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General => Archive => Topic started by: Sacul on May 22, 2014, 08:41:47 AM

Title: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Sacul on May 22, 2014, 08:41:47 AM
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)
Ourcrier'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 2016 - Present)

On the 5th Dimension
SystematicThought's Obscure stuff (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1890659#msg1890659) (November 2014 - ??? )

Waiting List

CableX
BlobVanDam
Jarlaxle
adace

Will go in the future
Evermind
Full Speed
Parama
Sycsa


DTF's fav games
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/Smileys/default/Roadrunner-Records-Logo.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Zantera on May 22, 2014, 08:50:30 AM
This is a pretty cool idea for a list. I'll follow this.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Dark Castle on May 22, 2014, 10:46:36 AM
So when does the madness begin?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Big Hath on May 22, 2014, 10:53:06 AM
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_IAwpYOtIY/UD9uSlN0FvI/AAAAAAAASyk/p811MHVpg9g/s1600/4c_pressstartlogo.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Dark Castle on May 22, 2014, 10:56:31 AM
Well if I've got the go ahead, I'll have some shit up as the day progresses.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: TioJorge on May 22, 2014, 11:29:54 AM
Watching! Waiting! Commiserating!


Those little dweebs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Cool Chris on May 22, 2014, 11:50:15 AM
Cool idea. Will follow.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on May 22, 2014, 12:41:22 PM
Definitely following.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!(Dark Castle Up YOOOOOOOOOO)
Post by: Dark Castle on May 22, 2014, 01:32:09 PM
25.) Borderlands (2010)
(https://i.imgur.com/tdYuDOW.jpg)

One of my first xbox 360 games that I ever owned, Borderlands starts off my list in style. The game exploded with popularity, not only due to it’s extremely fun co-op friendly gameplay and story, but also it’s dope art style. The first time I played this game I was blazed down at my bio dads house, my brother in law and I docking around for hours, and I just had a blast. I came back home with a 360, some controllers, and my friends and I formed up multiple files to trudge through. I think this is my favorite entry in the series, despite the 2nd having a more unique feel, Borderlands holds the most memories of my friends and I doing nothing but going on road rampages, and many many other stupid as shit things. Also that final battle was pretty intense.

Overall: An insanely fun game that gave me and my friends many, many hours of enjoyment.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: ReaperKK on May 22, 2014, 01:41:08 PM
I will be following this!

Can you put me on the waiting list?

I don't play too many current games so my list my be a bit retro.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Big Hath on May 22, 2014, 02:27:23 PM
I will be following this!

Can you put me on the waiting list?

I don't play too many current games so my list my be a bit retro.

heh, yeah my list is going to be A LOT retro
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: ReaperKK on May 22, 2014, 02:32:14 PM
One of the best coop games I ever played was boarderlands 2. I have the first game but never got around to playing it, maybe some day. . . .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: snapple on May 22, 2014, 02:39:22 PM
too bad 2 tried to turn itself into something that the original bl wasn't. (example, RAID BOSSES)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on May 22, 2014, 03:12:33 PM
Add me to the list please.

My list will be "retro" as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Genowyn on May 22, 2014, 03:44:23 PM
Do visual novels count as games?

And for series where each iteration is pretty much the same as the last one, is everyone cool with just giving the whole series as an entry? (For example, not that this would be in my list, but could someone just put "Madden NFL", or should they try to decide which game in the series is best?)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: Sacul on May 22, 2014, 03:49:54 PM
Add me to the list please.
No problem.

Do visual novels count as games?
Like Heavy Rain? While it has some gameplay, yes, it counts as a video game.

Never played Borderlands, but always heard about it. It must be really fun and difficult - so sad that I suck at video games :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle's amazing list.
Post by: Genowyn on May 22, 2014, 04:00:45 PM
Not really like Heavy Rain, like these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukihime
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STEINS;GATE

Basically just text, images, voice acting in newer ones, usually you make choices that influence the plot, but some of them have no choices at all or very few.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle's amazing list.
Post by: Sacul on May 22, 2014, 04:09:05 PM
If you consider them as video games, sure, include them on your list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread!
Post by: The King in Crimson on May 22, 2014, 07:24:45 PM
Sweet.

Can you put me in the waiting list too?

Do visual novels count as games?

And for series where each iteration is pretty much the same as the last one, is everyone cool with just giving the whole series as an entry? (For example, not that this would be in my list, but could someone just put "Madden NFL", or should they try to decide which game in the series is best?)
Personally, I think you should try to narrow it down to one game. That's kinda like putting "Opeth" in your top favorite albums list. Even if the games are all the same, I'd think one should stand out more than the rest, even if it's just for nostalgic reasons or because the story is better or the box art has more tits on it is better than the others. But that's just me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on May 22, 2014, 08:20:42 PM
24.) Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
(https://i.imgur.com/F7pKvYA.png)

Double.Motherfucking.Rangers.
That enough explains my love for this game, which just so happened to be my first online shooter. The maps online are absolutely brilliant, and every once and awhile I still go back to this game, which magically somehow still has some excellent online. Probably the last Call of Duty entry to really push the series forward, this one is just a blast to play, especially with friends. We would play offline, and just dick around all night long, it never got boring. And online once we all got that shit hooked up, we were unstoppable, and annoying. The DLC maps were actually really rad as well.
On top of the amazing online the campaign was intense. Many missions had you, gripping your heart with drama, action, and all the intensity.

Overall: A game that deserves a spot in the running for "Best FPS EVVA". It ain't my personal best, but I sure as fuck won't judge or question you if it's yours.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on May 22, 2014, 10:30:59 PM
I always preferred CoD 4: MW to MW2, but that's mainly due to the fact that it was the first FPS that I played with friends, and MW2 is unquestionably brilliant as well.

Haven't played Borderlands yet... something I really should do, considering that pretty much everyone that I know loves the shit out of this game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on May 23, 2014, 06:45:17 AM
Can't say much about this game because the I've only played a few CoD's.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on May 23, 2014, 06:48:37 AM
I've never played Borderlands (shame I know) and I'm not a fan of the CoD games at all. I know they are pretty popular, but despite playing the first CoD when it came out, as well as the first few Battlefield games, that "genre" never did it for me. I love plenty of FPS games, and I play CS:GO on a daily basis, but those "war" games just don't do much for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Tom Bombadil on May 23, 2014, 08:13:22 AM
The last good CoD game. Probably about the same place I'd put it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Big Hath on May 23, 2014, 08:33:02 AM
MW2 is so good.  One of the few "modern" games that will likely make my list (because I haven't played very many).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on May 23, 2014, 09:41:50 AM
Borderlands is awesome. CODMW2, not a big fan of. I used to play the hell out of those games, especially 4 and WAW. I guess I just burned out on those around the time of MW2, so I couldn't really get into it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on May 23, 2014, 12:12:44 PM
23.) The Lawnmower Man (1993)
(https://i.imgur.com/otpkegg.jpg)

Most likely one of the games I've put the most time into, it's an arcade styled platformer that my grandparents had for their Snes, and I absolutely loved it. I've never seen the movie, but this game is soooooo much fun. In all honesty there's not really much that sets this game apart from any other 2d platformer of the era, I just happened to play it all the time when I was little and for that, it has my eternal love.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on May 23, 2014, 07:28:43 PM
I remember seeing that cover when I was little at blockbuster!!!

Never played the game or saw the movie (I heard the movie was a trip)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zook on May 23, 2014, 07:33:43 PM
Back when R rated movies were smash hits with toys and game adaptions aimed for kids.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on May 24, 2014, 11:29:15 AM
22.) Vanquish (2010)
(https://i.imgur.com/gb5LVnh.jpg)

I didn't get this game when it first came out, I didn't really notice it in all honesty, but when I finally got to it a couple years ago, I wish I had known about it. It's a 3rd person shooter that's got you on your heels the entire time with it's breakneck pace. You also have to be smart with your ammo, because if you run out you are boned. The story's kind of silly, but at the same time, taking down Space Russia is the most radical thing ever.

If you liked the Gears of War series you'll most definitely enjoy this game. If you don't, like me, you'll enjoy this game, it's a faster in it's gameplay compared to Gears of War, which I just find dreadfully slow.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on May 24, 2014, 11:31:42 AM
Never heard of the last 2 games, but MW2 is really amazing for it's genre. What a pity it's too short :censored
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on May 24, 2014, 07:27:04 PM
Vanquish is pretty cool. It's not one of my favourite FPS games, but it's definitely very entertaining - which is all I really ask from a video game, at any rate - anything on top of that is just bonus.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on May 27, 2014, 04:08:10 PM
It's definitely very entertaining - which is all I really ask from a video game, at any rate.
I think that's what video games are about, entertaining - maybe telling a story or just jumping over Goombas. Btw, still waiting for the update, yo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on May 27, 2014, 04:11:58 PM
Will get one tomorrow, I'm in class and after class I have to finish a project worth 30% of my grade for this class.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on May 27, 2014, 04:26:51 PM
WE DON'T NEED YOUR GOD DAMN EXCUSES, WE WANT GAMES. C'MON, ERBODY!

WE WANT GAMES
WE WANT GAMES
WE WANT GAMES
WE WANT GAMES


RAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VIVA LA RESISTANCE!

/wolfendogs
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on May 27, 2014, 04:54:39 PM
Never heard of Vanquish, I'm going to have to check out some gameplay footage.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on May 28, 2014, 12:16:57 PM
21.) Commando (1985)
(https://i.imgur.com/8EaQ6xZ.jpg)

This is another game I spent a lot of my childhood playing while I was at my grandparent's house. I even own it for myself these days as well. It's a top down shooter that's absolutely nuts, bullets are flying everywhere, enemy men are running every which way, and grenades are flying bruh. I think I've beaten it once or twice as a little sprout, but this game is tough for me, even these days. In the end it's a fun game that does a good job of giving a glimpse at the chaos of a battlefield. Nothing overly amazing, but it's a fun way to spend a few hours. And as a kid that's what's up.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on May 29, 2014, 03:26:40 PM
Another classic game I've never played. Is it like Contra?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cool Chris on May 29, 2014, 03:31:45 PM
I always forget I hate one-listing-per-day Top XX threads.

Good game for nostaliga, but not one I would get through more than 5 minutes of these days. I don't think I was even sure this game had an ending. I've sure never seen it.

I would place it somewhere between Contra and Ikari Warriors. A shoot-em-up that isn't as fun and diverse as the former, but much more enjoyable than the similarly-styled latter.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on May 30, 2014, 08:56:01 PM
Not really on the topic of DC's list, but I'm thankful for the existance of this list already, because it made me revisit three games from one of, if not my favourite, gaming franchise.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on June 01, 2014, 08:57:42 PM
How 'bout an update, DC?
Title: I only started following this thread a few days ago anyway.
Post by: black_biff_stadler on June 01, 2014, 09:17:20 PM
Yeah, Dork Castle! You fucker!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 02, 2014, 05:31:18 PM
Are you still alive?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on June 02, 2014, 05:50:25 PM
(https://www.laboralcentrodearte.org/en/recursos/obras/super-mario-sleeping/leadImage_preview)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on June 02, 2014, 05:54:04 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/ujIhwEP.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 02, 2014, 06:00:16 PM
Really though... you should have your list ready and if not typed out, then a general gist of what you want to say before you start posting. On that note, we should definitely have a limit to how long this shit should take. SOME PEOPLE WANT TO MASTURBATE TO A FULL LIST OF GAMES THAT OTHERS HAVE GRACIOUSLY SHOWN.

Srsly, I'm not stressing it at all, but I imagine that others who have their lists ready in some form are being left out. I'd rather see a list that's been thought out and a bit more expansive rather then 'this is my nostalgia porn'. No offense to DC...but it's kinda ridonkulous; I doubt the next write up will be any more than what's already been posted.

I'll eventually get in on this but I was hoping to get some inspiration before hand. Eh.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 02, 2014, 06:16:30 PM
On that note, we should definitely have a limit to how long this shit should take.
I say no more than a month. I hope you can complete your list before June 22th or I will kick your ass the next user will start it's own, no matter if you've finished or not.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 02, 2014, 08:45:33 PM
Quit yur' yapping you curr, can't really make posts if I'm banned can I?
 :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on June 02, 2014, 08:46:02 PM
Oh right.. I read the NHL thread earlier and I guess I didn't put 2 and 2 together :rollin
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 02, 2014, 08:58:18 PM
This will continue until the 11th, and then take a break until the 16th, BECAUSE GUESS WHO'S GOING TO BONNAROO?!?!?!?!

I should be able to finish it, I've got my choices lined up.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on June 02, 2014, 08:59:54 PM
Who's going to Bonnaroo?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 02, 2014, 09:03:40 PM
20. Total War Shogun 2 (2011)
(https://i.imgur.com/5Vh6VO6.jpg)

Wow I'm pretty mediocre at RTS's and generally they don't keep my interest. I guess you could say this is one of the very few that do, and part of that is because I love Feudal era Japanese history. Samurai were my biggest obsession alongside otters growing up, and being able to command entire GAWT DANGED armies of them is like my personal wet dream. Not to mention the visuals are simply gorgeous and the strategy involved in fueling a successful campaign is pretty darn fun to figure out. I suck at the online, partially because I don't have the DLC and end up going against armies with cannons and rifles while I'm going full feudal style  :lol but that doesn't deter me from playing online every once and awhile. I'm pretty sure Total War is also one of the established franchises in the genre so I'm sure the quality of their games is well known.

Anyways if you're a samurai freak like me, this is as close as it gets right now to living the dream.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 02, 2014, 09:59:42 PM
Srsly, I'm not stressing it at all, but I imagine that others who have their lists ready in some form are being left out. I'd rather see a list that's been thought out and a bit more expansive rather then 'this is my nostalgia porn'. No offense to DC...but it's kinda ridonkulous; I doubt the next write up will be any more than what's already been posted.

Sorry that some of my favorite games happen to coincide with my childhood and that the others don't really take 5 paragraphs to explain.
You can expect more lengthy write ups further up the lists, I don't want to waste your time with my "nostalgia porn"  :\

Anywho, onwards.

19. Tecmo Super Bowl (1991)
(https://i.imgur.com/Unaf2Cw.jpg)

Watch out, it's another game I played a bunch in my childhood and even today! Tecmo Super Bowl has kept me entertained through rainy afternoons, super boring classes, and lonely evenings. It pretty much improved upon everything from the previous Tecmo Bowl, not only game wise but the fact that you could play as actual NFL teams with the actual rosters of the time. It also just so happened most of my favorite teams were pretty good at the time, so I could play as the Bills, and destroy any team with the rush offense, or play as the Chiefs and Mcfuck you up. It was also annoyingly awesome that with each win the game got more and more frustratingly difficult, not only by making it nearly impossible to pass, but also impossible to defend, so when you were able to pull of that deep pass, sack the QB, or intercept the ball, you felt like a fucking champ. The game also simply does not get old, I have popped this game on so many times, and I keep coming back because it never loses it's entertainment.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on June 02, 2014, 10:02:39 PM
DC, I want your writeups to be however you feel. Hell, all my top 50 albums review was nothing but nostalgic memories. That's fine. Don't make a writeup for others, do it for yourself.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 02, 2014, 10:39:06 PM
Aww... I didn't mean anything offensive by it, nostalgia plays a big part in reviewing games we grew up on, naturally. I was just saying I'd like to hear more about why you love these games, not just that you like them and then an explanation of the game itself. It was a meager critique, I wasn't bashing you; also...5 paragraphs? Hardly. But yeah, I'd like a little more than a couple sentences.

I suppose it's not my place. Apparently it worked though, because I thought the last two write-ups were a lot better.  :P And yay to Shogun; very fun game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dr. DTVT on June 02, 2014, 11:16:13 PM
A list without a Tecmo Bowl is an invalid list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: The King in Crimson on June 03, 2014, 08:12:43 AM
A list without a Tecmo Bowl is an invalid list.
Well I guess I'm out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 03, 2014, 08:40:15 AM
A list without a Tecmo Bowl is an invalid list.
I've been looking into lots of top 100 all-time video game lists recently, and I'm surprised by how many times does that game appear.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Big Hath on June 03, 2014, 08:43:49 AM
it's certainly going to be in my list
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dr. DTVT on June 03, 2014, 10:31:06 AM
I'll add the qualifier of "and you are from N. America" to my previous claim.  It is a bit unfair to expect people in Europe to know the Bo Jackson or Barry Sanders rule.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Genowyn on June 03, 2014, 12:04:32 PM
A list without a Tecmo Bowl is an invalid list.
Well I guess I'm out.

Same. I'm from North America even.

Sports games suck.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 03, 2014, 01:08:06 PM
I'm with Gen. I've never had a good time playing a sports game, even with friends. There'd always be the one dude who thinks he's a superstar while playing it (similar to the Guitar Hero phenomenon); but the rest of us would always end up overruling him and playing Mario Kart or Smash.  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: The King in Crimson on June 03, 2014, 07:00:37 PM
I'll add the qualifier of "and you are from N. America" to my previous claim.
This helps me not.

Quote
It is a bit unfair to expect people in Europe to know the Bo Jackson or Barry Sanders rule.
Those guys played hockey right? :neverusethis:

A list without a Tecmo Bowl is an invalid list.
Well I guess I'm out.

Same. I'm from North America even.

Sports games suck.
Indeed. Football games are probably the absolute worst of them all though. Someone thought it was a good idea to transplant the tedium of watching football, amplify it by 1000 and then male you play football?  Fuck that guy.  I've played some hockey and soccer (read: Euro Football) games that are a lot of fun, football videogames are like fun-arsenic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 03, 2014, 09:12:36 PM
3 updates tomorrow I drunk promise.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 03, 2014, 09:35:32 PM
Aww fuck, so zero updates tomorrow.  :lol :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 03, 2014, 10:00:54 PM
Bruh, I just overcame a naked mile challenge on my first shot, you guys deserve 3 updates.   :rollin
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Ben_Jamin on June 04, 2014, 11:40:02 AM
You got drunk off your first shot? :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 04, 2014, 12:19:31 PM
Many beer pong games later, my friend and I upped the ante. 1 cup each, across the living room, 2 shots, if you made it the other had to run around the apartment in their boxers, I sank it first shot.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 04, 2014, 05:09:03 PM
18. Bayonetta (2010)
(https://i.imgur.com/57f3MwP.png)
A game that sparked a bit of controversy around the internet due to the lead characters' design, Bayonetta is a game that I find to be a damn good DMC styled game, through the gameplay and humor. The combat is ultra smooth and you'll find yourself getting into a real rhythm the more you play, and it feels good. The visuals are pretty tight as well and the game is an enjoyable ride.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on June 04, 2014, 07:16:16 PM
Never played this one, but the moment that I saw the heroine on the cover, I knew that I had seen this game somewhere, and it just came to me again: my dad played this. Weird.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 04, 2014, 09:13:33 PM
17. Devil May Cry (2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/FoYWzms.jpg)

I looooooooooooove Devil May Cry, and I loooooooooooove this reboot. His redesign looks pretty radular, and as opposed to many who bitched about his new hair, I really liked it. Anywho let's talk about something other than that beef cake. I love the gameplay from this series, and it's top notch on this release, combos flying every which way as you slash and hack your way through hordes of enemies with a variety of weapons, each and every one having different feel to it. On top of all that, the game looks absolutely fantastic. The story is also pretty cool, no spoilers from me, and the humor is the kind we've come to expect and love from Devil May Cry. If you're a cool dude, you probably enjoy this series, and if you've never played any games from the series, you should give it a try!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 04, 2014, 09:34:40 PM
16. Two Worlds (2007)
(https://i.imgur.com/z1Nprvz.jpg)

THIS GAME. THIIIIIIIS GAME. It's one of the most ridiculously "hilarious in a not meant to be hilarious way" I've ever played. The gameplay's actually incredibly tight, combat is ridiculously fun and you'll find yourself duking it out with dragons for what can amount to a half hour. And you can actually do some pretty amazing stuff with weapons, such as stacking weapons with the same name and stacking elemental damage on top of that to make these monster slamma jamma weapons of mass destruction. But where you really fall in love with this game is the hilarious dialogue, especially of the character you play as. And the visuals are actually pretty tight, especially for an early 360 game, although it's also the reason the game can stutter pretty badly at times, they really pushed their limits with this sumbitch.

"IT'S WET", shouted out enthusiastically when you jump into a body of water,
"BANDITS!" when you come across a group of wild bears or paladins of a holy order.

Honestly you really need to experience all of this for yourself, it's dirt cheap and you will find yourself being entertained for many weeks.
So go get it YOU NANCIES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 04, 2014, 10:39:19 PM
Nice, awesome to see DMC!! I adore the reboot and really hope they continue with it. Glad to know there's at least one other person who likes his design; I got so much shit from friends who are fans of the series that abhorred everything about the reboot and I was the complete opposite. Right down to the look of the game and the awesomely metal soundtrack (DAT COMBICHRIST), it all screams DMC, but a fresh new take on the whole thing. I just remembered though that it was a prequel so...I dunno how they'd continue; but if they do a sequel, I really hope it's the same team because that game is by far my favorite of the series.

I've never actually played Two Worlds but I watched a friend play and yeah, it's pretty hilarious...but I don't think I could play it and still enjoy it. Awesomely fun to watch, especially after partaking.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 07, 2014, 01:39:56 PM
I've always heard about DMC but never came to play it. Is the 4th a good starting point for the series?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 08, 2014, 09:38:56 AM
15. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/WkPy0zN.jpg)

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a game that you may put down for a while, but always come back to, guaranteed. Like the rest of the games in this series, New Leaf is an incredibly addicting game where really all you do is average things, such as fishing, bug catching, swimming, cleaning up garbage, and shopping. Oh yeah and you can find fossils, attend concerts, the fish you catch are radical, as are the bugs, etc. It's a simple game that has a whole buttload of charm to it, personalizing your house with various random objects, designing your own clothes, which other neighbors might start wearing makes you feel really proud inside, especially when they tell you your design is dope. I also like the addition of being the mayor in this game, makes me have a sense of duty to make the best town I can for the other residents and myself.

So if you have some free time and who are we kidding, we all have a little bit of it, this is a cozy little game to spend that free time on.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 08, 2014, 03:00:22 PM
Love the Animal Crossing series, and New Leaf was the best them. Like you said, I haven't played it for months, but one day when I'm on a road trip, I'll definitely see how many weeds I have to clean up and how many of my peeps moved out.  :lol :'( Classic, laid back gaming at it's best (only rivaled by the almost equally awesome Harvest Moon series...which has a new 3DS game coming out soon!)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: black_biff_stadler on June 08, 2014, 03:40:43 PM
Still no ET :tdwn
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dr. DTVT on June 09, 2014, 01:21:21 AM
Still no ET :tdwn

Dude, it is clearly going to #1, why do you think they made so many copies of the game?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on June 09, 2014, 07:27:05 AM
A lot of games I haven't played, still following!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Big Hath on June 09, 2014, 09:14:34 AM
Still no ET :tdwn

Dude, it is clearly going to #1, why do you think they made so many copies of the game?

heh, I still have mine
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: masterthes on June 09, 2014, 11:11:29 AM
ET is the best game of all time. Of course it's going to be number 1





















 :rollin














 :|
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 10, 2014, 04:07:27 PM
I'd be very disappointed if ET isn't on the top 5 :sadpanda:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 10, 2014, 04:25:35 PM
14. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/XKe0WDx.png)

Well it's getting a facelift for the Xbox One (Yay!) and PS4, and that'll be fantastic, but this game already is incredible. It's a HUGE step up from IV, in terms of exploration, driving, things to do, and really every thing about it is just better period. The map is frickin gigantic, and there's never a spot with nothing to do. THere's golfing, skydiving, racing, hunting, submarine searches, you name it, you're not trying very hard if you can't find anything to do. On top of all of that, Rockstar really brought forth a fantastic story, one that keeps you engaged all throughout, and getting to switch between different characters was a very radical decision, each character has their own personality and that also transitions into how you play the game(at least for me)

Overall: This is a gam eyou should play, it's nuts, it's fantastic, and it's incredibly engaging.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 10, 2014, 04:57:00 PM
I can't WAIT to play this when it releases on PC. It's about time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on June 10, 2014, 09:55:11 PM
I can't WAIT to play this when it releases on PC. It's about time.
:2metal:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on June 10, 2014, 09:58:30 PM
I was never too big on the GTA series. I don't know why - I love open world, I love random violence, but I just never really enjoyed the series. That said I only know GTA II and GTA San Andreas, so I might give this one a spin some day.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on June 10, 2014, 10:10:40 PM
Besides GTA 2 back in its day a little bit, I was never really a fan of the pre-SA GTA games. SA I actually hated at first, it took me about seven or eight years to give it a second chance where I finally saw some appreciation for it. But it's not exactly the best of the series and it is now quite dated.

Having said all that though, GTA IV is one of my favourite open world third-person shooter games ever, and the two DLCs are great aswell, so I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone who does enjoy these open world games. I've not played GTA V myself so no comment there, but going by its reputation I'd say that there are at least two games in the series that may appeal to you.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on June 11, 2014, 02:37:09 AM
GTA V really is incredible.

I've been a huge GTA fan since the old days. Even since before they went third person shooter. My first exposure to GTA was when I got GTA 2 on PS1 for my birthday when I was 7 or 8. My dad picked it because he thought it seemed "fun".  :P I don't think my mom had approved if she knew what it was, but I had some fun times in it. I don't necessarily recall doing missions in that game, I just played around and enjoyed the "being free" aspect. When GTA 3 came out, me and my friend were blown away by how good it was, and what a pleasant change it was. Vice City continued that trend, and San Andreas was the game I played the most. I liked 4, but I found myself getting bored of that one easier. I completed it once, but unlike previous games I did not complete it several times.

With all the hype and buzz for 5, I was so excited and had so high hopes. GTA V managed to live up to them. What an incredible game. In many ways it really is the best GTA game, and one of THE best games ever made. There are so many things I loved about it, that it would take too long for me to get into detail, but what a game.  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on June 11, 2014, 04:08:16 AM
I could never get into GTA 3 or Vice City. Sure I would run around crashing cars into shit and killing people if I went to a friend's house and the game was on, but I had no inclination to get them for myself. They were just "fuck-around for a few minutes at a time" games to me. GTA 2 was the same, I never actually did anything of consequence in it. SA was the same until I gave it a proper chance one day, and found myself doing the missions and stuff. I can't see myself ever going back to it though.

GTA IV was when shit got real for me, so I'm very much looking forward to the GTA V PC release.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on June 11, 2014, 12:26:27 PM
I can't WAIT to play this when it releases on PC. It's about time.

Lets hope it's a much better port than GTAIV was.

I really like the GTA series and V is a great game however it didn't really grab me in the way Vice City or IV did, I don't know what it is. I found both Michael and Franklin to be kind of dull./
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 11, 2014, 12:29:09 PM
No update for awhile guys, I'm off to Bonnaroo
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Outcrier on June 11, 2014, 04:14:55 PM
I can't WAIT to play this when it releases on PC. It's about time.

Lets hope it's a much better port than GTAIV was.

Yeah, GTAIV lags a lot in my PC, one that can play most recent games in max settings without framedrops. Hope that they don't do a poor optimization again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on June 11, 2014, 10:03:01 PM
I can't WAIT to play this when it releases on PC. It's about time.
Lets hope it's a much better port than GTAIV was.
Yeah, GTAIV lags a lot in my PC, one that can play most recent games in max settings without framedrops. Hope that they don't do a poor optimization again.
The engine could have been optimised a bit better, but at least the PC port of GTA IV was functionally really good. I'm playing Watch Dogs right now and it's incredibly fucking annoying how little attention to detail there was in the port to PC. A few things that are irritating about it:

- Mouse aim has some slight input lag, and even though there are articles online instructing how to "fix" the problem, they don't. I'm normally a great shot, but if something is far away or moving too fast I have trouble hitting the body, let alone the head. There's a bullet-time function that alleviates the problem a bit in firefights but this still pisses me off.
- There's an aim-assist, and while you can select three different magnitutes for it, you can't actually turn it off, which makes aiming at things even more difficult.
- The mouse cursor in menus moves ridiculously fast, and if you turn up camera/aim sensitivity the speed and distance the mouse cursor moves increases with it. I like high sensitivity, so the mouse cursor just behaves stupidly in the menus for me.
- Some menus use the mouse to select things, and there's no option to use arrow keys or WASD instead. But, there's no cursor. Basically if you want to move from one option to another, you have to move the mouse a certain distance to get it to move. If you want to move to the option next to it, you have to move the mouse that same distance again. So it's not like the cursor is just invisible, because that would still be somewhat intuitive. Instead it just feels really strange and clunky to navigate that way.

These sorts of things could be patched I guess, but they haven't been yet and this is the state Ubisoft launched the game. But at least I know Rockstar's port of GTA V won't be as shit-tastically annoying as this.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 14, 2014, 11:23:26 AM
These sorts of things could be patched I guess, but they haven't been yet and this is the state Ubisoft launched the game.
I haven't played it yet, but I've heard things like this, along with lots of bugs. If they took a few months to improve the game, why is the port so poor?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 17, 2014, 09:36:38 AM
13. Batman: Arkham City (2011)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q0100ux.jpg)

This game right here sucked up a lot of my life for awhile, a gorgeous presentation of the Batman universe, lovingly crafted to give you a raging bat boner. This game is pretty amazing in all aspects, the graphics are gorgeous, the characters are crafted with fantastic attention to details, the gameplay is super tight, the story is marvelous, and it never gets boring. I could and still do spend hours just gliding across the Cityscape, beating up thugs and looking for hidden secrets, to 100% the game. There's really nothing about this game that drags on, there's always something to do, whether it's the marvelous main story, the side missions that shed light onto other characters in the universe, or just all of the secrets you can find nestled away in city. The gameplay is similar to Assassin's Creed, in that once you get going, it's hard to die, but unlike Assassin's Creed sometimes could get, it never gets old, you can really feel the impact of the hits you land, and if you do mess up, you will pay for it.

Overall, if you haven't played this game, for the love of god, go out and get it ya big dummy.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on June 17, 2014, 02:26:32 PM
Arkham City is awesome. The moment when I was in the museum and about twenty thugs stormed me and I took all of them out without losing the combo is still one of the gaming moments that I remember most fondly. Absolutely love the game - I think I even got all the side missions... though I never managed to get all Riddler trophies. :(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ariich on June 17, 2014, 02:39:41 PM
Finally a game I know!

Great choice as well. I enjoyed the first one fine, but everything was tighter and slicker in City.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on June 17, 2014, 02:48:42 PM
Yeah, Arkham City just takes everything that was great about Arkham Asylum, puts it in a bigger world and leaves out the bad stuff (of which there was, admittedly, not a lot, but still).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 17, 2014, 04:21:54 PM
So much people talk great things about the Arkam series - I should play them. Do they have a common storyline?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 17, 2014, 07:11:43 PM
Nice! City is my favorite open-world game of the recent generation of games.

They do, Sacul, but AA just adds to the story if you play it, there's absolutely no actual need to play the first one, in my opinion. AC is absolutely an upgrade in every way and the story of the Asylum can be read and previewed by synopses in City. I still play it after 100% completion; there's so much shit to do it's almost endless. Oh, and the costumes are absolutely awesome; It's just too cool flying around as the Green Lantern Bat, there's a bunch of options. Also, I really liked playing as Catwoman a lot more than I thought I would. Add on top of all that a New Game + mode and it's one of the most exhilarating and fun open-world games out there. I still enjoy running around in it more than I do in Watch Dogs or GTAIV (anticipating V's PC release).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on June 17, 2014, 10:00:24 PM
I tried Arkham City out, but couldn't get into it. I found the combat pretty boring because it's so easy, and the plot seemed to be nothing but forced excuse after excuse to give another Batman villian a cameo in the game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on June 19, 2014, 03:52:24 PM
I've only played asylum, I have city but I haven't touched it (picked it up in the WB humble bundle pack), can't wait to try it out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 19, 2014, 08:31:42 PM
I have city but I haven't touched it
Now that I remember, I got it free for my PS3 :facepalm: - will start it soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on June 19, 2014, 09:43:49 PM
Excellent game.  'City' becoming open world rocked.  Great story, great side missions, great enhancements to 'Asylum'.

'Origins' has been sitting in the wrapper downstairs just begging to be played for quite a while.

Oh, and sign me up for this.  Should be a few months before it's my turn.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dr. DTVT on June 19, 2014, 11:33:59 PM
  Should be a few months before it's my turn.

Hate to say it, but years at this pace.  Zantera is spoiling us with his bands list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: SystematicThought on June 20, 2014, 12:07:20 AM
Sign me up as well. This will be fun, excited to present my list in a few months.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on June 20, 2014, 04:51:48 AM
  Should be a few months before it's my turn.

Hate to say it, but years at this pace.  Zantera is spoiling us with his bands list.

True enough.  But if people, like... you know... start working on this while they're on the waiting list, and not wait until it's their turn, the pace should pickup.  It's only been a month with DC, so that's not too bad.  That's an update every couple of days.  With a Top 25 list, it shouldn't take longer than a month to go thru this.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cable on June 20, 2014, 05:58:39 AM
  Should be a few months before it's my turn.

Hate to say it, but years at this pace.  Zantera is spoiling us with his bands list.

True enough.  But if people, like... you know... start working on this while they're on the waiting list, and not wait until it's their turn, the pace should pickup.  It's only been a month with DC, so that's not too bad.  That's an update every couple of days.  With a Top 25 list, it shouldn't take longer than a month to go thru this.


I already have a 1/3rd at least of mine done, so I can just copy and paste for my posts and be done with it. Even though I'm later, I'll try to pick up the pace to two a day for the first 20.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 20, 2014, 06:08:54 AM
Geez guys, sorry there hasn't been an update for a few days  :lol
I've had to make up homework, and study for a makeup Midterm. After this morning I'll post a few updates.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 20, 2014, 09:05:18 AM
Oh, and sign me up for this. 
Sign me up as well. This will be fun, excited to present my list in a few months.
Added!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 21, 2014, 03:08:38 PM
12. Assassin's Creed II (2009)
(https://www.game-ost.com/static/covers_soundtracks/2322_578527.jpg)

Still the best Assassin's Creed to date in my opinion, this entry improved upon everything from the first, had a wonderful storyline, and never got tiring. I still like the series, but every release afterwards just hasn't captured the magic nearly as much as this one. III was brilliant, the world was amazing, but the story loses me very quickly and I still haven't beaten it to this day, still have yet to play IV. Italy was quite simply put absolutely gorgeous, and the side stuff in this game was very entertaining as well. It's been quite awhile since I've last played this but I feel like I could start over and just power drive through this game, it's just that addicting. Combat wasn't a super simple affair, and evading the LAW didn't seem like an impossible affair like III does.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Outcrier on June 21, 2014, 04:18:46 PM
Totally agree with your opinions on both AC2 and 3 (i just didn't enjoyed playing the game).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on June 21, 2014, 05:29:50 PM
I was revolutionary as far as story ideas go.  II just took it up a notch.  I haven't played III yet.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 21, 2014, 07:02:13 PM
If you've played the first two games, you've experienced the best the series has to offer, in my opinion. It's not a bad series, it's just downright stale. I didn't like III and didn't get very far, and IV was cool for the first few hours and teetered off into mediocrity and far too many instances off deju vu. The bad kind. But yeah, I enjoyed ACII the most. I probably won't buy another AC game till they inevitably have to give in to logic and do the shogun era. Or y'know...inject any type of innovation or fresh ideas instead of just a change of scenery.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 21, 2014, 07:12:46 PM
If you've played the first two games, you've experienced the best the series has to offer, in my opinion. It's not a bad series, it's just downright stale. I didn't like III and didn't get very far, and IV was cool for the first few hours and teetered off into mediocrity and far too many instances off deju vu. The bad kind. But yeah, I enjoyed ACII the most. I probably won't buy another AC game till they inevitably have to give in to logic and do the shogun era. Or y'know...inject any type of innovation or fresh ideas instead of just a change of scenery.
The second they announce they're doing one set in the Shogunate era, I strip my clothes off and go into a binge session of masturbation lasting days.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 23, 2014, 06:24:00 PM
11. Titanfall (2014)
(https://www.gamechup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/titanfall-xbox-one-cover.jpg)

Why is such a recent game on my list, and so high? Well all I have to say is suck it, this game is utterly fantastic, and it's the first step into a new generation of amazing shooters. While some (still) bellyache about the lack of a campaign, I love that they didn't waste time and space attaching a half assed, much too long and tedious campaign to the game, and instead focused on the online experience. The gameplay is incredible, the feeling of parkouring around a city just feels wonderful, and the gunplay is some of the tightest I've seen in any video game. On top of that the visuals are quite simply brilliant, and many maps just make my jaw drop, they're well designed hybrids of past shooters, offering expansive room to maneuver, but also contain little alleys and stretches that give you that small map oriented play as well. And don't even get me started on the Titans, those are just a fucking blast plain and simple.

So yeah, tight game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on June 24, 2014, 05:11:27 PM
I'm playing Black Flag right now and I'm having a good time, it's my first AC game but it's a lot of fun.

I really wish I had time to play Titanfall during the free weekend this weekend but I had a trip to make. Maybe I'll pick it up sometime.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: adace on June 26, 2014, 02:05:51 AM
Just noticed this thread. Nice picks, DC :tup Don't agree with/haven't played all of them but you definitely have a bunch of good ones such as Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Assassin's Creed. Following.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Outcrier on June 26, 2014, 02:31:09 AM
I think i will do a top 25 too, can you add me to the waiting list, Sacul?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 26, 2014, 10:40:11 AM
No problem! I just hope Dark Castle can finish his list... soon. (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/Smileys/default/Roadrunner-Records-Logo.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 26, 2014, 10:49:24 AM
If you guys keep reminding me I've got to finish my list, I'm just going to stall. School exists, and I'm updating when I can.

10. Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire (2004)
(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pokemonrs_437.jpg)

Best Pokemon generation so far, and it's being remade, so that's tight. If you're not a dusty relic, you at least know what Pokemon is, collect bitchin monsters, nurture and love them, and make them fight because you own that shit cuz. This generation had my favorite pokemon designs(X/Y and Black/White might edge it out in that now) but it still has the most entertaining play value. Secret hideouts are way more fun than they should be allowed to be, I'd literally spend hours designing my secret hideout even though it doesn't matter. That and the city designs were radical, and incredibly charming, and I loved to just wander around. Training Pokemon also didn't feel like a chore like it can be in the newer games. Overall, one of my favorite games from my childhoods, and I can't wait to see it made in the gorgeous detail that's been shown so far.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on June 26, 2014, 11:36:53 AM
I'm actually not a HUGE fan of Gen 3 but they are pretty good. I think with Pokemon it comes down to nostalgia a lot. Gen 2 will always be the shit for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on June 26, 2014, 05:54:08 PM
Gen 3 is definitely my favourite too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Outcrier on June 26, 2014, 05:57:54 PM
I'm with Zantera, go Gen 2   :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 26, 2014, 06:20:25 PM
I was on my way out of the Poke'world whenever these games came out, but have since gotten back into the series and cannot wait to explore them in depth on the 3DS remakes. I do remember enjoying the world immensely and while the roster of monsters isn't my favorite, it's still up there.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ReaperKK on June 27, 2014, 09:08:24 AM
Sacul, can you put me on the waiting list, I posted on the front page but was never added.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on June 27, 2014, 09:27:08 AM
Gen 3 is definitely my favourite too.
Totally, I feel like the Pokemon after that are really weird and have some silly names. Just take a look at this.
(https://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/10/garbodor.jpg)
Seriously?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 27, 2014, 09:51:36 AM
Yeah, because other Pokemon games didn't have their share of useless designs.  :\

Every generation has it's share of completely boring ideas that were threw in to fill the quota. Just as they have their share of awesome designs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 27, 2014, 09:57:32 AM
Gen 3 is definitely my favourite too.
Totally, I feel like the Pokemon after that are really weird and have some silly names. Just take a look at this.
(https://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/10/garbodor.jpg)
Seriously?
(https://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/008/5/b/zuruzukin_v_2_by_xous54-d36qd9r.png)
(https://www.smogon.com/media/smog/13/artpanel_shanderaa.png)

Here's just two examples of awesome designs, but there's plenty of great designs in the Pokemon games today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: soundgarden on June 27, 2014, 10:17:22 AM
(https://www.smogon.com/media/smog/13/artpanel_shanderaa.png)
Here's just two examples, but there's plenty of great designs in the Pokemon games today.

Are you saying Chandelure was bad design? Its one of the few I really digged in the recent generations.  Plus, Ghost/Fire?  F yea!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 27, 2014, 10:53:38 AM
No, I'm saying it's one of many, many brilliant designs. Could've been a bit more clear on that heh.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on June 29, 2014, 06:20:02 PM
9. Skyrim (2011)

A game I've sunk too much of my life into. It's my favorite from the series, I tried Oblivion and shut the game off after seeing the Kings shitty grin when he said he was going to die or something, and half heartedly tried it again a few hours later. The combat is the best in the series, I feel like this game actually lets you feel the weight of your hits, and that's something I actively enjoy in games. The graphics are jaw dropping at times and the customization is pretty radical too, and I've made multiple bonafide badasses. Story is nothing to write home about, but it serves it's purpose, and doesn't stop me from exploring every single nook and cranny in the game. I love spending half a day on some huge as fuck cave I happen to run by, it's a pleasure to waste my day.

Overall this game is a great game to play on a rainy day, and offers countless hours of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 29, 2014, 10:12:44 PM
Good game. It's far too in depth for me to enjoy it completely, but many games are for me these days, sadly. It is indeed a massive plethora of potentially hundreds upon hundreds of hours of nothing but exploration and mystery. When the game originally came out, my friend said an odd comment that stuck with me and still describes the game perfectly for me; he said "The thing I love about this game is that you can spend hours doing quite literally nothing to actually further the game and not know it while you're doing it". Like you said, you can spend so much time just exploring a 'little' (in comparison to the game world) nook, find some random treasure and/or powerful opponent...or perhaps nothing at all; but even if you find nothing, it's still exhilarating somehow.

For me though, I really don't have the time to rack in hundreds of hours into a game anymore. I would love to be able to, and hopefully will be able to again someday; but for now those days are behind me and I've still only got about 60 hours in Skyrim. Which, for me, is unheard of in the past few years. It's a testament that I finished the story, but I realized the real game lies in it's ability to continue on after that plot ends. It's almost like an adventurous GTA, where instead of just driving around a city and fuckin' around with cheats, I'll dive in with the insane amount of mods there are and have fun that way.

I still jump in from time to time to fly around as Goku and have Iron Man as a minion, just fuckin' up those dragons and stealing their balls, hoping they bring me wishes.


They haven't.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dr. DTVT on June 29, 2014, 11:13:26 PM
I serious would like to know how many hours I have spent playing Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.

Second thought, maybe not.  The Fallout series might even be worse considering how much I played the first two, in particular.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on June 29, 2014, 11:58:34 PM
I don't think I'll ever complete Skyrim, but I would agree that it's one of the best games out there. I play it from time to time in periods, but I love doing side-quests and explore so much that I'm moving at a snail pace when it comes to the main storyline.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on June 30, 2014, 12:01:52 AM
Do you mean 100% complete? I finished the actual plot of the story in about 45 hours, give or take a few. The rest is all screwing around for me.  :lol Unless you just got caught up in the side-quests..I know a lot of people like to try to complete most of a game's side quests before they finish the story. I've become the opposite over the years of games becoming more open...I like to get what I can out of the story and then kind of just have the rest as extra fun for downtime. I suppose that goes right along with me having less time with games though, now that I think on it.  :sadpanda: :millahhhh
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on June 30, 2014, 01:54:57 AM
(https://www.smogon.com/media/smog/13/artpanel_shanderaa.png)
Here's just two examples, but there's plenty of great designs in the Pokemon games today.

Are you saying Chandelure was bad design? Its one of the few I really digged in the recent generations.  Plus, Ghost/Fire?  F yea!
Chandelure is on my team in every Pokemon game now. The special attack on that thing is just unfair.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 01, 2014, 10:25:32 AM
I may have spent 100+ hours once and nearly 50+ on another game. Now I realize that Skyrim isn't nearly a great game, but man, is damn addictive. Also, it's one of the few that, having such freedom to do whatever you want, you don't feel confused on what do do or where to go. I won't play it again, just because I know all the main and side quests.
Oh and I loved the Dark Brotherhood missions. So bad that all the guilds have short plots.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 04, 2014, 02:30:44 PM
Waiting for #8. No rush, just a reminder that there are guys that follow this thread.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on July 04, 2014, 03:02:42 PM
Yeah!  I may not comment much, but I'm always following.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on July 05, 2014, 12:00:27 AM
Yeah!  I may not comment much, but I'm always following.

Same here. I may not contribute much due to the fact that I haven't played a lot of these games, but I still enjoy reading the write-ups to them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on July 05, 2014, 12:06:20 AM
8. Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Super_mario_sunshine.jpg)

The first game I got for my gamecube that didn't come with the box (Melee), this glorious game is still my favorite entry in the Main line Mario story. The story as a little kid had me deeply invested, I wanted to clear Mario's name desperately, and I had a shit ton of fun doing. The addition of F.L.U.D.D. was a very welcome addition to Mario games, it added a ton of dynamic to how you could play, and spraying enemies in the face tickled my fancy. The level designs in this were absolutely gorgeous as well, and how they represented the paint and toxic filth was perfect, it just looked like a blight on the landscape.

Overall, the best addition to the Mario series, there's not really anything you can fault this game with, it's the perfect addition to a legendary series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: adace on July 05, 2014, 01:10:43 AM
Not my favorite Mario game but still a classic. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 05, 2014, 01:15:06 AM
I quite liked Sunshine, especially all of the fun moves with the FLUDD. I gave up on it because of the ridiculous platforming levels though. Mario actually has too many moves, so he'll randomly kick jump off a platform or do a flip jump to his death instead of what you want him to do. And platforming in 3D is retarded enough to begin with. :lol
Not sure which I prefer out of this or Mario 64 gameplay-wise, haven't played any more recent Mario games. They don't compare to the 2D ones like SMW though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 05, 2014, 01:49:51 AM
I'd definitely take Sunshine over 64. I think they really refined the gameplay and design a lot in this game, and the FLUDD is an interesting and unique addition that works very well. It's great visually, aswell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 05, 2014, 01:52:55 AM
I'd definitely take Sunshine over 64. I think they really refined the gameplay and design a lot in this game, and the FLUDD is an interesting and unique addition that works very well. It's great visually, aswell.

I agree with all of that, except that I still overall had more fun with Mario 64, mostly just because of those impossible platforming levels without the FLUDD stopping my progress completely. Mario 64 is rough around the edges and shows its age even compared to later platformers on the 64.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: black_biff_stadler on July 05, 2014, 01:53:45 AM
Just bought it last week. Damn shame I can't start playing it til my memory card arrives in the mail though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 05, 2014, 03:38:47 AM
I agree with all of that, except that I still overall had more fun with Mario 64, mostly just because of those impossible platforming levels without the FLUDD stopping my progress completely. Mario 64 is rough around the edges and shows its age even compared to later platformers on the 64.
I was irritated by a few of those platform stages in Sunshine aswell, but I managed to get through them, I guess they didn't bother me as much as they did you. My memory is probably faulty but I didn't think they were mandatory.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 05, 2014, 03:46:45 AM
I agree with all of that, except that I still overall had more fun with Mario 64, mostly just because of those impossible platforming levels without the FLUDD stopping my progress completely. Mario 64 is rough around the edges and shows its age even compared to later platformers on the 64.
I was irritated by a few of those platform stages in Sunshine aswell, but I managed to get through them, I guess they didn't bother me as much as they did you. My memory is probably faulty but I didn't think they were mandatory.

You can of course do others things, as those games aren't linear, but at some point you do have to do those platforming levels to be able to progress. Some were easier than others, but that kind of platforming in 3D is too fundamentally flawed to rely on to that degree imo, so it wasn't even fun hard for me, it was just frustrating.
If it weren't for those levels, it would be no contest that I'd prefer it over Mario 64. It's high quality, as Mario games always are.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 05, 2014, 03:58:45 AM
Oh trust me, some of them were definitely frustrating and not fun-hard for me aswell. I must just have a higher threshold for pain. :lol

I'd say the flaw is that they aren't optional. I remember the game having some optional ones of those platform stages, because I do remember getting too annoyed at one or two of them, but I still defeated Bowser and finished the game despite skipping them. So that's probably why I don't remember there being mandatory stages.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 05, 2014, 04:01:35 AM
Oh trust me, some of them were definitely frustrating and not fun-hard for me aswell. I must just have a higher threshold for pain. :lol

I'd say the flaw is that they aren't optional. I remember the game having some optional ones of those platform stages, because I do remember getting too annoyed at one or two of them, but I still defeated Bowser and finished the game despite skipping them. So that's probably why I don't remember there being mandatory stages.

Maybe I just didn't manage to find the next level/thing that I was able to do, I don't know. It's been a little while since I last played it. I'm a pretty casual gamer these days, so I'm sure my pain threshold isn't too high.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 07, 2014, 08:56:55 AM
I remember trying to play it on a GC emulator some years ago - it seemed a decent game, but it quickly bored me. My nostalgia makes me prefer the 64 edition, but damn, the Galaxy series is close. It was really amazing how Nintendo refreshed the franchise with two amazing titles - Mario in space!. Yeah, they are easy to finish, but difficult as hell to 100% complete them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 07, 2014, 09:38:21 AM
I played a little Galaxy on a friend's system (I don't have a Wii) a few years ago. Didn't see what all the fuss was about to be honest.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Xenon on July 07, 2014, 03:24:51 PM
I'm re-playing Mass effect trilogy. Oh the feels.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: TioJorge on July 07, 2014, 04:09:22 PM
 :millahhhh
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on July 07, 2014, 04:16:45 PM
Why the FUCK are we talking avout Mass Effect in here you moffa fuckas
EDIT: I've got an update coming, this game is the tits.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Xenon on July 07, 2014, 08:00:19 PM
Sorry I thought this was the Video game thread, not the TOP 25. My bad.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on July 08, 2014, 01:00:27 PM
Never really gave Sunshine a chance.... maybe someday, as I own both the game and a Cube. Was never into 64, but Galaxy was the shit!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cable on July 08, 2014, 08:07:48 PM
Never really gave Sunshine a chance.... maybe someday, as I own both the game and a Cube. Was never into 64, but Galaxy was the shit!


Agreed about Galaxy. I did not play Sunshine, but my one friend said he liked it as he showed me 5 minutes of it. I am one of the few people that is not over the moon for Mario 64 I guess. Not sure if it was a launch title, but too hard due to the 1st real Nintendo attempt at 3D platforming I felt.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on July 10, 2014, 07:24:26 PM
Please remove me from the list. I might not live to see it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 10, 2014, 08:34:29 PM
Please remove me from the list. I might not live to see it.
Are you sure? Maybe Dark Castle needs a small rush.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on July 10, 2014, 11:28:47 PM
Please remove me from the list. I might not live to see it.

7. Halo Reach
Best Halo game for me, played and continue to play with friends, GRIFF BALL amirite? Campaign is no slouch either, and multiplayer maps and modes are fantastic.
6. Mario Kart 8
Easily the best entry in the series, you know Mario Kart, but this takes it to the umpteenth level. Play it yourself, don't be a fuck and just get a Wii-U already
5. Super Smash Bros Brawl
My favorite, from the gameplay to the character list. The new ones are sure to overtake but this series just gets better and better
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Fantastic game, great story, gameplay is fun as heckles
3. Pokemon Colosseum
Controversially my favorite Pokemon game. The protagonist is the most radular ever, underground pokemon fighting, and rescuing pokemon from evil as fuck dudes combine to make me love everything about this game.
2. Red Dead Redemption
Everything is fantastic about this game
1. Wind Waker
Best Zelda game, best game period. Ocean exploration is fun you naysaying babies, gorgeous art style, fantastic dungeon design, and a story full of heart, drama, and action.



There, how's that for you  :censored
My fucking apologies school has picked up and I choose to prioritize that first over this. I should have known to predict my future and have seen how busy school was going to get what with Lab groups we don't get to pick until the first day of class.
Just move on to the next person,
(https://i.imgur.com/eHUmsE0.gif)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on July 11, 2014, 12:05:27 AM
Great finish! Not a fan of the Zelda series (sacrilege, I know!), but both Halo Reach and Red Dead Redemption are some very worthy choices. Might have to replay the latter, it's been ages... If it interests anyone, I didn't mind your pace DC, of course real life should take priority over DTF! Hope it isn't too bad with school at the moment. :hug:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on July 11, 2014, 12:10:30 AM
I would actually like to take on something like this, so sign me up if possible. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 11, 2014, 12:16:50 AM
Most of these games are far too new for me to have played. :lol

I think I've played Reach. All of those Halo games blur together for me, since I've never owned them, but played a decent amount of the multi-player with friends. They're always a ton of fun.
And I wouldn't even call Wind Waker the best Zelda game on the console, let alone the best Zelda game, let alone the best game. But my copy came with the bonus disc of OoT/Master Quest, so at least it came with the best game of all time. :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: ariich on July 11, 2014, 12:37:19 AM
of course real life should take priority over DTF!
Absolutely! But if things do get busy/stressful and mean you're holding people up here, it's generally a good idea to say so and put yourself on hold until things calm down, so that other people can have their turns.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on July 11, 2014, 02:09:49 AM
I guess I'll start now? Yes, I will. Don't hesitate to comment on DC's last update, though, I just want to get through this rather quickly, as I'd like to finish this in the not too distant future.

A note before I start: there are a few quite popular franchises in gaming that are not represented on this list. Blame my dad, as 90% of my gaming experience comes from raiding his chest of PC games. Sorry guys, there was never any Zelda in there.

25. Flatout 2 (2006)

(https://www2.picfront.org/picture/NaiRbswOMU/img/Flatout2.JPG)

Yes, this game is stupid and has no story. Yes, its main selling point is the ability to destroy your opponents cars in the races, which is completely ridiculous. Do I care? Not one bit. This game is one of the two games that I used to play regularly with my buddies during my time at boarding school, and, oh man, it's just insane amounts of fun. No matter if it's a derby event (a certain number of cars in a an arena - no rounds, just destruction, until only one is left) or a stunt (launching your driver through the windshield of your car at the right moment to achieve something, like scoring a goal on a soccer goal or performing a ski jump, jumping as far as you can), whenever we got our computers into our common room and fired up this little beauty, the following hours were always some of the best fun that I have had playing computer games. Note: the hilarity of this rises exponentionally if you are drunk while playing this, or start out sober and get more and more drunk while playing.

24. Fable - The Lost Chapters (2004)

(https://static.gronkh.de/media/boxcover/fable-the-lost-chapters.jpg)

This game is somewhat an anomaly on this list. As you'll notice, I don't really go in for RPGs at all, and this is one of the sole exceptions. Maybe it was because it was my first RPG, and after having 100%-ed (nearly!) this one, other RPGs didn't seem like a game worth my time? I dunno. Either way, this is cool. Yeah, the storyline is probably the least original thing ever - young hero's parents are murdered, he is taken in by a Guild, which teaches him magic and fighting and all that, after which he embarks into the world, accepting quests and side-quests, while deciding if he wants to be good or evil. A few things that set this apart from other RPGs: one, there are real impacts on the game later on, whether you're good or evil, not just stuff like "If I massacre the whole town, random NPC #26 will look at me disapprovingly four side-quests later", like I've seen in a few RPGs (probably not good ones, but, like I said, the whole genre isn't usually something that I delve into). It's also very open-worlded, and a very big world. Plus, you can't get everything in one playthrough, which, while somewhat annoying, is also something that is rather logical, because of course there would be different options available to a saint than to a guy that abducts children and sacrifices at evil temples. Anyway, enough rambling - this is the only RPG that I have seriously played, and while few other games in the genre hold my interest, this is definitely a good one that you can invest countless hours of your life into, if you are so inclined.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 11, 2014, 02:28:10 AM
1. Wind Waker
Best Zelda game, best game period. Ocean exploration is fun you naysaying babies, gorgeous art style, fantastic dungeon design, and a story full of heart, drama, and action.
I liked the idea of the sea exploration more than I like the way it was implemented. I know it's an ocean and supposed to be vast and mostly empty, but I think they could have done more to make it interesting - more things to fight, for one, could have relieved the tedium. I don't know how many times I just aimed my boat at the next objective and then set down the controller, only to arrive at my destination after about 10 minutes, completely unharmed. It just isn't exciting at all, I don't consider it good gameplay if I can put the controller down and just watch.

Other than calling it the best Zelda game, I won't argue with your other points. It plays great, and it looks fantastic. Probably my favourite Ganondorf battle, too - I loved going toe to toe with him in a sword fight like that. It was a great location/circumstance for the battle to take place, aswell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 11, 2014, 02:40:55 AM
I don't know how many times I just aimed my boat at the next objective and then set down the controller, only to arrive at my destination after about 10 minutes, completely unharmed.

I once just aimed the boat, took a piss break, and came back and it was still going uninterrupted without having been hurt etc.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on July 11, 2014, 04:44:35 AM
Please remove me from the list. I might not live to see it.

7. Halo Reach
Best Halo game for me, played and continue to play with friends, GRIFF BALL amirite? Campaign is no slouch either, and multiplayer maps and modes are fantastic.
6. Mario Kart 8
Easily the best entry in the series, you know Mario Kart, but this takes it to the umpteenth level. Play it yourself, don't be a fuck and just get a Wii-U already
5. Super Smash Bros Brawl
My favorite, from the gameplay to the character list. The new ones are sure to overtake but this series just gets better and better
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Fantastic game, great story, gameplay is fun as heckles
3. Pokemon Colosseum
Controversially my favorite Pokemon game. The protagonist is the most radular ever, underground pokemon fighting, and rescuing pokemon from evil as fuck dudes combine to make me love everything about this game.
2. Red Dead Redemption
Everything is fantastic about this game
1. Wind Waker
Best Zelda game, best game period. Ocean exploration is fun you naysaying babies, gorgeous art style, fantastic dungeon design, and a story full of heart, drama, and action.



There, how's that for you  :censored
My fucking apologies school has picked up and I choose to prioritize that first over this. I should have known to predict my future and have seen how busy school was going to get what with Lab groups we don't get to pick until the first day of class.
Just move on to the next person,
(https://i.imgur.com/eHUmsE0.gif)

Wow.... pretty interesting to see Mario Kart 8 on your list, considering that it wasn't released until after you started your list.

Sorry if my post offended you. And while school should come first, some consideration for others would have been nice.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cable on July 11, 2014, 05:10:00 AM
I don't know how many times I just aimed my boat at the next objective and then set down the controller, only to arrive at my destination after about 10 minutes, completely unharmed.

I once just aimed the boat, took a piss break, and came back and it was still going uninterrupted without having been hurt etc.


I totally wanted to get the GCube version to play on the Wii. But when I read comments like these, and then heard that the WiiU rehash fixed the problem, I don't really want to get it. I really am interested in it because it always looked cool to me. Just didn't have a GCube, and prob won't get a WiiU.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 11, 2014, 05:35:44 AM
I totally wanted to get the GCube version to play on the Wii. But when I read comments like these, and then heard that the WiiU rehash fixed the problem, I don't really want to get it. I really am interested in it because it always looked cool to me. Just didn't have a GCube, and prob won't get a WiiU.
Well to be fair: The long sailing sections we're referring to are mostly the early parts of the game when you haven't discovered anything, and they are alleviated a great deal after a certain point in the story where you unlock these tornado things that teleport your ship around the map (although to nitpick again, I'd have liked if there were more of these tornadoes scattered around). Also, other than a short, slightly boring treasure hunt later in the game, every other aspect of the game is fine. Great, even.

I'd still highly recommend it to anyone who's played and enjoyed any other 3D Zelda title. Hell, even if you have never played Zelda but like these sorts of action/adventure games, I'd still recommend it. The good most definitely outweighs the bad by a significant margin.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cable on July 11, 2014, 08:09:35 AM
I think maybe I'll pick it up then. Considering that I loved Skyward Sword, which I feel had a more polarizing response.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Big Hath on July 11, 2014, 08:28:08 AM
Most of these games are far too new for me to have played. :lol

just wait until my turn.  You'll probably be saying the opposite!  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 11, 2014, 08:30:48 AM
Most of these games are far too new for me to have played. :lol

just wait until my turn.  You'll probably be saying the opposite!  :lol

I like it already! Unless your list includes Magnavox Pong, I don't think you could go too oldschool for me to appreciate.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on July 11, 2014, 09:06:11 AM
Sorry if my post offended you. And while school should come first, some consideration for others would have been nice.

Agreed with DoC.

DC...  :chill.   You're right... real life priorities take precedence.  However, recognize that others want to do this as well, and you took 6 weeks to fire off 18 entries. 

My impression... (and this comment is not specifically directed to DC, but the generic 'you' that refers to every and anyone) if it takes someone more than a few days to put together a couple of paragraphs together on why you love a game, you're too busy to be doing the list, or putting way too much thought into it, and being somewhat disrespectful to those waiting their turn.  Shit or get off the pot.   :biggrin:

I know this isn't my thread idea, but why don't we treat it like the Roulette/Top 50s/Discog Discussion threads?  Have a couple running at the same time, and a dedicated thread for each member?  That way, if (when) someone is going a little slow, it's not holding everyone up?

Just my $0.02.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Dark Castle on July 11, 2014, 09:26:58 AM
Please remove me from the list. I might not live to see it.

7. Halo Reach
Best Halo game for me, played and continue to play with friends, GRIFF BALL amirite? Campaign is no slouch either, and multiplayer maps and modes are fantastic.
6. Mario Kart 8
Easily the best entry in the series, you know Mario Kart, but this takes it to the umpteenth level. Play it yourself, don't be a fuck and just get a Wii-U already
5. Super Smash Bros Brawl
My favorite, from the gameplay to the character list. The new ones are sure to overtake but this series just gets better and better
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Fantastic game, great story, gameplay is fun as heckles
3. Pokemon Colosseum
Controversially my favorite Pokemon game. The protagonist is the most radular ever, underground pokemon fighting, and rescuing pokemon from evil as fuck dudes combine to make me love everything about this game.
2. Red Dead Redemption
Everything is fantastic about this game
1. Wind Waker
Best Zelda game, best game period. Ocean exploration is fun you naysaying babies, gorgeous art style, fantastic dungeon design, and a story full of heart, drama, and action.



There, how's that for you  :censored
My fucking apologies school has picked up and I choose to prioritize that first over this. I should have known to predict my future and have seen how busy school was going to get what with Lab groups we don't get to pick until the first day of class.
Just move on to the next person,
(https://i.imgur.com/eHUmsE0.gif)

Wow.... pretty interesting to see Mario Kart 8 on your list, considering that it wasn't released until after you started your list.

Sorry if my post offended you. And while school should come first, some consideration for others would have been nice.

Just my two cents, I had 7 entries left, I was actually going to have done 2-3 big updates today, seeing as I have my first big break from class today, and I was going to wrap it up Saturday, I know there's been a few entries that have been a bit of a delay, but I did an update every 2-4 days on the normal as much as I could. First and foremost, school comes first, that's just the way it's gotta be, and this month, I got in what's probably the worst group time wise(group wise it's awesome because I'm with all of my friends), and there's just nothing I can do about it. On top of that I've got Homework and a group project for another class to worry about. I didn't have that when I started this list, and couldn't have known about the lab group at the very least.

If ya'll thought I was being an inconsiderate jerk, instead of publicly calling me out in the manner you guys did, which I happen to find really rude, just PM, say "Hey Dork Castle, I've noticed you haven't updated in a few days, anything going on?" There's no reason for you guys to post stuff like "I think I'll pull out, I probably won't live to see Dark Castle finish.) There was also two large stretches, one where I was banned, which is beyond my control, and the period I told I wouldn't be able to, which was when I went to Bonnaroo, and had some makeup homework to do afterwards.


I actually agree completely with your last point though, if ya'll thought I was going too slow, why don't we have 2-3 of these going at a time like every other Top XX thread?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Zantera on July 11, 2014, 09:42:08 AM
I think the problem with lists like this having a line is that people have different amount of time, and it's not possible for everyone to update equally. As for me personally, I've had all the free time in the world these last few years, and updating twice a day has been easy and maybe I've set a high bar. I know others have much more to do in their time, and obviously personal time should come first in something like this.

The best solution I could think of is that whoever is in the waiting list (assuming they have a busy daily schedule) start working on write-ups before it's actually their turn. That way most of their time doing the list will be copy-pasting what they have already written before. I don't know, just a thought.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: jingle.boy on July 11, 2014, 10:20:19 AM
*DC completely understandalbe explanation*

Then why didn't you just make that explanation, rather than having a minor fit like you did?  Also, I think DoC was trying to be facetious/joking.

The best solution I could think of is that whoever is in the waiting list (assuming they have a busy daily schedule) start working on write-ups before it's actually their turn. That way most of their time doing the list will be copy-pasting what they have already written before. I don't know, just a thought.

Agreed 100%.  With DC being the first, a slower pace is understandable.  Others in line should already be working on their list and writeups well before they are officially 'up'.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 11, 2014, 10:44:34 AM
I know this isn't my thread idea, but why don't we treat it like the Roulette/Top 50s/Discog Discussion threads?  Have a couple running at the same time, and a dedicated thread for each member?
I though about that when I first talked about the idea on the video games thread, but as there where just a few people interested on the idea, a single thread for all the lists seemed a more appropriate approach rather than having a dedicated thread for everyone. With just 25 games on the list, it seemed that with more than one list running at time everybody would finish really quick. Also, don't forget there are lots of video game threads already (Battlefield, Pokemon, Zelda, GTA V, etc.)! The bottom line is, now things have gotten bigger and this approach doesn't seem to be sustainable in the future. So, if moderators don't mind, Scorpion you can start your own thread now. And if you are ready, Genowyn, you can also start too.

*DC completely understandable explanation*
Sorry if I seemed rude, DC, it certainly wasn't my intention.

I would actually like to take on something like this, so sign me up if possible. :)
Of course!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 11, 2014, 11:28:46 AM
The only problem with multiple threads is that I don't think is big enough to be archiving threads like we do with the Top 50 albums and Song Roulette threads in GMD. By keeping it in one thread, everything is kept. I think a lot of people (myself included) are much more likely to follow it if I just need to keep coming back to one thread every time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 11, 2014, 12:17:36 PM
I'm cool with that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Cable on July 11, 2014, 02:49:11 PM
Most of these games are far too new for me to have played. :lol

just wait until my turn.  You'll probably be saying the opposite!  :lol

I like it already! Unless your list includes Magnavox Pong, I don't think you could go too oldschool for me to appreciate.


Sames for mine. My newest games are one from 2010/2012, and another from 2011. That's the two newest. Plus like Scorpions is shaping up, mine is littered with PC games. Makes it more interesting the more diverse lists are I feel.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 11, 2014, 09:07:22 PM
That got a lot of discussion, I see! Oh well. Maybe this one will elicit more of a response... though I thoroughly doubt it.

23. Titus the Fox: To Marrakech and Back (1992)

(https://www.abandonia.com/files/games/53/Titus%20the%20Fox_1.png)
Title screen.

(https://www.abandonia.com/files/games/53/Titus%20the%20Fox_3.png)
Screenshot from Level 1.

Anybody here still remember MS DOS? By all rights, I shouldn't either, but my granddad is somewhat of a collector of old to outdated computer stuff. Back in 2002 (when I first played this game and was a measly seven years old), he had two computers running in his office: one with Windows 95 and one only with MS DOS. I played this on the latter, and let me tell you, I wasted COUNTLESS hours trying to beat this bitch of a game. Now, I revisited it earlier this year and it wasn't as hard as I remembered it being, but it was still pretty damn tricky - especially that run of levels from Level 7 to Level 9, which are about ten times as difficult as any other level in the game. Like with Fable and Flatout, nostalgia plays a big role here - this game was the first computer game that I remember playing, so it's somewhat understandable that I like it a lot, but still, it's good fun. As you can see from the offered screen-shot, it's basically a 2D-platformer, with the story being that Titus the Fox has to rescue his love Suzy, who has been kidnapped (sound familiar? :P), but who plays this for the story? Not me. I think by now this game is free to download and play, so if you're interested in this type of game, give it a go! You'll need an MS DOS emulator like DOSBox, though.

22. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Secrets_Coverart.png)
Cover.

(https://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/35200000/Harry-Potter-and-the-Chamber-of-Secrets-video-game-harry-potter-35217246-1024-768.jpg)
Gameplay - this is at the start of the first task.

I was a huge Harry Potter nerd back in the day, and would probably still be if the series wasn't over, so it's only natural that I started playing the computer games. I played Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first, and it was cool, I guess. But then came this game, and it blew me away. It took everything that I liked from the first game, improved upon it and ditched the aspects that I didn't like, which was mainly the linearity of it all - you can now replay almost every part of the game as often as you want, improving on your time in tasks or going back to certain areas to gather collectibles - something which I am a sucker for. Some areas exist only once, but that's okay - it's still a huge improvement over the complete linearity of the first game. Plus, Hogwarts is huge in this game! I think I 100%-ed this one, but it took me at least 20 hours to find all the Chocolate Frog Cards. Now, I haven't replayed this one in a quite a while, but I'm positive I'd still enjoy it. It's just one of those games where everything comes together that delighted the young me for hours on end.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 11, 2014, 09:18:14 PM
Sorry Scrop... I'm 0 for 4.  Never played any of these.  I have a feeling our generational gap will see me going ??? on more than a few of your entries.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 11, 2014, 09:20:27 PM
It's not like all of these came out two years ago... but I get ya. I'd think most people won't know too many games on this list. But if it inspires anyone to pick up even one of these, I'd consider this a successful job.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Bolsters on July 11, 2014, 09:24:30 PM
So far on your list the only game I've played is Fable. I didn't play it much though, as it failed to capture my interest.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 11, 2014, 09:25:20 PM
I play current games too!  I guess it's got more to do with the platform's we had access to.  I never had any Nintendo consoles, and only a sporadic element of PC games through the 90s and 00s.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 11, 2014, 09:45:30 PM
Awesome, good to see things moving forward and it sucks that you had to rush, DC, but it was still cool seeing your list. I agree on TWW being one of the most beautifully crafted games created, let alone Zelda, and I've got a different number 1 Zelda (Majora), but TWW will always hold a special place both in my heart and in the world of games and what it did for the industry.

Interesting list Scorp! I loved me some Titus back in the day, and granted, I didn't play much because that was around my introduction into games as a whole and had basically a tidal wave of games thrown on me in the coming years. But it's awesome to see Chamber of Secrets, I loved both the movie and the game so much, and even though the games, quite frankly, were poorly made in terms of their development, I still had fun with it because I was so addicted to the stories at the time. I remember playing mine on my Gamecube with my sister, getting her into games because of it...just a lot of good nostalgia there. Good stuff! Look forward to seeing some obscure games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 11, 2014, 10:38:09 PM
I was always a console gamer, and never had a proper PC until much later, so I'm not familiar with a lot of PC games. Our first computer was a shitbox though, so I also knew MSDOS far better than anyone my age had a right to. It's even more impressive for someone your age though, Scrop!

My knowledge of PC platformers is basically Commander Keen, and Jazz Jackrabbit. I played the hell out of Commander Keen back in the day, as one of the few games we found that our old PC could play, although Jazz Jackrabbit just felt like a poor man's console platformer to me. Never heard of Titus the Fox, but it looks more my type of thing than most games in these lists. :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 11, 2014, 11:03:47 PM
I remember playing that Chamber of Secrets game as a kid and loving it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 12, 2014, 11:03:22 AM
I remember playing that Chamber of Secrets game as a kid and loving it.
This. It was a nice game, but I don't remember actually finishing it :lol. Btw, wouldn't you mind putting the numbers to the games? For database purposes :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dark Castle on July 12, 2014, 11:12:45 AM
Chamber of Secrets was a warm up for the fantastic Quidditch World Cup game that came out afterwards. I spent more time playing the Quidditch stuff in Chamber of Secrets than I did the actual main game  :lol Good game though, one that I eventually finished, and played a lot when I first got an Xbox.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on July 12, 2014, 11:23:27 AM
I really need to play my copy of Red Dead Redemption.  Bought it used three years ago and never got around to it.

Would it be kosher if between two lists I posted my top 25 in one post without any write ups, because I don't really care to write them up, I just want to see what some people think of my favorite games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 12, 2014, 12:13:25 PM
Hell, at least DC finished his list. I have a shitty problem of stopping halfway through a list. *cough* Breaking Bad *cough*
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 12, 2014, 08:31:24 PM
Never heard of Titus the Fox, but it looks more my type of thing than most games in these lists. :hat

Like I said, you can find it in various places around the net, and programs like DOSBox are not really hard to find either, so if you want to pick this one up for a few hours of mindless fun, definitely do it. From what I know about your general likes/dislikes, I'd think this would be right up your alley.

Btw, wouldn't you mind putting the numbers to the games? For database purposes :P

Sure! No problem, I don't know why forgot them on the list. Went back and added them in.

Also, you might have noticed that I've started including screenshots from each game, mainly to give those that don't know these games an idea towards their gameplay and aesthetic. I shall continue doing so, unless someone (for some unfathomable reason) objects to this.

Also, new update.

21. Eets - Hunger. It's emotional (2006)

(https://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1203606438-00.jpg)

(https://www.old-games.com/screenshot/9767-4-eets-hunger-it-s-emotional.jpg)
This is what a level looks like. Eets is that white thingy there and the puzzle piece is where he has to go.

This one was somewhat of a lucky find for me. My father used to have a subscription on a computer magazine called ct (dunno if it exists in other countries), and twice a year, it came with a CD stacked to the brim with useful programs and games. Most of the games were either freeware or demos, but one of those CDs also included the full version of Eets - Hunger. It's emotional. Considering that I was looking for something to play around then and I was never one to turn down free stuff, I fired up the game on a late afternoon, figuring that it might entertain me until dinner, if nothing else... I didn't close the game until 11 p.m, that's how it drew me in.

It's essentially a puzzle game. You have a... creature, I guess called Eets that you must guide to the end of a level (a puzzle piece), and you have certain objects available to you to ensure that he does reach the end. A little like Lemmings, really, though I never really played that game. Anyway, what makes this game so immersive is that the puzzles here have a pretty much perfect difficulty curve - with the exception of the first few, they're never too easy to be boring, but later they frequently add new objects that require you to think in new ways yet again to solve a level. Plus, there is a lot of levels here, I think a hundred or so, so a few hours of entertainment are guaranteed here, if you don't hate puzzle games, that is. Plus, the art style is really cool, which is always a plus.

20. Worms 4: Mayhem (2005)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1c/W4m-ps2-cover.jpg)

(https://cdn3.spong.com/screen-shot/w/o/worms4mayh165548l/_-Worms-4-Mayhem-PC-_.jpg)
A worm being attacked by a Robo Turret.

I'd guess that most people have at least heard of the worms franchise. Yes, the main idea is absolutely preposterous, but there's so much humour and explosions thrown in here (mostly the explosions!) that I find it rather hard to care about that. Be it story-mode or multiplayer, the premise here is as simple as it universal: beings (in this case talking worms) in ridiculous outfits try to kill each other with a variety of weapons (ranging from conventional like a shotgun or a stick of dynamite to ridiculous, like the Banana Bomb or the Holy Handgrenade), blowing up most of the landscape in the process. The last man standing (usually) wins. I mean, how can you not like that?

The reasons for picking this game from the worms series is, again, mainly due to nostalgic reasons: it's the first game of the franchise that I played. And while I get how some people don't really enjoy the switch to 3D all that much, 2D always felt wrong to me after having experienced this version first. Plus, it has some pretty cool stuff in it that I miss in the earlier versions, like the ability to have your team talk in ridiculous Scottish accents.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 12, 2014, 09:34:46 PM
Never heard of Titus the Fox, but it looks more my type of thing than most games in these lists. :hat

Like I said, you can find it in various places around the net, and programs like DOSBox are not really hard to find either, so if you want to pick this one up for a few hours of mindless fun, definitely do it. From what I know about your general likes/dislikes, I'd think this would be right up your alley.

I've had DOSBox since way back. I might check it out. :tup

I've never played Worms 4. The only one I've played is the one in the XBOX Arcade, which had the traditional 2D gameplay, which was a lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 13, 2014, 03:16:13 AM
Your screenshots aren't working very well. The Harry Potter one doesn't show up when hotlinking, and the Eets one says "To view the screenshot and download the game, please go to www.oldgames.com".

You might want to get your own photobucket (or similar) account and upload these images there.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 13, 2014, 04:26:41 AM
Weird, they show up for me? ??? Anyway, that is a good idea. I think I even have a PhotoBucket, though I'll be damned if a can remember the password.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 13, 2014, 05:35:52 AM
I really like the Worms-games but I actually don't care for the 3D games at all. IMO the charm comes from the traditional format. I recently started playing Worms Reloaded, which has the classic Worms layout of seeing the game from the side, and that's the way to go IMO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Skeever on July 13, 2014, 09:13:40 AM
Man, I have to say, I was cringing through the majority of Dark Castle's list. What an odd selection. But I guess whatever is fun!

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dark Castle on July 13, 2014, 09:51:58 AM
Man, I have to say, I was cringing through the majority of Dark Castle's list. What an odd selection. But I guess whatever is fun!
(https://i.imgur.com/sdXypgB.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/UQAJe7j.gif)
I would love to know what was so cringe worthy about it, truly I would. I should probably be informed of what many classics I missed so that the plebeian that I am can play catch up and include those instead.

I'd love to include many more games, but you know, it's a top 25, and these are the top 25 that I either remember the most fondly or have the most fun playing right now, so why don't you waste your time on more productive things rather than cringing at a list of something that brings joy to somebody.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 13, 2014, 09:59:08 AM
Man, I have to say, I was cringing through the majority of Dark Castle's list. What an odd selection. But I guess whatever is fun!
I think it was a decent list, with lots of great modern games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Skeever on July 13, 2014, 10:15:04 AM
Two Worlds is probably one of the worst games I have ever played on the current gen  :lol

I guess everyone's different. It's interesting to see a list from (I'm assuming) a younger guy who has mainly played 6th and 7th gen games. If I were to do a list, it would overwhelmingly consist of RPGs from gens 4-6, but it'd also include a handful of modern games too. 

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic DC. I would probably recommend you a ton of games on the SNES and PSOne. But I'm not sure there'd be a point. Gaming is gaming and it's difficult to go back in time (I personally don't enjoy much on the early gens and can only enjoy the best of the best on gen 3). However, a few series that I would think should be on any list:

-Metal Gear Solid (PSOne). Snake Eater, too.
-Chrono Trigger
-Zelda and Mario games that aren't on the Gamecube
-A Final Fantasy game
-Something Castlevania
-Something Megaman
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dark Castle on July 13, 2014, 10:21:50 AM
Two Worlds is probably one of the worst games I have ever played on the current gen  :lol

I guess everyone's different. It's interesting to see a list from (I'm assuming) a younger guy who has mainly played 6th and 7th gen games. If I were to do a list, it would overwhelmingly consist of RPGs from gens 4-6, but it'd also include a handful of modern games too. 

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic DC. I would probably recommend you a ton of games on the SNES and PSOne. But I'm not sure there'd be a point. Gaming is gaming and it's difficult to go back in time (I personally don't enjoy much on the early gens and can only enjoy the best of the best on gen 3). However, a few series that I would think should be on any list:

-Metal Gear Solid (PSOne). Snake Eater, too.
-Chrono Trigger
-Zelda and Mario games that aren't on the Gamecube
-A Final Fantasy game
-Something Castlevania
-Something Megaman
(1993 kid you're talking to)
I've owned(for the most part, if we're talking the big consoles generally from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft) and played every generation from NES to Current, if I didn't have it, close family or friends had it and I played on each console plenty.
Let me go through your post.

Two Worlds: If you actually read my post on it, you'd see why I like it so much, not much else to say on this.
Metal Gear Solid: It's a great series, but didn't make my personal cut.
Chrono Trigger: Admittedly never played it, but it never really caught my interest either
Final Fantasy: IX is fantastic but like I said for Metal Gear, doesn't make the personal cut for 25.
Castlevania: I've tried multiple games from the series, didn't really enjoy it that much honestly.
Megaman: Have played most of the Battle Network games which are fantastic, but don't make the personal cut. I own II but I don't really have fun playing it, at least on my NES.

I don't get what's wrong with my favorite Mario and Zelda games being from the Gamecube, the Gamecube produced many of the greatest games in my opinion and I wish I had more space for some of them like Luigi's Mansion, and Chibi Robo. It's not like that means I don't enjoy older Zelda and Mario games, because actually the older ones usually come right after only list of favorites for the series.
Like I said above, if the list was a larger number, that would have been great, but it wasn't; so I picked what I remembered most fondly or what I'd played recently that had brought the most entertainment for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Cable on July 13, 2014, 12:46:38 PM
 ???

Dark Castle's list is his list, and those were his favorite games. There shouldn't be a pre-requisite to X, Y and Z franchise on someone's list, but NOT on this or that console. Having DC's and now Scorpions list thus far being so different is fun.  :tup

Does DC's age somehow make his list less qualified to be valid? Not everyone can have an Atari, NES, SNES, Gameboy, Virtual Boy, Sega Master System, Genesis, N64, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, an upgraded computer every year, Xbox, Xbox360, Xbox One, Game Gear, PS Vita, Wonderswan, MSX, MSX2, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3ds, CDi, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Wii, WiiU, and Gamecube. So we all cannot even scratch the surface of most games made. Having one current gen console is usually the norm.

Maybe make a list Skeever if you want to share your top games? I feel it's a bit odd to call someone's list out on not having the most popular titles in your view. Experience of favorite games on favorite consoles is relative to a lot of factors. You may cherish the SNES and PS1 as the best systems, but not everyone else does. I don't, but I also will not fault anyone for not having titles that I enjoy on YX systems.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on July 13, 2014, 01:03:01 PM
Have you played Worms:Armageddon for PSOne? You can switch accents for each team and name them whatever you want. It makes for funny captions when you die.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 13, 2014, 05:09:32 PM
Have you played Worms:Armageddon for PSOne? You can switch accents for each team and name them whatever you want. It makes for funny captions when you die.

I don't have a PlayStation, but I think I did play Worms: Armageddon (at least I remember there being a worms with a weapon called Armageddon, and that would make sense for it to be in Worms: Armageddon, wouldn't it?). Like I said, however, the deciding factor was the fact that W4:M was the first one of the series that I played at all, so I was kind of predisposed to picking it.

Update time!

19. Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3e/Pop3.jpg)

(https://i.testfreaks.com/images/products/600x400/68/prince-of-persia-the-two-thrones.266564.jpg)
First boss fight of the game.

"Most people think time is like a river, that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time, and I can tell you, they are wrong. Time is an ocean in a storm. You may wonder who I really am, and why I say this. Come, and I will tell you a tale like none you have ever heard."


Rounding off the Prince of Persia trilogy on a high note, we have this gem. It's not my favourite of the trilogy (spoilers!), but it's still incredibly great. The whole game is set in Babylon, but it's so big, giving you a real feel of immersion into the city. Many of the mainstays of the Prince of Persia series return here, along with a new maneuvre called the Speed Kill, which is just as awesome as it sounds. Yes, this is basically either climbing or fighting, but the world it is set in is built so well and the plot is really quite interesting, so I don't mind. One of the things that I appreciate most is that the Prince is the perfect hero that you play in so many video games, but that he actually a quite flawed character, who has lost sight of most of the things in life that aren't revenge. His journey towards revenge on the Vizier and how he comes to terms with his dark side is handled quite masterfully, though I was expecting a big fight with the Dark Prince at the end and was sorta disappointed when I didn't get it, which would be my only complaint with this game. Oh, and the combat system is really sweet, and there are some really cool boss fights, with the 3rd boss fight being one of the hardest that I have ever beaten. All in all, awesome game with a beautiful setting and a suprisingly good plot.

18. Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/Tomb_Raider_-_Anniversary.png)

(https://tombraiders.net/stella/walks/TRAwalk/screenshots/tihocan24.jpg)
Probably the most difficult boss fight of the game.

Bad graphics don't normally hinder my enjoyment of video games, but even I have a pain threshold, and the first Tomb Raider is beyond that by quite a bit. Therefore, even though remakes don't normally interest me all that much, Tomb Raider: Anniversary being a remake of the first one was quite welcome, especially since I quite enjoyed the story of that one. Anyway, this is a great remake - the graphics are light years ahead of the first one, the game play is improved quite a bit, one of my favourite things in Tomb Raider combat is finally added (the adrenaline move), it's tied in quite cleverly into the trilogy (Legend - Anniversary - Underworld). Plus, I love how the game pokes in fun at the original, showing that it is not only a remake but much more, with my favourite of these moments being in Qualopec's tomb at the end of the game's first section. Plus, this is probably the first game that I ever 100%-ed without any online guides, so that will always be a fond memory that I'll associate with this game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Outcrier on July 13, 2014, 05:18:24 PM
Prince of Persia trilogy  :tup
Tomb Raider is nice too (never played the remake though, only the PSX ones).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 13, 2014, 05:34:47 PM
Nice! Two very similar series, one building off of the other; both very beloved for myself, in nostalgia and general likeness of the games. I love PoP a lot more, but they've all but killed it recently and in comparison to the new Tomb Raider reboot, the PoP series has seriously fallen behind. I didn't enjoy TTT as much as other PoP games but it was still engaging and fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 13, 2014, 06:19:41 PM
I have the feeling that I am the only who doesn't love the most recent reboot. Okay, it's better than the most recent PoP, but that's not saying much, and I'd rank every Tomb Raider from III on onward above the most recent one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 13, 2014, 06:37:38 PM
Tomb Raider is the adventure game for puzzle enthusiasts who don't have the intelligence to actually play a puzzle-heavy game. It's got the adventure, sex appeal, action, and story of a great action flick...it can hold it's own and go above and beyond when compared to the current action movies. But it's like it dangles this puzzle in front of you and it's like "OMG CAN YOU SOLVE THIS!? I'LL BET YOU CAN'T!?" and a mentally deficient kid comes up and drools all over the puzzle and completes it in a few seconds. It was absolutely horrible in terms of molding the old with the new. You'd have to be a fucking twat to not be able to progress in that game (barring the aforementioned *sadface*).

