squences that were put in a game so long ago. That is not to say that this game isn't without it's flaws, mainly the the gunplay which is really tough, espically if your enemy is off screen, and the back tracking that you had to do in the later half of the game that seemed to be there only to extend the length of the game.
This is a true classic that I enjoyed playing again, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, especially if your not really a fan of stealth shooters but if you have some free time and a little bit of patience check this game out.
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Nice, haven't finished Uplink because I fucked up in one of the basic missions and nobody wants to hire me :lol
Got MGS on my pending list, looking forward to playing it soon :metal
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Oh metal gear solid 1...
One of my favorite games ever made and It BLEW my mind back in 98. Look at the back of the cd case? Unplug the controller from port 1? I like castlevania?
Like not only is it a cool game, but it went above and beyond with its 4th wall breaking and I love that. There was never a metal gear game that I loved as much as this one.
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Pheonix have you played through all of them?
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I've played all of the core series.
MGS2- I really loved it. Didn't even mind the Raiden switch, but the story went off the rails and got WAY to esoteric for my tastes. Oh its a simulation? sure, whatever. It was like a beautiful gymnastics routine, which could have been a 10, but they didn't stick the landing. They fell flat on their face with that last hour of fission mailed, corrupted colonel AI madness. WTF
Snake eater- I have the utmost respect for this game, but I don't like it that much. The whole jame's bond espionage cold war era vibe is very cool. I just didn't like healing myself and the wide open environment just wasn't for my specific taste. I like one single base like MGS2 and Shadow moses. I will say that the fight with The End was my favorite moment of any MGS game.
Guns of the patriots- LOTS of fun. I really like this game and all the little call backs like going back to shadow moses was awesome. my only nitpick is the london sneaking part. Besides that, it was awesome.
MGSV- sorry for anyone that loves it, but I hate it. Doesn't even feel like a metal gear game to me and I got bored like an hour into africa and stopped playing. There is no story and it just feels like the whole game meanders. When I play a metal gear game I like to feel like am watching a movie. Phantom pain is just a lot of wandering in the desert and I refuse to listen to hours of audio tapes to know whats up. And spoilers, its all one big fucking bait and switch. Fuck that. And I much prefer david hayter. Rant over
Ultimately, Metal gear solid is still my favorite since it felt like the all around most perfect (for me at least) and it really knocked me on my ass with all it had to offer. Going forward I was expecting the cool next level stuff, if that makes any sense.
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I must be the only person on Earth who can't stand MGS, particularly the first game (and yeah, I did play the whole thing). Especially the gimmick with unplugging the controller and the overblown story. It's one of the most overrated series in gaming imo, but I do get why people enjoy it.
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I can definitely understand people not getting into the story of the game or really caring for it. I never played MGS2 or Snake Eater but I own them both so I will get around to playing them.
I started MGS4 when it was released and I was older then, I kept thinking "What the fuck is going on?"
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I'm a huge fan of the entire MGS series not sure which one is my favorite. its hard to top the original and the impact it had on me when i played it for the first time back in the late 90s
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Here comes another game:
Divinity: Original Sin 2
(https://i.imgur.com/mkFl2Yh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q1lnkUp.jpg)
This is a game that I just recently played and was immediately hooked.
On paper this game didn't really seem like it'd be something I'd like from a brief glance at the steam page; although I couldn't deny how gorgeous the game looked. I watched/read some of end of year top 10 games list and this game just kept coming up so one drunken night I said fuck it, I bought it.
My first thoughts are that this game is hard, like really difficult. I haven't played any of the other divinity games and this is the first game in a long time where I had to look online for some tips, however, if you stick with it the game does get easier. It's mainly the combat that is difficult. I'm not very used to turn based combat and if you attempt to attack an enemy one level higher than you, then you will be destroyed. Once you get the hand of the combat system and start thinking outside the box the game will get easier. Aesthically the game is beautifully made, and not just on the visual side of things, but the voice acting and sound is just spectacular.