Yeah, it was pretty horrible in terms of what the serious end-all-TR-series should have become. But that's just it, it's a reboot. For a reboot, it was pretty god damn good. Now, the true tell tale sign will be if the sequel treats us as moronic inbred fucks. If that happens, yeah...I'll consider the new series to be utter shit, under III. Till then...god damn, do you have some imagination to be able to play III in this day and age. I just can't get past those fucking polygonal tits. Spikey motherfuckers...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Skeever on July 13, 2014, 06:43:52 PM
Prince of Persia and Tomb Radar - both series which are just completely black holes in history with games. Have no idea why I never have gotten around to playing either!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 13, 2014, 07:06:20 PM
Prince of Persia and Tomb Radar - both series which are just completely black holes in history with games. Have no idea why I never have gotten around to playing either!

On Tomb Raider, it doesn't really matter where you start, though Tomb Raider Legend - Anniversary - Underworld form a loose trilogy and share a game engine, so Legend might be your best bet.

With Prince of Persia, definitely start with Sands of Time. There's quite a lot you won't understand in the two follow-ups, especially Two Thrones if you don't play that one first.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: senecadawg2 on July 13, 2014, 07:09:48 PM
Never played that Prince of Persia, but I did enjoy Sands of Time
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 13, 2014, 07:13:27 PM
Never played that Prince of Persia, but I did enjoy Sands of Time

Sands of Time is great but I personally loved the 2008 PoP the best.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 13, 2014, 07:22:02 PM
Never played that Prince of Persia, but I did enjoy Sands of Time

Sands of Time is great but I personally loved the 2008 PoP the best.

Yeah... no. I liked the art style, but pretty much everything sucked, imho. Though I did like the ending.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 13, 2014, 07:22:41 PM
To be fair, those are the only two I've played. But I tend to like things that are shitty anyway. So it's all good. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 13, 2014, 08:09:40 PM
Sands of Time is definitely the best IMO. Just adore that game. But I enjoy them all to some degree. Except the early one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Outcrier on July 13, 2014, 08:13:58 PM
Controversially, my favorite is Warrior Within (the order being WW-SoT-TTT).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 13, 2014, 09:20:14 PM
Never played any TR, but I bought the PoP trilogy from Costco a couple years ago - all three games for $18.  Only got around to a couple of hours into Sands of Time (I think that's the first?)  Cool game, but I got sidetracked with others.  Really should go back and finish it, and the rest of the trilogy.  Sadly I've got about 10 games that I've partially played, or haven't even started yet - and not enough disposable time to work on that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 14, 2014, 09:37:25 PM
It's FPS time, baby!

17. XIII (2003)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/XIIIboxcover.jpg)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/XIII_game.jpg)
In the first mission of the game.

Why do I love this game so? I don't know. Maybe it's because of the unique graphic style (not really unique, but certainly unique to me when I first played it), because other than that, there's not a whole lot here that separates this from other first person shooters, neither in game mechanics or in the plot (you wake up on a beach, don't remember who you are, but you have a curious tattoo on your body and the police are after you for the murder of the US president) but it's all a lot of fun. Throughout the game, you uncover a huge, world-wide conspiracy to take over the world, and go after The XX, a group of 20 conspirators in high positions helping to stage a coup. Again, an old hat. Rally, what I love most about this game is the unique art style that is closely reminscent of comic book, not only in the way things look, but also in the way things work - for instance, loud noises can be heard but also haven their visual representation on the screen via large bubble that says BOOM! or something similar; like in comic books. So if you're looking for a few hours of mindless fun and a passable plot that you honestly don't care about a lot, then you could do a whole lot worse than this game.

16. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/Call_of_Duty_4_Modern_Warfare.jpg/250px-Call_of_Duty_4_Modern_Warfare.jpg)

(https://media.moddb.com/images/downloads/1/40/39241/auto/PFKrE.jpg)
During out LAN parties at boarding school, this was by far the most-played map of them all.

I think this might be the first FPS that I played, ever. Like Flatout 2, this game was a mainstay during my time at boarding school, and it was rare that a week went by without us playing a few rounds of this game via LAN. Like with XIII, there's not really anything that distinguishes this game from the large amount of other FPS games that are available (though the campaign is certainly one of the better FPS campaigns that I know of, especially that one mission where you have to sneak through a large area undetected - I'm a sucker for that kind of thing), but the insane amount of time that I poured into this game, plus it being the first FPS I played and also the only one that I stuck with for long enough to seriously become a force to reckoned with in multiplayer games will mean that this will always have a place on this list. It's also responsible for one of my proudest gaming achievements ever: killing the entire opposing teams with bullets through walls. Yeah baby!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 14, 2014, 09:38:15 PM
COD 4 :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 15, 2014, 12:05:19 AM
I think I've played one or two COD games, as I used to often play coop of different new games at my friend's house, but tbh I couldn't tell any of those FPS games apart. :lol The FPS genre just doesn't appeal to me at all, with a couple of exceptions.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 15, 2014, 05:59:29 AM
Never heard of the first.  And CoD wasn't a game that interested me.  As an old fart, I'm not into the online modes (I suck at them), and the CoD single player stories didn't interest me.  I think it was on the 2nd or 3rd CoD when I finally got a PS3 anyway, so I didn't want to jump in mid-way through the series.

I latched on to a couple of other FPS games instead.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Evermind on July 15, 2014, 11:37:23 AM
I'm not a big fan of CoD series, but XIII is awesome. A lot of fun indeed. :D

Also, please add me to the list of people doing these lists. It looks like I have all the time in the world to prepare, anyway. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Progmetty on July 15, 2014, 03:49:03 PM
Tomb Raider is the adventure game for puzzle enthusiasts who don't have the intelligence to actually play a puzzle-heavy game. It's got the adventure, sex appeal, action, and story of a great action flick...it can hold it's own and go above and beyond when compared to the current action movies. But it's like it dangles this puzzle in front of you and it's like "OMG CAN YOU SOLVE THIS!? I'LL BET YOU CAN'T!?" and a mentally deficient kid comes up and drools all over the puzzle and completes it in a few seconds. It was absolutely horrible in terms of molding the old with the new. You'd have to be a fucking twat to not be able to progress in that game (barring the aforementioned *sadface*).

what's a puzzle game?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 15, 2014, 04:15:02 PM
...Um...well, a puzzle game would be something like Tetris, Bejeweled, Toki Tori...etc. But I said a puzzle-heavy game, something like the Myst series, Portal, a lot of recent indie titles like Braid. There's tons of examples of games that do puzzles well and Tomb Raider, to me, was not one of them. Not that I want TR to be as puzzle heavy as those games, but the way it presented a lot of the tombs in the game was in a puzzle-based format, you'd have to act out all these events to unlock the main treasure, etc.; so in that aspect, which is pretty heavy for a game called tomb raider, I don't think it was all that great. I still think it's an overall great new start to an old series but they need to challenge us a bit more. There were entire 'tombs' (even the latter, more complex ones) that were just way too easy and quick. I was pretty tipsy when I wrote that though so I'm not sure what my point was.  :lol I do still feel like it was more of an MGS-style 'movie-game' than anything else, however. Which isn't a bad thing at all, I adore MGS and that kind of game but it's not what I want out of Tomb Raider. Even the older games had some really interesting puzzles that reminded me of Myst but this one was more spectacle. Minor spoiler, one of the main fights is even all in one of those action-timed cinematic format...which was kind of disappointing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 15, 2014, 09:17:45 PM
Don't you just love humour in games? I do.

15. The Secret of Monkey IslandTM (1990)

(https://www.rogerdavies.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/monkeyisland_1.jpg)
Title screen.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island_SCUMM_Bar.jpg)
This is what the gameplay looks like.

Oh man, I hadn't realised how old this game is! Doesn't matter, though, 'cause it freaking awesome, and it such a way that that awesomeness still remains even now, 24 years later. Fuck the fact that the graphics suck, this game is so amazingly fun and random that you can't help but love it. It's a point-and-click puzzle game, with you playing the role of Guybrush Threepwood, who wants to be a mighty pirate and it's completely weird and completely lovable. An example of the humour in this game: to pass a bridge, you have to give something that is eye-catching, but of little worth to the troll guarding it. What does it turn out to be? A fish, of course... which under inspection is revealed to a red herring. Now, it doesn't sound that funny when explained, but trust me (and those that have played this game, back me up!), when you play it, it's completely hilarious almost from start to finish. An awe-inspiring debut to one of the best game series that I know. Just brilliant.

14. Portal (2007)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/Portal_standalonebox.jpg/256px-Portal_standalonebox.jpg)

Doe this game really need an introduction? One of the most lauded puzzle games ever, with some great world building and an awesome antagonist, this game is popular for a reason, the reason being sheer awesomeness. The main principle behind this game is astoundingly simple, but throughout the game it is applied to more and more difficult scenarios, causing you to seriously think about what you are doing and to apply trial-and-error to what you are doing more than once. As you advance, precision, timing and creative thinking become more and more necessary, but the difficulty curve never feels to steep or to slow. Really, the only complaint that I have about this game is that it is really quite short - you can play through the campaign in less than 10 hours, even if you haven't played the game before. The Steam version fixes that by adding a few achievements in, including one that is insanely hard to crack, but the main story is still quite short. Still, with everything else being as awesome as it is, that's really complaining on a very very high level and should in no way be held against the brilliance of this game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on July 15, 2014, 09:34:04 PM
Is that XIII as in Golgo 13?  If so, what system is it for?  I don't follow any anime, but I loved the Golgo 13 games for the NES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 15, 2014, 09:45:49 PM
 :rollin Not anywhere near the same thing. It's loosely based on a comic book and is a comic-book stylized FPS.

Cool to see Portal, it deserves recognition and I really wanna see more and something fresh again (I wasn't too hot on the bouncing paint). Also awesome that Monkey Island would be on my list too but it'd be Escape for the PS2. Have you played that one? It's spectacular.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Bolsters on July 15, 2014, 09:50:12 PM
I think Portal is the first choice you've made that I can get behind 100% :metal They absolutely nailed the humour for that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 15, 2014, 10:07:36 PM
:rollin Not anywhere near the same thing. It's loosely based on a comic book and is a comic-book stylized FPS.

Cool to see Portal, it deserves recognition and I really wanna see more and something fresh again (I wasn't too hot on the bouncing paint). Also awesome that Monkey Island would be on my list too but it'd be Escape for the PS2. Have you played that one? It's spectacular.

I have not played Escape from Monkey Island yet... I only know the first three (Secret, LeChuck's Revenge, Curse) but I was told that the series drops off rapidly after that so I didn't bother. Does it also exist for PC?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 15, 2014, 10:15:57 PM
I like Portal but it nearly felt like a demo compared to the awesomeness of Portal 2 :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 15, 2014, 10:16:44 PM
Oh wow, no way, not in my eyes; I mean I haven't played any games since Escape but yes it is for PC and most publications I read back then raved over it and most of my friends did too who were even unaware of the series before that game. I loved it and while I only saw my cousin play Secret, it's still a great evolution of that kind of exposition in a new-age (back then lol) format. I thought it worked awesomely.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 15, 2014, 10:22:24 PM
Two more I've never played.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Kwyjibo on July 16, 2014, 12:14:48 AM
Alright, time for the fogeys to chime in  ;D

Monkey Island is one of the best and funniest series in computer gaming history (besides Manic Mansion, Sam & Max and Day Of The Tentacle). I've played the first four (Secret, LeChuck's Revenge, Curse, Escape) when they came out, and while I quite liked Escape I think the first three are better. Haven't played Tales Of Monkey Island yet but heard good things about it.


Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 16, 2014, 02:52:09 PM
Two more I've never played.

Yup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 16, 2014, 03:17:42 PM
The first Portal is great, but Portal 2 blows it away IMO. I did play P2 before the original though, so that could affect my opinion, but IMO it takes what was great about P1 and adds even more magic. P1 was very short in comparison, and not as challenging imo. :(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 16, 2014, 04:03:05 PM
:metal They absolutely nailed the humour for that game.
Oh yeah, GlaDOs' sarcasm is awesome, and it just gets better on P2.

I like Portal but it nearly felt like a demo compared to the awesomeness of Portal 2 :metal
Totally, the first one is a good game, but the following fells like a movie most of the time, with an excellent story. Cave Johnson's lines deserve an award, specailly that about lemons :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 16, 2014, 04:23:13 PM
 :lol Yeah, I need to go back and play Portal 2 again, what a game!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 16, 2014, 09:27:53 PM
Loving the appreciation for Portal. More people should pick up Monkey Island, the humour in that game is something that many people here would most definitely enjoy.

13. The Cave (2013)

(https://www.structuregaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/7389The_Cave_Concept_Art.jpg)
The playable characters (left to right) are The Monk, The Adventurer, The Hilbilly, The Scientist, The Twins, The Knight and The Time Traveller.

(https://www.giga.de/wp-content/gallery/thecave/26590cave05.jpg)
Playing as The Adventurer.

This is another humour-based point-and-click game made by Ron Gilbert (the creator of the Monkey Island series), so it can only be good. What's really cool about this game is that you have to choose three characters at the beginning, out of seven, so you have to play the game at least three times to experience everything. Every player has a certain ability that is uniquely available only to him/her, like The Adventurer, who can swing across pits using her whip (like Indiana Jones), The Knight, who can make himself invincible for a short amount of time or The Hilbilly, who can hold his breath longer than the others. Another thing that's great about this game is the dark humour, and how it upsets your expectations. As The Monk, for instance, your goal is to become head monk of your order. How? You assassinate the current head monk, of course. The Hilbilly has been rejected by the love of his life, so burning down a carnival is a logical solution. The Twins are annoyed by the rules their parents impose, but don't worry, rat poison in the soup can solve that. And so on. In addition to the plot lines and the multi-faceted nature of this, the graphic style is also quite beautifully done, and each area is given an appropriately unique atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone who likes puzzle games and weird, off-the-wall humour.

12. Rayman II: The Great Escape (1999)

(https://drh1.img.digitalriver.com/DRHM/Storefront/Company/ubi/images/hero/Rayman_2_hero.jpg)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/482508-rayman-2-the-great-escape-iphone-screenshot-these-cages-contain.png)
Coming across the game's first of 80 Pirate Cages, in the first level, "The Woods of Light".

The first foray of the Rayman franchise into the world of 3D games is pretty damn cool. Playing as the titular, limbless hero, you have to fight off the invasion of the Robo-Pirates under the command of Admiral Razorbeard, by awakening the god Polokus, which can only be done by uniting the four masks of Polokus. The story is fairly ho-hum, but the rest more than makes up for it. The graphics are beautiful, especially considering that this game came out in 1999, it's challenging throughout, but never too hard, both the platforming and the fights here are really a lot of fun and the world-building is beautiful, no matter what it is like, an underground lava temple, a foray through the hights of the trees or an excursion to the sea, everything is beautifully designed in the way that still holds up fifteen years later. And if that's not enough, there's tons of collectibles and you can spend hours searching through the many world offered in order to find every last Lum or the final Pirate Cage. While I enjoy quite a few other entries in the Rayman series, this one is, without a doubt, my favourite of the bunch.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 16, 2014, 09:31:34 PM
Never heard of the Cave, and I've never really played much Rayman.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 16, 2014, 10:02:36 PM
Lovin' this list and these write ups. Rayman 2 FOREVER! Haven't played The Cave yet but I've heard of it and will hafta check it out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 16, 2014, 11:42:19 PM
Never played The Cave (far too new for me), but I've played Rayman 2. I didn't get too far into it, but what I remember of it was solid. I should finish it off some time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Randaran on July 17, 2014, 04:16:13 PM
Rayman was my first game franchise. I prefer the first and third to the second, though it too is great. It is easily one of my favorite platforming series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Outcrier on July 17, 2014, 05:31:52 PM
While i played Rayman 2 a bit, i always leaned towards the Crash/Spyro series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 17, 2014, 09:26:30 PM
11. Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Tomb_Raider_III.png)

(https://korn19.ch/i/vid/3ind.png)
Shut up. It was 1998.

Yeah, the graphics of this game are definitely... questionable, all the more now, 16 years later. You know what else is a little substandard? Fucking nothing. This game is awesome if you can get over the admittedly outdated graphics. The four locations aren't just very different in looks, but also in the game mechanics, and the fact that you can choose the order in which you visit them makes the game a little more open. Not a lot, but Tomb Raider has never really been big on open-world, so I'll take what I can get. The story is typical Tomb Raider, but not bad, just nothing special. Plus, this game is really, really challenging, far more than most of the later installments, and to find the bonus level really requires some obsession, not just looking down the path on your left when a sign points to your right, as it seems to be in some games nowadays. Plus, you can explore Croft Manor, which is always fun. Again, this might be a case of nostalgia contributing its part to the rankings, as this was the first Tomb Raider that I played, but that's not the sole contributing factor, and I suspect that I would rate this game similarly high, even if it weren't my first of the series. If you don't mind some questionable graphics, then this is definitely a game that you should pick up, though I wouldn't advise for a Tomb Raider newcomer to start with this one.

Batman: Arkham City (2011)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Batman_Arkham_City_Game_Cover.jpg)

(https://dev.dualshockers.com:8000/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/batman_arkham_city_screens-4.jpg)
One of the game's first boss fights.

Batman is cool, no doubt about that, but in a way that is hard to capture in a video game. Arkham Asylum wasn't bad, but it was definitely missing something that I can't quite name, not even now, after Arkham City fixed that. I guess it's the bigger world? Maybe. I really don't know. To get to the point of this, though, Arkham City is everything that I wanted from Arkham Asylum. Bigger world, more hidden stuff, better fighting system, better bad guy encounters... you name it, Arkham City has probably got it. As you might have noticed by now, I like open-world games, and this one is the epitome of that. The world isn't THAT big (not comparable, to, let's say, Fable), but it doesn't need to be, and it's imagined gorgeously. Nothing is just there, there's small details everywhere that convince you that the makers of this game didn't just slap a big world there to have one, but they really imagined every nook and cranny of it. Playing through the main story and all the side quests is easily a thing of 20 or more hours, and to find all the Riddler trophies hidden throughout (which I never quite managed, I think I was missing one or two) is another endeavor of epic proportions. If you like Batman as a character, then I can't imagine you not liking this game. (It also contains a Catwoman DLC, and it's pretty sweet.)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 17, 2014, 09:40:12 PM
Nice! Two more games I love. TRIII was the first TR I really got into, as it released right as my addiction to games solidified and I played the hell out of it. Those graphics were friggin' gorgeous for '98.  :lol :metal Arkham City is one of my favorite games of this recent generation, and you said what I feel. Except I would add that the game's extra costumes are magnificently magnificent. I cannot WAIT for Ark HamKnight.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Bolsters on July 17, 2014, 10:10:27 PM
I tried Arkham City out, but couldn't get into it. I found the combat pretty boring because it's so easy, and the plot seemed to be nothing but forced excuse after excuse to give another Batman villian a cameo in the game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 18, 2014, 10:17:44 PM
Another two that I doubt anyone has played!

9. Scrapland (2005)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/ScraplandBox.jpg)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/93113-american-mcgee-presents-scrapland-windows-screenshot-the-citys.jpg)
Ship combat is a large part of the game.

American McGee Presents: Scrapland, more commonly referred as Scrapland 'cause ain't nobody got time for dat is an open-world 3D game set on the asteroid Scrapland, in the robot city of Chimera and all its locations. You play as D-Tritus Debris, a robot that constructed himself from scrap parts and are assigned the position as a reporter upon arrival. You are quite quickly lured into investigating a series of murders, which are only remarkable because the murdered robot's matrices have been stolen from the Great Database, a machine that immediately allows reconstruction upon death, meaning that no-one is overly concerned with the concept of dying on Scrapland. As you work yourself through the game, you uncover a conspiracy with quite a few nice twists along the way. Plus, this is truly open-world, allowing you to go pretty much every where you want at any time and doing what you want, be it challenging other people to races, to combats, blowing up traffic ships and collecting the loot or stealing parked ships and selling them for money. You can explore both in your ship on the outside and on foot in the various buildings all across Chimera, and it's awesome. One thing there could be more of are side-quests, which are nearly non-existant, but given how a) great the story is and b) how much fun you can have even outside any given quest, it's really not a big deal.

8. Monkey Island II: LeChuck's Revenge (1991)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/LeChuck%27s_Revenge_artwork.jpg/250px-LeChuck%27s_Revenge_artwork.jpg)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Monkey_Island_2_Special_Edition_Comparison.jpg)
Side-by-side comparison of the original and the 2010 remake.

The Secret of Monkey Island was great. This one is even better. The whacky humour is back, as are the endearing anachronisms and the hilarious characters, but it's all amped up a notch. Stan the Used Boats Salesman is now a Used Coffin Salesman, because, as he figures, in this business, "unhappy customers are less likely to come back and complain", and he's great again. The puzzles just walk the line between whacky and completely unlogical, and zombie pirate LeChuck is a great villain. Plus, there's a truly baffling ending, which is still the cause of much discussion between Monkey Island fans today, simply due to the fact that on one hand it makes no sense at all, on the other hand, it makes a lot of sense - anyone who's played the game knows what I'm talking about. Plus, you can come across a telephone that allows your in-game character to call the LucasArts helpline. If that isn't cool, I don't know what is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 18, 2014, 10:24:59 PM
Arkham City is a great game.  I'm in the midst of Arkham Origins atm.  Can't wait for Arkham Knight... it's gonna be the catalyst that gets me to ps4.  Great franchise.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 19, 2014, 03:22:19 AM
Arkham City is a great game.  I'm in the midst of Arkham Origins atm. 
Same! How far in are you? I'm digging it, though it's not nearly as smooth as City (the grappling to travel around the city is really awkward) and the story isn't as engaging.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Outcrier on July 19, 2014, 09:42:10 AM
Keep in mind that Arkham Origins isn't by Rocksteady (the Arkham series creators).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 19, 2014, 09:57:26 AM
Arkham City is a great game.  I'm in the midst of Arkham Origins atm. 
Same! How far in are you? I'm digging it, though it's not nearly as smooth as City (the grappling to travel around the city is really awkward) and the story isn't as engaging.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through.  I just played as the Joker, though it was a pretty much an enhanced/interactive cut scene.  I've only noticed a few times where the grappling was like 'WTF... throw it already!'... it doesn't always pickup the grapple point very quickly.  Otherwise, I'm enjoying it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 20, 2014, 02:21:51 AM
Moving on! Not long to go now!

7. Psychonauts (2005)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Psychonautsbox.png)

(https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/X5fK4n6duUY/maxresdefault.jpg)
The insanity that is The Milkman Conspiracy, probably the best designed level in the game.

If there is one person in the gaming world that has not been involved with a weak game yet (some are better than others, sure, but none are bad), it's Tim Schafer, co-creator of the Monkey Island series and known for other awesome games like Grim Fandango or Day of the Tentacle. This game further proves that rule - it's amazing. It's a platformer, but oh man the design is frickin' glorious. You play as Raz, as young boy aspiring to become a Psychonaut, someone who can enter people's minds and psyches to obtain information, manipulate them or free them from their personal demons. Throughout the game, you explore a series of real world settings and mental settings, and while the real world doesn't really offer that much variety, that's more than made up for by the mental worlds, which are about as different as they could possibly be. Some of these worlds include the explosion-happy armed-to-the-teeth mind of a former soldier, the Spanish alleyways of a painter possessed by bullfights or the M. C. Escher-esque landscapes of The Milkman Conspiracy, set in the head of a paranoid asylum guard. Along the way, you gain various psychic abilities, ranging from Invisibility to Telekinesis to Psi-Blast, which you can use to attack pretty much everything. Add to that a fairly interesting plot with some nice twists and turns, great characters and some awesome humour, and you have a winning combination that just might be my favourite of all Tim Schafer games.

6. TRON 2.0 (2003)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Tron2.0box.jpg)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/48749-tron-2-0-windows-screenshot-this-is-what-the-internet-looks.jpg)

TRON was a fairly awesome movie from 1982, about a guy that gets digitalised into the inside of a computer and fights viruses and stuff there. In 2003, we got an awesome sequel in form of a video game, creatively titled TRON 2.0, which the most recent TRON Legacy promptly discounts as canon.  :censored Anyway, that game sucked and this one doesn't, so I don't care much. Back on topic, this game is cool. It's a fairly straight-forward first person shooter with some platforming elements thrown in, but again, the environment is crafted so expertly that I just don't give a fuck about that. It all takes place within the digital world, and there are so many cool things that represent digital processes in a creative way (viruses corrupt you, security programs try to kill you if you don't have the correct identification, you need proper authorisation for pretty much anything) - basically, what makes this game so entertaining is that everything that you come across is explained by a counterpart in the digital world, and most of it actually makes a lot of sense. The graphics are a little outdated, but due to the way that they are presented, much like in XIII, that doesn't really matter at all. Plus, you have the light racers here that were made famous in the movie and that returned in TRON Legacy, and they're one of the few obligatory mini-games within a game that I don't despise, which is another plus.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 20, 2014, 03:55:24 AM
Psychonauts never clicked for me. But I played it quite recently and never got engaged into the story and the graphics looked kinda lame on my computer. I know it's from 2005 and graphics aren't everything, and that's fine, except I didn't really get hooked on the story. If I had discovered it when I was younger and at the time it came out, I might have really liked it more.

Overall I gotta say your last few picks have had some really colorful games, judging from the pictures. Tron and Scrapland both look colorful and exciting.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 20, 2014, 04:05:14 AM
Psychonauts never clicked for me. But I played it quite recently and never got engaged into the story and the graphics looked kinda lame on my computer. I know it's from 2005 and graphics aren't everything, and that's fine, except I didn't really get hooked on the story. If I had discovered it when I was younger and at thei time it came out, I might have really liked it more.

That's understandable. If I hadn't played Psychonauts with... I think I was 13 or so when I first played it, then I doubt that I would love it so much, but it just struck a chord with me, and that's probably a large part of why I love it so much, even today - though there was a time when Psychonauts topped my list.

Overall I gotta say your last few picks have had some really colorful games, judging from the pictures. Tron and Scrapland both look colorful and exciting.

That's a good thing, right? :D I have heard that as a negative in the past quite a few times ("It's doesn't have anything going for it, so they decided to just make it colorful to gloss over that." was the reaction of a friend to whom I lent Scrapland ages ago), so just checking. Anyway, I totally get that most people don't have a lot of time to play games, but most of the games on this list are sufficiently old enough so that you could probably find them rather cheaply, if you ever want to check them out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 20, 2014, 04:48:15 AM
I can only judge those games on the picture you provided, but they look colorful while still looking detailed and rich. There's something quite special about large and epic games where you find yourself stunned by the sheer size or epic feeling of your surroundings. I'm struggling to come up with examples, but I remember the first time I played WoW (which was also my first MMORPG) and just how stunned I was. I had played for 2-3 hours and explored one tiny island when I found out that the whole world in the game was like 100 times bigger than what I had seen in that short time. That's a sense of being in awe almost, you wanna play the game but you also can't help just looking at the environment.  :D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 21, 2014, 02:36:09 AM
5. Alice: Madness Returns (2011)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/AliceMadnessReturns.jpg)

(https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130718154629/americanmcgeesalice/images/d/d5/Tundraful.png)
First section of the second level.

(https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/D-I6XkE3A1U/maxresdefault.jpg)
The Dollhouse in all its glory.

This is one of the most disturbing games that I have played. Other games are far better at all-out horror, but no game I know of is as twisted and dark as Alice: Madness Returns. Based on Lewis Caroll's character, the games' Alice is an adult, who has lost her family in a fire that she believes herself to be the cause of. Throughout the game, you traverse different locations in Wonderland, which are all beautifully designed, in order to find out more about a corrupt entity destroying Wonderland, and with it, your mind. While starting out beautiful, the levels get darker and more twisted as you go along, with everything culminating in level 5, The Dollhouse, which is probably the single most unsettling level in a video game that I have ever played. Yes, it's nothing spectacularly original, as far as the mechanics go (it's pretty much just as simple platformer), but holy hell, the story and the atmosphere throughout are really something else. Recommended for anyone that likes some psychological horror in their games - in my opinion, it doesn't get much better than this in the genre.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: SystematicThought on July 21, 2014, 02:39:33 AM
I'm late to the party, but it's nice to see XIII get some. Considering the way it ended, it's a shame it will never get a sequel. My favorite part in that game was when you infiltrate The XX's meeting in that castle. I remember thinking how mysterious, intriguing, and fun the story was.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 21, 2014, 03:27:22 AM
Alice: Madness Returns intrigues me. I've never played it, but your description does make it sound pretty awesome. I don't mind the gameplay not being particularly innovative as long as it's not annoying, but story/atmosphere are what I like the most in my games. Might have to check it out!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 21, 2014, 03:32:55 AM
If you're interested in how the game looks, have a look at these two videos.

Alice: Madness Returns - Teaser Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR8wXsvUrBg)
Alice: Madness Returns - Launch Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFrs5UGB-ns)

The first one was released pretty early and the game doesn't really look quite that good, nor do the areas shown actually exist in the game, but the real game is similar in tone and style.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Evermind on July 21, 2014, 10:07:01 AM
I've never played anything from your Top 10, but I'm still intrigued to see the rest of your list. I also like the pace your list has, I never felt the updates take too long.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 21, 2014, 10:17:32 AM
Oh yeah, meant to say, I enjoyed Psychonauts quite a bit. Not amazing by any stretch, but a lot of fun and really good considering its small budget.

And I'm appalled that I still haven't played the Monkey Island games, they look right up my alley.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 21, 2014, 10:19:43 AM
I also like the pace your list has, I never felt the updates take too long.  :tup

This verily, I feel that I may live to see the rest of the entries!

Also Psychonauts is so amazingly awesome and is a big reason why I love adventure games so much (and also emphasis on puzzles). It was a sleeper hit to be sure. But yeah for the most part your list is pretty obscure and I like that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Sacul on July 21, 2014, 10:49:13 AM
Sacul, can you put me on the waiting list, I posted on the front page but was never added.
Holy crap, how did I miss you twice? Just added you, sorry :angel:.

Oh, and btw, in what console did you play that Alice game?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Cable on July 21, 2014, 05:39:18 PM
I've never played anything from your Top 10, but I'm still intrigued to see the rest of your list. I also like the pace your list has, I never felt the updates take too long.  :tup


+1 across the board.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Scorpion on July 21, 2014, 08:25:48 PM
Oh, and btw, in what console did you play that Alice game?

PC. Not sure if I mentioned that already, but I have only ever played on PC. I never had any other gaming consoles.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Dark Castle: Bodacious Top 25 *Sploosh*
Post by: Cable on July 21, 2014, 08:38:47 PM
Oh, and btw, in what console did you play that Alice game?

PC. Not sure if I mentioned that already, but I have only ever played on PC. I never had any other gaming consoles.


Curious if a couple of games will appear very soon here, based on your time periods of games (two decades+), and your exclusive system. But your list has been a great surprise, so I'm not expecting it! It also goes to show how many games almost fly under the radar on PCs.  :-\
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 21, 2014, 09:07:17 PM
4. Dishonored (2012)

(https://oldalexius.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/2280462-dishonored_wallpaper_1.jpeg)

(https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/205100/ss_e6f960fda9132baa23aca305359064dbc1b6f507.1920x1080.jpg?t=1379384806)
Some of the most difficult enemies throughout the game, especially as they cannot be brought down non-lethally - the Tall Boys.

As you probably know by now, there are a few things that, if executed properly, almost always make me speak positively about a game. One of these things is an open-world mechanic. The other (though that hasn't come up that much) is a game mechanic that allows the player to make choices throughout the game, with real consequences following the choices made. And while Dishonored isn't really very open-wold, at least not compared to proper open-world games, there are enough elements of the genre, like huge settings and plenty of side-quests to tickle my open-world fancy. Plus, the way you can make choices here is pretty great, and unlike other games with choices, where there's a different cut scene at the end, here the consequences are a lot more realistic. If you kill lots of people, some side-quests are blocked off, there are more rats and weepers around the city and many other people approach you in a different manner than if you go through the game killing few people (which is denoted by the Chaos Factor - High Chaos means lots of killed people, Low Chaos means few killed people). But enough of that, because that's not the only cool thing about this game. The whole atmosphere is amazing - the setting is pretty much a steampunk version of Victorian London (though in-game, it's called Dunwall, but eh), and the whole world is designed so amazingly that I can't help but be enraptured by it. In addition to that, there is a whole back-story to the world that's just waiting to be uncovered, lots of side-missions, super-powers that never make things too easy - especially when you encounter enemies that have them too... really, everything about this game is amazing (except the AI dialogue, which is embarassing). And if you want a challenge, try going through this game on the hardest difficulty without killing anyone. It can be done, but it is really really hard... though very rewarding if you manage it, and requires a whole lot more thinking than the "let's kill everything in our path" approach. Really, that's what's so great about Dishonored, in a nutshell - there's two completely different games hidden in here, who just happen to share a plot, depending on the approach that you choose.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: jingle.boy on July 21, 2014, 09:18:38 PM
Now this is an update I can appreciate the hell out of.  Fantastic game.  Although, I was quiet disappointed with the final 'boss'... I just slowed time, and blinked right up to him and BOOM!  Haven't gone back to it, but I suspect sometime I will.  It was a terrific game.  Very much a feel like Assassin's Creed, but much more complex gameplay, story and how to use your powers.  Loved this one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 21, 2014, 09:39:15 PM
I don't know if I missed something while playing it, but it was a huge disappointment for me. The main story is quite short and nothing too original. I heard that if I finished it on 6 hours or less, I was doing it wrong and not exploiting the side-quests and the powers. So I replayed the game, trying to find all the damn stones and "side-missions". But what I found was that with 2 or 3 powers was enough, and that the only secondary quests were a) unlocking a strongbox, b) rescuing somebody, or c) killing some of those assassins with powers. And then I found the game to be really linear.  Killing affects people in the city? Man, besides enemies, I've only seen 2 or 3 civilians on the whole game.
But I didn't expect that plot twist on the middle of the game - it was certainly interesting. I was thinking of giving the DLCs an opportunity since they seemed interesting, though. The bottom line is, I don't think is a bad game at all, but it didn't survived to my hype, it wasn't what I expected.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 21, 2014, 11:00:15 PM
I couldn't get into this one. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't have any motivation to continue the story past about the halfway mark. It's cool and I enjoyed my time with it but I didn't love it. There were other games too similar to it that I liked a lot more. Nice write up though and perhaps one day during the inevitable droughts I'll revisit it and hopefully finish it!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Onno on July 22, 2014, 02:47:20 AM
Late to the party, but following this. Lots of interesting games on your list that I haven't played yet Tom :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Skeever on July 22, 2014, 04:36:09 AM
Really awesome list so far!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on July 22, 2014, 07:36:51 AM
The other (though that hasn't come up that much) is a game mechanic that allows the player to make choices throughout the game, with real consequences following the choices made.

Have you played Heavy Rain?  Pretty much every choice you make effects something else in the game down the line, and there are more than a few endings.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 22, 2014, 08:20:52 AM
The other (though that hasn't come up that much) is a game mechanic that allows the player to make choices throughout the game, with real consequences following the choices made.

Have you played Heavy Rain?  Pretty much every choice you make effects something else in the game down the line, and there are more than a few endings.

I have not! Sounds like I'd enjoy it though, I'll have a looksie into it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: soundgarden on July 22, 2014, 10:01:19 AM
Definitely agree with Dishonored.  A great art-style / culture in a game always draws me in and Dishonored really did it well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 22, 2014, 11:45:46 PM
3. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Prince_of_Persia_-_Warrior_Within_Coverart.png)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bt9jkrC_5h8/UFCd0cniqdI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/-oBhi19oygg/s640/prince-of-persia-warrior-within-20041206042613239-1003765.jpg)

This is probably an unpopular choice for favourite of the Prince of Persia series, let alone Top 3 of all games, but I don't care, because this game is awesome. Yes, it's a lot more gory than the first one, and the soundtrack isn't as good, but I don't really care about that, because I really really love the story, and the atmosphere. The whole thing is set on only one island, but it's really big anyway, has plenty of awesome locations that differ quite a bit from each other, making it a varied game. Plus, there are some really awesome time-travel elements here, not just the "I can rewind time when something goes wrong" from the first game - the whole story is based on time-travel, its consequences and its inherent dangers. It's also a lot longer than you probably think, because... well, let's just say there's a part about half-way through the game where you think it's over, but it really isn't. What else? Oh yeah, combat is really really good, with there being quite a few cool combos, the option to pick up the weapons of fallen enemies, and there are a few really good, varied boss fights throughout the game - plus, multiple endings. Though what sort of sucks is that the ending that most people will get is actually the wrong one, because the sequel continues from the other one. But I digress. This game is awesome, has a great, intricate plot with a lot of time-travelling that is used in an awesome way, and it's just all-around a lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 23, 2014, 02:17:32 AM
I've never played any of the Prince of Persia games.  :-[
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Bolsters on July 23, 2014, 02:30:00 AM
Dishonored is a game I've been meaning to check out, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I remember playing the original Prince of Persia back in the day (not sure if I played the Apple or DOS version), but haven't played any others.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: masterthes on July 23, 2014, 09:21:20 AM
Yeah, I remember playing the old PoP on the NES and getting way frustrated with it. Haven't tried any of the follow ups since lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ReaperKK on July 23, 2014, 08:23:34 PM
I remember Tomb Raider 2 being such a hard fucking game when I was a kid
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Outcrier on July 23, 2014, 09:32:46 PM
3. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004)

This is probably an unpopular choice for favourite of the Prince of Persia series, let alone Top 3 of all games, but I don't care, because this game is awesome.

You're not alone, Scorpion  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Genowyn on July 24, 2014, 08:57:21 PM
Aw man it's about to get real weeaboo in here soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 24, 2014, 11:27:44 PM
2. Beyond Good and Evil (2003)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/BGE-cover.jpg)

(https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/03/14/Beyond%20Good%20and%20Evil%20HD%20-%20Screenshot%205.jpeg)
One of the game's first boss battles, against a creature whose photo is worth 3 grand.

This game is one of the overlooked greats that never really got the attention that they deserved, in my opinion. Nearly everyone who has played this game will probably agree with me that it is completely awesome, but the thing is that not many people have played this game. So anyway, what makes this game so great? Well, first of all, the story is completely awesome. It really draws you in and makes you interested in what is happening at the moment. You play as Jade, a reporter on the small mining planet Hillys, that is under attack from an alien force known as the DomZ - but not everything is how it seems, and you are tasked with uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the destruction of Hillys from an unlikely source. Armed with your camera, you have to sneak into secure locations, avoid being detected as pretty much all the enemies are way out of your league and gather proof of the conspiracies to draw the people of Hillys onto your side.

Another thing that is so great about this game, as I already mentioned here, is the stealth. Now I recently saw a video that shows me that it is possible to just say "Fuck stealth" and kill your way through this game, but it is very very costly in terms of health stuff, and it takes so much fun out of the whole thing that I don't get why you would do that. For me, the main part of fun here is the stealth, and while the AI isn't really THAT great, it's still a whole lot of fun, thinking of different way to sneak past enemies, knowing that one mistake will probably mean your death.

The third great thing here is a pretty unique gameplay mechanic that I enjoy a lot. In most games you get money for raiding and stealing stuff, or maybe enemies drop it when they die. That exists here as well, but the amounts you get that way are pretty slim. No, your main source of income is to take pictures of every species of animal on the planet, because the science centre is doing an inventory. I think there are 64 different animals that you can photograph, and the rewards range from 100 units to 3500 units. Plus, some of the animals are hidden in a way that is just plain evil and you really need to think about certain things to find that last elusive species. Later in the game, you get an animal detector, but that just shows you location on the map, and often times that's not enough to get a good photo. Finding all the animals is a rewarding and interesting on-going quests, and it's a lot of fun.

Last point (because this write-up is so long anyway, though I could probably go on for a while more): the soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous. It always fits the mood of the section you are in, and it is always great. My favourite part of it would either be the music of the first fight scene or the gorgeous music set to the one of the most heart-wrenching cutscenes in the game (those who have played the game know what I mean), but really, that's like picking your favourite children. The whole thing is great, and it never lets up. It might be worth getting the game for the soundtrack alone, that's how good it is.

In case my endless gushing didn't clue you in: buy this game! It's awesome throughout, the only downside being a camera that's a little weird sometimes, and it's available on Steam for not a lot of money. Do yourselves a favour and check this one if you don't know it, I've never met anyone who has played this and doesn't like it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 25, 2014, 12:02:49 AM
I haven't played this. :O
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 25, 2014, 08:31:09 AM
I have this on my must-play list, I hope to play it soon. I think there is a PS3 HD Edition, right? What are your thoughts on it? Because I really want to play this game now after reading your writeup :coolio
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 25, 2014, 10:00:24 AM
I haven't played the HD edition, but I've heard that, while it looks a little better throughout, the controls are a little glitchy and the camera does some weird stuff, but that's what people have been saying about the PC version. I have no idea if that transfers to the PS as well - since I don't have one, I never bothered finding out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Full Speed on July 25, 2014, 11:09:48 AM
I have the HD version and I never had many problems while playing it. Awesome game either way.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: masterthes on July 25, 2014, 08:53:43 PM
With a lot of LucasArt point and click games being featured, I wonder if Maniac Mansion will be number one? 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Genowyn on July 25, 2014, 09:34:20 PM
With a lot of LucasArt point and click games being featured, I wonder if Maniac Mansion will be number one? 

How could that be, considering that Grim Fandango is clearly the best of those? :p
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 26, 2014, 01:16:30 AM
One more thing on BGE: anyone who is out to play this game, please don't let the final boss ruin it for you. A warning ahead of time: he's a fair bit harder than anything else in the game, and there is one part where it isn't exactly clear how you have to beat him, though it should be pretty obvious is if you look at what is happening a little, though the very final part of that battle is still a pain. Now I'm not the biggest fan of that boss myself, but I've read reviews and I've heard people talk about how the final boss completely ruined the game for them, and this game doesn't deserve that, because apart from that one fight, there's really next to nothing to complain about.

And on that cheerful note, here's number 1! The moment you have all been waiting for, etc., etc...

1. Portal 2 (2011)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Portal2cover.jpg)

(https://www.macgamerhq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Portal-2-gameplay-9.jpg)

Portal was great - so great that it was easy to overlook some of the game's... well, not exactly flaws, but points where you could improve things quite a bit, which was mainly the length of the game. Portal 2 did what I thought to be impossible: it took a brilliant game as basis, wrote a sequel to that which fixed the game's only problem, and made a game twice as long which is still as entertaining as the first game is, all the way through. Like with the first game, there is a very small cast of characters, and your character is mute, so you only have two three talking characters (one of which you never see), but oh man, how awesome are they? GLaDOS is back, and she's as delightfully evil, snarky and sarcastic as always (that moment in Chapter 4 where the calls your parents is completely hilarious, and one of my favourite moments in any game ever), with the new robot Wheatley being a counterpoint to GLaDOS's ice-cold precision with his loveable bumbling incompetence. And Cave Johnson is just as awesome and deranged as you'd expect the founder of Aperture Sciences to be. His speech about lemons has already become internet-famous, and there's a good reason for it. So yeah, if you take all the elements that made Portal great, and add only more awesomeness on top of that, in a longer game with some brand-new mechanics which lead to whole boat-load of puzzles that require quite a bit of thought sometimes, you have a recipe for perfection. And hats off to Valve for pulling off that recipe successfully.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 26, 2014, 01:32:30 AM
I haven't played any of your top 10!
I've heard about Portal a lot, so that's probably not an obscure or controversial choice, and it looks like something I'd enjoy more than most other recent games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Zantera on July 26, 2014, 01:42:49 AM
Portal 2 would be really high for me as well. It takes the good parts of the first game and makes a game that's much better. Cave Johnson is my personal favorite, and my favorite part of the game is navigating the halls where Cave Johnson is talking.

"Those of you who volunteered to be injected with praying mantis DNA, I've got some good news and some bad news. Bad news is we're postponing those tests indefinitely. Good news is we've got a much better test for you: fighting an army of mantis men. Pick up a rifle and follow the yellow line. You'll know when the test starts."  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 26, 2014, 01:43:25 AM
Blob, I think you'd like it a lot. I mean, you have a sarcastic robot that ridicules you for being fat and adopted throughout the game. How awesome is that?

Anyway, here's the whole list.

25. Flatout 2
24. Fable: The Lost Chapters
23. Titus the Fox: To Marrakesh and Back
22. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
21. Eets - Hunger. It's emotional
20. Worms 4: Mayhem
19. Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
18. Tomb Raider: Anniversary
17. XIII
16. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
15. The Secret of Monkey Island
14. Portal
13. The Cave
12. Rayman 2: The Great Escape
11. Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
10. Batman: Arkham City
09. Scrapland
08. Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
07. Psychonauts
06. TRON 2.0
05. Alice: Madness Returns
04. Dishonored
03. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
02. Beyond Good and Evil
01. Portal 2
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: ariich on July 26, 2014, 02:07:33 AM
Portal 2 would be really high for me as well. It takes the good parts of the first game and makes a game that's much better. Cave Johnson is my personal favorite, and my favorite part of the game is navigating the halls where Cave Johnson is talking.

"Those of you who volunteered to be injected with praying mantis DNA, I've got some good news and some bad news. Bad news is we're postponing those tests indefinitely. Good news is we've got a much better test for you: fighting an army of mantis men. Pick up a rifle and follow the yellow line. You'll know when the test starts."  :lol

:rollin The Portal games are amazing, great choice.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Bolsters on July 26, 2014, 02:09:52 AM
I think I prefer the humour and quirkiness of the first Portal, but the second isn't far behind, and it really stepped up the gameplay.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Evermind on July 26, 2014, 04:41:00 AM
Portal 2 is good, but I think I like the first just a bit more.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on July 26, 2014, 07:23:32 AM
Portal 2 has one of the coolest endings in a video game I have ever seen.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Scorpion on July 26, 2014, 08:00:01 AM
Yeah, that ending's complete lunacy.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 26, 2014, 11:01:46 AM
I really can't explain enough my love for the Portal series, they're just too awesome. The first time I played them, I didn't care too much for what GlaDOs was saying, but damn, now I really want to replay those games - and get some lemons. By the way, amazing list, lots of great modern games :tup.
Oh, and I'd like to say that I can post something about the database, with statistics and stuff, but the only game in common between both lists is Batman Arkham City, so we'll have to wait till the following top finishes.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: orcus116 on July 26, 2014, 07:20:11 PM
So I found this at my parent's house and I couldn't resist:

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/1889041_10101643484261179_631504982153151095_o.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Genowyn on July 26, 2014, 07:55:50 PM
So should I get started or are we leaving discussion for Scorpion's last post for a while?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: TioJorge on July 26, 2014, 08:12:07 PM
Well, it's not like people can't comment on both! But I've no power, so...I'll just...

AWESOME list! Wonderfully written, great timing between them. Good stuff all around. I loved Portal 2 but I still haven't finished it because GOD DAMN THOSE FUCKING PAINTS! Once I get to the third paint you get (can't remember the colors...to many...), my brain just turns off. It's just too god damn much. I play games for two reasons: To escape reality, and to be enamored. Once I have to start thinking more than any type of thinking I've done throughout school, it goes beyond gaming.  :lol It's just work at that point. My brain isn't cool enough to actually ENJOY doing some of those puzzles, it's nucking futs, really. But I'll have to one day check it out again unless they come out with a Portal 3 in the next few years.

On to the next, I say! We've still got some catching up to do.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Genowyn on July 26, 2014, 08:36:02 PM
Alright, I guess I might as well get started. True, no reason people can't discuss both.

As a version title, might I recommend something about Weeaboos, or something to the effect of "Japan: The List".

25 - Little Busters!
PC - Visual Art's/Key - 2007
(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Little_Busters_game_cover.jpg)

We're starting with something extremely weeaboo-y, and a type of game that many of you have probably never played, so I guess a little explanation of the visual novel genre is in order. Typically a visual novel is a japanese game in anime style, most of the game being just text, pictures, music, sound effects, and in newer games, voice acting (and sometimes small amounts of actual animation, but this is pretty unusual). By design, these games tend to focus pretty much entirely on story, because there's not much else to sell a game on...unless it's an Eroge (arrow-gay). This means 'erotic game', and though Visual Novel and Eroge are not equivalent terms, many Visual Novels are Eroge. Some of these suck ass, some of them are pretty great. Though this game is not an Eroge, there are a few on this list, but please believe that in these cases, it's really an in-spite-of thing, rather than a because-of thing. Most of the gameplay in a Visual Novel is choices, either of actions or dialogue. Some of these choices don't really matter, but usually they will influence the plot, specifically, they will lead you onto one of the game's routes - different story paths (and endings) that usually coincide with ending up with one of the game's romantic interests. Most of the time (and in all the ones I've played), you're playing as a guy with female romantic interests. Of course, the inverse also exists (these are referred to as Otome (maiden) Games), and homoerotic ones as well.

So.

Little Busters!, as I have mentioned before, is not an Eroge (though they did release an 18+ version called Little Busters Ecstasy (or EX), which I have not played). As with most games, however, it does have the route structure based on which of the many romantic interests you end up with. First you play through a common route, where you meet all the characters and make choices which determine which girl you'll end up with. The common route focuses on building a baseball team (a convenient way for the game to have you meet all these interesting ladies), and features something relatively rare for a Visual Novel: minigames! The first, of course, is a baseball game. Well, really more of a batting practice game. It's surprisingly complex, you have a lot of control over where the ball goes if you're good at it (I wasn't), and you raise the stats of your teammates by sending the ball toward them. You also can make your pitcher learn new pitches by hitting the baseball at cats (don't ask). The other primary minigame is a battle system, where you are occasionally given an option to 'Wander', which will allow you to challenge other characters to fight you. Although it's pretty random, there is some complexity to it as well, with stats that can be improved through items you earn by winning battles. There's even a secret boss that can be challenged if you complete certain objectives on second playthrough or later (though I've never gotten close, he's insanely powerful). At the end of the common route, you play a baseball game, which you will win or lose depending on the stats you've managed to develop. I won on my first playthrough, but after that I started focussing entirely on combat stats, which I assume is why I lost every single time. Ultimately it doesn't matter if you win or lose, after this game you move on to the route for whichever girl you end up with. After completing all of the routes, you are then able to play through the real ending.

Minigames aside, the main thing that makes this game stand out, of course, is the writing. As usual from Key, it is side-splittingly hilarious, and also soul-crushingly depressing. The characters are also great, mostly anime stereotypes on the surface with hidden (and dark) depths that are revealed in the course of the story. Well, most of them. Futaki's just a bitch I don't care what anyone says. The story is phenomenal, and cleverly integrates the route structure into the narrative itself (can't really explain what I mean without spoiling the whole thing). Writer/Creator/Composer Jun Maeda's music really shines in this game as well.

I don't expect anyone to go out and try this game if they've never played a Visual Novel before (save that for one of the later ones), but if you have ever played and enjoyed one (even, say, Ace Attorney) this is a great one. It has had an anime adaptation, and it's pretty good, but many of the best scenes (both funny and sad ones) are missing, and as with anything else, the original version is better.

24 - Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
PS2 - Atlus - 2003
(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Shin_Megami_Tensei_III_Nocturne.jpg)

So back to the semi-mainstream, this one is a JRPG. If you've never played a Shin Megami Tensei game before, I'm so, so sorry. This one isn't even the best one. Not even close. You're gonna hear a lot about SMT in this list, and if even one of you picks up an SMT game for the first time and enjoys it I will be very glad.

Nocturne is a really great starting point to talk about SMT, though, because as compared to the other games in the series I'm going to mention, it's the most faithful to the basic Shin Megami Tensei formula, that is: You are a person who for whatever story reason has gained the ability to summon demons (in this game it's because you get turned into a half-demon thing), and you must travel around post-apocalyptic Tokyo, befriending and/or killing demons you encounter in battle, and fusing the demons you have into more powerful ones to help you beat the extremely difficult and completely ruthless bosses (MATADOR).

Nocturne is the first (but not last) game in the series to feature the Press Turn system, which in my opinion is the most brilliantly perfect JRPG battle system ever. If you play well, you can abuse the system and win battles. If you play poorly, the system punishes you and you die. Unlike most games in the series (and most JRPGs), though, the secret super-hard boss battle is not THAT hard. I mean, the process of putting Pierce on every demon is grueling, and the process to unlock him is tough, but once you're ready for him he's a pushover, much unlike the nightmares you have to contend with in Digital Devil Saga and Persona, but more on them later.

As any SMT fan knows, one of the best things the series has going for it is composer Shoji Meguro, and this game is no exception. The music fits the tone and aesthetic of the game perfectly, and the boss theme is just the tits, guys.

Unfortunately, the story's a little meh in this one, which is unusual for the series as a whole (in my opinion), but the great gameplay, music, and atmosphere more than make up for it.

23 - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
PC/XBox 360/PS3 - Bethesda - 2006
(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/The_Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion_cover.png)

Gonna upset some people, I think, but this is the only Elder Scrolls game on the list. Maybe a bit of nostalgia glasses on this one, but I really love Oblivion. That's not to say I don't love Morrowind and Skyrim (it is to say I don't love the earlier ones, though), but every Elder Scrolls game has its pros and cons. My ideal would be a game with the story of Morrowind, the graphics of Skyrim (or better), and the system from Oblivion. If it weren't for the goddamn thing where you can miss with an attack that clearly hit the target in Morrowind because of a bad roll, it would be the one on the list, instead.

Anyway, what I love about Oblivion is hard to completely pin down. I just feel like it's a good middle ground between the extremes of Morrowind (a hard RPG system wearing an Action-RPG hat) and Skyrim (an Action-RPG that's getting pretty light on the RPG elements). You have stats that matter, but hitting stuff actually matters too. Most of the rest I can say about this game I could say about any modern Elder Scrolls game, the open world is great, and the amount of character customization is excellent. Something I like to do is invent actual characters for my...characters. One guy, a stealthy bow-based assassin character who dabbled in poisons had the internal monologue of a serial killer in my head. I had a character who was a noble knight, and a mage who wanted to become an immortal lich. Again, like any game in the series there are also great unscripted or unintended moments. One of my favourite moments playing Oblivion was hearing the automatic NPC dialogues get a little odd, as one NPC approached another and said, "Hi!", to which the second NPC said, "Hi!". In response, the first NPC said "Bye!", and the second said "Bye!". On the other side of it was when I was doing the last mission for the Thieves' Guild, alone, in the dark, in the middle of the night. I don't know if they intended for the section where you sneak into the tower from underground to be so creepy and imposing, but it was, for me, and I really loved it.

(just an FYI, this is one of only three games on this list that were not made in Japan.)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: Mister Gold on July 26, 2014, 08:52:58 PM
So I found this at my parent's house and I couldn't resist:

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/1889041_10101643484261179_631504982153151095_o.jpg)

Quite possibly the greatest video game ever! A total masterpiece! :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The Age of the Scorpion (Pg. 5)
Post by: orcus116 on July 26, 2014, 09:00:15 PM
I concur. It's the best Zelda game by a longshot.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (Pg. 5)
Post by: Sacul on July 26, 2014, 09:38:43 PM
(just an FYI, this is one of only three games on this list that were not made in Japan.)
It means it's gonna be a really interesting list then. I have only played Oblivion, but couldn't get pass the beginning, sorry. The game mechanics feel so old for me  :lol.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 26, 2014, 09:42:10 PM
Whoooaaaaa! THWEET LITHT ALREADY BRO!

I absolutely adore Nocturne and am both genuinely delighted to see it and dismayed to see it low on the list (despite that it's still 'high' overall).  :lol It is perhaps my favorite RPG of all time and this is coming from a longtime and foaming-at-the-mouth- Mega-Ten fan so I'm highly biased. Oblivion has some great memories for me despite not really getting into the series till Skyrim. It was my personal proof that American developers weren't completely retarded when it comes to RPG experiences, despite the fact that I considered the game nearly sacrilegious when I originally heard about it. RPG ELEMENTS IN AN ACTION/ADVENTURE GAME!? YOU SHALL BURN FOR YOUR SINS!

Great start!

P.S. FUCK YOU MATADOR. FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ariich on July 27, 2014, 02:32:51 AM
Unsurprisingly Japanese start to the list. :lol

Haven't played the first two games, but Oblivion is great. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on July 27, 2014, 09:37:57 AM
I have not played many Japanese games that are not made by Nintendo. This will certainly be an interesting list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 01:05:36 PM
Awesome avatar, Randaran!  :metal I've got the curse brand tattoo'd on my man boob.  ;D Absolutely adore Berserk.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 27, 2014, 05:28:35 PM
Berserk  :heart

I wish there were a good Berserk game I could put on my list.

Update will be whenever I feel like in the next few hours. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: orcus116 on July 27, 2014, 08:46:49 PM
Whoops, I just realized I got the two video game threads confused yesterday. Sorry folks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on July 27, 2014, 09:50:37 PM
How fucking dare you!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 09:51:18 PM
Boys, throw him in the pit.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 27, 2014, 09:59:46 PM
22 - Digital Devil Saga
PS2 - Atlus - 2005

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Shin_Megami_Tensei_-_Digital_Devil_Saga_Coverart.png)(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Digital_Devil_Saga_2-1.jpg)

Atlus returns, already. Technically, this is not a Shin Megami Tensei game. In Japan, it was released as Digital Devil Saga - Avatar Tuner, and here as Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga. That said, I consider this a Shin Megami Tensei game. The spells have the same names, the monsters are the same, the music is by Shoji Meguro, and we see the Press Turn system again. So yeah, this is an SMT game. The only difference is that instead of summoning demons, this time, YOU ARE THE DEMONS! Ancient meme use? Yes. But it is true, you really are the demons. Or people who turn into demons.

To be clear, this time I'm talking about both DDS and DDS2, but before you cry foul, rather than two games it's really more like one game on two discs that weren't released at the same time. The second game picks up right where the first left off, and the only major differences in the system are the addition of an extra type of equipment, and a mostly superficial change to the levelling system.

In true SMT form, we have really great music here. Really, really great. Dat bassline in The Hunted, dat riff in Comrades, dat Harihara, dem reprises and remixes in the second game. Also in SMT form, we have ridiculously brutal secret bosses. The hardest of these in the first game is the Demi-Fiend, otherwise known as the protagonist of the previously discussed Nocturne. This boss is really cool, because his battle theme is the random battle theme from his game...which is sort of an insult, if you think about it. What, I don't register as a boss to this guy? And then he takes a turn.

And no, you do not register as a fucking boss to this guy. Not even a late game random encounter. You're like when he is doing some side quest clean up and compendium finishing before the final boss, and he gets a random encounter in the first dungeon. My characters are all max level, with specially built skill sets, and painstakingly maxed-out stats. This guy can still wipe the floor with me in a single turn. I've never beaten him. He is a challenge fit for only the most insanely dedicated and meticulous of gamers, and although you need to be pretty goddamn dedicated and meticulous to even unlock this boss, he's a whole order of magnitude nastier. I've unlocked most of the secret bosses in the second game, but I'm nowhere close to ready for them.

If I have to choose one of these games or the other as the best, I would say the first game.


21 - Saya no Uta
PC - Nitroplus - 2003

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/SayanoUta.jpg)

So here we have another Visual Novel, and this one is an Eroge. As I mentioned before, I love this game in spite of the pornographic content, not because of it.

However, unlike many Eroge I don't think you could take the erotic scenes out of this game and have it remain as effective as it is. Mostly this is because this is actually a horror game, and these scenes add to the horror and disgust element after certain revelations.

All that being said, this game is a work of art. It's only about eight hours long, and only features two choices. Despite this it is one of the most romantic, disgusting, beautiful, horrifying, hopeful, and depressing stories ever written. Saya no Uta, which translates as Song of Saya (or Saya's Song), tells the story of a young man who is left with an altered perception of reality after a car accident. Basically, everything becomes disgusting to him. Everything he smells, smells like rotten meat. Everything he tastes makes him gag. People look like hideous monsters, awful Lovecraftian horrors, writhing tentacles with too many eyes and mouths, and their voices sound like awful screeching. All people, except for one girl: the titular Saya.

I can't explain much more than that without spoiling, but the best thing I can say about the story is that it's written by Urobuchi Gen. Some people may recognize this name as being the guy who wrote the extraordinary anime Puella Magi Madoka Magicka, the light novels Fate/Zero, adapated into an equally extraordinary anime of the same name, as well as a bunch of other great anime. If you're familiar with any of his work, you know how effectively he can rip out your heart and make you watch him eat it. He's an evil genius, and in my opinion this game is his best work.

Also there is a really crappy American comic book adaptation, don't even touch it.

20 - Tales of the Abyss
PS2/3DS - Namco Bandai - 2006/2012

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Talesoftheabyss_us.jpg)

The Tales of... series is immense, but Tales of the Abyss is definitely the best in the series. While later games have improved upon the battle system, this game is still notable for two primary reasons (these will come up a lot in my list): Story and music.

For one, Tales of the Abyss has a dark story. Not as a dark as anything in the Shin Megami Tensei series, but one of the darkest games in the Tales series (I think Vesperia might take the title of darkest, considering the main character straight up murders a bunch of people in cold blood), and pretty dark for JRPGs in general. It deals with some interesting themes, and I think is a lot more focussed thematically than many games in the genre. One of the most brilliant parts of the plot is a spoiler, but I will discuss it in smalltext for those who don't care: The villain is trying to avert a prophecy that fortells the end of the world. His plan is to make an exact copy of the world, but this process will destroy the original world. The part I really like is that it's made clear near the end of the game that the villain realizes that he's actually fulfilling the prophecy, but has resolved to see it through, partly because of a 'well I've come this far' attitude, and also because he's kind of crazy. I can tell I haven't conveyed this very well because it sort of comes across as stupid the way I explained it...but in context of everything it works great, trust me.

As mentioned before, the music in this game is awesome. The boss theme, "The Fang that Wants Blood", the theme for recurring fights against the for-lack-of-a-better-term evil party, "Awkward Justice", as well as the whole sequence of final boss themes are just amazing.

If you've never played a Tales games before, this is a great one to try out. If you have a 3DS, that version should be pretty easy to find.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 10:25:18 PM
Great write ups, I didn't enjoy DDS1/2 as much as most other SMT titles, but it was still extremely fun and addicting when judged alone and I enjoyed my time with them; but I actually haven't replayed them since the first time...I may have to boot up my emulator soon. It's also tied as my favorite SMT soundtrack (with SMT IV, surprisingly). Haven't heard or played Saya, but the logo immediately reminded me of Mushishi so  :tup.  :lol And I really love Abyss, it's my second favorite behind Symphonia; great memories with all these games. I have a feeling if I ever do a list, mine might be kinda boring since already we have similar titles (and some of the same...just different placements).  :laugh: :tup

Also agreed on the idea that the DDS games were meant to be played as one big game. I'm actually thinking about getting the pentagram logo as my next tattoo.  :police:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Sacul on July 27, 2014, 10:26:26 PM
I've heard some really good things about the Tales series, specially this game and it's story. It has gained a high position on my to-play list now :tup. Also the rest of the titles on this update seem really interesting.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 27, 2014, 10:32:17 PM
Shoji Meguro didn't compose the music for SMT IV, it was done by three other people.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 10:33:58 PM
Yes, I know, poor wording on my part, I should have said favorite SMT soundtrack. Hence my 'surprisingly', but yeah that wasn't conveyed well.  :tup Oops! Edited.

Yeah when I found out, a few weeks before SMTIV's release, I was really, really crushed. Like, surprisingly so.  :lol I love the music SO much and listen to it on a daily basis. But I really, really love SMTIV's music, it captured that techno-apocalyptic vibe that Meguro did perfectly almost just as well. In some cases I think he did just as well for the vibe of IV.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 27, 2014, 10:34:56 PM
Persona music is the best them

edit: Also just noticed I neglected to smalltext the part I said I would -_-
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 10:38:39 PM
o/

Hellz yuh. My favorite among the Persona games, soundtrack wise is 4. Gotta love dat SMILE. Dat Corridor. Dat Secret Base. THE SECRETEST OF BASES! Raaah it's all so good. Damn this list, it's gonna force me to replay every SMT title and spin off by the end of it, I know it.  :lol  :coolio
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 27, 2014, 10:44:10 PM
Pretty sure you will be the only one caring about SMT entries unless UMH sticks his head in here. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 27, 2014, 10:45:19 PM
Hey man, I'll care enough for EVERYONE!  :azn:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on July 28, 2014, 10:49:30 AM
About Saya: you should have mentioned Urobuchi Gen earlier. A mere mention of his name is enough to gain my interest.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ReaperKK on July 28, 2014, 05:15:13 PM
Catching up on the thread right now. I haven't played Portal 2 even though I own it, maybe someday when I have some time. Same goes for Oblivion.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 28, 2014, 11:35:52 PM
Picture sizes are all wonky this time.


19 - Devil May Cry 3
PS2 - Capcom - 2005

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Devil_May_Cry_3_boxshot.jpg)

I think that most fans of the Devil May Cry series would agree that the third game is the best one. The first game is a close second, but I generally feel like the third game is a more refined version of the original, although the first game does get a bit of a bonus for the horror vibe that was pretty much dropped in future entries (since the first game was originally conceived as a Resident Evil game).

DMC3 stands out, to me, for a few reasons. One is the return of the enormous, fully connected explorable area from the first game, but on a bigger, more badass looking scale. Second is that this is the first game where Dante's attitude is really turned up to eleven, and it's all delightfully cheesy in a B-movie kinda way. The addition of styles was also great (though I pretty much always use Trickster), this plus the larger arsenal at your disposal allows for a great deal of freedom in the way that you play. And what would a Devil May Cry game be without awesome boss fights? Devil May Cry 2, I guess. This game has a lot of really great, challenging, fun boss fights, standouts include the very final boss fight, the fight against Lady in the library, and the succubus-bat-lightning lady. At higher difficulties these fights require insane precision and attention, but I love a challenge, and beating these enemies is very gratifying.

The music is also pretty cool, but not a really major factor in my appreciation for this game. This time it's all gameplay and attitude, baby.

18 - Planescape: Torment
PC - Black Isle - 1999

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/PlanescapeTorment_1.jpg)

So low? Yeah, sorry. But we've left Japan for a moment to look at the best RPG ever made outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. This game is not the most attractive, it certainly shows its age, and I'm not generally a fan of D&D based combat, but neither of those things are what this game's about. Planescape Torment is all about story and character.

It's hard to articulate how amazing the writing in this game is. It's been compared to a novel before, and I think that's very fair. I'm hard pressed to name other games that have been as emotionally engaging as this one. My absolute favorite moment in this game has to be one of the stones in the Sensate area. For those who haven't played the game, these stones allow someone to experience someone else's experiences which have been recorded onto them. One stone puts you into the mind of someone your character knows. I won't go into detail, to avoid spoilers, but goddamn...definitely one of the most emotional moments in any video game. You really have to read it for yourself.

I feel like my total lack of understanding of the D&D ruleset that was in place when this game was made increased the difficulty for me. I died a lot. The last dungeon was a nightmare. I don't know if I actually beat the final boss, if I did I think I had to cheat. I'm not entirely sure if this game is really hard or I'm just bad at it, but the story is what makes this game great, not the gameplay.

17 - Guilty Gear
Arcade - Arc System Works - 1998-Present

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/28d28013cd4cb4ffa2a26aa24aa82084.jpg)

Back to Japan for a game that's about as different from Planescape Torment as possible. Where Torment is thoughtful and subtle, Guilty Gear kicks your door in, bangs your girlfriend, and sets the house on fire, all while playing a sweet guitar solo. This game is what happens when anime and heavy metal have a baby. Literally. Half of the cast are references to rock and metal, see: Eddie, Testament, Venom, Slayer, Millia Rage, A.B.A, Chipp Zanuff, etc etc.

Of course, the music matches. Some standout tracks include Awe of She (the GGX version, not XX), Keep Yourself Alive, Keep the Flag Flying... pretty much the entire soundtrack is excellent.

Combine that with the most hype fighting game this side of Marvel vs Capcom, and you have a winner.

And if I have to choose one game in the series as my favourite, I'll go with Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus, though when Xrd comes out later this year that may change.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 28, 2014, 11:48:26 PM
DMC3!  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 29, 2014, 12:14:40 AM
Damn. I remember my grandpa always played Planescape: Torment when I was really young.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 29, 2014, 09:50:41 PM
16 - Resident Evil 4
PS2/GCN - Capcom - 2005

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/resident-evil-4-ps2-.jpg)

I will admit that I'm not really a fan of the Resident Evil series in general. Resident Evil 4 stands out as a masterpiece in a pretty mediocre series (in my opinion).

This game is one of the greatest games of the Survival Horror genre. In my opinion, the core of Survival Horror gameplay is resource management. It may seem odd, then, to claim that a game which makes bullets and healing items relatively easy to find is a paragon of the genre, but the resource you need to manage is different. No, not Ashley. It's space. If enemies get up on you, many of them can kill you in one hit, so the whole thing is about managing to keep your distance. You have one bullet left in your clip, what do you do? Do you shoot right away and reload? Do you back off before shooting to give you more time to reload? Do you go crazy and try to knife the zombie to death? You're constantly evaluating these choices, where in, say, Silent Hill, you're always weighing whether this monster is dangerous enough to use one of your scant bullets on, or is your health low enough that you need to use a precious healing item. But more on that series later.

For a horror game, you've gotta talk about the monsters. The most pants-shittingly terrifying creature in this game is of course the Regenerator. I'm sure everyone who's played the game just shivered. The awful noise these things make is the worst part. There you are, walking along, thinking "Hey, maybe the worst thing I'll need to kill in this room is a guy with a scythe that pops out of his neck", when that awful breathing sound starts. You begin to carefully search for the dangerous beast, and then you bump into it after rounding a corner and it hugs you to death. What a bastard.

There is one bad thing about this game, and I've already mentioned her. While this game has a pretty good execution of the escort mission concept, escort missions suck. They only sort of work in a horror game because you have a second character whose life you fear for, but it's generally pretty easy to keep Ashley safe, since her awful shrieking will let you know she's in trouble. The parts of the game where Ashley is not with you are the best parts. The part where you have to play as her can go to hell.

15 - G-Senjou no Maou
PC - Akabeisoft2 - 2008

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/G_Senj14D0_no_Ma14D0_cover.jpg)

Another Eroge~! Unlike the previously mentioned Saya no Uta, this one could really do just fine without the explicit sex. For story reasons the characters would still need to sleep together, but it doesn't need to be shown in great detail. In this game I actually skipped through the sex scenes because the story was so engaging. I would think "Why are you fucking NOW?! THINGS ARE HAPPENING". I think this a lot during these games.

G-Senjou no Maou translates as "The Devil on G-String", and that's like a musical G-string, not what you were thinking. It references the main character's love of classical music, and Maou, or the Devil, is the pseudonym the villain uses.

In this story, the main character is the adoptive son of a yakuza boss, and takes part in the administration of his father's business. One day a new criminal, Maou, begins to move in on their territory, and the main character is asked to help find him. This story is a brilliant psychological crime thriller, with a somewhat unusual structure. Rather than a number of routes, the story progresses through chapters, each focusing on a crime committed by Maou that relates to one of the game's heroines. Certain choices made during these chapters will allow you to basically bail out of the story at that point with that girl, but I don't recommend it. None of the side routes compare to the main route for the primary heroine. This is a dark, disturbing, beautiful, romantic story, and a really great experience all around.

14 - Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
PS1 - Game Arts/JAM - 1999

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Lunar1box.jpg)

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete on Playstation is one of my favorite RPGs of all time. The music is absolutely outstanding, the battle system is fun and challenging, the storyline manages to be original despite being full of JRPG tropes.

The villain has to be one of my favorite parts of this game. He is an absolute ham. Every opportunity he has to chew the scenery, he takes. He's also one of the original long-haired pretty boy villains (keep in mind the original version of the game came out in 1992).

As I mentioned before, the battle system is also a highlight, for two main reasons: First, in something still relatively uncommon in JRPGs today, both enemies and player characters will move around the battle field to do their attacks (or even just for strategic purposes). Where this really becomes in important factor is the area of effect attacks. In most JRPGs spells hit one thing, or everything. This is one of the few I can think of where there are Area of Effect attacks. (and if some of you are thinking, hey I know another game with that, there will be another game with that on this list).

The music is another highlight, Noriyuki Iwadare created some classic JRPG music. Just listen to that world map theme, or the final boss theme. It's just so perfect. 

As you might have guessed, because I cited the hammy villain as a plus, this game is also really, really funny. The writing is great throughout; the characters are all well-developed and have interesting personal arcs in the game.

The sequel is also great, and has one of the hardest final bosses (with one of the most badass final boss themes) ever, but I think the first game is generally better.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on July 29, 2014, 10:40:00 PM
Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece but i wouldn't say it's good as REmake any old RE when it comes to Survival Horror.
That said, if leaving genres out of this, it's the best game in the series imo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on July 30, 2014, 12:09:48 AM
Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece but i wouldn't say it's good as REmake any old RE when it comes to Survival Horror.
That said, if leaving genres out of this, it's the best game in the series imo.

Ah, good, what i just did  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 30, 2014, 12:47:49 AM
RE4 will always be one of my favorite games of all time, and isn't my favorite RE but is up there around 2 or 3 depending on the day. LOVE me some Lunar! I tried going back and playing it and it's better kept in my nostalgia but it's still one of my fondest times.

Really enjoying the write ups.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Full Speed on July 30, 2014, 05:14:49 AM
I really liked RE4 and it was the only one I've ever got deep into as well.

Lunar was awesome, forever since I played it though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Cable on July 30, 2014, 06:06:45 AM
I loved RE4, played the Wii version. Changed some things in the formula, and it worked.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on July 30, 2014, 11:18:15 AM
I have not played any of these, but Lunar looks like something I would be interested in. I will definitely try it some time in the near future.

Sacul, could you add me to the waiting list?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Sacul on July 30, 2014, 08:51:28 PM
RE4 :metal
Sacul, could you add me to the waiting list?
You're in now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 30, 2014, 10:47:45 PM
13 - Pokemon
GB/GBA/DS/3DS - Nintendo - 1998-2014

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Pokemon_SoulSilver.jpg)

So, really, do I have to pick one? I have to at least pick two: HeartGold and SoulSilver. I don't even know where to start. Everyone knows why I love Pokemon, right? It's Pokemon. That's why.

Need more? Okay. The combat system manages to be extremely complicated while being easy to understand on the surface. The graphics are always charming, and while the designs of the Pokemon themselves haven't always been the best (Gen V), the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and evil team members and leaders always look cool.

Here's yet another game/series where the music is a highlight. I've always been partial to battle themes, and here is no different: the Gen III gym leader, Gen IV champion, HG/SS champion themes… all brilliant. Cynthia's might be my favorite in the series.

If you haven't played a Pokemon game before, what? Come on.


12 - Final Fantasy IX
PS1 - Squaresoft - 2000

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Ffixbox-1.jpg)

Yes, Final Fantasy IX is the best Final Fantasy game. No, it isn't VI, but it's close. It's certainly not VII.

The first reason is the character development system. I really enjoy learning abilities from equipment, and it adds a bit of an extra challenge needing to hold on to inferior equipment so you can learn an ability (though I can see how some people might find this frustrating).

The story is great, though it goes a bit off the rails in the final act, the early parts of the game more than make up for the sorta weak finish. The story focuses a lot on character, and the interactions between the party members are much better written than most of the rest of the games in this series.

Of course, this is Final Fantasy before Nobuo Uematsu's departure, so we have excellent music. The boss theme is one of my favorites, and we also get excellent tracks like Assault of the Silver Dragons. Just excellent.

11 - Touhou
PC-98/PC - Team Shanghai Alice - 1996-2014

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/reimu.jpg)

I had no idea what to use as a picture here, so I just went with a picture of Reimu since that's who I play. I picked this one because it was sorta cool and not too enormous.

I'm really gonna defend not choosing a single game, this time. If you've ever played a Touhou game, you can back me up in saying each game is about forty-five minutes long. Gun to my head… I suppose it'd be Subterranean Animism. (but the worst one is definitely Highly Responsive to Prayer, being that it's a goddamn shitty Arkanoid-thing and not Touhou at all)

But as I said, I'm really talking about the series as a whole (well…the whole-numbered Windows danmaku games not including Phantasmagoria of Flower View).

Talking about what's great about Touhou, you really have to start with the gameplay. You can look at videos and screenshots all day and not even really grasp how insanely difficult, ruthless, frustrating, and yet rewarding these games are. Sure, the first twenty times you bash your head against Okuu or Kanako you want to smash your computer, but when you see that bitch finally explode, there's no better feeling on earth.

Visually, the best part about the game is certainly the Spell Cards. Again, this is really hard to describe. A video can sort of express what I mean, but boss fights are basically just a matter of trying to stop yourself from getting killed by beautiful, colorful shapes. Yuyuko is an excellent example: the most terrifying butterflies on earth. Byakuren's spaceship attack is awesome to look at while insanely tense to try to stay alive in. Suwako also has some crazy looking attacks.

And what discussion of Touhou could be complete without talking about the music? Rather than try to express how great it is in text, I'll just leave a few titles you can check out on Youtube: Necrofantasia, Native Faith, Nuclear Fusion, Lunatic Princess, Voyage 1970, True Administrator… the list goes on and on and on. You may also find versions of these songs in numerous other genres. The music from this series is so great there are multiple bands that do adaptations of Touhou music, Demetori is a great example for these forums, as they take a progressive metal approach to it, but there's also IOSYS and Silver Forest, who have made pop songs based on Touhou. And of course, there's Bad Apple!!. Great song, great music video. This is one example where the cover has completely eclipsed the original song (partly because it's from a PC-98 game), I don't even know what the original version of Bad Apple sounds like.

It takes very little commitment on your part to try a Touhou game. If you want to start with an easy one, I recommend Imperishable Night. It was the first one I managed to beat with no continues. On easy, that is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on July 31, 2014, 12:55:14 AM
Pokemon is a consistently great series and Final Fantasy IX, one of the best FFs  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Cable on July 31, 2014, 05:57:18 AM
Hmm, interesting to hear FFIX is your favorite. I appreciated the system of skills as well, especially after VIII. I also liked the fixed character classes and magic abilities.

I also didn't beat Ozma, and never will at this point. Did anybody else?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on July 31, 2014, 08:37:35 AM
Pokemon :heart

I love how the battle system is far more complex than it looks, especially once you get in to competitive battling. It is easily one of my favorite RPG series. I can literally spend hundreds of hours playing and still be engaged.

You're in now.

Thanks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 31, 2014, 09:08:37 AM
I also didn't beat Ozma, and never will at this point. Did anybody else?

I have, once. Never got Excalibur II though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on July 31, 2014, 10:36:49 AM
Still talking about FFIX, main quest aside, i always loved the Chocobo Hot and Cold sidequest. Digging Chocographs, hunting for treasures all over the world, getting new types of chocobos, fun stuff  :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ariich on July 31, 2014, 11:14:20 AM
FF IX is amazing, probably my second favourite behind VII.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 31, 2014, 12:17:14 PM
I notice FF9 is almost unanimously loved, but it's actually one of my least favourites. I still enjoy it though!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Evermind on July 31, 2014, 12:51:07 PM
Touhou is probably the only game I've played from this list (except Oblivion), and the series are certainly ruthless. I have enough pride to not click "easy" or "normal" every time, and it turns out to be a great amount of suffering. Seriously, this game requires a lot of concentration and patience. In the past, I used to play it before my Starcraft II matches, along with osu! to get warmed up.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on July 31, 2014, 01:22:33 PM
When I first heard about Gold and Silver being remade...I just about peed myself. Like literally, I was like "OH MY GOD YE-" *runs to bathroom*. It made my year, and it's still one of my fondest memories apart from popping in Blue so in my grey brick those many eons ago. It's a great remake and started an awesome trend in 'remake an oldie right after a new gen'. I've still got some of my original Pokemon from the game that I transffered game-by-game and still use them in my X/Y games and will hopefully be able to in OR/AS.

Final Fantasy IX is up there with my favorite FF games, but I don't think it's ever been my absolute favorite. It's definitely got something special about it and I really fell in love with the medieval world they created; it was and in some ways still is my own personal perfect definition of what I think of when I think 'Final Fantasy' for some reason. I've always thought that vibe just fit like a glove for the era it came out and despite being overshadowed by the PS2's release, still was a great moment in gaming history. Like other games that came before it, it was an awesome last hurrah for a system.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on July 31, 2014, 03:31:12 PM
I really like some of the games in this list so far. Your top 10 should be awesome. Also, I would like to be added to the wait list please.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 31, 2014, 04:59:36 PM
Touhou is probably the only game I've played from this list (except Oblivion), and the series are certainly ruthless. I have enough pride to not click "easy" or "normal" every time, and it turns out to be a great amount of suffering. Seriously, this game requires a lot of concentration and patience. In the past, I used to play it before my Starcraft II matches, along with osu! to get warmed up.

Oh boy :lol

I've never beaten any game on hard. I've beaten most of them with no continues on easy (except for Perfect Cherry Blossom because FUCK that, and Ten Desires and Double Dealing Character because they're so new), and I've beaten...I think just Imperishable Night on Normal? I've only even managed to get to Remilia once, certainly never beaten her. Hardest thing I've done is get through like six of Mokou's spell cards before dying. I love Touhou but honestly I suck pretty bad.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on July 31, 2014, 08:21:19 PM
10 - Blazblue
PS3/Xbox 360/Arcade – Arc System Works – 2008-2014

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/BlazBlueChronophantasma.jpg)

Another fighting game, and again I don't really feel like I can pick a favorite. I would tend towards saying the most recent iteration, but to be honest I probably played Continuum Shift the most, so go with that.

Basically, Blazblue is like a shinier version of Guilty Gear with an extremely complicated plotline. The story mode of Blazblue is so long that for the most recent game, Chrono Phantasma, has a story mode so long that skipping through all of the dialog so I could unlock a character took something like four hours. Maybe fifteen minutes of that was fighting. Now, the story is great, it's just maybe a bit too great, too in depth and based around character development and huge conspiracies to work for a fighting game. This is probably because it was originally intended to be a JRPG.

I have to imagine the Blazblue RPG would have been one of the best ever made, and probably ranked even higher on this list, but it is what it is.

Blazblue's music is composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, who also composed the music for Guilty Gear. Here, we see his craft elevated to a whole new level. Liberal usage of choirs and keyboards along with badass metal riffs and face melting solos make the soundtrack for this game one of my all-time favorites. A few tracks to check out: Rebellion, Queen of Rose, MOTOR HEAD, Gluttony Fang, Plastic Night, X-Matic… again, much like Guilty Gear, pretty much the whole soundtrack is great.

Gameplay-wise, the combat is slightly less face-paced than Guilty Gear, but still makes Street Fighter look like slugs on heroin. It has a pretty innovative button scheme. Like many fighting games, it has buttons A, B, and C, by default Square, Triangle, and Circle on Playstation, which equate to Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks. The D button (X) is where it stands out. This button has a completely different function for each character. For the main character Ragna, attacks done using the D button drain health from his enemies. For Rachel Alucard, pressing D and a direction causes wind to blow in that direction which she can use to move faster. Carl Clover uses his D button to control a robot-like companion in battle.

The unique and creative uses of the D button allow for huge diversity between characters, and no character plays like another. Even Hazama and Terumi, who are actually the same person and whose A, B, and C attacks, as well as their supers, are mostly the same, are made distinct by the completely different functions of their D button. Where Hazama uses his D button to launch chains allowing him to propel himself across the screen or keep enemies at a distance, Terumi uses his to drain his opponent's super meter. Hazama has to play defensively, using his mobility to press any small advantages he can take, where Terumi is relentlessly aggressive, using his draining to fuel near-constant use of super attacks.

The game looks great, with high resolution sprites and a high framerate, and much of the writing is also pretty funny. Obviously if you don't play fighting games, this won't be your thing, but I do, so it is. :lol

9 - Shadow of the Colossus
PS2/PS3 – Team ICO – 2006/2011

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Sotc_boxart-1.jpg)

Oh god, everyone has played Shadow of the Colossus, right? If you haven't, stop now. Go play it. Go. No questions, just do it. Done? Great.

So what an extraordinary game, right? Describing it, or even watching someone else play it, cannot compare to playing it yourself. That feeling when your hand actually gets tired from clinging to a Colossus for so long, that epic music that plays as you fight, the beautiful, enormous, diverse landscape, the subtle but extremely effective story. Anyone who's played this game knows what I'm talking about.

My favorite experience in this game comes from fighting the flying worm Colossus. Early on in the fight, I lost my horse. If you recall this fight, you will recall that your horse is pretty much essential. However, I was resolved. I would not give up this fight. I fought for so long, I memorized the pattern that the Colossus flew around in, and eventually was able to position myself ahead of time so I could intercept him and hit him with arrows, or climb on him when he starts to fly low. I think it must have taken at least an hour, but I finally won. To my vast relief, my horse returned after the boss.

8 - Fate/Stay Night
PC/PS2 – Type-Moon - 2004

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Fate-stay_night-1.jpg)

Another Visual Novel. Another Eroge, though another one where it works just fine (better, even!) without the porn. In fact, this game was re-released on PS2 with all the porn removed (obviously), and it was so popular people made patches for the PC version to turn it into the PS2 version.

This is really a classic Visual Novel. If you've ever played one (besides Ace Attorney), this is probably it. Fate is an extremely popular franchise, with numerous spinoffs, both a prequel (the previously mentioned Fate/Zero) and a sequel, a number of anime…

A probably incomplete of Fate media:

Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, Fate/Unlimted Codes, Fate/Tiger Colissuem, Fate/Extra, Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya, Fate/Zero, Fate/Apocrypha, two anime adaptations, a movie adaptation, countless fan works… Let's just say it's one of the most popular things you've never heard of.

As a Visual Novel, of course the writing is the main draw, and writer Kinoko Nasu really shines in this game. From awesome action scenes, to touching romantic scenes, to funny scenes, to funny scenes which were supposed to be erotic, to highly disturbing scenes, to highly disturbing scenes which were supposed to be erotic… Really just great all around. Dude's not great at the erotic scenes though, which is why the game really benefits by having them cut out, and again there's the whole "WHY NOW?!" thing, as characters insist upon having sex even though the world is ending around them.

The story is divided into three routes, but unlike most games like this, you are forced to play them in a certain order. Each route has a different romantic interest, storyline, and villain. First is the Fate route, with Saber as the romantic interest and mostly about laying the groundwork of the world. The second route is Unlimited Blade Works, with Rin as the romantic interest and a focus on character development. Then comes the divisive part: Heaven's Feel. Heaven's Feel is my favorite part of the game. Some (so-called) fans don't like Heaven's Feel, maybe because it's when all of the really dark, fucked up, disturbing revelations are made, or maybe because of the romantic interest, Sakura. She's sort of a clingy psycho, but she's not the good part of the route… or rather, she is, because she's also (spoilers) the villain (spoilers). Much to my dismay, Heaven's Feel has never been adapted, preventing me from showing it to my friends who won't play Visual Novels. A new Fate/Stay Night anime was announced to come out this year being made by UFOTable (who did the Fate/Zero anime), and I had hoped it might be an adaptation of Heaven's Feel, but instead it is an 'original story based on the original game'… *sigh*

Anyway, the reason for this forced order is that the main character goes through development over the course of the three routes. This is part of the reason the original anime adaptation is so disappointing, as it only covers the Fate route, wherein Shirou is mostly a useless misogynistic idiot, causing many anime fans to look at me funny when I cite him as my favorite character.

The game's also got some great music, "The Golden King" and "Emiya" particularly. Emiya is the theme that plays whenever the main character is about to do something badass, and The Golden King is the theme for my favorite of the three villains.

If you're going to try out a Visual Novel, try out this one. Make sure you get the Realta Nua patch, which adds additional content from the PS2 version (voice acting, more pictures, extra scenes) as well as the option to remove the erotic scenes.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on July 31, 2014, 11:00:24 PM
Shadow of the Colossus is really something special. :heart :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ariich on August 01, 2014, 12:40:54 AM
Oh god, everyone has played Shadow of the Colossus, right?
I haven't. :(

The HD version is on my list to buy though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Crow on August 01, 2014, 12:46:31 AM
Fate/Stay Night is pretty great, yeah. UBW was my favorite route by a good margin if I recall, though it's been so long that I wouldn't be able to tell you why.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on August 01, 2014, 07:24:57 AM
I am currently playing Fate/Stay Night in anticipation of the upcoming TV series. The dialogue is particularly well done.

Quote from: Genowyn
A new Fate/Stay Night anime was announced to come out this year being made by UFOTable (who did the Fate/Zero anime), and I had hoped it might be an adaptation of Heaven's Feel, but instead it is an 'original story based on the original game'… *sigh*

https://myanimelist.net/anime/25537/ (https://myanimelist.net/anime/25537/)

Ufotable is adapting Heaven's Feel into a (what I hope to be a series of) movie(s).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 01, 2014, 08:48:02 AM
Wow that looks like it's really recent news. Should be great.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on August 01, 2014, 10:39:50 AM
Oh god, everyone has played Shadow of the Colossus, right?
I haven't. :(

The HD version is on my list to buy though.

Do this immediately! Such a fantastic game. It's a simple story but it's spectacular.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 01, 2014, 10:50:24 AM
Shadow of the Colossus  :heart :heart :heart :heart :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

Nothing else can be said about it besides how beautiful and unique of a game it is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 01, 2014, 10:36:10 PM
7 - Civilization V
PC - Firaxis - 2010

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/CIVILIZATION-V-FRONT-OF-BOX.jpg)

One-thousand, six-hundred and twenty-two hours. That's about sixty-seven and a half days. That's how many hours I have logged on Steam playing Civilization V. I don't think that counts playing in Offline Mode (which I do a lot), but a pretty big portion of the tracked playtime (near half) was done by my brother, so it probably evens out.

Anyone who's played Civilization knows why this is. Any fan of the series can recall deciding to play Civ at ten o'clock one weekend morning, to find that it is now eight PM by the time they have finished their session. If I could somehow get paid to play Civ by the hour, I'd be rich.

Describing what's so great about Civilization is sorta difficult. It's essentially the best board game ever made, so complex you need a computer to play it. The gameplay is easy to pick up but extremely complex to master. I've put so many hours into this game, and I'm still not really confident playing on difficulties higher than Normal.

If you play well, the game rewards you. Playing well means different things depending on the Civilization you play as, and how you intend to win the game. For most civilizations seeking to win a scientific or cultural victory, it's generally a good idea not to be aggressive in warfare. However, playing as Assyria, you can learn free technologies you haven't learned that other players have when you capture their cities, making war against technologically superior civilizations a viable strategy. As the Aztecs, you can gain culture by killing enemies, so an aggressive Aztec player can generate enormous amounts of culture (of course, as of the most recent expansion this is no longer sufficient to win a cultural victory, but aggressive play would still allow them to purchase a great number of policies conducive to great person generation).

There are two main ways I like to play. The first is a cultural victory. This involves creating great works of art, which produce tourism for your country. Tourism allows your culture to overtake the culture of other Civilizations, until eventually they are all "Wearing your blue jeans and listening to your pop music." I love playing this way, because the concept of a small, peaceful (but armed to the teeth) nation of artists and philosophers conquering the world with poems and music is excellent. I also like to play for diplomatic victory, which in practice is more like an economic victory. You achieve this by being voted World Leader at the United Nations, which is mostly accomplished by allying with as many City-States as possible, allowing you extra votes (because it's VERY difficult to get other Civs to vote for anyone but themselves, because why would they vote for another player to win the game?). The easiest and most reliable way to keep City-States as your allies is by pouring huge amounts of gold on them, so having a powerful economy is pretty essential. As an added benefit, much like in the real world having the biggest economy in Civ means you can also having the biggest military, and no one wants to piss you off too badly if you control not only enough votes in the UN to keep you Embargoed for eternity, but also so much money that if you stopped trading with them it would cripple their economies.

Either way I play, I tend to take a similar stance on warfare: do NOT fuck with me. If you declare war on me, that war will not be over until you're out of the game. I will take every city you have, exterminate your religion and replace it with my own, steal your artwork and put it in my museums, and turn your cities into money farms.

Of course, none of these are the only (or best) way to play. From a diplomatic perspective, my vengeful wrath isn't very wise. Civilizations don't like it when you wipe other players off the map. Burning their whole country and a few cities is a smarter way to get a civ off your back for pretty much the rest of the game, the diplomatic consequences are much less.

I'm semi-apprehensive about the new Civilization: After Earth set to come out this fall. It could be great, or it could suck. One thing I like about Civ is it introduces me to some ancient civilizations and leader I had never heard of, and I really enjoy the historical element. I love that a really good player could have the Zulus discover Flight in the year 1570, or to mirror reality by having a centuries-long feud between England and France. One thing I love to do is play one of the maps based on a real place and fill it with Civilizations who belong in that area. The Mediterranean is a great one, you get Rome, Greece, Spain, France, Carthage, Byzantines, Ottomans, Arabia, Portugal, Egypt, Venice, Morocco, and you can stretch it a bit with countries like Babylon or Assyria. I hope we get a Civilization VI in the next few years, because After Earth won't replace classic Civ for me. (And this is the last game made outside of Japan)

6 - Ace Attorney 3
DS - Capcom - 2007

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Pw3-cover-english.jpg)

Hey, another Visual Novel! And this one some of you have heard of! The Ace Attorney series is definitely the most mainstream Visual Novel released in the west, and it's really great. Obviously the gameplay is a bit more in-depth than most visual novels, since you need to gather evidence and cross-examine witnesses, but at its core the Ace Attorney series is comprised of Visual Novels.

As with most games in the genre, the focus of these games is really the story, and my favorite story in the series comes from Ace Attorney 3. For one, every case is good. Every other game has at least one sub-par case, but I enjoy all five in AA3. Part of the greatness of this one is that the most of the cases form a continuous story, which I feel is the best one told in the series so far. Though Edgeworth is my favorite Prosecutor, Godot is a close second, and his storyline is outstanding. Of course, as an Edgeworth fan, one of my favorite parts of the game is when you get to play as Edgeworth in the beginning of the fifth case.

The villain of the game's main story is probably my favorite. Though the villain of the fifth game has a higher 'lives ended and/or ruined' count, he was a professional. This game's villain is mostly motivated by greed and vengeance, and overall a much better character.

Composer Noriyuki Iwadare makes his second appearance on this list, in the first of many games he composed for in the series. The soundtrack is outstanding here, and my favorite in the series. Godot's theme, Dahlia's Theme, this game's iteration of the Cornered theme, all excellent.

Of course, if you want to try this game out, you really have to play through the previous two first in order to understand things, but the whole series is pretty excellent. If you have an iOS device, a version of the first three games is available (or maybe just the first one?), but they are all also available for digital purchase on Wii (and I assume Wii-U), much easier than trying to find an elusive physical copy.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Crow on August 02, 2014, 09:06:06 AM
Yeah AA3 is pretty much the best game all-around and a really great conclusion to the PW trilogy. And Civ 5 is addictive as heck.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Zantera on August 02, 2014, 09:25:40 AM
Civ V is amazing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: TioJorge on August 02, 2014, 10:08:05 AM
Shadow!  :metal One my absolute favorites. It'd make you feel so small and weak and then so powerful in one foul swoop.

Other than that, this'll be the first few entries I can't relate to. The Civ games have always looked fun but I just can't get into those simulation/strategy type games; almost the same situation for Phoenix. I love the premise of both games, especially Phoenix, but once I play them I just get bored quickly. Great write ups still, I might have to try the Civ games one day when I eventually (hundreds of years from now) go through all my games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 02, 2014, 09:49:58 PM
5 – Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
PS2 – Atlus - 2007

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Persona3cover.jpg)

Persona 3 was the first Shin Megami Tensei game I ever played. To explain the experience is difficult. Here was a game, a JRPG, unlike any I had ever played before. It's set in modern Japan, the characters have to go to high school, and all the music has lyrics. How strange.

The combat system used in Persona 3 (and 4) is second only to the glorious press turn system. Much like the press turn system, combat in this game is either highly rewarding or highly punishing. Usually punishing. One of the few  problems with this game is that you can't directly control the actions of your party members, leading to some highly frustrating moments, for example: During the final boss, you're really counting on your healer (I usually use Yukari) to be casting Mediarahan every turn. However, the AI makes it so that they will not cast it if their MP gets too low, resulting in them opting to use healing items when they still have enough MP to cast. This is highly frustrating, as you have plenty of MP-restoring items prepared for when they run out, but they don't know that. If you could control them, you could choose actions based on knowledge of how the rest of the party will act! What a novel concept! Happily, this is amended in the PSP version.

However, the RPG system is only one part of the game. The unique aspect of Persona 3 (and 4) is the incorporation of gameplay elements from dating sims. There are a number of characters who you can choose to spend time with while you're not dungeoning, and spending time with them causes their relationship with them improve. It's quite a challenge to balance all of the relationships, raising your 'Social Stats' (courage, charm, and academics), and actually completing the RPG portion of the game. Each character has a Tarot arcana assigned to them. I'll explain the point of all this in a moment.

Personas are the other major aspect of the gameplay. Your abilities and stats in combat are derived from your Persona. You get new Personas two ways: you can get them after battles as a reward, or you can fuse them together in the Velvet Room. Each Persona is also assigned an arcana, and the Persona created is based on the arcanas of the two going into it, as well as their initial level. When fusing a Persona, it gains extra experience based on the level of the Social Link with the character assigned to that arcana, and completing a Social Link unlocks that arcana's ultimate Persona.

Music? Yeah. Shoji Meguro really shines here. I could make a little list of which songs to check out, but honestly it would be shorter to list some ones that aren't that great. But a highlight reel: Mass Destruction, Danger Zone, and of course Battle Hymn of the Soul/Battle for Everyone's Souls. The music is really extraordinary and unique, pretty much the only other games that have music like it are…other Persona games. So yeah.

Play this game. Probably the PSP version.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 03, 2014, 09:54:47 PM
No one cared about Persona 3?  :sadpanda:

4 - Earthbound
SNES – Nintendo – 1995

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/EarthBound_Box.jpg)

I played Earthbound before it was cool. I played Super Smash Bros. because Ness was in it, not the other way around. Earthbound is fucking awesome.

This game is definitely a cult classic. It's so odd, so very, very odd, that I have never convinced any friend of mine to play it to the end. But I love odd, and this game is full of it. The enemies are odd, the dialog is odd, the music is odd… just a really odd game.

This game is definitely a love it or hate it kind of thing. If you enjoy weird games (especially weird Japanese games), then I can't recommend it enough. The combat is even quite challenging, and the scripted final boss fight is outstanding.

I don't know what else to say about this game. It's awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 03, 2014, 11:10:47 PM
I cared about Persona 3  :sadpanda: but have nothing to say since I mentioned before about not having the chance to play it yet. Earthbound I've also heard quite a bit about and seen videos about but never played it. Good choices anyway.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Full Speed on August 04, 2014, 08:41:38 AM
I loved Persona 3, but Persona 4 was more of my thing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2014, 09:24:15 AM
More games to add to may to-play list :lol. By the way, isn't Earthbound known also as Mother 3? Or am I talking bullshit?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 04, 2014, 09:34:16 AM
Earthbound is Mother 2. Mother 3 is sometimes referred to as Earthbound 2, and it's a GBA game (also really good, and if I were being purely critical with no nostalgia, it is probably better than Earthbound)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 04, 2014, 08:58:22 PM
I loved Persona 3, but Persona 4 was more of my thing.

well, then

3 – Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
PS2 – Atlus - 2008

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Shin_Megami_Tensei_Persona_4-1.jpg)

So hey, remember everything I said about Persona 3? That, but better. Honestly, this game just takes everything Persona 3 did and says, "Yeah, I can do that better."

The story is one place where it really stands out compared to the first game. So many twists and false endings, I'm sure many people thought they had finished the game when they beat the second last dungeon, and thought "Well I guess there were a few plotholes". NO. The game lets you stop here (earlier, too, but it's more obvious that it's wrong at that point), but the game has been constantly telling you to seek the truth. The battle theme is called 'Reach Out to the Truth', for fuck's sake. If there's something that appears to be a plothole, don't be satisfied with that after the game railed on about Truth. Go find the truth.

The combat system is improved, because now you can control your party members, and they've added a guard option. That's pretty much it.

The music is outstanding again, themes like I'll Face Myself (battle), Kiri, and The Genesis are absolute gems.

As I said, this game is pretty much just a better Persona 3. If you're going to try out Persona for the first time, start here.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on August 04, 2014, 11:05:54 PM
Earthbound :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart

And only Persona I've played is Innocent Sin (the first part of 2). I love it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2014, 11:09:29 PM
I've watched Persona 3 be played, but I've played 4 myself and I do think it is indeed superior in many ways, so yes, no complaints here.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 05, 2014, 04:35:50 AM
I thought Persona 4 would be number 1º  ;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Crow on August 05, 2014, 06:12:35 PM
I should probably ask to be on the waiting list, I'll probably be able to compile a list by the time it'd be my turn :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 05, 2014, 09:19:22 PM
I remember this game causing some controversy back when people were making little unofficial lists right before this thread started:

2 - Chrono Trigger
SNES – Squaresoft - 1995

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Chrono_Trigger-1.jpg)

THE
GREATEST
JRPG
OF
ALL
TIME

What an astounding masterpiece. Everything in this game is perfect (well,it could be a little more difficult, but that's it). The art style is great, the combat system is exciting, the story is engaging, the music is extraordinary.

Talking about what makes Chrono Trigger great is difficult, but to this day it remains my favorite JRPG. There have been a lot of extraordinary JRPGs on the list, but this one tops them all, despite its relative simplicity. This is the pinnacle of JRPGs, and if you're a fan of the genre you've pretty much gotta love this game. It's great.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: The King in Crimson on August 05, 2014, 10:07:33 PM
Fuck yeah Chrono Trigger. One of like four games I've played on this list and like one of ten that I've even heard of.  :lol

It totally deserves all the acclaim it gets, IMO. A masterpiece that transcends both WRPG's and JRPG's and is just a straight up awesome game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on August 05, 2014, 10:11:46 PM
2 - Chrono Trigger
SNES – Squaresoft - 1995

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Chrono_Trigger-1.jpg)

THE
GREATEST
JRPG
OF
ALL
TIME

All of that. Simply one of the greatest games ever made. Everything about it is just gorgeous.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Bolsters on August 05, 2014, 10:40:51 PM
Fuck yeah Chrono Trigger.
:metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 05, 2014, 10:59:19 PM
My prediction for #1: Madden '95 SNES
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 06, 2014, 12:48:51 AM
Chrono Trigger  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 06, 2014, 01:13:31 AM
My prediction for #1: Madden '95 SNES

Madden '96 > '95

I should go play Chrono Trigger now and finish it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 06, 2014, 02:23:39 AM
Madden '97 on PS was really where it was at. That game rattled my genitalia with its awesome graphics and gameplay.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Cable on August 06, 2014, 06:22:59 AM
I played CT through, and I didn't understand what made it one of the best. On the other hand, I loved Chrono Cross.

What am I missing that makes CT so great?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 09:38:55 AM
I've played both games and I feel like Chrono Cross just falls short of living up to its predecessor. The music isn't quite as memorable,  the battle system doesn't feel as good, boss fights feel less rewarding when you when, and the story is sort of a clusterfuck that they probably needed another disk to explain properly.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Sacul on August 06, 2014, 09:58:16 AM
What am I missing that makes CT so great?
This. I played the DS version and it really bored me  :lol The combats are slow, the story predictable and shallow - but the music was awesome though :biggrin:. Matter of tastes, I guess.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Crow on August 06, 2014, 10:08:03 AM
I just can't play JRPGs at all anymore, they're too tedious and slow
Persona 4 was probably the last one I played through to completion and that was over 3 years ago that I played it
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 10:47:50 AM
Some honorable mentions:

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Melty Blood
Tsukihime
Portal
FTL
Papers, Please
Metal Gear Solid 3
Ocarina of Time

Update will come around the usual time tonight.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 06, 2014, 04:40:24 PM
I've played both games and I feel like Chrono Cross just falls short of living up to its predecessor. The music isn't quite as memorable,  the battle system doesn't feel as good, boss fights feel less rewarding when you when, and the story is sort of a clusterfuck that they probably needed another disk to explain properly.

Well, i like the battle system and music equally but, talking about story and characters, i go with Chrono Trigger, simple but great presentation.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on August 06, 2014, 05:13:05 PM
I have not played this one, though I have been recommended it several times. I have access to SNES, PS, and DS; which version is the best?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 05:19:18 PM
Well, the Playstation version will be pretty cheap on PSN (both it and Cross are on sale this week, in fact), but the DS version is the most complete and has improved translation. Up to you if an extra $20~$30 is worth the better translation and some extra bosses.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 06, 2014, 05:21:51 PM
Either SNES or DS (new content, better translation, et cetera).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 05:24:20 PM
No real reason to get the SNES version...for one it's absurdly expensive. Quick eBay search shows the lowest one being around $55, with most being $100 or more. The Playstation version is the same as SNES one with anime cutscenes and a sort of meta-system to keep track of which endings you've recieved.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on August 06, 2014, 05:26:20 PM
Thanks; I will get the DS version soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 06, 2014, 05:26:32 PM
I interpreted "access" in a different way, Genowyn :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 08:40:01 PM
1 - E.T. The Extraterrestrial
Atari 2600 - Atari - 1982

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/01a4.gif)

I'm not sure how anyone could disagree with this choice, as this is clearly the greatest game ever made.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 06, 2014, 08:52:48 PM
This is what i'm talking about, nigga :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 09:05:13 PM
Alright I got one, good enough:

1 - Silent Hill 2
PS2 - Konami - 2001

(https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/Genowyn/Silent_Hill_2.jpg)

Completely out of left field, we conclude with a Horror game. The greatest ever made. Silent Hill 2 is a work of art.

Let's start with the obvious aspect: The horror. This game is scary in a way no other game I've played has replicated. The atmosphere is perfectly crafted, and the time when nothing is happening is often the scariest part of the game. Every Silent Hill game made in Japan was scary in a unique way, and I think Silent Hill 2 did it best. Everything is oppressive. Compare Silent Hill 3, which is just terrifying, so you tend to want to run as fast as possible and cower in a corner somewhere. Silent Hill 2 makes you want to move slowly because a nightmare could be around any corner. The game makes me physically uncomfortable to play, and I mean that as a compliment.

The story is outstanding. It is deep, psychological, and profoundly disturbing, and probably features the best twist ending in the history of video games.

One complaint one might make about the game is the poor voice acting. I actually feel like this is a positive factor in the game. To be clear, I don't think that any of what I'm about to describe was intentional, and I'm not talking about the HD Remaster, because I haven't really played it: Sometimes with bad voice acting, you get this feeling like the characters are standing in different rooms just saying stuff at each other. The emotions in their voices are all wrong, they don't seem to really react to what the other person says…overall it's very unnatural. In this game, it works perfectly. The characters are all tormented, all seeing different versions of the town based on their issues. So it makes sense that James and Angela don't sound natural when they talk to each other. It also makes everyone really creepy. REALLY creepy. It works.

The music is another major factor here. Series composer Akira Yamaoka really shines here, with both excellent themes like Theme of Laura or Promise, and disturbing atmospheric music and industrial noise.

I love Silent Hill, and this is definitely the best game in the series. Everyone should play it. Unless you're chicken.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on August 06, 2014, 09:08:25 PM
Alright, for real, post your real #1.




















:neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Sacul on August 06, 2014, 09:50:28 PM
Amazing choice. I've only played the first SH, which was decent but I didn't understand the story :lol. I've also heard nothing but praise to this one, so I might play it soon.
Well, actually... I downloaded it (yeah,  :yarr) on my PC, played a bit of the beginning - but the controls were horrible  ???. Is the PS2 version decent control-wise? I remember hating the camera, that's why. I also remember reading somewhere that the HD version/remake was awful, so I don't know where and how to play it D:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 10:02:28 PM
PC director's cut is where I put the most time into it. The issue with the PS3 port was patched (I think? It may have been that either SH2 was patched and 3 was unfixable or vice versa). As far as the controls and the camera these are pluses in my opinion. It has the option to switch between what it calls 2D and 3D control: one is tank controls(left and right turn, forward moves in the direction you're facing, back steps backward), the other is a camera-relative one like you're probably used to. However I'd still recommend sticking to tank controls...the game works better if it's clunky :lol

Remember part of the point of Silent Hill is that you're Joe Schmo, not some badass (fucking Homecoming), and combat is something to be avoided. The clunky controls help to make that a reality. The fixed camera is pretty much a horror game staple. Some of my favorite SH moments would be impossible without it (THE FUCKING FACE ROOM). So yeah.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on August 06, 2014, 11:03:07 PM
boss fights feel less rewarding when you when,
Yup, Golem Overlord is certainly the greatest boss fight of its time. :neverusethis:

Jokes aside, it's an amazing game, and I really need to beat it again soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 06, 2014, 11:21:51 PM
A true man defeats Golem Boss and revels in his victory. And I mean defeats.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Outcrier on August 07, 2014, 12:46:04 AM
Never played SH2 but the OST is a classic album not only in videogame music but in general music as well. Love it  :heart
Great list Genowyn, lots of modern classics like Ace Attorney 3 and SMT games (series which i'm looking up to play soon)  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 07, 2014, 01:08:19 AM
Fuck man, you screwed up your #1 choice, you had it. E.T. > SH2, everybody knows that.


But seriously, I remember back then when this game came out and watching my cousin playing it. Shit, I think I was more scared than him and I was just watching. But fuuny how things change. Now I'm the one who'll play the horror games like Outlast with him watching instead.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Genowyn on August 07, 2014, 01:28:04 AM
I remember when Silent Hill 1 came out my Dad rented it from Blockbuster (man, remember Blockbuster?) and watched some parts of it (obviously he didn't show me much) but I remember being terrified by totally innocuous things, like one area has empty diving suits hanging on the wall that I thought were bodies :lol

Top 5 Scariest SH Moments:
5) That goddamn cat (1)
4) Happy Birthday Call (3)
3) Face Room (4)
2) This is a personal one from 2, my first time playing the game I ran around in a panic most of the time and after completing collecting the pieces needed to complete a certain puzzle, when you return to the room the puzzle is in Pyramid Head can be seen waiting behind a steel grate you're trying to get past. An unsettling moment on its own, but in my hurry to progress and get out of the scary apartment building I barely caught a glimpse of him before entering the door. I went back outside to confirm what I had seen and he had disappeared. Unintentional but extra freaky
1) Silent Hill 4 has a lot of really great, subtle, missable scares, the best of which may be the best in the series: After the fifth victim is attacked, when you look through the peephole into your neighbour's apartment, the stuffed animal which had been sitting in her room now has its head turned directly towards you.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on August 07, 2014, 06:39:22 AM
1 - E.T. The Extraterrestrial
Atari 2600 - Atari - 1982

I'm not sure how anyone could disagree with this choice, as this is clearly the greatest game ever made.

Great choice  :tup :rollin Indisputably the best game ever created. Look at how many copies were made!

1 - Silent Hill 2

I have never played Silent Hill. I do enjoy horror, so I will check it out soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2014, 08:33:31 AM
soooo, it seems I am up.

First, my dirty little secret.  I'm not much of a gamer.  In fact, these days, with two young children, work, gym, and finding time to spend with my wife, I hardly ever play video games anymore.  And even when I did play video games, I usually did not play very many or a wide variety.  Once I latched onto a game or two that I liked, I played the crap out of it.  So I'm basically taking this opportunity to stroll down memory lane a bit and reminisce about several games that I've spent the most time with.

I grew up mostly in the 80's and aside from those glorious trips to the local arcade at the mall, I've had an Atari 2600, TI-99/4A, NES, PC, Gameboy, Playstation 1, XBOX, and XBOX 360.  My list will include at least one entry for each platform (including Arcade).  I expect that this list will raise quite a few eyebrows and garner its share of WTF's.


I'll list a few honorable mentions later today, and hopefully get #25 up sometime after that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Scorpion on August 07, 2014, 08:48:30 AM
Silent Hill is great, and the only game on this that I know. :lol

Hath, since you have good taste in music, I hope that that trend continues in your choice of games.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2014, 09:03:27 AM
Hath, since you have good taste in music, I hope that that trend continues in your choice of games.

heh, just you wait
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 07, 2014, 11:10:08 AM
Waiting.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2014, 12:42:54 PM
a few honorable mentions

Road Blasters - 1987 - Arcade: basically Pole Position with weapons

(https://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/1181242156263.jpg)
(https://www.fraserking.co.uk/arcade/screenshots/road-blasters-1.png)


Elevator Action - 1983 - Arcade: James Bond in a highrise

(https://s1.dmcdn.net/A_oyC/x240-GTt.jpg)


A-MAZE-ING - 1980 - TI-99/4A: Cat and mouse game in a maze

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/532830-a-maze-ing-ti-99-4a-screenshot-title-screens.png)


Moon Mine - 1983 - TI-99/4A: "You'll never get me . . . HA HA HA HA!"

(https://www.videogamehouse.net/Moonmine2.png)


Parsec - 1982 - TI-99/4A: damned refueling tunnels

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Parsec-refuelling.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 07, 2014, 01:40:04 PM
Yup, never played them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Cable on August 07, 2014, 10:36:19 PM
My family had Parsec, including the voice thing. I didn't play it much, as it was my birth year on release. I remember more of Hunt The Wumpis and munchman.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2014, 10:39:24 PM
we didn't have Wumpus, but I've played my share of Munchman.  It's in the long list of Pac-man knock-offs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 07, 2014, 11:15:55 PM
Now his is a list I can follow! Though shockingly, I don't recall any f those HMs. Elevator Action is ringing a bell, but it's a very tiny one.

Bring on the nostalgia!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 08, 2014, 08:40:55 AM
My family had Parsec, including the voice thing.

Parsec was such a frustrating game at times.  It was sort of like a side-scrolling version of Galaga where ships would attack you in certain patterns, etc.  But your ship could overheat if you shot too much with your laser cannon.  Plus the laser was so thin you had to have a direct hit to destroy the enemies.  Then you had to refuel by maneuvering your ship through those narrow cave-like tunnels in the pic above.  One touch of a part of the tunnel and you were toast.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2014, 10:04:21 AM
I get the impression a lot of this stuff is going to be too old for me to know, but I look forward to your 2600/NES/Gameboy picks as those are systems I am more familiar with.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 08, 2014, 10:36:51 AM
a few more HMs

Donkey Kong - 1983 - TI-99/4A: ported to a billion different systems, but I mostly played it on the TI

(https://www.videogamehouse.net/DonkeyKong3.png)


Miner 2049er - 1984 - TI-99/4A: sort of like Donkey Kong, but better.  This game had 10 different screens/maps vs 4 for DK.

(https://www.99er.net/graphics/Miner2049er.JPG)


1943: The Battle of Midway - 1988 - NES: Awesome weapons power-ups and special attacks

(https://gaminghistory101.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/1943_3.jpg?w=300&h=281)


Legendary Wings - 1988 - NES: Another flying game with weapon power ups.  2-player co-op.

(https://www.co-optimus.com/images/upload/image/classic/Legendary%20Wings1.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on August 08, 2014, 11:04:44 AM
Hell yes, Miner 2049'er was awesome as hell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 08, 2014, 11:07:25 AM
I loved Minor 2049er and Larry Bird vs. Dr. J on my Atari 1200 computer.  Yeah that's right. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: The King in Crimson on August 08, 2014, 11:09:18 AM
Man I remember playing the crap out of 1943 back in the day.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Full Speed on August 08, 2014, 11:09:24 AM
Most of these picks being from before my birth are making me feel young.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 08, 2014, 11:23:54 AM
I loved Minor 2049er and Larry Bird vs. Dr. J on my Atari 1200 computer.  Yeah that's right. :lol

ha, that's awesome!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 08, 2014, 02:26:43 PM
alright, here we go

(https://www.mrousseau.org/images/ti.png)



#25 - ZeroZap

Released 1979 for TI-99/4A

(https://www.videogamehouse.net/ZeroZap2.png)

This list is not in chronological order, but we are starting off with the very first video game I can ever remember playing.  My Dad bought our family a TI-99/4A for Christmas in 1982 when I was 5 years old.  He also bought 4 or 5 game cartridges.  One of them was Zero Zap and it was the first game my brother and I plugged into the machine and I can remember my parents had to basically drag us away from the computer for Christmas dinner.  We were hooked.

This game is likely to be the simplest game in this entire thread.  It is basically a ricochet/pinball type game where the player fires an arrow into various X's or randomly numbered diamonds.  When hit, the X's turn into the numbered diamonds and vice versa.  The arrow then bounces off to hit a wall or another X or diamond and keeps this up until it returns to the ground or it hits a diamond with a zero on it, at which point the diamond explodes and the arrow falls back to the ground.  The objective is to accumulate as many points as possible by hitting the numbered diamonds, hopefully in long consecutive strings of ricochets.  My brother and I would spend hours playing against each other, and although he was 11 years older than me, the simplicity of the game evened the playing field a great deal.  There was nothing better than getting a long string of ricochets on your last arrow of the match to take the lead and win.  He would get pretty upset when his 5 year old brother beat him.

But probably the coolest thing about this game was the ability to create your own board and try for longer and longer shots from a single arrow fire.  You could stack X's/diamonds all over the board and get an arrow to go on for what seemed like forever, until a zero diamond popped up of course.  There was nothing worse than firing an arrow and one of the first X's it hits turns into a zero diamond, because you knew you would be hitting it soon and your turn would be over.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Bolsters on August 08, 2014, 09:18:08 PM
Well, I know Donkey Kong. :P I think I played the arcade version when I was very young, and when a bit older I had Donkey Kong on Gameboy, which started out with the original arcade game before DK runs off and Mario has to chase him through a shitload of levels in all these different locations. Probably one of my favourite puzzle platformers.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 08, 2014, 09:58:41 PM
we also had Donkey Kong for the Atari 2600.  What a terrible port!


Seriously, this is what they were passing off as Donkey Kong:

(https://cdn.medialib.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/screens/screenshot_38404_thumb_wide610.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 09, 2014, 04:52:33 AM
Anyone watched the documentary The King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters?  You'll gain a whole new appreciation for Donkey Kong.

Miner 2049'r... I vaguely remember it, but played a lot more of it's equivalent, Hard Hat Mack

Midway... yeah, played a shit load of that too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Bolsters on August 09, 2014, 05:28:10 AM
Anyone watched the documentary The King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters?  You'll gain a whole new appreciation for Donkey Kong.
Shit, I've been meaning to watch that for years, but never got around to it and forgot. Now that you've reminded me, I think I'll finally go about taking a look.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 09, 2014, 08:20:33 AM
I've seen it and enjoyed it a lot.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: ReaperKK on August 09, 2014, 09:45:35 AM
Holy fuck battle at Midway, I haven't played that game in years but it was awesome!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 09, 2014, 10:18:45 AM
Anyone watched the documentary The King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters?  You'll gain a whole new appreciation for Donkey Kong.

awesome film.  It introduces a villain as dastard as any from one of the hundreds of big budget 80's action flicks.


Plus it has a Rush/Neal Peart connection with that scene where the protagonist talks about being good with his hands/recognizing patterns and being able to recreate them at high speeds.  He actually plays a bit of "The Rhythm Method" on drums if I recall correctly.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 09, 2014, 10:45:07 AM
I never saw it.  I will search for that film!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 09, 2014, 09:25:14 PM
Seen it and enjoyed it. Heard or saw a couple of weeks ago though that there was a new King of Kong so they should make a sequel or something now haha.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 09, 2014, 10:05:53 PM
#24 - Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection and Pinball FX 2

Released 2009 and 2010 for Xbox 360

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91KrWmmk7vL._SL1500_.jpg) (https://images.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/255533_PROD/pinball-fx-2.jpg)


I am an absolute sucker for video pinball games.  This entry is a tie between these two titles, but it should also include Space Cadet (the windows pinball game from the 90's), Pinball Hall of Fame: Gottlieb Edition, Pin Ball (for the NES), and a host of other pinball games from various platforms.

The Williams collection is a recreation of various real life tables that were produced by Williams Electronics from 1970 to 1997.  The physics and sound effects in this game are absolutely true to life.  It's amazing the level of detail they put into this game, which covers 13 classic pinball tables.  In addition to trying to increase your high score, each table has 5 goals to accomplish ranging from easy tasks to ridiculously hard combos/side games.  Favorite tables in this collection include FunHouse, Whirlwind, Tales of the Arabian Nights, and Medieval Madness.

(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/1/12096/359512-i_pinballhalloffamewilliams07.jpg) (https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nb8k9Mzy--/18heyy9pci4zwjpg.jpg)
(https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/mig/6/8/0/3/2286803-pinballhalloffamearabian_80387_screen.jpg) (https://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/P/Pinball%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Williams%20Collection/Bulk%20Viewers/360_PS3/2009-10-08/pinball3--article_image.jpg)


Pinball FX2 is on the Xbox Live platform.  The base game is a free download, but you must purchase each table separately or in add-on packs.  The tables designed for this game were never physically made (nor could they be in most cases) and they focus more on special effects.  The physics can be a bit wonky at times, but for the most part everything acts as would be expected.  They have released close to 50 tables at this point, and each one that I have played has been well worth it.  They have licenses with Marvel and Star Wars, so many of the games have those themes, but there are several that don't.  My favorite tables are Excalibur, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Star Wars: Starfighter Assault

(https://blog.zenstudios.com/wp-content/themes/twentyten/images/screenshots/large/zenpinball_ios/excalibur/screenshot_3.jpg) (https://www.xblafans.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/06/Captain_America_table_screenshot012-600x337.jpg)
(https://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/P/Pinball%20FX%202/Bulk%20Viewer/PS3_360/2010-12-07%20Marvel%20Pinball/MP_SpiderMan--article_image.jpg) (https://www.xblafans.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/10/SWP_Starfighter_Assault_table_3-620x348.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Randaran on August 09, 2014, 10:16:39 PM
The only experience I have with this sort of game is cheating in Windows Pinball.  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 09, 2014, 10:26:04 PM
Holy crap they look realistic!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: Big Hath on August 09, 2014, 10:37:23 PM
Holy crap they look realistic!

the realism on the Williams collection is crazy.  You might as well be standing at the table.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 10, 2014, 12:30:36 AM
I've never been much into pinball games. They've always just felt like poor-man's videogames to me. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 10, 2014, 05:15:44 AM
I played a handful of pinball games - the real kind - back in the 80s.  Terminator and Addams Family come to mind as games that extracted a lot of quarters from me... mostly the latter.  There were a few others.  Like all games, you had to play them repeatedly to get good at them.  Never really migrated to play digital pinball games much.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 11, 2014, 12:04:36 PM
#23 - Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road

Released 1989 as an arcade cabinet

(https://s.ecrater.com/stores/223556/4e65671dab16e_223556n.jpg)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Super-off-road-2.jpg) (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0FbFJ2Xv6dw/TNrtwN1HsBI/AAAAAAAABec/MAmqtNB3GRQ/s1600/52380-ivan-iron-man-stewart-s-super-off-road-dos-screenshot-main.gif) (https://image.allmusic.com/00/agg/screen300/drs400/s422/s42285lfxon.jpg)


I played this a fair amount in the NES, but there was nothing like walking up to that 3-steering-wheeled cabinet at Aladdin's Castle with a couple of friends and racing away.

There were eight different tracks and the 1st place finisher earned points to continue in the championship series and money with which to upgrade their truck or buy more nitro.  This was one of the first racing games where the player could upgrade their vehicle by earning money.  There were five upgrade levels for Tires, Shocks, Acceleration, and Top Speed with each one have a vastly different effect on how your truck performed during the race.  With an leftover cash you could try to hoard as many nitros as possible which give you a momentary boost durign the race.  The nitros gave each race a reasonable level of strategy as you didn't want to burn them all too quickly and have someone with reserves blow past you on the last lap.

Each track was littered with ramps, jumps, water hazards, and other obstacles.  At least one track also had a criss-crossed section where trucks would jump over a pool of water at the intersection, leading to some crashes.  This is also one of those games where the further you got in the game, the more insanely good the computer racers became.  You could have maxed out all your upgrades and nitros and still struggle to hold off the computer controlled trucks as they dash around the track like mad men.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Cool Chris on August 11, 2014, 12:09:20 PM
I had never heard of this game until a couple weeks ago when James Rolfe posted a video with him and Mike and Pat playing it.

I do remember 'Elevator Action' and loved 1942 and 1943. Cool to see those make the 'best of the rest' list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 11, 2014, 08:23:23 PM
I played Super Off Road all the time.  Many quarters were lost.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 11, 2014, 09:29:14 PM
Oh hell yeah!  Played a lot of this, but I spent many more rolls of quarters on it's predecessor, Super Sprint.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 11, 2014, 09:34:11 PM
yep, definitely has many of the same qualities as Super Sprint.  The overhead, full-track view.  Three-steering-wheeled cabinet.  Tight turns. etc . . .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 11, 2014, 09:50:02 PM
I played this game a bit in the day aswell, but it didn't cost me that much - I've only played the NES version.

Though, as far as NES racers go, nothing beats Micro Machines.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 12, 2014, 09:55:41 AM
#22 - Portal

Released 2007 for Xbox 360

(https://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/portal-1-walkthrough-artwork.jpg)

(https://www.xboxachievements.com/images/news/portal.jpg)


This one has been talked about earlier in the thread, so I will keep this brief.  I believe I first heard of this game in an Xbox magazine as they were hyping it as part of The Orange Box.  It was an extremely novel idea for a game, creating new ways to move within a game, but also new ways to interact with and manipulate objects.  Cool puzzles to solve.  Very cool sense of humor as well.  I never did play Portal 2 as life got a bit more complex for me just prior to its release.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ReaperKK on August 12, 2014, 10:00:22 AM
Off Road!!!!

I haven't thought about that game in a long time but I spent a lot of summers playing that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Evermind on August 12, 2014, 10:37:55 AM
I will express my love for Portal every time it comes up in those lists, so  :heart :heart :heart

One of the best games out there, for sure.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 12, 2014, 03:05:22 PM
I will express my love for Portal every time it comes up in those lists, so  :heart :heart :heart

One of the best games out there, for sure.
Absolutely this. Portal 2 is even better :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 12, 2014, 03:42:42 PM
Man, I really need to try the Portal franchise.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 12, 2014, 03:55:29 PM
When Sexbox 360 came out that was the first series of systems I stopped buying.  Wasn't playing like the old days.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 12, 2014, 05:16:56 PM
Man, I really need to try the Portal franchise.

Like right now pls.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 12, 2014, 07:16:38 PM
Man, I really need to try the Portal franchise.

it really is a cool spin on your normal puzzle solving games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ariich on August 12, 2014, 07:18:48 PM
Both Portal games are so brilliant.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on August 12, 2014, 07:26:01 PM
Man, I really need to try the Portal franchise.

Same here. I've tried it out and liked it, but never got too deep into the games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on August 13, 2014, 02:29:49 AM
Recently finished both Portal games, good stuff.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 13, 2014, 09:51:32 PM
#21 - Splinter Cell

Released 2002 for Xbox


(https://confidentgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/splinter-cell-game-box-art-cover.jpg)

(https://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii188/gamecubepad/xb.jpg) (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFFual6lhiY/UBwbJ-EZkgI/AAAAAAAACGY/tgAjgblHJRs/s1600/SplinterCell1+(2).jpg)


This was the first true stealth game I ever played.  In previous action games, my preferred method of navigating through levels was to take the path of least resistance rather than charge in with guns blazing.  I kept to walls, conserved ammo, and took enemies out one at a time when possible.  So to me, this game fit just like a glove.

As the game's protagonist (a veteran covert/black ops operator), you are encouraged to move through the shadows and use darkness for concealment whenever possible.  There was a light meter to tell you if you could be seen or not.  You were also aided by night- and thermal-vision goggles, which made that cool high-pitched sound when activated.  It was always great fun to sneak up on an enemy, put them in a sleeper hold, interrogate them, incapacitate them, then drag their bodies to a dark room/closet/etc so they wouldn't be found.  You also had a vast array of stealth/silent weapons and gadgets to keep you hidden or to find out what enemies were doing in other rooms and around corners.

The game narrative is on rails, so there's not really a chance or much point in exploring anything.  But the missions are quite lengthy so you really feel like you've accomplished something when you make it through.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 14, 2014, 04:58:25 AM
This too was my first stealth game, and I sucked at it.  I bought the Splinter Cell trilogy for $18 at Costco, and only got about an hour into the first game.  I should revisit it - my PS3 crashed a few weeks back, and I lost all my game data, so it's probably a good thing since I'd have to refamiliarize myself with the controls, tactics and strategies.

When I'm done Arkham Origins, I'll give this one another go.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 15, 2014, 09:30:22 PM
#20 - Combat

Released 1977 for Atari 2600


(https://www.videogameobsession.com/videogame/atari2600/2600-Combat(rescan_needed).jpg)

(https://www.vectronicsappleworld.com/collection/articlepics/atari2600/combat1.png) (https://i.somethingawful.com/u/ctstalker/2010/2010_05_29_combat.png)
(https://www.8-bitcentral.com/images/reviews/atari2600/combat2600Screen3.jpg) (https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2x6h9xWQaTC-jGXZVKl15Yiacmt0xn_7GyNMUIz15NoDC6n8e31VWyO5j8wRvhLKv3PoiJ-DyRjMk-s57wix7EygeSSROYsTZcj_rPhoMXS3J0Yk6qo)


This is obviously a simple two player game, but surprisingly it comes with a great deal of variety.  My brother and I spent a lot of time playing this game.  It's a multi-directional shooter and exclusively two-player, so you had to have a friend or sibling with you to play it.

There were three vehicle types:
Tank - One on one action where you accumulated points for how many times you shot your opponent until the timer reached zero.  Depending on what mode you selected pre-game, there were straight shots, guided missiles that you could roughly guide with the joystick after firing, and ricochet shots that you could bounce off walls to hit your opponent.  There was also a mode for invisible tanks that only appeared for a few seconds after firing a shot.  The combat map could be selected from an empty field, a simple maze, or a more complex maze.

Biplane - You could choose to play one on one, two on two (the planes moved in tandem), or three on one in which one person controlled three planes in tandem while another person controlled a large bomber plane.  No maps in this mode, but there were two clouds on the screen and you could fly into the clouds so your opponent couldn't see you for a few seconds.

Jet - More maneuverable and faster than the biplanes, but this mode only had one on one, two on two, or three on three.


It was remarkable how this game got our competitive juices flowing.  Hitting that perfect bounce shot to score a point on the tanks was an incredible feeling.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 15, 2014, 09:38:06 PM
I didn't recall the plane ones, but I played the tank ones. Good simple fun. :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 15, 2014, 09:46:33 PM
Oh man, all this variety of lists and games will take me a lot of time to even get a top 5 for the database :lol. I respect you a bit more now, Big Hath ;D.

And these games make me realize how young I am.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 15, 2014, 10:12:46 PM
I vaguely remember playing this.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 15, 2014, 11:22:11 PM
I remember getting this game as a hand me down along with a shitload of other 2600 games in '89. My older brother usually murked me but it was still good fun. I just wish I'd have gotten acquainted with it before seeing 7800 games and Super Mario Bros. since the simple graphics made me less inclined to play it and I think it had the potential to be a really awesome part of my childhood.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 16, 2014, 05:04:07 AM
I'm with Blob.  I didn't have an Atari, but one of the heighbourhood kids did, and we spent a lot of time at his house.  He also had a pool table with a removable ping pong top.  Many an afternoon and weekend were spent in Jim Kantz's basement.  Then another kid a couple doors down got an Intellivision and pinball table.  Lucky for Jim that kid's parents were uber strict and hardly let anyone come over.  So we kept playing Atari and ping pong.

Anyway, Tank was excellent.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Scorpion on August 16, 2014, 12:15:39 PM
Splinter Cell is great. I don't know if it was my first stealth game, but it was one of the first, and I loved it from the first second.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 16, 2014, 04:56:39 PM
I played the shit out of Combat in my youth.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 17, 2014, 12:00:09 AM
Tanks for the memories.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 17, 2014, 10:28:48 PM
#19 - Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones

Released 1991 for NES


(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/0/8/1/49081_front.jpg)

(https://doubledragon.kontek.net/games/dd3/images/dd3nes5.gif) (https://doubledragon.kontek.net/games/dd3/images/dd3nes8.gif)


The classic co-op fighter series!  This game differs from the previous DD games in the series by allowing the player to play as a couple of the enemy bosses he has defeated along the way.  Chin, a Kung Fu master from China, is slow but has extremely powerful attacks (one is, hilariously, a flying head-butt).  Ranzou, a ninja from Japan, has fairly weak attacks, but his speed and aerial moves are unmatched.

Two-player mode is a bit better than before as Billy and Jimmy now have cooperative moves that double the strength of their attacks.  The main characters have their primary spin kicks, but if they are standing close to each other they do a double-cyclone kick that cuts through the weaker enemies with ease.  And jumping into your partner results in him catching and throwing you as you do a flying kick into the enemy.

It is a fairly difficult two player game, especially as you only have one life per character, but one that was also beatable with a skilled partner and a bit of luck.  I can remember spending hours on weekends with my best friend trying to and finally beating this game.  The final boss fight felt like a 15 round heavyweight fight!

Final thought: If you find yourself left with just Chin in the Egypt level, just go ahead and kill yourself/press reset.  There is no way that fat fuck can make those insanely difficult jumps required to get through the level.  I've tried.  Many, many times.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 18, 2014, 10:21:38 PM
lots of Double D fans I see!

I'm not going to be able to update this thread very much this week since both work and family stuff is going to be a bit insane for the next few days.  Hope to have the next entry in a couple of days or so.  Sorry for the delay.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 18, 2014, 10:28:22 PM
I don't remember DD III, but certainly played a lot of the original and sequel.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 18, 2014, 10:32:30 PM
I used to play the shit out of one of the DD games at a friend's house back in the day, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't this one. Might have been DD 2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Scorpion on August 19, 2014, 02:27:03 AM
lots of Double D fans I see!

Who isn't? :zydar:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 19, 2014, 02:35:58 AM
It is a titilating game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: adace on August 21, 2014, 04:14:12 AM
I got Splinter Cell when it first came out and it blew me away. Been a huge fan of the series ever since.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 22, 2014, 02:16:52 PM
My cousin was crazy about the new DD, and wanted me to play with him, but these kind of games aren't my thing :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 22, 2014, 08:37:53 PM
#18 - Driver

Released 1999 for Playstation


(https://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2871/driv.jpg)


(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vgDgfWmFpl4/hqdefault.jpg) (https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/490458-driver-playstation-screenshot-getaway-minigame-also-pretty.jpg)


Fun driving game that was kind of a precursor to GTA III in that it featured 3D driving action from a vantage point just behind the vehicle.  Plus there was "free time" in which the player can go exploring around the city in their car.  Throughout the missions you are encouraged to crash into things, scare people, and create general mayhem.  And you had the option to replay particularly action packed chases and crashes from multiple camera angles.

The game is very similar to several of the car chase films from the 1970s in style and content.  You play the role of an NYPD detective going undercover in the mafia.  You have to impress your "employers" with your driving skills and navigate the organization through Miami, San Francisco, LA, and New York (or, at least rough estimations of those cities).

The driving controls and physics were very good for the time it was released.  Overall a very fun game driving game that has several options and cool getaway tasks, but some serious challenges, especially later in the game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 22, 2014, 10:59:34 PM
That game looks pretty fun and the graphics are pretty damn good for that era.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 24, 2014, 09:59:35 PM
definite fun can be had with this one.  The original game spawned 5 or 6 sequels I believe.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 24, 2014, 10:44:50 PM
#17 - Grand Theft Auto III

Released 2001 for Playstation 2 (2003 for Xbox)


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/GTA3boxcover.jpg)


(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4hIrKMWzjk/UZTyP7OtHYI/AAAAAAAAARU/wHxa-DqT2Os/s1600/gtaiii_4.jpg) (https://3rd-strike.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/gta3.jpg)


The breakthrough for the GTA franchise (and the 5th game in the series despite the "III" designation).  Grand Theft Auto III brought a third-person view to the series, rather than the traditional top-down view of earlier titles.  And the graphics were updated with a new 3D game engine.  It was basically a mash-up of a third-person shooter and a driving game.  Two big keys of the success of this game that I latched onto were its non-linear gameplay and the huge open world environment.  You could basically do anything you wanted to at anytime.  Most of the fun for me in this game was spent well off the narrative of the game's built-in storyline.  These concepts were fairly new to gaming at the time and basically revolutionized the way almost all video games were made.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 25, 2014, 12:05:05 AM
 :hefdaddy This fucking game. This game right here, nigga.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 25, 2014, 12:07:06 AM
I played Vice City first, so I didn't get as much into GTAIII after that, but I still had a lot of fun with it. A pivotal game in the franchise. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 25, 2014, 12:30:00 AM
I never really liked GTA III or Vice City all that much. I'd play them when I was at someone's house who had the games, and just fuck around driving and killing and blowing stuff up, but I was never interested beyond that. San Andreas was the first that I was interested in playing properly, but even then it wasn't until more than half a decade after its release. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Onno on August 25, 2014, 01:46:19 AM
GTA III is awesome! I'm kind of working my way back through the GTA series; although I played some GTA II, the first games I owned and finished were Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories for the PSP. After that, I started playing GTA IV and San Andreas. I've now also finished San Andreas, and I'm almost done with The Ballad of Gay Tony. I recently bought an old PS2, and I've already started on GTA III. A small feature in that game which really stands out for me is the fact that you have a opera-only radio channel  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Zantera on August 25, 2014, 02:42:02 AM
I think the GTA games have gotten better, and while V and San Andreas are my favorites, I remember when III came out and how revolutionary it felt.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 25, 2014, 03:27:40 AM
Never played even one minute of the GTA franchise.  Never appealed to me.

:dunno:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on August 25, 2014, 05:45:45 AM
GTA III is awesome! I'm kind of working my way back through the GTA series; although I played some GTA II, the first games I owned and finished were Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories for the PSP. After that, I started playing GTA IV and San Andreas. I've now also finished San Andreas, and I'm almost done with The Ballad of Gay Tony. I recently bought an old PS2, and I've already started on GTA III. A small feature in that game which really stands out for me is the fact that you have a opera-only radio channel  :lol
Oh God, I remember the opera-station. It was SO epic doing drive-bys with opera music blasting out of the car speakers. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Genowyn on August 25, 2014, 10:55:54 AM
Classical or Opera are the only types of music appropriate to play in sandbox crime games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on August 25, 2014, 11:03:21 AM
Never played even one minute of the GTA franchise.  Never appealed to me.

:dunno:

Must be your polite Canadian sensitivities.  I used to love the GTA series, but I have felt no interest in getting the new one.  I never finished IV and for some reason gratuitous violence doesn't do much for me anymore.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 25, 2014, 11:06:58 AM
Never played even one minute of the GTA franchise.  Never appealed to me.

:dunno:

Must be your polite Canadian sensitivities.  I used to love the GTA series, but I have felt no interest in getting the new one.  I never finished IV and for some reason gratuitous violence doesn't do much for me anymore.

I played Vice City to death, but SA onwards were too much for me, not specifically in violence, but just in general, like trying too hard with the language and story content.
Not that I have a problem with those things in other media, they're just not what I look for in gaming.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on August 25, 2014, 11:13:46 AM
I hated San Andreas, and IV was far too boring. I had a blast playing V, and GTA Online is one of the greatest things to ever happen to video games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on August 25, 2014, 12:44:09 PM
I hated San Andreas, and IV was far too boring. I had a blast playing V, and GTA Online is one of the greatest things to ever happen to video games.

This, except I hardly played the online. I remember it being really buggy around its release. I may give it another try.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on August 25, 2014, 12:53:38 PM
#18 - Driver
This game. This fucking game. I still have nightmares about the first level of this. It's just unfairly hard.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on August 25, 2014, 12:57:03 PM
I hated San Andreas, and IV was far too boring. I had a blast playing V, and GTA Online is one of the greatest things to ever happen to video games.

This, except I hardly played the online. I remember it being really buggy around its release. I may give it another try.

I played when it first went online. I got to level 4 and stopped because it was virtually unplayable. I started playing a few months later once the bugs we fixed, and I'm up to level 72 now. It really is something else. I love it. I'm hoping that when they release V on the next gen consoles and PC, they up how many people can be in a map. As it is right now, everyone sticks to the city 95% of the time. I'd like it if people could cover the whole map and still have stuff to do.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 25, 2014, 02:37:58 PM
#18 - Driver
This game. This fucking game. I still have nightmares about the first level of this. It's just unfairly hard.

Ha!  Yeah, it's challenging.  The time limits are just enough in some cases, even with perfect runs, then you have those cops trying to kill your car.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ReaperKK on August 25, 2014, 02:43:52 PM
Driver and GTA3 are all fantastic games.  Vice city will always be my favorite GTA though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 25, 2014, 09:43:25 PM
#16 - Madden NFL 2005

Released 2004 for Xbox


(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/8/87790/2250689-box_madden05.png)


(https://www.wescoregames.com/dynimgs/games/ps2-madden-nfl-2005/madden_nfl_2005_203352.jpg) (https://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/madden-nfl-2005/b/bd/Madden-nfl-2005-20040622040443869-000.jpg)


I probably don't have to say much about this one.  It's football.  By this point in the franchise, Madden was a polished game, a known quantity that was making slight improvements year after year.  And this is the same case.  After years of improvements to the offenses in the Madden series, it was about time they evened the field by giving the defense more smarts and introducing the hit stick.  Franchise mode got a bit better.  Online play improved.  The game became less an arcade shootout and more of a subtle chess match, similar to most real life NFL games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Onno on August 25, 2014, 11:22:28 PM
That's a game I might want to get for my PS2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 25, 2014, 11:33:50 PM
#18 - Driver
This game. This fucking game. I still have nightmares about the first level of this. It's just unfairly hard.

Same shit with Driver 2 for me. I can remember just playing thing over and over again vividly cause that's how many time I played certain levels and ingrained in my head certain routes became from memorizing the best routes to take.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 25, 2014, 11:41:47 PM
I played a boatload of Madden in the '93 thru '95 era on Sega Genesis. That's all I have to say about that.

Epic sports franchise.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on August 26, 2014, 03:00:48 AM
I played a boatload of Madden in the '93 thru '95 era on Sega Genesis. That's all I have to say about that.

Epic sports franchise.

I have Madden 97 on Sega Saturn. There are about 12 plays and every jersey has 88 on the back.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 26, 2014, 10:09:17 PM
#15 - Half Life 2

Released 2004 for Xbox (2007 for Xbox 360)


(https://p3.no/filmpolitiet/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/196f381bc9cca7c51dd2458e19bbcf90-Half_Life_2_.jpg)

(https://101videogames.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/half-life_2_xbox_screenshot_mutant.jpg) (https://mpcstatic.com/i/reviews/half-life-2_en_screenshot_2.jpg)


I actually didn't buy The Orange Box until sometime in 2010, but I am glad I did as this is the second entry in my list from that purchase.  This particular game immediately felt different than any other game I had ever played in tone and atmosphere.  Set in a dystopian world, the atmosphere is immediately oppressive.  You don't have anything or really know where to go or what to do.  You gradually get better weapons.  There are vehicles to maneuver through certain stages (boat and dune buggy).  And eventually you come to a point where you have a group of resistance fighters that you have to use as a team to make it through a level.  Lots of really cool things going on in this game.  Oh, yeah - there is also the creepiness that is Ravenholm.  Those headcrabs - yeesh!

Overall a very long and satisfying game to finish.


Also. . .

Gravity. Gun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2014, 10:23:48 PM
Gravity. Gun.
This is all that needed to be said, really. :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on August 26, 2014, 10:29:54 PM
One of the best sequels ever  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on August 27, 2014, 12:47:40 AM
I played the original countless times and loved it, and after playing through all the expansions, I could quite imagine how a propel sequel would play out and I was really sceptical.

Fortunally, I was wrong. So, so, very wrong. One of my favorite games of all time.  :metal Really familiar setting but with so many unique twists on things. I actually ordered the Orange Box for my PS3 just a few days ago, mainly for Portal but nothing will stop me from playing Half-Life 2 again. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 28, 2014, 09:14:30 AM
I remember trying to play the first one and got stuck at the beginning :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 28, 2014, 01:55:39 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/6QTq4.gif)


ok, maybe not huge, but I did miscount somewhere along the line and I actually have 26 games to talk about.  So just count this entry and the next as a tie for #14.


#14a - Super Mario Bros. 2

Released 1988 for NES


(https://josepjroca.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/super_mario_bros2_box_us.jpg)


(https://gengame.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/smb2-content.png)  (https://gaminghistory101.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/smb2_2.jpg)


Sometime in1988/89, my dad had a business trip to Dallas, and my mom went with him.  When they returned, they had the usual souvenir stuff you would bring back from a trade show/business trip.  But they had also purchased an NES game as a surprise.  That turned out to be, you guessed it, Super Mario Bros. 2.  I had my NES for a bit prior to getting this game, and like seemingly everyone else, I had played SMB to absolute death and loved it.  I may have been aware that this game existed, but I was in complete shock to get it and very excited to play it.  At first I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't exactly like the first, but soon I grew to love it.

You have the choice of playing as one of four characters, each having strengths and weaknesses related to jumping height, jumping distance, running speed , and strength.  And you can change your character at the beginning of each level, depending on what is needed.  Mario is well-rounded in that he is above average in all categories although he does lose a bit of jumping ability when carrying an item/enemy.  Luigi's strength is in his jumping ability.  There are certain high jumps in the game that can only be reached with Luigi.  But carrying objects puts a serious damper on this ability.  Toad is strong as heck and runs very fast, but unfortunately he jumps like a busted pogo stick.  The upside is that he can carry items without losing any ability.  And he can pick up enemies and dig in the sand extremely quickly which is very useful on the desert stage where you have to dig to the bottom of the screen.  The Princess is fairly weak in the strength category, but the major plus for her is that she can float in the air for a bit if you hold down the jump button.  Extremely useful on those levels with moving platforms or longer jumps.

There are a few pretty cool stages in this game including one in the desert and one on (very slippery) ice.  Certain parts of the desert are quicksand.  In the game you can't kill enemies by jumping on them like SMB, but you can land on them and ride around on their heads wherever they go.  There is an albatross that flies by at certain points to give you a ride in the air.

And I always thought the bosses in this game were well thought out and designed.  The intermediate bosses are birds that shoot eggs at you which you must jump on, catch, and throw back.  There is a mouse that throws bombs, and a fire-breathing three-headed snake.  I remember one of the bosses is a big fireball called Fryguy that gave me the hardest time.  The first time I beat him, the game almost immediately glitched and started over.  Not fun times.

Not the most difficult game, but provided plenty of replay ability by trying different levels with different characters, etc.  Very fun sequel!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on August 28, 2014, 02:38:11 PM
Ah, the Mario game that's not a Mario game. Of the NES trilogy (tetralogy if you count The Lost Levels), this is the only one I have not played.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 28, 2014, 09:52:25 PM
I prefer the real SMB2. That game is hilariously cruel. :lol
I got bored halfway through the US SMB2. It's ok, but I don't rank it with any of the other 2D Mario games on NES/SNES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 28, 2014, 10:22:21 PM
Yeah, compared to the classic SMB1 and the epic SMB3, and of course the real SMB2, the reskinned Doki Doki Panic doesn't hold up. But on its own, I still think it's a great game and spent I don't know how long playing through it over and over and over again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 28, 2014, 11:23:32 PM
I'm with Blob and Bolsy. I really enjoy the nostalgia of thinking back to playing this during the Christmas holidays of 1991 but it's definitely a solid last place for me amongst every Mario platformer I've ever played. I like the music a good bit too. Main theme is like a warm, cozy blanket for my soul, the desert theme is cool, and the boss music is still pretty intense to this day. The character variation was a nice touch too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 29, 2014, 09:15:02 PM
I like the music a good bit too.
I haven't played any of the more recent games (Wii onwards), but before that I don't think there was any Mario game that didn't have a great soundtrack.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on August 29, 2014, 09:55:28 PM
SMB2 is a interesting choice, pretty controversial. I don't mind though, i have my controversial picks as well  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 29, 2014, 10:00:32 PM
#14b - Tetris

Released 1989 for Gameboy (obviously among several other release on a multitude of platforms, many of which were earlier than 89)


(https://img2.meristation.com/files/imagenes/general/tetris.jpg)

(https://www.garath.net/Sullla/tetrisgb.jpg) (https://imgsrv.newrock1041.fm/image/kfrr2/UserFiles/Image/Game-Boy-Tetris-1.jpg)


What needs to be said?  I doubt there are many that have never played this.  And if you haven't, it takes about 1 minute of game play to figure out what is going on.  My fondest memories of this game are linking Game Boys for two-player mode on long middle school field trip bus rides.  Epic matches.

The game had been around for a while prior to the Game Boy port, and it being bundled with the Game Boy hardware.  It's been said that Tetris made Game Boy [successful], and Game Boy made Tetris.  While debatable, there is some truth there.  Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov has said the Game Boy version was his favorite.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 29, 2014, 11:21:10 PM
I like the music a good bit too.
I haven't played any of the more recent games (Wii onwards), but before that I don't think there was any Mario game that didn't have a great soundtrack.

They're all killer. Koji Kondo ftw.

And Tetris. To quote Big Hath, what needs to be said? It's never been one of my personal favourites by any stretch, but I'm not generally into that kind of puzzle game anyway. But I've still played it a ton between its various incarnations and knockoffs, and it's easy to see why it's been so popular. That has to be one of the most copied video games in history. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 30, 2014, 12:27:29 AM
Everyone post your Gameboy version record for lines. Mine's 229.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on August 30, 2014, 12:34:09 AM
They're all killer. Koji Kondo ftw.
Definitely. :metal Zelda games always have great music, too.

Everyone post your Gameboy version record for lines. Mine's 229.
I did have Tetris on Gameboy, but I don't remember my high scores. I played it, though not very much.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 30, 2014, 12:41:24 AM
I maxed out at 146 for the longest. THEN came the Super Gameboy and the combo of larger, brighter screen/infinite playing due to no battery involvement/comfier SNES controller had my record climbing seemingly every week for a while. If I can ever get the least bit comfy on level 20 speed, I'm gonna just play for singles and murk the shit outta my 229 since level 20 is where it stops increasing speed.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 30, 2014, 04:38:09 AM
Tetris is in the iconic level of games.  Up there with Donkey Kong, Pacman and Space Invaders.  Never played the Nintendo system versions - cuz I never had a Nintendo system.  I was arcade style all the way.  Can't remember how high I would've gotten.  But fuck, didn't you always get a 4x1 when you didn't need it, and you never got it when you saved the whole fuckin left column!  I can't tell you the number of times I'd filled the whole screen except for one of the outer columns.   >:(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on August 30, 2014, 04:53:38 AM
My mom played that damn game on "her" own Gameboy every morning. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 30, 2014, 05:47:02 AM
mrs.jingle used to play it on her computer a bit.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sycsa on August 30, 2014, 08:48:53 AM
I'd like to sign up for this.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 31, 2014, 08:33:34 AM
I once saw a video of a guy playing it on Championship mode, and he played really fast all the time, making lots of points. After some minutes he entered the maximum level, where all the pieces were moving like crazy, even for his fast hands. The best thing happened after he beat the game - he had to play one last time, but then the pieces were invisible! I don't know how he managed to, but beat the fucking mode. Damn asians :lol.

I'd like to sign up for this.
Said and done :hat.

Hey guys, I don't always read all the messages here, so if you said you wanted to sign up for this and I didn't add you, send me a PM with you post and will add you to your place in the list. For future signups, it'd be better if you send me a message.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 31, 2014, 02:31:48 PM
Hey guys, I don't always read all the messages here, so if you said you wanted to sign up for this and I didn't add you, send me a PM with you post and will add you to your place in the list. For future signups, it'd be better if you send me a message.

Might wanna add this to the OP as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on August 31, 2014, 03:42:37 PM
The thing is that it already is on the OP :lol. I think that just 2 or 3 users have sent me a PM so far. Anyways, I've updated the OP just to keep it clear.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 31, 2014, 04:03:39 PM
Just sayin for SystematicThought and Outcrier... There's a chance I'll delay going.  Gotta finish the Zeppelin discog discussion before I get to this list, so I'll likely drop myself a couple of spots - depending on how long it takes the people above me to go.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on August 31, 2014, 10:05:56 PM
#13 - Baseball Stars

Released 1989 for NES


(https://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_NES/Box/big/Baseball_Stars_-_1989_-_SNK_Corporation.jpg)

(https://199.101.98.242/media/shots/54862-Baseball_Stars_(USA)-2.jpg) (https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/3/0/a/gfs_28999_2_7.jpg)


I was a huge baseball fan, and loved playing all types of video baseball games.  This one had no real teams or players, but what it did have was the opportunity to make your own team, create players, sign them to contracts, increase stats, etc.  It was the first sports game on the NES I can remember that had this type of built-in career/General Manager mode.  There was also a quasi-role playing aspect in that each player had a prestige rating and the cumulative prestige of the two teams playing that game determined how much money the winning and losing teams earned.  That money could then be distributed among the players to enhance their skills up to that particular player's max skill points.  Or you could save up the money to acquire pricey free-agent star players.

It was one of the only NES games, and the first baseball game, to have a battery backup so you could keep your created teams, configured leagues & seasons, and cumulative statistics (batting average, HRs, ERA, etc) stored in the game's memory chip.

Gameplay is very simple.  Although the fielding aspect was quite advanced for the time.  Players could actually dive and jump for balls in play.  You could even jump at the outfield fence to rob players of homeruns.  Although the game did not have any real players, you could create real players on your user created team.  There was also a CPU team built into the game called the American Dreams that consisted of players with names and stats reminiscent of Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, etc.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 31, 2014, 10:14:55 PM
This one sounds like a diamond in the rough.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 02, 2014, 09:33:54 AM
definitely a fun game.  Fairly popular game for the console too - although obviously not as well known as the big hitters for the NES (Metroid, Mario, Zelda, etc).


According to wikipedia, IGN placed it at #28 in its "Top 100 NES Games".  And Yahoo had it at #3 in their top "Old School" sports games
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 02, 2014, 10:20:46 AM
#13 - Baseball Stars

Released 1989 for NES


MOTHER.  FUCKING.  YES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 02, 2014, 09:39:57 PM
#12 - Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

Released 1987 for NES


(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/0/3413/220826-mike_tyson_s_punch_out.jpg)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Baldbull.png) (https://www.nintendocomplete.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Mike-Tysons-Punch-Out-USA_160.png)


007-373-5963

It's burned into my brain.

Yeah, the game is a bit tedious (especially the second time around with Don Flamenco), but it is an absolute classic with one of the harder "final bosses" you will see even though you now what is coming.  It was always the talk of elementary school when someone possibly beat Tyson or felt like they were close to doing it.  "Did you hear so and so beat him?"  There were rumors of older brothers or friends from the next town over, but these were always spoken in hushed tones, perhaps in fear of angering the NES gods.

I always enjoyed fighting Mr. Sandman, Soda Popinski, and Super Macho Man.  The timing on Bald Bull's charge was hit or miss for me.  I never did beat Tyson when I was younger, but I dragged out the NES a couple of years ago and gave this game a run again.  After about 2 weeks of fighting Tyson, I finally got the best of him.  Sure, nobody cared now that I was in my 30's, but one of the nemeses of my childhood was finally vanquished.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 02, 2014, 11:33:02 PM
Someone really needs to make an Andrew Golota Flash game. But yes, MTPO was great fun. Very epic for its time too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on September 03, 2014, 08:04:25 AM
A damn classic. The Wii remake was good, but nothing beats the original :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 04, 2014, 09:00:14 PM
#11 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Released 1988 for NES


(https://legendofzeldafansite.weebly.com/uploads/3/4/7/7/3477294/3561762_orig.jpg)

(https://www.nintendojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/scrn_zeldaII-02-300x279.gif) (https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/310526-zelda-ii-the-adventure-of-link-nes-screenshot-i-m-using-the.png)


A classic action-RPG.  The changes they introduced in this sequel such as the magic meter and the use of several different spells, as well Dark Link and the combining of an RPG with side scrolling platform action were very cool additions to the series.

Not sure what else to say about this one.  I spent many many hours fighting monsters, warriors and creepy crawlies, and exploring Hyrule in this game.  Truly an adventure!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on September 04, 2014, 09:06:53 PM
I'm not really sure why, but I never really got into this game at all. I liked Zelda, I liked platformers, but I just didn't like this game very much. I know it wasn't a distaste for the hybrid of platforming and RPG either, because I remember sinking hours into Faxanadu. Zelda II just never clicked with me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 04, 2014, 09:11:56 PM
I can't tell you how much time I sunk into Zelda II and Faxanadu.

I remember Thunderbird being hard as all fuck, then a relatively easy fight with shadow Link.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 04, 2014, 09:27:28 PM
Never played 1 minute of Zelda.

:dunno:

Not ever owning an NES might have something to do with it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 04, 2014, 11:36:43 PM
I actually just ran through this game earlier today. an absolute blast every time! this is my favorite Zelda, in front of Zelda 1 and Wind Waker rounding out the top 3...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 05, 2014, 01:21:40 AM
Never played 1 minute of Zelda.

:dunno:

Not ever owning an NES might have something to do with it.

Just play Ocarina of Time. Done.

I've barely played the first one. I just never got into the 2D Zelda games. Wasn't even on my radar until OoT, by which point it's very difficult to go backwards.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on September 05, 2014, 02:53:29 AM
I think ALTTP holds up really well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 05, 2014, 08:54:06 AM
Never played 1 minute of Zelda.

:dunno:

Not ever owning an NES might have something to do with it.

SAME! People always think I'm nuts and look at me as if my head is upside down.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: orcus116 on September 07, 2014, 12:37:08 PM
Zelda 2 may be one of the ugliest 1st party NES games. It's always looked like a really bad, extremely rushed fan game to me visually.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on September 07, 2014, 01:21:31 PM
Adventure of Link is underrated as hell. I think it gets a bad rap for having a few (albeit pretty annoying) design decisions and for being hard as hell at times. It may not be my favorite Zelda game, but I do think it's still very good, even to this day.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 07, 2014, 07:07:43 PM
#10 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Released 2009 for Xbox


(https://www.techblog.in.th/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/modern-warfare-2-pc.jpg)

(https://www.gameranx.com/screenshots/1256331093-call_of_duty_modern_warfare_2-scr002_preview.jpg) (https://www.breakitdownblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/call-of-duty-6-modern-warfare-2-screenshot-mactavish-snow-squad.jpg)


This was a fairly popular game.

The single-player campaign is very enjoyable even though it is a bit on the short side.  The multi-player aspect is obviously awesome.  And the co-op Special Ops missions were very fun.  The level of detail and polish throughout all three of the main playable modes is amazing.

This is the game I have played the most over the past few years when I've had the chance.  I can't state how much fun I've had running those multiplayer maps in Team Deathmatch.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on September 07, 2014, 08:20:12 PM
Yes! MW2 totally improved all that made great the first one. So sad the campaign is too short.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on September 07, 2014, 08:40:20 PM
Modern Warfare 2; not sure how I feel about this one. The campaign was enjoyable despite its short length and ludicrous story. The multiplayer was ok; I still enjoy playing locally with friends from time to time, though online is a nightmare. Black Ops is far superior in this regard. My favorite part of the game is Spec Ops; getting three stars on some of those missions required strategy and many failed attempts. I particularly enjoyed completing the 2 player missions on Veteran by controlling both players. It is the last good IW CoD, though I have always preferred Treyarch's since WaW.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 07, 2014, 09:10:15 PM
CoD was not the FPS franchise I played.  I played the first 2 Bad Company Battlefield's.  No reason why, just picked up that franchise instead.  Might've had something to do with CoD being more known for the multi-player... which as a fogey, I totaly suck at.  I can't play online multi-player worth shit.  I'm dead within, oh... 4 seconds usually. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on September 07, 2014, 09:13:47 PM
I prefer MW1 in virtually every single way.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Scorpion on September 08, 2014, 12:45:18 AM
I prefer MW1 in virtually every single way.

This. Though that might be the nostalgia factor, because at boarding school we'd play this game via LAN at least twice a week.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 08, 2014, 10:18:31 AM
I prefer MW1 in virtually every single way.

This. Though that might be the nostalgia factor, because at boarding school we'd play this game via LAN at least twice a week.

MW1 was, in my opinion, the best FPS ever made. MW2 had so many glitches and hacks, it was unplayable. I also hated how unbalanced the perks were. There was no reason why someone should ever be able to go 18-0 using just knives.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Scorpion on September 08, 2014, 03:18:08 PM
I did that once.

... in a knife-only round.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on September 08, 2014, 03:55:28 PM
The night I figured out you could pop on Lightweight Pro, Extreme Conditioning and Commando Pro and just sprint around killing everyone with a Magnum/Tac Knife was possibly the greatest night of my life.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on September 08, 2014, 04:24:41 PM
That Punch Out game was the bomb.

If I remember wasn't that Zelda game cartridge gold as well?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 08, 2014, 04:30:22 PM
That Punch Out game was the bomb.

If I remember wasn't that Zelda game cartridge gold as well?

Both Zelda's were gold cartridges.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on September 08, 2014, 04:33:36 PM
The first one was a well?  You know.  I think we still have the games in my parents basement. (Man what a chiche :lol)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on September 08, 2014, 06:52:42 PM
The first one was a well?  You know.  I think we still have the games in my parents basement. (Man what a chiche :lol)
It's only a cliche if you're down there too.

I think a limited number or the first run were done in gold cartridges only or something. Regardless, the copies of Zelda 1 and Zelda 2 I have are both gold. They might be worth something if the original cases weren't smushed to all hell. I still wouldn't get rid of them though, too much nostalgia there.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on September 08, 2014, 07:55:35 PM
But my bedroom was in the basement in my teen years. (Wanted to mack daddy with my girlfriends)



And play video games. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 08, 2014, 09:49:57 PM
#9 - Contra

Release 1988 for NES


(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/contra.jpg)

(https://www.gamestm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/powerup.jpeg) (https://contrapedia.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/34sg4e.gif)


For me, THE definitive run 'n' gun co-op.  This was originally an arcade cabinet released to little fanfare, but once ported to the NES, it became a smash hit and remains popular to this day.  Based on the box, it seems obvious they were trying to play off the huge success of 80's action flicks starring Schwarzenegger and Stallone, plus the addition of Aliens, with the US release.

Some of the weapon upgrades are pretty useless/terrible, but once you got the spread gun, you did everything in your power not to lose it.  You obviously didn't want to die, but you also tried like heck not to shoot the other upgrade egg things while you were killing the enemy.

Also notable for being the game that popularized the Konami code, although we knew it as the Contra code.  For some reason, whoever had the second controller always found it a laugh riot to sabotage the entering of the code while the first player was trying to enter it, causing many resets of the NES followed by arm punches.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 08, 2014, 09:53:57 PM
YES!!!...YES!!!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 08, 2014, 10:32:34 PM
I do not remember this one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 08, 2014, 10:36:04 PM
I do not remember this one.

yet another NES game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 08, 2014, 10:40:34 PM
mmmm, that'd do it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on September 09, 2014, 03:14:02 AM
Omg, YES! Contra is so awesome! The controls are still to this day one of the best in any run-and-gun game. I love it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: masterthes on September 09, 2014, 04:15:41 AM
All the love in the world for Contra
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 09, 2014, 04:19:44 AM
I've only played a bit of Contra, but it was a cool game. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 09, 2014, 07:43:59 AM
Contra was phenomenal.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on September 09, 2014, 09:17:54 AM
Contra = awesome NES soundtrack and you don't even mention it  :\
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 09, 2014, 10:09:21 AM
Contra = awesome NES soundtrack and you don't even mention it  :\

eh, I don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games.  Or watching TV/movies for that matter.  Although I do like the soundtrack to my next game in the list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on September 09, 2014, 01:34:55 PM
Love Contra. :metal :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 09, 2014, 02:11:56 PM
I do not remember this one.

Proof:  jingle.boy lived under a rock for several years.  Or was snowed in for several years.  It's Canada, so it is possible.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 09, 2014, 02:15:44 PM
I do not remember this one.

Proof:  jingle.boy lived under a rock for several years.  Or was snowed in for several years.  It's Canada, so it is possible.

Snowed in without power*
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 09, 2014, 02:17:57 PM
If he was snowed in without the game, he still wouldn't learn about it.  You got to remember in 1989 cell phones and the internet were not ubiquitous entities, and information was largely in the form of your friend saying "Hey, check this out!"
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 09, 2014, 02:40:57 PM
Sadly, I was a C64 guy, not NES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on September 09, 2014, 03:40:31 PM

eh, I don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games.  Or watching TV/movies for that matter.  Although I do like the soundtrack to my next game in the list.

Well, most of the games on your list so far don't have a memorable OST anyway, especially when there are so many pretty old titles.
Maybe that's why you yourself said "i don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games". Or maybe not  :blush
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Mosh on September 09, 2014, 08:50:28 PM
Old games always have the best music though.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 09, 2014, 09:10:33 PM
Old games always have the best music though.  :metal

Paperboy is now stuck in my head. Thanks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 09, 2014, 09:36:09 PM

eh, I don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games.  Or watching TV/movies for that matter.  Although I do like the soundtrack to my next game in the list.

Well, most of the games on your list so far don't have a memorable OST anyway, especially when there are so many pretty old titles.
Maybe that's why you yourself said "i don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games". Or maybe not  :blush

I think the main reason is that usually while I was playing the NES, I was blasting Ride The Lightning or Master Of Puppets.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: XJDenton on September 10, 2014, 04:34:02 PM
Contra: Hard Corps was quite superior to the original IMO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on September 10, 2014, 07:36:46 PM

eh, I don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games.  Or watching TV/movies for that matter.  Although I do like the soundtrack to my next game in the list.

Well, most of the games on your list so far don't have a memorable OST anyway, especially when there are so many pretty old titles.
Maybe that's why you yourself said "i don't really pay attention to soundtracks while playing games". Or maybe not  :blush

I think the main reason is that usually while I was playing the NES, I was blasting Ride The Lightning or Master Of Puppets.  :metal

Brilliant.  My soundtrack to Final Fantasy 6 was Master of Puppets.  I have no idea if Nobuo Uematsu was on FFVI, but I imagine it had a great soundtrack anyway :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on September 10, 2014, 09:37:58 PM
Brilliant.  My soundtrack to Final Fantasy 6 was Master of Puppets.  I have no idea if Nobuo Uematsu was on FFVI, but I imagine it had a great soundtrack anyway :lol

"A great soundtrack"? More like a "godlike soundtrack", easily one of the best ever made, how dare you play FF6 listening to shit like Master of Puppets instead of the original OST  >:(
 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on September 10, 2014, 10:12:24 PM
Agreed. FFVI had a godlike soundtrack. One of the best in the business IMO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 10, 2014, 10:22:31 PM
#8 - Blaster Master

Released 1988 for NES


(https://www.glitchgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/blastermasternes.jpg)

(https://www.amha.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/bm3.gif) (https://warosu.org/data/vr/img/0015/08/1396246451107.jpg)


Outcrier, you will be happy to know I really like the soundtrack to this game!  :)

The premise of the game is that you are a little boy who's pet frog has jumped into a hole and you follow him in.  At the bottom you find a futuristic tank so the obvious next step is to suit up, climb inside, and go fight radioactive mutants in order to find your frog.  The game features very smooth controls, really well designed levels and bosses, highly detailed graphics, and the aforementioned soundtrack.

There are two types of game-play depending on where you are in each stage.  The first is a 2D platform mode played primarily inside the tank (you can exit the tank in this mode, although that is highly unadvised unless you are at a point when it is required to move ahead) that scrolls both horizontally and vertically - very reminiscent of Metroid.  The second gives more of a 3D top down perspective in which you have exited the tank and are exploring caves, labyrinths, fortresses, etc to find the boss of each stage.

Blaster Master is notable for having one of the most badass vehicles you'll find in a game.  The cannon can fire horizontally in both directions and vertically.  The cannon's firepower can also be upgraded as you progress through the game.  You can also earn abilities throughout the game that allow it to hover, dive in water, and climb walls/drive on ceilings.  There are special weapons sprinkled throughout the levels like homing missiles and lightning attacks.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/530UThOxcnDRhGJhNxEfrFiMH7vS_p3wjQZ1BNXVjuABoMFtWTaArVHSpk3Q_EU7426CSLxWCNxHT2LxUaU2anSrQC7Zllv2tMaB3MGh-YsMxvjd7Q) (https://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/189/d/3/sophia_the_3rd__blaster_master__by_dragonfly929-d6clz5r.png)

I loved this game (and the tank) so much that most of my 5th/6th grade writing assignments revolved around fiction dedicated to it.  It is a very difficult and long game.  There are also no save points or passwords, so it had to be completed all at once.

One of the few opening sequences I would rarely skip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb8b02474FM

And here is the soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRot9Y9NIY  Forest, Catacombs, Factory, aw heck they are all great tunes for a video game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on September 10, 2014, 10:34:06 PM
Oh fuck, huge nostalgia hit. If you'd asked me "Have you played Blaster Master?" I'd have replied "Never heard of it." But, seeing the box cover and those screenshots, some distant memories of playing this game riding around in the tank and getting in and out of it came back in an instant. I'd forgotten all about it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Cool Chris on September 10, 2014, 10:41:41 PM
Dang... Zelda 2, Punch Out, Blaster Master.... you are an NES masochist!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 10, 2014, 10:49:17 PM
Never heard of Blaster Master, but it looks pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on September 10, 2014, 11:49:52 PM
Never played Blaster Master, but the OST, which i first heard though Vomitron metal medley of it, surely is memorable.
It isn't in the same level of Contra though imo.

Also, Zelda 2 OST is awesome (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7Sh82Mzdc).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on September 11, 2014, 01:26:00 AM
Brilliant.  My soundtrack to Final Fantasy 6 was Master of Puppets.  I have no idea if Nobuo Uematsu was on FFVI, but I imagine it had a great soundtrack anyway :lol

"A great soundtrack"? More like a "godlike soundtrack", easily one of the best ever made, how dare you play FF6 listening to shit like Master of Puppets instead of the original OST  >:(
 

 :blush sorry papa  :blush
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on September 11, 2014, 02:34:11 AM
Be ashamed of yourself, son  :police:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 11, 2014, 08:37:51 AM
Blaster Master is the shiiiiit! Me and brother used to play this all the time! In fact, when we used to play the old NES games, a lot of times we would try to make up Game Genie codes and see what would happen, and my bro came up with the BEST GAME GENIE CODE for this game!

KKPSTV - One. Hit. Kills. Everything (including bosses) dies in one hit. You tend to take a little more damage, as well, but it's not too bad. Actually it's the only way I've ever beaten the game. I think the furthest I got as a kid without the code was the level 5 boss (the crab in the picture). That guy was hard!

In case anyone who liked the original didn't know about the recent sequel (with an updated soundtrack complete with all the old, awesome songs), check out Blaster Master: Overdrive for the Wii. Very similar gameplay, slightly easier than the original, but certainly not a walk in the park.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 12, 2014, 10:32:32 PM
#7 - Railroad Tycoon

Released 1990 for PC


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/Sid_Meier%27s_Railroad_Tycoon.jpg)

(https://101videogames.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/railroad-tycoon-screenshot-2.gif) (https://schlueters.de/blog/uploads/railroad_tycoon02.png)


Before Sid Meier brought us Civilization, he created Railroad Tycoon.  This is basically a business simulation game, but with trains!  Yes, it is as cool as it sounds.  You basically start a railroad company from scratch (sometime in the 1800s), choosing where you want to lay track and build stations as well as purchasing trains and determining their consists and schedules.  You start with $1M cash as capital that is 50% equity (from a stock sale) and 50% debt (bonds).  As the game progresses, you have the option of selling more stock, buying back stock for treasury, or selling/repaying bonds.  You can even buy stock in rival railroads, and if you eventually buy enough, you sit on their board and make decisions as a controlling interest.