This game may not be for everyone but I highly recommend checking it out, especially when it goes on sale. Give it a few hours and if you don't like it, return it.
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One of the guy's I follow on youtube listed that as #1 game for 2017 and got me intrigued since we have similar tastes.
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Player Unknown's Battlegrounds
(https://i.imgur.com/di5eEyC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/n94DIE4.jpg)
Everyone was playing this game so naturally I had to try it. This is some of the most tense gameplay I've encountered in years. From the moment you land you scurry to find some weapons, ammo, and gear while hopefully not getting shot in the process. It's a race the gear up and then it turns into a game of survival where you're creeping around corners and trying stay alive while offing anyone you may encouter. I particualy like playing duo or squad with a couple of my friends which adds a layer of teamwork to the action.
I also want to add that I've been playing Fortnite Battle Royal as well as PUBG, probably about the same amount of time. For people who are on console or may not have a beefy PC give Fortnight a shot as it's free. It's the same concept but feels very different than PUBG.
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I'm probably going to only do three more games as I think this thread has run it's course:
Factorio
(https://i.imgur.com/ezdQxvr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Frldpz9.jpg)
This game is crack. I seem to time travel whenever I play this game, I start the game up and 6 hours have suddenly past.
This game starts simple enough, you crash land on a randomly generated map and you must survive and create a rocket ship to take off, sounds simple enough. First you have to collect all the resources to do so, again simple enough. The thing is you'll never have enough time to get all the resources yourself, you need to use collectors built through blue prints. You also need to transfer the raw goods around the map. That is where the Factory comes in to play. You have to build an efficient, self-sustaining factory to build all the things you need to survive and win. It's not as easy as it sounds because you can always be more efficient in your build speed things up. There are also monsters out there that will attack you from time to time (depending on difficulty and how aggressive you are towards them). This game is hypnotizing, watching your factory come to life is really special especially when you don't have any bottlenecks. The game is currently in Early Access but it could be released today and it would be considered complete. It's getting steady, significant updates and I have yet to experience a bug or crash.
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A 2+ year bump because I kind of want to make my own top 25 video games list. I haven't quite made it yet, but there's likely to be stuff on it spanning 30 years of gaming. I'm mostly a Nintendo gamer but there are tons of other great games out there. Curious if anybody would be interested in me sharing, I feel like this thread needs a good revival :corn
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:tup doooo it
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I’m interested, go for it!
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Will consider it but it is hard as hell making a list that feels definitive. As a personal rule I will only pick titles I have (re)played as an adult (so the last ten years or so), as for me that will be a more fair comparison than the somewhat rose tinted glasses of my childhood. But from my childhood faves I have replayed quite a bit over the years and some definitely held up, others not.
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A 2+ year bump because I kind of want to make my own top 25 video games list. I haven't quite made it yet, but there's likely to be stuff on it spanning 30 years of gaming. I'm mostly a Nintendo gamer but there are tons of other great games out there. Curious if anybody would be interested in me sharing, I feel like this thread needs a good revival :corn
Do it for sure. Its gonna be good list.
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That is an interesting limitation to put on your list, ErHaO! I'd read that.
Cool, sounds like a few would be interested in mine then - I think I'll start working on it tonight, maybe post soon (unless somebody else wants to go before me, but if nobody does, then I'll just start when I am comfortable). There will be disappointments, surprises, head-scratchers, strong disagreements, and more disappointments. I will be serving hot takes until I take my last breath
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Go for it. I loved this thread.
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I'm you're huckleberry.
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Bring it in :metal
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Another visitor, stay awhile, stay forever. :lol
Will follow this, although I never owned a Nintendo and will probably not know most of the games.
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I need to redo my list (or do a separate top 25) it's been a while since i first did mine now, haha
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You're in for a treat then, Kwyjibo!
I think I'll actually hold off until my roulette is done; the writeups for those take so much of my time that I gotta stop biting off more than I can chew :lol but it'll give me more time to think about this, so - soon! :corn