You also get into the details of the railroad business as well as local economies.  The game does a fair job of modelling supply and demand and has a very simple stock market consisting of the four competing railroad companies.  As the years go by, the nation experiences recessions and booms which affect how you go about scheduling trains and how many cars to attach to each.  Each town/city has it's own specific raw materials and plants, so it makes sense to carry coal from a coal producing city to another city in your railway that has a power plant.  Or you want to deliver lumber to a paper mill.  That city will then make paper which you can deliver to numerous cities and turn lots of profit.  After you make enough cash, you can even build your own plants to process raw goods.

Depending on the difficulty settings you choose, you may find that a rival railroad has built track into one of your stations at which point you are competing with them in a rate war (you can also build track into competitors stations).  After a certain amount of time, the cities council will vote on which railroad is serving the city better, forcing the loser to leave town.

Hotels, restaurants, post offices, engine maintenance shops and other improvements can be added to your stations.  Of course, you have to way the cost against the potential profits (or cost savings) you would get from those additions.

Also wanted to mention that this was not the first business simulation game I ever played.  That honor would go to the old Lemonade Stand game I used to play in the computer lab at my elementary school around 3rd grade or so.  I'm pretty sure that would have been on an old Apple IIe I believe.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 12, 2014, 10:37:13 PM
Sounds hard to keep track of it all. Does it have a training mode?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 12, 2014, 10:53:34 PM
yes, but it's called a tutorial.

by the way, I like how you conducted yourself in that first class post.  But it seems you started running out of steam by the end.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: King Postwhore on September 13, 2014, 04:28:18 AM
Dear God, I haven't played that game in 3 decades.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 13, 2014, 06:03:05 AM
Never played this one from Sid, but I spent a lot of time with SimGolf.

Also, I played the shit out of Lemonade stand too.  Sometimes profiting quite nicely, sometimes out of business after one batch.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 15, 2014, 09:23:35 PM
update coming in a day or two.  All day team meetings at work this week means I'm having to do my actual work at night.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on September 19, 2014, 09:17:43 AM
I'm too young to know all these games :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 19, 2014, 09:24:36 PM
#6 - Tecmo Bowl

Released 1989 for NES


(https://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/mig/4/4/9/3/2214493-nes_tecmobowl.jpg)

(https://throwbackattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Tecmo_Bowl_NES_ScreenShot4.gif) (https://gamelab.mit.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/bo_jackson_tecmo_bowl1.jpg)

(https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/19297/1/1.jpg)


Yes, four plays.  That's all you get.  It's all you need.

Upon it's release, Tecmo Bowl became one of the best and most beloved sports video games of its era.  It featured 12 teams from the mid/late 80's, each having a unique 4-play playbook and player personnel.  This was also the first console game to have rights from the NFLPA, so it had real players.  I loved using Chicago because Walter Payton was my all-time favorite player, and he is one of the best players in the game.

Bo Jackson is the fastest offensive player in the game, and one of the most powerful players overall.  Of all the legendary things he is known for, aside from the "Bo Knows" commercials, this is the thing that people remember him for.  It raised his status from legend to immortal.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 20, 2014, 11:44:40 AM
Tecmo Super Bowl was a massive improvement over the original.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dark Castle on September 20, 2014, 11:48:47 AM
Tecmo Super Bowl was a massive improvement over the original.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 20, 2014, 12:34:01 PM
while I agree, I never played the original version of it very much.  However, the hacked ROMs of TSB are spectacular (college teams, all-time teams, super bowl winners, etc).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on September 21, 2014, 03:32:32 PM
A bit late, but I love Blaster Master! James and Mike (of Cinemassacre/Angry Video Game Nerd fame) recently made a Let's Play of that game that's quite fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIGRkncz31I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIGRkncz31I)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 22, 2014, 10:26:37 PM
#5 - Discs of Tron

Released 1983 as an arcade cabinet


(https://forum-s3.pinside.com/201209/407518/43942.jpg)

(https://s.pro-gmedia.com/videogamer/media/images/pub/large/tron.jpg) (https://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/05/xbla-discs-of-tron---original-4.jpg)
(https://www.mamedb.com/cpanels/dotrone.png)


This is not the 1982 arcade game Tron, which featured four mini games: Light Cycles, Tanks, MCP, and I/O Tower.  However this game was meant to be a fifth section of that original, but programming was not complete in time for the release.  Similar to the original Tron it uses the same "fighter jet" joystick to move Tron, coupled with a spinning rotary knob to aim your disc throws left, right, up and down (by pulling up or pushing down on the knob).

This game is a mash-up of the Jai alai and disc battle sequences in the original Tron film.  I should also state here that I LOVE that movie.  It's one of the first movies I can ever remember seeing (E.T., released one month prior to Tron, was the first movie I can remember seeing in the theater).  The lighting, the sound effects, Bit, the Light Cycles, and that awesome opening sequence.  Simply magical for my 5 year old eyes and imagination.  Oh yeah, and that ridiculously big door.  Now THAT is a big door!

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ehRJcFYJ0Bk/maxresdefault.jpg)


Anyway, to start the game, you are on a single platform playing against Sark, also on a single platform, throwing up to three discs at a time.  The objective is to either hit the opponent directly with a disc or force them off their platform into the abyss below.  As the game goes on, the platform configuration changes in number and in height.  In some stages there is also an electric barrier that passes between the players and they must first knock out "windows" in the barrier before they can hit their opponent.  Sark has a couple of nasty tricks up his sleeve in the form of chasers and bombs that he throws at you in addition to his discs.  I always loved the sounds effects in this game as well.  The soundtrack was sparse, so you really got the full effect of the cracking explosion of the discs if they collided in mid air, and the bouncy thud as you moved from platform to platform.

Simple? Yes.  But I had the ability to actually BE Tron and knock the crap out of that smarmy Sark with my identity disc.  That, my friends, was simply awesome.  And I paid quarter after quarter for that experience.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 22, 2014, 10:57:19 PM
That is a bizarre cabinet. It seems weird to waste money on an enclosed cabinet without making it a sit-down game in a true cockpit design. I wish I was old enough to appreciate Tron in its own time since I was an 81 baby. Seems way cool though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 23, 2014, 08:08:28 AM
it was actually released in a couple different cabinet formats.  The enclosed cabinet shown above, and a traditional open cabinet.

(https://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Arcade/Cabinet/big/Discs_of_Tron_-_1983_-_Bally_Midway.jpg)


The enclosed "environmental" cabinet was trying to put you in the position of Tron.  Your feet were on a disc made of concentric circles just like the character in the game.  When you died in the game, the disc below you and about a thousand other lights went crazy in the cabinet.  The sound in the cabinet was pretty awesome as well.  You heard the discs flying by your head and it really amplified the game to another level.

Also, the enclosed cabinet had a sort of half-seat to rest on while you played.  Here is a better look.

(https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/862/dotron01ha7.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on September 23, 2014, 08:11:48 AM
I'd also think it'd add to the allure. You kind of get to play the game in private as opposed to a bunch of people watching you play over your shoulder.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 23, 2014, 08:28:21 AM
I remember Discs of Tron.  Being in the cabinet was like being isolated in the arena with Sark.  Don't remember much else other than not being good at it at age 8.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 23, 2014, 07:26:06 PM

(https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/862/dotron01ha7.jpg)

Mount a vibrating device on that and I'll set up my auto-draft.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 25, 2014, 10:02:39 PM
#4 - Spy Hunter

Released 1983 as an arcade cabinet


(https://api.ning.com/files/eUCKWGfVaxuTxZDxajOVICtgYJCfOPZTVYl0r2*X2Wv370hs7-JZjxuB12YL-Y5PHgrjIxV-rdfRBNEzILxg**eEjP0IvL7o/398215189_276fdffc6a.jpg)

(https://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/118124217274.png) (https://blog.ultrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Spy_Hunter2.png)


When I was age 7 - 10 or so, my parents would go to the local mall usually once every couple of weeks to walk around, shop, look at stuff, whatever.  My primary goal during these visits was to bum as many quarters off my parents as I could and then sprint to Aladdin's Castle as fast as possible.  I knew every secret path through the department stores, the layout of the clothes racks and mannequins, and the best way to navigate the flow of foot traffic in the main mall corridors.  My mission was to play Spy Hunter.

I can remember when my parents would pick me up after these sessions I would imagine that they were actual vehicles from the game and I would bounce off them trying to "wreck" them on the side of the road as we walked to the mall exit.  I'm sure they loved me for that.

The game had an awesome interface with that combat-jet style steering wheel with all the special function buttons.  Smoke, oil, missiles, and dual machine guns were all at my finger tips.  You could even drive the car through a boathouse and come crashing out the other side speeding down a river since the car has now been converted into a fire-breathing speedboat.  The thing that always confused me about the game is that some of the cabinet artwork also showed a jet, but you never get the chance to convert to that.  I've read that the designers had planned for it, but simply ran out of available memory.

The game had a top down perspective and was a vertical scroller.  Your car was blazing fast, so this was a high-action game and you could wreck yourself very quickly without sharp reflexes.  Various enemy vehicles would gang up on you: the normal car with wheel spikes, the bullet-proof "fatty" car, the drive-by shooter in the limo, and a helicopter dropping bombs.  In each new territory, you could call for a weapons van you could drive into to replenish your special weapons.

Similar to Blaster Master, this game has a freaking awesome vehicle that inspired many fictional stories and artwork from me.

Finally, the other cool draw for this game was the electronic version of the awesome Peter Gunn theme.  A spy classic!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on September 25, 2014, 10:23:30 PM
Very good writeup, Anne HATHaway. I've really enjoyed your literary style thus far but this one may be the best. I really wanna try this game now as you've made it sound extremely fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 25, 2014, 10:45:56 PM
Anne HATHaway

awwwe, you guessed!!



Thanks for the kind words.  Really fun game although I assumed most would know it or would have at least seen or heard of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 26, 2014, 08:39:33 AM
Top notch arcade game.  I blew many quarters on this one myself.  The graphics were pretty groundbreaking at the time too.  One of (if not) the best sit-down games of the time
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on September 26, 2014, 08:09:36 PM
Hell, yeah. I remember playing the console version of this game at a friend's house one time and having a lot of fun.

Now I just want to play it again...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 28, 2014, 10:11:55 PM
#3 - Bionic Commando

Released 1988 for NES


(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/9/3/9/26939_front.jpg)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SxfO03qzdhk/TJvXu8e2_wI/AAAAAAAAA3o/FEfKwbz2Pbk/s1600/Bionic+Commando+(U)+%5B!%5D_001.jpg) (https://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/images/d/dc/Bionic_Commando_-_NES_-_Map.png)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/56183-bionic-commando-nes-screenshot-enemy-truck-encounters-are-shown.png) (https://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/images/d/de/Bionic_Commando_-_NES_-_Albatross.png)


Originally, this was to be a sequel to the popular Commando arcade/NES game, and you can see a bit of that legacy in the top down run-and-gun sections of Bionic Commando, although those are a small fraction of the overall game action.  This is a vastly different game than Commando, and although gameplay is similar to the arcade game it was ported from, it is also very different from that incarnation as well.  In this game, you are tasked with rescuing your pal Super Joe (the main character of Commando) and also discovering the mystery and secrets of the Albatros project.

This was a very unique game at the time with the primary mode of movement being a bionic grappling arm that allowed the player to swing and pull himself forward or up.  The grappling arm was necessary because even though this was a platform game (mostly), the primary character could not jump.  Weapon upgrades are available from wide-range gun, bazookas, and machine guns.

The flow of the game is somewhat non-linear in that you choose which areas to direct your helicopter to on the main map.  You drop-in to the zone which is either hostile or neutral.  Before exploring each area, you had to choose what weapon to use, what special object to carry, and what communications device to bring.  Each one was vital to your success on that level.  One of the big gotchas of this game is that only certain communication devices worked in certain areas, so you had to keep track to be able to figure out where to go and how to proceed.  Eventually, you learn that the bad guys are trying to resurrect the dead "Master-D" which is a not so disguised version of Hitler.  After defeating Master-D and his "Albatros" machine, you have a really cool 60 second timed level to go back into the enemy base, rescue Super Joe, and escape by hooking your bionic arm onto a helicopter as you fly away while the enemy base self destructs.








This game has one of the most memorable deaths in video game history.  I give you Hitler's Master-D's exploding head:

(https://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18n1v5n5l90ocgif/original.gif)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on September 29, 2014, 12:41:38 AM
I love the old school-nes of your list.  :heart

I've never tried that particular game myself but I've seen plenty of it, and it does seem awesome.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on September 29, 2014, 09:58:02 AM
Also first mainstream game with a "swear".

My friend Bryan and I lost it when Hitler-D called us "damned fools".  Bryan and I weren't particularly close friends, but that one sticks out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 29, 2014, 10:18:10 AM
Also first mainstream game with a "swear".

My friend Bryan and I lost it when Hitler-D called us "damned fools".  Bryan and I weren't particularly close friends, but that one sticks out.

Yes!  I cannot believe that slipped through the Nintendo censors.  Complete laugh riot in our group of friends whenever we got to that point in the game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 30, 2014, 09:49:02 PM
#2 - Wolfenstein 3D

Released 1992 for PC


(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/0/0/5/17005_front.jpg)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fi/thumb/0/09/Wolfenstein_3D_aloituskuva.jpg/640px-Wolfenstein_3D_aloituskuva.jpg) (https://media3.playstadium.dk/img/kap/multi/w/wolfenstein3d/wolfenstein3d_1.jpg)

(https://hi-news.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/wolf3db.jpg)


The game that basically created the first-person shooter genre.

I got my first PC in 1992 and I remember my dad coming home one day soon thereafter having visited one of the many generic pc/software stores that had popped up everywhere at the time.  Among the things he brought home was a curious shareware floppy disc entitled Wolfenstein 3D.  I was hooked from the moment I fired my first shot at a Nazi guard.  The maze-like level maps, secret doors, the ability to change weapons, find ammo, health, and treasures.  I spent untold hours wandering the halls of these vast Nazi strongholds.

The game consists of three episodes, each containing 9 maps/levels (plus a secret level).  Naturally the enemies you encountered became more and more hard to kill and better armed as you went along.  At the end of each level, you were presented with sort of a report card that told you what percentage of treasure you collected, enemies you killed, and secrets doors you opened.  Gameplay is very tense, the sound design is very good for the time, and the moody soundtrack sets the perfect tone as you run down long corridors and search rooms while hunting down your captors.

Unlike Bionic Commando, this game made absolutely no attempt to hide references to nazism, swastikas, etc.  Several of the rooms and maps are based entirely on swastikas.  Hitler is boldly included as the primary bad guy (naturally).  The theme song is the Nazi Party's anthem.  Although Nazis and Hitler are portrayed as the enemy, this led to the banning of the game in Germany that continues to this day.  My understanding is that even the free web browser version is unplayable if accessed while in Germany.

If you are interested in more about the creation of this game as well as the guys that went on to create Doom and Quake, there is a great book called Masters of Doom that details the history of id Software.  These guys were at the leading edge of creating masterful games, rendering graphics, and pioneering game engines.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: masterthes on September 30, 2014, 10:26:19 PM
Is that Hitler in a robot suit?  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on September 30, 2014, 10:33:00 PM
yes, yes it is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 30, 2014, 11:54:07 PM
I was more of a Doom guy myself in '92-'93, but I'll give a tip of the hat to the overall 3D quest/map games. This was the invention of the FPS genre.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on October 01, 2014, 01:16:35 AM
yes, yes it is.
And what a glorious sight it is.

In hindsight, it kinda reminds me of the movie Nazis at the Center of the Earth. Also featuring a robot Hitler. :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on October 01, 2014, 01:57:19 PM
Eh, I prefer Super 3D Noah's Ark.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on October 01, 2014, 02:05:42 PM
Love Wolfenstein. Like jingle.boy, I'm more of a Doom guy though. Doom 2 was the first video game I ever "played", in quotes because I have memories of my grandpa controlling movement and letting me press the shoot button when necessary. The nostalgia. :heart And that game still holds up well today IMO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: masterthes on October 01, 2014, 05:20:55 PM
So, I'm guessing E.T. at number one, right?  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on October 01, 2014, 05:44:57 PM
So, I'm guessing E.T. at number one, right?  :biggrin:

What else could it possibly be? It is truly a masterpiece that stands far above all other games. 10/10, no doubt about it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 01, 2014, 09:29:52 PM
So, I'm guessing E.T. at number one, right?  :biggrin:

I had/have that game.  One of the most frustrating games I can ever remember playing.  Terrible controls and visuals.  An absolute mess of a game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 01, 2014, 10:07:59 PM
So, I'm guessing E.T. at number one, right?  :biggrin:
Superman 64 probably.

Hell yeah on Wolfenstein. That was the very first PC game I ever played. I used to go to a friend's house and we'd play the game together, he would control movement and I'd shoot the gun. We played through at least five or six Wolfenstein episodes like that. Then we moved on to Doom when that came out. I'm more of a Doom guy, but there's no denying how cool Wolfenstein was back in the day. An absolute classic that helped to create an entire genre.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Chino on October 02, 2014, 06:59:08 AM
#1

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U_xWHanyqyM/UWctI03741I/AAAAAAAAGAA/WF8sHKovRps/w506-h505/snake1.jpg)

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 02, 2014, 07:06:12 AM
Big Rigs or GTFO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on October 02, 2014, 07:01:18 PM
Desert Bus or GTFO.

FTFY
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Genowyn on October 02, 2014, 07:30:11 PM
BIIIIIIIIIIIG MUTHA FUCKINN RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGS

https://cinemassacre.com/2014/03/19/avgn-big-rigs-over-the-road-racing/
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 02, 2014, 09:04:12 PM
#1's gonna be Shenmue you fucking plebs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 02, 2014, 09:37:14 PM
Dragon's Lair II, FTW.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 02, 2014, 09:42:19 PM
Did that one use laser disc as well?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 02, 2014, 10:41:01 PM
But of course!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on October 06, 2014, 06:26:11 PM
The hype is killing me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 06, 2014, 10:06:40 PM
#1 - RBI Baseball

Released 1988 for NES


(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/0/2/49602_front.jpg)

(https://www.tecmobowl-vs-rbi.com/uploads/3/5/3/8/3538178/8839954.jpg?513)


I've spent more time with this game than anything else video game related in my life.  This was the game that everyone in my group of friends played constantly, from riding bikes to each others' houses after school to sneak in a few games before homework, to Dr. Pepper and Laffy Taffy/Big League Chew-fueled sleepovers that left us like zombies the next day.  It sparked many a debate as well: Can a pitcher hit a home run?  Why do those weak pinch hitters always seem to hit a home run?  What is the best way to invoke the mini-pitcher glitch?  These were the important life questions of our day.

I was 10/11 when this came out and Major League Baseball was my life.  It was the first baseball game I remember to include actual MLB players and their attributes (for the most part).  My favorite player at the time was Dale Murphy, and he was easily one of the better players in the game which included many of the stars of the mid-80's.  Many of the homeruns by the power hitters in the game are absolute moonshots that go completely out of the stadium.  When the players are put out on the basepath, they go crying back to the bench (maddeningly running faster than they did while running the bases).

RBI has simple game-play, doughy indistinguishable characters, inexplicable glitches, monotonous music, a computer opponent that plays like a 3 year old, and every game takes place in the same exact stadium.  Nonetheless, many of those characteristics lend charm to this game that has led to several tribute websites and followers that hold the banner for the game to this day.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 06, 2014, 10:24:28 PM
Oh man, I'd totally forgotten about this game. Talk about a trip down memory lane!

When the players are put out on the basepath, they go crying back to the bench (maddeningly running faster than they did while running the bases).

 :rollin :rollin  Yup.

I played a lot of this one too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 06, 2014, 11:14:31 PM
Unfortunately I'm not much of a diamond bags fan so I'm chokin on a splinter this time out. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed your list and your writeups were quite captivating overall. If you ever wanna make a cleanup pass and make a second list down the line, I'll gladly follow that too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Cool Chris on October 07, 2014, 08:24:46 PM
Excellent game when it came out, we played this for hours. Always loved how Vince Coleman or Ozzie Smith would beat out a grounder wherever it went.

Thanks for the memories Big Hath. You would have been a good friend to have growing up in the NES days.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on October 07, 2014, 09:04:01 PM
I don't know...I don't think this would be on my top 3 NES baseball games.  Certainly not ahead of Baseball Stars and Bases Loaded, and Bad News Baseball, baseball Sumulator 1.0, and a few others as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 07, 2014, 09:32:45 PM
Unfortunately I'm not much of a diamond bags fan so I'm chokin on a splinter this time out. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed your list and your writeups were quite captivating overall. If you ever wanna make a cleanup pass and make a second list down the line, I'll gladly follow that too.

cool.  Glad someone got some enjoyment out of this list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 07, 2014, 10:20:48 PM
Excellent game when it came out, we played this for hours. Always loved how Vince Coleman or Ozzie Smith would beat out a grounder wherever it went.

Thanks for the memories Big Hath. You would have been a good friend to have growing up in the NES days.

there is a trick to throwing out Coleman trying to steal second base.  Even if you do the "quick-throw" from catcher to second he will be safe.  However if you make the catcher throw to home (he will do it because he is standing slightly behind the plate since he just received the pitch) he will throw a fast grounder straight to second base just in time to  catch him for an out.


It's amazing how much fun we squeezed out of that NES.  Ride you bike over to my house after school Friday if your mom will let you and we can fire it up again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: masterthes on October 08, 2014, 07:57:05 AM
I enjoyed reading this list, not sure if I'd agree with some of the choices, but I'm sure if I were to make a list, there'd be a lot of retro games at the top for me as well
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 08, 2014, 08:01:05 AM
If I were to make a list, only a couple of games would be past the N64 era, with most of them from the 8/16 bit era. Bring on more retro, I say!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 08, 2014, 08:24:46 AM
The complete list

1. RBI Baseball (NES)
2. Wolfenstein 3D (PC)
3. Bionic Commando (NES)
4. Spy Hunter (Arcade)
5. Discs of Tron (Arcade)
6. Tecmo Bowl (NES)
7. Railroad Tycoon (PC)
8. Blaster Master (NES)
9. Contra (NES)
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
11. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
12. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
13. Baseball Stars (NES)
14a. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
14b. Tetris (Gameboy)
15. Half Life 2 (Xbox 360)
16. Madden NFL 2005 (Xbox)
17. Grand Theft Auto III (Xbox)
18. Driver (Playstation)
19. Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (NES)
20. Combat (Atari 2600)
21. Splinter Cell (Xbox)
22. Portal (Xbox 360)
23. Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road (Arcade)
24. Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection/Pinball FX 2 (Xbox)
25. ZeroZap (TI-99/4A)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on October 08, 2014, 12:59:09 PM
If I were to make a list, only a couple of games would be past the N64 era, with most of them from the 8/16 bit era. Bring on more retro, I say!

For me it would be the exact opposite; there would be very few, if any, games from 5th gen and before. Some newer retro style games may make it, though.

I definitely liked this list. Even though I have heard of very few of these entries, I still enjoyed the writeups. Great job.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Lynxo on October 08, 2014, 01:52:51 PM
I'm really excited about doing one of these of my own but I'm so far down the list. :lol Oh well, I really enjoy reading other people's lists as well. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 08, 2014, 06:15:15 PM
If I were to make a list, only a couple of games would be past the N64 era, with most of them from the 8/16 bit era. Bring on more retro, I say!

For me it would be the exact opposite; there would be very few, if any, games from 5th gen and before. Some newer retro style games may make it, though.

Nothing wrong with that either! For me it's personal preference of the popular genres of games they were making back then vs now. I'm just not into many of the modern genres of games, and I'm not a big enough gamer these days to justify buying the new consoles for the few games I am interested in. The couple of games that would make my list from the past decade are very much kids' games. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 08, 2014, 08:39:19 PM
Good list. I can safely say mine will not be as retro, though it'll have it's fair share of oldies. :)

If it's my turn next (I think I'm next on the list, right?), I'll get my first pick up either tonight or tomorrow night.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 08, 2014, 09:22:57 PM
If I were to make a list, only a couple of games would be past the N64 era, with most of them from the 8/16 bit era. Bring on more retro, I say!

(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrn0hl5oJR1qdshi4o1_500.gif)

Though, no Nintendo here.  Different platform.  Got my list, just gotta start some writeups so I can keep things moving when it's my turn.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Big Hath on October 08, 2014, 10:25:32 PM
apologies again for my list taking as long as it did.  Q3 was a crazy time at work.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 09, 2014, 08:35:34 PM
Well, without further ado, might as well start this list up.

25. Rock Band 2 (X-Box 360: 2008)
Regardless of the current state of music party games these days, Rock Band was the default, go-to party game amongst my friends and I for at two to least three years. I don't play the game much anymore (mostly because my 360 was borked by a red ring of death...) but that longevity is an impressive feat.
   
Rock Band is a relatively simple game. Notes scroll down the screen and you attempt to hit those notes in time with the music on your plastic guitar, keyboard (on the sequel), or drum set. There's also a spot for a singer but, unlike real bands, nobody cares about him. What makes Rock Band so successful is it plays into everyone's desire to be a badass rockstar while having a deep selection of songs and relatively simple gameplay that can be enjoyable for both the novice and the hardened plastic-axe shredder. There's very little that's more satisfying than finally acing a difficult song as a band.

I don't have much to say about this game, most should be familiar with it, but it really is an impressive party game. Unlike some other party-style games, it's even fun by yourself, but it certainly loses a little something when you're only performing as a solo act.

While there are some differences between Rock Band, Rock Band 2, and Rock Band 3, I really could've picked any of them. Ultimately, Rock Band 2 gets the pick, primarily because A) I played it much, much more than the others B) I liked its setlist the best (not counting DLC songs) and C) I think it really provided the most polished, most refined version of the game without cluttering things up with too many instruments and options.

I highly recommend Rock Band 2 for any wannabe musicians with no actual musical skill, underground karaoke stars, and folks with an affinity for plastic guitars.

(https://dakkster.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/rock_band_2_nirvana_lyrics.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ReaperKK on October 09, 2014, 09:43:32 PM
I only played a little bit of Rock Band 2 but I did love the first Rock Band game. So much fun in my college apartment drinking and playing rock band.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 09, 2014, 09:54:20 PM
RB, RB2, and Lego RB got a bit of play for a couple of years with the jingle.kids.  Then the appeal waned, and the drums have been gathering a few inches of dust over the last year or two.  Lots of fun though.  I played online a few times, and once , on expert level I think, Panic Attack comes up in a 3-song metal block.  That and Battery ... I forget the 3rd song.  Well, the guitar and bass player I was playing with got right pissed at me because I tanked them on Battery (was never a fan of MoP), but then did ok with Panic Attack.  Then I did shit with the third song.

They kicked me out of the band after that.  :jets:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ariich on October 10, 2014, 02:25:16 AM
I really enjoyed the Rock Band/Guitar Hero games, played them a whole load when I first got into them, but haven't touched them at all for ages. I can't disagree with their inclusion in your list because they were damn original, I just haven't found they had much staying power for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on October 10, 2014, 02:46:19 AM
I played one of the Rock Band games once. I can definitely see the appeal, but it's not a game for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 10, 2014, 10:04:52 PM
I vacillated over whether to include Rock Band 2 on the list, but it just came down to how much time I spent with the game and how much fun I had which is the primary job of a video game. So, I regret nothing!

24. Super Smash Brothers: Melee (Gamecube: 2001)
Might as well get the party games out of the way first, I guess. By their very nature party games just aren't as fun when played solo and Super Smash Brothers: Melee, much more than Rock Band actually, certainly lives up to that. I don't think I've ever had a desire to play this game by myself but man oh man is this game fun with a room full of friends.

Before Rock Band, the Smash Brothers series was the party game of choice for my friends and I. Lounging on a couch, drinking copious amounts of soda, staying up way too late, while hurling sexually-laced insults and smash attacks at each other, this game defined my immediate post-high school years.

The gameplay is uber-simple but fairly robust: choose from amongst a roster of Nintendo characters and beat the shit out of your friends. Everything works in this game:  the items are all fun, the stages are varied, and every character has their own suite of tricks that make them unique and (mostly) fun to play without being overpowered or worthless. The fact that Nintendo was able to do this with such a fairly expansive selection of characters is impressive.
 
You can have computer bots in the game to fill the holes left by friends that have to work, have school or are out with their significant other, but it's just not the same. Super Smash Brothers: Melee excels when you have four people playing in the same dingy (basement) room and sitting on the same cheeto-stained couch. There's nothing quite like screaming sexually suggestive commentaries on the barnyard proclivities of your friends' mothers after a particularly intense bout.

As with Rock Band, my choice over which entry in the Smash Brothers series really came down to how much time I spent with each game. I probably played the original more, but Melee is an improvement in nearly every single way. Comparing Brawl and Melee is a bit tougher, mostly because I just haven't spent as much time with Brawl. It's a good entry, but all of my great memories come from Melee. So suck it Brawl!

Anyways, Super Smash Brothers: Melee comes highly recommended for people who love to yell their friends, for people that hate their thumbs, and for those who've always wanted to beat the crap out of Yoshi.
(https://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130811041826/egamia/images/8/85/Smash_brothers_melee_screenshot1.jpg) (https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/f/e/7/gfs_52731_2_15.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 10, 2014, 10:12:43 PM
:tup Great choice. I personally slightly prefer the original on straight gameplay, because I think the pace is a little better, and Melee has too many items and level traps for my liking, but I've still played the hell out of Melee too. There's a ton of replay value in there, between all of the different modes. I haven't played any past Melee yet.

Pikachu is always my go-to "beat the shit out of" character. :lol

Who's your main character? I've always been a Luigi guy.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on October 10, 2014, 10:20:26 PM
Yeah I played the hell out of this game too, but also give the nod to the original.

I liked playing as Kirby, even though they nerfed him quite a bit for Melee. I also played a lot as Roy and Mewtwo.

Like Blob, I haven't played anything more recent than Melee.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Genowyn on October 10, 2014, 10:24:44 PM
Melee is the correct choice.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 10, 2014, 10:36:50 PM
Great choice. I personally slightly prefer the original on straight gameplay, because I think the pace is a little better, and Melee has too many items and level traps for my liking, but I've still played the hell out of Melee too. There's a ton of replay value in there, between all of the different modes. I haven't played any past Melee yet.
I can respect that. Personally, I think Brawl is where the items and level traps get out of control. In Melee, there's enough to keep things interesting but not too many to overpower the gameplay.

Quote
Who's your main character? I've always been a Luigi guy.
Link and Bowser were usually my favorites but I really enjoyed just playing random characters and not sticking to only one or two. Hated Game and Watch and Yoshi though. I avoided them at all costs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 10, 2014, 10:52:30 PM
Great choice. I personally slightly prefer the original on straight gameplay, because I think the pace is a little better, and Melee has too many items and level traps for my liking, but I've still played the hell out of Melee too. There's a ton of replay value in there, between all of the different modes. I haven't played any past Melee yet.
I can respect that. Personally, I think Brawl is where the items and level traps get out of control. In Melee, there's enough to keep things interesting but not too many to overpower the gameplay.


I don't think it overpowers the gameplay either, it's just something I slightly prefer in the original game, and it's also what I was used to. Both are a lot of fun. I just bought the new one on 3DS for someone's birthday, so I'll see how that one is once they get it.


I liked playing as Kirby, even though they nerfed him quite a bit for Melee. I also played a lot as Roy and Mewtwo.

I swear, everyone else I know played as Roy/Marth! I remember playing with a group of people, and they all chose Roy/Marth, and they laughed when I chose Luigi. They weren't laughing after I won. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Bolsters on October 11, 2014, 01:43:04 AM
I swear, everyone else I know played as Roy/Marth! I remember playing with a group of people, and they all chose Roy/Marth, and they laughed when I chose Luigi. They weren't laughing after I won. :lol
They were both popular with people I knew aswell. Roy especially is just a very easy and fun character to play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Randaran on October 11, 2014, 11:51:59 AM
Melee is the correct choice.

This, no doubt about it. Brawl is just... boring, even with friends.

My favorite in this game is Roy, though I also enjoy playing as Link. Even though all of my friends severely outclass me, I still have fun playing this one. Before, of course, we switch to Mario Kart and I become the object of their rage.  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 11, 2014, 12:46:14 PM
Brawl was a bit of a disappointment. Melee is still my favorite of the series, at least as far as console versions go (we'll see if the Wii U one tops it). Sure, Melee didn't have R.O.B. yet, but Fox and Mr. Game and Watch were awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Crow on October 11, 2014, 04:44:07 PM
I've always personally preferred Guitar Hero to Rock Band mostly on the basis of the looser game engine but both are great fun indeed, though I didn't tend to know people I could play the game with.
I don't see why Melee is so far superior to Brawl in everyone's eyes; both are fantastic games and Smash 4 for 3DS has been as well so far.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 11, 2014, 06:40:14 PM
23. Doom (PC: 1993)
Compared to today's more modern and 'sophisticated' FPS games, Doom is fairly bare-bones. There are no quick-time events and no stats to level up. No weapons to improve and no XP to gain. The only real choices you must make are will you gib this imp with a shotgun or a rocket launcher? You make your way through dozens of various implausibly laid out laboratory installations full of toxic waste and exploding barrels, you kill demons, collect weapons, find color-coded keys to open corresponding color-coded doors, patch yourself up with the mountains of medical kits that are just lying around, rinse and repeat. It's simple and it might sound repetitive, but it's not somehow. As you make your way down the hallways of the Phobos labs, you can hear demons grunting, groaning, oozing and roaring in the distance. Lights flicker inconsistently and outside, the blood-red skies of Phobos and Mars loom over all, a hint of the red slaughter to come.

And when the fighting finally comes, Doom shines. Despite being limited to a single axis of movement, the gunplay is smooth and frantic. Demons swarm you with rockets, bullets, teeth, and nails. Doors will open behind you, allowing demons to slip along your flank as you desperately try to fend off the monstrosities ahead. Your armament also helps to keep the simplistic gameplay from becoming dull. You have at your beck and call a pistol, shotgun, chainsaw, chaingun, rocket launcher, plasma rifle, and the impressively destructive BFG 9000 which can clear a room with a single shot. Each gun has its own strengths and weaknesses and the abundance or lack thereof of certain ammunition types can keep you from relying too much on the more powerful weapons. With energy cells being so rare, you tend to save those two shots of the BFG for when you really need it.

The level design is geared more towards what would be more fun to gun through than what would realistically make sense, with many labs containing huge pits full of radioactive waste surrounded by narrow walkways and an absolutely insane number of hidden doors triggered by equally hidden switches. But that's really the beauty of Doom. It doesn't give a shit. You're a marine. You're killing demons. On Mars. With a chainsaw.  Getting cracking soldier!

Having Doom on this list isn't just a nostalgia pick either. I can remember playing this with a friend of mine back when it came out, but I recently played through it again only a year or two ago and, I have to say, it really does hold up. It's still frantic, it's still frightening, and it's still a lot of fun. So ignore the lack of polygons or poorly acted cut scenes and dive into the toxic sludge-filled demonscape of Doom and get shooting. It's a classic that holds up incredibly well.

Doom is recommended for fans of pixelated blood-stains, exploding barrel aficionados, and folks who think that a bloody pentagram will really help to improve the feng shui of their Mars-based laboratory installations.

Note, for those of you who might be put off by the aged graphics, UI, and controls, Brutal Doom is a more than adequate substitute. Brutal Doom is what happens when you take a beloved and out-of-date game and mix it with bored nerds, the final result being a game with much improved graphics (actual 3D environments), sound, and controls (with mouse-look!) along with a bunch of other small modifications. In the end, despite these changes, Brutal Doom still carries that essential Doom feel. Is it Classic Doom? No, but it's a more than worthy update for anyone wanting to give this classic a shot or even for Doom veterans looking for something just a bit different.

If the thought of tackling a classic but aged shooter from 1993 fills you with anything but joy, then give Brutal Doom a try instead. I'm playing it now and it is excellent.

(https://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050113171050/doom/images/b/b3/Imp.png) (https://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110329213320/esdoom/es/images/1/12/Doom_1_Captura_PC.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 12, 2014, 09:06:13 AM
As I said in the previous mention of Doom, this was the invention of fps.  Incredible game.  Many a night was wasted in Uni when I should've been studying or writing a paper.  Ah, the days when all-nighter's were as common as doing laundry.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 12, 2014, 06:07:54 PM
Not sure I'd go that far, but I'd certainly place it as one of the most important FPS's of all times, if not THE most important.

Anyways, since Doom generated an absolute of conversation, might as well just move on. :)

22. Bioshock (PC/X-Box: 2007)
This may likely be a bit of a controversial pick on this list. For as many fans that Bioshock has, it seems to have an equal number of detractors. Some find the gunplay to be a bit... clunky or that the story wanes near the end. I won't argue or even disagree with some of those complaints. In fact, they're largely right. Bioshock 2 and Bioshock: Infinite feature far better combat and maybe a better progression in their stories, but still I don't think that either match the greatness of the first Bioshock and that's for two reasons: Rapture and Andrew Ryan.

For those not in the know, Bioshock is a first person shooter where you take control of a survivor of a devastating plane crash who finds himself drawn into a war being fought in the underwater city of Rapture, a city designed by the mad and charismatic Andrew Ryan. The city, once a thriving abyssal metropolis, is now overrun with mad, gene-spliced killers who have permanently mutated themselves with drugs called ADAM (a substance used to grant superhuman powers). Little Sisters, mutated little girls, roam the dilapidated environs, searching for corpses to leech of ADAM and rumbling behind are their 'Big Daddy' protectors; silent, hulking monstrosities decked out in bulky diving suits and wielding massive weaponry.

First off, let's get this out of the way, Andrew Ryan is one of the reasons to play this game. Impeccably voiced by Armin Shimerman (Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for those of you who aren't complete nerds), Ryan's objectivist propaganda sermonizes, demonizes, and cajoles as you slink down the ruined hallways of his failed society. He exists always out of touch, on the edge of your existence, a God or maybe only a shadow, but still a force to be reckoned with even if he is little more than a voice on your radio.  When you finally do confront him, be prepared for one of the greatest scenes in videogame history. I won't reveal anything about it for any of the noobs that might be reading, but it is really well done.

Rapture is the other true star of the game. Like Doom, it oozes ambiance. Water seeps in through the cracked and decaying infrastructure, lights flicker intermittently, and the maniacal laughter of its surviving insane denizens echoes throughout its steel and glass chambers. You make your way from one part of Rapture to the next, driven only by a desire to escape and by the cryptic help of a mysterious benefactor named Atlas. Along the way, you'll collect weapons and gene-altering plasmids that will allow you to freeze enemies, telekinetically grab objects, set fires, and shoot streams of electricity, amongst other things. You can also hack vending machines, turn turrets against your enemies, modify your weapons, and engage in other rpg-lite activities.

In fact, Bioshock purports to be an RPG but it's really just an FPS with some additional frills (many of which are largely commonplace on FPS games nowadays). That's not really a bad thing, just a statement about what it really is. Bioshock makes a big deal about the choices you can make, but the choices are very incidental. The real way to enjoy Bioshock is to just immerse yourself in the atmosphere and history of Rapture and to enjoy the story.

So, divisive as it may be, Bioshock is a great game. Even a couple of years after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about certain sections of the game. The leaking abattoirs of Rapture still call out to me and will remain one of my favorite videogame settings. I would gladly play a Bioshock 3 even if it was just more Rapture to explore.

So, Bioshock gets a hearty and omega 3 fatty acid filled recommendation for anyone who thinks that the crushing depths of the ocean is the perfect place to open up a gun and ammo shop, for folks who find the phrase 'leaking like sieve' to be an aesthetically pleasing characteristic, and for those who've always wanted to read an Ayn Rand novel but have held off because it's written by Ayn Rand... and also 8,000 pages long.

(https://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Download-BioShock-for-Mac-OS-X-Now-on-the-Mac-App-Store-2.jpg) (https://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2007/08/bioshock_gameplay_graphics_and_performance/fov-widel.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Genowyn on October 12, 2014, 06:56:42 PM
I thought that Bioshock was the rare FPS I could get into what with the addition of RPG elements.

I was wrong.

To add something to the Doom discussion: I loved Doom as a kid (yes, I was allowed to play Doom as a kid). What I loved even more than the basic game were these mods my dad had to convert it to Simpsons or Star Trek. I remember the invisible monsters were Barney in the Simpsons one and you would know they were around by the belching.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on October 12, 2014, 08:11:47 PM
What I loved even more than the basic game were these mods my dad had to convert it to Simpsons or Star Trek. I remember the invisible monsters were Barney in the Simpsons one and you would know they were around by the belching.

I had Simpsons, Tick, and Army of Darkness versions of Doom.  I still remember when you killed Barney you got the sond of him saying,"It fell in the toilet".
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Sacul on October 12, 2014, 08:41:03 PM
I don't think Bioshock is a controversial choice at all, since I've seen it receive praise everywhere and it's feature on many all-time top 100s, mostly on the 20-tier. But yeah, I absolutely love the trilogy. There's not a single bad game on it. Probably the sophomore is my favourite 'cause of it's emotional plot and ending, but the first one is still one of my fav games ever :metal . The aesthetics; the complex, deep story; plasmids! Seriously, I can't find a reason for not to love this game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: Outcrier on October 12, 2014, 08:50:14 PM
22. Bioshock (PC/X-Box: 2007)
This may likely be a bit of a controversial pick on this list.

As far is i know, it's the most loved game of the trilogy  :huh:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on October 12, 2014, 10:13:54 PM
Doom :heart :heart :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on October 13, 2014, 01:38:36 PM
For those who have not yet done so, would you kindly play Bioshock? sorry for this terrible pun

Seriously, it is one of the best FPSs I have ever played. I love the combat; plasmids, ammo types, and other features allow for a large variety of strategies. The underwater city is breathtaking, and I love how the story is revealed through those diaries. It really feels like a (formerly) living city. Nice pick.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Obfuscation on October 13, 2014, 03:29:14 PM
Two thumbs up for Bioshock.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Retro Time! (pg. 12)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 13, 2014, 09:17:01 PM
I thought that Bioshock was the rare FPS I could get into what with the addition of RPG elements.

I was wrong.
Yeah, it's pretty much a straight up FPS. Have you tried System Shock 2, Deus Ex, Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas? Those are much more 'RPG first, FPS second' type games.

22. Bioshock (PC/X-Box: 2007)
This may likely be a bit of a controversial pick on this list.

As far is i know, it's the most loved game of the trilogy  :huh:
I dunno, but it sure seemed like there was a bit of a backlash after the game came out. Maybe it was just a really vocal minority complaining about the hype, but eh whatever. Bioshock is great. Yay ice cream!

21. The Legend of Zelda (NES: 1986)
Now we come to the game that birthed a near thirty year old franchise. The game that started it all. It's not my favorite in the series, but it is a very important entry and one that I must admit (albeit maybe a bit grudgingly) is still incredibly fun to this day. There is something about the simple and straightforward approach of Zelda 1 (I ain't typing out the full name over and over again so get used to seeing this abbreviation) that is missing from the more complex subsequent games. Zelda 1 boils down to: explore dungeons, burn bushes, bomb walls, find secrets, kill enemies, find the triforce pieces, get stronger, kill Ganon, and finally save the princess. It's a threadbare plot related to you only in the game's manual but it does its job and then it gets out of the way. Sometimes you'll encounter mad old hermits who speak only in cryptic, poorly translated clues, greedy merchants who think that their merchandise is still worth selling even in the monster-infested wilderness of Hyrule, but most of the interactions you'll have with the denizens of this game will involve the pointy end of your sword meeting the fleshy parts of their pixelated hides.

The world of Zelda is split between the sprawling, wilderness overworld and the dank, monster-infested dungeons. In each dungeon, you'll be tasked with cutting your way through rooms full of monsters, finding the treasure, and facing down with the inevitable boss at the end before you can finally collect the piece of the triforce and then move on. The treasures range from being useful in combat (the bow, boomerang, wand) to ones that will merely help you in getting along (the raft, ladder) and even a few that fill both purposes (candle, whistle).

Most of the enemies you will encounter can be dispatched with your trusty sword, but some are more susceptible to other weapons and a few are only vulnerable to a specific one. Some, like the armored darknuts, can only be attacked from the sides and rear due to their imposing shields. Others, like the spellcasting wizzrobes, appear and disappear around the screen, while shooting waves of magical energy. The meat of the game comes down to how you learn and deal with each type of enemy. Sometimes you'll be given the opportunity to slowly and surely assault a room of gathered enemies from a point of defensive strength. Other times, the door will shut behind and you'll be stuck in a room full of creatures until you defeat each and every last one. Finally, at the end of each dungeon, you'll face down a larger, meaner boss monster. Each boss usually has a trick to defeating them, but sometimes just stabbing it a bunch of times will do the trick. Honestly, most of the bosses are fairly mundane. It's usually the getting there that's more memorable.

Zelda 1 may not be my favorite in the series, but I'd be daft if I left it off my list. It's still very playable today, even with the simplistic graphics. The action is a lot faster and more furious than any of the sequels (sans maybe Adventure of Link) and the exploration aspect is maybe a bit stronger. It's still a lot of fun and, unlike a lot of other games, you can finish it in one dedicated afternoon. So you can get your Zelda fix out of the way before moving on to something else.

The Legend of Zelda comes with a pointed recommendation for any itinerant tomb robbers, wannabe world saviors, and those with a fetish for triangle-shaped objects (angles be sexy, yo).

(https://thecrankyhermit.wikispaces.com/file/view/zelda1.JPG/195366224/zelda1.JPG) (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zaMe7UwvPGA/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 13, 2014, 09:23:12 PM
The old days when games didn't hold you hand at every turn and the internet didn't exist yet. :lol I used to just run around almost randomly in this one trying to discover everything there was to find - something I don't have the patience for these days. Far from being my favourite Zelda game aswell, but I have a soft nostalgic spot for it all the same.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on October 13, 2014, 10:33:09 PM
I remember in 4th grade when two of my friends, my home room teacher, and I would share maps we made of the second quest dungeons.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 13, 2014, 10:35:15 PM
Nowhere near to being my favorite Zelda, and I didn't get to play it until much later, but I still love it. It's where it all started, and it's still loads of fun to play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on October 14, 2014, 07:23:10 AM
Bioshock was great, another thing about it too was that it was an early Xbox360 game and I remember playing the demo for it and being blown away by the visuals and the creepiness of the game.  It wasnt until a few years later that I actually bought it and played through.  I really liked it a lot. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on October 14, 2014, 07:26:41 AM
Love the original Zelda.

Up to that point I had only played a lot of shitty NES games. Like the ones which were just blatantly awful. I was young so I didn't know the difference, but Zelda was the first game to really blow my mind, get my respect and to show me what the NES was actually capable of.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 14, 2014, 08:00:30 AM
Still play Zelda 1 very often. About once every week or two. Cut it down to about an hour and a half of playtime to get through it. Absolute masterpiece.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 14, 2014, 08:59:12 PM
Still play Zelda 1 very often. About once every week or two. Cut it down to about an hour and a half of playtime to get through it. Absolute masterpiece.
Jesus  :lol

20. Unreal Tournament (PC: 1999)
Back in 1999, there was a bit of a war going on. Unreal Tournament and Quake 3 were released within days of each other. Quake 2 was generally considered to be the multiplayer FPS champion at the time and Quake 3 was looking to capitalize on that success by ditching the single-player campaign and focusing on the competitive online arena. Unreal Tournament was attempting to do the same thing. The two games had stylistic differences. Quake 3 focused on fast and frenetic gameplay, usually deathmatch, while UT was a bit slower paced but with a deeper well of options. There were more guns, more maps, more gametypes, and despite the plethora of options available, everything worked well. Really well. It is my (not so) expert opinion that UT handily won that round.

Even if you ignore the online, multiplayer capabilities (which I did, seeing as I only had dial-up at the time), UT comes with some fairly impressive bots to play against. You can even customize the bots to create a roster of opponents to face off against, each one with a unique skillset to vex and frag you with. Honestly, I very rarely ventured online with UT. Why would I need to, when I had enough challenge with the bots (and no latency)?

But even with great bots, a multiplayer FPS's success comes down to its gameplay and the maps. UT excels at both. There are multiple different gametypes that come standard with UT; deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag, domination, last man standing, and assault. Many of these have become standard inclusions with multiplayer FPS games these days but they were new and exciting when UT came storming out of the gate.

As with Doom, UT doesn't sit on this list just because of nostalgic memories, it still plays really well today. I fired it up while compiling this list just to see if my memories would hold up against reality and I ended up wasting a few hours killing bots on Morpheus (one of the best deathmatch arenas ever). Yep, still good and very worthy of inclusion.

I give my UT my recommendation to anyone with a finicky frag-finger, flak fanatics, and any angry Quake fanboys still holding a grudge.

(https://lan.nost.biz/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/UnrealTournament-2012-07-22-19-38-51-99.jpg) (https://images.eurogamer.net/2014/usgamer/BFPS-UT.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 14, 2014, 09:10:25 PM
This is one of the few FPS games I have played, enjoyed (I'm not a fan of them in general), and was actually half-decent at, at least against bots and friends (never went online with it - no doubt I would have gotten my shit ruined there :lol). Loved that flak cannon.

It probably would have been playable on dial-up, too. I used to play the first Tribes game online on dial-up and it worked out well even with up to 40 people on the map. Games back then were designed with dial-up bandwidth in mind.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 14, 2014, 09:30:30 PM
Oh I played online with my sweet ass 28.8k modem occasionally but usually I'd get dumped mid-game or experience some severe latency issues. Much more headache than fun.

Not having access to high speed back then sucked. There were so many great online games that I couldn't really play all that much because of my crap connection: Dark Age of Camelot, Tribes 2, UT, Wheel of Time. Nowadays, I have high(er) speed internet but much less desire to play any competitive games online. I think CoD:MW was the last game I played an FPS online.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on October 14, 2014, 09:39:39 PM
The only Unreal i've ever played was the first one. Good memories.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 14, 2014, 09:43:27 PM
Oh I played online with my sweet ass 28.8k modem occasionally but usually I'd get dumped mid-game or experience some severe latency issues. Much more headache than fun.

Not having access to high speed back then sucked. There were so many great online games that I couldn't really play all that much because of my crap connection: Dark Age of Camelot, Tribes 2, UT, Wheel of Time. Nowadays, I have high(er) speed internet but much less desire to play any competitive games online. I think CoD:MW was the last game I played an FPS online.
Ah, 28.8k. I had 56k. Big difference back then. :lol

I'm the same with online play now aswell, used to do a lot years ago but now I pretty much only care about the single player experience and don't bother with online multiplayer.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 15, 2014, 12:02:50 AM
Why was it 56k instead of 57.6k since that would actually/obviously be double 28.8k?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 15, 2014, 12:16:42 AM
Why was it 56k instead of 57.6k since that would actually/obviously be double 28.8k?
Why was it 28.8k in the first place? No idea. :lol Though 56 kilobits was probably just the most they could get out of that technology, because it never went any higher than that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on October 15, 2014, 02:12:45 AM
I never owned Unreal Tournament, but used to play it as a teenager at LAN parties. It was a lot of fun. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 16, 2014, 10:40:10 PM
19. Thief: The Dark Project (PC: 1998)
Thief: The Dark Project is an FPS game from 1999. FPS, in this instance, stands for First Person Stealth game. In Thief, your goal is not to run around and kill everything in sight, it's to be as stealthy as possible, to accomplish your goals with a minimum of casualties.

You play as a thief (duh) named Garrett, who is a bit of an independent operator in the steampunkish environment of the City. The City is a typical corrupt metropolis, run by sleazy nobles, cutthroat guildmasters, religious fanatics, and mysterious pagans. You will steal from all them. The City is a bit of a mix between an industrial Dickensian nightmare and renaissance Italy. Clattering machines provide power to some sectors of the City while others rely on the old tried-and-true flame and tallow. For the breaking-and-entering, Garrett has at his disposal a wide variety of tools including a blackjack (for knocking out the unawares), a sword (for when things go wrong), lockpicks, gas mines, explosive mines, arrows, rope arrows, noise-maker arrows, gas arrows, and explosive arrows.

You'd think a game where you break into people's houses and steal their belongings would get old, but Thief manages to keep things interesting. Each mission, gives you several objectives to complete, like not killing anyone, steal a certain amount of loot, that sort of thing. On the easiest settings, the objectives are relatively simple. As you increase the difficulty, the objectives get more elaborate. You might have to steal more loot and you might have to escape after you've accomplished your objectives. This gives the game a lot of replay value.

Additionally, Thief boasts some incredibly expansive levels with no loading screens to interrupt the gameplay except for at the beginning of each level. The 3D architecture and textures are pretty damn impressive for a game made in 1998 and the use of light and shadows as a mechanic was revolutionary. It still compares favorably today. The only aspect of the game that looks dated are the character models. They're incredibly blocky, with muddy textures and they didn't look all that good back then, so they look even worse now.

The sound design is pretty stellar too. There's very little music, just ambient noise, but that's an important part of the game. Listening to the conversations of drunken guards or tracing the path of a servant by their footsteps is incredibly important and music would only interfere with that. Different surfaces make different sounds, so running across a tile floor will make more noise than running across a carpet. This has become rather standard issue with stealth games these days, but when Thief did it, it was new.

Thief also boasts a variety of different mission types to keep things interesting. While most do boil down to 'sneak into this place and steal this item,' the places you sneak into are all different. In one, you might be tasked with breaking into an undead-filled tomb to snatch some priceless trinket, in another you have to shadow two would-be assassins back to their employer so that you can find out who they work for, and in another you must break into an eccentric noble's mansion to steal his sword and the mansion boasts some brain-defying architectural choices. All throughout it, the character of Garrett keeps a decidedly cynical edge to his voice as he narrates on his goals and the targets of his larceny.

Thief may be a bit rough around the edges for modern gamers, but for anyone with a liking for stealth games, here's where most of it started. The setting of Thief is unique enough to keep things from becoming dull, but it's in the variety of missions and exemplary way in which they're all laid out that makes the game a classic.

I recommend Thief: The Dark Project for any first-story men that wishes to upgrade to the second-story, folks for whom the term 'blackjack' is not one to be uttered only at a casino, and drunken taffers.

Note, for those of you interested in this game, try and track down Thief Gold. It includes two extra missions that expands upon the original's story. The extra missions are pretty damn fun too and well worth it.

(https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060604115550/egamia/images/3/3e/Thief-constantine.jpg) (https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/Snake101/100%20Game%20Oath/008%20Thief%20The%20Dark%20Project/thief089.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 17, 2014, 05:15:53 AM
Awesome game, I used to play the heck out of the demo back in the day. I remember thinking that the stealth aspect in Thief was so much better than in more commercial titles like Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 19, 2014, 10:22:06 PM
Awesome game, I used to play the heck out of the demo back in the day. I remember thinking that the stealth aspect in Thief was so much better than in more commercial titles like Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell.
I haven't played Splinter Cell, but I'd agree that the stealth in Thief is much, much better than that in MGS. But then again, MGS never felt like a straight up stealth game to me, but more as an action game with some stealth elements.

One thing I don't think I quite got across in my write up is how much I love the lore of Thief. Whether it's conveyed via notes, overheard conversations or by the short snippets of text before each mission, you really get a feel for the world, for the various organizations and individuals inhabiting it

18. Counterstrike (PC: 1999)
Originally, Counterstrike was released as a fan-made mod for Half-Life. It proved so successful and so popular that, since its release, it has seen multiple iterations of the same game. In fact, the Counterstrike: Source release is probably my favorite version of the game but, aside from the improved graphics, it's incredibly similar to the original. So, the original gets the spot on the list because of how much time I've spent with it. Unfair? Maybe. Shut up. This is my list and I can put Counterstrike: Source in the corner if I so please.

Anyways, Counterstrike is a multiplayer first-person shooter where players take the role of either a terrorist or counter-terrorist.... dude.  Guy.  Whatever. Each team has different objectives depending upon the map. Sometimes the terrorists must successfully plant a bomb while the counter-terrorist forces attempt to either stop them or defuse the bomb before it explodes. On other maps, the terrorist team must protect a group of hostages while the counter-terrorist forces attempt to save and extract them.

Unlike other FPS games, in Counterstrike your avatar is the equivalent of an old balloon, filled with blood and stretched to the breaking point. A single bullet can and will kill you. 
Once you eventually die, you have to wait until the current round ends and a new one begins so that usually means players take a slower, more cautious approach. Unless you're me, then you just run around and throw your body at the first bullets you see.  Yes, I am that awesome. At the beginning of each round, the players get an allotment of money, the amount depending upon their performances in the previous rounds, with which they can buy guns, grenades, and other gear. It's very simple, very easy to get started, but difficult to master.

For me, Counterstrike was a LAN party staple for many, many years. Actually, it still is. On the very rare occasion when someone hosts a LAN party, Counterstrike invariably rears its balaclava-clad head sometime during the evening. Dissenting naysayers usually suggest something newer, something more modern, but Counterstrike is not so easily dissuaded and, in the end, files are installed, settings are fiddled with, and old faithful is booted up. The games continue until the players get fed up and suggest a new game to play, which is usually at about 3 in the morning when the pizza is cold, the Mountain Dew is warm and the only snack foods left are stale pretzels and dorito crumbs.

Counterstrike was (is!) a great game and a testament to how a game doesn't need to be complex or even fast paced to be super fun. Don't go to Counterstrike if you're looking for a great single-player experience. While newer versions of the game include bots, it's just not the same. Personally, I can't even enjoy playing it online as so much of the fun I've had with this game was about just hanging out with friends and being crammed into a basement full of computers and nerds, shouting out obscenities into the wee hours of the morning.

So, go enjoy a round of Counterstrike with your best friends. While the original is my 'favorite' version, those new to the game would be best off with one of the more recent releases of which I am aware that there many. Whatever your choice, Counterstrike gets a hearty recommendation for those who enjoy dorito-stains on their W, A, S, D keys, amateur bomb defusers, and people who love to hear the words 'Hostage down!' over and over and over again.

(https://emod.lt/images/cs_install/logo2222.png) (https://screenshots.s32cdn.com/1/2541/0000000136.1920x1080.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on October 20, 2014, 02:51:52 AM
Oh man, another game I never owned but played at LAN parties.

Reliving much of my teenage years through this list!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on October 20, 2014, 06:34:42 AM
I remember when I was like 13, 14 years old, my buddies and I used to muster up all the change we could to get down to the internet cafe and play Counterstrike online.  It was like $4 a half hour or something :lol 

ahhhhhh, nostalgia ultra.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on October 20, 2014, 06:43:55 AM
CS was really my first PC online shooter game.  That was before xbox live and whatnot so it was so much fun to be able to play a game like that with other people.  That and TF, but while I think TF is more fun now, back then, it was all CS for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 20, 2014, 08:01:53 AM
Aw yeah, liking your list so far! Half-Life and just about all its mods are just gold! I'm proud to say I played multiplayer shooters before they became cool. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 20, 2014, 10:33:15 PM
Glad to see my list is evoking some nostalgic feelings. My job is done. :)

Now, here's some nostalgia...

17. Super Mario World (SNES: 1990)
So, let's take a step away from the rather long string of FPS games that have so far polluted this list and head off to another genre. It's a genre that, I'm sorry to say, is not well represented in my list, but what representation it has is simply marvelous. That's right, the genre in question is the age old, tried and true platformer and Super Mario World is, in my opinion, in a class by itself.

I love all of the Mario games up to SMW by varying degrees, but SMW takes all that came before it and refined it to pure excellence. It might not be the hardest Mario game, in fact, if you're just playing straight through it's relatively easy, but the game world is packed with secret levels some that are ridiculously hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for.

Like the preceding game in the series (Super Mario Brothers 3 for the noobs out there) in Super Mario World progression in the game is not especially linear. You have an overworld map with which you can tackle missions in different orders or even skip some altogether if you wish. The overworld is divided up into different lands, each with their own theme and all brimming with cutesy humor (Donut Plains, Butter Bridge, Chocolate Island, etc.). Super Mario World does not take itself very seriously it is all the better for it.

Like the previous Mario games, each level usually has it's own trick, whether it's an underwater level or one where the screen slowly pans to the right giving you less time to formulate your actions and forcing you to act quicker than you might want. Within each level you will get access to a variety of different powers and abilities. The mushroom, star, and fire flower are back, but you can also get the cape which grants you the ability to fly and perform a deadly spin attack. Also, in the game you gain the friendship of the ever-hungry dinosaur Yoshi, a character who would become a part of the Mario franchise forever after.

This is a pretty great game and, unlike other platformers, it's not ridiculously, annoyingly hard. You can finish it in a couple of dedicated hours, unless you want to go for that 100% completion trophy (I've only ever gotten to 96%...) then you're looking at some truly, brutally difficult levels. The various SPECIAL and Star Road levels will make you beat your face against the wall. So there's a little bit of something for everyone here.

I still occasionally pull this game out to play every so often and the shiny, cartoony graphics hold up remarkably well even in this age of anti-aliasing, bump mapping, and direct x 10 enhanced graphics. The enemies are varied, the powers are fun, the difficulty is just right, and there's always something more to do, even when you finally beat the game.

Super Mario World gets a block-breaking recommendation for any addled mushroom addicts, anyone looking for a game where Yoshi isn't annoying, and people who have always dreamed of plains of donuts and bridges of butter.

(https://wallpaperforandroid.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/super-mario-world-screenshots-pictures-top-whatever--review--4-things-i-loved-about-super-mario-3d-land.png) (https://bundae.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/super-mario-world-2.gif)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 20, 2014, 10:47:00 PM
An undeniable classic. :tup Not only one of my favourite Mario games, but one of my all time favourite games aswell.

Also, the number on the file list isn't a percentage, it's the number of unique level goals you've run Mario through, and guess what? There's 96 of them. So you did 100% the game! :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 20, 2014, 10:50:42 PM
Ah, finally a game I can get excited about! :tup (all FPS games are the same boring crap to me)

My favourite Mario game, and one of my favourites games of all time too, because there's so much in it, with the powerups and alternate level endings and hidden levels.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 20, 2014, 11:18:20 PM
Stop killing me with nostalgia.

Seriously, this game is a true masterpiece, even outside of platformers. I can go back to it and it never gets old. Even with that said, it's still not my favorite Mario game. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on October 21, 2014, 04:24:29 AM
Still play this masterpiece through emulators sometimes :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 21, 2014, 04:50:45 AM
Ah, finally a game I can get excited about! :tup (all FPS games are the same boring crap to me)

My favourite Mario game, and one of my favourites games of all time too, because there's so much in it, with the powerups and alternate level endings and hidden levels.
The funny thing about that is that Shigeru Miyamoto has said that he felt that the game development were rushed and many levels that he wanted in the game had to be cut. It is NOT AT ALL noticeable in the game itself, it's a timeless classic. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 21, 2014, 05:04:16 AM
Ah, finally a game I can get excited about! :tup (all FPS games are the same boring crap to me)

My favourite Mario game, and one of my favourites games of all time too, because there's so much in it, with the powerups and alternate level endings and hidden levels.
The funny thing about that is that Shigeru Miyamoto has said that he felt that the game development were rushed and many levels that he wanted in the game had to be cut. It is NOT AT ALL noticeable in the game itself, it's a timeless classic. :tup

I never knew that, and I agree it's not noticeable at all. The final game is big and ambitious compared to previous Mario games, so I can only imagine what they originally had planned.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on October 21, 2014, 06:49:11 AM
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!

Best Mario game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 21, 2014, 07:53:46 AM
An undeniable classic. :tup Not only one of my favourite Mario games, but one of my all time favourite games aswell.

Also, the number on the file list isn't a percentage, it's the number of unique level goals you've run Mario through, and guess what? There's 96 of them. So you did 100% the game! :lol
Really? Goddamnit agonizing about what I'd missed in the game for years and I'd completed it oh so long ago.

Damn you Mario!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Zydar on October 21, 2014, 07:54:42 AM
Pretty much the best Mario game, yes.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on October 21, 2014, 10:15:08 AM
Didnt own a SNES so ive only played that mario at friends houses and it never held a spot in my heart like Mario 3 and Mario 64... to me its a toss up between those two as for the best.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 21, 2014, 10:27:09 AM
The final game is big and ambitious compared to previous Mario games

I think SMB3 is about even with it or slightly better even.


SMW advantages:

1. More total levels.

2. Cape is better than raccoon (though Tanooki is just about even since the statue ability helps you kill additional enemies the cape can't like Roto Discs.)

3. Entire secret worlds like Star Road and Special.

4. Switch palaces' effect on gameplay.

5. Ability to replay levels.

6. Ability to revisit cleared worlds.

7. Stars making map screen transit a snap.


SMB3 advantages:

1. Powerups. Both games have mushroom, fire flower, and star. Beyond that, SMW only has the cape and that awkward P balloon. SMB3 has leaf, tanooki, P wing, frog, and hammer.

2. Bonus gimmicks. SMW is limited to the switch palaces, basically two versions of tic tac toe (the one you access after getting 100 stars at those end-of-level posts and the crappier one where you get five chances to hit coin blocks to try to get three "O"s in a row, and the one-off "Top Secret" powerup stash in Donut Plains. SMB3 has the (virtually unwinnable) thing where you line up the three sections of a picture, the memory game with flipping the cards, Hammer Brother showdowns, mushroom houses, the weird mushroom houses for when you fulfill coin quotas in selected stages and get rewarded with either a P wing or (ugh) anchor, and the coin ships.

3. Item inventory. Yeah yeah, the item window in SMW is awesome but damn sure not enough to compete with the ability to have not only every item in the game at your disposal but multiples of them as well since you could have as many as 28 items in your stash.


I tried to not let my SMB3 bias cloud my analysis here so hopefully I didn't miss anything major. I know SMW has slightly better control, graphics, and audio, but these are all things that have improved in every new installment in the series so it'd have to be a huge jump in any of these factors in order for it to constitute a real advantage.

Lastly, I realize I listed 7 advantages for SMW and only 3 for SMB3. This is a case of quality trumping quantity. More levels is definitely a good thing when you're talking about a good game but, unless you actually count them yourself or read the comparison somewhere, you really don't notice the difference. Yoshi's Island only has 5 levels (counting the castle) and Star Road/Special basically combine to be the 8th world (13 total levels is closer to one world than two) whereas SMB3 already has 8 worlds and they all are very full from the 2nd one forward.

The Cape thing is barely an advantage since there are three different flight powerups in SMB3. Points 5, 6, and 7 are all true but aren't nearly as big of a gameplay enhancement as any of SMB3's advantages.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on October 21, 2014, 12:51:24 PM
I do not like this one quite as much as SMB3, but it is still a great game. I still consider Newer to be the best 2D Mario game, though.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 21, 2014, 01:04:40 PM
As in the "New Super Mario" line of games?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on October 21, 2014, 01:24:21 PM
No, as in Newer Super Mario Bros Wii. It is not an official game, but is just as good.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 21, 2014, 02:27:23 PM
That was good, but something about the way Mario controls in that one just isn't as satisfying as in Mario World. And the level design in Mario World is nearly untouchable.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 21, 2014, 07:36:08 PM
The final game is big and ambitious compared to previous Mario games

I think SMB3 is about even with it or slightly better even.

SMB3 is also an excellent game, and technically the best of the NES era (it's hard to compare to the iconicness of the original), but for me SMW is the perfect Mario game.
You're right on your comparison, but I never liked a lot of the suit powerups all that much aside from the raccoon, the bonus levels aren't important to me, and SMW didn't feel like it needed the inventory as much with how it played. The combo of cape + Yoshi was hella fun, and I just generally preferred the levels, music, graphics and atmosphere. It had some levels much more big and complex than the NES Marios were capable of, and exploring the levels for the alternate paths was one of the big pluses for me.

That's not to put down SMB3 at all, I'm just splitting hairs on why I prefer SMW. I played through SMB3 again not too long ago, and it doesn't surprise me that many people consider it the best. It wouldn't surprise me for any Mario game to be considered the best. But for the elements I like the most in platforming, SMW is the better fit for me. :tup

And now I feel like replaying SMW/SMW2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 21, 2014, 08:31:28 PM
It wouldn't surprise me for any Mario game to be considered the best.
Mario is Missing? :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 21, 2014, 08:35:14 PM
It wouldn't surprise me for any Mario game to be considered the best.
Mario is Missing? :P

I'd never even heard of that until just now. :lol
But I meant the main Mario series, not any game that has Mario in it. Mario's been in so many damn games, I'm sure there are a few clunkers along the way. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 21, 2014, 09:37:04 PM
I'd never even heard of that until just now. :lol
Really? I thought you'd know all of them.

I remember renting Mario is Missing back in the early/mid 90's from the video store and being incredibly disappointed with it, because I had no idea what kind of game it actually was until I got it home.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 21, 2014, 10:09:10 PM
The final game is big and ambitious compared to previous Mario games

I think SMB3 is about even with it or slightly better even.

SMB3 is also an excellent game, and technically the best of the NES era (it's hard to compare to the iconicness of the original), but for me SMW is the perfect Mario game.
You're right on your comparison, but I never liked a lot of the suit powerups all that much aside from the raccoon, the bonus levels aren't important to me, and SMW didn't feel like it needed the inventory as much with how it played. The combo of cape + Yoshi was hella fun, and I just generally preferred the levels, music, graphics and atmosphere. It had some levels much more big and complex than the NES Marios were capable of, and exploring the levels for the alternate paths was one of the big pluses for me.

That's not to put down SMB3 at all, I'm just splitting hairs on why I prefer SMW. I played through SMB3 again not too long ago, and it doesn't surprise me that many people consider it the best. It wouldn't surprise me for any Mario game to be considered the best. But for the elements I like the most in platforming, SMW is the better fit for me. :tup
Yep, totally agree. SMB3 is a great game but, to me, it's definitely a quantity over quality game. Lots of powerups, lots of levels, lots of worlds. SMW is just super refined and boiled down to pure, Mario excellence.

Quote
And now I feel like replaying SMW/SMW2.
Do it!

I'd never even heard of that until just now. :lol
Really? I thought you'd know all of them.

I remember renting Mario is Missing back in the early/mid 90's from the video store and being incredibly disappointed with it, because I had no idea what kind of game it actually was until I got it home.
Oh god yes, Mario is Missing was awful. I remember being really surprised that a new Mario game was out and then, upon playing it at a friend's house, I wasn't so surprised anymore, I was just disappointed.  :lol

Anyways, on with the list.

16. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC: 2002)
For the longest time, I hated this game. I felt it was inferior to its sequel, Oblivion. Oblivion had better combat and an actual fast-travel option. But, despite my declaration, I still found myself returning to the ash-covered environs of Morrowind over and over again. What was calling me back? It certainly wasn't the clunky combat or the fucking cliff racers, so what was it?

It was Vvardenfell, the island on which Morrowind takes place. Oblivion is set in the relatively typical fantasy land of Cyrodiil, which means lots of verdant, pastoral fields, expansive lakes, bustling towns, and lush forests. It's beautiful to look at, even pretty to explore, but ultimately it's a bit passé, a bit... hollow. Morrowind, on the other hand, takes place on the island of Vvardenfell, a realm of bubbling bogs, towering mushrooms, ash storms, clockwork dwarven ruins, and the alien architecture of the dark elves which all looks like its been cut and shaped from the hide of some massive, continent-sized beetle. It's utterly unlike anything else in a fantasy game.

The environment isn't the only notable aspect of the setting. In Vvardenfell, most of the citizens will treat you like the foreign mainlander that you are, with sneers of derision, condescension, and even outright contempt. The politics and beliefs of the characters of Morrowind play an important part in the game, far more important than anything in Oblivion or maybe even Skyrim. This gives the game world an actual personality, as you'll encounter tribal dark elves that want nothing to do with outlanders, Hlaalu slavers, ruthless Morag Tong assassins, and the casually racist Ordinator guards. This gray morality infuses even the non-dark elf groups and organizations. Even the 'best' of them have seedy underbellies that make it hard to root for one group over another. The dark elves may be a brutal, war-like people, but the Empire of Tamriel is hardly any better when you get right down to it.   

And it's not just the setting that brought me back. Morrowind has probably the most interesting plot and villain of any of the Elder Scrolls games. Most of the time, the main plots in the Elder Scrolls games are incidental, they exist merely to give you a setting to explore and loot, but in Morrowind it's actually kind of interesting. The plot concerns various prophecies and your place in them, an apocalyptic cult known as The Sixth House, and its sinister God, Dagoth Ur. It's all fairly epic stuff, as Elder Scrolls games, usually are, but it's well handled and involves a variety of different and unique quests.

But, even the best of Elder Scrolls games comes down to how much shit there is to do. And with Morrowind, there is a lot. You can customize your character in a multitude of ways (though the leveling system in Morrowind is fucking bonkers stupid at times). You can become a member of any of the three guilds, but unlike Oblivion or Skyrim, you can't become a master of the mage's guild with, say, only the dimmest of understanding of magic. You actually have to be a mage! The horror, the horror! You can even join up with one of three Noble Houses amongst a few other organizations. I'm actually not really sure about how much there is to do, because there is a lot of stuff in this game and despite how often I've played this game, I've only scratched the surface. Each organization has its own sprawling quest lines.

If joining a House or a Guild isn't to your style, you can just hoof it and explore the world. There are countless ruins, caves, temples, tombs, sewers, mines, and other places to discover and explore, some huge and sprawling and others only a few rooms in size. In these places, you'll encounter the bizarre fauna of Vvardenfell, undead guardians, vampires, Sixth House cultists, demonic daedra, and even groups of common bandits. You can take them head on, with sword and shield, shoot them from a distance with a bow, stealthily eviscerate them, or even blow them all up with magic. The choice is yours.

So, if you've played either Oblivion or Skyrim and thought they were the bee's knees, then give Morrowind a try. It may not be as polished, but it does an excellent job of transporting you to a dark and alien world full of magic, cliff racers, prophecies, more cliff racers, and cults.  Oh, did I mention cliff racers too? Seriously, there're a lot of cliff racers in this game.

Morrowind comes with a full 90 points in the Recommendation skill for those who are prophesized to actually finish an Elder Scrolls game, fans of aerial racers that live on cliffs, and people that proudly announce their character class when you talk to them.

(https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f275/Arakhor/Arakhor%20in%20Vvardenfell/16-HowmanyCliffRacers.jpg) (https://www.fanpop.com/images/polls/3827_1_full.jpg)
(https://www.gamesidestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nxw4d482cd3195cc.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on October 21, 2014, 10:57:46 PM
I love Morrowwind, as I do the entire Elder Scrolls.  Boots of Blinding speed are a must pick up item.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on October 22, 2014, 02:20:56 AM
Nice, I haven't played Morrowind yet but I do have it on Steam. Oblivion and Skyrim are great though, so I'm looking forward to going back to that one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on October 24, 2014, 06:50:12 PM
Hey guys, I'm next on the list, but since I'll very busy next month, I don't think I'll be able to start and keep up with my list. I think jingle.boy will still be busy with his Led Zeppelin discog thread, won't he?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on October 24, 2014, 06:59:58 PM
Out of all the elder scrolls games, I played morrowind the most and possibly even enjoyed it the most. Hours upon hours upon hours just sitting there playing that game. Man
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: jingle.boy on October 24, 2014, 09:33:36 PM
Hey guys, I'm next on the list, but since I'll very busy next month, I don't think I'll be able to start and keep up with my list. I think jingle.boy will still be busy with his Led Zeppelin discog thread, won't he?

Yeah, as good of an idea this sounded like at the time, I am nowhere near ready to do the writeups any justice.  I've got my list, but haven't done anything else.  Maybe in the new year for me, so if someone else is ready to go after the Crimson King, go for it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 24, 2014, 09:51:27 PM
15. Final Fantasy VI (SNES: 1994)
I remember the very first time I heard about Final Fantasy VI. My friends had printed out this massive tome of paper from the depths of the then nascent interwebs. This tome made up of loose sheaves of thin copy paper was nothing more than an incredibly comprehensive guide and walkthrough for Final Fantasy VI. The game was a couple of years old at this point and not very easy to find. My friends were obsessed with discovering every hidden little secret, every item, every esper, and every character within the game. Listening to them, day after day, rattle off names, locations, and spells instilled in me a great desire to find and play this game. I knew absolutely nothing about this game, but I needed to have it. Eventually, after several months, my parents and I tracked down a copy of the game at one of the local Funcoland locations. Cars were started, miles were driven, money was paid, and I finally held in my hands the grey little box that contained all those names, spells, espers, and secrets that I had heard so much about. This is the story of how I spent that entire summer in front of a television set.

With that little bit of nostalgia out of the way, Final Fantasy VI is the sixth installment of the long, long, long running Japanese role-playing game series. Like most of the others in the series, FFVI features a massive world to explore, a sprawling cast of characters each of which is unique, the tried-and-true ATB battle system, random encounters, dungeons, towns, monsters to fight, items to find, magic to learn, and a great story to experience. What makes FFVI such a unique entry in the series is how the story takes such a surprising turn halfway through. The first half of the game is a typical Final Fantasy game, where you progress along a fairly linear path, following plot points like crumbs of bread in a maze. The world gradually opens up as you explore more and more of it, but the second half of the game is an almost open world RPG. You have vague directions on what to do, but the details are left up to you. Quests can be accomplished in almost any order, or skipped entirely. Characters can be rediscovered or ignored completely, if you wish. And there are lots and lots of secrets hiding out in the world, many of which are very, very hard to find unless you know exactly what you're looking for. I much prefer the more structured first half of the game, but I give FFVI a lot of credit for taking such a bold step with its storytelling.

I'm not going to get into any specifics with regards to characters, mostly because there're so many of them in this game and pretty much all of them are great, but I do want to mention just one in particular. When the topic of Final Fantasy villains comes up, normally its Sephiroth from FFVII that dominates the conversation, however, the primary antagonist of FFVI, Kefka, was one of my favorite villains for a long, long time. Not only does he get some of the coolest, quirkiest music in the game, he gets an awesome, totally 16-bit laugh too. The first half of the game portrays him as an almost inept, bumbling, psychotic force of nature, always ready and willing to fuck shit up, but hard to take very seriously.

Occasionally, I debate with myself whether I like FFVI or FFIV best out of the series. I love IV, don't get me wrong, but VI does so much right and offers a fairly unprecedented level of choice not normally seen in Final Fantasy games (or at least, not in the ones I've played). So, in the end, Final Fantasy VI gets the recommendation over Final Fantasy IV for any erstwhile magicite collectors, Ultros fanboys, and Locke and Celes shippers.

(https://www.stiqblox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/final-fantasy-VI-screenshot-1.jpg) (https://www.pelaajalehti.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/paakuva_sisalto/kuvat_artikkeli/ffvi_opera_1.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 24, 2014, 10:02:27 PM
One of the best RPG's there is. :hefdaddy A great SNES game in its already amazing catalog.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on October 25, 2014, 07:28:45 AM
I have meant to play this game for a long, long time. But I seriously can't D:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 25, 2014, 01:28:48 PM
No hands, huh?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on October 25, 2014, 02:52:35 PM
No, I can use my controls fairly well with my feet; but the problem is that my sound card is broken, and 'cause the PC is kind of old, I'll just buy a new one any time soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on October 25, 2014, 04:11:38 PM
Love VI  :hefdaddy

If I had played it at the time of its release, it would probably be my favorite FF, but that spot will always belong to VII. Ended up really getting into VI around 2001 and loved every minute of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 27, 2014, 09:06:55 PM
Oops, well, I was going to do the update last night, but that didn't seem to happen so... heay look over there, an update!

14. Half-Life 2 (PC: 2004)
Half-Life 2 is the mega-successful sequel to the mega-successful original Half-Life. Like in the original, you play as the forever 'caught in the wrong place at the wrong time' scientist and bearded legend, Gordon Freedom. Instead of the rundown and overrun environs of the Black Mesa Research Facility, this time you're transported by the mysterious G-Man to the totalitarian and dystopian near future Earth, one conquered by a race of aliens known only as the Combine. What little of the Earth's surface that isn't overrun by horrid alien life is devoted instead to the 1984-esque Combine-run cities replete with propaganda-spewing loudspeakers, security-laden check points, and lots and lots of blue jumpsuits.

One of the best things about Half-Life 2 is that none of the above is ever infodumped to the player in some lengthy, cinematic expository scene. It's all stuff you have to glean from the environment, from the scattered comments of the various NPC's, to the very occasional moments when someone will directly address the player. This approach works incredibly well. For those gamers more able to piece together the clues scattered around the world, there's an incredible sense of accomplishment when you finally feel as if you've cracked the mystery of the backstory. For those more like myself, those comments and details that hint at what happened in the years between Half-Life and Half-Life 2 that might explain just how the world ended up as shitty as it is keep you salivating for an overt explanation that never comes.

But, enough about the story stuff. It's a game, not a novel, what really matters is the gameplay, right? Both Half-Life and Half-Life 2 represent not revolutionary gameplay but a honing and tightening of every gear, every wheel, and every widget that makes an FPS enjoyable. It plays just like every other FPS that existed before Call of Duty became a thing, it just plays really, really well. Now, Half-Life 2 does introduce a few more inspired moments of gameplay beyond the typical run-and-gun. These come in the forms of two, massive levels composed almost entirely of vehicular driving and the Gravity Gun. The vehicles sections are rather good and help break up the monotony. I really, really like the airboat section in Water Hazard, but the car section goes on a bit too long and doesn't really do anything new. It's still fun, but it gets a bit plodding after a while.

The Gravity Gun, on the other hand, is one of the greatest weapons ever invented for an FPS. It's a simple concept, it's a gun that lets you manipulate the physics effects in the game to a greater degree than what you would normally be able to. This allows you to fling saw blades, garbage cans, and other detritus at your enemies or even pick up a big piece of scrap and use it as a rudimentary shield. The Gravity Gun also makes one of the best levels in the game possible. What level could I be talking about? Any astute Half-Life 2 fanboy would know immediately which one I mean. Ravenholm.

Ravenholm is an abandoned city overrun by alien zombies. It's full of deadly traps, nasty environmental hazards, and it's extremely light on the ammo. This means that you're going to spend the majority of the level using your Gravity Gun to fling washing machines and motors at angry headcrab zombies while you desperately try to conserve what little ammo you have. It's brilliant in execution as it truly manages to accentuate just how limited your resources are. Add to that the groans, screams, and cries of the zombies inhabiting Ravenholm that pierce the night sky as the inexorably try to hunt you down before you manage to escape. It's tense stuff and it's probably one of the greatest FPS levels ever created.

So, for Ravenholm and the Gravity Gun, I give Half-Life 2 a physics-defying recommendation for those who were wondering just what happened to that security guard in Half-Life 1, fans of horned rimmed glasses and dorky beards, and anyone who likes to thoroughly poop themselves (Ravenholm is scary... don't judge me).

(https://myego.cz/img/grafika/half-life-2.jpg) (https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121013150847/half-life/en/images/b/b7/Gravity-Gun-Half-Life-2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on October 27, 2014, 10:20:33 PM
Played this classic again some months ago, it was a blast just like the old times  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 28, 2014, 01:11:37 AM
Omg, two absolute classics! I recently bought The Orange Pack for the PS3, I'm definitly gonna do a playthrough of HL2. :tup It's absolutely insane how they managed to follow up one of my favorite games of all time with yet another classic!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Chino on October 28, 2014, 06:47:42 AM
I still can't believe we haven't seen a HL3.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ReaperKK on October 28, 2014, 06:48:47 AM
Such a great list, reliving a lot of great games. I remember playing CS through beta starting at beta 5, I remember spending middle school nights with my new cable internet playing dust and nuke.

I only played BioShock 1 last year after playing Infinite. I can't believe I missed out this game when it was released.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 28, 2014, 10:19:21 PM
Such a great list, reliving a lot of great games. I remember playing CS through beta starting at beta 5, I remember spending middle school nights with my new cable internet playing dust and nuke.

I only played BioShock 1 last year after playing Infinite. I can't believe I missed out this game when it was released.
Thanks. Glad to see you're enjoying. :)

13. Chrono Trigger (SNES: 1995)
Chrono Trigger is one of those games that regularly appears on these sorts of lists. The words 'great,' 'masterpiece,' and 'defining' are typically used to describe it. With all of this hype surrounding it, it would not be unwarranted to discover that Chrono Trigger does not live up to the lofty praises a generation of nerds have continually heaped upon it. Thankfully, Chrono Trigger does not collapse beneath the weight, nay it does not even stumble.

For one unversed in the legacy of Chrono Trigger, its name should at least hint at the fact that there is a time-travel element in the game's story. Chrono Trigger's epic story stretches from the distant annals of a dinosaur-ruled past to the forlorn and ruined wastes of a post-apocalyptic future (why is the future always so shitty?). Each time period has it's own story and characters and is connected to the others by the overarching story with the characters, villains, and twists unfolding across a millennia. It's incredibly well done and it never seems to get stale. Just as one time period starts to get a little boring, you are whisked off to a new one with new characters, plots, and enemies awaiting you. I won't get too in depth about the story, mostly because it's sprawling and epic and awesome in all the right ways, but I will give a very brief synopsis. You play Chrono a young boy in a pseudo-steampunk era kingdom and you and your friends accidentally get thrown back in time to the middle ages. The cast of characters you encounter run the gamut from spoiled princess, techy nerd girl, robot, frog knight, emo mage, and cavegirl. If that rundown doesn't make you want to play, then frankly, I don't know what will.

Like many other JRPG's from the SNES era, Chrono Trigger features a turn based battle system. You issue orders to Chrono and the current members of your party and each character has different strengths and access to different abilities. Unlike other JRPG's (mainly the Final Fantasy series) there are no annoying random encounters. Most enemies are clearly visible before you encounter them and some you can skip past if you're careful or lucky enough. The battles involve a bit more tactical acumen than is normal for most turn based JRPG's. Not only do you have to manage resources, but characters and enemies will gradually reposition themselves during the battles, making hitting them with area of effect attacks more difficult or even easier sometimes. During battles characters can also combine their abilities together to create one, devastating combo. This means that sometimes it might be better to hold off on an attack until you can synch several characters together at once. It's a very simple system, but it's surprising how rewarding it can be.

Chrono Trigger is probably my favorite JRPG of all time which is made all the more impressive that it's time travel-focused story doesn't drive me bonkers. That's a feat in itself really! For its reward, Chrono Trigger gets a flux capacitor-infused recommendation for any time travel junkies, fans of protagonists who have little to say but much ass to kick, and anyone who likes to pepper their vernacular with thees, thous, and ribbits.

(https://www.juegomania.org/Chrono+Trigger/foto/psone/0/312/312_t.jpg/Foto+Chrono+Trigger.jpg) (https://gamefabrique.com/storage/screenshots/snes/chrono-trigger-05.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 28, 2014, 10:28:23 PM
Awwwwwww yeah :hat

Everything about this game is done so well and so right--the memorable music, the addicting gameplay, the captivating story, and the stunning visuals. I love Final Fantasy VI and all, but Chrono Trigger really takes the cake on this one. It's in my top 3 of all time, no question. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on October 28, 2014, 10:36:44 PM
Awwwwwww yeah :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 29, 2014, 03:30:38 AM
Awwwwwww yeah :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on October 29, 2014, 03:46:24 AM
Can't believe I've never played Chrono Trigger. Will have to remedy that, sounds fantastic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on October 29, 2014, 05:58:00 AM
Can't believe I've never played Chrono Trigger. Will have to remedy that, sounds fantastic.
I envy you, you're in for a treat. The story may not seem like much at first, but after the main villain is introduced, it grows and grows until it's just a huge as any old school Final Fantasy. It's so awesome. :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on October 29, 2014, 10:02:20 PM
Can't believe I've never played Chrono Trigger. Will have to remedy that, sounds fantastic.
Do it. It's still such a great game and definitely worth the time investment.

12. WarCraft 3: Reign of Chaos (PC: 2002)
WarCraft 2: Tides of Darkness has the distinction of being the very second game I got for the PC (the first was Sim City 2000) and I credit it with turning me into the primarily PC gamer that I am today. I loved WarCraft 2 and when I heard that Blizzard was finally planning a sequel, I ate up every bit of information that dribbled out in the intervening months. When it finally dropped, I was in heaven. WarCraft 3: Reign of Chaos was clearly the successor to WarCraft 2. The roots were still plainly visible but the trunk and branches were all different enough to make it a new kind of tree.

All of the games in the WarCraft series (aside from World of Warcraft) are real-time strategy games and they helped to establish and make the RTS genre as successful and ubiquitous as it was at the end of 90's and the beginning of the 2000's. Unlike its predecessor, WarCraft 3 takes some of the design decisions from StarCraft and features four, unique races, each one fairly different and largely balanced against each other. Both the humans and the orcs return from the previous games while the night elves and the undead are the new kids on the block (not the band...). WarCraft 3 also features a huge focus on heroes. Your heroes gain levels and get access to new abilities as the battles wage on. They are a huge focus in how you plan and fight battles and, in the latter stages of games, become the centerpieces of the game. Some people did not care for the huge focus on the heroes, but I really enjoyed it and thought it added both a logical and exciting layer to a genre that was becoming a bit... staid and predictable at this point.

The story continues the broadening conflict between the humans and orcs and picks up several years after the events of WarCraft 2. The story unfolds across four different campaigns. In the first, with the orcs in exodus to some mysterious destination the humans face a new, unknown threat:  the undead scourge. In the second campaign, the undead continue their swath of destruction across the human lands of the Alliance. The third focuses on the orcs as they attempt to establish themselves in a new, unknown land and come into conflict with its native populace. The last deals with the night elves and brings all the dangling plot threads from the previous four campaigns to a close. Overall the story really isn't anything new, but it's told well and the characters all have enough depth and the missions are fairly varied and interesting enough that the game never gets boring. Sometimes you might be given a small and limited squad of troops to achieve your objectives, sometimes you might be tasked with establishing a base and destroying the enemy, and other times you might be given the simple objective to hold out and survive against increasingly insane waves of enemies.

The game really comes to life in its multiplayer capabilities. Teaming up with some friends against the computer or going all free for all against your buds is equally fun. When the tried and true game types fail to excite then WarCraft 3 comes with an impressively robust editor that allows you to make maps and even completely new and unique gametypes. It was from these polygonal loins that DOTA was born, for better or worse.

I've kinda moved away from the RTS genre lately, but there was a time when it was my preferred gametype. I'd play any and everyone I could get my hands on and WarCraft 3, even though it came out when the genre was waning, was (still is!) one of my favorites. If I had enough wood and lumber I'd give WarCraft 3: Reign of Chaos the recommendation it deserves to anyone who enjoys furiously clicking on peasants, people who use the words daboo, zug-gug, and skooboo in their daily lexicon, and peon-rushing douchebags.

(https://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/1/46/ss026-xl.jpg) (https://shpila.ru/uploads/posts/2011-08/1312189357_1311590613_warcraft_6_flero.ru.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 01, 2014, 12:18:31 PM
Cool thing, I do love strategy games, but I do absolutely suck at them :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 02, 2014, 05:40:25 AM
To this day, I'm still using the word "zug-zug" when someone asks me to do something.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on November 02, 2014, 07:00:36 AM
Cool thing, I do love strategy games, but I do absolutely suck at them :lol .

This. I enjoy these types of games for the skirmishes and campaigns on easy but on the difficult settings or playing online I am terrible.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 02, 2014, 07:41:08 PM
Meant to get this up last night but I got side-tracked by other things. Sorry bout that.

11. Baldur's Gate (PC: 1998)
I can vividly remember the months leading up to Baldur's Gate's release. I saw some screenshots in a gaming magazine and, for some reason, I became obsessed with the game. I had to get it when it came out. Why? No idea, but it was going to be mine. I knew nothing about Dungeons and Dragons and the Forgotten Realms were less Forgotten than completely unknown to me. Yet, still I was obsessed. The game finally released and being the poor, High School student that I was at the time, I had to wait until I finally had enough money to buy it for myself. One of my classmates got the game and he would spend the lunch period telling me all about the escapades of his party up and down the Sword Coast all while I seethed in jealousy and frustration.

Finally the day came when I held that dirt brown colored box in my hands. Slowly I fed each of its five CD's (!!) into my computer and went through the long, laborious installation process. The game recommended a 120mhz processor but I only had a 90 at the time. I didn't care. It didn't need to run smooth, it just needed to run. Once the installation was complete, I booted up the game and lost myself in the rich, fantasy world of the Forgotten Realms. Since my processor wasn't entirely up to snuff, the game ran rather poorly, the loading screens were extra long, and sometimes it would take a while for the game to catch up with the action. It wasn't ideal, but I didn't care. I played all 80 hours of the game like this.

Of all the games on this list, Baldur's Gate is very much a diamond in the rough. It has flaws, many of which annoy me very, very much and make me question why I continue to replay this game over and over again. Some parts are overly repetitive, many of the side quests are simple and boring fetch quests or kill quests, and very few of your party members have any sort of depth to them at all. It's buggy, it's long, and it's brutally, unforgivingly difficult at times and yet, it's number eleven on my list of my top twenty-five favorite games of all time. Why?  Because, despite all of those very apparent problems, it's still a whole lot of fun.

Baldur's Gate a tactical, real-time RPG set in the world of the Forgotten Realms. It uses a modified version of the 2E Advanced Dungeons and Dragons system for combat, character creation, and task resolution. That really didn't mean much to me at the time, but nowadays, whenever I replay the game, I find many of its restrictions irritating. Despite the limitations of the rules system, you can easily play the game without worrying about figuring out your THAC0 or saving throws. Your class and race confer certain benefits and drawbacks that will dictate how much ass you will kick and in what way it will be kicked. Most of that stuff is largely in the background, so you can just focus on the important things: the story, the characters, and the combat.

The story is typical epic fantasy stuff. You're an orphan, blah blah blah, mysterious armored dude wants you dead, yada yada yada, conspiracy, secrets, and the answers can only be unearthed by assembling a motley party of adventurers and going forth into the wilderness, crushing evil, taking its treasure and experience points. Some of the very first fights you'll get yourself involved in will probably end up with you and your party members dead because at this point, you are a level 1 schmuck venturing out into a world full of evil wizards, demons, dragons, gibberlings, bandits and a whole slew of other, nasty things that eat level 1 schmucks for breakfast. This means that when you finally take down that group of bandits that has been killing you over and over again there's an enormous sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. There's also a real sense of progression as you gain levels and get more and more powerful, threats that you once struggled with become easier and less dangerous. This makes it really feel like you are becoming the whispered Hero of the Sword Coast, plague of bandits and smasher of evil. The story may not be revolutionary but it does pack some great set pieces and twists along the way. The villains are all nasty enough that, by the end of the game, you'll want to take them down just as much as your characters will.

The combat is where the game shines the most though. It occurs in real-time but you can pause the action at any moment to issue orders to your party members. This makes most encounters feel a bit more tactical than they normally would. And you're going to need to stretch those tactical muscles because rushing straight on into most fights is going to result in revisiting the loading screen many, many times. You'll need to prepare which spells you think you might need ahead of time and buff appropriately lest you get caught with your proverbial codpiece around your ankles.

I could keep going on and on, but this is already long enough so I'll cut it short here. The short of it is Baldur's Gate is a flawed but somehow still fantastic fantasy RPG. It's fantastic enough that I've played through it fully at least four times and the game is, I think, around at least 40 hours long. I don't ever want to see how much time I've spent on this game, lest I start feeling really, really sad for myself. Regardless, it gets a +3 in the Recommendation non-weapon proficiency skill for anyone who has ever wanted to delve into dangerous dungeons, people who have always wanted their own giant miniature space hamster, and those who have always wanted to try their hand at beating the crap out of Elminster (and failing miserably...).

(https://www.manapool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/entangle1.jpg) (https://archive.org/download/BALDUR/BALDUR.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ReaperKK on November 02, 2014, 08:33:32 PM
I started chrono trigger but never finished it. I'll have to fix that one day.

I have some great fun with wc3 and never played BG
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 02, 2014, 09:01:58 PM
Chrono Trigger again? This game must be good, eh?

:neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 03, 2014, 03:49:36 AM
OMG, I know I keep repeating myself here, but I LOVE YOUR LIST!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 03, 2014, 10:43:17 PM
OMG, I know I keep repeating myself here, but I LOVE YOUR LIST!
If you love PC games from around the end of the 90's through the early 2000's, I reckon you will continue to love it. :)

And now for a game that was certainly not on the PC.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64: 1998)
Ocarina of Time is the landmark video game that transported Link from the world of topdown, isometric 2D to a full on 3D action/adventure/platformer and, in my opinion, it does so very successfully and much more so than, say, Mario 64 (so controversial!). Ocarina retains the series focus on exploration, puzzle solving, and combat but it makes full use of the 3D environments while doing so. Some may criticize the game for being a bit too handholdy with the inclusions of both Navi (fucking Navi!) and the Z-targeting, but while Navi does have the tendency to point out the obvious, the Z-targeting system keeps the combat from devolving into a mess of swinging cameras and obscured enemies. Additionally, the Z-targeting system allows for the game to incorporate some fun and involved fights, such as the stalfos duels, that might otherwise not be possible. It's rather ingenious how such a simple mechanism can be so elegant when implemented well. With the focus on the z-targeting mechanic, combat becomes less of a ferocious clash of quickly traded blows and more of a slow, patient game of wait for the right moment. Some might criticize this aspect of the gameplay but I think it works perfectly.

Like in Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time focuses more time on the story than the first two games. The story basically boils down to an excuse to explore a bunch of dungeons, find treasure, and fight bosses but it's well done for what it is. Like the Light World/Dark World mechanic in Link to the Past, Ocarina allows you to switch between time periods; the peaceful and pastoral Hyrule of young Link's time period and the dark, ruined, and semi-post apocalyptic Hyrule of his near future. Switching between time periods becomes essential to the latter part of the game, as performing tasks in Young Link's timeline unlocks areas that Adult Link would normally find impassable. Ocarina also includes a massive amount of optional side-quests to perform that will likely drive the completionists absolutely bonkers.

I have very little to complain about when it comes to Ocarina.  I guess, maybe it's a little too easy? Everything else is just so massively good, the dungeon design, the music (the Forest Temple theme, I could listen to that for hours...), the enemies, the combat, the bosses. Ocarina of Time gets a full heart containers worth of recommendations for anyone who gets a perverse pleasure out of making Link fall from ridiculous heights, folks who love watching Darunia dance, and people whom will never find the words 'Hey... Listen!' ever getting annoying.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/OcarinaOfTimeBattle.JPG) (https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/54472-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest-gamecube-screenshot.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 03, 2014, 10:49:37 PM
FINALLY a game I can agree with! :lol
One of my favourite games of all time because as you said, everything is just so good. Is it too easy? I'm a pretty casual gamer, especially these days, so that's worked in its favour for me if anything. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on November 03, 2014, 11:30:08 PM
This and Majora's Mask are probably the two most important games of my childhood. :tup Everything about them just blew me away and they're still fun to play. A true masterpiece that will likely never tire on me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on November 04, 2014, 12:58:49 AM
One of the greatest. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 04, 2014, 02:09:10 AM
I bought the special edition of Wind Waker to my Gamecube, just so I could play this. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 04, 2014, 03:05:38 AM
I bought the special edition of Wind Waker to my Gamecube, just so I could play this. :tup

Me too. I still haven't finished Master Quest. I think I made it to the Spirit Temple?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 04, 2014, 03:12:25 AM
I bought the special edition of Wind Waker to my Gamecube, just so I could play this. :tup

Me too. I still haven't finished Master Quest. I think I made it to the Spirit Temple?
I bought it just a few weeks ago and haven't gotten around to play it yet.  :lol I used to emulate it when I was younger, feels good to actually play it properly now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 04, 2014, 08:01:58 AM
I have the 3DSremake, but haven't finished it :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 05, 2014, 06:04:12 PM
Talking about remakes, Majora's Mask for 3DS was confirmed today by Nintendo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 05, 2014, 07:14:44 PM
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (X-Box 360/PC: 2011)
Skyrim is yet another Bethesda game in which a giant, sprawling world calls out to the inner kleptomaniac in each of us to come and steal all of its shit. Like Morrowind, Skyrim takes place in the fantasy setting of Tamriel, specifically the province of Skyrim which is all vikings and dragons and big, honking axes. While not as banal as Oblivion, Skyrim's setting is still fairly typical fantasy faire and doesn't really hold much of a candle to Morrowind's bizarre and alien landscape. Thankfully, Skyrim succeeds in other areas. For one, finally, the leveling system has been unborked. No longer can you accidentally level yourself into utter uselessness just because you don't know how to game the system. The combat is much better too. What it comes down to for me is that while Morrowind is more interesting to explore, Skyrim is much more fun to play.

Like Oblivion and Morrowind, Skyrim is filled to the brim with things to do: monsters to kill, quests to undertake, and loot to... loot. It provides enough of a guiding hand so that you'll always know where you need to go... eventually but it leaves the getting there up to you. You can ignore the main quest for as long as you wish and just head off on your own to do whatever you want to.

While there is a whole helluva lot to do in Skyrim, I don't have that much to say about it. Why? Well, almost everything I said about Morrowind could apply to Skyrim so there's really no reason to cover the same ground again. I usually vacillate between which Elder Scrolls game I prefer, but I think it just comes down to fact that no matter how intriguing I find Morrowind, I much prefer to play Skyrim. It plays so much better and the absolutely snazzy graphics help with the immersion factor. Even un-modded the game is beautiful.

I give a loud Fus-Ro-Recommendation to Skyrim to any wannabe vikings, weekend dragon slayers, or those who manage to still adventure despite that arrow they took to the knee.

(https://media.pcgamer.com/files/2011/12/GOTY-Skyrim-2.jpg) (https://international.download.nvidia.com/webassets/en_US/shared/images/guides/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-tweak-guide/Skyrim-Detail-Ultra-SliderComparison.png)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on November 06, 2014, 12:05:01 AM
Talking about remakes, Majora's Mask for 3DS was confirmed today by Nintendo.

I literally yelped and salivated with joy for that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Onno on November 06, 2014, 01:40:43 AM
Skyrim is a fantastic game, I played it for a long time. However, the one thing that made me basically stop playing it is the combat. It becomes so dull after a while.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 06, 2014, 01:54:47 AM
I don't even wanna know how many hours I've put into Skyrim. Ridiculous game. I even got the über edition for it:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/310849_10150395469843749_752414211_n.jpg?oh=f9f00ad33a7750c3642dd85e01d1b3eb&oe=54D50733&__gda__=1424909792_78e0d966e199eb71786803fd50f6ff15)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/390080_10150395521088749_879995527_n.jpg?oh=8057bfe76c02712df390203ea5d2ecf9&oe=54DE2F66&__gda__=1423441888_3484e03d309d5f7ed2f338539bc59c8d)

 :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 06, 2014, 08:15:44 AM
I think I spent around 100+ hours on my first game, and 60+ on the second, DLCs included. Great game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Chino on November 06, 2014, 08:23:37 AM
I put in almost 300 hours on my first game. My launch-model ps3 got the ylod and that was that. I tried starting the game again and stopped playing before I got to the first checkpoint.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on November 06, 2014, 06:39:25 PM
I put around 200 hours into this game, and still play it every once in a while. The only issue was that the PS3 version became unplayable once the file size approached the double digits. It became even more of a slideshow than the Berserk series. Luckily, Bethesda fixed this issue... after nearly half a year. Still a great game, though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 09, 2014, 10:54:08 AM
8. Mass Effect / Mass Effect 2 / Mass Effect 3 (X-Box 360: 2007/2010/2012)
To those who say that I'm cheating by putting three games in one slot, I respond by saying "Tough cookies." This is my list and I reserve the right to cheat if I want to!

Regardless of the cheating (or lackthereof) in this entry, for those who have been living under an especially large and internet-less rock for the past seven years, Mass Effect is the highly successful third-person shooter/RPG trilogy wherein players take the role of Commander Shepard, certified human badass, in a distant future filled with aliens, technomagic errr I mean 'biotics,' and killer synthetics. Players can customize Shepard in an incredible number of ways, from choosing the gender of their hero (female Shepard ftw!), her class, skills, backstory, companions, and even a limited number of romance options. You can build Shepard into a stone-cold killer who is ruthless and pragmatic when it comes to accomplishing her mission or you can make Shepard into a bleeding heart 'save and help everyone' space hippy if you wish.

The great thing about Mass Effect is how successfully it manages to combine all of these elements into a cohesive and enthralling game. Okay, well, maybe in the first game the shooting was a bit, erm, clunky but the subsequent games really refined the action to the point that movement and shooting in Mass Effect 3 is incredibly fluid and fun. Each class and character has their own abilities, strengths and weaknesses which make them more suited to certain situations or tasks. Playing the game as a sneaky, sniping infiltrator, for example, is going to feel very different from playing the game as a shotgun-toting, charge-happy vanguard (the ONLY way to play the game), while bringing Liara and Tali along with you on a mission is going to mean you'll be more effective against certain enemies and less effective against others.

The story grabs you from the first few minutes of Mass Effect and doesn't loosen its grip until the final (and controversial) seconds of Mass Effect 3. And this is the reason that I ranked all three games together. Each game can be enjoyed independently, but it's together where their greatness truly shines. Character moments in the final game won't be as poignant if you haven't spent the last two games getting to know the characters and experiencing the story with them.  And the game is filled to the brim with great and interesting characters that both help to round out your team and add flavor to the setting. Characters like Tali, Wrex, The Illusive Man, Saren, Garrus, Mordin, Joker, Legion, and Captain Anderson are just a small number of examples that I could name.

I do have some issues with the games, each one has its own problems in my opinion, but overall, I think the trilogy holds together amazingly well and it is a great accomplishment on the part of Bioware. If I had to rank them (and well, this is a list so I kinda do...), I'd rank them thusly: Mass Effect >= Mass Effect 2 > Mass Effect 3. While Mass Effect 3 is probably my least favorite due to some story reasons, it is probably my favorite for pure gameplay fun, but for the purposes of this list each game is part of a greater whole, where the weaknesses in one are made up for by the strengths in another. For this reason, the Mass Effect trilogy gets my endorsement for anyone who likes Star Wars but thinks that years of shit movies and shit novels have made the setting a bit shit, people for whom the Renegade option is the only option, and those who love to say "I'm Commander Shepherd and this is my favorite game on the Citadel."

(https://www.gameblog.fr/images/blogs/27033/141056.jpg) (https://atthebuzzerpodcast.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/masseffect2game.jpg)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P0ZpWxWkCJI/Tl01R2AQxFI/AAAAAAAAAE8/mdWZhPk66tw/s1600/MassEffect2-MoralChoiceDialog001.jpg) (https://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/mig/5/2/9/4/2115294-169_mass_effect_3_gameplay_xbox360_022912_harvester.jpg)

I'll see about getting the next one up, hopefully later tonight.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on November 09, 2014, 11:57:29 AM
Incredible series!

I don't think you're cheating, the games make up a single storyline.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 09, 2014, 01:00:39 PM
I'm planning to buy the trilogy for PS3 soon. These games look bloody good.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 09, 2014, 10:42:02 PM
I'm planning to buy the trilogy for PS3 soon. These games look bloody good.
Do it. They are. :)

7. X-Com: UFO Defense (PC: 1994)
X-Com is a turn-based, tactical strategy game that hails from the distant, sepia-toned and pixilated years of the early 90's. Come join me, dear reader, and let me regale you with tales of massacred soldiers, alien invasions, hidden movement, and psychic assaults.

Despite being twenty years old, X-Com is still, way ahead of its time. The basic gist of X-Com is that the Earth is under attack by aliens and you are given the go-ahead from the various nations of the Earth to start a force capable of defending against the aliens and, eventually, taking the fight to them. That's it.  That's the story. There are no characters, no real plot twists, just this basic setup, and a series of randomized encounters that propel the action and keep the game moving.

X-Com combines two separate, but totally integrated games. The first is the world view, where you have a wide, encompassing view of the Earth. From here, you build up a base, manage your money, construct supplies, train troops, keep the various nations of the world happy so that they will continue to supply you with funds and manpower. There's a lot to do and, as with most ancient PC games, the UI is supremely unhelpful. There are a lot of buttons and no help on what any of them do. Getting into X-Com is not an easy task for the uninitiated.

The second game within X-Com are the various isometric, turn-based scenarios that you will undertake. Such scenarios involve alien craft that you shoot down and investigate, terror missions where aliens attack civilian areas, base assaults where you find and destroy hidden alien bases and also, when the aliens finally have enough of you fucking with their shit, they will assault your base. Yes, the aliens are bastards, but that is just the tip of the alien-bastardry iceberg.

The aliens that your soldiers will face are a varied lot, starting with the lowly greys (called sectoids) that you will encounter throughout the early stages of the game to the fucking ethereals that will make you hate anything and everything in the late stages of the game. Seriously, fuck you ethereals. Even the sectoids, the alien chumps of the X-Com universe, are not without their tricks. Their commanders often possess psychic powers that they can use to drive your soldiers into states of panic and fear. Other aliens include the floating, biomechanical cyberdiscs, the flying floaters (redundant word is redundant?), the dumb and tough mutons who fill the role of the space brutes, snakemen, and the chrysalids. Ugh, the chrysalids. Your first encounter with chrysalids will be one you will remember. I have never seen a mission turn from good to omg-my-whole-squad-is-dead faster than when chrysalids are involved. For a chrysalid, think of a giant, bipedal insect that, when it bites its victim, the venom turns the creature into a mindless zombie. Bad enough right? Wrong! When you kill that zombie, another chrysalid pops out fully grown to continue the cycle of teabagging your ego into a bloody smear.

Make one wrong move, and your soldiers will die. And they will die a lot. Don't get attached or you might watch as your Master Sniper named Sven, who survived through those first, harrowing missions to become a true, exo-skeleton and plasma-rifle equipped badass, get iced by a lowly sectoid in a darkened warehouse. That's the beauty of X-Com. It is so unrelenting and so punishingly evil in how it constantly pushes you to maximize your tactical options. Do you reload and try to find a way to save Sven or do you let him take one for the team so that you can, hopefully, mop up the remaining alien resistance with limited casualties?

One aspect that I did not touch upon that adds an entire dimension to the gameplay is that X-Com features almost fully destructible environments. If you know that a lone chrysalid is hiding inside of a warehouse, you can bomb the place to the ground with a few well-placed rockets and grenades rather than send a platoon of men inside to their death. You can even blast holes through walls with your laser rifles. This adds a tremendous amount of tactical options to an already tactically rich experience and one that you will miss when you play similar games. The fact that X-Com, a game made in 1994, had destructible terrain and most games nowadays do not is astounding.

So if you don't mind dealing with an obtuse UI and graphics only slightly clearer than mud, give X-Com a try. It's not the fastest paced game and it may seem a bit boring at first, but that first terror mission or that first base assault should convince you that there is something very special about this game. It's a classic for a reason.

This game comes highly recommended for wannabe anti-martian field commanders, people who love to name military squads after their favorite bands and then watching them die horrifically, and folks who love to read the words 'hidden movement' over and over and over again.

Note, a sequel/remake to X-Com: UFO Defense came out in 2012 named X-Com: Enemy Unknown. It is a good game and it very handily updates and expands upon the formulas of the previous games. I don't know if it's nearly as good, but if you're jonesing for a game with a similar style and depth, but with modern graphics and a UI that doesn't look like an accounting spreadsheet, then Enemy Unknown is an excellent game. Play it on classic difficulty and it will punish the fuck out of you.

(https://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue19/greviews/ufo3.gif) (https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/421326-x-com-ufo-defense-windows-screenshot-this-ufo-was-badly-damaged.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 12, 2014, 04:39:46 PM
Isn't a new game of this series out? I remember it being diesel-punk during the first trailers, and was disappointed it ended up as a strategy game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 12, 2014, 10:06:29 PM
Isn't a new game of this series out? I remember it being diesel-punk during the first trailers, and was disappointed it ended up as a strategy game.
Yes. Enemy Unknown. It's awesome. I don't know what 'diesel punk' is, but X-Com is probably not it. Yes, it is a strategy game and it's a great one.

6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES: 1992)
Surprise! Surprise! Another Zelda game on this list! An astute reader must surely be thinking that I must really like me some Zelda. You bet your sweet Triforce I do!

And this is my favorite of them all. Why? Well, take all the other gushing things I said about The Legend of Zelda and Ocarina of Time and amplify them by a number greater than 7 but probably less than 23. Yep, A Link To The Past is that badass. As far as I can recall, LttP features probably the most involved story and world of a Zelda game to that date while significantly expanding upon both the histories of Hyrule and Ganon but also the lore of the Triforce. A lot of this would be fleshed out to greater degrees in subsequent games.

Like in the original, LttP is another top-down, isometric entry in the series, but it also features some 3D-esque architecture. I'm not really going to go into too much detail here, I've already fellated myself to two other Zelda games on this list, but LttP is like the original Zelda but... better in every single way. The enemies are more varied and interesting, the dungeons are more involved with some actual puzzles, the bosses are all fucking awesome and they all feel like bosses, the overworld is large and expansive with tons of things to do and find, and the items are all very useful, to the point that you'll be using many of them over and over again.

This is a fantastic game and it still plays like a champ. It's not stupidly difficult like some other games from the NES and SNES era (*coughAdventureofLinkcough*) but it's hard enough that you feel a sense of accomplishment when you kill a boss or finish a palace. The shiny, cartoony SNES graphics means that it has aged a lot better than the blocky polygons and muddy textures of Ocarina (IMO). The music is awesome with the Dark World Palace music of bringing just the right amount of dread and the Light World Theme being the type of epic music Legolas probably chills out to in between killing orcs and shield-surfing on the weekends (or maybe he just listens to Rhapsody of Fire...).

I love this game and you should to. If you don't well... then... go get a... taste... reevaluation. Or... something. Your mom's a Triforce. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past gets a Triforce of Recommendation for anyone hoping that their Dark World form is something other than a rubber ball or a sickly mushroom, those triforce wondering triforce just triforce how triforce many triforce more times I can triforce fit the word 'Triforce' into this entry triforcetriforcetriforce, and any hookshot fanatics triforce.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/shots/34385-Legend_of_Zelda,_The_-_A_Link_to_the_Past_(USA)-30.jpg) (https://199.101.98.242/media/shots/34385-Legend_of_Zelda,_The_-_A_Link_to_the_Past_(USA)-24.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on November 12, 2014, 10:09:20 PM
Approval rating: 100%
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on November 12, 2014, 10:41:20 PM
ALTP is amazing. My favorite 2D Zelda by far. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ariich on November 13, 2014, 12:06:19 AM
Yay! :D The only Zelda game I've played, but I loved it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 13, 2014, 04:05:35 AM
Have you played A Link Between Worlds, my lord?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 16, 2014, 01:46:01 PM
Have you played A Link Between Worlds, my lord?
Alas, no I have not. Not out of any desire not to but mostly because I don't own a 3DS. If I did, I would totally get that game as what little I've read about it looks pretty awesome. Every once in a while I kinda think about getting a 3DS, just to play A Link Between Worlds, but then I look at how my DS just sits around and gathers a lot of dust these days and I rethink that idea.

5. Half-Life (PC: 1998)
I can remember when Half-Life first came out. I don't recall any of the hype leading up its release but I remember when it was finally released, it made an almost immediate impact upon the gaming landscape for its graphics, gameplay, atmosphere, story, and mise-en-scène (which is, essentially, the visual act of telling a story for all of you who are not snobby film fans or people too lazy to not google snobby film-fan terms)1. It was a landmark, loved by critics and fans alike and for good reason. The things it was lauded for at the time seem so commonplace now, the lack of cinematics, the silent protagonist, and the way the scripted events helped to make the setting of Black Mesa feel more alive even as everything around you was dying horribly. Even the AI was impressive. Not just for its time as it has, IMO, very rarely been equaled since (only F.E.A.R. really comes to mind).

I'll just get this out of the way but Half-Life is one of the best straight up First Person Shooters of all time. It combines a good story, an excellent setting (Black Mesa is up there with Rapture for me), great gameplay, a wide variety of weapons, a wide variety of enemies to shoot with the aforementioned weapons, some of the best boss battles ever to grace an FPS (the boss battles in HL2 are all, IMO, a fucking joke by comparison), and probably some other stuff that I forgot to mention.

Half-Life tells the story of the worst day ever of Scientist Gordon Freeman, who, after a botched experiment at the Black Mesa Research Facility, must escape the ruined compound as countless hordes of extradimensional beings begin to overrun it. Eventually the military is called in not help the trapped scientists but to clean up the mess before it gets out of control. It's a great story and it's conveyed with nary a cut scene in sight. Throughout the game, from the opening tram ride through Black Mesa to the alien biospheres of Xen at the very climax, you stay within the confines of Gordon Freeman so everything you see an experience it's as if you are seeing and experiencing it.

Despite a majority of the action being limited to the Black Mesa Research facility, there are a wide variety of levels that you'll explore from the offices and testing labs, to the underground railways, the rocket testing pits, the industrial waste disposal area... section, whatever, to the final moments of the game when you are transported to the gravity-deficient levels of Xen. Some people don't like the Xen levels and, while I'm not their biggest fan, they don't last too long and there are some really fun moments, including a boss that looks distressingly like a wrinkled ball-sack and spits white... stuff at you.

By today's standards, Half-Life might not seem like much but back in the day, it sure was something else. Despite not making an appearance on this list, the expansion pack Opposing Force is also a lot of fun in how it presents certain sections of the game from a different character and perspective while expanding upon the story in some interesting ways. To this day, I'm still saddened that Valve hasn't done anything else with Corporal Adrian Shepherd despite apparently really liking the character. That said, Half-Life is a beast of a game, the best in the business and one that any fan of the FPS genre should play. It gets my recommendation for anyone who hopes the HEV suit will finally become a fashion statement, daydreaming theoretically physicists who think that they will also be a crowbar-wielding badass when the aliens finally invade, and anyone who really, truly hates wooden crates.

1 Note: To any snobby film fans2, please tell me that I used that term correctly.
2 Note: To any snobby film fans, I use the term 'snobby film fan' with the utmost respect and cordiality3 to any snobby film fans. Please do not send me hate mail. Actually... please do
34 When I wrote this word and subsequently googled it just to see if it was in fact a real world, I was very much surprised that it was, delighted that I had found a new world, and saddened when I could not claim it as a new word.
4 Apparently I have become too addicted to the use of footnotes. I promise to never, ever use them again5.
5 Okay, sorry, I lied, but it was for a good reason! Maybe not, but hey I just wanted to give a brief and perfunctory 'Fuck you!' to Valve for both creating an excellent and enduring franchise and then giving us gamers the biggest middle finger for leaving it hanging for so long. Seriously... WTF Valve-bros?!

(https://images.playfrance.com/3/88/zoom/0385.jpg) (https://cdn.kinguin.net/media//category/6/_/6_545.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on November 16, 2014, 02:05:36 PM
Great game. I didn't play it when it first came out but a couple years after and really enjoyed it. Half Life 2 when it was released on the Orange Box for xbox360 had more of a memory for me because of how much I played it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 16, 2014, 02:27:22 PM
I prefer 2 but 1 is great as well. In fact, it was one of the very first PC games that i've played.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 16, 2014, 02:40:35 PM
Lots of respect for Half-life 1. Very groundbreaking work.

and Part 2 is one of my very favorite games of all time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Nick on November 16, 2014, 02:59:39 PM
I want to have sex with this list, and have little baby lists with it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 16, 2014, 06:10:01 PM
Sadly, I could never get pass the first level, when the aliens attack the lab. And the worst thing is that I played it just a few months ago :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ReaperKK on November 16, 2014, 06:39:55 PM
This list is fucking awesome, I want to go back and play hl1
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 16, 2014, 07:36:12 PM
Agreed, the list is incredible
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 17, 2014, 12:22:50 AM
I want to have sex with this list, and have little baby lists with it.
Agreed. I want to take this list behind the barn and make it pregnant.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: SystematicThought on November 17, 2014, 01:10:32 AM
I will surely disappoint in the coming days when my list rolls around. I can't top the classics here since my list will all be 2000-2014, since I don't play too many games before then.  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 17, 2014, 01:14:39 AM
I will surely disappoint in the coming days when my list rolls around. I can't top the classics here since my list will all be 2000-2014, since I don't play too many games before then.  :lol
Oh, at least not for me. I love both retro games and newer games. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on November 17, 2014, 02:35:19 PM
I will surely disappoint in the coming days when my list rolls around. I can't top the classics here since my list will all be 2000-2014, since I don't play too many games before then.  :lol

Same here
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 17, 2014, 09:42:06 PM
Sadly, I could never get pass the first level, when the aliens attack the lab. And the worst thing is that I played it just a few months ago :lol .
You should definitely should give it another shot. Half-Life gets incredible on the third level and beyond.

I will surely disappoint in the coming days when my list rolls around. I can't top the classics here since my list will all be 2000-2014, since I don't play too many games before then.  :lol
That only means I just happened to grow up at the right time. The mid 90's to the early 00's was an incredible time for video games. I enjoy quite a few newer games but there's no doubt that I vacillate to that golden era more often than not when I need a fix.

Agreed. I want to take this list behind the barn and make it pregnant.

Agreed, the list is incredible

This list is fucking awesome, I want to go back and play hl1

I want to have sex with this list, and have little baby lists with it.
Thanks. :lol
You guys can fight over the sloppy seconds once I'm done with it.

On that note... with Half-Life we've entered into the glorious top five of this list. These are games that I've replayed so many times over the years for many various reasons and, for some reason, never manage to get old. That may describe many of the games on this, but the top five are a whole, 'nother category. I don't even want to know how many hours I've sunken into these games, only my time played on WoW back when I was really into that may put that to shame and, to be honest, a lot of the time I was hate-playing WoW, for want of a better term. So, let's continue onward with number 4...

4. Planescape: Torment (PC: 1999)
What can change the nature of a man? Such is the question that sits at the heart of Planescape: Torment. Released in late 1999 to critical acclaim but incredibly flaccid sales, Planescape: Torment has become a veritable cult classic over the years. Frequently included on numerous best of lists, Planescape: Torment is a very interesting and unique game, one that will sit with you long after you've finished it.

You are the Nameless One, stricken with amnesia, you awaken on a slab in a mortuary. Scars cover your body, more scars than seem possible to live from, but the reason for your 'living' becomes readily apparent. You are immortal.  You cannot die.  And thus begins your quest to discover who you are, where you come from, and why you are what you are.

Planescape: Torment is an isometric real-time role-playing game in the vein of the very successful Baldur's Gate series. It takes place in the Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting of Planescape, primarily the city of Sigil which sits at the very center of the planes and serves as hub where all its disparate denizens can come to trade, work, and live in relative peace. It is a place where angels will barter with demons, where the very alleys and buildings can gain life, where shadows stalk and not all is as it seems. In Sigil, belief can become reality and oftentimes, what you believe is more important than what is.

Planescape: Torment is notable for being highly dialogue driven. If you do not like reading giant blocks of well-written text, then this game might not be for you but man will you be missing out. The writing is absolutely engrossing, but much of that comes down to the evocative, weird flair of the Planescape setting, a place seemingly limited only to the restrictions of the imagination. This is no swords and sorcery, elves, orcs and dwarves shit here. In fact, no elves or dwarves or orcs even appear in the game. Swords are very limited as well. The Nameless One mostly ends up using a ragtag assortment of bludgeoning instruments, like prybars, zombified arms, and clubs, to mete out his punishment.

In fact, one of the very interesting things about Planescape: Torment is the role that combat plays in the game, namely that it's completely and utterly boring. There's often a sense that if you get dragged into combat, it's because you did something wrong. Oftentimes, if your Wisdom, Intelligence or Charisma is high enough, you can get through many encounters just by talking or thinking your way out of it. And it is much more personally rewarding when you successfully do so. The bucketload of experience points you usually get for finding a nonviolent solution tends to help as well.

There are other unique aspects to the game that help it stand out. For one, your immortality plays a critical role in progressing through the game. There are puzzles and sequences that depend and play off of your inability to die. For example, you encounter a certain heavily trapped tomb and the only way to reach the end is to die. Repeatedly. There is also a sequence of dialogue where you can have a half-demon root around in your intestines and find a magical ring that's been hidden there by... someone. Maybe even yourself.

The game is filled to the brim with many similar unique ideas: magical spellcasting hivemind swarms of rats (remember when other RPG's start you off killing rats?), a talking skull (one of your companions!), a necropolis filled with largely peaceful undead, and even a reformed succubus that runs a brothel catering to intellectual rather than physical stimulation (another NPC companion).

That brings me to another aspect of the game that warrants a mention: the characters. Never has an RPG had such a varied and motley selection of NPC characters, many of which can join you on your quest. The conversations and storylines that you can unlock with these characters are extremely well-written with an incredible sense of depth. Special mention goes out to the character of Dak'kon, who has one of the best written storylines in any game ever. Slowly peeling back the layers of his past and personality is incredibly rewarding.

This is a great game and, unfortunately, despite the massive acclaim it gets, it's still a bit of a cult star. It's a long game with a lot of text to read and some tepid combat but it's so evocative and so well-written that it doesn't matter. The game conjures up a world like no other and plops you right in the middle of it. It's one of the few games where I'd suggest gimping your physical stats and maxing out your Intelligence, Wisdom and especially Charisma, as they open up so many more doors in the gameplay than those physical, combat-focused stats. This game deserves to be played by anyone who calls themselves a fan of RPG's.

Planescape: Torment comes highly recommended for fans of text boxes, planar philosophy majors, and people who've always wanted to play the badass high Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma character.

(https://i1-games.softpedia-static.com/screenshots/Planescape-Torment-Ultimate-WeiDU-Fixpack_1.jpg) (https://killapenguin.com/227/gallery/medium/planescape/planescape-torment-292.jpg)
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/8/81005/2309313-torment_2012_09_02_05_22_51_45.png) (https://hotstudio.net/serika/blog/2012/01/23/Torment-Sere.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Lynxo on November 18, 2014, 02:55:41 AM
I've heard so many great things about this game but I've never played this myself. I did a little research now and found out that it's avaliable from Gog really cheap and that there even is a Mac version:

https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment (https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment)

I think I'm gonna buy it and try it out.  :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 18, 2014, 07:32:59 AM
I've been wanting so hard to play this game, but it won't happen until I renew my PC. Great writeups and cool list dude :tup .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 18, 2014, 08:41:29 PM
I've heard so many great things about this game but I've never played this myself. I did a little research now and found out that it's avaliable from Gog really cheap and that there even is a Mac version:

https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment (https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment)

I think I'm gonna buy it and try it out.  :)
Do it. It's an amazing game. It might require some fiddling to run properly on a newer system but there are mods and fan patches out there that fix some of the more egregious issues and make the game more presentable to modern sensibilities.

I've been wanting so hard to play this game, but it won't happen until I renew my PC. Great writeups and cool list dude :tup .
Thanks :)

3. StarCraft / StarCraft: Broodwar (PC: 1998)
For anyone who claims that strategy games cannot tell a good story, make them play StarCraft. If they still disagree, kill them because who wants people like that walking around free... and alive.

StarCraft is an isometric real-time strategy game in the vein of WarCraft. In fact, before it came out, some folks joked that it looked just like WarCraft in space. Oh how wrong they were. See, WarCraft had two playable races, the orcs and the humans, and despite having different units, the two largely played the same. An ogre was the same as a knight, a catapult was the same as a ballista, etc. StarCraft, on the other hand, boasted three playable races, the terran humans, the psychic and spiritual protoss, and the hivemind zerg, and, unlike WarCraft, the races were different. Each played differently with different units, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Strategies that worked for the zerg would not work with, say, the terrans. Now, having three different races isn't that big of a deal, but having them be largely balanced against each other is where the cream really.... um creamifies. No one race overpowered the others and Blizzard, the game's creator, spent years after its release tweaking and retweaking aspects of the races until they were nigh perfect.

The story of StarCraft unfolds across three separate campaigns, each one focusing on one of the primary races and telling a chunk of the overall story. While I do love it, the story of StarCraft isn't really all that innovative and it doesn't really start to pick up until the very end of the terran campaign (which is the first part of the story). From that point, betrayals and plot-twists unfold naturally and expand the scope of the story. Characters are portrayed surprisingly well since you only get an overhead view of their 2D sprite characters and maybe a bit of some talking-head dialoguing.

Broodwar, the expansion to StarCraft, (remember when games had expansions?) on the other hand, ups the game and features some really well-done storytelling. And no, I do not mean it's well done for an RTS, the story is actually really good. There are some great twists and reveals and the characters all have a surprising amount of pathos to them. Everything is incorporated masterfully into the RTS style such that the storytelling never feels out of place and you find yourself looking forward to the next mission briefing just to find out what happens next. The ending to Broodwar is so excellent that StarCraft II, no matter how good it is, never really had a chance to live up to that legacy.

But, enough about the story, you're playing an RTS so obviously, the most important aspects are the gameplay and the multiplayer.  The gameplay in StarCraft is like most other real-time strategy games of the day. You build a base, train troops and try to defeat your opponent. Battles are fast and furious and how you manage your troops is often the key to victory. Just sending swarms of troops at your opponent is not a guarantee that you'll win, for your opponent might have the perfect counter to your force. Games can last hours or be over in minutes.

The real reason for StarCraft's longevity and success is mostly for its excellent multiplayer and the fact that you could connect online (for free!) with other players on battle.net. I sunk so many hours online and at LAN parties playing StarCraft whether it was straight up team matches against the computer, free-for-alls, or maybe even a custom scenario designed by some other player using the robust map-making software.

Really, StarCraft had it all. Great gameplay, great multiplayer, a damn good story, and an editor to make your own missions and scenarios for when you were tired of all of the above. To this day, I will happily and eagerly play StarCraft because no other RTS compares to its scope and brilliance in execution. This is a game that every fan of RTS's should play. It is a game that others still try to live up to, including its own sequels.

StarCraft is highly recommended for those who love Warhammer clones, for those whom tactical combat is akin to pornography, and for folks who love to click, click, click, and click some more.

(https://resource.mmgn.com/Gallery/full/StarCraft-MKM3.jpg) (https://igrapro.com/images-game/starcraft/starcraft-screenshot-2.jpg)
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/1468/184087-starcraft.png) (https://www.dlcompare.com/img/starcraft-anthology-screenshot-2.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Japan: The List (pg 9)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on November 18, 2014, 10:56:34 PM
Damn. I remember my grandpa always played Planescape: Torment when I was really young.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Onno on November 19, 2014, 03:11:38 AM
I've never played Starcraft/Broodwar, but I've played lots of SCII which is also an amazing game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 19, 2014, 03:42:11 AM
Hours upon hours upon hours spent playing Starcraft.

Unfortunately I sucked at it, but it was still fun as hell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 19, 2014, 09:52:05 AM
I guess one of these two games will appear: Baldur's Gate II or Diablo II
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Evermind on November 19, 2014, 10:23:46 AM
StarCraft: Broodwar is a hell of a game. The multiplayer was really addictive and challenging. This is the game when you think you're playing quite good when you're doing the campaigns, but then people just own you so hard online that you're either considering to quit or to spend hundreds of hours playing and improving.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Randaran on November 19, 2014, 01:34:45 PM
One of the few RTSs I have ever played. I loved it, even though I suck.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on November 19, 2014, 02:49:23 PM
I have never heard of Planescape: Torment before, but it sounds like something I'd gobble up nice and good.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 19, 2014, 10:38:00 PM
Damn. I remember my grandpa always played Planescape: Torment when I was really young.
Your grandpa sounds awesome.

I guess one of these two games will appear: Baldur's Gate II or Diablo II
:neverusethis:

StarCraft: Broodwar is a hell of a game. The multiplayer was really addictive and challenging. This is the game when you think you're playing quite good when you're doing the campaigns, but then people just own you so hard online that you're either considering to quit or to spend hundreds of hours playing and improving.

One of the few RTSs I have ever played. I loved it, even though I suck.
Yeah, I was never very good at StarCraft. I think the best I ever got was decidedly mediocre, but I enjoyed all the time I spent with it nonetheless.

2. Deus Ex (PC: 2000)
(https://lolpics.se/pics/27254.jpg)
Ah, yes, Deus Ex. You know I couldn't leave you off of a list like this?

Deus Ex is a RPG with FPS elements. These days, it's usually the other way around, with FPS games incorporating small amounts of RPG-like elements (such as in Bioshock) to add a bit of variety to the pabulum of pure running-n-gunning (not that there's anything wrong with that... see Doom and Half-Life). Deus Ex, however, presents itself as an FPS on the surface but the mechanics running in the background are dictated by some very deep RPG elements. Your proficiency in the game's many skills dictates how well you perform in certain areas of the game. Not proficient in rifles? Well, your aim when using a rifle will be wild and inaccurate. Lockpicking noob? Those pesky locks will eat more of your lockpicks. Not a 1337 h4XX0r? Well, certain options will be unavailable to you when you hack computers and security systems. Your choices as to which skills to focus on will inform your play style. When approaching a compound full of enemies, a stealthy hacker would probably best find an alternative route as opposed to the straightforward, guns-akimbo, John Woo carnage-fest. That approach would likely lead to a hasty and messy death.

The skills in the game are a varied bunch, covering such disciplines as computers, lockpicking, electronics, environmental training, medicine, swimming, demolitions, heavy weapons, low-tech weapons, pistols, and rifles. Each one is useful and you can max out only a few by the end of the game so it's important to have an idea of what kind of play style you want to engage in at least somewhat early in the game. Okay sorry, that was a bit of a lie, you can cross Swimming off that list. Swimming sucks. Don't pick Swimming. Just... don't.

If you haven't gotten the memo by now, choice is the primary factor that guides this game and it extends beyond mere character creation and skill selection. Like in many RPG's nowadays, the choices you make in how to approach situations, how you solve dilemmas, and which avenue you take can have consequences later on. Characters can die if you choose one approach or another and you can even supposedly make it through the entire game without killing anyone. I've never done it because, well, I suck, but hey, the option is there for those who don't suck. As you progress through the game, you'll be awarded with augmentation canisters which will grant the choice of a power, depending upon the canister. You'll have options ranging from a cloaking system, a remote drone, an anti-missile defense field, exceptional strength, and a whole ton of other choices. You only have a limited amount of augmentation slots, so you won't be able to have access to every power. The choice, as they say, is yours Mr. Denton.

Deus Ex's story is a positive wet dream for the budding conspiracy theorist packing in references to the Illuminati, Majestic 12, Area 51, black helicopters, Men In Black (the non-Will Smith versions), government engineered viruses, vaccines, Triads, terrorists, and a whole host of other stuff, all wrapped in a grimy, nano-augmented cyberpunk wrapping. You play as JC Denton a nano-augmented special agent for the UNATCO organization. Your elder brother Paul is also a member of the organization, though his esteem is in doubt due to his preference for nonviolent tactics. A terrorist group called the NSF is stirring some shit on Liberty Island in New York and you're sent in to clean up the mess. The setting and plot balloons out from there, sending you to Hell's Kitchen, Paris, Hong Kong and other distant locales over the course of the game, though not necessarily in that order.

Deus Ex is an absolutely fantastic game, but I think more than any other game on this list, I think it might be one of the more difficult ones to get into for those more tuned to the more modern gaming sensibilities. The graphics were not very pleasant even back when the game was released and now they have that  very late 90's look that makes most early 3D games look like absolute rubbish. The dialogue is often laughably bad and the voice acting is hilariously awful at times. BUT, if you can overlook these issues, this game is a treasure trove of fantastic design and gameplay. Deus Ex gets a hearty recommendation for fans of amateur voice acting, people who have always wanted to play a pacifist in an FPS (uhhh... why?), and anyone who has always wanted to meet Mr. JC Denton in da fresh. I know that's two jokes about the voice acting, shut up...

For those craving the Deus Ex experience but are unwilling to travel back to the ancient, pre-bump mapping days of 2000, Deus Ex: Human Revolution more than delivers. It's not as good as the original but it's still a very enjoyable game, with much better combat, graphics, writing in general, and voice acting that is mostly acceptable. Avoid Deus Ex: Invisible War though, which is the sequel to the original. Many people make it out to be a colossal piece of shit but it's really not. It's a huge step down from the first game and a big disappointment, but it's still fun and enjoyable for what it is; a watered-down and hugely consolified simplified Deus Ex experience. Still, you're better off playing the original or Human Revolution. Only play Invisible War if you're deeply curious and you can get it cheap.

(https://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/1/14/deusex-hongkong.jpg) (https://media.desura.com/images/games/1/1/14/Deus_Ex_ss1.jpg)
(https://theclassicgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1-1.jpg) (https://gaminghistory101.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/deus_ex_1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Bolsters on November 19, 2014, 10:42:43 PM
This is one of two older RPG/FPS games I've been meaning to get around to playing for what seems like an eternity. Yet, I still haven't because I'm really fucking lazy. :lol

The other is System Shock 2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: cramx3 on November 20, 2014, 06:34:55 AM
Never played the first one, but Human Revolution was an awesome game.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: jingle.boy on November 20, 2014, 08:41:26 AM
Never played the first one, but Human Revolution was an awesome game.  :tup

This.  Took me a while to get the concepts of a game that is both RPG and FPS, but once I dedicated a little time to it, it rocked my world.  Excellent game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 20, 2014, 08:50:44 AM
This is one of two older RPG/FPS games I've been meaning to get around to playing for what seems like an eternity. Yet, I still haven't because I'm really fucking lazy. :lol

The other is System Shock 2.
Absolutely this. I really hope to renew my pc soon - I want so hard to play them. And what you said about Deus Ex being an RPG with FPS elements got me highly interested.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 20, 2014, 10:01:40 PM
1. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn (PC: 2000)
And here it is. Number one. Numero uno. The best of the best. The favorite of the favorite. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn has held the status for years with me for many various reasons, all of which I will expound upon in excruciating detail. I'll try to keep this as entertaining as possible.

First off, Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn is the sequel to the first Baldur's Gate game, which was my first foray into the world of Dungeons and Dragons. The first game... well, let's just say that I really like the first game, but it's really not perfect. It's kind of a diamond in the rough. Actually, not really a diamond even, more like a quartzite really at times. Still, I loved it enough that it made it's way onto my list... Ahh, number 11. Remember that? I was so young, so full of idealism then. Now? Just piss and hate... and cheetoes.

Now, Baldur's Gate 2 takes near everything wrong with the first game, improves upon it, then it takes everything good about the first game and improves upon that too. And then it does even more. The side-quests are all epic by themselves and there are a ton of them. Each one is expansive, with different approaches available. These are not the simple and straightforward "Go fetch my Slippers of Warmth +5" style quests that made up a majority of the first game.

The combat is much improved. Now there is a lot more strategic depth to the combat, especially when fighting against mages as you have to use your own spells to strip away the layers of protections before you can eventually take the mages out. Even without mages, the combat can be especially brutal as you get to take on some truly classic D&D monsters that were ignored in the first game. Mind flayers, demons, elementals, drow, golems, beholders, giants, and even a few screen-filling dragons will thwart your loot and experience-filled dreams. Using your spells and abilities and items to their fullest potential will be required to best many of these threats.

Like the first, BG2 is an isometric RPG. It plays out in real-time, however you can pause the action to queue up orders to your party so it proceeds as fast or as slow as you wish. You pick your race, class, gender, and your outlook on life (alignment - from hippy, goody two-shoes all the way to baby-punching, puppy-kicking, evil douchebag). There're a lot more races and classes to pick from than in BG1 (many of which I have not tried and will, undoubtedly never, ever try...). You can have a party of up to six adventurers, your main character plus five other characters that you can recruit along the way, each with their own quests, personalities, and back stories to further enhance your experience. There are fewer characters in BG2 than in BG1, but there is much more depth to them this time around. You'll come to like and prefer certain characters over others and all of them have their own niches and uses in the game.

The story of BG2 is easy to follow, even if you haven't played the first. The game drops enough hints and references to keep even the noobiest noob up to date. At the beginning of BG2, you get nabbed by some mysterious figures, sealed away in a dungeon, and experimented upon by some evil mage. During the experiments, some other group attacks the mage and you manage to free yourself. Once you escape from his dungeon, the game opens up in true Bioware fashion and you are given a relatively straightforward goal and multiple means to achieve it. Really, once you get topside, there is so much stuff to do. Quests involving slaver cartels, thief guilds, mysterious cults, castles under siege all literally jump right into your lap. Some of the quests sit out in the open, just waiting for you to nab them and others are more hidden and you will need to search around to find them. From there, the game will take you on an epic journey from the grimy streets of Athkatla (think typical high-fantasy medieval city) to blood-soaked vampire dens, demi-plane prisons, ancient elven cities, the depths of the Underdark, and even to the very demon-infested heart of the Abyss as well.

Most of the dialogue is presented as text, however, the little voice acting that is in the game is excellent. British B-Lister (C-Lister?) David Warner (of Time Bandits, Star Trek V and VI and numerous other films) voices the main villain and he is awesome. He is the true standout here as he takes what few lines he has and makes them shine. Only Tony Jay, who played the 'villain' in Planescape: Torment, has managed to deliver a better performance than Warner.

Special mention must be made of the games graphics. BG2 uses the Infinity Engine which, in its heyday, was goddamn beautiful. It utilized hand drawn 2D backgrounds but BG2 spruces them up with some 3D effects to jazz up the spells, backgrounds, and character models and almost everything looked like a work of art. There is a reason that Project Eternity is using the same approach of overlaying 2D artwork over 3D backgrounds.

So that's it. My favorite game ever.  I love it because there is so much to do in the game, so many quests, so many different approaches to take (some of which I still haven't done), the combat is a lot of fun, the story is great, the graphics hold up incredibly well despite the game being almost fifteen years old, and it's got that nostalgia factor going for it too. Will some other game ever come along to dethrone this? I don't know, but considering my gradually lessening gameplaying time, I seriously doubt it. I'll likely still pull this one out every so often when I want to 'relive' the classic, but I don't know if I'll ever have the time or will to put another game through the same ringer. This game might be here in the number one spot for the foreseeable future, but you know what? I can live with that.

Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn comes with the highest recommendations I can offer. Anyone and everyone should play this game but especially those for whom a d20 is an intense aphrodisiac, David Warner fanboys, and any who find the 2e Monstrous Manual to be their preferred bathroom reading material.

Special Mention should go out to Throne of Bhaal, the expansion pack for the game. Unlike with StarCraft and Broodwar, which I usually bundle together as one, singular whole, Throne of Bhaal and Baldur's Gate 2 I tend to hold separate. This is mainly because the 'story' of Baldur's Gate 2 is finished by the end of the game and Throne of Bhaal starts up a new storyline. I think Throne of Bhaal is an essential part of the Baldur's Gate series, anyone who is a fan of the first two should definitely play Throne of Bhaal as it finishes off the overarching storyline of the series and it's pretty damn epic as well. However, it is not perfect. It is significantly more difficult than BG2 and BG2 is not an easy game. Every fight becomes a drawn out, life-or-death struggle where victory is grasped by the barest of threads. That does lead to some truly epic encounters but it can be a bit tiring after a while and it means the more epic battles stand out less.

Also, by the end of BG2 your characters become so absurdly powerful that if defies belief that once Throne of Bhaal starts up, you continually encounter other creatures, organizations, and individuals on the same power level as yourself. It makes your accomplishments in the previous game seem so... hollow and meager by comparison.

So, in conclusion, I think Throne of Bhaal is a very good finale for the series and a good game in its own right, but BG2 is better on it's own, in my opinion at least.

(https://www.heroicfantasygames.com/BG2/14.jpg) (https://static.gog.com/upload/images/2010/11/6a85cf232867997105aa940b22cc90dff28c2d62.jpg)
(https://www.gamerdna.com/uimage/iCd3aqxL/full/baldur-s-gate-ii-soa-dace-s-tomb.jpg) (https://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/uncategorized/topten/dungeonsanddragonsgames/baldursgate2.jpg)

So that's it. That's my favorite 25 games. It was an interesting trip down memory lane and pretty much every one of these entries that, when I was writing them out, made me want to go back and replay the game. I actually started up quite a few and played for a couple of days after writing out their respective entries. Bioshock, The Legend of Zelda, Doom (well Brutal Doom actually), Deus Ex, X-Com, Super Mario World, UT, and Skyrim all saw a not insignificant amount of play time. As for BG2? Well, I'm pretty much always in the process of replaying that game.

Hope you all enjoyed my longwinded ramblings. If any of you happen to pick up any of these games and enjoy them because of this list, then I've done my job. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Outcrier on November 20, 2014, 10:12:11 PM
Yep, knew this would appear.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: The King in Crimson on November 20, 2014, 10:17:37 PM
I guess one of these two games will appear: Baldur's Gate II or Diablo II
Congrats to Outcrier for guessing my number one favoritest game ever! Enjoy your reward of cookies! Glorious, polyhedral cookies. (https://epicfail.xepher.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/d20-cookies.jpg)

This is one of two older RPG/FPS games I've been meaning to get around to playing for what seems like an eternity. Yet, I still haven't because I'm really fucking lazy. :lol

The other is System Shock 2.
System Shock 2 is one of the best games that I cannot play. It's just too fucking scary and I'm awful at playing scary games. The little I've played is very, very good but... agh, just my own little personal gamer failing. One day I'll play it again... and it will be during the daytime... with all of the lights on and nobody else will be home so they won't hear my pathetic gibberings.

Here are a couple of random links that I intended to put into the respective entries but either I forgot to do it or I just couldn't be arsed to find a way to include them.

I talked about how Deus Ex had some gloriously bad voice acting, well, here's a bit of it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kihGm4KfY7k). It may not be Resident Evil bad but it's still pretty awful.

On the other side of the coin, in the BG2 entry I talked about some great voice acting in games and I mentioned one Tony Jay, who plays one of the characters in Planescape: Torment. Here's a bit from one of the cooler sequences in the game. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DZAIFQH4fM) Warning, it does contains some spoilers, so if you're interested in playing Planescape: Torment sometime, I wouldn't watch it. But if you're not, then what the hell, watch it and revel in Tony Jay's badassness.

EDITED:
Yep, knew this would appear.
I am nothing if not predictable! :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Big Hath on November 21, 2014, 08:51:22 AM
British B-Lister (C-Lister?) David Warner (of Time Bandits, Star Trek V and VI and numerous other films TRON) voices the main villain and he is awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: ReaperKK on November 21, 2014, 11:11:20 AM
I have never played BG, I really wanted to but I just don't have the time.

I loved the list though, I need to try some of the games that I haven't played because everything else on your list has been on point.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19)
Post by: Sacul on November 21, 2014, 11:14:07 AM
I loved the list though, I need to try some of the games that I haven't played because everything else on your list has been on point.
This. Lots of games on my to-play list are on your top, and that makes yours awesome. Great list dude :hefdaddy .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19-23)
Post by: Cool Chris on November 21, 2014, 12:28:00 PM
British B-Lister (C-Lister?) David Warner (of Time Bandits, Star Trek V and VI and numerous other films) voices the main villain and he is awesome.

David Warner may not be an A-List actor in the states, but he is a top notch, well-respected actor.

Hope you all enjoyed my longwinded ramblings. If any of you happen to pick up any of these games and enjoy them because of this list, then I've done my job. :)

Thank for your listings. It was a true variety for me, as it featured some of my favorite games of all time, and other games I’ve never even heard of.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19-23)
Post by: SystematicThought on November 23, 2014, 02:12:20 AM
I guess I'll start mine then. And we'll be starting off with a pretty obscure title--at least in my group of friends.

25. Stuntman
Released: June 2002
Platform: PS2, Gameboy Advance
Developer: Reflections
Publisher: Atari

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/Stuntman.jpg)

The game was pretty unique at the time. I remember the day my brother bought it, I had bought Spider-Man The Game, which had come out a few months before. I was watching him play it and just watched him get frustrated with it. We were really young at the time, but even today when I play it, it's an extremely frustrating yet rewarding game when you get the scenes right.

The basic plot of the game is that you play as a new stuntman who takes on a variety of films where you have to perform the stunts for the movies. Movies include: Toothless In Wapping, a London based gangster film; A Whoopin' and a Hollerin', a Dukes of Hazard-like film; Blood Oath, a Tokyo, Jet-Li inspired movie; Conspiracy, a techno-thriller film; The Scarab of Lost Souls, like Indiana Jones; and Live Twice For Tomorrow, a James Bond parody. Each of these movies has similar stunts that need to be performed, but each scene features different cars that each handle differently.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pokQJCUTsKI/T2nbhOUf2xI/AAAAAAAAAZU/r9SjBoSL28M/s1600/stuntman1.2.jpg)

The cars are single-handedly the most frustrating part of the game. They handle sluggishly, they are slow, and sometimes don't seem like they respond to the controller very well. But that problem makes the game very rewarding all things considered because when you master the stunts and the scenes, you really feel like you accomplished something. Take for instance a scene in the second movie. You drive a General Lee like car and have to drive it off a bridge and onto a moving train, ride on that for a while, and then off the train into a tight parking lot back onto the train tracks to avoid two oncoming trains. It may sound confusing, but when you are performing those stunts in a row with the director calling out the stunts going at high speeds, it's a lot to process. It was basically Driver controls and graphics with a director yelling at you.

One of my favorite aspects of the game was the Stunt Creator, which gave you the cars from the movies as well as a few bonus cars, all kinds of stunt items like the 360 ramp, flaming hoops and banks of buses--a regular old Evil Knievel setup. I would spend hours playing around with this and would create different setups. I would also just spend time destroying the cars as I saw fit--they damaged quite nicely as you could lose the tires, doors, engine, etc.

I think nostalgia is the biggest thing with this game. It wasn't FANTASTIC by any means, but I have very fond memories of it. Passing the controller around with my brother as we both got frustrated with it--these memories make me smile. After each movie was completed, they had a trailer made for the movie with scenes interspersed with the stunts you filmed. The trailers were pretty good, but the implementation of the scenes was poorly done, but that was part of it's charm.

In 2007 or 2008, THQ released a sequel for the game where the sluggishness was corrected and there was more to do, but for me, it didn't play the part very well--Part of Stuntman's charm was the sluggishness and toughness and that's why it will forever be one of my favorite PS2 games.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_E0fo34FuSHo/TSm8GDOaaAI/AAAAAAAAAjI/u3MAfvJ_f04/s1600/chase+5.jpg)

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrODqp6esY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrODqp6esY) (Oh, and the load times were ridiculous  :lol)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19-23)
Post by: ariich on November 23, 2014, 03:28:44 AM
Never heard of it. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. The King in Crimson's time to rule (pg. 19-23)
Post by: Bolsters on November 23, 2014, 03:56:06 AM
This sounds familiar, I think I might have played it once or twice back in the day.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ReaperKK on November 23, 2014, 07:14:04 AM
I heard of it but never played it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on November 24, 2014, 11:16:09 AM
It's not the type of game I normally play, but I really enjoyed Stuntman.  Good times.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on November 24, 2014, 05:37:52 PM
Not surprised at the lack of recognition. Like I said, I think it was one of those titles that you picked up when it came out and that was that--no one five years later was going to say: "Hey! Did you ever play Stuntman?"  :lol

Next update is coming tonight!

It's not the type of game I normally play, but I really enjoyed Stuntman.  Good times.
Glad at least one person know what it was  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on November 25, 2014, 01:57:14 AM
24. XIII
Released November 2003
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, OS X
Developer: Ubi Soft
Publisher: Ubi Soft

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5108V94QFNL.jpg)

I believe that this game made another appearance on someone else's list. For me, this is another game, similar to Stuntman, that was both frustrating at times (the stealth missions) and very rewarding at the same time. I remember buying the game in 2003 and not beating it until maybe 2009. I remember playing it and not beating it and forgetting about it and finally coming back to it and I'm glad I did because I was able to understand the storyline better compared to when I was 9 and had my parent's buy it for me. I didn't really understand the story behind it.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/XIII_game.jpg)

XIII is a cel-shaded FPS game made by Ubi-Soft based on the comic book series. The story revolves around an amnesiac who awakes on a beach with the number XIII tattooed on his chest. He finds himself tangled up in a political conspiracy with him being framed for assassinating the President of the United States. He must find his identity and solve the conspiracy. The story for me is the most intriguing element as I was always wondering what was coming next. My personal favorite mission is the one where you must infiltrate a mansion that is the location of a secret meeting between members of the conspiracy. That's where things start coming together for the story and things start making sense, as well as the mystique of the members known as the XX wearing KKK-like white robes. That mission always stuck with me.

(https://www.entertainmentfuse.com/images/193269-xiii_1_super.png)

The game was just a unique experience where I got caught up in the story, characters, and background of the game. I really wanted to uncover the conspiracy. Of course one of the most frustrating elements of the game is the fact that it ended in a cliffhanger which ultimately will never be continued. Which is a shame because it would have been fun to continue, I mean, the last line of the game is: "Are the fireworks not to your liking, Mr. Fly?" followed by a little note saying: "To Be Continued..." Dammit Ubi Soft!

But overall, it's another nostalgia trip for me and it's an FPS with an interesting story that isn't just a shoot-em up. There are stealth elements, little platforming puzzles, and documents and notes to collect that give some background. The music gives the game it's own style with funky, jazz, techno music filling the atmosphere. The triptych screens that pop up when you do a head shot or the onomatopoeia that pops up on screen for explosions really gave the game a unique feel and vibe that I hadn't experienced before. Overall too, it's a difficult game (for me at least)

If you like older consoles games and haven't played XIII, check it out! I think it's worth a look
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Lynxo on November 25, 2014, 02:53:30 AM
I've been meaning to get that for my PS2, I've seen good things about it. :tup It's really cheap as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Scorpion on November 30, 2014, 10:15:28 AM
Love that game. One of my favourite first-person shooters of all time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on December 01, 2014, 12:34:19 AM
I've been meaning to get that for my PS2, I've seen good things about it. :tup It's really cheap as well.
Definitely worth checking out. It's got its own style that I haven't seen in many games. It took the FPS genre and gave it a unique spin. And Adam West does the voice of a character--enough said

Love that game. One of my favourite first-person shooters of all time.
Talking about it again makes me want to play it again  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on December 08, 2014, 10:06:38 PM
Since I've missed quite a few days and holding this up, I'll throw a few out there today with no/little description

23. Disaster Report
Released: April 2002
Platform: PS2
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9a/Disaster_Report_Coverart.png)
Interesting post disaster plot and world. A lot of issues, but unique.

22. The Getaway
Released: December 2002
Platform: PS2
Developer: Team SoHo
Publisher: SCEA

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/The_Getaway_PS2.jpg)
Different take on GTA. No HUD mechanic was interesting but poorly executed. Good story and graphics for the time. And London was an interesting playground to play in

21. Goldeneye
Released: August 1997
Platform: N64
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Nintendo
 

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/3/36/20121006233621!GoldenEye007box.jpg)
Does this need an explanation?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 08, 2014, 10:48:39 PM
The only one of those I know is of course Goldeneye. No explanation needed at all. Classic. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Phoenix87x on December 09, 2014, 03:52:22 AM
Goldeneye is legendary
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: cramx3 on December 09, 2014, 06:30:31 AM
First game on your list that I am familiar with and yea, no explanation needed for Goldeneye.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ariich on December 09, 2014, 07:43:36 AM
Goldeneye is definitely a classic - not played or even heard of the others though!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Chino on December 09, 2014, 08:11:32 AM
Goldeneye redefined multiplayer gaming.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ReaperKK on December 09, 2014, 09:54:31 AM
Goldeneye is an incredible game. I have my n64 still set up for Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on December 09, 2014, 10:21:39 AM
Does this need an explanation?

Not in the slightest. Fantastic game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on January 11, 2015, 09:56:09 PM
what happened to this thread? i rather enjoyed the write-ups of the games. It made me nostalgic for games I love, and want to check out games I hadn't played before.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 11, 2015, 09:58:29 PM
Apparently, SystematicThought has amnesia  :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on January 11, 2015, 10:39:49 PM
Oh God and I said I wouldn't do this to you guys...

I'll finish up my list tomorrow. Sorry guys! And I didn't think there was much interest in my lists  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 11, 2015, 10:55:13 PM
Oh God and I said I wouldn't do this to you guys...

I'll finish up my list tomorrow. Sorry guys! And I didn't think there was much interest in my lists  :lol

If you didn't wanted to do your list anymore, you should have said then because there was a bunch of people waiting to do their own ones.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: SystematicThought on January 12, 2015, 12:01:08 AM
It's not that I didn't want to, I just have random games that not many people know of also I ended up getting busier than I thought I would have. Yeah, I probably should have said to move onto the next person, but I ended up not being on here much.

However, I am saying it now. Move on to Sacul, I just don't have the time to do the lists. Sorry to those on the list that had to wait because of me. I do really apologize, I never envisioned it taking this long. Maybe I'll finish it some other time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 12, 2015, 12:27:16 AM
Seems like it'd make sense to just do something like this:

1. If someone stalls the thread for a week, then the next member gets to start their list. The person who stalled the thread can resume once the other person is done.

2. If someone who took over for a stalling person then stalls the thread themselves, it just reverts to the original person. If that person isn't available, a new person can start.

3. Maybe we should go with a smaller number like 10 or 15 games per list if 25 is too daunting for busy folks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 12, 2015, 12:44:59 AM
I think 25 is fine IF it's two or more games per post (save some exceptions like when reaching the end of the list), the same way Systematic was doing.
Just one game takes the same time as a top 50 games/2 per post, which is what we were trying to avoid within this thread.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Lynxo on January 12, 2015, 02:12:41 AM
Can't the next person get going?! I love reading these kind of lists! :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 13, 2015, 09:50:48 AM
Sacul is next but i don't know if he's still up for it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Cool Chris on January 13, 2015, 10:46:06 AM
I will chime in that one post per day drags on these 'Top XX' threads to the point that I lose interest pretty quickly. I know that is a personal issue, but just sayin'.

Also thought I said this, but maybe I did not. I hated the Goldeneye 64 multiplayer mode, only because I always got my ass handed to me. But that is par for the course with multiplayer FPS games. The first person mode could be an all time top 10 game for me. I loved how each mission was unique and had specific objectives. And how closely it followed the movie, which I was a huge fan of.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Sacul on January 13, 2015, 12:06:07 PM
Damn, also forgot about this. I'm currently busy with English school homework and with the final of my roulette, and using just a smartphone (this site need Tapatalk BTW), but if the school can lend me their computers during the afternoon, I can start in the following days. The list is ready and wouldn't change it that much now, so I would just have to take some time for the write-ups. Will let you know tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 13, 2015, 12:43:36 PM
No problem. If you feel you won't have the time to do it, you can just pass it to jingle boy or myself since jingle boy isn't active since December.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on January 13, 2015, 05:56:04 PM
I know it's gonna be a (very) long wait, but I'd love to get on the list for this if I could.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Lynxo on January 14, 2015, 06:34:55 AM
Or you know, let me jump ahead of everybody else. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: cramx3 on January 14, 2015, 07:56:38 AM
How about the first person to post a start to a list gets to go?  This is kind of ridiculous.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 14, 2015, 08:00:24 AM
I do it if I wasn't going to Costa Rica in a week and a half
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Randaran on January 14, 2015, 08:02:57 AM
I would do it, but I have not finished my write-ups yet.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Lynxo on January 14, 2015, 08:05:44 AM
Maybe I'll write up something when I get home, if someone haven't beat me to the punch by then. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Sacul on January 14, 2015, 08:57:26 AM
I could borrow a PC from the school, but just for a while before they close, so it would be too complicated for me, cause I want to take time making the write-ups and designing the posts. Outcrier, you can begin now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 14, 2015, 02:52:28 PM
Ok, i will start it soon  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 14, 2015, 09:50:53 PM
Ok guys, here comes The Golden Age:

25. QuackShot starring Donald Duck (1991)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/9/5/8/47958_front.jpg)

(https://www.techmynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/quack-shot-8.jpg)
Damn creative, huh?

An overlooked Sega Genesis gem, QuackShot is a Donald Duck sidescroller that only i played. Jokes aside, this isn't a case of personal guilty pleasure.
Story? Pretty basic: Donald goes on a journey in search of an hidden treasure. Graphics and music, pretty nice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNgZrh10klM). What really makes this game standout, though, is that isn't just a simple sidescroller. It features nonlinearity and the need of specific items, which means you have to revisit some places again with your new weapon upgrades or key items so you can make progress. Even your own weapon, a gun that shoot plungers (yeah :lol), can be used as platform later as you get an upgrade that makes them stick on the wall.
So, basically, QuackShot is like a Metroidvania with levels, featuring Donald Duck. Priceless.

24. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/5/7/0/2570_front.jpg)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RMFDYkd0f1E/maxresdefault.jpg)
Jet pack, bitches.

While the original Crash Bandicoot was a good game imo, the sequel was a huge improvement. The controls, one of the things who dragged down the first game, feels much more responsible and better overall, new moves such as crouch and belly flop, even greater graphics and attention to details, Crash don't look as goofy as before, optional level paths and, well, everything just seems more polished. Another nice addition was the Warp Room, which opened more possibilities such as doing the levels in any order you want and new thematic stages (space and sewers, to say a few). 
Yeah, it isn't nearly difficult as it's predecessor (especially to fully complete) but, for me, isn't only difficulty that makes a game. In this case, i think it made Crash even more acessible and enjoyable than before. 
Congrats, Naughty Dog, that's how you make a sequel :clap:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Nick on January 14, 2015, 10:16:22 PM
Ah, fond memories of the Bandicoot series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: ariich on January 15, 2015, 04:58:15 AM
Hell yes Crash 2. Awesome game!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Lynxo on January 15, 2015, 05:30:27 AM
Two solid choices.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: cramx3 on January 15, 2015, 06:03:21 AM
A good ole Crash Bandicoot, I dont recall playing the second, only the first.

And I recall playing a Donald Duck game when I was younger, but can't recall if that was it.  I would have never remembered that if you didnt post that game as it triggered a really old childhood memory.  It was definitely a Sega game too so maybe that was it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Outcrier on January 15, 2015, 07:02:38 AM
And I recall playing a Donald Duck game when I was younger, but can't recall if that was it.  I would have never remembered that if you didnt post that game as it triggered a really old childhood memory.  It was definitely a Sega game too so maybe that was it.

If not this QuackShot, probably Donald in Maui Mallard.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. SystematicThought's obscure stuff (pg. 24)
Post by: Evermind on January 15, 2015, 11:41:15 AM
And I recall playing a Donald Duck game when I was younger, but can't recall if that was it.  I would have never remembered that if you didnt post that game as it triggered a really old childhood memory.  It was definitely a Sega game too so maybe that was it.

If not this QuackShot, probably Donald in Maui Mallard.

This one actually was awesome, in my opinion.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on January 15, 2015, 12:50:18 PM
Off to a rollicking good start out the gate.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 17, 2015, 07:05:54 AM
Ah, the version title can be something like this: Outcrier's Golden Age (since most of the games on my list are from what i think is the golden age of gaming).

If not this QuackShot, probably Donald in Maui Mallard.

This one actually was awesome, in my opinion.

I played a bit of Maiu Mallard back in the day but never got too far into that game (probably couldn't pass some section).

Two solid choices.  :tup
Off to a rollicking good start out the gate.

Tnx, it gets even better or no

23. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/1/1/2/48112_front.jpg)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/d/2/9/gfs_46788_2_13.jpg)
The one and only Barrel of Doom.

Back in the day, Sonic was the first game franchise that i adored. That strange mix of platformer and going fast instantly captivated me and Sega couldn't do no wrong when it came to main Sonic titles from that era. Looking now, i think that Sega always improved them with each new iteration and that's why Sonic 3 always was one of my favorites.
For starters, the levels are much larger and detailed than ever. You may cross lots of hidden passages and replaybility is secured due to the many different paths you can finish the levels. There is a new "minigame" where you catch a certain amount of blue spheres while avoiding the red ones, all in order to get the Chaos Emeralds (which, when reunited, can transform you into Super Sonic). Also, you have a new upgrades in form of shields that can protect you against things such as fire and water, sub-bosses, the best Sonic storyline, Knuckles introduction, yeah, lots of new stuff added overall.
Last but not least, the music. Like any early Sonic game, the soundtrack has some of the best music Genesis has to offer.
You have the famous Ice Cap (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYxlqTpZ-24), some downright freakin cool tunes such as Hidrocity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K1rV9kFs6I) and Marble Garden (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qw10LYqye4) and even some little contributions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtTlmi7ukIE) by Michael Jackson himself  :hat

Fun fact: This game is one year younger than me. I'm getting old  :blush

22. Dark Souls II (2014)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/1/3/259613_front.jpg)

(https://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/792942789483306644/68D4517B54E726219CFCB24469C65742C25B4FFD/)
Approaching Castlevania.

After finally experiencing Dark Souls last year, i understood the praise it garnered. Games that dare to present something different than the casualized, hand-holding gameplay you often see today are quite rare. That and the fact of being a fucking great game made my a fan of the series.
Thing is, the PC version had a major problem: how much poor the PC port was handled. I run into nuisances such as FPS drops, screen tearing and even had to download a unnoficial fix to be able to change the resolution. Fortunately, not much time after i finished DS, the sequel was released and, finally, everything was in it's right place.
For me, Dark Souls II felt like an extension to DS. Sure, it isn't as memorable but compensates that by featuring good optimization and no big nuisances. Even so, i don't think it is so far away of being as good as the first DS (these improvements in performance actually made me enjoy playing it even more than before).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Randaran on January 17, 2015, 08:00:06 AM
Of the Souls series, I have only played Demon's Souls. Love this series.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 17, 2015, 08:02:47 AM
S3 alone would be my least favourite of the classic Sonics (but I love them all!), with the as originally intended S3+K being a better more rounded package. Still, I found the level design a bit cheap (spikes etc) compared to the earlier games. I consider S3+K to be the most technically impressive game in the series, and objectively the "best", but S2 will always be my personal favourite. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 17, 2015, 08:33:30 AM
Of the Souls series, I have only played Demon's Souls. Love this series.  :tup

Wish i could play it but it's a PS3 exclusive :-\

S3 alone would be my least favourite of the classic Sonics (but I love them all!), with the as originally intended S3+K being a better more rounded package. Still, I found the level design a bit cheap (spikes etc) compared to the earlier games. I consider S3+K to be the most technically impressive game in the series, and objectively the "best", but S2 will always be my personal favourite. :tup

Yeah, i think S3+K is the best too but that is something i will talk about later in this list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: j on January 17, 2015, 09:22:37 AM
Of the Souls series, I have only played Demon's Souls. Love this series.  :tup

Wish i could play it but it's a PS3 exclusive :-\

Demon's Souls is great but both Dark Souls games are far superior IMO.  The atmosphere and environments are awesome and there are some things to like about some of the gameplay elements, but there are quite a few issues that were corrected in the sequels.  I don't have time to play too many video games anymore, but these games are some of the best I've played in years.

-J
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 17, 2015, 11:34:07 AM
Sonic 2 and 3 are so fuckin choice. My fondest memories of 3 are getting the dirt cheap Genesis 3 for the low, low price of $30 (brand new!) back in 1999, buying this game to go with it, and playing it shitfaced off of Bud Ice since I'd usually get a 12er on payday but since I was 17 I had to drink as much as I could or else I'd have to drink the rest warm because at that age there was no way in hell I could get away with keeping it in the fridge so the leftovers would be kept under my bed.

(https://www.jwnyc.com/games/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/genesis301.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on January 18, 2015, 01:40:50 AM
Sonic 2 is my favourite but any Sonic is good Sonic he's so effing kewl.  That Dark Souls looks awesome tho.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 18, 2015, 10:06:14 AM
If I could only play five games the rest of my life, there is a possibility that Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2 are all on that list.  Not saying they would all make my top 5, but there is a lot of content and replayability in them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 19, 2015, 05:45:37 PM
This time, some "cult" classics:

21. Okami (2006)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/8/8/7/59887_front.jpg)

(https://wallpaperus.org/wallpapers/03/108/okami-1920x1080-wallpaper-1634304.jpg)
Makes for some nice wallpapers.

Like ICO and Shadow of Colossus before it, Okami was a pleasant surprise for gamers that loved art and visual styles. It utilizes something similar to the japanese watercolor paintings, translated to game through cel-shading. It's simply the most unique PS2 graphics i've ever seen, transcendental.
The story borrows from Japanese folklore. Basically, you control Amaterasu, a god in the form of a wolf that is called to save Japan from the darkness brought by Orochi, a legendary eight headed serpent. While a basic premise, it soon turns into an epic journey across the world in where you meet many other myths and legends.
The game plays pretty similarly to a series that always was a reference: the Zelda series. You travel around the world, get clues talking to folks, clear dungeons... sounds familiar, eh? But, to differentiate, you have the unique Celestial Brush mechanic, where you stop time by holding the shoulder button to paint symbols onto the screen, each one representing a move. There are tons of symbols you learn during your journey that you can use in the environment and in battle, some of the most simple being a straight line that cut things and drawing a Q, which creates a bomb. Also, notice how this mechanic complements the "painting" visuals of the game.
Music is classical Japanese done with traditional instruments, very fitting though i'm no expert.
As a whole, i think Okami excels at every department. From story to music, everything perfectly complements each other so well, making for a unforgettable experience.

20. Xenogears (1998)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/0/6/6/9066_front.jpg)

(https://lparchive.org/Xenogears-(by-The-Dark-Id)/Update%2073/1-whathappenedtoyourface34.jpg)
This is what i call a "tight" battle.

Xenogears is the first entry in the Xeno series, which spawned games such as Xenosaga and, more recently, Xenoblade Chronicles.
It started as a potential script to Final Fantasy 7 but Square refused, claiming the story was too much complicated for a series so popular. Instead, they let the script be used into the making of a new game.
Sure, the story IS complicated, delving in themes such as philosophy, psychology and theology, but it's some of the best ever told in gaming. I think it is pretty equiparable to the Legend of the Galactic Heroes anime in how both have complex themes and so many well written characters.
It starts pretty simple: a young man named Fei lives peacefully in a pacific village. One day, two conflicting forces, in the midst of battle, end up into his village unintentionally, ensuring chaos. Fei, in order to protect his people, try piloting a Gear (akin to a mecha robot) that is unoccupied. He ends up losing control and destroying everything. With no place to call home, he decides to move on, as the few people left alive don't want his presence anymore.
From there, you can't even imagine what is waiting you.

Now, into the gameplay, the most interesting thing is how it changes depending of two circumstances: if you are using the characters or the Gears. Some dungeons are obrigatory using only one of them, others no, you may either enter or left the Gears at will (though isn't wise not using then in areas where the enemies are giants in comparison to humans).
There's two battle systems. The basic attacks consists of you pressing X, square or triangle and making combinations that results in "Deathblows"(special combos) but, the other options differ, depending on the same circumstances i talked about earlier. For characters, you can store AP, allowing various combos at once. For Gears, you can increase your Attack Level by charging (enabling more powerful attacks) or using the "Booster" command, which makes your Gear faster but consume much more fuel than usual. Run out of fuel and you're practically disabled.
When people talk about Yasunori Mitsuda (the music composer), everyone is quick to say Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross are his best works. I think Xenogears OST is in the same level, these being some evidence: Bonds of Sea and Fire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFbVhFlqt3k), Omen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzhWuriX9Ws), Shevat (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BQ6PeyzxDk), Ship of Regret and Sleep (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ywuVJ_jEIU), Gathering Stars in the Night (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu6MIX0OVVk)
 
Personally, the thing that drags down Xenogears is, rarely i will replay a game so long and with a scope like this instead of playing something new and that is the reason i put it in this position. Instead, i would love to see an anime adaption or a remake to experience it again in a different way.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 21, 2015, 01:17:48 AM
19. Chrono Trigger (1995)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/3/0/2/20302_front.jpg)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvemV6xFpKM/Tb23vG6GqSI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/k4bRX6FiYa8/s1600/Chrono+Trigger+Screenshot.jpg)

Not much to say about this one that hasn't already been said. Best RPG ever. Top 10 games of all times. These are some of the "accolades" Chrono Trigger gets and well deservedly since it pretty much excels at everything.
But, if i were to pick my favorite aspects of the game, i would say the presentation, which elevates something that appears simple to higher heights and the legendary soundtrack, composed by two of the best in the industry, Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu.
Still, when it comes to Chrono Trigger, it's been ages since the last time i've played it and never did how it was supposed to be: with a controller and without the "luxuries" of an emulator. Once i do that, i can definitely see this making my top 10.

18. Heart of Darkness (1998)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/4/4/8/448_front.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9N5OPUN.jpg)
There goes my childhood.

An overlooked Playstation gem, Heart of Darkness is a side-scrolling platformer that only i played  :neverusethis:

It tells the story of a boy named Andy who goes on an adventure to rescue his dog from the hands of some alien monsters. Yeah, the story is pretty silly and nothing to write home about but, in the end, it doesn't matter much in this case (saying why would spoil it).
Sort of a spiritual successor to a SNES game called Another World/Out of This World, Heart of Darkness plays similarly to this one i mentioned and the Oddworld series, in a sense that you have to pay attention and use the environments to make progress.
Per example, in this world where the monsters habit, all shadows have proper life. Often you need to move an object to places where it doesn't cast a shadow in order to prevent them from attacking you or use your own to reach something out of range.
Also, you can attack, jump, climb and do other things in order to pass through enemies/obstacles. Dying doesn't matter much since you go back to the same screen and have unlimited tries.
In fact, the most well know thing about this game is how disturbing the deaths (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyZfME5XYY) are, especially for being E-Rated. The main character, just a innocent kid, gets crushed, eaten and incinerated, just to say a few.
The only real downside about Heart of Darkness is the short duration but, at least, it's very fun while it lasts  ;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on January 21, 2015, 01:31:55 AM
Fuck, Heart of Darkness!!  That shit was so hard hahaha.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ariich on January 21, 2015, 02:12:42 AM
I remember Heart of Darkness! I think I only played a demo of it though, but that was definitely the era when I was really into games so I remember a lot of the random stuff that got released even if I never played it.

Still haven't played Chrono Trigger, but I will do soon!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 21, 2015, 03:43:31 AM
Okami! I really, really, really need to play it proper sometime. I love the concept and the art style.

The same can be said for Heart of Darkness - I need to give it a real go!

Still haven't played Chrono Trigger, but I will do soon!
DO IT! That's like the best RPG of all time. OF! ALL! TIME!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on January 21, 2015, 08:15:56 AM
DO IT! That's like the best RPG of all time. OF! ALL! TIME!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 21, 2015, 09:52:55 AM
Fuck, Heart of Darkness!!  That shit was so hard hahaha.

The last levels can be a pain in the ass, especially in Hard difficulty.

I remember Heart of Darkness! I think I only played a demo of it though, but that was definitely the era when I was really into games so I remember a lot of the random stuff that got released even if I never played it.

Nice that some people still remember it, i'm not alone after all :laugh:

Okami! I really, really, really need to play it proper sometime. I love the concept and the art style.

The same can be said for Heart of Darkness - I need to give it a real go!

Like i said, Heart of Darkness is pretty short so, you should have time to finish even if you're occupied.
Okami, on the other side, is more demanding. I won't rush that one.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Crow on January 21, 2015, 11:34:50 AM
Okami is fantastic, one of my favorite games. And I *have* heard of heart of darkness, just never played it myself, might check it out at some point though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on January 21, 2015, 11:42:43 AM
I couldn't even get past the first few screens of HOD it was extremely difficult for 12 year old me. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on January 21, 2015, 03:20:02 PM
I do love Okami so much - the ps3 edition is just wonderful.


Didn't finish Xenogears, but I really liked the story, although it was a bit hard to follow at times. Will finish it some day.


I think I have expressed this before, but I find CT to be ridiculously overrated. Sure it is a fun game and a good RPG, but the combat system is slow and not that creative; the story has some huge clichés and it's predictable (despite having like 10 endings). Couldn't manage to end it, just got totally bored :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 21, 2015, 10:26:04 PM
Just catching up and there are some real classics on there like sonic and crash. Great list so far!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 22, 2015, 01:48:12 AM
17. Final Fantasy X (2001)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/6/9/3669_front.jpg)

(https://www.sarahfobes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/600full-final-fantasy-x-screenshot.jpg)
The CTB (Conditional Turn Based) battle system.

Final Fantasy X was released in 2001 for the Playstation 2, a time where i was still playing Sega Genesis and Playstation games.
Near a decade later, me, late to the party again, finally got a PS2 and FFX here was the first RPG i experienced from that generation.
First thing i noticed: Voice acting in my Final Fantasy, finally! Lots of people complain about Tidus whiny voice and some bad acting, noticeably in a certain cringe worthy moment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5FTJxfV3pc) but, due to being the first time a FF featured voices, i didn't mind and thought it wasn't so bad.
FFX introduced some other things, one of them being my favorite leveling system in the series, the Sphere Grid.
When you level up, you gain Sphere LVLs, which you can use to move through this huge grid and access "orbs" that increase your stats. Each characters start in special portions that corresponds to their class but, later in the game, you may use special spheres that can make you warp to where you want or open locked areas. Believe me, it's fucking addictive.
This time around, Nobuo Uematsu composed the music with the assistance of Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano.
While not as good as previous soundtracks, they didn't disappoint and create, yet, another great FF OST, easily in my top 5 of the series.
Some downsides are the lack of a proper world map and the linearity but, in this case, the focused story more than make up for it.

16. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/5/4/1/52541_front.jpg)

(https://drh2.img.digitalriver.com/DRHM/Storefront/Company/ubi/images/screenshots/POP_SOT_PC_3.jpg)
Parkour in gaming before it was cool.

A couple years ago, i remember borrowing some PS2 games from a friend and, along them, there was a game i never heard about called: "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time". First, i was skeptical since i knew the earlier PoP games and it was a dead franchise by now but, whatever, i ended up trying.
Some seconds into the game, the tutorial "told me" to run through the wall. I did it and i remember thinking: "holy shit, this is fuckin' awesome". Then i continued and after passing per some obstacles, déjà vu hit me: The gameplay felt really similar to another game i loved, Heart of Darkness, in a sense of the focus being into how to progress through the levels rather than confronting enemies, all expanded in a 3D adventure game.
What i mean is, even though you face enemies, the point of the game is figuring how to traverse the areas you are be using walls, pillars, bars and everything to your advantage.
The title is a reference to a special dagger that you get early into the game, which contains the Sands of Time. You can use it to rewind time in case you die, miss a jump or whatever, another awesome mechanic. Obviously, it has limited uses but you can recharge often.
It saddens me that, with Assassin's Creed as his spiritual successor, Prince of Persia kinda got forgotten and may never get another entry anymore.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 22, 2015, 07:02:59 AM
I played the shit out of FFX - the battle system still remains my favorite.  :metal Unlike some people, I do really like the story. Though maybe not the voice acting AT ALL. I mean, most are all right to bad-ass (Auron, FUCK YEAH) but the two lead characters...EEESH!  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 22, 2015, 01:55:03 PM
Just catching up and there are some real classics on there like sonic and crash. Great list so far!

Thanks, i'm not finished with these.

I played the shit out of FFX - the battle system still remains my favorite.  :metal Unlike some people, I do really like the story. Though maybe not the voice acting AT ALL. I mean, most are all right to bad-ass (Auron, FUCK YEAH) but the two lead characters...EEESH!  :lol

I like the battle system, reminds me of Breath of Fire IV a bit since you can have all the characters and change them at will. But, while i appreciate not having to select some party members and leave the others levels behind, it bores me having to use all of them so no one leaves without any AP.

Story and characters are fine, i didn't mention them because most know it by now.
Tidus and Yuna... I kinda got used to these two. The rest of the cast made them more bearable i guess (by the way, Auron always was my favorite. What a badass :hat).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 23, 2015, 02:47:48 AM
(https://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7200000/Auron-auron-7276402-416-287.jpg)

 :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on January 23, 2015, 03:23:49 AM
Noice update there, OC
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 25, 2015, 03:04:29 AM
15. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/5/8/1/2581_front.jpg)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75uxDvCQJNw/UiIz4rOtyqI/AAAAAAAAGOo/q2yZ6ydWyxA/s1600/CB3+%25282%2529.jpg)
Shit just got real.

The last Crash Bandicoot entry on my list, Warped is the one to rule them all.
Everything that was good about the series is perfected and expanded, in ways that it kinda separates Warped from his predecessors. There are various new ideas implemented. To say a few, you pilot a jet ski, ride a tiger, drive planes, motorcycles and all through new level settings such as the Great Wall of China, old highways, the skies... You also explore different eras: Prehistoric, Medieval and the Future, per example.
Two other big additions is the gain of power-ups after defeating a boss, from double jump and holding a button to run faster to a priceless Wumpa Fruit Bazooka and a feature that enhanced the replay value, the Time Trial, where you have to complete the stages as fast as you can to gain relics, which are divided into Sapphire, the easiest one to get, Gold and Platinum, the hardest.
Even though Crash is dead nowadays (:'(), Warped will be remembered as one of the greatest platformers ever.


14. Final Fantasy IX (2000)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/3/4/3634_front.jpg)

(https://rpgsquare.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/final-fantasy-ix-battle.png)
Prepare to die again...

At the end of the PSX lifespan came the last Final Fantasy from that generation, Final Fantasy IX. It presented a different approach than VII and VIII. Instead of realism and hi-tech shit, IX goes back to the fantasy. Everything, from the art to the designs invoke the old traditional FFs and the game, while having some mature themes, doesn't take itself so serious (Square even used the chibi design on the characters to match the lighthearted tone).
Unlike VIII, most main characters belong to different races so, they easily stands from each other.
Some of them, like Zidane, Steiner and Vivi, are new designs of the original FF classes (in this case, thief, knight and black mage) but with a personality of their own, making them unique.
While the story sort of gets less interesting Disc 3 onward, my favorite FF sidequest compensates that: "Chocobo Hot and Cold", a treasure hunt all over the world. Simply fun and rewarding.

Some say IX is the last great Final Fantasy and, while i don't agree with them, i can understand why they think so.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Zantera on January 25, 2015, 03:08:42 AM
Had a lot of fun with Crash Bandicoot 3.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 25, 2015, 03:28:04 AM
We all had:

(https://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/6562424_700b.jpg)

Damn, right in the feels  :'(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 28, 2015, 03:43:00 AM
Sorry guys, got a bit occupied this week.

13. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/8/9/2/58892_front.jpg)

(https://www.gamingdragons.com/images/game_img/screenshots/pricewarrior/prince%20(7).jpg)
Taking a short cut.

Set seven years after the events of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Prince finds himself constantly hunted by a terrible beast known as the Dahaka. The Prince seeks counsel from an old wise man who explains that whoever releases The Sands of Time must die. Because the Prince escaped his fate, it is the Dahaka's mission as guardian of the Timeline to ensure that he dies as he was meant to. The old man also tells of the Island of Time, where the Empress of Time first created the Sands. The Prince sets sail for the Island in an attempt to prevent the Sands from ever being created, an act he believes will appease the Dahaka.

The black sheep of the Prince of Persia trilogy, Warrior Within is where all went wrong for most fans. Not for me.
The game is set in a large fortress within the Island of Time. Instead of levels, the "world" is pretty much connected, kinda like in a Metroidvania vein since you have to do some backtracking and revisiting. There is various portals scattered around that can be used to go back into the past/present, allowing you to visit the same place in a different timeline. I think this is very cool because, even if it's the same place, there is always lots of differences between them, leading to new paths.
Though the story is filled with conveniences, the past/future thing allows for some interesting twists to happen, like the Prince interacting with his own past self later in the game.
Contrary to Sands of Time, Warrior Within presents a dark tone, which kinda fits the Prince's situation (trying to escape his fated death). To match the change, the soundtrack features heavy metal a lot, enjoyable but not anything special. Also, the difficulty is considerably harder than SoT, both platform and combat wise. At least, the combat shows a huge improvement. Now, there's lots of combos, you can use the environments to your advantage, the weapons dropped by dead enemies can be temporarily used and some other things.
While many hated the game, i personally liked what was added and changed in relation to Sands of Time, surpassing it in my eyes.

12. Super Metroid (1994)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/3/2/2/51322_front.jpg)

(https://i0.wp.com/www.anatomyofgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/140303-supermetroid182.png?resize=512%2C448)
Metroid, Super Metroid.

...the "world" is pretty much connected, kinda like in a Metroidvania vein since you have to do some backtracking and revisiting.

Talking about the devil...

Super Metroid is another one of these games who are frequently cited in greatest games of all times lists and for many reasons.
First, exploration. While wandering through the areas, you find many places where you can't go. Later, with the use of new abilities/items, you can backtrack and access them. Nowadays, games who play like this are called Metroidvania. Sure, it wasn't the first to do this but Super Metroid perfected that.
Complementing the exploration, there is the amazing atmosphere/ambience, a realm which Super Metroid exceeds. While playing, you really feel alone, exploring an alien world without even imagining what's gonna happen next.
Besides the environments and graphics, the use of sounds are a big part of what makes the atmosphere what it is. I love when you know that shit gonna hit the fan just by the unsettling music.
The presentation is pretty interesting since all that happens is "told" without a single word, in a way the player must figure some things out and others are open to interpretation.
Frankly, i find pretty astounding that people made a game like Super Metroid using the limited SNES hardware because it is a monster of an achievement.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 28, 2015, 08:52:43 AM
There was an article in a swedish gaming magazine about the level layout of Super Metroid and why it's so awesome. It went really into detail, giving plenty of examples of excellent stage design.

And that is really what it comes down to, if you ask me. Not the amazing, creepy atmospheric music, excellent graphics or rad powerups. The levels just have that clever design that made it almost impossible to stop. And to think that it was one of the first games with that gameplay style is just astonishing to me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 28, 2015, 11:10:20 AM
Yeah, i think the Metroidvania style is a excellent point of start but how the developers incorporated the rest into the game elevated it even more.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Randaran on January 28, 2015, 01:01:42 PM
Finally, a game I've played! Super Metroid is definately my favorite of the 2D Metroids, though I prefer the first two Prime installments (especially the first) to it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Crow on January 28, 2015, 02:16:33 PM
played Super Metroid for the first time myself recently. I appreciate that it basically set the standard for metroidvanias and it's a good game for sure but had a lot of artifacts of the retro age that remain foreign to me, i wasn't blown away by it
but i have no nostalgia for it so that could be a part of it, I still love games I have nostalgia for even when I can notice their blatant flaws
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 28, 2015, 07:13:35 PM
Finally, a game I've played! Super Metroid is definately my favorite of the 2D Metroids, though I prefer the first two Prime installments (especially the first) to it.

Well, the list isn't over ;)

played Super Metroid for the first time myself recently. I appreciate that it basically set the standard for metroidvanias and it's a good game for sure but had a lot of artifacts of the retro age that remain foreign to me, i wasn't blown away by it
but i have no nostalgia for it so that could be a part of it, I still love games I have nostalgia for even when I can notice their blatant flaws

Me too but, personally, it wasn't the case with Super Metroid (which i played for the first time during the PS2 generation).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on January 29, 2015, 01:02:24 PM
I'd been playing the Metroid series chronologically, but my Wiimote broke down so I couldn't finish Prime 3. But liked the first one (zero mission remake) and loved Prime 2: Echoes :heart .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on January 29, 2015, 05:08:12 PM
I grew up in the 80s playing and loving the first Metroid, so I already had nostalgia as a young lad seeing Super Metroid in 1994 in Toys R Us. Something about seeing Zebes in 16-bit, and seeing spots that were straight out of the first game really hit me when I played through it. An absolute masterpiece. One of the finest SNES game there is, probably second to only Mega Man X IMO.

On that note, I used to think the NES was the pinnacle, but the more and more I play through some of the SNES classics I didnt have growing up, the more I see how great of a system it was. The NES has it's great games too, but comparatively the same series of games are usually better on SNES. Super Metroid > Metroid. Mega Man X1-3 > Mega Man 1-6. Final Fantasy 4-6 > FF 1-3. Not to mention new games/series like Breath of Fire, Chrono Trigger, etc... great system just for RPGs alone.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 29, 2015, 09:16:19 PM
I played Super Metroid once last year I think, and it was a pretty good game, and clearly an influential game. Didn't find it super exciting though. No nostalgia factor to help it there like many of my other favourites from the era, and I'm not often into the shooty platformers.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 30, 2015, 12:27:54 AM
I grew up in the 80s playing and loving the first Metroid, so I already had nostalgia as a young lad seeing Super Metroid in 1994 in Toys R Us. Something about seeing Zebes in 16-bit, and seeing spots that were straight out of the first game really hit me when I played through it. An absolute masterpiece. One of the finest SNES game there is, probably second to only Mega Man X IMO.

On that note, I used to think the NES was the pinnacle, but the more and more I play through some of the SNES classics I didnt have growing up, the more I see how great of a system it was. The NES has it's great games too, but comparatively the same series of games are usually better on SNES. Super Metroid > Metroid. Mega Man X1-3 > Mega Man 1-6. Final Fantasy 4-6 > FF 1-3. Not to mention new games/series like Breath of Fire, Chrono Trigger, etc... great system just for RPGs alone.
Yeah, I've always been of the opinion that the SNES was the very best 2D console, the peak of that era, before 3D made its debut. And Super Metroid certainly adds to that.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 30, 2015, 12:31:07 AM
SNES certainly has more great games than the NES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lucien on January 30, 2015, 12:36:42 AM
I'm sort of surprised I'm not following this thread.

Okami is an amazing game on every level.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 30, 2015, 01:03:00 AM
Well, the thread was just revived some weeks ago.

As for Okami, i seriously need to replay it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on January 30, 2015, 01:25:42 AM
Well, the thread was just revived some weeks ago.

As for Okami, i seriously need to replay it.
Me too! I need to get myself a copy of that shit!  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 30, 2015, 04:09:53 AM
Entering the top 10:

11. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/7/1/3/66713_front.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBYv5Bkfweo/TVFmeGS1kXI/AAAAAAAAAEk/SIkFgRBD0Wg/s1600/nfs_most_wanted.jpg)
The consequences of being wanted.

Compared to what have appeared in this list so far, a racing game seems quite peculiar since i'm not so found of them but, this one is the exception.
Most Wanted, at least for me, stands as the pinnacle of the Need for Speed series. Sure, the Underground iterations were good but this took everything to another level.
The plot follows a a illegal street racer who arrives into Rockport City and get tricked by a group of racers, losing his drive. After this, the same group of racers reach the top of the Blacklist and you have no other option than climbing up through it to get your sweet revenge and become the most wanted in the process. 
The Blacklist is a list (you don't say) of the 15 most wanted racers by the Rockport PD. To be able to face a member and take his place, you have to win races and have as many bounty points as required. To get those, you need to complete some challenges, which involves my favorite thing about the game, the police chases.
At the beginning, the cops are a joke but, as you progress and the heat level increases, they get better cars and become more intelligent and ruthless.
By reaching the highest heat levels, things get pretty intense, especially with the need of evading the pursuit to complete the challenges while the cops keeps throwing reinforcements, helicopters and the rage quit inducing spike trips at you. Fuck them  >:(
Great campaign aside, the game has a good lifespan as you can make/tune lots of different cars, free roam through the memorable Rockport City or play other modes like The Challenge Series, which are quite challenging (duh :loser:).

A must for any racing fan. Still, i think Most Wanted is so good it can be appreciated even by people who aren't much into the genre.
 
10. Half-Life 2 (2004)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/9/6/5/43965_front.jpg)

(https://searchbuzz.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/half_life_2_episode_3.jpg)
Getting by with a little help from my friends.

Yep, like many in this thread, i'm another one who loves Half-Life 2.
HL2 was one of the very first games i've played which featured next-gen graphics (for the time). I remember how beautiful it was the first time you step into the streets of City 17... what an evolution compared to the original HL. Good that, the graphics were only part of the equation.
Half-Life is a franchise that goes way back to a time were first person shooters had a focus into the single player campaign. And what a fantastic campaign HL2 has. From escaping of a dystopian city or going through his canals with a hovercraft to raiding a former prison with the help of antlions, it's all so damn memorable.
But, if i have to pick my favorite segment, it's gotta be Ravenholm, where the game kinda turns, temporally, into a survival horror. Visiting a creepy town infested with zombies and traps at night was quite unexpected to say the least, in a really good way.
Joining the Crowbar, the franchise got a new iconic weapon, the Gravity Gun, simply one of the most awesome weapons i've ever used in a game. You can pick every object and use them anyway you want, either be helping you progress through the level or as "ammo". 
While Valve can't count to three, Half-Life 2 shows they certainly know how to make a sequel.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2015, 09:56:08 AM
HL2!!!  :metal :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on January 30, 2015, 02:21:59 PM
NFS:MW, had lots of fun with it :metal . Couldn't finish it 'cause the last races were fucking difficult, but never got bored of it. So sad the remake is awful.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 30, 2015, 02:28:29 PM
I love HL2, I need to find the time to replay it again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on January 30, 2015, 02:58:09 PM
Absolutely LOVE half life 2.

2nd favorite game ever made, behind FF 7
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on January 31, 2015, 10:00:51 AM
NFS:MW, had lots of fun with it :metal . Couldn't finish it 'cause the last races were fucking difficult, but never got bored of it. So sad the remake is awful.

Really? I thought the hardest part of the campaign was the final cop challenges.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: orcus116 on January 31, 2015, 12:32:25 PM
HL2 only at 10?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 02, 2015, 09:13:19 PM
9. God of War (2005)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/0/2/58602_front.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xas1s1nVfCI/TX6k14ugmdI/AAAAAAAAAvA/UlUphC_h9oM/s1600/1285.jpg)
Ares sending Kratos his regards.

The game that was so successful it made Kratos canon to the Greek Mythology ;D
God of War is a mixture of hack and slash, platforming and puzzle solving game that tells the epic story of the deeply tormented warrior Kratos, who is ordered by the gods to kill Ares, the God of War himself, as means to be forgiven for killing his family.
I must say the story and how everything is presented is miles ahead of most action games at the time, very cinematic and epic in scope. 
Like the story, everything in the game feels epic, from combat to going through the locations (like in that image, where you can see the gigantic Ares from far away).
As for Kratos, i'm fine with him. While he have some haters, the "always pissed off" attitude fits the game violence. That plus his design and the badass voice acting make for a iconic character.
Not hard has Ninja Gaiden nor complicated when it comes to combat as some similar games, God of War has a nice balance between all these aspects, making it accesible to either the casual or hardcore gamer. 
Repetition is avoided by the platform and puzzle sections, which are very well done, especially the ones from Pandora's Temple, a place where i really felt i was making progress thanks to the great level design.
God of War, unlike most hack and slash games, managed to nail pretty much everything instead of only gameplay, standing out high and shoulders above them.

8. Sonic & Knuckles (1994)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/3/3/4/7334_front.jpg)

(https://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm64/arbaros/sonic.gif)


Yeah, i think S3+K is the best too but that is something i will talk about later in this list.

Finally, we reach my favorite Sonic game.

Sonic & Knuckles is the sequel to Sonic 3. Originally, these two games were supposed to be only one but Sega ended up separating them to avoid delays and some other stuff.
Thing is, even separated, i think both are great games in their own rights, with S&K taking the upper hand mostly because it has the best level designs and music in the series imo.
Also, going into some more details, i love how it has this dark and sad tone going on after you reach Lava Reef, something pretty unique to the series and that definitely made it stand out for me (fitting music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9utFNqhJUgY) as well) plus the more epic finale to a Sonic game ever, The Doomsday Zone :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 02, 2015, 09:52:45 PM
I do prefer S&K to S3 overall, especially those first 3 zones, but as individual games, I do prefer S1 and especially S2. When counted as one game it's more of a contest (and I generally count them as one), but I still find some of the level design cheap in later levels, and the music is more consistent in the earlier games thanks to having the one great composer.

But there's a Sonic game on your list, and not another modern game that all looks the same to me, so I give you a thumbs up. :lol :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 02, 2015, 10:07:29 PM
I do prefer S&K to S3 overall, especially those first 3 zones, but as individual games, I do prefer S1 and especially S2. When counted as one game it's more of a contest (and I generally count them as one), but I still find some of the level design cheap in later levels, and the music is more consistent in the earlier games thanks to having the one great composer.

Well, music is a thing i can't complain about the old Sonic games (even Sonic 3D Blast has awesome VG music such as Volcano Valley Act 2).

But there's a Sonic game on your list, and not another modern game that all looks the same to me, so I give you a thumbs up. :lol :tup
Shots fired, huh?  :lol

By the way, that recreated S&K video you made is the most amazing Sonic related thing i saw since ages... Sonic Generations doesn't hold a candle  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 02, 2015, 10:22:42 PM
But there's a Sonic game on your list, and not another modern game that all looks the same to me, so I give you a thumbs up. :lol :tup
Shots fired, huh?  :lol

Oh I didn't mean that as a dig in any way, I'm just admitting to my total ignorance of modern gaming. :lol I've played a lot of the modern games, but I'm very oldschool in what appeals to me.

Sonic 3D Blast had some great music as well. Can't remember specific levels, as I've only played it through once. As far as the classic 2D games go, I'm kinda splitting hairs here.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: masterthes on February 03, 2015, 12:10:44 AM
Love the God of War games!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 03, 2015, 12:16:51 AM
My favorite Sonic game will always be the second one, but I'm willing to admit it probably has a lot more to do with nostalgia than with the quality of the actual games. And really, you can't go wrong with any of the Genesis ones. (At least the numbered ones... :lol )
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: cramx3 on February 03, 2015, 06:38:17 AM
My favorite Sonic game will always be the second one, but I'm willing to admit it probably has a lot more to do with nostalgia than with the quality of the actual games. And really, you can't go wrong with any of the Genesis ones. (At least the numbered ones... :lol )

This
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 03, 2015, 07:58:50 AM
My whole childhood was S3&K. Played the living shit out of that game and it will forever be one of my very favorites.  :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Randaran on February 03, 2015, 12:25:24 PM
God of War is the weakest of the main trilogy, but it is still a great game in its own right. Other than a few sections that are much harder than the surrounding areas (liked that damned human sacrifice section), the game is great from start to finish.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 04, 2015, 09:31:23 AM
HL2 only at 10?

There is other games i like more. Why, it is your 1º?

My favorite Sonic game will always be the second one, but I'm willing to admit it probably has a lot more to do with nostalgia than with the quality of the actual games. And really, you can't go wrong with any of the Genesis ones. (At least the numbered ones... :lol )

This

I always thought S3&K was the definitive Sonic experience but love the first two anyway.

My whole childhood was S3&K. Played the living shit out of that game and it will forever be one of my very favorites.  :heart

:hifive:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: MetalJunkie on February 04, 2015, 08:10:29 PM
Edit: wrong thread
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 05, 2015, 03:24:46 AM
God of War is the weakest of the main trilogy, but it is still a great game in its own right. Other than a few sections that are much harder than the surrounding areas (liked that damned human sacrifice section), the game is great from start to finish.

For now, agreed, but i still have to play God of War III (damn exclusivity :-\).

Love the God of War games!

:hifive:

One more incoming:

7. God of War II (2007)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/2/6/9/74269_front.jpg)

(https://www.supercheats.com/guides/god-of-war-2/images/1-damagedcolossus.jpg)
FINISH HIM!

Another God of War game... Well, this one will be short.

From killing Ares to be forgiven, God of War II presents an even better premise: Kratos wants to get revenge on someone who stripped him down of his "new" godly powers, the King of the Gods himself, Zeus. To make that possible, Kratos seeks the Sisters of Fate with the purpose of going back in time to a point where he still has his powers. In the journey, he visits several places within the Island of Creation, all of them even more beautiful and better designed.
Also, it's pretty cool how, this time around, much more icons of the Greek Mithology make appearences like a few Titans, Pegasus, Prometheus, Icarus and even an animated statue of the Colossus of Rhodes.
But, ultimately, the main reason of what makes GoW2 greater is just a case of better level designs, gameplay ideas and pacing. Everything just flows better by comparison and nearly no areas are a chore to replay through.

6. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/6/1/9661_front.jpg)

(https://www.armature.com/wp-content/gallery/screenshots/mgs2-raiden-shell-sneak.jpg)

Metal Gear is a franchise that dates back to NES but, it wasn't till the PS2 that i decided to explore it.
Despite of being praised for its graphics, cinematic cutscenes and refined gameplay (with the new first person mode), Sons of Liberty took some risks about the characters and story, which led to criticism.
At the time of his release, the game got a lot of flak because people thought Snake would be the main character and that illusion was sustained because you did play as him during the beginning of the game (the Tank Chapter). Later, it was revealed the main character was, in fact, a guy named Raiden, who looked like a total opposite of the badass Solid Snake (even his personality). Short story, everyone hated it and crucified the poor slob :lol
Since i played this a long time after the release date, there never was a problem between me and Raiden and it was nice to see Snake, who appears later, from a different perspective (which actually was one of the points behind the change) so, yeah, i think it was beneficial i didn't played it during it's release (and, consequentially, didn't get aboard the hate train).
Something i love about the MGS series is, despite the story getting convoluted and nonsensical at times, it's so damn engrossing and interesting that you don't even care. And this happens a lot here. So many twists and mindfuckery (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68mbFvenlaQ) (as the game explores so many themes). That, plus the awesome stealth gameplay the series is know for made me fall into the camp who adore Sons of Liberty, a game which still divide opinions.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 05, 2015, 03:35:44 AM
Huge respect and love for MGS2, but part 1 will always be my favorite.

Tanker I absolutely love beyond words, and most of big shell I really enjoyed, until the virus got uploaded and shit went absolutely off the rails. I was like 14 at the time and was confused beyonds words. Its just got whack. Very sweet game though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 05, 2015, 03:40:48 AM
Huge respect and love for MGS2, but part 1 will always be my favorite.

Tanker I absolutely love beyond words, and most of big shell I really enjoyed, until the virus got uploaded and shit went absolutely off the rails. I was like 14 at the time and was confused beyonds words. Its just got whack. Very sweet game though.

You tell me :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 05, 2015, 07:10:16 AM
Huge respect and love for MGS2, but part 1 will always be my favorite.

Tanker I absolutely love beyond words, and most of big shell I really enjoyed, until the virus got uploaded and shit went absolutely off the rails. I was like 14 at the time and was confused beyonds words. Its just got whack. Very sweet game though.
Agreed with all on this. Still, can't help but love that damn game.  :heart
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on February 05, 2015, 10:56:10 AM
I loved when the MGS2 story went bonkers.  I was also in my early 20s and i was able to follow it.

I love the whole MGS series, but 1&2 were my favorites.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Randaran on February 05, 2015, 12:58:31 PM
Ah, MGS2... The last hour is a long cutscene broken up by the occasional boss fight, with plot twist after plot twist. It confused the hell out of my 14 year old self, though I think I may be able to understand it now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 05, 2015, 05:11:17 PM
By the way, poor Sonic, sandwiched between the God of War  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 07, 2015, 03:30:01 AM
5. Metroid Prime (2002)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/1/3/1/12131_front.jpg)

(https://lagunascerebrales.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/metroid-prime-tallon-overworld.jpg)
Déjà vu inducing, eh?

Entering the top five, here's the Metroid game that impressed me so much i held it even higher than Super Metroid.

Last year, while exploring some old games, i decided to try something new: the Nintendo GameCube. Going for some franchises i already knew, the acclaimed Metroid Prime was an easy pick.
First "level" leaved me pretty skeptical. New perspective, the scan feature, so odd. But, as soon i reached Tallon and explored the Chozo Ruins, everything just clicked. It was amazing how it really felt like a Metroid game, only in 3D and first person. I thought the gameplay would be more like a FPS but, instead, i got a FPA (First-person Adventure). As for the rest, the good old Metroid formula, featuring the colored doors, the secret areas/items and staple upgrades such as the Morphing Ball.

Prime art style and graphics surprised me. While most 3D games quickly becomes dated, this one aged very well.

(https://reviewjunkies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Phendrana_canyon.png)
Not bad for being more than ten years old.

The electronic/techno influenced soundtrack is another point that scored high personally. Cool to hear some remixes of sounds and music from the old titles as well.

Now, for 2D Metroid fans who never tried the Prime games, i say: don't be by intimidated by the differences, the essence is still the same.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Bolsters on February 07, 2015, 04:44:26 AM
As much as I like the platformers, I think that this is probably my favourite Metroid game. I was just completely sucked in by the atmosphere of Prime almost immediately, and as you mentioned, the soundtrack is great and it really adds a lot to that experience.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Randaran on February 07, 2015, 09:02:04 AM
My favorite Metroid game.  :tup Nice pick. The sequel had better boss fights, but this one is better overall.

If any of you have not done so, I highly recommend watching speed runs of both Prime and Prime 2. Metroid games are great for speed runs, and these are no exception.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 07, 2015, 11:19:21 AM
Metroid Prime is an amazing achievement, taking what was great about the NES and SNES games and ramping it up to the next level. I hate to say any game is flawless, or perfect, but Prime comes about as close as possible. A fair challenge, amazing music and ambiance, fantastic controls, and interesting story without being too complicated.

Most adventure games, you walk in to a new room or area, with your sword/gun/whatever set, ready to be attacked by whatever beasts are ready to greet you. In the Prime games, I love how you enter a new place for the first time, their is a nice camera flyover of the area, and then... nothing happens. it is up for you to explore, figure out where to go, what to do, and discover what creatures might be waiting for you.

Echoes is a great game too, and Corruption might be as well, though I played it years later, when my interest in gaming had waned.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on February 07, 2015, 05:59:54 PM
Although I loved this one (and that near-impossible final boss), I slightly prefer Echoes. But I love all of the Metroid games anyways. Great list  :heart.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 08, 2015, 11:09:34 AM
As much as I like the platformers, I think that this is probably my favourite Metroid game. I was just completely sucked in by the atmosphere of Prime almost immediately, and as you mentioned, the soundtrack is great and it really adds a lot to that experience.

Sure but, being a Metroid game, that's a given  ;)

My favorite Metroid game.  :tup Nice pick. The sequel had better boss fights, but this one is better overall.

If any of you have not done so, I highly recommend watching speed runs of both Prime and Prime 2. Metroid games are great for speed runs, and these are no exception.

I've watched some. First replay, i'm definitely gonna try some of the sequence breakings, especially these where you go "outside" the map.

Echoes is a great game too, and Corruption might be as well, though I played it years later, when my interest in gaming had waned.
Although I loved this one (and that near-impossible final boss), I slightly prefer Echoes. But I love all of the Metroid games anyways.

Still have to play Echoes and Corruption but, no rush.

Great list :heart.

 :-*




BTW, while most gameplay mechanics were successfully transitioned to 3D, the way the Morphing Ball was handled stucked with me:

(https://www.gamesfoda.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/samus-bolinha2.gif)

Such a joy to morph into a little ball and go through the sequences that require it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on February 08, 2015, 07:42:16 PM
Get the Prime Trilogy for Wii - playing these games with the Wiimote is but a delight, far more comfortable than with a GameCube controller. And I think the first two Prime games have a subtle, slight graphical improvement because they use Corruption's engine.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 10, 2015, 12:49:20 AM
Get the Prime Trilogy for Wii - playing these games with the Wiimote is but a delight, far more comfortable than with a GameCube controller. And I think the first two

Prime games have a subtle, slight graphical improvement because they use Corruption's engine.

Unfortunately, i don't own a Wii but, since Wii U has backwards compatibility, maybe i get one.

4. Resident Evil 4 (2005)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/5/2/2/15522_front.jpg)(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/5/2/8/15528_front.jpg)

(https://i1.cdnds.net/14/11/618x344/gaming-resident-evil-4-ultimate-hd-screenshot-5.jpg)
A warm welcome.

At the 4th spot, the REinvention of Resident Evil :P

For the series, Resident Evil 4 is the point where Survival Horror took the backseat in favor of a more action oriented gameplay, with some big changes that amped up the accessibility linearity, new perspective and the over-the-shoulder aiming, to say a few.
Because of that, RE 4 reception was interesting. In one side, people praised it as not only the best RE, but a masterpiece while some fans of the old style thought it was dumbed down for the masses.
While in most cases i would agree it was dumbed down, RE 4 is an exception. Easier? Sure but difficulty isn't something that makes a game good or bad by itself. Not scary anymore? Yeah but, in turn, you experience some of the best action a game can offer. Not only that, everything is so memorable, from the cutscenes to the enemies and level designs (it's really hard to pick a favorite segment because of the campaign being so consistently good throughout).
Another cliche but it has to be said: the flawless pacing. From shit going hard when Leon reachs the village for the first time or some tense enemies encounters (such as the creepy Regenerators) to the relief of reaching a Save Room, these situations rarely overstay their welcome and, to keep things fresh, the game is always throwing something new at you.
To be honest, i can't help but roll my eyes when i hear some say RE 4 is where Resident Evil died just because it isn't anything like it's predecessors. Even better, it manages to transcends the series to be, on it's own, one of the greatest games ever made so...

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-krwlyzwVRCQ/TpGYfHOzkcI/AAAAAAAAABk/nBpGHAxqLrE/s1600/RE4HDHEADER.png)

...all hail the king  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 10, 2015, 03:43:14 AM
As a kid, I bought that game but always stopped just as those villagers start attacking you from every corner because it scared the shit out of me. I've never understood why RE4 is considered less scary?

Or maybe I'm just a pussy. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 10, 2015, 04:44:06 AM
Like i said, Resident Evil 4 is more about Action than Survival Horror. In the older REs, you had much less ammo and inventory space so, sometimes, you couldn't kill all enemies and had to escape them, all in tight hallways most of the times.
Also, the tank controls and fixed camera angles made you more prone to mistakes.

But, if you truly wanna know why RE 4 isn't as scary as you think, try playing any Silent Hill ;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on February 10, 2015, 04:55:10 AM
Big love for MGS2, and RE4.  I only played RE4 a couple years back, having been somewhat familiar with the first three - it was the first RE I actually finished and re-played, and that's probably because its nowhere near as frightening as any of the other ones :lol.

I've lost count of how many times I've played through Sons of Liberty - such a fantastic game.  I remember being uber confused the first time the game started going apeshit (though 13 year old me didn't mind the radar being replaced with that lovely little Japanese woman in that video :lol ).  The lack of Snake didn't really bother me that much.  Annoying as Raiden can be, it was kinda refreshing having a fresh-faced, inexperienced woman as a main character :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: cramx3 on February 10, 2015, 07:09:11 AM
Never played any of the RE after 2 so I am not familiar with the newer game play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 10, 2015, 08:41:49 AM
I've lost count of how many times I've played through Sons of Liberty - such a fantastic game.  I remember being uber confused the first time the game started going apeshit (though 13 year old me didn't mind the radar being replaced with that lovely little Japanese woman in that video :lol ).  The lack of Snake didn't really bother me that much.  Annoying as Raiden can be, it was kinda refreshing having a fresh-faced, inexperienced woman as a main character :lol

After playing a certain game, i didn't thought i was gonna like Sons of Liberty that much since it's viewed as the weakest of the four main Metal Gear Solid games but, it did proved me wrong. I guess that is a testament to how great the series is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on February 10, 2015, 02:29:11 PM
I replayed this game too many times - its just so addictive and fun. Will never forget phrases like "Detras de ti, imbécil!" :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 11, 2015, 09:23:23 AM
Spanish is similar to Portuguese so it was funny understand all shit the Ganados say to Leon :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on February 11, 2015, 02:43:20 PM
They call him asshole a lot, right? Cabron?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 11, 2015, 03:11:42 PM
I played Resident Evil 0 on N64 or GC (whichever it came out on) and eventually gave up as I couldn't get far and got tired of getting my ass handed to me. Thought it was a cool game though.

Picked this up for the Wii on a whim. Really enjoyed it, but toward the end was losing interest and just finished it to get to the end. A fun game, one I'd recommend, but I have no interest in replaying, and do not get the super-high praise it gets.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 12, 2015, 05:26:45 PM
After playing a certain game, i didn't thought i was gonna like Sons of Liberty that much...

3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/4/4/1/53441_front.jpg)

(https://nigmabox.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/metal-gear-solid-3-hd-vita-image-2.jpg)
Welcome to the jungle.

My introduction to Metal Gear Solid and, i must say, what an introduction!
Luckily for me, the third of the Solid games is, actually, the first in chronological order and tells the origins of the legendary soldier, Big Boss. The plot is one of the most engrossing in any video game i played, with so many memorable characters like the extravagant bosses, a young Ocelot and, especially, Snake's mentor, The Boss.
The music theme and jungle setting reminds me of the James Bond and Rambo movies but this is MGS we're talking about and, with it, comes that glorious gameplay, featuring some neat additions: stealth camouflage, the influence of the wilderness, body damage that drags Snake down if not treated, the CQC "martial art" technique... good stuff.
Snake Eater was my first taste of Hideo Kojima madness. So many things you can do that you think aren't possible because, "This is just a video game, right?". At the top of my mind, using a pill from your inventory like a regular item to fake death (with a fake Game Over screen as well) and advancing real life date within the PS2 system to kill an aged boss :lol, that not counting the countless easter eggs.
I really enjoy how all these "silly" ideas are implented without making the story feel a joke, just the perfect balance of knowing when to do it.

After this and Peace Walker, i'm eagerness to see the continuation of Big Boss story in MGS V: Phantom Pain. Even if they fuck it up (which i doubt), Snake Eater is another set in stone masterpiece from the MGS series.
Well done again, Kojima :clap:

(https://www.gamer.ru/system/attached_images/images/000/306/699/original/plugin-container_2011-01-12_22-53-03-18.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 12, 2015, 06:51:41 PM
Snake eater is cool. I wish I loved it as much as MGS1 and MGS2.

I respect it for doing something different and innovative, but the jungle setting and mechanics just weren't my cup of tea unfortunately.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 13, 2015, 07:18:45 AM
Just catching up on this list after vacation. So happy to see Sonic on here, those were my favorite games when I was young. I haven't really played the rest of the games but I'll still be following this list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 13, 2015, 07:35:45 AM
They call him asshole a lot, right? Cabron?

Not really  ;)

Snake eater is cool. I wish I loved it as much as MGS1 and MGS2.

I respect it for doing something different and innovative, but the jungle setting and mechanics just weren't my cup of tea unfortunately.

Generally, is a battle of MGS1 x MGS3 for best Metal Gear Solid game. Problem is, after playing these you mentioned, i never could go back and admire the original MGS, even though it was the blueprint.

Just catching up on this list after vacation. So happy to see Sonic on here, those were my favorite games when I was young. I haven't really played the rest of the games but I'll still be following this list.

:hifive:

I'm gonna finish this soon, just two more games.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 16, 2015, 03:47:35 AM
The Carnival holiday delayed me a bit but, i shall finish my list this week. Some quick thoughts:

2. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/2/9/2/2292_front.jpg)

(https://www.gamedynamo.com/images/galleries/photo/1359/top-10-hammy-video-games-dracula-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night.jpg)

The silver medal goes for the pinnacle of the Castlevania series, Symphony of the Night.
SotN came with many changes in relation to his predecessors, the most notably being the Metroidvania gameplay style, which fit like a glove with a setting such as Dracula's castle and his many areas. Differentiating from Super Metroid, SotN features RPG elements such as HP, MP, stats and you can find and use many equipments instead of only special items. In short, a real breath of fresh air for the series.
The audio is generally good despite of the cheesy voice acting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z65s0fqDw4) but the music is where it shines. Michiru Yamane composed a very varied soundtrack. Just going by genres, you got classical music, rock, metal, new age, techno, trip hop and more. Certainly one of the greats.
The Inverted Castle is one of the biggest surprises i ever had in a game. Sure, it may have been a cheap way of extending the duration of but damn if it isn't a mindblowing twist. Besides, there are new enemies, items and difficulty spike.

(https://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevania/symphonyofthenight/symphonyofthenight-1202-610.jpg)
Isaac Newton disliked this.

If Super Metroid was the perfection of Metroidvania, SotN managed to do the impossible, expanding something thought to be already perfect.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 16, 2015, 05:12:05 AM
I bow down to SoTN.  :hefdaddy

From the moment I first put it in, I instantly fell in love with it. The action, the music, the art design was all just so very cool and incredible.

Top 5 ps1 games for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 16, 2015, 05:13:09 AM
Awesome, awesome, awesome game.  :tup I really want to track down a copy of that game but it's absurdly expensive. Oh well, at least we have the digital releases.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 16, 2015, 07:13:53 AM
I heard so much of CastleVania but I never played, maybe one day but my list of games to play just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 16, 2015, 02:26:57 PM
I bow down to SoTN.  :hefdaddy

From the moment I first put it in, I instantly fell in love with it. The action, the music, the art design was all just so very cool and incredible.

Top 5 ps1 games for me.

They certainly stood the test of time.

I heard so much of CastleVania but I never played, maybe one day but my list of games to play just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

If you like Metroidvanias, Symphony of the Night is a must.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Crow on February 16, 2015, 03:58:12 PM
never been able to dig castlevania games, too much combat for my tastes and the scenery is kind of bland

just me tho
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 17, 2015, 11:09:46 AM
never been able to dig castlevania games, too much combat for my tastes and the scenery is kind of bland

just me tho

If that serves for SotN as well, it's just you  :\
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: masterthes on February 17, 2015, 11:33:11 AM
Awesome, awesome, awesome game.  :tup I really want to track down a copy of that game but it's absurdly expensive. Oh well, at least we have the digital releases.


https://www.amazon.com/Konami-Classics-1-Xbox-360/dp/B002W5GI8Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1424197948&sr=8-4&keywords=midway+arcade+origins
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on February 17, 2015, 02:32:46 PM
Nice pick.  I've played one Castlevania game but can't remember which one, I will have to track this one down.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 17, 2015, 03:12:40 PM
I only ever owned Nintendo consoles, so this one flew under my radar for a long time. I grew up playing Castlevania 1, 2, 3, and the SNES one. Great games, very frustrating, but not in a throw-your-controller-at-the-screen way. The N64 one was garbage. I really tried to like it because I loved the franchise and it seemed like it had potential, but it was just so terrible.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 18, 2015, 06:15:02 AM
Awesome, awesome, awesome game.  :tup I really want to track down a copy of that game but it's absurdly expensive. Oh well, at least we have the digital releases.


https://www.amazon.com/Konami-Classics-1-Xbox-360/dp/B002W5GI8Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1424197948&sr=8-4&keywords=midway+arcade+origins
Well yeah, that's certainly better than a digital release. But unfortunaly, I don't own an Xbox 360.

Someday, I will buy that PSX release and feel like my gaming library has reached nirvana.  :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: wizard of Thought on February 18, 2015, 02:48:25 PM

I heard so much of CastleVania but I never played, maybe one day but my list of games to play just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

If you like Metroidvanias, Symphony of the Night is a must.

I`m currently playing the Metroid Prime Trilogy on my Wii U and it`s so amazing and difficult, like I personally start raging at the time I enter a room for, like, the 20th time and all enemies respawn every time you enter the room. I just hate this. But, besides this, the games are really genius and fans of Metroidvanias actually have to play these masterpieces of video game history!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 19, 2015, 03:01:21 AM
1. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/5/6/3656_front.jpg)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bv_UW5-TKZ8/maxresdefault.jpg)

Yeah, i know. A unpopular choice for favorite Final Fantasy/game ever but, Final Fantasy VIII means so much to me that it can't be beaten.

FF8 is the most nostalgic game for me, so nostalgic it gives me a strange feeling since it reminds me of a time so long ago that just seems like a dream if i try to remember. Even when i know for certain that i have played and finished FF8 many times, it's hard to picture me doing this this more than 10 years ago but, if i start a playthrough nowadays, i surely knows what to do, where to go, the little secrets, how the music goes... Crazy how memory works.

Part of the nostalgia comes from FF8 being the first RPG i ever played. It was really impressive compared to what i used to play during my childhood and i have no problems to admit that probably is one of the reasons behind my love for it.
It was many years after that i discovered FF8 is viewed as a love or hate it game, partly because of how much different it is if compared to the other entries, in a way that it even doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy.
Not only that, some systems and mechanics used in the game like Junction or Limit Break can be exploited, making the game pretty easy. Thankfully, i was just a kid and only played along, not quite understanding them.
What made me stay was the epic story and general mood/atmosphere of the game, especially in so many amazing settings that resemble real life modern/urban places, with a dose of advanced technology thrown into the mix.

(https://www.ffcompendium.com/misc/galbadiagarden8.jpg)
Contrasts.

At least, there is some things about FF8 that are universally acclaimed. Triple Triad and his music, per example. The Triple Triad card minigame is very addicting, in a way many people actually prefer it over the game  :lol
But, more than a simply pastime, it can be very useful since some cards can be modified into great items and magic.
As for the music, it's often praised as one of the best FF OSTs by the fans. Personally, it is my absolute favorite OST in all gaming. Liberi Fatali, The Man with the Machine Gun, Force Your Way, The Landing, Balamb Garden, Fisherman's Horizon, The Extreme... In short, pure VGM bliss. Unbelievable on how much it adds here.
Another nice fact is, before the Internet, this right here was my first English teacher. I used to pick dictionaries and all to understand some things since isn't my native language. Helped me a lot  :laugh:

Sure, FF8 has many flaws and i totally get what most people don't like about it but my "relationship" with it is a case of emotion over reason.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 19, 2015, 03:22:54 AM
Love FF8.

VII was the first FF game that I played and it blew my mind so I was heavily anticipating 8's release and played it for hours and hours.

Not really into the the orphanage/future sorceress business, but everything up to that point I found amazing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ariich on February 19, 2015, 04:06:14 AM
I love the series, but VIII is definitely one of my lesser favourites. A lot of the technical side of things was the best the series had seen - the graphics were the best at that point, the music remains the best of the entire series, and some aspects of the gameplay were great. I just didn't find the story to hold together very well, and I found most of the characters annoying. And for me these are really important features in these sorts of RPG, so it really had a big impact on my overall enjoyment of the game.

I do intend to play it again sometime though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 07:29:45 AM
I have never played any of the FF games. I've tried a few times but just couldn't get into it.

I loved the list though.

If no one is next I'm ready to do my list with write-ups.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Lynxo on February 19, 2015, 08:45:46 AM
Not my favorite FF game, but that's like saying that this piece of bacon didn't taste as good to me as the one I had yesterday - it's still bacon, god dammit!

Awesome, awesome game. I have many fond memories of this one. I must have played through this about 10 times when I was a kid. Squall taught me that even a quiet douchebag can get a girlfriend!

If no one is next I'm ready to do my list with write-ups.
I'm eagerly waiting my turn as well but I'm last on the list. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ariich on February 19, 2015, 09:32:22 AM
Squall taught me that even a quiet douchebag can get a girlfriend!
Yeah, but a girlfriend devoid of any personality. :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 09:48:53 AM
This thread and me writing my write ups has reminded me how much I like playing video games and how I just don't have time to do so anymore. Sigh growing up sucks sometimes.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 19, 2015, 10:49:26 AM
This thread and me writing my write ups has reminded me how much I like playing video games and how I just don't have time to do so anymore. Sigh growing up sucks sometimes.

Yeah it does. I used to play videogames for like 5 hours a day when I was kid/teenager. Now at 27, not only do I not really have the time, but I honestly don't even really have the interest anymore. They just don't seem to hold my interest the way they used to back when I was a kid. Just another downside of growing up I guess.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Chino on February 19, 2015, 10:56:07 AM
This thread and me writing my write ups has reminded me how much I like playing video games and how I just don't have time to do so anymore. Sigh growing up sucks sometimes.

Yeah it does. I used to play videogames for like 5 hours a day when I was kid/teenager. Now at 27, not only do I not really have the time, but I honestly don't even really have the interest anymore. They just don't seem to hold my interest the way they used to back when I was a kid. Just another downside of growing up I guess.

I'm in the same boat. I've had the PS4 since launch day and I've bought one game for it (GTAV). I miss gaming like I used to a few years ago, but at the same time, I rarely have the desire to play  :lol The only game other than GTA that I'm remotely interested in is the newest Little Big Planet, and I'm probably never going to bother buying that. I'll probably get the new Red Dead when it comes out though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 11:10:37 AM
This thread and me writing my write ups has reminded me how much I like playing video games and how I just don't have time to do so anymore. Sigh growing up sucks sometimes.

Yeah it does. I used to play videogames for like 5 hours a day when I was kid/teenager. Now at 27, not only do I not really have the time, but I honestly don't even really have the interest anymore. They just don't seem to hold my interest the way they used to back when I was a kid. Just another downside of growing up I guess.

It's almost as if I enjoy reading about games more than I like playing them . . . . .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 19, 2015, 11:29:26 AM
It's almost as if I enjoy reading about games more than I like playing them . . . . .

I find myself watching a lot of videos of people talking about, or playing, video games. But that is jsut easier to do when i am helping put my daughter to bed.

I have never played one minute of a FF game. I imagine though I would not enjoy it as I am terrible at those types of games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: cramx3 on February 19, 2015, 11:42:00 AM
Add me to the getting too old to game list.  I still game because I still find it enjoyable, but I have such little time to devote to it.  However, I did spend all of last Sunday gaming which was awesome.  But not having the time is what has lead me to playing mostly jsut FPS online matches since its easy to pick up and play and not have to devote more than 15 minutes at a time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 19, 2015, 12:28:23 PM
This thread and me writing my write ups has reminded me how much I like playing video games and how I just don't have time to do so anymore. Sigh growing up sucks sometimes.

Yeah it does. I used to play videogames for like 5 hours a day when I was kid/teenager. Now at 27, not only do I not really have the time, but I honestly don't even really have the interest anymore. They just don't seem to hold my interest the way they used to back when I was a kid. Just another downside of growing up I guess.

It's almost as if I enjoy reading about games more than I like playing them . . . . .

Its funny you should say that, because I'm exactly the same way. Even though I haven't played a video game in over a year, most of my downtime at home is spent watching Let's plays of video games or quick looks on Giant Bomb. And on my commute I'm constantly listening to video game podcasts, pretty much on a daily basis.

So ironically enough, I'm still fascinated by videogames i guess, but just don't have the urge to sit down and play them for hours. Its probably because I'm an old tired bastard and when I get home I just want to crash after having had a long ass tiring day, but who knows?

But with all that being said, when something huge comes out like GTA 5 or the next metal gear, I do make time to work my way through them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 01:15:49 PM
Off topic but what are some good game podcasts?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 19, 2015, 01:41:34 PM
Giant bombcast (this is my favorite)

https://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/

Geekbox is pretty good

https://www.geekbox.net/

Those are my two main ones.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 19, 2015, 01:46:33 PM
Love FF8.

VII was the first FF game that I played and it blew my mind so I was heavily anticipating 8's release and played it for hours and hours.

Not really into the the orphanage/future sorceress business, but everything up to that point I found amazing.

Maybe FF7 would be there in place of FF8 if i played it first, maybe not, who knows...

I have never played any of the FF games. I've tried a few times but just couldn't get into it.

I loved the list though.

Thanks. Btw, i like to thank everyone who commented. It was nice to share some of my favorites with you guys.

If no one is next I'm ready to do my list with write-ups.

Hm, you should see that with Sacul.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 19, 2015, 01:47:11 PM
The ranking:

1. Final Fantasy VIII
2. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
4. Resident Evil 4
5. Metroid Prime
6. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
7. God of War II
8. Sonic & Knuckles
9. God of War
10. Half-Life 2

-

11. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
12. Super Metroid
13. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
14. Final Fantasy IX
15. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
16. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
17. Final Fantasy X
18. Heart of Darkness
19. Chrono Trigger
20. Xenogears
21. Okami
22. Dark Souls II
23. Sonic the Hedgehog 3
24. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
25. QuackShot starring Donald Duck
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Sacul on February 19, 2015, 03:24:22 PM
Excellent list :tup .


Go on, ReaperKK :hat .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on February 19, 2015, 03:43:26 PM
I'm late, but fuck yeah for FF8.  My fave FF <3
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 06:48:08 PM
Ok so here goes my list, I'm going to do 2 a day and maybe 1 a day when I get to the top 5. I love video games but I haven't played many games recently because, well I'm older and much busier but here is my list. Hope you guys like it!!!

25. Smite (PC 2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/N0CUH1I.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yU9IK8F.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KCveDiI.jpg)

I'm a huge fan of Moba games even though I'm incredibly bad at the them. I started out with Dota mod on Warcraft 3 and I had a blast. Years flew by and my little brother who is also a huge fan of moba games told me about this third person moba called Smite which was a game still in beta, I was intrigued. I downloaded it and it was a blast. Being a third person game brought so much more to the genre in my opinion. A lot of moba games to me felt like there was a pre-programmed list of moves that you have to do, with Smite there was more surprise, more of a live feel. Being free-to-play hero's aren't all available at first, you either have to spend money to buy them or play enough games to unlock them. The game would have a certain number of heros that are always available plus 5-10 heroes that would be unlocked for you to try out.

The game also had different game modes, you can play the standard dota like 3 lane game. You can play a huge arena battle. You can play assault which involves pushing a single lane, not to mention there was a one on one dual mode. The game is endless fun and actually just came out of beta recently. If you're interested in moba games or you want to get into it, try Smite out. It's free to downloaded and it's not a pay to win game. It's easy to learn and it's a lot less toxic of a community than say LoL.

24. Super Mario Bros (NES 1985)
(https://i.imgur.com/n57hgKy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ATkqSqf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/jnVu7Yz.png)

One of the first video games that I ever played. I remember being four or five years old and my dad bringing home SMB and Home Alone with a Nintendo system. I loved this game. I remember sitting in the living room on cold Wisconsin nights killing time playing this game with my Dad. I can't really say anything new about this game that hasn't been said but my dad and I were never really close but one of the few things we did do together is play SMB and that puts this game on my list
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on February 19, 2015, 09:12:54 PM
Super Mario Bros hasn't done much, only saved the entire gaming industry and even more, served as the blueprint ;)

As for Smite, i'm not into MOBAs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 19, 2015, 11:22:49 PM
Never heard of Smite, but like anyone my age or older, I played the hell out of SMB as a kid. It defined my favourite genre, it still holds up pretty well today, and it came out in the same year I did! :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 19, 2015, 11:55:18 PM
It is a great game, I loaded it up for a bit today. I didn't know you were only a year older than me blob.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 20, 2015, 12:06:32 AM
I can see why you'd get that impression. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Crow on February 20, 2015, 12:10:16 AM
negativity police here

SMB is not a bad game, certainly, but in terms of how far platformers have come it's not a great game by today's standards
that being said I can understand why you'd put it on your list, and it's not like it's way high on a list
so I don't disagree, I played a ton of SMB as a kid too  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 20, 2015, 12:17:39 AM
Platformers have come a long way, and SMB does look relatively simple by comparison, but I don't think that makes it any less of a great game. It's not even one of my favourite Mario games, but it's still a lot of fun to play even today, and modern games (especially the Mario games obviously), still use the same foundation, mostly just building upon it. For a 30 year old game, I think that's impressive.
Title: Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on February 20, 2015, 01:06:18 AM
Now i noticed, during my turn, while i didn't pick "Outcrier's fav games and whatever" as the thread title, it kinda fit since my favorite game is Final Fantasy VIII and “…whatever” is Squall's "catchphrase"  :lol

About SMB, i think it's still great despite of how that formula was improved later with SMB3 and forth.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ariich on February 20, 2015, 01:58:45 AM
It's not even one of my favourite Mario games, but it's still a lot of fun to play even today
This is pretty crucial. More complicated doesn't mean better, and ultimately for me games need to either (a) be fun to play, or (b) have something artistic about them (narrative, characters, etc). SMB nails the former.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Lynxo on February 20, 2015, 02:21:32 AM
Interesting video of how well-build the very first level of SMB was for its time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH2wGpEZVgE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH2wGpEZVgE)  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Bolsters on February 20, 2015, 03:26:05 AM
You really have to put SMB into context though. Of course it's simple and straightforward, and there's little variety in it, by today's standards. But before Super Mario Bros. platforming games were things like Pitfall, Hero, or Donkey Kong. Good games, but they seemed old and dated the minute SMB hit the shelves. It had an unprecedented level of sophistication and refinement.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on February 20, 2015, 05:54:05 AM
Yea while SMB is not the best Mario game, given its time and place of release, its an amazing achievement! It also was a huge part of the video game boom of my generation (I was born one year before it release, but that was still the game to play when I was a kid) and ultimately lead tot he AMAZING SM3 for the NES. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 20, 2015, 06:30:12 AM
SMB brothers was amazing because of the cross over of characters. The fact that Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Samaus, and Mario were in the same place at the same time blew my mind at the time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 20, 2015, 09:28:50 AM
Another update as promised!

23. Don't Starve (PC 2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/3NKOKnh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XYkfZTv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tvWaMR5.jpg)

Back in the Warcraft 3 days I remember there being a mod called Ice Troll Tribes. You were dropped off on a piece of land in the winter and you had to survive essentially. You could also find your friends and either fight or help each other survive. It was a crude, unforgiving mod but it was a blast to play. I always wanted to play a game that was simply about survival.

Now there are many, many survival games out on the market and Don't Starve is one the best. First off the art style is original and appealing. You start off being through in a random map as Wilson and you have a simple task, that is to not starve. The game is hard as the days go by because you have to keep yourself, fed, sane, and out of the dark. As the game progresses you'll discover more about the story of the game. The game is a bit unforgiving at first but it's never unfair and it has some great staying power.

The game didn't seem like much at the start but it has incredible depth, there are many different environments to explore and try to survive it. Also with a recent update you can now play multiplayer with up to 4 people which adds a great new element of teamwork to the game.

22. Amnesia: The Dark Descent (PC 2011)
(https://i.imgur.com/f22Cp3J.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hVtgZyV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t3c2CXJ.png)

I'm a casual fan of horror games. I played some decent games but nothing that really grabbed me in or something that is truly terrifying. One day my brother calls me up and tells me to download Amnesia and play it at night with headphones on. I was skeptical but he swore up and down that it was a game that I wasn't going to regret playing. 

That night I sit down, turn off the lights, put my headphones on and start this game up. This was the most frightening thing I have ever played or seen in an entertainment art form. What I love about this game is that it's not built on jump scares like so many games are, this game builds a mood that no horror game has been able to do. One of the first frightening moments about the game is walking into a piano room and looking to the right and you quickly see something walking out of the other door. You don't know if you made it up in your head or if your really saw something.

The first 30 minutes of the game are fairly tame. You wake up in a castle and you're tasked with finding out your identity and why you're in the castle. You quickly find out that you gave yourself amnesia and you left yourself little notes about what has been going on as you delve deeper into the pits of this castle.

The game is tense, it grabs you and doesn't let go. The object of the game is not to kill monsters, in fact you can't kill them, you're powerless for the most part, the whole point of the game is to find out what happened to you and in this home. The journey is incredible (although the end is a bit anti-climatic) and if you're a fan of the horror genre then you must play this game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 20, 2015, 09:31:19 AM
Wait until you'll be able to play games like that on an Oculus Rift.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 20, 2015, 09:36:58 AM
Wait until you'll be able to play games like that on an Oculus Rift.

When I first heard of the Oculus rift a couple years ago the first game I thought about was Amnesia. I need to find a way to demo an Oculus.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 20, 2015, 09:46:28 AM
Interesting video of how well-build the very first level of SMB was for its time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH2wGpEZVgE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH2wGpEZVgE)  :tup

Cool video, but what is up with that guy's voice?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 20, 2015, 10:44:36 AM
I didn't even notice your post about Don't Starve. I have that on the PS4 and I love it. The longest I've stayed alive is only 16 days though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 20, 2015, 10:50:26 AM
It's great, Don't Starve together is so much fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ariich on February 20, 2015, 03:08:58 PM
I really need to go back and play Amnesia properly. What I did play of it was absurdly creepy, but my brother said I should stick with it because it's absolutely friggin' terrifying. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cable on February 20, 2015, 05:54:17 PM
A vote for the Oculus version of Amnesia.

I haven't played Amnesia, and doubt I will (seen videos though). However, great point Chino. The Oculus would slay this game. That one demo/game of the maze is only the top of the iceberg. Games like Half-Life and what not did nothing for me ported over. Amnesia would however be sweet.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on February 20, 2015, 10:41:20 PM
SMB brothers was amazing because of the cross over of characters. The fact that Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Samaus, and Mario were in the same place at the same time blew my mind at the time.

We are talking about Super Mario Bros., not Super Smash Bros.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 21, 2015, 07:36:56 AM
21. Super Smash Bros. (N64 1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/UVWVFll.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0JrObJv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8MkygfO.jpg)

Well Speaking of SMB, here is the other one; Super Smash Bros. My childhood was playing this game none stop with friends. The game was a welcome change from Mario Kart and Goldeneye and offered something entirely different.

To me this was the best multiplier fighting game for the N64, the controls worked well and everything feels seamless. The graphics where great at the time and the I thought having characters from different universes was an awesome addition. You start off picking a character and basically fighting each other until the last one is standing. You don't kill you opponent, you try and get them off the fighting area by throwing them off. The game can be very challenging if played with the right people but it's always fun.

I still enjoy firing up SMB when I can get some people over to play with.

20. TrackMania Stadium (PC 2012)
(https://i.imgur.com/s3Mluy4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mbpbMjj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/yOqjLwD.jpg)

There are much better racing games out there but this is my favorite for the simple fact of how quick you can pick it up. It's an easy game to get into yet impossibly hard to master and beat some of the top times. It's another free-to-play game that you can download, probably the best FTP that I can think of actually.

You climb into an F1 car and race around a track, most of the time it's a user created track on a dedicated server. It's an arcade racer that has has you doing loops around the track. It's a fairly simple game but it's executed so well. The racing is competitive with a few different modes that you can play, most of the time you are playing to time attack and trying to set the best time on the map. Winner gets credits which go towards you're global ranking.

There are countless maps to play and it's a simple game to get your friends into and get lost in a few hours. If you like arcade racing at all this is a game that you must try.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 21, 2015, 07:45:11 AM
Super Smash Bros! :metal I played the hell out of that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on February 21, 2015, 08:06:24 AM
We are talking about Super Mario Bros., not Super Smash Bros.

Now we are talking about Smash  :lol

Btw, never played any Smash since it is multiplayer focused. Never owned any Nintendo console either.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Scorpion on February 21, 2015, 06:37:58 PM
Fuck yes Trackmania. I played the shit out of that game for about two years in highschool. So much fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 21, 2015, 07:02:01 PM
Two incredible games

1. Smash bros was a game I spent hours playing. Just something fascinating about it. Sadly, I never could get into the newer ones as the first one.


2. Trackmania is crazy and I love it. Fast, frantic and insane. And a whole lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 21, 2015, 11:08:45 PM
1. Smash bros was a game I spent hours playing. Just something fascinating about it. Sadly, I never could get into the newer ones as the first one.


Besides the original, the only other one I've played is Melee, and I prefer the original. Melee felt a bit overdone in terms of level gimmicks and powerups, and the fighting was so fast that I find myself button bashing most of the time. Still a good game that I've played a lot, but the original is my favourite.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Randaran on February 22, 2015, 07:31:46 AM
1. Smash bros was a game I spent hours playing. Just something fascinating about it. Sadly, I never could get into the newer ones as the first one.


Besides the original, the only other one I've played is Melee, and I prefer the original. Melee felt a bit overdone in terms of level gimmicks and powerups, and the fighting was so fast that I find myself button bashing most of the time. Still a good game that I've played a lot, but the original is my favourite.

Level gimmicks and powerups do not really bother me, as I always play Final Destination with no items. Since I prefer the way Melee controls, that is my favorite.

Melee
Smash 4
(Project M)
N64
Brawl
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 22, 2015, 07:41:18 AM
As much as I loved the N64 SMB I never played any of the others. I just never bought a nintendo system after the 64.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 22, 2015, 04:14:01 PM
19. FTL: Faster Than Light (PC 2012)
(https://i.imgur.com/As2dBjf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/eHtCbi8.jpg)

I really like watching Angry Joe video game reviews. He a real passion for games and also gives great insight. One day I saw he reviewed and indie game called Faster Than Light. Watched the review and didn't seem to impressed but it was a lazy Sunday so I said fuck it. I downloaded it and was immediately hooked.

FTL is a top down RTS game, not my usual cup of tea but after installing it the hours seemed to just fly by. You start off with a ship and a crew of three of your mission is to deliver some information to federation headquarters jumping from sector to sector with your faster than light drive.

You start the game warping to one of a few points near you where you'll encounter a random instance. Sometimes a ship may need help, sometimes you may be attacked, other times there is nothing. The majority of the gameplay is fighting though.

The combat system is done amazingly well, you can either pause the game and set up attacks and where you want your crew or you can try to play in real time which I don't suggest. There are a number of ways you can beat your opponent. You can kill their oxygen supply and starve them of air, you can destroy their shields, you can teleport your crew over them and attack them from the inside.

The game is not easy, it's very tough and gets much harder as you progress. I played on easy and it took me a little while to get to the final boss.

Also a quick shout out to the development team. They released an expansion for free to owners of the original game which you don't see too often these days. The game is also available on iPad now and it's just as good, I even bought a second copy so I could play it while traveling.

18. SimCity 3000 (PC 1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/bdHBzkg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MwfhfgV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ozQJaBd.jpg)

SimCity 3000 is my favorite of the bunch and my favorite city builder by far (although the new Cities XL looks pretty cool). I was too young to enjoy and appreciate SimCity2k and SimCity 4000 was good but didn't really click with me in the way that SimCity 3000 did.

For those that haven't played you are a Mayor in charge of putting together a new city and making it profitable, it's pretty much a sandbox as long as you don't go broke. Countless hours were spent trying to master the art of bringing in clean energy to the city and when I would get bored I would just drop a tornado or two on the city to see what happens.

I'm really heartbroken that the new SimCity was so bare and disappointing. This was released during the prime years at Maxis.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 22, 2015, 04:27:34 PM
1. FTL - Heard great things, just haven't gotten around to playing yet

2. Sim City 3000 was my life as a kid. Hours and hours spent building cities. I was always a lego freak and I'm just fasciated with building cities.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Sacul on February 22, 2015, 05:40:15 PM
Played SimCity a lot as a kid, but never achieved anything, not even a decent city :lol. But I may try it again, I know way more things now, so it shouldn't be that difficult.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on February 22, 2015, 06:24:18 PM
SimCity  3000 was the first Simcity I played. I loved everything about it. I would always cause a Natural Disaster just to fuck around.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Nick on February 22, 2015, 09:47:49 PM
I played a ton of SimCity3000, such an amazing game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: The King in Crimson on February 22, 2015, 10:21:56 PM
Never played SimCity 3k but SimCity 2k was the first PC game I ever owned. I had to beg my parents to get it for me and once they finally relented, we could not find the game anywhere. All we could were the Mac versions of the game (Mac versions? WTF?). After weeks of looking we finally found a copy at some random mall computer hardware/software store. I took it him in my greasy little adolescent nerd hands and played the shit out of that game until I got WarCraft 2. I was so absolutely awful at city management. All of my cities ended up as broke, desolate wastelands of abandoned tenements, empty airports, and sad military bases with just one hanger and one airstrip. Yet I still played it over and over again.

When SimCity 3k came out, I was a broke-ass teenager so I had to budget which games I really, really wanted and, sad to say, SimCity 3k, despite me being pretty excited for it, didn't make the list. I did buy SimCity 4, but it just could not match up to the nostalgia and memories I had for 2k.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 22, 2015, 10:28:08 PM
I never played Sim City 3000, but I've played older ones, and it's always fun. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 23, 2015, 07:10:47 AM
SMB brothers was amazing because of the cross over of characters. The fact that Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Samaus, and Mario were in the same place at the same time blew my mind at the time.

We are talking about Super Mario Bros., not Super Smash Bros.

 :rollin :rollin  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 23, 2015, 07:55:18 AM
Here is another update! There won't be one tomorrow as I'll be away from my computer. I'll get back to my normal schedule Wednesday:

17. Fable (XBox 2004)
(https://i.imgur.com/j2gbebp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nBA03Tp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yZvdM4Z.jpg)

Even though everyone was talking about this game it kind of came out of no where, I wasn't really interested in playing it. I was looking for an xbox to mod, my buddy came over and let me borrow the game because I didn't have any.

All I really knew about this game was that it was an RPG that you started as a youth and grew up as you played. At the time I wasn't a bit RPG player but there was a certain magic about this game. The story really gripped me and I really felt like I was being taken for an adventure. I enjoyed making decisions that affected me as the game went on and I got older. There was also a lot of replay value in the game.

I haven't played this game in 8 or 9 years but I can remember how much fun I had. I never played Fable 2 or 3 but I heard that they were largely disappointments so I doubt I'll ever be playing those.

16. The Lion King (Sega Genesis 1994)
(https://i.imgur.com/IJAZrvy.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JQYCSNc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XTGQMJ6.png)

I don't remember when I got this game, I remember I was in elementary school and I remember that this was essentially the only game I played for months. This was my favorite game from movie licensed games (Aladdin came close).

There isn't a whole lot that I can write about this game other than you it's 2D side scroller where you play out the whole story of The Lion King as Simba. The soundtrack was great, the game was a lot of fun and the only drawback that I can remember is that the controls could be clunky at times. My buddy and I used to spend hours replaying it, it wasn't too tough to play with the exception of the last battle.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Mosh on February 23, 2015, 08:12:52 PM
I recently replayed The Lion King and it's still hard as shit. Tons of fun though, one of my favorites as a kid. I had the Super Nintendo version though, so I wonder if it was easier on Genesis or something.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Nick on February 23, 2015, 08:14:28 PM
The Lion King? The also mentioned Aladdin was much better imo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Mosh on February 23, 2015, 08:20:27 PM
Disney was pretty consistent with their video games. There was another one on SNES called Mickey Mania that I absolutely loved. Come to think of it, I don't know if I've played any bad Disney games from the 8/16 bit eras.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Bolsters on February 23, 2015, 08:23:00 PM
I remember Ducktales on the NES being pretty good, too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: The King in Crimson on February 23, 2015, 08:23:08 PM
Awe man, that wilde beast level in The Lion King was my bane. I played it a bunch on the SNES and it was a bitch.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 23, 2015, 08:49:26 PM
The only really tough part of the game was he fight with Scar. Having a six button controller made it a bit easier.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Mosh on February 23, 2015, 09:13:36 PM
I remember Ducktales on the NES being pretty good, too.
They recently remade Ducktales on the Wii! I haven't played it yet but it looks really good.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 23, 2015, 11:54:00 PM
I remember Ducktales on the NES being pretty good, too.
They recently remade Ducktales on the Wii! I haven't played it yet but it looks really good.

The recently remade Castle of Illusion also looks pretty awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Lynxo on February 24, 2015, 03:19:49 AM
I recently replayed The Lion King and it's still hard as shit. Tons of fun though, one of my favorites as a kid. I had the Super Nintendo version though, so I wonder if it was easier on Genesis or something.
The SNES version has at least much better graphics but as far as gameplay go, they're supposed to be identical.

That being said, I agree with you, I thought it was really hard. :lol But really good as well.

Also, if you've got an hour to spend, there's a video with one of the developer of that game, playing through it and talking about all different kinds of aspects of it. If you're as nerdy as me, it's time well spent.  :tup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILeyo1iv0A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILeyo1iv0A)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on February 24, 2015, 08:30:47 AM
Many hours were spent on that game. :tup For better, or for worse. :lol

It was one of the few games that I owned on Genesis, although I did end up getting the SNES version of it as well later on. Hella difficult in parts, but I do recall this immense feeling of triumph when I finally owned it. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Mosh on February 24, 2015, 07:56:35 PM
I recently replayed The Lion King and it's still hard as shit. Tons of fun though, one of my favorites as a kid. I had the Super Nintendo version though, so I wonder if it was easier on Genesis or something.
The SNES version has at least much better graphics but as far as gameplay go, they're supposed to be identical.

That being said, I agree with you, I thought it was really hard. :lol But really good as well.

Also, if you've got an hour to spend, there's a video with one of the developer of that game, playing through it and talking about all different kinds of aspects of it. If you're as nerdy as me, it's time well spent.  :tup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILeyo1iv0A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILeyo1iv0A)
That vid looks really cool, will check it out!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 25, 2015, 09:20:28 AM
Update time!:

15. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis 1992)
(https://i.imgur.com/YPITIGF.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8UNA6w6.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/dP8eS2i.jpg)

I played a lot or Mario growing up but my heart was always with Sonic. The Sonic games are awesome and really rewarding to play. It was faster than Super Mario and I always enjoyed the level design more in the Sonic games, it just seemed more fluid to me.

You're a blue hedgehog that runs around trying to free little animals the Dr. Robotnik has trapped and uses as slaves. This was the first game that I remember that used the spin dash move which was a great way to fly through a level. You collect rings, and if you get over 50 you enter a special zone where you can win a chaos emerald. Collect all of the emeralds and you will be able to become Super Sonic, which is even more awesome.

I will say Sonic 3 is a better game that Sonic 2 however when I go and replay genesis games I always pick up Sonic 2, probably because it's my first Sonic that I got to play. Even though I posted Sonic 2 here I'm really a fan of all the games except Sonic 3d Blast which was more annoying to play than anything else.

14. Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed (PC 2000)
(https://i.imgur.com/d0uBnsa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/leHMHNR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eLW2TZP.jpg)

I always loved the early Need For Speed games, hot pursuit being one of my favorites but Porsche Unleashed took Need for Speed in a different and welcome direction. 

I always say this game was like the Gran Turismo of PC games, except all you can buy is Porsches. It had the best physics at the time and wasn't just and arcade racer like the other Need For Speed games and had a lot more realism. The customization was one of my favorite parts of the game. There was so much you can do with your car but you had to be smart with your money. The game had a great damage model as well as interiors of cars that you can play from.

I haven't played many of the more recent NFS games but from what I hear they returned to more of the arcade style of gameplay which if true is a shame because Porsche Unleashed will go down as one of the best racing games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 25, 2015, 09:24:40 AM
:metal Sonic 2. Also my favourite. I played a lot of the Master System ones first, but Sonic 2 was my first of the Genesis/Mega Drive ones, so that's the one I usually go for too.

I haven't played Porsche Unleashed. I had High Stakes I think, which was similar era, which I played quite a bit for a PC game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on February 25, 2015, 09:31:16 AM
I played a lot of the Master System ones first


Sonic made his first appearance on the Genesis.  He wasn't a Master System character.

[/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(1991_video_game) (https://[/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(1991_video_game))
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 25, 2015, 09:32:33 AM
I played a lot of the Master System ones first


Sonic made his first appearance on the Genesis.  He wasn't a Master System character.


I know, I just meant I played the Master System ones before I played any Mega Drive ones. :tup We didn't get a Mega Drive until many years later.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 25, 2015, 09:33:11 AM
:metal Sonic 2. Also my favourite. I played a lot of the Master System ones first, but Sonic 2 was my first of the Genesis/Mega Drive ones, so that's the one I usually go for too.

I haven't played Porsche Unleashed. I had High Stakes I think, which was similar era, which I played quite a bit for a PC game.

Porsche came out right after High Stakes. I really liked High Stakes too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on February 25, 2015, 11:17:34 AM
Yea Sonic 2, my fav Sonic!!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on February 25, 2015, 01:05:03 PM
Both Lion King and Sonic 2 are some of the earliest games i ever played, good stuff :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on February 25, 2015, 02:23:22 PM
I didn't realize they made any for the Master System.  I thought the Master System died shortly after the release of Sega Genesis (at least it did in the states).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 25, 2015, 02:58:03 PM
Sonic 2 is sitting on my TV stand right now and always will be.

(https://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/phoenix87x/IMG_3858_zpscfve9sra.jpg) (https://s1182.photobucket.com/user/phoenix87x/media/IMG_3858_zpscfve9sra.jpg.html)

Sonic 1 was the first video game that I had. I messed with my uncle's NES and stuff but the Genesis was my first console and Sonic 1 was the first game I ever owned. Loved it beyond words.

At age 5, I was at a family members beach house and laid eyes on Sonic 2. I didn't even know there was such thing as sequels and my head exploded is a way that rarely has ever happened in my gaming life.

Chemical plant  :hefdaddy   Love the stage, love the speed, love the music. Probably my favorite stage besides ice cap and stardust speedway.

Sonic 2 was a definitive part of my gaming life and probably why I'm obsessed with motorcycles and snowboarding and anything where I can go real fast.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on February 25, 2015, 03:27:11 PM
Sonic 2 was another one of the very few games that I had for Genesis. So many memories with it. :hefdaddy

I am ashamed though, to admit that I never did beat the game while collecting all the Chaos Emeralds. :lol I hated those special stages.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 26, 2015, 08:52:28 AM
13. RollerCoaster Tycoon 1/2 (PC 1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/7VYS3wz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J9wusN9.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/zRhPqxI.jpg)

This game is a true classic. I think I spent more hours on these two games then any other series. I had to put these two games together because I honestly don't remember when I went from RCT 1 to RCT 2.

The game puts you in control of a theme park, you build rides, food stands, souvenir shops, and best of all rollercoasters for your park. You have challenges with each park that you have to meet to win and unlock other parks. You have a lot of customization with the game and really you can build anything your heart desires.

The best part of the game is building the rollercoasters. I remember staying up until 6 in the morning with my buddy just building the craziest fucking coaster we could think of, thinking of new ways to cause the most amount of casuilties.

There was a certain magic to this game that no other tycoon game has been able to recapture IMO. RCT 3 was a disappointing and I'm very cautious of RCT: World.

12. World Of Warcraft (PC 2004)
(https://i.imgur.com/pKOPbtm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8AuJP2D.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/szTU65k.jpg)

I cannot believe how much time I sunk into this game in High School. I remember getting into the beta shortly before release and I wasn't really too impressed but once the release hit and my friends were able to get a copy the hours just disappeared.

I never played a game so huge and I loved exploring with my buddy for hours on end. It was fun and really rewarding. You really could create any character you wanted and just do whatever you wanted for the most part, that is what I loved about the game. WoW just took gaming to another level for me.

I moved away to college and I stopped playing WoW so I never got to experience any of the expansions. My brother and best buddy still play to this day I logged into my brothers account a few weeks back and the game seems so different to me, it's changed a lot over the years.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: wizard of Thought on February 26, 2015, 09:21:24 AM
Oh man, I loved Rollercoaster Tycoon 2. Still one of my fav games today. Good choice!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 26, 2015, 10:26:14 AM
RCT and RCT2 were masterpieces. I'm taken a liking to the 3rd, and I am eagerly awaiting the releases or RCT World.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 26, 2015, 12:53:52 PM
1. Absolutely loved Rollar coaster tycoon. Hours upon hours building stuff. So good

2. Knowing me, and how addicted I'd been to games in the past, I figured it was best just to stay away from WOW. So I never messed with it
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 27, 2015, 09:50:32 AM
11. Goldeneye 64 (N64 1997)
(https://i.imgur.com/FRtb2SW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Lhp67we.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OQXyIz5.jpg)

I wore out so many N64 controllers playing this game.

The game is a movie licensed game and it was fantastically done. The game was also packed with tons of items from previous movies. There were a lot of little details that really made the game feel more alive like checking your health on your watch. The levels were really unique and flowed well you really felt like you playing out the movie. The amount of weapons really impressed me too, you could get a classic Ak47, or go with the one shot kill with the classic golden gun, or maybe set a trap with some proximity mines.

What really set this game apart was the multiplayer. I don't really remember playing any shooters before Goldeneye and we never really played any shooters after getting goldeneye. It was easy to set up, easy to learn and always fun, until one of your friends was oddjob. It seemed like every night my friends and I would get together and played Goldeneye, we make tons of rules up and have hours of fun and it's still fun.

10. Braid (PC 2009)
(https://i.imgur.com/UWAqHuS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JurAdod.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YNIoTQV.jpg)

"Our world, with its rules of causality, has trained us to be miserly with forgiveness. By forgiving too readily, we can be badly hurt. But if we've learned from a mistake and become better for it, shouldn't we be rewarded for the learning, rather than punished for the mistake?"

This is my favorite 2d platformer of all time and it seemed to come out of no where. I think I saw the game being mentioned on reddit and I ended up purchasing it. The first thing that you notice about this game is that it's gorgeous, it's art style is very lush, almost like a Van Gogh painting. The soundtrack is from Magnatune and is equally as good.

You start off the game in world 2 and you are off to rescue the princess. In this game though you can bend time by simply holding the shift key you can rewind time. The puzzles start off simple at first and get more complicated as the time goes on. I spent hours and hours trying to complete this game only finishing it a month or so after buying the game. I was so pulled in by Braid that I stuck with it when normally I would've gotten bored and moved onto something else.

The story is captivating and fantastic, it's cliche at the beginning but really grips you as time goes on.

If you're a fan of 2d side scrollers GET THIS GAME!!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on February 27, 2015, 09:55:56 AM
Goldeneye was the beginning of death matches.  So many memories of playing that as a kid with friends.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Crow on February 27, 2015, 11:16:39 AM
Braid is fantastic, pretty near flawless marriage of puzzles and 2D platforming gameplay.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 27, 2015, 11:24:40 AM
Forgot to say that there won't be an update tomorrow, I'm going to be out of town but I'll try put up another one tonight.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 27, 2015, 11:59:55 AM
Goldeneye is legendary. Hours up hours playing it
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on February 27, 2015, 12:35:49 PM
Trapping people via mines in the bathroon of the Facility level was a lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ariich on February 27, 2015, 01:07:31 PM
Braid was amazing. In terms of the symbolic story going on behind the gameplay, the ending was fairly mindblowing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on February 27, 2015, 04:21:37 PM
Can't talk, currently addicted to Braid.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 27, 2015, 05:06:17 PM
Sweet! How far along are you?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cable on February 27, 2015, 05:40:46 PM
Goldeneye was the beginning of death matches. 


At least Doom1+2 and Quake1 would like a word with this assertion.

Goldeneye was the widespread beginning no doubt though for 1st person shooters on consoles, and the ability to feasibly play with others in person. Doom and Quake were naturally limited due to a small base of users.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on February 27, 2015, 07:18:08 PM
Goldeneye was the beginning of death matches. 


At least Doom1+2 and Quake1 would like a word with this assertion.

Goldeneye was the widespread beginning no doubt though for 1st person shooters on consoles, and the ability to feasibly play with others in person. Doom and Quake were naturally limited due to a small base of users.

Yes, you are right, I was thinking more along of the lines of consoles
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 27, 2015, 10:11:57 PM
Goldeneye is about the start and end of my care for FPS games. Multiplayer on that was a hell of a lot of fun, and the single player missions really stood out. Total classic. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cable on February 28, 2015, 10:16:06 AM
You are not missing much in my opinion Blob.  ;) But I am probably way too biased towards older games.

One of the many cool things about Goldeneye is it was a great licensed game, and followed the movie pretty well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 28, 2015, 10:27:41 AM
You are not missing much in my opinion Blob.  ;) But I am probably way too biased towards older games.

Same. :lol I've played many later FPS games, but they all blur together to me, and I find them mostly boring, occasional multiplayer/coop moments aside. I think a lot of the reason Goldeneye has always still stood out to me is because of the Bond factor. I like the atmosphere of the Bond type settings and missions, the characters, the awesome music. More interesting than shooting aliens, or fighting wars for me.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 28, 2015, 01:40:11 PM
I still can't believe such a small team put together goldeneye together.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 01, 2015, 02:11:08 PM
09. GTA Vice City (PC 2002)
(https://i.imgur.com/8AiMLYU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8sJSFVC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oz8THPM.jpg)

GTA Vice City is best GTA IMO. The game was perfect blend of atmosphere, music and really fun gameplay. GTA III which was the first of the 3rd person GTA games was a great entry into the 3rd person world but Vice City perfected it.

You play as Tommy in 1986 in Vice City which is inspired by South Beach Miami. You start the game newly released from prison working up through the ranks and gaining control of the city. As typical of GTA the game if full of unique characters and unique missions all while having some of the best 80's music to listen to. The game had tons of cars as well as motorcycles and boats you could steal and a huge area for you to explore.

I've played every GTA released and while some are more technically impressive this game clicked for me the most all due to setting, story, and soundtrack.

08. Borderlands 2 (PC 2012)
(https://i.imgur.com/2mOaWmi.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/T2XgrVC.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/M2b72yF.jpg)

Looking for a great co-op game with funky art style and nearly countless weapons? Look no further than Borderlands 2.

I picked this game up in one of the countless steam sales, I got a copy for myself and for my brother. We spent the following couple of weeks playing this game whenever we were both free. It's simply a fun game to play. There are a lot of rpg elements to this game and with the random gun stat generator you have nearly infinite weapon combinations. The game has a great sense of humour with some really nice cell shaded graphics.

You play as a vault hunter in search of a vault as Handsome Jack tries to search and kill you. You don't need to play the first Borderlands to play, this was my first introduction to the series and I didn't feel lost.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Randaran on March 01, 2015, 02:16:08 PM
The FPS genre does not really appeal to me outside of a few specific titles, and Borderlands 2 is one of them.  :tup Nice pick.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on March 01, 2015, 02:25:03 PM
Sweet! How far along are you?

I missed this, because Braid.  Haha.  I just finished it last night.  Tbh, the story's a bit of a mindfuck, not really sure what's going on with it, what'd you make of it Reaps??  Great game though, love the different variables in each world.  Thanks for turning me on ( ;) )
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 01, 2015, 02:38:16 PM
Sweet! How far along are you?

I missed this, because Braid.  Haha.  I just finished it last night.  Tbh, the story's a bit of a mindfuck, not really sure what's going on with it, what'd you make of it Reaps??  Great game though, love the different variables in each world.  Thanks for turning me on ( ;) )

Small size for spoliers
Basically how I view the game is that you spend the entire game trying to save the princess. At the end when you're finally chasing her down and the whole scene gets played in forward you realize that she is setting traps for you that you're evading so you're the one she is running from.

The whole game is supposed to be a metaphor to the Manhattan project which is where the quote at the end comes from. Not sure if I saw that in the game but I did love the way it ended. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ariich on March 01, 2015, 02:52:36 PM
Do we need spoilers for a 6 year old video game?

Anyway, from what Jonathan Blow has said about Braid, there are a number of different elements to the story and the ending, and so there isn't only one interpretation. The Manhattan project one is interesting, but I was much more moved by the personal one about the relationship between Tim and the princess (which was also how I interpreted it when I finished it). Very, very powerful stuff I thought.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: j on March 01, 2015, 03:07:13 PM
but I was much more moved by the personal one about the relationship between Tim and the princess (which was also how I interpreted it when I finished it). Very, very powerful stuff I thought.

Hmm, I'm not familiar with this interpretation (and it's been a few years since I played the game).  Anywhere I can read about it?

-J
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on March 01, 2015, 09:48:38 PM
I honestly think VC is my favorite of them all. III blew my mind, but VC improved so much on the formula and had such personality to it. Loved the 80's Scarface vibe and the introduction of the motorcycles really is what made me fall in love with it. A hand ful of indoor locations (which I love) and and nice, large but concise map that didn't feel overboard huge like San Andreas. (Imo)

VC was just the perfect balance of everything. Can't say enough good things.

It really a toss up between VC and V.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Accelerando on March 01, 2015, 09:56:47 PM
I just created my top 25. Put me down on the waiting list!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ariich on March 02, 2015, 12:05:42 AM
but I was much more moved by the personal one about the relationship between Tim and the princess (which was also how I interpreted it when I finished it). Very, very powerful stuff I thought.

Hmm, I'm not familiar with this interpretation (and it's been a few years since I played the game).  Anywhere I can read about it?

-J
I think this is quite a good article that captures both stories under a theory more generally about obsession: https://www.examiner.com/article/braid-is-not-about-a-boy-chasing-a-girl-1

It also refers to this article specifically focussing on Tim's obsession with the princess: https://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/08/11/hair-pulling-and-braid-weaving/
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 02, 2015, 12:18:49 AM
I love VC, easily my favourite GTA game. I played 3 afterwards, so I found that a little lacking, and I've found later games very disappointing, especially SA. I have many many fond memories of Hunter helicopters and VRock. :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on March 02, 2015, 05:44:37 AM
VC had just one of the coolest environments of any GTA game.  The whole Miami and Scarface feel made it so much fun.  It was also top of the line sandbox game at that time. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on March 02, 2015, 06:12:10 AM
I'd be shocked if Rockstar didn't go back to Vice City for the next GTA game. GTA VI-CE CITY (see what I did there?). I think the demand is there, and I know many fans would love a version of Vice City with the scale of GTA V. I don't know how well the 80's vibe would work out with this generation though. Fourteen years is a long time. I don't know if the younger gamers would appreciate it. My guess is that'd it'd be Vice City today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 02, 2015, 06:24:31 AM
I don't know where I read this (probably reddit) but there are some rumors going around that they are going to go back to vice city.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on March 02, 2015, 06:27:13 AM
I don't know where I read this (probably reddit) but there are some rumors going around that they are going to go back to vice city.

Well at this point it only makes sense since they already redid Liberty City and San Andreas, but I wouldn't be opposed to something different say not in the USA.  Tokyo or Paris or Rome or maybe if they could do something bigger like a subset of Europe that included a few major cities.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 02, 2015, 06:34:02 AM
I'm expecting they'll go back to a modern day Vice City. It makes sense given that the last two games were Liberty City and San Andreas. They need a Vice City game in the HD era.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on March 02, 2015, 06:41:57 AM
I don't know where I read this (probably reddit) but there are some rumors going around that they are going to go back to vice city.

Well at this point it only makes sense since they already redid Liberty City and San Andreas, but I wouldn't be opposed to something different say not in the USA.  Tokyo or Paris or Rome or maybe if they could do something bigger like a subset of Europe that included a few major cities.

I don't think Rockstar would ever take the game outside of the US. Too many of its sales come from the US. Personally, I would not want to play a game in Tokyo or Paris (or any non-english country). A lot of the fun in GTA comes from the city and the people walking around in it. If I can't read anything in the city or understand what people are saying to one another, I'm not going to like it much.

I'm expecting they'll go back to a modern day Vice City. It makes sense given that the last two games were Liberty City and San Andreas. They need a Vice City game in the HD era.

It'd be awesome if we could get a multi-era GTA game. You play as a crime family over three generations and can play the map in three different eras. How sick would it be to be able to play in Vice City throughout the 40's, the 80's, and then the 2020's?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 02, 2015, 07:34:31 AM
It'd be awesome if we could get a multi-era GTA game. You play as a crime family over three generations and can play the map in three different eras. How sick would it be to be able to play in Vice City throughout the 40's, the 80's, and then the 2020's?

Is it wrong that the first thing this made me think of was the difference eras of Back to the Future? :lol :blob:

I think they've established too much of their own world to set a major GTA title somewhere else, plus America likes America too much.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 03, 2015, 04:09:48 PM
Sorry for missing a day, I was out apartment hunting and just couldn't find the time yesterday.

07. Return To Castle Wolfenstein (PC 2001)
(https://i.imgur.com/dHi67XC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Dx2BNLg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/n42xYRH.jpg)

At first I thought that this was just another Quake 3 clone shooter but I was mistaken. This game was a great rebirth of the series and it was largely due to the multiplayer aspect of the game. 

I don't really remember much of the single player as I quickly flew by it but the multiplayer was boss. It was really well balanced, fun, and fast. You even had airstrikes to call in to help you clear lines of Axis players out. The game had many modes to play and honestly each and every one was fun to play. This game was before the market was flooded with WW2 shooters and it really stood out, some of the best gaming moments I've ever had were in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.


06. BioShock: Infinite (PC 2013)
(https://i.imgur.com/xm6piZi.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qCbFlMd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/neOxALx.jpg)

I've always heard about the BioShock games but I never had that time to play them until BioShock Infinite was bundled with my video card. Bored one night I downloaded the game and decided to take it for a spin. Next thing I know 4 hours flew by.

This is my first introduction into the BioShock series. I knew absolutely nothing about the series. The moment I was shot into the clouds to land at the city of Columbia I couldn't stop playing. The story was unlike anything I ever played. I loved every bit of it, I loved the style of the game and I loved the setting. The game was simply gorgeous and I was looking forward to playing it every day until I finished, which was a feeling I haven't had in a long time.

You play as Booker DeWitt and you have one simple task, to go to Columbia, a city in the clouds, and bring back a girl to wipe away debit that you owe. I won't go much further beyond that but the story is large reason you should play this game.

I later on played BioShock 1 & 2 and those are really great games but my heart is with Infinite, it was just a much more charming game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Crow on March 03, 2015, 08:32:22 PM
Bioshock Infinite is a game I really need to play soon, I've had it on steam for ages and everyone seems to agree it's great  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on March 03, 2015, 09:03:29 PM
Bioshock Infinite is a game I really need to play soon, I've had it on steam for ages and everyone seems to agree it's great  :lol

Me too but i wouldn't start with the 3rd game of the franchise  :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 03, 2015, 09:04:40 PM
I did and like I said I don't think I really missed anything. It really stood well as it's own story.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cable on March 03, 2015, 09:49:24 PM
This talk made me put Bioshock Infinite on the buy list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Crow on March 04, 2015, 08:10:31 AM
Bioshock Infinite is a game I really need to play soon, I've had it on steam for ages and everyone seems to agree it's great  :lol

Me too but i wouldn't start with the 3rd game of the franchise  :P
good thing I've played Bioshock 1 then :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on March 04, 2015, 12:32:46 PM
I did and like I said I don't think I really missed anything. It really stood well as it's own story.

Just discovered that Infinite takes place several decades earlier than the first two Bioshock games :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 04, 2015, 01:06:03 PM
For the last five I'm going to post one game at a time, here we go:

05. SkyRim (PC 2011)
(https://i.imgur.com/j0FUO3F.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/I8cHUDt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZNJyiUr.jpg)

It's hard to find gamers who haven't played SkyRim and there is a good reason why. The game is incredible and vast in every aspect. I never played Oblivion and I did play a little bit of Morrowind when it was first released but I was never really interested in playing past the first hours.

I hopped on the hype train for SkyRim and it was one of the few games that didn't disappoint. You start off as a prisoner set for execution. As you get into position to get your head lobbed off a dragon attack happens. You escape with your life and then you're free to roam SkyRim. There is a main story line but the beauty of the game was how many different paths you can choose. There were so many quests that you can do, if you got bored doing the main quest you can join the assassins guild, or maybe try and make friends with the thieves guild.

Aside from the wide variety of weapons that you can choose from this game brings another element to the combat and that is in the forms of shouts. You are dragonborn and as you explore dungeons you learn new shouts. There are many to choose from, you can push your enemies off a cliff, or run past them flash style.

The game has so much to explore that you can literally put hundreds of hours into the game. Not to mention you have endless mods as well as three expansions to further expand the game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on March 04, 2015, 01:09:38 PM
I played Skyrim for 250 hours and had just beaten the main campaign. That game was a lot of fun. I eagerly await it's followup.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Sacul on March 04, 2015, 01:55:25 PM
This talk made me put Bioshock Infinite on the buy list.
You're in for a treat. The Bioshock series might be my fav trilogy of games ever, each title it's superb on it's own. And although I loved Infinity (dat mindfuck ending :eek ), my heart belongs to Bioshock 2. It's emotional power stroke so hard on me, unlike any other game.

Skyirim is kind of overrated IMO, but I enjoyed it a lot anyways. Spent around 100+ hours on my first time, 60+ on the second one and just 14~17 the last time. With the 3 expansions. Amazing title.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Randaran on March 04, 2015, 02:05:08 PM
I think I spent around 150 hours on Skyrim, and I am nowhere near done with exploration and sidequests. I still play it every once in a while.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 06, 2015, 08:33:37 AM
04. Half-Life (PC 1998)
(https://i.imgur.com/fyBz8O6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MhevInh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SpWwhl5.jpg)

Half-Life is the perfect single-player FPS. The story is rich and the gameplay is fresh and innovative. The game takes you on a journey as a theoretical physicist Gordan Freeman as you attempt to escape the Black Mesa facility after an experiment goes wrong.

The game just sets everything apart from other FPS at the time. I was young when I first played HL and there was nothing like it. The way the game played out was like a movie, I couldn't wait to get home from school and pick up as Gordan. Half-life is a perfect blend of puzzles, story, and action not to mention the graphics were stellar.

Half-Life really changed PC FPS games, not only was there a great single payer aspect but the community had some really incredible mods that always had you coming back.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 06, 2015, 08:50:13 AM
I tried playing Half Life once. Found it boring and dull as hell, even for an FPS.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 06, 2015, 08:55:18 AM
I can understand people finding it boring. Some parts can take a long time to complete, I feel like Half-Life 2 had a lot of sections like that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on March 06, 2015, 09:31:18 AM
Havent checked in a bit, but Bioshock Infinite, Skyrim, and HL are all great choices.

Id choose HL2 over HL1 though, just was more fun IMO.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on March 06, 2015, 10:30:43 AM
I prefer HL2 but HL is great too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on March 06, 2015, 11:18:50 AM
Half life blew my mind when if first came out. Creeped the shit out of me too. I have much respect for it but my heart will forever belong to Half life 2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 06, 2015, 01:06:15 PM
HL 2 never really gripped me in the same way and some parts did fell unnecessarily long.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on March 06, 2015, 01:21:42 PM
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/half-life/images/b/b7/Gravity-Gun-Half-Life-2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121013150847&path-prefix=en)


nuff' said
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: The King in Crimson on March 06, 2015, 05:55:04 PM
As much as I loved Ravenholm, I'll take the atmosphere, level design, and innovative boss fights of the original over HL2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: orcus116 on March 07, 2015, 11:48:13 AM
HL2 is still the most immersive gaming experience I've ever had.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Phoenix87x on March 07, 2015, 11:50:43 AM
 HL2 is probably number 2 behind FF7 as the greatest game I've ever played.  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 08, 2015, 11:18:57 AM
03. Counter-Strike (PC 1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZGX89mL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fsjmrs5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LYtEluY.jpg)

Before I go any further I will say that most of my time played counter-strike was while it was in beta so pre-1.0 release, and I did play a bit of Global Offensive.

I played CS so much, too much because I was staying up most nights in middle school playing this game. It was really set apart because unlike most team deathmatch games you didn't respawn instantly. You had to wait for the round to be over when you died to respawn.

You played on either the counter-terrorist team or as a terrorist. Depending on what side you were on you'd have different objectives. If you played a bomb defusal map for example you'd have to plant a bomb and in one of two locations as a terrorist and set it off and as a counter-terrorist stop the terrorists from doing so.

CS was perfect and creating tension, every round seemed so intense and if you had two teams that worked well together you'd have some incredible battles.

I started playing the game around beta 5 and was hooked immediately. Since it was in beta with every new update there were more weapons, more maps, and more balance. There was a real payoff of sticking with the game, I eventually had to stop and focus on school otherwise I'd still be absorbed in CS.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Sacul on March 08, 2015, 04:55:44 PM
 :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on March 12, 2015, 03:28:09 AM
1. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/6/5/6/3656_front.jpg)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bv_UW5-TKZ8/maxresdefault.jpg)

Yeah, i know. A unpopular choice for favorite Final Fantasy/game ever but, Final Fantasy VIII means so much to me that it can't be beaten.

 *snip*


Sorry to dig up an old post, but I just had to say. 

I'm in the same boat as you, total nostalgia freak when it comes to FFVIII, I was obsessed with it from 10-13years old.  I fucking loved it, more than VII, more than VI, etc. 

I've been re-playing it over the last few days, and I've just gotten to the part in Esthar, Lunar Base, just before Ragnarok etc. and all of a sudden I just got hit with a feeling of 'I can't be fucked with this anymore' :lol This is actually the second time I've done this...

This game would be my favourite game of all time if they had fleshed out the first and second discs and actually ended it with the battle of the Gardens, Squall's epic speech to rally the troops, and the decimation of Edea...

Instead we get fed this piss-weak plot twist; everyone knows each other cos orphanage, Edea is the mum, this sorceress possesses this sorceress who in turn possesses this one, who gets stuck to the chest of the big hermaphrodite sorceresss (WTF?!).  It just turns into an absolute clusterfuck that is literally just punishing to play.  And time compression can GTFO, what an absolute load of fuck shit.  I think Square really dropped the ball with this one.

I'm gonna give VII another play through (last time I gave up at the gold saucer prison, yawn), if that fails I think I'll give IX a go, only ever played a little smidge of that. 

EDIT:

Reap, I can't begin to imagine how much money I wasted playing Counter-Strike at the local internet cafe when I was a youngun (back in the early 2000s where we were too poor to have a computer at my house) :lol

Things got so bad here with kids getting addicted to playing CS at internet cafes, that younguns started to break into taxi cabs and steal the coins out of the coin dispenser thingys so they could keep playing.  $2.50 p/hr if I remember correctly :P 

Such a great game.  It's amazing how most of the MW2 generation are completely oblivious to its existence and influence upon the genre.  Undeniable classic. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 13, 2015, 08:39:51 AM
Hey sorry for the delay, I had to make an unexpected trip to Charlotte. I'm going to try and make a mobile post today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 17, 2015, 08:14:01 AM
Sorry for the short write ups, I'm still not home and now have the flu but I don't want to hold anyone up. When I get home I'll edit my write-ups to the original ones.

02. MarioKart 64 (N64 1997)
(https://i.imgur.com/Vv9z8xf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/SK3LgLB.jpg)

I still play Mario Kart to this day with probably 5 or so hours a month with my brother and a few friends. This game is a perfect arcade racer. You being able to grab random items in the game is such a large part of what makes it so much fun. If you can't seem to grab that first place you can always shrink your enemy, or perhaps knock them out with a red shell, it added another layer to game play.

01. Tribes 1/Tribes 2 (PC 1998/PC 2001)
(https://i.imgur.com/MfzITjk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8i3xejC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Tt4guLU.jpg)

The ultimate multiplayer FPS. It still has never gotten better than this imo. The game is has a tough learning curve but if you stick with it you'll be in some of the best combat around. There are so many more elements to this game that make it unique. You have a jetpack which enables to fly (or ski) around the map, the weapons are all very unique and their own purpose and you can have different armor that allows you to play different roles in the game.

There is a huge team aspect to this game and one of the things Tribes did so well was really encourage team play. It's nearly impossible to go rouge in this game as you will die very quickly without support.

I entered both Tribes in here because they really kind of merged into one in my mind. I spent a lot more time playing Tribes 2 than 1 because I got into the game fairly late but it was still a blast to play.

I've played the newer Tribes releases as well and none of them really captured the magic the way the first two had.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 17, 2015, 08:26:28 AM
Never heard of Tribes, but Mario Kart 64 is a classic. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Bolsters on March 17, 2015, 08:50:21 AM
Not sure how many hours I sunk into Mario Kart 64 back in the day. Not sure I want to know.

I played the first Tribes a little bit, too. It was the first FPS I ever played online (the first of only two :lol) and I remember all the amazing fanbase-made capture the flag maps in the rotation on the server I'd play on and a plethora of useful but not overpowered custom weapons. Then one day that server wasn't there anymore, and I completely lost interest in the game because all the remaining servers were too vanilla, and thus boring. And like you mentioned, the later Tribes games pale in comparison.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: cramx3 on March 17, 2015, 09:37:34 AM
Cant go wrong with Mario Kart 64.... whats great is that anyone can pick up and play and even be competitive with how the balancing works out with the "random" items.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Chino on March 17, 2015, 09:44:33 AM
I dream of the day when a modder allows me to play Mario Kart on an Oculus Rift in first-person.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 17, 2015, 12:54:07 PM
Tribes was the only FPS game I enjoyed other than Goldeneye, and since I didn't have a N64, I played the crap out of Tribes.  Give me the sniper rifle on two bases and I could rack up ungodly kill scores.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Cool Chris on March 17, 2015, 02:00:57 PM
I feel bad how much money my parents spent for me to go to college and spend the number of hours playing Mario Kart 64 that I did while there.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Marion Crane on March 18, 2015, 12:40:43 PM
Found this little nugget earlier today.  If you like Mario and Metal, this is pretty clever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nArXA9PPvVQ
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 25, 2015, 08:26:08 AM
Sacul...Zantera...somebody...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Sacul on March 25, 2015, 08:41:59 AM
Zantera, if you're ready, go. If not, I can start this Friday.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 25, 2015, 02:50:28 PM
Can't wait to read the new list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Sacul on March 25, 2015, 03:00:28 PM
Hey guys, I've updated the OP. But please, if I haven't put you on the waiting list, send me a PM with your post and I'll get you on the correct position. Will try to get through the entire thread, but I don't promise to spot all the requests.


And by the way, there are enough lists to make a database. And there will be one. Once I figure out how to make it :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Zantera on March 25, 2015, 05:35:24 PM
Alright so I didn't realize it was my turn so soon, but I had already done some preparations, so here we go!  :hat

25. Tekken 3 (Playstation) (1998)
(https://www.fightersgeneration.com/np5/gm/t3-s25.jpg)

Starting off the list, Tekken 3 is one of the more nostalgic picks on my list. I remember playing bootleg copies of the original Tekken and Tekken 2 at my best friend's house, but after getting a Playstation of my own, Tekken 3 was my first game in the series. There was something special about it, and I played that game so much. Worn out probably 3 or 4 controllers over 2 years, and I played it almost on a daily basis. I used to bring home friends from school, challenge them, and we would have various fights in the various modes. I remember that there was a story mode where you fought against many henchmen as well as bosses, while collecting keys, and at the time it was pretty challenging. For a fighting game it came packed with a lot of different game modes. Everything from standard versus to timed battles, beach boll battles and so on. The characters were also cool, and I enjoyed playing most of them. Finding the secret outfits, unlocking all the videos. Hwoarang was my personal favorite character, but I also very much enjoyed playing Jin. I know fighting games is usually a "love it or hate it" genre, but while I never was huge into the genre as a whole, the Tekken games also peaked my interest. I also bought Tag Tournament, Tekken 4 and later Tekken 6, and while some of them are technically better games, Tekken 3 wins on pure nostalgia for me.

24. Ultimate Spider-Man (PC) (2005)
(https://ps2media.gamespy.com/ps2/image/article/640/640902/ultimate-spider-man-20050810002414506.jpg)

Those who know me knows that Spider-Man is my thing. I've grown up with the character, been a fan of him through the comics, the animated series, the movies, the toys, and also the games. The problem with a popular title like Spider-Man is that a lot of games have been purely made for profit, without much heart or care for the project. My first experience of Spider-Man in game format goes back to the Playstation games, but one of the sad parts about those games was the lack of free roaming. The best feeling is swinging through the city and feeling invincible, something those games lacked with their cut out levels. Ultimate Spider-Man was a surprise for me, and after becoming a fan of the Ultimate comics version, the game felt like a breath of fresh air. The story takes you through many of Spider-Man's greatest enemies, you get to follow Peter when he is still in high school (which makes it unique) and there's a lot of fun to be had just swinging around the city and helping with crime events that pop up randomly. You can also play like Venom for pure chaos and destruction, something that is surprisingly fun. Just hurl police cars at police choppers and jump over skyscrapers. I've played the more recent movie games, but it's not really the same. Ultimate Spider-Man perfectly captures that fun feeling of being a hero. Probably the game that stays the closest to the Spider-Man from the comics.

23. Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64) (2000)
(https://www.emuparadise.me/fup/up/40086-Perfect_Dark_(USA)-1.jpg)

If it's one thing I always regret about my childhood, it's not getting a Nintendo 64 of my own. All my friends had one, and if you know your N64, you know the countless awesome titles it had. I wished for a Playstation for christmas, mostly because I wanted to be different, and be that one unique kid. In the end, Playstation also had some great titles, and it wasn't a big mistake in that sense, but I would have had so much more fun if I also got a N64. Anyhow, Perfect Dark.. classic title. I know a lot of people who rank GoldenEye very high, and Perfect Dark is almost like a spiritual sequel to that game. It has a lot of similar elements to it, and if you look at some of the gameplay you will probably recognize yourself. I don't remember much about the actual story of the game, except that an alien shows up, but I did have tons of fun in the multiplayer mode. Played it with a bunch of friends and we would set up these wall turrets and guard a zone of the map each, then try to pick each other off as much as we could without dying. It was a really good first FPS experience before really getting into the genre on PC. I know there was a sequel or reboot or something called Perfect Dark Zero, but I never got a chance to play it. Perfect Dark was also one of those few situations where a game title and an image drew me in. The name sounded fascinating and interesting, and having a female agent as the lead, instead of the male agent (which was overly used at the time) felt fresh. Basically just seeing the box art had me hooked.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Rattlehead on March 25, 2015, 09:05:44 PM
Perfect Dark was awesome. I never finished the single player mode, but I had a blast with multiplayer. I always loved the gun that let you shoot people through the walls  :lol Just one of many great multiplayer games for N64. I was always more of a PS fan myself because of all of the classic RPGs, but I'd never argue that N64 wasn't the better system for multiplayer games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on March 25, 2015, 09:12:21 PM
Tekken was awesome but I was never any good at it.  My gameplan was spam the backflip kick with Forest Law, fuck yeah.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Zantera on March 26, 2015, 06:08:53 AM
22. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC) (2003)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/Max_Payne_2_-_shoot_dodge.png)

In many ways, the story of Max Payne is the ultimate cop story that we have experienced so many times. A down on his luck cop who battles against tons of henchmen, trying to solve the unsolvable crime, while breaking various laws and rules while doing so, and eating a ton of medication. The story of the first game in which Max Payne is framed for a murder he didn't commit on his partner is not the most original, but combined with interesting game elements like bullet time (slow motion) it made for a truly awesome game. I would say Max Payne is the Godfather of Cop videogames, and Max Payne 2 is in many ways like The Godfather part 2. Even better than the first. The second game has an even tighter plot with a bunch of twists and turns, it takes you through a bunch of very memorable levels, and it does perfect many of the elements from the first game. For someone like me who has always had a sweet spot for good cop stories and that neo-noir feeling, this game really hits those points. Max Payne is one of the most memorable protagonists of any video games, and the way he narrates his own story and talks about his shitty life is truly amusing. He's a more cynical and darker John McClane, but killing even more henchmen in the process. It's a very storydriven game, and I recommend both this one, and the first game.

21. Tropico 5 (PC) (2014)
(https://www.gamereactor.se/media/58/tropico5_1165804.png)

Tropico 5 is about construction and management. The basic idea is that you are a dictator in charge of a tropical island, and you get to shape and form the island as you want it. There's a lot of room to be creative in how you build your island with maybe minor cities, or maybe just one big city that eventually spreads across the map. But in the middle of all this, your main job is to keep your job as dictator, and so you go through various elections where people vote. In order to keep your job, you need to keep a good rating and have most of the population like you, and so you try to listen to what people want, and give them that. But as always, it's a fine line of balancing what some want vs what others want, when doing one thing will upset one of the groups. I've had a lot of fun with this game, and what makes Tropico 5 special in a jungle of similar games is the humor. They really play up the silliness of being a dictator and there's a lot of comedy to be had if you pay attention to the radio/news broadcasts and what your staff tells you. Unlike many other strategy games where you build a huge empire and battle other empires, the focus here is more on internal struggles and managing the island. A lot of fun, and it can give you very different experiences depending on what kind of leader you are. Do you just assassinate people who don't like you? Do you focus on healthcare or the school system? There's many different ways you can play it.

20. Hotline Miami (PC) (2012)
(https://mature-gaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hotline-miami.jpg)

Hotline Miami is an adrenaline rush of brutality and quick thinking. The game is essentially a homage to the 80s, and it mainly shows in the music, which is great. The story or concept of the game is very simple, and within 5 minutes after starting the game, you will get the hang of it. The camera shows the levels from above, and your main goal is to clear out houses of henchmen without dying. And without dying is the key part. Because you only have one life. There's no save during the level. So you need to clear out the rooms one by one, without taking that lethal blow. You can either go a silent approach with melee weapons, or go guns blazing and attract half of the house. You can really complete levels in both ways. Playing the game is like a great adrenaline rush, because you charge into rooms, knocking people over with the door, you bash someone's head in with a crowbar and then you just hope that you are fast enough to get the next guy before he kills you. It's brutal, it's fun, it's fast. One of those games you can play for 20 minutes and it feels like you get a lot out of it. Combine this with a really good soundtrack and you have a very unique game, that also happens to be very cheap on Steam. If you haven't picked it up, I highly recommend you do. I picked up mine for maybe 2 dollars and it has been worth it over and over again.  :angel:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 26, 2015, 07:46:55 AM
Sweet list so far :tup.

I haven't played the first two games, at least I don't think I have. I do remember having a tekken title at one point.

Perfect Dark was awesome and in a lot of way it was a lot better than Goldeneye but at that point I had moved on to other games and was really burned out on the Goldeneye like titles.

Never played Tropico 5, only 4 but I loved the game. I heard that Tropico 5 was very similar to 4.

Hotline Miami; I have heard so much about this game but this was the first time I have ever seen a screen shot. It looks like a lot of fun so I may pick it up when I'm bored on the weekend.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. It's-a me, ReaperKK! (pg. 28)
Post by: Outcrier on March 26, 2015, 10:14:05 AM
Tekken 3 was my first PS game. Still one of the greats from the fighting genre :tup

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 26, 2015, 05:59:58 PM
Lets keep the love going  :heart

19. Alan Wake (PC) (2010)
(https://www.gamersyde.com/news_e3_gameplay_d_alan_wake-7938.jpg)

From the people over at Remedy who brought us Max Payne, Alan Wake is a survival horror/mystery game in the spirit of Twin Peaks. The story follows our main protagonist, Alan Wake, who is a writer suffering from writer's block. He travels with his wife to the small town of Bright Falls for a vacation, when weird things starts happening, with his wife being abducted. The lights around town seem to go out and a mysterious darkness looms over the town, and your job is basically to find out what's going on. I'm a big fan of the horror genre, and there are plenty of nods to classic tv shows and movies in this game. Twin Peaks is a major influence, but you'll also see references to The Shining, The Birds and The Twilight Zone. As much as I love horror, I have often had a hard time with horror games, because a lot of them aren't really scary, they just rely on jump scares. This game however focuses more on psychological fear, and you really feel the dark presence creeping up on you, and the game had plenty of adrenaline pumping parts. If I had one minor critique, it would be the combat element which may feel slightly repetitive after a while, but I think the creepy atmosphere, the plot, the setting and everything else more than makes up for it.

18. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
(https://www.gamehoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Skyrim-dragon-gameplay.jpg)

I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee. I remember when this game came out, the amount of crazy buzz that followed. I've been a gamer for many years, but somehow managed to miss all the craze surrounding Morrowind and Oblivion, and so when Skyrim came out and everybody was going crazy, naturally I was intrigued to check it out. I think Skyrim in many ways is a brilliant game, and my only frustration is in the smaller things. The devil is in the details. For example, despite being developed over many years, Skyrim feels rushed. There's several bugs, some of them even big enough that you need fixes to get past them. I also think that the massive appeal of the large world with tons of content to explore is not just good, but also brings a negative side. I've played the game on and off maybe 3 or 4 times, and I have never gotten to finish the whole game. There's just so many things to see, so many things to do. But despite minor problems, this still is a very good game. The main story about dragons and being a dragonborn, chosen to stop the dragons is good enough to hang a framework on, but what really works is all the interesting side quests. Are you an honest warrior or a backstabbing thief? There's so many details in the game, and despite some bugs and minor flaws, the game is just such an achievement. The world is beautiful, some of the dungeons are breathtaking.

17. Pokemon Stadium (Nintendo 64) (2000)
(https://spectrumreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pokemon-stadium-gameplay.jpeg)

The magic of Pokemon is something I will always carry with me. It had a major impact on me as a kid, and it was such a broad phenomenon that it impacted not just me, but many other kids my age. We talked about it in school, we collected the cards, we watched the tv show, the movies and of course played the games. Pokemon Stadium felt like a gamechanger when it game out. We were used to playing and seeing our Pokemons on the small Gameboy screen, but Pokemon Stadium brought it out in the open, and everything became bigger, and more epic. I remember the first time I played with my Pokemon Red team on Pokemon Stadium, and it felt so legendary seeing my team on the big screen. I remember when Pokemon Stadium 2 came out that it felt essentially like more of the same, but better.. but despite being a better game overall, I'm putting the original on the list because of how much time I spent on it. I remember there was a tournament you could play, and if you won, you got one of the starting pokemons. I had picked Charmander on my Red, but this made it possible for me to get Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Overall I think the biggest and most memorable Pokemon game moments will always be on the handheld consoles, but the magic of seeing it come to life through Nintendo 64 was really special.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: cramx3 on March 26, 2015, 06:48:35 PM
Alan Wake was a really fun game and cool story to go with it  :tup

And you can't go wrong with Skyrim  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 26, 2015, 09:14:01 PM
I never played Alan Wake, although I hear so many great things about it. I should take a week off from everyone and play all the games I've missed out on :lol

I forsee Skyrim making it on a lot of lists here.

Pokemon Stadium kind of disappointed me. I remember when I was younger my parents took me to best buy to pick up a new video game. I saw pokemon stadium on the big screen and patiently waited in line to play it. I started playing it when it was my turn and I remember feeling so underwhelmed.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on March 27, 2015, 12:25:28 AM
Max Payne 2 was a sweet game.  I remember the first one scaring me quite a bit as a youngun.  Good choices, Zan will have to check out some of the other ones.  Brutal hails.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ariich on March 27, 2015, 01:17:35 AM
Alan Wake was good - great atmosphere and cinematography, good story. Gameplay got a bit repetitive though.

Skyrim is gorgeous. The main story was pretty thing, but the game is just so immersive!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 27, 2015, 03:03:14 AM
I think some of these will get some appreciation going:

16. Half-Life 2 (PC) (2004)
(https://gamerlimit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/half-life-2-combine.jpg)

It's time for the obligatory Half-Life entry on the list. I will start off by saying that after having some minor problems of cutting down my list from around 30 games to 25, I decided that I wouldn't put several games from the same story on the list. By that I don't mean games in the same franchise or games featuring the same characters, but games that are following a storyline. Because narrowing it down to 25 games was hard enough, and I thought dedicating two slots for Half-Life (the original) and the sequel was a bit much. But anyhow, the original was groundbreaking, it was awesome, and most of us have nostalgic feelings of exploring Black Mesa and finding out what happened. HL2 was one of the most hyped games ever when it came out, and also one of the best examples of a hyped game living up to the expectations. There is a reason people loved it, there is a reason a lot of people (myself included) rank it over the first, and there is a reason people have been screaming for Half-Life 3 for over a decade now. There were so many memorable set pieces in this game, for example traveling through the canals on the airboat. Or infiltrating the prison, or the final part in the Citadel. As great as Half-Life was, the sequel managed to top it. I hope we get a Half-Life 3 one day, worthy of finishing the franchise, because at the end of HL2 a lot of things felt unclear and left open. Sure, you could always play Episode One and Two, but I think most of us really want a HL3. Gordon Freeman has become one of the most popular characters in videogame history, and for good reason.

15. Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne (PC) (2003)
(https://gameslikefinder.com/wp-content/uploads/warcraft-3-gameplay1.jpg)

Warcraft 3 and the expansion pack The Frozen Throne was my first real taste of a strategy game. You select what team you want to play as (Humans, Night Elves, Orcs or Undead), you start building your base, start building troops, a hero and then there are many different ways of approaching the game from a strategic standpoint. I remember spending hundreds or even thousands of hours, playing both against the computer, against friends and also online. I won some games out of pure defensive strength, and others by going on the offense with everything I had. The game is what got me into the Warcraft franchise, and what a great franchise it is. The popularity of Warcraft at the time was huge, and it didn't exactly disappear once World of Warcraft came out the following year, a game that is still around today, with over 10 million subscribers. What makes Warcraft so amazing to me is the lore, and Warcraft 3 told us many of the (now) classic stories about the different races. My favorite character is one of the night elves, Illidan, and you get to follow his journey from doing bad things to save his race, being outcast by his people because of his actions, and finally seeking power and becoming an anti-hero. You also have the classic story of the humans and how the undead plague swallowed their land, with the rise and fall of prince Arthas. There's so many good stories in the campaign mode, and there's a lot of fun to be had just playing the game as it is.

14. Super Smash Bros (Nintendo 64) (1999)
(https://199.101.98.242/media/shots/40266-Super_Smash_Bros._(USA)-6.jpg)

When Super Smash Bros came out, I remember me and my friends having similar geek feelings that I experienced almost 10 years later when they announced the Avengers movie. You have all of these characters that we know and love, and you give us an experience where they all meet up. Mario vs Pikachu, Donkey Kong vs Link. What I loved about Nintendo at the time was that they always put their focus on making their games fun. Super Smash Bros was essentially a fun take on your typical fighting game, in the same way Mario Kart 64 was a fun take on racing. Super Smash Bros came with a lot of button smashing, cursing and laughter, and I spent many late nights at a friend's house playing. We used to play with 4 of us and while we normally just tried to defeat each other, sometimes we ganged up on one specific individual and had a lot of fun hearing that person react in panic. It's by no means a flawless game, but the excitement of playing against each other with characters from different franchises was really cool at the time. I never got a chance to play any of the sequels since Nintendo had kinda left my brain at that point, but from what I have heard they were fairly good received, and it makes me happy that the franchise is still alive and kicking.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on March 27, 2015, 12:32:22 PM
You have to play the other SSMB games. The newer one is amazing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 27, 2015, 09:14:04 PM
WC3 almost made my list mainly because of the custom maps the game had. If you were bored you could always play a custom map and try an entirely new game time. Battleships was one of my favorite.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 28, 2015, 03:35:48 AM
Got a bit late last night so didn't have time to update. But I'm here now!  :)

13. Thomas Was Alone (PC) (2012)
(https://gamedevtuts.s3.amazonaws.com/022_thomasNarration/how-thomas-was-alone-uses-narration-to-build-a-world-troubling.png)

Thomas Was Alone is a minimalist puzzle and platform game, and frankly one of the most charming indie games I've had the chance to play. The game has a very simple premise, and the minimalist graphics style adds to that. You control these blocks in different shapes and forms, and your objective is to go through a level with various challenges, and end up with your block on a special marker. You start off with a red block called Thomas, a curious and observant red block who is looking for his purpose and trying to find companionship. Along the way you meet other blocks with other abilities, and eventually you face challenges where you need to use the abilities of each block to get through puzzles. This game sounds simple on paper, but it's all in the execution. The narration by Danny Wallace is spectacular, and even won the game a BAFTA Games Award. Through the script and the delivery of the narration, he makes you care about these blocks, and actually manages to give them personalities. I also want to bring up the music, which is just fantastic. Maybe even my favorite videogame score. It's really beautiful and adds even more emotion to this already fantastic game. I'm pretty sure this game has been released on most platforms now, and if you ever get a chance to pick it up, I highly recommend it. I got mine from a humblebundle fairly cheap, and I'm very happy I did. One of those special games, and a "can't miss" indie title.

12. Left 4 Dead 2 (PC) (2009)
(https://www.strangekidsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/left4dead-gameplay-595x335.jpeg)

Left 4 Dead 2 is the second game in the L4D franchise, one of Valve's babies. In a time when zombies are more popular than ever, it's no surprise that this game became as big as it did. The basic premise of Left 4 Dead 2 is simple enough. You play through a campaign as survivors trying to go through levels and reach the safehouse at the end, without dying on the way. The gamemode that sold it for me was Versus mode, which takes the basic campaign mode of a human team of four (trying to reach the end) by adding a second team of four, that plays as infected. Your job as infected is basically to stop the survivors, as early as you can, so that they don't get a high score. After all the maps are done, the team with the biggest score wins, so basically the team that has gotten the furthest as survivors across all maps. I liked the original campaign, but Versus was just so much more fun. You can play as various special infected, and what makes it fun is the strategic element. In order to pick off the human team, you can have several dangerous combos to pick them off. For example, the hunter is a dangerous one that can leap fast between walls and from high places, doing massive damage. The charger can run a player out a window and instant kill them, and the spitter can cause massive damage to a player who has been hurt enough that he is laying on the floor. It's a lot of fun playing as infected, and if you play with friends it becomes even more fun, since you team up and try to combo the other team to death. If you learn how to utilize various chokepoints in the maps, you can essentially kill the entire survivor team at one place, if you play your cards right. The game also comes with several other modes, but versus mode is the one I truly live for.

11. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PC) (2012)
(https://v012o.popscreen.com/ZG0zVEc1X2JQV2sx_o_counter-strike-global-offensive-gameplay-deutsch-full-hd.jpg)

Counter-Strike is a franchise that has been with me since my very early gaming days. I played the game during the very first game that came around the millennium shift, in the 1.0 version already. 1.5 was a big one, and 1.6 became what most of us know as classic CS. It was followed up by attempts to make a new Counter-Strike game that was better, but IMO both Condition Zero and Source failed to deliver, and just felt like worse versions of the game, without the same feel to them, but better graphics. Global Offensive that came out in 2012 however, was IMO a very successful reboot, and it made the game justice. It's a team based FPS game with a simple premise. One team is the terrorists, one team is the counter-terrorists. If you play on a bomb map, the terrorists job is to plant the bomb and have it explode, the counter-terrorists job is to defuse it. You play a total of 30 rounds in the competitive mode, 15 rounds on each side, and each round is 2 minutes or so. The team that gets to 16 first wins, but the game can also end in a 15-15 draw. The current community is slightly frustrating, because they introduced a new market of adding various weapon skins, some of them you get after games, some of them you unlock from chests. But it has resulted in a massive interest for buying and selling, collecting, but also caused a major buzz in the community. The game itself is really fun, and it's not just a "go guns blazing" kind of FPS. You really need good teamwork or you're not gonna win. As terrorists you need to come up with strategic ways of getting into the bomb sites, because the other team will do their best to defend them. You need to rush together, use tactical smoke grenades and flash grenades, and you need to be a good aimer. If you're on the other team, communication is everything. If you see the other team approaching your bomb site, you need to let the others know, so that they can rotate and come help you. Overall a worthy follow-up to a classic game, and at this point I've probably put even more hours into Global Offensive than I did with classic CS.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 28, 2015, 01:15:04 PM
Never played Thomas Was Alone but L4D and GO are great games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ariich on March 28, 2015, 03:22:53 PM
Never even heard of Thomas Was Alone, but your description makes it sound great. I'll add it to my wishlist and see if I can get it on the cheap in future.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Jarlaxle on March 28, 2015, 03:44:44 PM
Can I get put on the list?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Crow on March 28, 2015, 07:49:27 PM
Thomas Was Alone is pretty neat, yeah. Not too tough puzzle-wise but the story is told in a very unique way. I should go back and replay it sometime.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Sacul on March 28, 2015, 07:55:07 PM
Can I get put on the list?
You're in!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 29, 2015, 03:26:33 AM
So we're entering the top10 :)

10. GTA V (Xbox 360) (2013)
(https://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/c9aa410ae0ecc2295f32766cb302a0ea/201256448/gtaheistsbank.jpg)

The GTA franchise is one of those few game franchises that has really stuck with me the most, and always been there as I was growing up, similar to what the Zelda franchise was for a lot of Nintendo-players. I first got GTA II on my 7th or 8th birthday, and my dad who knew what kind of a game it was, had tricked my mom into thinking it was just a racing game (there's a car or something on the cover) and when I got it, a world of chaos and mayhem opened itself up for me. My dad usually pulled tricks like that, let me see way-too-brutal movies at a young age, and my mom did not like that very much. But I love the man, and in retrospect I feel very happy about those memories.  :lol GTA II was my entry, and I remember when GTA III came out, how revolutionary it felt at the time. From the 2D overhead camera, we got the classic style of GTA, as a third person shooter. GTA III was a really cool game, but my love for the franchise was cemented with Vice City, and especially San Andreas, which was just godlike. It came down to either GTA V or San Andreas for this list, and I'll justify my reasons for going with GTA V a bit further down. GTA IV followed San Andreas, and was better in some ways, but duller in others. It was a good game in many technical aspects, but the grey look of the game made it feel less enjoyable. And after years of speculating and wondering if it would ever come, GTA V finally came.

GTA V like HL2 is one of those games that despite massive hype, just managed to live up to it. There are some criticisms for the game, and I know the car physics gets some hate, but for the most part I really think Rockstar hit a homerun here. The decision to go with 3 main characters was risky, but really paid off. In GTA IV you had Niko Bellic who was just a charisma vacuum, but this time you get 3 distinct and unique characters, all with different feel to them. This also allows for more mixed gameplay, because I know myself and other people like to play the game in different ways. Most of us have probably tried that "I'm not gonna break any laws" style, and with 3 different characters you can create your own feel and style to them yourself by how you play. Los Santos is back as our main city, and it looks better than ever. The story mode introduces bank heists with planning, preparing and execution, and it's a ton of fun. That final heist was exciting as hell, and probably the best heist in a game ever. Across a giant map there's just so many things you can do. Racing, shooting, mini games like Tennis or Yoga, shopping for clothes, going all out chaosmode against cops.. the possibilities are endless. GTA V lives up to the hype, and it really deserves a place here on this spot. I was considering San Andreas, but the more I look at it, GTA V really is the better game. I have tons of nostalgic feelings towards San Andreas, and I had a blast in that game, but GTA V does top it.

9. Orcs Must Die 2 (PC) (2012)
(https://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/231240-hd%20orcs%20must%20die%202%20coop.jpg)

Orcs Must Die 2 is essentially a third person tower defense, a modern twist on the genre. It's also one of the funniest games I have played with a close friend of mine, and the first time we played it, we probably spent 6 or 7 hours playing it. The basic premise is that you go through a set of maps, and there is a spawn point and there is an exit portal. Through the spawn point there will come waves and waves of orcs, and you must stop them from reaching the end. You do so by putting out traps, with different abilities. You have the freezing trap that slows them, poison traps, spike traps, fire traps, basically everything you can imagine. The orcs you face gets tougher and the maps become more challenging as you need to kill better and stronger monsters. There's also a few special ones like flying monsters that aren't affected by your normal ground-traps, so you need a strategy for those too. You have a specific number of how many orcs you can afford to let through the portal but still win, and there's also a competitive element that the fewer you let through, the higher your score will be. There's even achievements to go through all maps without releasing a single orc.

It's a fun and simple game that really draws you in after just a few minutes. It's easy to learn but hard to master. There's a lot of small details that adds to the magic of the game and makes it more fun. You can either play as a human or female mage, and for example you have a set of 5-6 (maybe) different costumes that you can unlock, by completing different tasks and achievements. You also have points to spend to improve or change some of your traps, so there is a strategic element to how you spend those points, what traps you decide to focus on. I would say multiplayer is where the game really shines and is the most fun, if you happen to have a friend willing to play with you. But I have also done some singleplayer and it's still cool. The advantage of going multiplayer is that if your friend happens to leak a few orcs, you can always swing in and help him out. It's a very fun and entertaining take on the classical tower defense genre, and as someone who got introduced to that genre through Warcraft 3 custom maps, Orcs Must Die 2 is the most fun I've had with the genre. The orcs also have some hilarious voice acting, for example one of the traps you can build is the spring trap, which on maps with a cliff is useful. Some of those sound effects when the orcs fly off the cliff are just hilarious.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 29, 2015, 06:21:31 AM
I've never heard of Orcs Must Die but I love the TD genre. I was hooked from my first map in WC3. The way you describe sounds like it'd be something right up my ally. I'm going to try and see if my brother is game to play it today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 29, 2015, 11:22:04 AM
Zantera, I wanna give you serious props for the frequency of your updates. You've had zero lag in this list whatsoever and I really look forward to GTA V once I have time to delve into it more.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 29, 2015, 12:40:08 PM
GTA V is the only game on this list post-64 I've played. I got it over a year ago, and played it a little bit, haven't played it since. That hick guy's missions were BS so I gave up, and it took me forever to do that first store heist. I eventually had to just skip a section because it was impossible. Some of the multiplayer looks awesome, but I don't do online gaming.
Still a damn impressive game technically.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on March 29, 2015, 03:12:12 PM
I really look forward to GTA V once I have time to delve into it more.

Come on, you know my raised highway bus suicide will never be topped Josh.  Just give up now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on March 29, 2015, 04:04:58 PM
1. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qs3FMoy.gif)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 29, 2015, 05:17:33 PM
I really look forward to GTA V once I have time to delve into it more.

Come on, you know my raised highway bus suicide will never be topped Josh.  Just give up now.

That was fuckin stout. Not quite sure it beats my friend Kenny's use of ten cars as a fuse for a chain reaction explosion by shooting each one until they were smoking and one shot from detonating then shooting the one at the end of the line.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 30, 2015, 05:22:43 AM
Thanks for the kind words black_floyd, I always do my best to keep updates regularly. Normally I want to update twice a day (morning and evening/night) but some days I just have other things to do as well. But updates on a daily basis are important to keep, at least IMO. Also, hopefully the list makes people interested in checking some new games out, and by the sounds of some posts I think it will. :)

8. World of Warcraft (PC) (2004)
(https://www.blogcdn.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/580queldanas.jpg)

Out of all the entries on my list, this was by far the most difficult one for me to rank. World of Warcraft came out in 2004, and has been around for more than a decade now. I wasn't there from the start, but I have been with the game since its second expansion pack, The Burning Crusade, which came out in 2007. This game has been with me for 8 years, and while there has been periods where I've taken breaks or said that I would quit, I kept coming back. Just when you think you're out, it pulls you back in. What I really love about the game is that it has been with me through my important years in life, and while I've had many problems, sad moments, happy moments and so on, the game has always become integral with those moments. It's especially clear with music, because music comes hand in hand with the game for me. Whenever I listen to an album, I can pretty much recall what character I was playing when I first heard that album, and where I was (zone-wise). WoW gets a lot of flack for being a game that ruins people, and destroys their life. I think it's a very silly thing to blame on, because it's really the person and not the game. I was fairly weak mentally when I was younger and I will admit to skipping tons of school, eventually flunking and having to spend a few additional years reading up grades, but I was also going through depressive things at the moment. Now that I am older and wiser, I play the game when I want and how I want, but the game doesn't control me. But I think that's a whole different topic that can apply to just any game.

Anyhow, World of Warcraft is a MMORPG, and for newcomers that stands for Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. Like I mentioned earlier I've had a few shorter breaks and pauses during my 8 years as a player, but still to this day I play the game on a daily basis. What's hard though is for me to rank the game. It's by far the game I have played the most, and I've sunk countless of hours into the game, but it's still only number 8? Let me start by saying that being new to the game is amazing, and my fondest memories of playing was by far in the first few months. I recommend anyone to try it out, because it's just so much fun in the beginning. After your initial phase of being a newcomer fades away, the game does lose some of its magic. It's inevitable and happens with a lot of games. And I had a few middle years around 2010-2012 where I honestly played for the sake of playing, rather than really enjoying myself. But in the last 3 years or so, I've found a new phase that I really enjoy, and I would almost call it an expert phase. Over these years I've gotten an understanding for the game and the world, both in terms of game mechanics but also the lore behind the story. I have played all the different classes available, and I have a lot of knowledge that I try to spread to the new generations. There's a sense of pride of having been in the community for almost a decade, and whenever there is a discussion about the game, no matter what topic, I usually feel like I can add something due to my knowledge. It's a great feeling, and that together with the last two expansion packs being among the best ones, that has helped me really enjoying the game a lot again.

And I know this post is already way too long, but just for those who have never played an MMORPG, just a basic description. You create a character (or several) and there's several things you can customize. Alliance or Horde? Two opposing factions. What race? Alliance has Humans/Night Elves/Gnomes/Dwarves/Draenei/Worgen, whereas Horde has Orcs/Undead/Taurens/Trolls/Blood Elves/Goblins, and there's also Pandaren which is playable as both factions. After you pick a race you also pick one of the following classes Priest/Warrior/Hunter/Monk/Mage/Warlock/Rogue/Druid/Death Knight/Shaman/Paladin and then your journey starts. Some of these classes are so called hybrid classes, as in they can fulfill different roles. The roles are Tank/DPS/Healer. A Tank takes the damage, a DPS deals the damage and a Healer.. heals the group. A Paladin, Druid or Monk can fulfill all three roles, whereas some like Warriors or Priests can fulfill two, Tank/DPS and DPS/Healer in this example. Then you have classes that are just pure DPS classes, like Rogues or Mages. A Mage can either be fire, frost or arcane for example, but all three specializations fulfill the DPS role. A big part of the game consists of leveling your character from level 1 to max level (currently level 100), and once at max level you can do whatever you like the most. Find a PvE guild, raid with many other players to kill bosses for better armor/weapons, or PvP if you rather kill players. Or just enjoy the game in other forms, there's plenty to do.

Wow that was a long post, sorry. And cudos to whoever reads all of it.   :lol

7. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) (1996)
(https://www.nintenderos.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Super_Mario_64.jpg)

It's a me Mario! Pasta Pizza, bippedi bappedi boppedi!
Of course there's gonna be Super Mario 64 on this list. Most iconic game ever? At least belongs in the top5 candidates for that IMO. Super Mario is one of the most iconic characters of all time, and I feel like Super Mario 64 was the game that really launched him into massive popularity. He had games before, and I even remember a friend being almost hipster about having played Mario on his Super Nintendo already, but with Nintendo 64 it became more of a global phenomenon. Just about every kid I knew had a Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64 to go with it. People loved it, people talked it, and I was just sitting at home with my PS1 playing Spyro the Dragon. Hey guys, anybody wants to talk about Spyro? Oh nobody has a PS1? Who is this Mario? OK I will go now. :(

Back when this game came out, I would spend weekends at a friends house where we started the game fresh on the Friday, and as I spent the weekend at the friend's house, our goal was to complete it 100% by the time I went home on Sunday. The game is just so fun to play, and part of it is the various ways of how to move and how to attack. There's plenty of cool combinations whether it's walljumping and bouncing like crazy, or jump-diving on enemies to kill them. It was an easy game to learn, but the more time you put into it, the more you felt like a god. The global phenomenon it became also made the game more fun. Almost everybody had the game, and so it was an easy thing for us kids to bond over at school. "Oh you're stuck on this map in Mario? I'll come over and help you after school", and boom, you just made a new friend. Another thing that made the game truly amazing was the variety in the maps, and the quality in the maps. The idea of going into magical paintings and being transported to a different world was also genius. Collecting stars was fun, and some were truly challenging. But you had the desert maps, the flying maps, the snow maps, the underwater maps, and just about everything in between. Super Mario 64 will go down in history as one of the best games ever, and it's just such a special game. It has a timeless quality to it, and I played it as recently as a year ago and it still holds up. I think if I had actually owned the console myself and owned the game, this could have ranked higher.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 30, 2015, 05:40:13 AM
I'm pretty sure Mario was launched into massive popularity just a *little* before Mario 64, between the 40 million copies of SMB bundled with every NES sold, 20 million copies of SML, 10 million of SMB2, 20 million of SMB3, and 20 million of SMW etc. :lol

I've been replaying Mario 64 (DS version) lately, and it shows its age now even with all of the updates, but it was a landmark game for 3D platformers that created the mould for the later platformers on the console that improved on the formula.

I've never played WoW.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ariich on March 30, 2015, 06:31:44 AM
I'm pretty sure Mario was launched into massive popularity just a *little* before Mario 64, between the 40 million copies of SMB bundled with every NES sold, 20 million copies of SML, 10 million of SMB2, 20 million of SMB3, and 20 million of SMW etc. :lol
Yeah seriously. :lol Showing your youth here, Jimmy.

I won't deny that SM64 opened up the character to a new generation of gamers. I'm sure given another 5-10 years some gamers will be saying the same thing about Wii versions. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 30, 2015, 06:33:47 AM
Fans of Mario 64 have you guys seen this? https://mario64-erik.u85.net/Web.html
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Sacul on March 30, 2015, 11:29:08 AM
I had a N64, and only owned 5 games (they were fucking expensive), and this title was the most played. I don't even remember beating it, but it didn't matter. I even replayed it some years ago using an emulator (my poor console doesn't work anymore), and I was still fascinated. The level design is brilliant.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: masterthes on March 30, 2015, 11:50:15 AM
As far as fav N64 games, Ocarina, Starfox and Mario Kart > Mario 64, but that was just me  ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Chino on March 30, 2015, 12:54:12 PM
As far as fav N64 games, Ocarina, Starfox and Mario Kart > Mario 64, but that was just me  ;D

That's a tough call to make. Are we talking just single player mode? If that's the case, I don't think Mario Kart comes anywhere near Mario 64. Starfox, I'd say you have an argument. I can't speak for Ocarina as I have never played it.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Outcrier's fav games and whatever (pg. 25)
Post by: Outcrier on March 30, 2015, 01:20:24 PM
Recently, i played Super Mario 64 and i thought it was a great game, really enjoyed it (even more than Ocarina of Time).

Also, props for HL2 :tup

1. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qs3FMoy.gif)

 ;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 31, 2015, 05:34:10 AM
Alright, I guess I underestimated Mario's popularity pre-64.  :lol
Anyhow, thought I would swing by with another update.

6. The Walking Dead (PC) (2012)
(https://thecontrolleronline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/The-Walking-Dead-Gameplay-Trailer.jpg)

One of my favorite gaming companies of recent times is Telltale, and The Walking Dead is one of many excellent titles they have put out. They have a talent for writing really compelling stories and engaging characters, and in comparison to the tv-show where sometimes death of characters have zero impact on you, in this game you feel every death like a stab in the heart. Some more than others of course. The Walking Dead like the other Telltale games really has the feel and structure of a tv show. There are parts of the game where you walk around, interact with objects or people, and there are gaming elements, but most of the game really comes down to people talking, and making decisions. Sometimes you have to make impulse decisions, and those decisions will later follow you around. Maybe you did the right choice, maybe you didn't. With their most recent titles, Telltale has an episodic structure. They release their game in episodes (roughly 2-3 hours to play through, with some exceptions), and you kinda get a choice if you want to play them 1 at the time, or wait for 6-7 months and play the whole thing. In the case of The Walking Dead, there also is a Season 2, which is another game in itself, but if you have played through the original, then some of your choices carries into S2, which is essentially a sequel.

This is one of those games where I don't want to get into too many plot specifics, because a lot of the charm comes from your own choices and how the story is affected by it. But at the start of the game we meet our protagonist Lee, in the back of a cop car on the way to prison. The outbreak happens, and after a car crash you manage to escape. Shortly after you meet Clementine, a young girl who has lost her parents in the chaos. A lot of what happens next is about how you treat her, because you basically become a father figure, but also how you deal with the past of your character. Do you just flat out tell people about the criminal past, or do you try to go a different route with more secrets? I don't really want to tell more, because a lot of the twists and turns are better experienced if you go in fresh. I also think the characters becomes more real when you get to feel and experience them yourself, rather than having read about them before. IMO S2 was on par with S1, and you can get both on Steam, and all episodes are out in both, so you should have roughly 18-20 hours (maybe more, maybe less) of what's IMO the best version of The Walking Dead. The comics are superb, the tv-show has its good moments, but the Telltale game is really the highpoint.

5. Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64) (1997)
(https://images.eurogamer.net/modojo.com/features/735/rainbowroad64.jpg)

Mario Kart 64, still what I consider to be the funniest game to just sit down with 3 friends and play. There has been plenty of games since that has become almost party games, whether it's Guitar Hero or Rock Band, the kind of games you play when you have gathered a group of people, and you need a "simple" (enough) game that you can play against each other for glory and honor. I still consider Mario Kart 64 to be that ultimate game, and I've had tons of great memories with it. Favorite character? I mostly played as Toad or Yoshi, but I thoroughly enjoyed playing most of them. I remember thinking Luigi sounded so high when he shouted his "Yahoo" during turbo phase, and the game had more fun sounds like that one. Favorite maps? I honestly really liked most of them. Sure, some were more annoying than others, but I thought that some of the more annoying ones often had cooler design. Like the Banshee Boardwalk or Toad's Turnpike for example. Creative settings and plenty of things to worry about. The rainbow map almost deserves a mention on its own. The rainbow map was in many ways my first experience of how it would feel to be tripping on acid while listening to pink floyd or some crazy shit. Crazy times.

There were only 4 cups x 4 maps in each, so 16 maps in total, but they were all so much fun. I had just started first grade and we had a group of friends who would go home to one of them after school and play. We even had a tournament sheet to keep score of who performed the best. But apart from the lovely racing mode which we all love, I also want to bring up Battle Mode, which was just tons of fun. Going around and protecting your 3 balloons, while trying to attack the other players. I didn't care much for the big donut-shaped lava arena, and also didn't play the skyscraper one that much, but the one with the colored blocks was so epic. We would even hold off attacks on each other for the first few minutes, drive around and set a bunch of traps on each block, and so we all had 1 fort each. It's not really a single player game even if you can play that and still enjoy it, but it definitely shines in a multiplayer setting, when you can mock your friends after beating them. The game comes with so many "last laughs" that it's crazy. I remember specifically a friend who was gloating because he was first with just 5-10 seconds left until goal, I came up behind him and managed to hit him with the most perfect green turtle shell ever, and his reaction of going from happy and joyful to angry and frustrated in just sheer seconds as I passed him right in front of goal... that's one of those hilarious moments I'll always remember.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ariich on March 31, 2015, 06:24:38 AM
I've got season 1 of Telltale's Walking Dead game on Steam already, as I got it in some ridiculous deal at some point, but I haven't got round to playing it yet. I've heard great things about it though, and your description has only intensified my appetite for it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: cramx3 on March 31, 2015, 07:35:04 AM
Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64  :heart

Still have them and play them both and love them. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Crow on March 31, 2015, 10:37:21 AM
I found Walking Dead Season 2 to be a step down from Season 1 in pretty much every way but it wasn't -awful- or anything, just not as good.
Season 1 is fantastic though.

EDIT: Spekaing of, Humble just put the game on sale on their store  :lol
https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/thewalkingdead_storefront
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on March 31, 2015, 05:16:01 PM
Entering the top of the list now, these last few updates will be with 1 game in each. No worries though, I'm going away on Thursday and I have the updates planned out. Nr4 now, 3 and 2 tomorrow, 1 on Thursday morning.. no slacking off. ;)

4. Civilization V (PC) (2010)
(https://screenshots.en.sftcdn.net/en/scrn/3346000/3346716/image-04-700x430.jpg)

When I was first introduced to the Civilization franchise through Civ IV, I thought it was kinda boring. I was probably too young to really appreciate the strategic elements, and the turn-based playing style felt really awkward. But I returned to the franchise a few years older and wiser when Civ V came out in 2010, and I'm not sure if it was just the game being better than the previous, but I think I had matured and learned to appreciate what the game had to offer, and I quickly fell in love with the game. It's a turn-based strategy game about building, expanding, leadership, companionship and tons of other things. You play as one of the nations and the simple objective is to beat the other nations and win. How do you win a game? You can win in many different ways, and that's what makes Civ so great. Obviously you have the domination win, which basically happens when you crush all the other opponents through warfare, and you're the last one standing. But if warfare isn't for you, you can also win a scientific victory if you win the space race, the first nation to assemble and send out a spaceship. There's also cultural victory, which happens when you complete the Utopia project (after getting five social policies maxed out), or a diplomatic victory, by getting support from other nations and city states in the United Nations. The different ways of winning combined with the different "racial traits" that comes with each nation makes it possible for you to be very strategic. Some of the nations have bonuses that encourage science for example, and others are more focused on the art of war. Combining what a nation is good at with trying to win in that style makes it slightly easier, if you know what you're doing. And also, what approach you have to other nations will also have an impact. Will you team up with other nations and have strong friendships, or go your own way and risk getting enemies?

Civ V is a ton of fun. I got a friend hooked, and we spend a few nights a week playing it. It's almost too fun, because every time we play it, we look at the clock after a while and go "Holy crap, it's been 5 hours", when it feels like it has just been 30 minutes or an hour. Time flies in this game, because you're constantly thinking about your next moves. The turn based play style really works, because it almost feels like playing a board game with rolling the dice. The standard play style has players taking turns, but you can also adjust it so that everybody takes their turn at the same time, but it still waits for everyone. It's a ton of fun starting with one city and then slowly expanding into a big empire with more cities and a bigger border. What makes the game enjoyable is that all the different ways of winning are fun, so you get to be creative every time. I've spent loads of time in wars with other nations, but I also really enjoy a more calm playthrough, focusing on building and improving my cities. It's a game that demands a lot of time, but also gives a lot back to you if you give it that time. There's also plenty of different styled maps that you can play, for example a map that resembles our earth, or you can play a map with mostly ocean and small islands, or a big landmass. Maps can be huge or small, anything in between, and the special nation racial traits that I mentioned earlier are truly awesome. For example, Arabia has a double bonus on Oil resources, Egypt has a bonus to building wonders faster (pyramids for example) and England has a bonus to their navy and moving across seas. Usually the bonuses are related to something historical about each nation, and as you play a nation and you have the loadingscreen for setting up the game, you get a nice little text that tells you about the history of your nation. It's both educational AND fun!  :laugh:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Sacul on March 31, 2015, 06:57:06 PM
Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64  :heart
This.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on April 01, 2015, 01:47:17 AM
TOP3 HYPE!

3. Pokemon HeartGold (Nintendo DS) (2010)
(https://www.playretrogames.com/gameimages/25-pokemon-glacier-version.jpg)

Ranking the top3 was incredibly tough, and I think all three games in the top 3 could have been nr1, Pokemon especially. My history with the franchise started with Pokemon Red on my 6th birthday when I got my first Gameboy Color and Pokemon Red. One of the most special games ever, and one of the most memorable days of my youth. I had a blast with Red and became the go-to guy at my school for anything Pokemon related. People who didn't know how to complete Safari Zone and get Surf or Strength came to me, people who couldn't navigate the Team Rocket hideouts came to me. I felt like a god among men. Then came Gen 2, which IMO still holds up as the best generation of Pokemon. Silver/Gold/Crystal were a blast, and as much fun as I had in Red, it was duplicated in Gold. I managed to get all 251 Pokemons on my Gold, I had one of the most badass Pokemon teams around, and everybody at my school wanted to challenge me via Link Cable, and I ended up going unbeaten for 100 matches or something. I put tons of time into the game, I had probably at least 100 Pokemons at level 100, so whenever I was going up against another kid, I would switch around my team to keep them guessing. I was the Yoda of Pokemon at my school, to keep it short.

Then why aren't Red or the original Gold on my list? Well frankly, after getting back into the franchise around 2011-2012 when I bought a Nintendo DS, I picked up HeartGold, because it was a remake of the game I loved so much. And, it really is better in all possible ways. It's the same game but better graphics, added features from the latter games, and more pokemons added. There would have been no reason for me to justify putting the original Gold over HeartGold other than pure nostalgic reasons, and as much of a nostalgic as I am, HeartGold is the same game but better, hence why it's here. Upon revisiting this world again in the remake, I set out to obtain the same awesome team that I had in my original gold where I owned everything. Typhlosion, Umbreon, Scizor, Dragonite, Blastoise & Tyranitar. And I managed to get them again on my HeartGold, and after all these years it felt really nice for all the nostalgia. I always thought Gen 2 was the best Pokemon Generation. It had the best Pokemons overall (100 awesome new ones, plus the 151 classic), it had the perfect length of being able to revisit the first region after beating Elite 4, and the 16 gym length made it so much more fun than the shorter games. Let's face it, as much as we love Red/Blue/Yellow, those games were kinda short. Pokemon will probably always be that one special franchise to me, like Mario was for a lot of people, or Zelda was for many others. I did manage to miss out on Generation IV with Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and still haven't gotten around to playing those games, but apart from that I have been with the franchise since early days. It's not the same anymore, but I can still pick up my DS and play HeartGold and have a blast.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on April 01, 2015, 04:55:59 AM
The plural of Pokemon is Pokemons?  Huh.  Pokemans.

I like your list Zantera and I'm giving you br00tal hailz from NZ.  I really want that Walking Dead game...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Bolsters on April 01, 2015, 05:58:26 AM
The plural of Pokemon is Pokemons?
Nah, the plural is Pokemon. It's Lego/Legos all over again! :dangerwillrobinson:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on April 01, 2015, 06:20:51 AM
Oh yeah, plural is the same word right? I'll blame it on being sleepy this morning.  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Outcrier on April 01, 2015, 01:21:19 PM
That generation is my favorite too, especially Crystal.

As for the remakes, never played them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (number 2)
Post by: Zantera on April 01, 2015, 05:33:32 PM
This current theme is giving me eye cancer, but I promised an update, so I will just have to endure.  :lol
Here we go.. NUMBAH TWO:

2. The Wolf Among Us (PC) (2013)
(https://download.gamezone.com/uploads/image/data/1155181/The_Wolf_Among_Us_Bigby.JPG)

When I posted The Walking Dead earlier, I brought up my love for Telltale, which is probably my favorite company at the moment for making awesome games. As much as I love The Walking Dead, Telltale have put out one title that is even better, and that is The Wolf Among Us. It is a neo-noir/fantasy masterpiece that combines great characters, an interesting plot with a really cool world. Like with The Walking Dead, I don't really want to give too much away, but I will try to describe the setting and plot of the game. Basically it takes place in Manhattan sometime in the 80's (I forgot the exact year), and in the city there is a place called Fabletown, essentially a community of characters from fables and stories. Yes, they are real! You play Bigsby, who is the big bad wolf, and also the sheriff responsible for this community, and trying to hide it from the rest of the world. Some other characters that appear includes Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and Bloody Mary, just to give you an idea of what kind of characters you will encounter. Some of these characters have no problems blending into the human society due to their human look, like Snow White or Beauty for example. But that's just a small part, and others that are creatures or monsters use something called a glamour to disguise themselves as humans. I won't go too much into the rest, but during one regular night of being out on the town, a woman is murdered, and your job is to find out who did it.

This game blew my mind, and even though the fantasy concept might be a turn off to some people, it just totally worked for me. Something like The Walking Dead is easier to get into on a story level, but I feel like this game was even better. Bigsby is an amazing protagonist. He's a tortured soul who sometimes reminds me of Max Payne, a cynical douchebag who makes his own rules and has little to no friends. But as you play him and as you encounter these events and people, his character really changes. He's not a one note character, and he is given plenty of depth over the 5 episodes you can play. Bigsby has a bad reputation among most fables, because he is both a sheriff who upholds the rules and laws, but he is also the big bad wolf, and for those of you who know your fables, that's not a very pleasant character. He is human as standard, but as you come across enemies and pain, the game also has a lot of tension to it. Can you maintain the big bad wolf within you, or simply give into temptation? One thing that I completely loved was that the game does a good job of teasing you what Bigsby is dealing with, and what kind of horror he tries his best to keep locked up inside. You see flashes of his rage and semi-transformations, but they really make you wait for it. And once you finally get to see the big bad wolf in his purest form, it is glorious, and I was nerdgasming like crazy. It's a really well written crime story with a neo-noir and fantasy setting, and what makes it so awesome is how it ramps up. It starts off as any normal crime that you are trying to solve, but as you get further into the episodes and reach the end, hell just rains down. The definition of a slow burn. Everything comes to an epic conclusion, and the game has some of my favorite "scenes" in any game ever. The choices you make determine if you can redeem yourself and get characters to see a different side of you, or if the "dark side" is just too tempting.

I really hope this gets a season 2, because I would want it more than anything.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Sacul on April 01, 2015, 08:27:11 PM
I always wanted to play this one, but now it's tempting me too much. The fantasy elements sound right up my alley. This list deserves more love :heart .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Zantera on April 02, 2015, 02:13:03 AM
I hope you get a chance to play it. :)
And here it is, without dragging it out.. number 1:

1. Portal 2 (PC) (2011)
(https://videogamewriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/New-Portal-2-Screenshots-Feature-Stunning-Science-Laboratory-and-Companion-Cubes.jpg)

Portal 2 is a first person puzzle/platform game, and the follow-up to Portal. As much as people rave over some of Valve's other franchises like Half-Life or Left 4 Dead (hey, I love those too), Portal is IMO their finest achievement, with Portal 2 being the crown jewel on their trophy shelf. The premise of Portal 2 is simple enough. You wake up at a surprisingly empty facility and you soon get control over a portal gun. You move through this facility with the portal gun being your only help, and you navigate through different rooms that works as puzzles. The portal gun can shoot out two portals, when you enter one, you exit the other. To unlock the door or even reach it, you need to use some clever tactics and utilize the portals. Like the picture I included above, a laser going into one portal and out the other can help with opening a door. Or jumping down from a high point into a portal, and out through a portal on a wall can send you flying thanks to the velocity involved. There's tons of challenging puzzles to get through, and some even come with enemies in the form of small turrets that shoot at you. But unlike Half-Life where the combat is a necessary element and one that is in the forefront of the game, in Portal 2 it is all about puzzle solving and figuring out how to get to the exit door and how to get it to open. And while you're doing this, you're slowly figuring out the purpose of the facility, what is going on and you're not alone. You're accompanied by a small robot called Wheatley, and it makes the journey through the story feel less lonely. There are a few parts where you are separated from him, and those moments feel truly haunting as you're actually on your own.

What makes the game awesome apart from the inventive puzzles and the fun mechanic of the portal gun? The voice acting. Portal 2 has three of the best voice acted characters ever, with GLaDOS returning from the first Portal game. She is the main antagonist of the first game, a psychopathic robot who wants to kill you through hard puzzles, and she has a glorious return in Portal 2. Wheatley (voiced by Stephen Merchant), who I already mentioned is a fun side-kick with some hilarious British comedy, and he makes for one of the best companions in any game that I've played. But the one I love the most is JK Simmons, who does the voice of Cave Johnson, the guy who created the company of the facility. I swear he has some of the funniest quotes I've heard in any game. He appears as a pre-recorded voice that navigates you through a set of puzzles, and he is just the best. It's so well written that you want to navigate further and learn more about his character and his fate, and the further you progress the more you learn about him, as well as the company and what's going on. For those who have played Portal (the original game), some of these things are already known to you by the start of this game. But, the reason I love P2 more than the original is that it has so much more depth, and as well as having GLaDOS returning, it also has the awesome voice work of Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons, as well as a longer and more interesting story, more creative ideas with puzzles and just harder game mechanics.

Portal 2 also comes with a pretty cool multiplayer campaign, which I also recommend.
Anyhow, thanks for tuning in!  :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Lynxo on April 02, 2015, 02:39:47 AM
Oh God, the answer box is frigging pink! Anyway...

I got Orange Box and Portal 2 at the same time. Portal was an amazing game and I just forgot about the second one. I'm gonna have to play it sometime. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 02, 2015, 06:24:18 AM
I need to play Portal 2, I have it but I just never took the time to play it. I did play the first one and had a great time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Bolsters on April 02, 2015, 06:29:05 AM
I haven't really been responding to your posts much at all, but this was a good list. Some stuff I haven't played or even heard of, but plenty of old favourites and modern classics aswell. Can't complain about Portal 2 featuring that high either. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Scorpion on April 02, 2015, 09:06:05 AM
We share a number one! :hifive: Awesome game. I should replay it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Outcrier on April 02, 2015, 11:55:23 AM
I'm more a Half-Life guy myself but the Portal franchise is great too, especially this one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Sacul on April 02, 2015, 12:15:22 PM
Can't complain with this :hefdaddy .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Onno on April 03, 2015, 03:54:44 AM
Portal 1 and Portal 2 are two games I happily bought just to play the single player campaigns. Love them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Crow on April 03, 2015, 09:23:37 AM
i'm the weird one who didn't like TWAU as much as TWDS1 but they're both good so that's fine  :lol
And yeah Portal 2 isn't a game to complain about really, it's great
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. All hail Zantera and his list! (pg. 32)
Post by: Lucien on April 03, 2015, 10:04:43 AM
Portal 1 and Portal 2 are two games I happily bought just to play the single player campaigns. Love them.

Neither of those games really focus on the multiplayer aspects anyways, though
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 03, 2015, 06:10:12 PM
Ok, after delaying this endessly, I'm finally ready to start my list! This is how it's gonna work: I'm gonna start with an honorable mention, the first of out five, and will include one before every tier - one before #20, #10, #5, and #1. These will be normally in the morning (GMT -3), and a normal double update in the evening. Enough talk - let's-a go!

Honorable mention


30
Pokemon Stadium
2000

(https://oi57.tinypic.com/23qpw0.jpg)
I only had 5 games on my N64 (they were fucking expensive here), and this is easily my least favourite. Is it bad, then? Hell no, that's why it's on a honorable mention. I have a special place in my soul for Pokemon. Enjoyed the TV series as a kid, but the games... Those were on another level. This was my first encounter with the Pokemon franchise, and it was love at first play. Building your team, playing tournaments. Playing against friends. Watching your Pokemon make the attacks. It was mind-blowing as a child. It just seemed way realist, or at least, totally immersive. I had zero ideas about types and weaknesses/strenghts, so I lost more battles than won, but... there was something seductive, attracting me to keep playing.
I have no memories of winning it, or reaching to the finals of a championship, but it didn't matter. I haven't played in ages, but I'm sure I'd still have lots of fun with it. Just if my old N64 still worked :'( .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 03, 2015, 06:42:29 PM
Never owned Pokemon stadium but I did play it. It seemed underwhelming but I can't wait to read the rest of your list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 04, 2015, 01:35:29 PM
25
Crash Team Racing
1999

(https://i61.tinypic.com/2n04sq9.jpg)

If Sonic was Sega's answer to Mario, then Crash Bandicoot was Playstation's. Not only Mario Kart was a hell of a game, but this actually managed to rival it. It's essentially the same as the Mario - there's characters from the series, you throw bombs, use nitro, and other fun crap. It had lots of maps and a great multiplayer. And I *think* it had a kind of campaign, a single-player mode, right? Something that with each race you won, you unlocked doors to new maps and races.

And I should have hated it for being almost a rip-off. Somehow, I loved it.

My N64 was dead at the moment (RIP), but I had a PS1 so what the hell. I guess I was too young to care, or just took it as a replacement for my lovely Mario Kart, but I played it hours upon hours. I don't know what else to say, rather than it was, and still is a ridiculously fun game. One of my fav from my childhood.


24
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2009

(https://i57.tinypic.com/ojuh4.jpg)

I remember it.

Modern Warfare was a total hit, both in sales and as a game. The intense campaign. The massive multiplayer. The gameplay. It had it all a great FPS could have - now it's regarded as a landmark of the genre.

And then... the announcement of a sequel.

The hype rising - above the clouds. Rumours, trailers, short gameplays at cons. Short campaign? Has the multiplayer be great to make up for it. No, it won't be better than the original. I hope it's as good as the previous one. Wasn't this supposed to be a one-time spin-off? Unnecesarry sequels!
The internet was boiling. The preorders went crazy. The media started releasing hype-rising reviews. Praises. Yes, it's as good as the first one. No, it's even better! Game of the Year, everyone. The first Russian leaks, barely playable. And more, driving the internet nuts. Until it was sale day.

And then, it exploded.

People crowded the shops. The stores run out stock. In 24 hours, it had sold 4.2 million copies just in the US and the UK. Five days, and 8 million were playing it online. And it had earned revenue figures of $550 million worldwide. People loved it. It was universally acclaimed, not only as the best game of the year, but as among the top FPS ever. The story was original and deep, the mini-missions were smart, and you couldn't get enough of the multiplayer - few games today can match that online experience.

But then came the controversy.

There is a certain scene where you play as an ultranationalist Russian terrorist at the national airport. And you must kill people. Innocent people. Civilians. This scene was censored in several countries, and was quite polemic, specially in Russia, since the country didn't have an age-tag system for games. But the developers were smart enough to make this part optional, and skipping it wouldn't make you lose any trophies or achievements. Even though, this kind of reinforced the anti-violent-games movements.
This, along with the ridiculous success of the game, were enough to collapse the internet - and part of the world.

I remember it all. Enough said.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Randaran on April 04, 2015, 03:36:54 PM
I never played the racing title, but I seem to be one of the few who despises MW2's multiplayer. Spec Ops was by far the best part of the game. This list is already off to a contraversial start.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: orcus116 on April 04, 2015, 03:40:04 PM
I never did get the appeal of the later COD multiplayer although I loved the original COD multiplayer on PC.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Scorpion on April 04, 2015, 05:56:41 PM
I seem to be one of the few people in the world that thinks that, but to me, the best CoD will be Modern Warfare, though that might just be because that's what we always played at boarding school.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Zantera on April 05, 2015, 02:36:08 AM
Crash Team Racing is a good one. :) I almost put one of the Crash games on my list, but ended up cutting it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Chino on April 05, 2015, 05:32:48 AM
I seem to be one of the few people in the world that thinks that, but to me, the best CoD will be Modern Warfare, though that might just be because that's what we always played at boarding school.

That was the last good COD
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Randaran on April 05, 2015, 07:12:15 AM
I seem to be one of the few people in the world that thinks that, but to me, the best CoD will be Modern Warfare, though that might just be because that's what we always played at boarding school.

That was the last good COD

I liked the three Treyarch titles (World at War and the Black Ops duo), but that is mainly due to my ongoing Zombies addiction. The other post-CoD4 games range from decent to terrible.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Scorpion on April 05, 2015, 08:12:38 AM
In addition to having my favourite multiplayer, CoD 4 also has one of my favourite ever FPS missions, when you play as Captain Price.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 05, 2015, 10:05:34 AM
23
Mario Kart 64
1996

(https://i62.tinypic.com/14ybic5.jpg)

8 characters from the series. 4 cups, 4 maps. 4 modes. Lots of fun. You know the rest.

Although I missed the Gamecube, and got something else instead, I'm always gonna be a Nintendo gamer (after a glorious-PC-master-race gamer, of course). My love started when I received a N64 when I was 4-5 years old. Just 5 games (damn third-world country), but they were enough to blow my little brain. I played thoroughly each of them, and despite spending almost  afternoons with the controller on my hands (that shit was huge), there was always something new. Or at least, I never got bored of them.

I guess, because I have no memories of it, that I cried like a baby when it stopped working. And for a time, I was (almost) a normal kid who played with his friends to non-virtual games.

But it wouldn't last for much time.


22
REmake
2002

(https://i60.tinypic.com/vx13f5.jpg)

I was never a fan of horror games. And still are. But years ago, I gave Resident Evil a chance with RE4. And let's just say that it made me want to play the whole series. From the beginning, of course.

But the first RE on PS1 was... ugly. Crappy acting voice. Awful live-action cutscenes. The tanks controls, more like elephant controls. The mansion felt empty, with little decoration. And how boring was the OST.

But I had heard good things of the Remake, and my PC was powerful enough (just enough), to run it on an emulator. And after some hours of tweaking, updating drivers and DirectX, finding a good ROM in Spanish, blah blah blah, it was the time. It started slow, and some parts with heavy ilumination made Jill look like she was walking on a pool.

But it worked. Oh, it fucking worked. I'd spend entire afternoons going from one extreme of the mansion to another, trying to figure out what to do. And getting killed by zombies. It took me some weeks of getting frustrated and not knowing what to do  (and looking for answers on walkthroughs) to finally beat it.

I couldn't believe it. Not that I never expected to finish it, but was rather surprised by another thing. How a Campcom team turned a crappy game into a fucking masterpiece. Even when I replayed it on the Wii port, it still felt magic. A kind of terrifying magic, actually. But still. Magic.

The level design, which makes the player go from one extreme of the mansion to the other after finding a small object or a key, to enter a new room. The limited ammo and ink. Save now, or maybe later? Kill the zombie, or run? It'd have seemed easier to just beat the bastard. But they added something brilliant. If you killed the zombie, when you returned to the room after a long while, it would come alive again, but stronger and faster. The only way to avoid this was either by blowing its head, or burning the corpse. And guess what? There's not enough gasoline to burn all the zombies in the game.

The bosses, the amazing variety of enemies, the huge map. Bonus and extra missions that could get you more ammo or even a Magnum. How Jill's inventory is larger than Chris', but he's the strongest. How both of them were balanced. How the team added more puzzles, and the great Lisa subplot. It is all, from a game design point of view, superb. Brilliant. This is how to make a remake.

I think the only weak point of the game is the story. It's way deeper than the original, but it still feels a bit clichéd or predictable at times. But I guess it has more to do with me being totally familiar with it.

And even up to this day, this game looks fantastic. A new HD remaster was released earlier this year, and although I haven't tried it yet, go and get it. It brings this fantastic game to the new generation, in full, glorious High Definition.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Outcrier on April 05, 2015, 12:56:37 PM
Love the Crash trilogy and Crash Team Racing is no exception.

I don't think Resident Evil is a crappy game (at least the Director's Cut) but REmake is the definitive version of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 05, 2015, 03:31:53 PM
Never played Crash Racing (because I never owned a PS and don't consider Crash Bandicoot a thing and because of the principle of it being a blatant copy), but Mario Kart 64 is excellent. The only newer one I've played is Double Dash, which is also very good, but I don't think it's as good as the 64 one.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Outcrier on April 06, 2015, 03:02:16 PM
CTR may be a copy, but the single player campaign (getting all gems, relics, tokens...) makes it the better game imo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 06, 2015, 04:52:49 PM
CTR may be a copy, but the single player campaign (getting all gems, relics, tokens...) makes it the better game imo.
I don't recall much of it, but I surely had a blast playing it.

Honorable mention


29
Pepsiman
1999

(https://i61.tinypic.com/2qtlv6h.jpg)

Yeah, this game :lol - the 90s were weird times. It's the most shameless publicity ever put in a game. But you know what? It was a hell of fun.

And fucking difficult >:( .

On each level you must run through a city and reach to the end, where a vending machine waits for you with some (duh) fresh Pepsi. But there's lots of obstacles, like pedestrians, crazy drivers, trucks, construction zones with holes. And the game is on rails, so it ain't that easy - it requires lots of coordination, something that up to this day, I still lack. One of the reasons I prefer singe-player games.

But sometimes it was hilarious to see your character running away from a giant Pepsi can, or chasing a van, which seemed to have an endless supply of IKEA furniture. No wonder they broke so easily.

Never liked the drink, but still played it a lot as a child. But it wasn't years later when I realized how ridiculous this title was. I'd still replay it though, for the old times' sake. Just if my PSOne had never overheated... yeah, I have no luck with consoles :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on April 06, 2015, 08:06:28 PM
What the fuck? I've never heard of this. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 06, 2015, 09:06:07 PM
:lol I've heard of this before, but never played it. That's pretty blatant product placement.

The game can't be that good if it didn't work on you though. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on April 07, 2015, 01:27:04 AM
MW2 was THE online game for me.  I really miss the days where the lobby's were full and not so filth-ridden with filth-ridden hackers.  It will always hold a special place in my arteries. 

CTR was a classic from my childhood too, although I think I only had it on a demo disc :lol parents were too poor to buy it and I was only like 8 haha.  Good times. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Lynxo on April 07, 2015, 01:48:17 AM
 :lol Reminds me of Cool Spot, but even more blatant than that.

EDIT: Just saw a YouTube video of it and I'm even more confused.  :lol :lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKHPxpNZ8_s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKHPxpNZ8_s)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 07, 2015, 06:55:48 PM
21
Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth
1998

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/2/1/4/20214_front.jpg)

And now, a rather obscure game from my beloved N64.

Being an arcade-style game, Star Soldier's objective is achieving a high score. It often makes use of hidden destructible tiles that offer bonus points when shot, but may occasionally power-up the player's ship instead, granting faster attacks, an extended range, or a powerful super-attack. Bonus points will also be awarded for defeating sequences of enemies without receiving damage, or defeating mini bosses before they have a chance to attack.

There are 3 ships to choose at the beginning, and each one has different attacks and strategies. The Green one has the widest range of them all, but each ray isn't too powerful. On the other hand, the Blue one (my fav), has quite a limited scope, but does way more damage. And the default Red, is somewhere in between.

But that doesn't explain why I spent countless hours on it. It looks like a normal space alien-killing game right? So what's so special about it?

The atmosphere.

Few times have I been more immersed in the game I was playing, totally absorbed in it, that time would go pass through me, but I'd stay there, playing. It had the perfect difficulty balance, meaning the first levels were almost a tutorial, whereas the last ones made a Swans album seem pleasant. And my immersion wouldn't have happened without the gorgeous electronic, futuristic OST. I got to relisten it some weeks ago, and I can safely say it's still an amazing work.

As a whole, it made me feel I was in space, riding a spaceship, killing aliens, and defeating the bad bosses. It made me feel mighty, powerful. Even when it was frustrating, I'd go and replay it over and over until I won that level. If a game can encourage me to do so without any help or tutorials, that's sign of a clever design.

Something many modern games lack.


20
Assassin's Creed 2
2009

(https://i57.tinypic.com/i5rg4o.jpg)

Ok, I know the series became way commercial after this one, and now we have at least one game of the series per year, and I stopped playing and following it after Revelations (which ironically raised more questions than the answers it delivered). But it's here where the magic happened.

Confession time: I enjoyed the first AC. Yeah, it was repetitive. And sometimes the story didn't make much sense. But I enjoyed enough to give the second game a chance.

Will never regret of it.

Ubisoft did what few expected: took a crappy game, got rid of the repetitive gameplay but kept the key elements, like the hidden blade and the parkour, and improved it all. And then, took it to the next level with an impressive brand new plot, filled with lovely characters (Ezio ftw), and some historic ones like Leonardo DaVinci. Clever missions, which required you to be silent most of the time, because killing 30 guards ain't easy. New movements, new weapons.

More places. I knew Italy was wonderful, but the level of detail here is not only breathtaking - it's nearly insane for a sequel of a not-so-well received game. You can visit all the famous buildings and cathedral. Climb to the top, find a collectible item, update your map, and jump. Need some money? Hire some whores and distract the guards that are keeping an eye on some treasure. Need help to beat the bad guy? Hire a few mercenaries to help you fight.

There are lots of things to do here, and although it may not have as much freedom as GTA V or Skyrim, it will always be my fav sandbox. Period.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Outcrier on April 07, 2015, 07:40:24 PM
The best AC game ever, Ubisoft doing a sequel in the level of Naughty Dog or Valve  ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Nick on April 07, 2015, 09:52:29 PM
ACII was a great example of a fundamentally sound game making all the right improvements.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Lynxo on April 08, 2015, 03:42:04 AM
ACII was a great example of a fundamentally sound game making all the right improvements.
Exactly. It's too bad the series never made such a drastic change again - it is needed after a million similar games!

EDIT: Never mind, I had forgotten about Black Flag. The fact that it's a bit different really works in its favor.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 09, 2015, 01:15:34 PM
No love for Star Soldier? :sadpanda: Ok, have both a mainstream and an obscure game now :angry:

19
Plants vs Zombies
2009

(https://i58.tinypic.com/2yoztlj.jpg)
I have no idea why I love this game so much. I'm not even a fan of tower defence games. It looks for children. It has zombies. It's easy to play. So what's the deal?

It's brilliant design.

The concept is quite simple: Zombies want your brains, and they will try to reach your house, but you have lots of leaf pokemon plants that can defend you. And at the end of each level, you unlock a new one. Or sometimes there's a minigame. And zombies get tougher and new kinds are introduced through the whole 50 levels.

There are 5 maps with 10 levels each, but they're quite different. Not just in appearance (although 2 of them are "night" versions of the previous "during the day" maps), but in how they're played. You start with your front garden, which has just 5 rows, and it's sunny. It's quite easy to beat, and most of the plants you use throughout the game are found here. And the following level is your front garden (again), at night. What does this mean?

That you can't collect suns that fall from the sky. Each plant costs a certain amount of suns (energy points), and the sunflowers can produce them for you. During the day, suns will fall from above the map quite often, so putting enough sunflowers will provide you with all the energy you need. But at night, that doesn't happen.

The player starts with 50 suns, the cost of a single sunflower, and each sun values 25 units. And sunflowers produce suns every minute or so. So during the night you'd have to wait a lot until you can have enough suns to plant more sunflowers, and then start defending yourself. But the designers were smart, and included both an alternative and a solution.

The alternative is a small golden mushroom, which costs 25, but they only produce small suns, of 15 units each. But let them grow for a few minutes, and they start producing normal suns. The solution is a small puff-shroom which costs absolutely nothing and recharges quite fast, so that's your first line of defence at night.

On the third map, it's day again, but you're on your backyard, where you have a pool! And 6 rows now. It increases the number of plants and the variety (water plants), but it also means more zombies. Including those who swim on dead dolphins. Don't forget that they can eat your plants, but more important is being prepared for the flags. Several times in a level or just at the end of it, a huge wave of zombies appears, so you have to ready to face it.

And the fourth map is on the backyard again, at night... with fog. They are by large the most difficult and frustrating 10 levels you'll play here. Just thinking about it makes want to stop writing :lol . And the fifth map features an interesting part of your house. But I'll let you discover it.

I guess that, in the end, what fascinated me more was how original and addictive it is. And hilarious at times. How is that football players, miners, and even disco-dancing people turned into walking deads? And how is that a traffic cone can instantly raise up the defences of one of them? Seriously. But anyways, I've replayed this one countless times, completed all the minigames and puzzles, bought all the special plants, and even reached around 80 flags on the endless survival. If you haven't played, go and get ASAP. It's available on lots of consoles, and even for Android/iOs. You won't regret.

18
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
2005

(https://www.pontogame.com/portal/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Shinobido__Way_o_498f2582058f3.jpg)
So after my beloved PSOne, what did I do? The natural, obvious thing: bought a PS2 ;D This title is among my very favorites from that console.

You take the role as an amnesiac ninja who just woke up in the middle of the forest, next to a river and an abandoned shack. And a sword, lying next to him. He sees an arrow, lodged on the shack's wall., which has a written letter attached. The writer, apparently, is simply a "concerned bystander", and further identifies the amnesiac man as "Goh", a ninja of the Asuka clan, which was wiped out the previous day. The letter informs Goh that his memories and soul have somehow been stolen and placed within eight mystical stones which were scattered during the initial attack on the Asuka ninjas' village, and then further scattered by people who have located and claimed the stones.

Using your old hut as your headquarters, it's your duty to locate the stones to reclaim Goh's memory and discover the truth regarding the destruction of the Asuka village. But this is such a monumental task, and one single man can't do it. So you have to gain the protection and trust of either one of 3 powerful warlords and charismatic leaders, which will assign you missions to complete.

And here's the great thing. You can either complete them by being completely silent as the ninja you are, or going crazy, killing dozens of them at one time and having another dozen looking for you through the city, or the fortress. Normally, the silent way gained you much more respect from the warlords. Specially when they asked you to do it so.

But sometimes folk won't like your actions, and will send assassins to your hut. Thus, you can set lots of smart traps on your garden, and watch your enemies die. But if they manage to trespass your guard, you have to go and fight them. On this mode you can design your backyard as you please - with a certain limit, of course, but seeing your enemies fall into a trapdoor with spikes on the bottom is priceless.

And of course have the alchemy. Sometimes you might find recipes, of certain poisons that would recover you health, or increase your strength. Or just spare notes about a poor man that was experimenting with an invisibility poison, but before finishing, he added the wrong ingredient and it all exploded, killing him. Gathering mushrooms and herbs on the forest before going to kill a wild bear (an extra mission), or stealing some from a special room in a fortress, are some ways of collecting them.

But the funniest part is a special mode that is unlocked once you finish the game. It enables you to make your own map, and mission! Although the map wasn't too big, I'd spend hours designing fortresses, awkward forests, and giving myself weird tasks, like escorting someone from point A to B, or killing a huge enemies who was surrounded by thousands of solders. It was fun.

It's been years since I last played it, but I'm now amused by the huge amount of content it had, and even 4 different endings (I only managed to see 3 of them :yeahright )! Damn, I should get an used PS2 (guess what happened to mine :lol ) and replay it ASAP, for I think PCSX2 doesn't run it. If you still have one, go and get this shit. Oh, and did I mention it was made by the same company as Tenchu?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 11, 2015, 12:02:04 PM
Nope? No love for PvZ? ::) Another update coming later today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on April 11, 2015, 04:32:48 PM
Did I enjoy PvZ?  Yes.
Would I call it a great game?  Not even close.  Too easy.

I don't think it would make my top 15 iPhone games, 25 if I include iPad games.

I only ever had an NES and a Wii, Goldeneye is the only game from the systems in between I really recall playing.

I'm sure if I made a list, it would be half "Fuck yeah!" games with half "Huh?" game as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 12, 2015, 12:45:05 PM
I'm sure if I made a list, it would be half "Fuck yeah!" games with half "Huh?" game as well.
Well, that's actually how I view my own :lol .


17
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
2002

(https://i60.tinypic.com/11hdl4o.jpg)

Oh gawd. The feels. This is a game for which I have a deep emotional connection, one I'll try to explain the best I can.

Mafia is a sandbox set in the 1930s, between the fall of 1930 through to the end of 1938, during the later part of Prohibition, which ended in 1933. The game is set in the fictional American city of Lost Heaven (somehow based on New York City and Chicago of the same time period). The player takes the role of taxi driver Thomas "Tommy" Angelo, who, while trying to make a living on the streets of Lost Heaven, unexpectedly (and unwillingly) becomes involved in organized crime as a driver for the Salieri crime family, led by Don Ennio Salieri.

Through the events of the game's plot, Tommy begins to rise through the ranks of the Salieri 'family', which is currently battling the competing Morello family, led by the sharply-dressed Don Morello. Eventually becoming disillusioned by his life of crime and violence, Tommy arranges to meet a detective named Norman in order to tell him his story, to be given witness-protection, and to aid the detective in the destruction of the Salieri. The 'Intermezzo' chapters of the game depict Tommy sitting in a cafe with the detective, relating his life story and giving out important pieces of information at the same time.

I will just that the plot gets more and more complex, with lots of near-to-impossible missions (that race... is evil on it's purest form) and interesting twists. Although the combat system is quite regular, the driving is what takes the cake. Beign able to go around the city, crashing civilians, like a GTA, but with cars from the 1930s is pretty *awesome*. And there's even a mode with missions about finding objects, which features lots of ramps, even a giant one - if you managed to run down the city hill at full speed and then jumped, you would be able to fly over the whole river!

But it wasn't the gameplay what I loved. it was the story. The crude, wrenching plot. Damn, I just fell sadder and sadder until the end. When I cried like a kid. Metaphorically, of course. This game showed me how even a good person with noble intentions could have the worst of fates - it hit me so hard. I shall not say more - you should find it out.


16
Bioshock
2007

(https://i57.tinypic.com/jzyv80.png)

A modern classic.  I believe that, like we see games as Super Mario World, Ocarina of Time, and FFVII as landmarks of the videogame industry, in 20 years we'll look back at the Bioshock series and make the same affirmation - the quality of it's three titles is nearly flawless. And although they may just seem as "FPS with some RPG elements and a cool city", it's far deeper than that. It actually uses the FPS as a medium to tell a story. A dark story, with lots of twists and tragic events.

This is where it all begins.

Back in 1960, a plane travels across the ocean, but it ends up crashing. Jack is the only survivor. And near him sees a "watchtower". But it isn't. Inside it there is a bathysphere. It leads underwater. To a city.

Rapture.

Built by the business magnate Andrew Ryan, the city was intended to be an isolated utopia, but the discovery of ADAM, a plasmid which grants superhuman powers, initiated the city's turbulent decline. Jack tries to find a way to escape, fighting through hordes of ADAM-obsessed enemies, and the iconic, deadly Big Daddies, while engaging with the few sane humans that remain and eventually learning of Rapture's past.

The player, as Jack, is able to defeat foes in a number of ways by using weapons, utilizing plasmids that give unique powers and by turning Rapture's own defenses against them. It all leads to a hell lot of fun.

But the core of the game, the story, is... huge. Ken Levine, lead designer and creative genius of Irrational Games, based on the ideas of Objectivism as highlighted by Ayn Rand, set the foundations for a highly-individualist society, which has science and human intelligence at its highest value. But throughout the game, you see how imperfect the society is (well, was), far from Rand's ideals. And the reason behind Big Daddies and Little Sisters is... wow.

The game has 3 possible endings, according to certain moral decisions you have to make during the game. Some are tough, since making some choice will get you an extra that will surely help you defend from the enemies. But is it worth the price? Will you be cold-blooded enough?

It's up to you - would you kindly?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ariich on April 13, 2015, 12:22:02 AM
Well, the picture of Bioshock matches the description of Bioshock, so I'm pretty sure it isn't Shinobido: Way of the Ninja. :lol

It's a very cool game though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: cramx3 on April 13, 2015, 07:03:36 AM
BioShock was such an awesome game (as well as the other two, but the first one is more special). You make a comment about how you think the game will go down as a classic, but one reason why it may be known as a classic in the end was that it was one of the first games for the xbox 360. That game showed off how awesome the 360 was.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 13, 2015, 10:35:36 AM
Well, the picture of Bioshock matches the description of Bioshock, so I'm pretty sure it isn't Shinobido: Way of the Ninja. :lol

How the hell did I forget to change that :rollin

BioShock was such an awesome game (as well as the other two, but the first one is more special). You make a comment about how you think the game will go down as a classic, but one reason why it may be known as a classic in the end was that it was one of the first games for the xbox 360. That game showed off how awesome the 360 was.
Its possible, but I think it will looked more as an example of brilliant storytelling and game design.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Crow on April 13, 2015, 11:27:57 AM
Bioshock had no hard moral choices because the rewards for the good option were always overall greater than the evil option  :lol
But it is a pretty good game, yes, the plot's great and the atmosphere's great as well. I've played Infinite as well and I liked that one too but Rapture is way more interesting than Columbia.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 13, 2015, 11:32:51 AM
Bioshock had no hard moral choices because the rewards for the good option were always overall greater than the evil option  :lol
Well, harvesting them gave you a lot of ADAM rather than just saving them :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Crow on April 13, 2015, 11:36:46 AM
yeah and then like every third one you saved you got this lovely reward package that more than made up the ADAM deficit  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ariich on April 13, 2015, 03:47:34 PM
yeah and then like every third one you saved you got this lovely reward package that more than made up the ADAM deficit  :lol
Yeah you didn't know that at the start though. And if you harvest even one, you don't get the "good" ending. A lot of gamers would immediately start with "more EXP? Kill 'em all then!".
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: SystematicThought on April 13, 2015, 04:09:43 PM
I LOVED Mafia. Such a great game, sadly I played the bad PS2 port, but I still loved it. Great story, underrated really. And yes, the race.... Not so much the race, but the mission before it where you're on the time limit and can't damage the vehicle--that was frustrating..
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Crow on April 13, 2015, 08:25:02 PM
man i must not be "most gamers" then  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on April 13, 2015, 08:26:29 PM
Bioshock is a classic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ariich on April 14, 2015, 12:00:23 AM
man i must not be "most gamers" then  :lol
Hey now, I never said "most".

And yeah I'm the same - I usually instinctively go for the "good" option as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 14, 2015, 05:59:36 AM
I love the BioShock series. I remember hearing about the first two all the time but it was actually Infinite that got me into the series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 14, 2015, 05:29:52 PM
I LOVED Mafia. Such a great game, sadly I played the bad PS2 port, but I still loved it. Great story, underrated really.
:heart

15
Super Mario Galaxy 2
2010

(https://i57.tinypic.com/mwwg80.png)
Although the Wii was a huge success in sales from the very beginning, it needed an iconic game to last in the market. A new Mario seemed the logical conclusion, as SM64 for the N64, and Sunshine for the Gamecube. However, fans from all over the world, were wondering where Mario would go on his next adventure. Being featured in hundreds of games already, it seemed unlikely to find new, unexplored ground for our fav Italian plumber.

And then Super Mario Galaxy was announced.

Mario goes into space! Even the skepticals where eating humble pie when it was released - the franchise had been in a kind of creative impasse. And Galaxy came with brand new gameplay, settings, maps, enemies, and even aesthetics, which is still used up to this day.

Nintendo has always been at the top of level design, and they delivered. Every level, every galaxy, every mission, is unique and creative. A lot of work was put into this title - just look at the crazy amount of content there is.

The mission of the games was pretty obvious: rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But this time they took the "collecting stars" model from SM64, and improved it, separating the words into galaxies, each one with a boss at the end. And with the star bits, if you collected enough, you could feed a little star so it could turn into an extra level.

But this one is the sequel, not the original SMG. When it was announced, there was a bit of controversy, because Nintendo said there was no story to tell here, besides the typical. And in the end, I realised I loved the Mario games for everything but the plot. SMG2 just took an awesome game, and improved it beyond what I could imagine. And although most of the changes were minimal, to be honest, the one that changed it all was the addition of Yoshi. It rocked my world.

Before I forget it, I want to mention the soundtrack. This time, Koji Kondo collaborated with other composers and a small orchestra. And the result is superb. Travelling through the stars, hearing such beautiful pieces, just elevates this game to another level. Its OST is among my top 3 soundtracks, and that's to say a lot since I don't tend to give them a fair listen, or maybe it is they are just boring neoclassical drone tunes.

And for those who prefer the classic games and think this is an easy title, let me tell ya something. Yes, the main "campaign" or the minimal levels required to beat it are easy. But try to get all the 242 stars, and tell me if this is still for little kids.


14
Okami
2006

(https://i62.tinypic.com/2ughzr5.png)
I don't want to start a debate of wether or not videogames are art. I believe they have the potential to be art, but there are very few games I'd even dare to call such thing.

This is one of them.

Okami is set on an fictional feudal Japanese land (called Nippon), and combines several classical myths, legends and folklore to tell the story of how the land was saved from darkness by the Shinto sun goddess, named Amaterasu, who took the form of a white wolf. The legend describes how Shiranui, a pure white wolf, and Nagi, a swordsman, together fought the eight-headed demon Orochi to save Kamiki Village and the maiden Nami, Nagi's beloved. Shiranui and Nagi are unable to defeat Orochi, so they seal the demon away.

In the game's present, someone, breaks Orochi's seal due to the fact that he does not believe in the legend and wants to prove it false; Orochi escapes and curses the lands, sapping the life from every living being. Sakuya, the wood sprite and guardian of Kamiki Village, calls forth Amaterasu, the sun goddess, known to the villagers as the reincarnation of the white wolf Shiranui, and pleads for her to remove the curse that covers the land. Accompanied by the artist Issun (an inch-high creature known as a Poncle), Amaterasu has to restore the land to its former beauty.

And to do so, the player has a unique feature - the Celestial Brush. It's a God's power which, by drawing on a Celestial Canvas, can use some of nature's powers, such as making the sun shine during the night, or resurrecting a dead plant. Along the journey, you meet another gods, who will grant you these powers (Techniques), while also telling you about the background story - and there's a lot more than what it can seem at first.

And this OST might be on my top 3 too - I love Japanese folk, and this soundtrack is a blessing to the ears. Flutes everywhere :heart . Even if you're not planning to play this game, go and listen it. Now. I played it on Wii some years ago, and recently replayed it on the PS3 HD port. And it's the definitive version - this game looks *so* good on a big, High-Definition screen. Go and get it.

I wished to tell more, but you can only play it once for the first time. This is a game that must be experienced.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on April 14, 2015, 05:32:37 PM
Played a good bit of the first Galaxy, but hear the 2nd one is way better.

Okami, never played, but it has been on my list for a while now.

Nice! :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Crow on April 14, 2015, 07:38:35 PM
Okami is a masterpiece. 'nuff said.
Both Galaxy games are great though I remember the second less than the first.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Lucien on April 14, 2015, 08:19:28 PM
Oh look, it's the best PS2 game, Okami  :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Outcrier on April 14, 2015, 08:58:48 PM
Okami, one of my top 25 games too, fantastic visual style :tup

I loved playing Mario 64 (my first 3D Mario game) earlier this year so i have a feeling i'm gonna love the Galaxy games too when i finally try them (and not forgetting Sunshine first).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: adace on April 14, 2015, 09:45:50 PM
Wow, didn't even know there was an HD version of one of my all time favorite games! If I ever get a PS3 this'll be right at the top of my list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Dimitrius on April 14, 2015, 09:46:56 PM
I still remember how in awe I was the first time I descended into Rapture!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 15, 2015, 06:42:40 AM
My girlfriend has a wii, I should hook it up and try Super Mario out. With the exception of Mario 64 I have never played a Mario game outside of the NES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: cramx3 on April 15, 2015, 06:53:04 AM
My girlfriend has a wii, I should hook it up and try Super Mario out. With the exception of Mario 64 I have never played a Mario game outside of the NES.

Same for me.  My brothers friend left his Wii U at my house (as a permanent place to keep it), maybe I should start playing it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: wizard of Thought on April 15, 2015, 11:28:06 AM
2 really great games here. I played every little bit out of SMG2, even the 242nd star. Also loved Okami for this really beautiful graphics mainly, but the game itself was top-class too.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Randaran on April 15, 2015, 01:15:21 PM
Hmm...I though that, aside from that bullshit final star, the entirety of Galaxy 2 was fairly easy. Though that does not take away from it, as it and the first Galaxy are tied for my favorite Mario game.

I now have an excuse to share this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARmBQ4iXtJk).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 18, 2015, 03:46:49 PM
Sorry people for delaying this :blush I haven't been feeling well these days, emotionally, but that shouldn't stop me from finishing the list. So, here we go. The last update before entering the top 10. Now's when shit gets real.




13
Pokemon Fire Red
2004

(https://img.hbdia.com/2014/11/firered.jpg)

What can I say? I love Pokemon. Started with the third gen and played the hell out of it. And tried the older games, but those b&w graphics didn't help me, and I was quickly put off. Turned out, Nintendo made a remake of the first two titles for GBA, and got those.

A new love was born for each one that had died.

One of the things I love about the Pokemon games is how big they are, and the crazy amount of replayability - just trying to catch all the Pokemon available is a titanic effort. But first, you have to get through a gigantic map, get all the 8 medals, and fight against the League leaders. And from there, depending on the game, you could just try to get 'em all, or go to a special place full of near-to-impossible rivals. It's a lot of fun.

Although it has little to do with this title, I wanna say the first 3 generations of Pokemon are the best, in terms of design. Yes, they have some ugly creatures, but they are in a smaller proportion compared with the last generations. There are some great designs on the new games (like the legendaries on the 4th gen, or Talonflame, Pangoro, and Ylveltal from X&Y ), but ultimately, I feel like they're more based on recycled ideas rather than inspired models.

I still have to play gen 4 though - Pearl, Diamond, or Platinum? Or maybe HG & SS?


12
The Missadventures of Tron Bonne
2000

(https://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1245529441-00.jpg)
I love the MegaMan Legends series. It's almost a spin-off of the franchise, featuring a whole new world, characters, and gameplay. Some fans of the classic titles were a bit confused with these games. But I loved them.

Although not technically speaking, I consider it a trilogy, with this one being a weird spin-off based on the villains from the two other games and their missions to get money and eventually find the Mother Lode: the biggest treasure ever - a legend that both diggers and pirates have believed for decades, but hasn't been found.

And because the character *are* pirates, the missions consist on attacking cities and assaulting banks, digging old ruins full of enemies, or stealing containers from harbours in a puzzle gameplay (?). But there's also a backstory.

The Bonne family has discovered some ruins in the desert that hide a big treasure. But they're surprised to see not a guardian robot, but one of their "allies" (if such thing exits among pirates, huh). And Mr Teasel Bonne loses the fight, and it's kidnapped. So it's Tron's duty, his sister, to rescue him. The kidnappers ask for a big reward though, and then it's when Tron has to get the money.

This is one of the funniest games I've ever played - just watch the adorable Servbots, and their stupid actions while wearing this big smile all the time. The humour, the ironic situations, beating cows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFP6Gl4ciLM) and cops alike - nobody should *ever* get bored playing this title.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Zantera on April 19, 2015, 06:17:08 AM
I think what makes the first two gens of Pokemon so great to me, was that most (if not all) Pokemon looked unique and awesome. That feeling started to dip a bit with Gen 3 (which still had some cool Pokemon), and by the time we got to Gen 4 and then Gen 5, it's like 1 out of 10 Pokemon looked good, rather than 9 out of 10 with the first gens.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on April 19, 2015, 07:54:03 AM
^Disagreed.

Every generation had it's cool and not-so-cool Pokemon. In particular, people like to overlook with nostalgia-lens how silly and uncreative some of the first gen Pokemon were in retrospect, and I love the first gen to death. Honestly, in terms of designs, the second gen probably had some of the most uninspired.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Crow on April 19, 2015, 06:26:16 PM
i think the only generation where i'm overall more positive than negative to the designs is gen 3 tbh, and that gen still has some pretty cruddy ones.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Zantera on April 20, 2015, 05:54:45 AM
^Disagreed.

Every generation had it's cool and not-so-cool Pokemon. In particular, people like to overlook with nostalgia-lens how silly and uncreative some of the first gen Pokemon were in retrospect, and I love the first gen to death. Honestly, in terms of designs, the second gen probably had some of the most uninspired.

I think for me, most of it was the fact that the first two gens still felt kinda original. Sure, designs like Rattata or Pidgey weren't exactly unique, it was basically "oh look its a bird" or "look its a rat", but by the time the latter Gens arrived, it felt like they started running out of ideas. Like, "oh.. another normal type bird pokemon".
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Chino on April 20, 2015, 06:19:07 AM
^Disagreed.

Every generation had it's cool and not-so-cool Pokemon. In particular, people like to overlook with nostalgia-lens how silly and uncreative some of the first gen Pokemon were in retrospect, and I love the first gen to death. Honestly, in terms of designs, the second gen probably had some of the most uninspired.

Voltorb, Pidget, Ekans, Staryu, etc..
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on April 20, 2015, 12:54:20 PM
^Disagreed.

Every generation had it's cool and not-so-cool Pokemon. In particular, people like to overlook with nostalgia-lens how silly and uncreative some of the first gen Pokemon were in retrospect, and I love the first gen to death. Honestly, in terms of designs, the second gen probably had some of the most uninspired.

I think for me, most of it was the fact that the first two gens still felt kinda original. Sure, designs like Rattata or Pidgey weren't exactly unique, it was basically "oh look its a bird" or "look its a rat", but by the time the latter Gens arrived, it felt like they started running out of ideas. Like, "oh.. another normal type bird pokemon".

Honestly, every gen has had its Pokemon that felt like they're running out of ideas.

Gen 1: Dugtrio is literally just three Digletts with frowny-faces. Weezing is a larger Koffing with a conjoined twin. Muk is just a larger Grimer. Magenton is just three Magnemites put together.

I feel like the designs felt more "original" simply because they were the first ones. I could totally see Gen 1 getting a lot more shit if its designs were from a later gen.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 21, 2015, 09:35:14 PM
Honorable mention


28
Mario Party 64
1999

(https://i62.tinypic.com/2lsuws5.jpg)
Mario is everywhere. It wasn't enough to be gaming's most iconic character - he had to appear in half of Nintendo's catalogue, spanning more than 100 games and guest spots.

"What about a board game, featuring Mario and other characters?" a directive must have told Miyamoto. "Neh, it wouldn't work", he surely replied, and continued: "But... what if we make it a video game, and include some silly minigames?". The directive thought it for a while, and looked at him in the face, with a smile blossoming on his lips, replied: "That's why you're our best designer". "Of course I am". And Shigeru got out of the room like a boss - as always.

On a real note, Mario Party is about gathering lots of points during a set amount of rounds (10 or so), and the one with more points, well, wins (don't you say). But on each player's turn -because this game is boring as hell on single mode- a die is rolled, and the character moves as spaces as the dice indicates. Some spaces have nothing, but some, can trigger special minigames.

These little games are the core of Mario Party. With 56 different ones, you have to either collect as many coins as you can, or get rid of the other players off tan unstable platform, or win a race, or avoid lava, among some of the less-crazy stuff. Seriously, there's a lot of fun here, both for young and adults.

With more than sequels, I can only say the series has just improved and expanded itself with each release. But I'll love the first one more because it's the only one I really owned.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 21, 2015, 10:06:20 PM
I'm sure this game could have ranked higher if it didn't destroy all of your controllers. :P :lol

Like many of the N64's first-party games, this game is a ton of fun when you've got 3 or 4 people, and the beauty of it is that it's so simple to learn that nobody needs to have played in advance to be competitive.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Bolsters on April 21, 2015, 10:31:46 PM
I actually think the games got worse as they went on. 2 was a disappointment because most of the new minigames sucked and they reused too many from the first game. I remember liking 3 a lot more but don't remember it much to be honest. 4 was dreadfully boring and 5 wasn't much better, especially the boards. That was the last one I played but looking at the newer ones you don't even move your own character around the board anymore, everyone is in some sort of vehicle that goes around the board and that just seems ridiculous to me. I also liked that in the first game was a little more punishing, like you would actually take coins from your opponents in 2v2 and 3v1 minigames, which they got rid of starting with the second game.

Still this is a really good vidya game and if I were to ever make a list (I won't), it would probably be an honorable mention for me aswell.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 21, 2015, 10:36:26 PM
I've never played any of the later ones properly except for the DS one, which is ok with the touch screen gimmick, but it's not comparable to playing a game with other people.

And stealing coins from your opponents was one of the greatest joys in the game! :lol Grab bag was a battle of the button bashing, and I was unbeatable at that.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Bolsters on April 21, 2015, 10:50:24 PM
Games like that were something they did really well in the first game. The concept and execution of them is dead simple, but they are so much fun. Bumper Ball doesn't even use any buttons.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Chino on April 22, 2015, 09:03:16 AM
As long as you had the time to play it, I think Mario Party was the best multiplayer game on N64.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 22, 2015, 09:05:50 AM
Mario Party is such a great game, so many controllers ruined as well as the palm of my hand.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Chino on April 22, 2015, 12:55:56 PM
Mario Party is such a great game, so many controllers ruined as well as the palm of my hand.

I used to wear a baseball glove when I played  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 22, 2015, 07:16:06 PM
lol I wish I thought of that, I eventually developed a callus :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 22, 2015, 08:12:22 PM
That's because the minigames were intended to use the thumb, and keep your hand clean :P .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 22, 2015, 08:31:58 PM
That's because the minigames were intended to use the thumb, and keep your hand clean :P .

Yeah, but nobody wins it like that! :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Bolsters on April 22, 2015, 09:54:55 PM
I can't remember if it was 56 or 58 spins I used to be able to get on that wind-up Shy Guy in the store, and I doubt that would have been even remotely possible using my thumb.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on April 24, 2015, 01:54:57 PM
I was thinking of doing one update per game on the top 10, but I want to finish this soon so double update till the top 3.


11
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2007

(https://i60.tinypic.com/34rf4n7.jpg)

Best First Person Shooter. Ever.

You know, it was a risky move. Infinity Ward had made some amazing WW games, and was having a healthy competition with Medal of Honor as which war game was better. But I guess, in modern times, and with the rising popularity of CS, the studio thought a game about modern warfare was a potential option. Just as a spin-off - they wouldn't want to disappoint their fanbase.

The story takes place in the year 2011, when a radical leader has executed the president of an unnamed country in the Middle East, and an ultranationalist movement starts a civil war in Russia. The conflicts are seen from the perspectives of a U.S. Force Reconnaissance Marine and a British SAS commando, and are set in various place, such as the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine. And there's even a mission with the legendary Captain Price.

The game was acclaimed on its release, and everyone went crazy with its modern setting, plot and amazing gameplay. And fun multiplayer. But some people criticized the fact that it had little innovation for the FPS genre. And I agree. Does that make the game worse? Hell no. I think it is the peak of the genre, the best it can offer. This is how to make a FPS. After this one, the series went nuts with more modern shooters, which I think are mostly boring or have nothing new to appeal me. But I'll always love this one, for the all the times I replayed it, over and over.


10
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
2005

(https://i57.tinypic.com/2nrk31e.jpg)

I love Japanese culture, games, music, and even some of its history. And its games. This is actually the one that started my love for the Sun rising country. And my fav PS2 title.

The story follows the adventures of Minamoto Yoshitsune as he descends from his mountain retreat and eventually embraces a quest to defeat the Taira clan, thereby avenging his father. Early in his journey, he meets the Tamayori clan who are the guardians of the Amahagane – stones of power that allow select individuals to release magical powers known as kamui.

Yoshitsune is your archetypical fast and agile warrior, making up in speed what he lacks in strength. He is able to jump on small platforms (which, if jumped on by Benkei, would collapse). He wields two swords, and can also use his sword to 'hang' onto a ledge before jumping again, allowing him a double jump of sorts.

Benkei is the more powerful but slower character, with greater range than Yoshitsune. He uses a large war club, which can also be used to destroy certain structures and heavy doors in the game.

There are two ways to improve your character: By levelling up normally through defeating foes, or by using Essences of Amahagane to level up certain stats. Both methods are independent of each other. Normal experience can be gained by defeating enemies - the more enemies defeated in a row and the more strikes scored, the higher the experience. Benkei and Yoshitsune share this experience total. Amahagane experience is increased by using three Essences of Amahagane to increase a stat (either health, attack, or defense). This level is independent for both characters.

Yoshitsune and Benkei both have a number of kamui bars under their health bar. The number of kamui bars a character has depends on the number of Amahagane collected in the game. While in battle, the character's kamui bar will build up and the player can release this stored power for devastating attacks which slowly evolve as the story progresses. While in this state, time slows down allowing the player to enter what is essentially a "critical counter hit" mode where each correctly timed button press will defeat a standard foe with relative ease. A player can also use kamui while already in kamui mode. This enhanced kamui causes enemies to move even slower than a single kamui.

All in all, this is terribly addictive - killing hoards of enemies, searching for small items that combined can buy you a special weapon. Gee, it's not even that long if you know what to do. I'd normally beat it and replay it again like 3 or 4 times in a row in a single day. Crazy. There's even a sequel for PS3 (which started the "giant crab enemy" meme :lol) which I should totally play, even if the reviews say it's awful. Aw, just for the ol' times sake.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Chino on April 24, 2015, 01:56:40 PM
COD 4MW was as close as you could get to a perfect FPS.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Scorpion on April 24, 2015, 02:14:17 PM
COD 4MW was as close as you could get to a perfect FPS.

Amen. The time I put into that one... I think I still have the muscle memory to complete the epilogue on Veteran.

Also, the multiplayer is glorious. The moment when I first got a helicopter was awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. What the hell kind of name is Soap?
Post by: orcus116 on April 25, 2015, 03:17:27 PM
I've never actually played MW though that'd probably be the one I'd try of the later COD if I ever get around to it. Not a big fan of FPS on dual analog sticks though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals
Post by: Sacul on April 28, 2015, 07:13:05 PM
Don't worry people, I swear I'm gonna finish this... soon  :lol (insert RR emoticon here)



9
Portal 2
2011

(https://i61.tinypic.com/f0dbhd.jpg)

Can you believe this game is four years old now? I remember getting pretty hyped when Gabe Newell announced its released on the 2010 E3 - I loved the first one, so I was worried they would fuck it up. But playing it, all my fears disappeared.

100 years after Portal, Wheatley, a personality module awakens Chell so she can go through tests. But Aperture Sciences is pretty much in an advanced state of abandonment, with nature slowly claiming its place. And they both accidentally reactivate GLaDOS, who recognises her. And as a revenge for her murder, our beloved mute character is forced to do tests for all eternity. But Wheatley has a plan to scape...

I won't tell more of the story, but know it will make you laugh, cry, and yell like duck. At the same time for moments. I have no words for explaining how this is a serious contender for best sequel ever. I've never been a fan of thins kind of "problem-solving" games, but this ain't a normal title - it just uses the puzzles as an excuse for telling one of the most satirical, distorted stories you'll find in a videogame.

But the puzzles aren't bad at all. You have to use every neuron of your brain to solve them - some are pretty obvious, but there are some which makes you experiment with all the possibilities the portals can offer, and exploit them. Prepare to use your coordination.

And a special mention to the voice acting. Stephen Merchant (Wheatley), J. K. Simmons (Cave Johnson), and Ellen McLain (GLaDOS) deserve a medal for their work, and a nomination for Best Acting On Video Games ever, because the dialogues of these 3 characters are what truly bring Portal 2 to life, and they totally nailed it.

And portals are the best weapon. Ever.


8
BioShock Infinite
2013

(https://i57.tinypic.com/hur1nd.jpg)

As of late, I've been really fascinated by how videogames and stories work together. Some titles have these totally pretentious, nonsensical plots (Fahrenheit); some, like GTA or COD, have a story, but more as an excuse for the gameplay; there are video games that are just about the playability, like most Mario and Sonic titles. But there's a small group which put characters, setting, worldbuilding, and plot as a priority. Most of them are cult games in the gaming community, but are rarely acknowledged outside the more hardcore or passionate circles.

I believe that, along with the Final Fantasy series, the Bioshock trilogy is one of those rare popular
yet totally amazing gems.

Being the final title in a brilliant trilogy, Infinite actually has little and nothing to do with the previous games - some have (mockingly) said that the only thing in common is the title. Fuck these people for complaining about such a minimal detail when the game is superb. And it shares some things, actually: superhuman powers and a city ruled by a tyrant leader. But I'll give them that the plot is totally separated - in fact, it all happens some decades before BioShock 1 and 2.

Set in 1912, former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, has owed debts to the wrong people, and the only way to discharge it is being sent to the floating air city of Columbia to rescue a young woman, Elizabeth, who has been held captive there for most of her life. But they won't let her leave, for she has some supernatural powers that may serve the city's purposes. Who she really is, what's behind the Prophet, and what the hell is going on is just a part of a terribly complex and deep plot.

It's so complex that is ending has driven the internet community nuts with endless theories - although I replayed it 3 times just to understand the story, the ending is still a mystery that Ken Levine might ever reveal. But you know what? To leave an ambiguous final, it was a brilliant move. Not only the game sold 6 million copies, but making players debate about it all over the web just gave it more exposure, and showed that, despite some statistics about just a third of gamers actually finishing their games (in story-driven titles), there were still a lot of people who actually cared about the ending.

Levine is probably my fav game designer, so it made me sad when he closed Irrational Games - I was expecting to work there in some years. But I'm confident his new studio will deliver some amazing, narrative-driven experiences soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on April 28, 2015, 07:15:31 PM
2 great games. I still prefer the first Bioshock, but this one is still fantastic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Outcrier on April 28, 2015, 07:21:48 PM
Never played any Bioshock game, though i should.

As for Portal 2, great puzzle game with excellent voice acting, just like you pointed out.
Title: Re: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: ReaperKK on April 28, 2015, 08:26:21 PM
fuck yes BioShock Infinite!!!!!

I love that game, I'm thinking of replaying it again soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Cable on April 28, 2015, 08:45:19 PM
The posts about Bioshock here made me finally play the 1st and last of this trilogy (wonder if 2k will carry it on- hopefully not).



*** maybe minor spoilers here***



I like an ass knew the stories and twists of both games before I played them. But I totally agree with you ranking Infinite over Bioshock. While Rapture was a cooler concept, and Ryan was a better antagonist & character than Comstock IMO, everything about Infinite was better.  Every other character in Infinite >>> Bioshock's characters. Of course the DLC  & Bioshock2 does different stuff, but I'm just comparing the two games by themselves. Primarily because they seem to be the best, and had Levine's full direction towards them.

 The environment execution was better than Bioshock, which was to be expected due to it being created for many years after Bioshock. I really felt like it was the turn of the century in Infinite. And maybe that had a lot to do with the racism and painting of the US as perfect, but everything felt believable and real, like Rapture did in Bioshock. Yet I felt everything was just a little better than Bioshock.

Infinite's twist was ultimately better, because I still question things about it. I am replaying Infinite, not Bioshock. Bioshock's twist is more believable though, and doesn't lead to holes. Someone in this thread mentioned Bioshock loosing steam because it's narrative climax was 2/3rds into the game, where Infinite doesn't have that issue.

The battles and combat, while leave a lot to be desired in where FPS's should be IMO, are epic in Infinite vs. Bioshock. I remember spending more than a half hour on some due to the wide open spaces, which could warrant more to Columbia vs. Rapture. And some of these battles were just against standard goons. Big Daddies were scary, but for some reason their Handymen counterparts freaked me out more. And Songbird remains a mystery that would be even more terrifying to mess with.

I also do not get how these games have almost nothing in common. Besides the obvious for those that played them, SO MUCH is in common I feel. Almost too much, and makes me knock Infinite a touch. The Vending Machines, the recordings, Vigors/Plasmids as you said, gunplay and upgrades, control scheme, lack of true stealth, revival of character. Then the stories- environments and villains, and ways the cities were created. The games basically feel the same to me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: ReaperKK on April 29, 2015, 06:41:01 AM
Cable you hit all the points. I played the first BioShock after Infinitie and while it was a great game it just couldn't reach the highs of Infinite.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on April 29, 2015, 10:05:39 AM
I played Bioshock and Infinite at the same time of their releases, and while I loved Infinite, nothing was better than the magic of the original. That game had one of the best "Oh my god" moments of any game ever for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Crow on April 29, 2015, 11:08:19 AM
i dunno, personally I found Bioshock to have a better world and atmosphere, the plot was more basic sure but the plot twist is really great
plus I like the sprawling explory levels more than the linear ones of infinite, too
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: cramx3 on April 29, 2015, 12:44:42 PM
i dunno, personally I found Bioshock to have a better world and atmosphere, the plot was more basic sure but the plot twist is really great
plus I like the sprawling explory levels more than the linear ones of infinite, too

This, the first time playing Bioshock, there was a certain feel to it, the whole world was really amazing.  Infinite didnt have that I felt, maybe because of all the light vs. the darkness in the original.  I guess nostalgia also plays into it as to why I like the first one the best.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Cable on April 29, 2015, 07:31:29 PM
i dunno, personally I found Bioshock to have a better world and atmosphere, the plot was more basic sure but the plot twist is really great
plus I like the sprawling explory levels more than the linear ones of infinite, too


Bioshock was less linear than Infinite? I always followed the arrow and objectives, but didn't think I could move to several different areas of the city?

I played them out of order too, so I may be biased towards Infinite. I do feel it is a re-treaded sequel to a degree, but that seems to be most of the point. I'm guessing Bioshock felt great in 2007, and fresh. Although not sure how much it is like System Shock 2?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: ariich on April 30, 2015, 12:00:15 AM
Bioshock was still completely linear, it just let you go back to levels you'd already completed. There wasn't really any need to though, and almost nobody did it, which was why they scrapped that for Bioshock 2 and Infinite (as it requires a fair amount of additional programming apparently).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Scorpion on April 30, 2015, 12:05:02 AM
Portal 2 = best game ever. As you mentioned, the voice acting is really ridiculously amazing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Crow on April 30, 2015, 01:48:22 AM
i mean the level designs themselves

infinite = go forward, go forward some more, a few times maybe it won't be linear
bioshock = there's a lot of areas to explore and the levels aren't laid out like a straight line, the overall game is linear though yes but
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: ariich on April 30, 2015, 02:30:56 AM
i mean the level designs themselves

infinite = go forward, go forward some more, a few times maybe it won't be linear
bioshock = there's a lot of areas to explore and the levels aren't laid out like a straight line, the overall game is linear though yes but
Ah ok, I haven't played Infinite yet (just getting towards the end of 2) so can't comment on level design.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Sacul on April 30, 2015, 08:31:50 AM
just getting towards the end of 2
;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Now you're thinking with portals, DeWitt
Post by: Sacul on May 01, 2015, 06:29:46 PM
We're getting closer...


7
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
2004

(https://i60.tinypic.com/2mg3595.jpg)

There's something that appeals me about the Metroid games. No, its not Samus. Neither the exploration. Nor the weapons nor the enemies! It's the atmosphere. And the brilliant game design behind it.

The story follows our beloved bounty hunter Samus Aran after she is sent to rescue Galactic Federation Marines from a ship near Aether, a planet inhabited by a race known as the Luminoth. There, she discovers that the troops were slaughtered by the Ing - a race that came from an alternate dimension of Aether. Samus must travel to three temples to ensure the destruction of the Ing, while battling Space Pirates and a mysterious enemy, which could only be seen after finishing Metroid Prime if the player had gathered all the items.

At first, all you can do is explore. Go around, beating some easy enemies - but soon you realize, there are many doors, zones, and even structures that may lead to another places, or to special items that are just imposible to use. From time to time, the inner OS in the suit may scan the surrounding areas and inform you about certain energy read, or signals coming from an unexplored area.

What's fascinating is that unlocking new weapons and upgrades for the suit will not only help you against tough enemies, but unlock new areas to the different maps. Although most of the upgrades are essential to discover new locations, the fact that you want to return to a previous map and explore it all again, just speaks for how brilliant the level design is.

You have to be really aware of your surroundings, as the scanning function will often reveal you hidden objects and passages, while also giving you information of your enemies and the world itself.

I know it can be tough to explain for people who have never tried to play a Metroid game, but trust me, Echoes, with its first-person view, gorgeous graphics, and great tecnho soundtrack bring a unique atmosphere, and make for one of the strongest immersions on any videogame you'll try.

There's a Wii compilation, Metroid Prime Trilogy, which include the two Gamecube games adapted to the Wiimote, plus the third title, Corruption. And it was even re-released for the Wii U store, so you really have no excuses to try one of the very best trilogies in gaming.


6
Dino Crisis 2
2000

(https://i62.tinypic.com/30joj09.jpg)

On May 10, 2010, special team TRAT is selected to investigate the disappearance of Edward City and its surrounding countryside. Their mission is to travel through the Time Gate, locate 1300 survivors and collect data on what happened to the Third Energy project. Intelligence operative Regina is brought along as an adviser due to her past experiences. Shortly after arrival by patrol ship, the team's camp is attacked by a large pack of Velociraptors. Dylan, Regina and David are the only ones left alive when suddenly the ground shakes, making the raptors flee. A Tyrannosaurus Rex bursts forth from the jungle to attack the group. David manages to save them with an RPG.

His shot damages the Tyrannosaur's eye, leaving it permanently disfigured. The enraged dinosaur then chases Dylan and Regina off a cliff. Having survived the fall, they argue about how to proceed before going their separate ways. Regina returns to the ship while Dylan heads into the jungle, spotting a mysterious helmeted figure on his way to the military facility...

As you kill dinosaurs in succession, countering attacks and avoiding damage in areas, you can earn "Extinction Points", a form of in-game money that tally up as you move between locations. Throughout the game, there are computer station you can use  that act as a save point where you can save and load games, but also spend Extinction Points on new weapons, upgrades, health packs and ammunition. There are also bandages, used to stem bleeding. This type of injury occurs when you takes damage from certain attacks, and it results in slow draining of the health bar.

There are two forms of weapons in the game, main and sub-weapons; you can only equip one of each at a time. Main weapons provide the most damage and are used for the majority of attacks, for example shotguns, flamethrowers and rifles whereas sub-weapons are used to get past obstacles, like the machete for cutting plant vines and the firewall gun that creates a temporary wall of fire against foes. Over the course of the game, you switch roles between Regina and Dylan; the two have different weapons, making some passages blocked for one but accessible for the other.

There are sections of on-rails shooting, such as a chase where you shoot at dinosaurs that are chasing an automatically driven vehicle and, like the previous Dino Crisis, several puzzles. Throughout the game, you find data files and documents that progress the story and give details of certain areas. Hidden "Dino Files" can also be found; these go into detail about each dinosaur in the game. Upon collecting all the available Dino Files, you're granted unlimited ammunition for weapons on the next play through.

All that text sounded like Wikipedia, right? It's cause I adapted from it :lol. To be brutally honest, I'm not that sure now that I'd love this game as much if I played it today - it's been almost a decade since I last beat it, so had to do some research. It turns out, the plot was more complex than I'd thought, and since it was such an addictive title, I'm really looking forward to giving it another play soon. I don't ask you to like the games of my list, or to even read my boring writeups, but to give some of these, the less-known stuff, a chance. I strongly believe they deserve it.



So, top 5 will start soon. Any guesses? ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Cable on May 01, 2015, 06:52:28 PM
I have just played MP3, but I reckon it just built upon MP1 & 2.

I love Metroid for similar reasons- the isolated feeling the atmosphere creates is great. I also take Metroid games over Mario & Zelda due to the combination I feel of both.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Cool Chris on May 01, 2015, 07:15:32 PM
The Metroid Prime Trilogy on Wii is amazing. Interestingly, Prime was the first Metroid game I played all the way through. I didn't have the NES or SNES games, so only played them at friends' houses. The atmosphere and ambiance are amazing (quintuple alliteration). I love how you walk in to a new area, the camera does a quick flyover, and then returns to your viewpoint, and you are left with yourself, wondering what to do, where to go, and what enemies might be lurking around the corner.

Prime is probably still my favorite of the trilogy, since I played it first. And the Phendrana Drifts might be my favorite level of any game of all time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Outcrier on May 01, 2015, 07:34:08 PM
Loved the first Prime, looking forward to play Echoes soon. I was gonna ask if it is your favorite of the trilogy but it could be a spoiler.

Ah, Dino Crisis 2 was the very first survival horror game i've ever played, even before any Resident Evil. Good memories of getting bonus points by passing the areas without letting the Dinos hurt your character.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Randaran on May 01, 2015, 08:37:35 PM
I have just played MP3, but I reckon it just built upon MP1 & 2.

I feel that it was the opposite; MP3 took the foundation of the first two games and watered it down into a more action-focused title. I do like the game, mainly for the implentation of Hyper Mode/Corruption, as well as the amazing boss battles (though the ones in 2 were better). But the elements that make Metroid games feel like, well, Metroid games- the feeling of isolation and the non-linear design- were, for the most part, sorely lacking. MP3 is still a good game, but not in the same echelon as the first two.

MP2 will not make my list, as I prefer the first one, but it is almost as great.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Bolsters on May 01, 2015, 08:57:46 PM
I loved the first Prime, but for some reason I couldn't get into the second one much at all. I never bothered with the third as a result.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Sacul on May 01, 2015, 09:32:48 PM
Ah, Dino Crisis 2 was the very first survival horror game i've ever played, even before any Resident Evil. Good memories of getting bonus points by passing the areas without letting the Dinos hurt your character.
Yes! Those suckers are tough to kill before they approach you - unless you had the rocket-laucher :hat.

On a side note, I guess I can see why you may love the first Prime more, but honestly, I can't remember a single level of it, with th e exception of the first one and the final boss. I guess that's what you have when you play it in an emulator. At low FPS :lol. But played Echoes entirely on the Wii - will never regret spending entire afternoons exploring every single corner.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: ReaperKK on May 02, 2015, 06:42:09 AM
Two games I have never played. I've heard a lot about Metroid but never played any of the games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on May 04, 2015, 10:11:15 AM
I can't say enough about Metroid Prime 1. One of my favorites. MP2 felt like "more of the same with an alternate universe so there's MORE!" Which is fine. The gameplay was just as good as the first. I just don't like "alternate universe" games... having to go through the same places twice feels like a chore for me (also a reason why I rank Link to the Past low on my Zelda list). And for MP3, the fact that they did away with Gamecube controls completely turned me off. I mean, I can plug in a Gamecube controller into my Wii, but you don't give that to me as an option? Ridiculous. Didn't help that I hated the Wii controls. Never got very far in that game and it makes me sad.

But again, I will never discourage anyone from checking out at least MP1. Not sure I've ever heard of anyone disliking that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Beam weapons and dinosaurs
Post by: Sacul on May 04, 2015, 01:17:58 PM
I guess I prefer the Wiimote to point and shoot rather than an analogue stick :P - that's why I recommend getting the Trilogy edition. I think that it only add more to the already ridiculous immersion.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Another controversial list... (pg. 34)
Post by: Sacul on May 04, 2015, 02:22:01 PM
Honorable mention


27
Mega Man Legends
1998

(https://i58.tinypic.com/2my93dw.jpg)

As a kid, I remember going to the local game store to look for PSOne games. I really didn't know most of them, so I decided what to buy based on the cover. And one day, before leaving with my hands empty, I found it. It was a strange cover, but it had the "Mega Man" title on big letter - I had heard a bit of the series, so I gave it a try.

That's when the love started.

The first Mega Man game to make the jump to 3D was but a spin-ff from the main series. Whereas the other games were platformers, this was an action-adventure title with an impressive story and worldbuilding behind.

Set thousands of years after the X series, the world is more ocean than land, and a special group called Diggers, explore abandoned ruins to retrieve the Refractors - huge gems that provide with an incredible amount of energy. However, the main goal of every Digger (and pirate) is to find the Mother Lode, an item of supposed infinite power that can fill the need for energy in one swoop.

The protagonist of the game is Mega Man Volnutt, a Digger living in a ship (called Flutter). He lives there alongside Roll Caskett, his Spotter who repairs and builds his weapons, and guides MegaMan through the ruins, giving tips or warning him about unexpected dangers. And with Barrel Caskett, Roll's grandfather, and Data, a mysterious monkey that talks in gibberish only Mega Man himself can understand.

The game's antagonists are pirates known as the Bonnes who want to steal Kattelox's secret treasure in order to become rich (as they think it can be the Mother Lode). They consist of Teisel Bonne, the leader of the group, his sibling Tron Bonne, who builds most of their robots used in their elaborate schemes (and develops feelings for Mega Man), and the youngest brother, Bon Bonne, who can only say one word ("Babu!"). The Bonnes are accompanied by forty Servbots, robots under the care of Tron, who lover her as a mother, despite her cruelty.

Mega Man has his classic Buster Gun -which can be improved, changing colors the more powerful it is- that, unlike other Mega Men, is not able to use a charge shot, and instead, utilizes rapid fire. And he can have Special Weapons on his other hand! Like a missile launcher, a gatling gun, or even a Vacuum Cleaner, to colect money fast.

Although the game was in English, and I didn't understand a single thing, I had a blast with it. Defeating the pirates, improving your weapons, killing Reaverbots on the ruins, and defeating the pirates again - I was addicted to it. It wasn't the best game ever, but it won my heart with its strong personality and creative spirit. Since then, I've replayed it endless times on the PSOne, on a N64 emulator, on the PS2 (using retro-compatibility) and on a PSOne emulator. Some time latter I found The Misadventures of Tron Bonne on the net, downloaded it, burn it, and loved it - it even made this list.

And then, I found the sequel.
Title: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Sacul on May 07, 2015, 10:38:17 AM
No love for the blue boy?  :sadpanda: Final double update.



5
BioShock 2
2010

(https://i57.tinypic.com/swfh55.jpg)

After beating the amazing BioShock, I was eager to play the sequel. Although well-received, it didn't earn as much praise as the previous and Infinite, so I was a bit worried about the quality. And because Ken Levine wasn't directly involved in the project... Let's just say my expectations weren't so high.

The sophomore title on the BioShock trilogy takes place 8 years after the original game, Big Daddy series Alpha (the first generation), called subject Delta, awakens after almost a decade. His last memories are of a gang that kidnaps his Little Sister. But the city is now under control of Sofia Lamb, an old Andrew Ryan political enemy. And she fears what would happen if Delta finds who he's looking for...

As part of the design of the first series of Big Daddies, he can both hold a weapon and use plasmids, but is considerably weaker than the future generations. Exploring Rapture's endless secrets, while killing splicers and robots, and discovering what has happened since the ending of the previous game, is as fun as ever. Because the protagonist is a Big Daddy, he can attempt to defeat another who is escorting Little Sisters. Should he succeed, he can then choose to either harvest or adopt the Little Sister. While adopted, she can lead Delta to corpses from whom she can extract more ADAM. While doing this, he must defend her from splicer attacks and other foes. Once the Little Sister has collected enough ADAM, Delta can then return her to an escape vent, where he must choose to either rescue or harvest the Little Sister. Rescuing her gives the player a modest amount of ADAM but also the possibility of beneficial gifts later; harvesting her yields a large ADAM boost. ADAM can then be spent at Gatherer's Garden machines throughout Rapture to buy new plasmids, gene tonics, slots, or health/eve upgrades.

Once Delta has either rescued or harvested each of the Little Sisters on the level, he will be attacked by a Big Sister. The Big Sister's agility and resourcefulness will prove to be a tough foe, one who will make Delta waste most of his ammo, and lose almost all his life bar.

But what I loved most about this game is that it gets better until the very end. The last quarter is one of the most amazing, intense experiences I've ever had, not just on games nor on other mediums - but on my fucking life. Once you understand all the plot, the story behind the Little Sisters and the Big Daddies, and what has happened to the one Delta looks for, your heart won't react with indifference - if so, I can only think you have no soul at all.

Although pretty much everybody would agree the BioShock trilogy is brilliant almost flawless, that "almost" is always in reference to this game. And that saddens me, for I believe that Bioshock 2 takes the base of an already breathtaking title, and has the balls to improve it. Yes, it might take some time till you get to the best, but I can extremely assure you is worth millions times.

I recently bought it on Steam (originally played from an old, Games for Windows copy), which *finally* includes the Minerva's Den DLC, which I've been told is among the best expansions released for any game. Ever. And after that, Burial at Sea.


4
Resident Evil 4
2005

(https://i57.tinypic.com/331d0dw.jpg)

This is probably the most replayed, reinstalled, and modded game I have. I mean - I can't even begin to explain how many times I beat it, let alone added countless mods to improve its graphics or all the times I replayed it on PS2, Wii and PC. It's insane. There was a time during which I was totally addicted to this title. It lasted around a year or so, but it got me hooked into the Resident Evil series (REmake made this list). I've recovered, but looking there are both new HD editions for those games, those parts of my past are yelling to return.

But how is that one of the best games of history (show me an all-time top 100 made after 2005 that doesn't feature it) it's also a controversial, almost spin-off title of a cult series? Sure, the purists were pissed off with the new focus on action. And honestly, it lack lots of horror elements. But is it a bad game per se? Fucking Jesus in hell, no.

Lion S. Kennedy, protagonist of Resident Evil 2, returns some years later to the scene as an agent for the government. The president's daughter has been kidnapped, and it's held somewhere in Spain. Once there, he realizes something has happened to the villagers, and there's a mysterious religious cult who controls them...

What follows is a journey full of surprises and twists, with infected enemies, and even some monsters. And lots of action and explosions - Michael Bay should make a movie if it. You meet new characters, some which return from Leon's past, either to help you rescue Ashley or to take her back. The weapons, the medicinal herbs, the occasional monsters, the not-so-difficult puzzles, and the guy with the chainsaw - there's a lot of fun assured.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Outcrier on May 07, 2015, 03:59:07 PM
No love for the blue boy?  :sadpanda: Final double update.

I only played the sequel, Megaman Legends 2, which i really liked.

Sure, the purists were pissed off with the new focus on action. And honestly, it lack lots of horror elements. But is it a bad game per se? Fucking Jesus in hell, no.

So much this. In fact, like i said when RE4 appeared in my top 25 (ranked 4th), i think it transcends the series, being a better standalone game than every RE before it (even with all the changes).

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Cable on May 07, 2015, 06:28:38 PM
I am mixed about RE4. I agree fully Sacul, the game was killer. It's subtle modifications to combat made for a great game. At the same time, the crap yourself horror elements are almost completely void IMO, which made RE1-3 so great. However, I feel that the environment is still eerie, and story is probably and more in depth than RE1-3. I feel that if RE4 had obscured camera angles like the first 3, the game would probably be as scary.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Outcrier on May 07, 2015, 09:16:15 PM
At the same time, the crap yourself horror elements are almost completely void IMO, which made RE1-3 so great.

It is less scary and difficult? Yeah, but i don't think that makes the game less good.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Sacul on May 07, 2015, 09:32:02 PM
No love for the blue boy?  :sadpanda: Final double update.

I only played the sequel, Megaman Legends 2, which i really liked.
Give the Misadventures of Tron Bone a chance - it features the Bonne Familiy and the servbots in lots of ridiculous missions, like stealing animals from farms, digging into ruins, and robbing banks. And if you're curious, play the first Legends game.


At the same time, the crap yourself horror elements are almost completely void IMO, which made RE1-3 so great.

It is less scary and difficult? Yeah, but i don't think that makes the game less good.
I think what makes it so odd it's that, despite being really different from the first games, it's also an amazing standalone title, while being a just "mediocre" Resident Evil.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Cable on May 07, 2015, 09:39:42 PM



At the same time, the crap yourself horror elements are almost completely void IMO, which made RE1-3 so great.

It is less scary and difficult? Yeah, but i don't think that makes the game less good.
I think what makes it so odd it's that, despite being really different from the first games, it's also an amazing standalone title, while being a just "mediocre" Resident Evil.


Perfectly said!

I haven't played anything after 4, but from what I gathered, it was trying and failing to be like 4 or something. The only thing the game really shares IMO is the concept of changing individuals, and the characters. And even the possession of people is a lot different than RE1-3.

It's like a band maybe with distinct eras. And maybe the 2nd era is better than the 1st, but the 1st is what made them and is the original signature.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Outcrier on May 08, 2015, 04:35:16 PM
I think what makes it so odd it's that, despite being really different from the first games, it's also an amazing standalone title, while being a just "mediocre" Resident Evil.

Yep. I hate when people say the game is mediocre because it's different from RE1-3. Ok, RE4 may be a "mediocre" Resident Evil, but it is a fantastic game on his own (which i think only REmake comes close of being as good).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Phoenix87x on May 08, 2015, 07:34:16 PM
Loved and was obsessed with RE1

really enjoyed the RE2, but didn't play it all that much

barely played RE3

Really, really enjoyed RE4. Shook up the whole formula and really dug it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Feels & "Detras de ti, imbecil!"
Post by: Cable on May 08, 2015, 11:31:04 PM
^ Coming in for the RE3 defend. If I did a list, it would be on it. However, I understand why it's meh. Same story and setting as 2, and basically started the offshoot sequels of RE in my opinion. No real new ground tread, especially compared to the great RE4.

However, while scarier games exist, and maybe even singular moments, there is one word for that; Nemesis. The seemingly unpredictable nature of his attacks if you didn't drop him twice per forced encounter made it terrifying. Open a door, music starts and here he comes full speed. And having enough ammo, powerful weapons, and health, if I recall, was always a concern especially early game. I think I refused to play the game normally once I beat it, cuz I had access to the mini-game where I could get unlimited weapons and lay waste to him.

But yeah, it's meh overall in comparison.  :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Sacul on May 10, 2015, 05:24:50 PM
I'm actually surprised no one noticed BioShock 2 on the last update :P. But anyways. now time for the last 3 games, and the final honorable mention. I warn you though - these are here not because I think they're the best games ever created, but for they've given me the most joy. You could say they're on the top just for pure nostalgia, and you wouldn't be wrong.




3
Pokemon Emerald Version
2005

(https://i61.tinypic.com/2wrp8ch.jpg)

300 hours. That's the estimated time I have spent playing and replaying the 3rd Pokemon Gen, be it on my pc, android smartphone, or even a chinese mp5 with an emulator included :lol. That's roughly 12 and a half days dammit. And most of that time was spent during holidays... Where has time gone?

You control a Pokémon trainer, whose general goal is to explore the Hoenn region and conquer the eight Pokémon gyms in order to challenge the Elite Four and its champion. Emerald keeps Pokémon that debuted in Ruby and Sapphire while incorporating some from Pokémon Gold and Silver in the after-game, that were not featured in Ruby and Sapphire. It has the same plot of R&S, except it incorporates the Pokémon Rayquaza into the story and introduces the Battle Frontier, a tournament in which you can participate after the game's credits.

The gameplay is largely the same as it was in Ruby and Sapphire. You can encounter wild Pokémon by walking into grass (dah), surfing on your Pokémon, walking through caves, and other means, as well as fight other trainers' Pokémon.  Certain battles allow for two-on-two combat; certain moves were designed to support partners while other moves are capable of attacking two or more Pokémon. Unlike Ruby and Sapphire which had you fight two specific trainers, Emerald allowed for you to have a 2-on-2 battle with two trainers both of whom you could usually battle separately. Every Pokémon has an ability that often aides in battle, such as abilities that make a Pokémon more powerful if they are near death.

Aside from the traditional battle and overworld style, your Pokémon are able to participate in Pokémon Contests where they can try and win in four different categories: "Cool", "Beauty", "Cute", "Smart", and "Tough" competitions. You are given a device early on called the PokéNav, which allows you to view the world map, check the Pokémon's contest stats, and make and receive phone calls with trainers you have met with whom you can chat or plan a battle. This replaces a function called "Trainer's Eyes", which allows to register certain trainers and see when they are in the mood to battle. This also allows you to rebattle Gym Leaders, an ability not found in previous Pokémon games. Emerald includes several other new features and changes. It includes animations of Pokémon in-battle (not present in R&S) and an area called the Battle Frontier. It is an expansion of the Battle Tower found in previous games.

A man whom you encounter several times throughout the game will eventually allow you to access the Battle Frontier after beating the Pokémon League Champion. The Battle Frontier features the aforementioned Battle Tower in addition to six new areas. Completing these areas awards you with "Battle Points" which can be spent on prizes to use in and out of battle. But beating each of these won't be an easy task. Most of the Pokemon that appear around here are of high levels, sometimes near 90 or 100. Just reaching to the "leader" of each area is a titanic task, which requires an excellent-trained team. But defeating the leaders is a whole other story - some of them even have legendaries among their own team! At level 100 of course. Should you win, you'll be granted with a silver medal, meaning that you have to complete the challenge *again* in order to get the gold one. And it will be even harder the second time.

But I never did it. I'm actually replaying FireRed, but I might just quit it and try to finally tackle this Battle Frontier. Only if I could find an old gamesave...
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Randaran on May 10, 2015, 06:03:25 PM
Ah, Emerald. I lost my GameBoy Advance, so I cannot check, but I am fairly certain that I have over 200 hours clocked into that game.

If I had to pick a favorite Pokemon game, it would be Platinum, Black/White, or ORAS. I know that Gen IV is generally not liked nearly as much as the first 3, but it is one of my favorites. It has some of my favorite Pokemon designs (though that can be said about every generation), the region was much more memorable than Hoenn, and Platinum expanded on the original duo in a manner not seen in any other "third" entry. B/W actually has a somewhat compelling story, and the fact that only new pokemon appeared until postgame created an impression similar to when I played Pokemon for the first time. ORAS beautifully expands on RS, and the postgame Delta Episode is easily the best story in a Pokemon title. I still like Gen III quite a bit, but I feel that it has been bested by every generation that followed.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: ariich on May 11, 2015, 02:11:05 AM
I noticed Bioshock 2, but wasn't sure I had much to add as we'd already talked about it a bit in the regular video games thread. :lol It's an excellent game though.

Never played a Pokemon game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Sacul on May 11, 2015, 06:01:19 PM
Never played a Pokemon game.
you kidding me


If I had to pick a favorite Pokemon game, it would be Platinum, Black/White, or ORAS. I know that Gen IV is generally not liked nearly as much as the first 3, but it is one of my favorites. It has some of my favorite Pokemon designs (though that can be said about every generation), the region was much more memorable than Hoenn, and Platinum expanded on the original duo in a manner not seen in any other "third" entry. B/W actually has a somewhat compelling story, and the fact that only new pokemon appeared until postgame created an impression similar to when I played Pokemon for the first time.
Cool, I've been meaning to check gen IV for a time, should I go with Platinum, then?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Randaran on May 11, 2015, 08:27:28 PM
Cool, I've been meaning to check gen IV for a time, should I go with Platinum, then?

If you are choosing between Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, go with Platinum. I have not played the Gen II remakes, so I cannot comment on them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on May 11, 2015, 08:54:03 PM
Bioshock 2, I didn't finish, but I'm surprised to see it this high.

Resident Evil 4 is awesome, has great gameplay.

And never really got into Pokemon :-\
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Sacul on May 11, 2015, 10:35:02 PM
If you are choosing between Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, go with Platinum. I have not played the Gen II remakes, so I cannot comment on them.
Haven't played those remakes too - will do some day, since I never got into the original GBC titles. Will give Platinum a go then, thanks!

Bioshock 2, I didn't finish, but I'm surprised to see it this high.
GO AND FINISH IT

Resident Evil 4 is awesome, has great gameplay.
:metal

And never really got into Pokemon :-\
you've misspent your childhood :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Onno on May 12, 2015, 03:31:39 AM
Emerald was fantastic. I played that one till death.

I think design-wise, the Pokemon got a lot worse in Gen IV and V. Then again, the physical/special split was a fantastic idea and Gen VI has better design (and fewer new legendaries, which is good).

Still, I prefer to play hacks of the Gen I-V games over the originals once I've played the originals once. Why? Because 1) I don't like the way you have to endlessly grind in order to play online multiplayer; 2) The story is great to play but too easy and 3) I want to be able to have any Pokemon I want.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Chino on May 12, 2015, 06:09:57 AM
Pokemon Silver is the best them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Cool Chris on May 12, 2015, 12:51:48 PM
I have likewise never played a Pokemon game, or anything Pokemon-related. It was just something me and my friends never got in to. I can't recall any of my friends having any Pokemon games when we traded or when I was at their house.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?"
Post by: Sacul on May 13, 2015, 11:26:44 PM
We're close! This are getting really tough since I have such deep feelings towards them. So sorry for some rambling.


2
Super Mario 64
1996

(https://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1302207709-00.jpg)

This... this was the very first video game I played.

I remember quite clearly that, a few weeks after my brother was born, my parents bought me a N64 with 5 games. You've seen the other four (SS: VE, MP64, PS, and MK64) on this list somewhere, and they're here for a reason. They were the only I played on the console for 3-4 years. Even if I didn't beat them, I explored every level, corner, and map. There was no place left unexplored.

But this title was... on another level. Very few times have I seen something made with such love and pure passion for games - Super Mario 64 is a love letter to all that makes videogames great. Just imagine how different 3D games would be like hadn't it introduced a dynamic camera system, and an open gameplay which let you explore every map as you may, with multiple stars to be discovered in no particular order. Nintendo and Miyamoto basically changed the fucking game industry. Again.

"Wait... you said 'stars'? Yes. Bowser has captured the princess (surprise!), and invaded the castle and imprisoned her and her servants within it using the power of the castle's 120 Power Stars. Many of it's paintings are portals to other worlds, in which Bowser's minions keep watch over the stars. Mario must explore the castle for these portals to enter new worlds and recover the stars. As he gains access to more rooms as he recovers more Power Stars, he eventually traverses three different obstacle courses, each leading to its own battle with Bowser. Defeating him the first two times earns Mario a key for opening another level of the castle. If you've played any main Mario game since Sunshine, you'll notice they follow the same formula, which includes a boss at the end of each level.

SM64 impacted me so much that I replayed it countless times with an emulator. Because I had no memories of beating it (despite what my father says), I decided it was time to put it an end. It was a fucking journey, hours upon hours after primary school trying to get all the possible stars from each map. Didn't get them all, but managed to reach the final Bowser battle. Should I say, it's the ultimate final boss fight I've ever played. The epic and dramatic organ music, Bowser's attack, the small platform where the fight was taking place, standing in the middle of nothing. His movements and attacks seem erratic at first, but then you figure a pattern, and find a way to damage it. But then, he's pissed off, and fucking destroys part of the platform so it now looks like a star. And the scene after beating him... For a kid, all of that was the very definition of "epic".

Finally, I'd like to comment on how brilliant both the design and the OST are. Just think a bit on how many maps, scenarios, and levels are, and how rich each one is, full of details. There's always something to do, not a single moment where the player feels bored or disoriented. And Mario's movements were so easy to learn, and tough to master. But when you did it, you were unstoppable. Some levels were even a bit different depending on which star you were trying to get. Foe example, in the Whomp's Fortress level, there's a huge enemy at the top of the floating world, when you get the first star. But after that, there's a tower instead. And platforms. And missiles. Oh, and that detail on the dude on the cloud following Mario everywhere, when you enter the mirror room :lol.

And then there is Koji Kondo. It took me several years to finally appreciate the complete dimension of his work on this game. The man has a special ability to write unique musical ideas and play with them in a way they don't get boring. I once read an interview with him, where he stated that because most players will hear the same tunes over and over, he did the same while writing them, to be sure they didn't begin to get annoying after an hour. But here was a song that still is deep in my heart, Dire, Dire Docks. That soft synths melody, in endless repetition... it brings me peace and tears of nostalgia at the same time. I regret not learning it on the piano.

Well, that was a bit long, but I have such a deep love for this game. I mean, this was made with such care, that I can't help feeling proud of a team of humans developing and releasing that back in 1996. The amount of work on this is just insane. But in the end, Super Mario 64 is about love. Love to videogames, love to challenges, love to art. Such a legendary game, that will be seen as one of the definitive pinnacles of the industry for the years to come.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 13, 2015, 11:56:37 PM
A landmark game that created the template for the later N64 collectathon platformers that continued to improve on the formula, and for Mario's first foray into 3D it was very good.
But upon replaying the game recently, it hasn't held up great imo. The player movement has some serious issues, and the camera can be a pain at critical moments. Platforming has inherently never worked particularly well in 3D, especially compared to the 2D Mario titles that had already perfected that action platformer style, and Mario's sometimes unpredictable movement didn't help. And even for the N64 the graphics look dated. There's some great music (the first level music is as classic as any other), but a lot of it is recycled from the earlier Mario games, so it ought to be good!

Not to hate on the game, as I have still enjoyed it enough to fully complete it a couple of times, and it can still be a lot of fun. The DS re-release made some great improvements, but unfortunately didn't fix some of the fundamental flaws, and even added one or two more movement issues.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: ariich on May 14, 2015, 02:23:38 AM
First game you ever played? You young'un!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 14, 2015, 03:46:17 AM
Makes you feel old, huh? :lol The first game I ever played was Alex Kidd in Miracle World when I was about 4.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: masterthes on May 14, 2015, 09:13:24 AM
First game I can recall playing was Pacman on my uncle's Atari. I feel ancient lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 14, 2015, 09:15:38 AM
Makes you feel old, huh? :lol The first game I ever played was Alex Kidd in Miracle World when I was about 4.

Almost 20 years later and I still can't clock the freaking thing.  It's so controller-destroyingly hard, I have no fucking clue how kids in the 80's managed to do it all without saves, I do not have the patience for that kind of carry on. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 14, 2015, 09:19:18 AM
Makes you feel old, huh? :lol The first game I ever played was Alex Kidd in Miracle World when I was about 4.

Almost 20 years later and I still can't clock the freaking thing.  It's so controller-destroyingly hard, I have no fucking clue how kids in the 80's managed to do it all without saves, I do not have the patience for that kind of carry on. 

Kids back then were hardcore. None of this sissy checkpoint save your game garbage! Back then games would unforgivingly kill you and make you learn the hard way, just like real life!

I finished it as a kid, but I played it many times to finish it, and someone had to tell me how to decode the stone for the ending so I didn't get raped by ghosts.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 14, 2015, 09:25:00 AM
Makes you feel old, huh? :lol The first game I ever played was Alex Kidd in Miracle World when I was about 4.

Almost 20 years later and I still can't clock the freaking thing.  It's so controller-destroyingly hard, I have no fucking clue how kids in the 80's managed to do it all without saves, I do not have the patience for that kind of carry on. 

Kids back then were hardcore. None of this sissy checkpoint save your game garbage! Back then games would unforgivingly kill you and make you learn the hard way, just like real life!

I finished it as a kid, but I played it many times to finish it, and someone had to tell me how to decode the stone for the ending so I didn't get raped by ghosts.

Lol, touche.  I have no idea what stone you're talking about because - much like me in the bedroom - I just can't finish it.

First game I can recall playing was Pacman on my uncle's Atari. I feel ancient lol

Ooh, I remember playing one of these.  First game I ever played I think either Gain Ground or Sonic 2 on Mega CD, woop.  Classics.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: Lucien on May 14, 2015, 10:49:35 AM
Ah, Dire, Dire Docks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ). Probably my favorite of that OST as well. If any of you guys listened to the first movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-7wjJdSKFw) of my symphony, you would hear a similar chord progression, in the same key. Needless to say, with the melody I had come up with a while, I was inspired by that song to complete the movement.

Oh, and Super Mario 64 is pretty cool.  ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: Randaran on May 14, 2015, 01:10:08 PM
SM64 is certianly a classic, but I would not put it anywhere near the top of a list of my favorite games. The controls are not that great (I feel that Sunshine has the best controls of any 3D Mario game), there is a lot of redundancy in the objectives (climb to the top of the mountain, climb to the top of the mountain and grab the monkey, climb to the top of the mountain and hit a switch, climb near the top of the mountain and enter the secret slide, you get the idea), and I am not that fond of a good portion of the levels. It is actually at its best in the Bowser levels due to the heightened focus on platforming, but even those stages do not come close to matching the 'secret' stages in Sunshine, let alone most of Galaxy 2 or the top 25% of Galaxy 1. I understand that several of these issues are due to limitations of the N64 hardware, so I wonder what this game could have been were it made on a more powerful system.

I do agree that the music is great, and that it is a very important title in the history of gaming, but I feel that the game is highly overrated.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: Outcrier on May 14, 2015, 02:34:28 PM
Played Super Mario 64 recently, thought it was a great game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. “It's-a me, Mario!”
Post by: cramx3 on May 15, 2015, 07:06:08 AM
SM64 is amazing.  The nostalgia and the way it changed from 2d to 3d was amazing.
Title: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Sacul on May 17, 2015, 01:20:51 PM
Honorable mention
 

26
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
2011

(https://i59.tinypic.com/9t2us3.jpg)


Now here's another game in which I've spent 100+ hours on the first game, 65+ on the second, and around 30 on the last one. I got all the 3 expansions, and beat them all. Completed all the important side quests, joined every possible guild, and explored the vast majority of Skyrim and its ruins. I owned 3 houses. Met most of the Daedra gods.

So it basically makes you feel like a fucking hero all the way through. Looking for character development? Internal conflicts? A complex plot made up by dozens of complex characters? Dislike fantasy cliches? This is exactly the opposite to all of that. A mute protagonist, who is the Dragonborn. And has to bring peace to a conflictive land. Goes to study the power of the voice with its masters. Joins guilds. Can learn magic and alchemy. Can be a thief. Or a tank warrior, with heavy armors and weapons. And more.

I should have hated it. Deeply. Somehow, I became an addict. Maybe its the never-ending amount of missions, side-quests, places to explore, habilities to improve, items to gather. Maybe the ridiculous amount of personalization has something to do. Could the aesthetics and a totally gorgeous OST had an influence on it?

I'm not sure. Played non-stop for almost a year since it came out in 2011, and its been a while now since I've immersed myself into one of Tamriel's finest provinces. The Elder Scrolls Online seems to be doing fine, but I'll wait for the next game on the series. It might not be the pinnacle of RPGs, nor even on of the best games of the year, but it'll surely be a hell lot of fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Sacul on May 17, 2015, 01:31:40 PM
And that's the last update before the #1. Any guesses? ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: orcus116 on May 17, 2015, 01:36:31 PM
Gonna play it safe and say Ocarina of Time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: adace on May 17, 2015, 04:06:48 PM
Skyrim is amazing. Great pick :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 17, 2015, 05:34:13 PM
Tennis for Two
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Randaran on May 17, 2015, 06:03:04 PM
Big Rigs Over the Road Racing. You had better not disappoint.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Cable on May 17, 2015, 07:12:35 PM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Superman64box.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Phoenix87x on May 17, 2015, 07:31:06 PM
"Solve my maze"  :facepalm:

Fuckin rings...

and worst of all, I got that shit as a birthday present.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Sacul on May 18, 2015, 11:26:29 AM
You guys are so close... ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Randaran on May 18, 2015, 02:49:11 PM
You guys are so close... ;D

Link: The Faces of Evil?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on May 18, 2015, 03:26:30 PM
Way ahead of you.

(https://i.imgur.com/naRGUoV.jpg)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Phoenix87x on May 18, 2015, 03:49:07 PM
In all fairness, me an my boy back in 98 played the shit out of Redneck rampage. Good times


wait a minute, that ain't  redneck rampage, my bad
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: cramx3 on May 18, 2015, 05:58:56 PM
 :lol seems solid
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Sacul on May 18, 2015, 09:35:08 PM
I'll give you a small hint: it's a legendary title  ;D .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Crow on May 18, 2015, 11:59:33 PM
okkarina of tim
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: cramx3 on May 19, 2015, 06:29:39 AM
The original, Legend of Zelda
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Crow on May 19, 2015, 11:22:13 AM
mejjeri's mosk
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Fus ro-dah!
Post by: Phoenix87x on May 19, 2015, 11:45:44 AM
Wiened Wacker
Title: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: Sacul on May 19, 2015, 03:47:16 PM
When I said legendary, I meant, literally legendary.










1
Polybius
1981

(https://i57.tinypic.com/2a7aq0n.jpg)

I've played it.

Several years ago, on some obscure gaming forums someone posted a link to a legendary title. One that is said that was so addictive and dangerous, that it cause convulsions, nausea, and even mind-control. Of course I thought it was pure bullshit, but I couldn't resist. Downloaded MAME, put on my best headphones, turned off the lights. And ran it. The screen featured above appeared. And I hit play.

I was immediately surrounded by flashlights, squares, circles, and icons that seemed optical illusions, at high speeds. My eyes took a while to get used to. The controls were prehistoric. Didn't understand the purpose of the game. Lost several times. But then... something clicked. A part of my mind started to understand what was going on. I didn't, just followed my intuition. And played. And played for hours. Each level, ever changing. New patterns. Visual puzzles. Hidden commands. My immersion (and obsession) was absolute. Although I didn't fully understand it, there was something that got me hooked. And I didn't stop playing for several hours, until I had to go to bed.

But trying to get up off the chair was a titanic task that required energy I didn't have - the game had sucked it all. Managed to stand up and walk to the kitchen for some water, but fell off. My mother found me there the following day, worried. I assured her I was playing with the cat but fell asleep there. But recalling what happened... it paralyzed my body just thinking about it. Promised to delete and forget about it.  But couldn't. To be honest, I had a severe addiction. Spent the following weeks just playing it. Failed several tests, but didn't care.

Things got worse. In my obsession to decipher what was that totally cryptic title, I barely talked to anybody. Or eat. Just took brief pauses to go to the toilet, after finishing a level. And even started missing classes. Something told me I was near the end. But couldn't imagine what was about. To screw it up more, the so-mentioned effects started. First, some nausea, and headaches. It grew towards blurry vision, a heart arrhythmia, and me fainting immediately after touching my bed. My hands were shaky, and body weak and hungry. But I was decided to beat it.

Then, one day, almost a month after it started... I reached the last level. It was basically a recap of all the previous ones, with old puzzles, but at ridiculous speed. It was long. Long enough to last half an hour and still don't reach the middle. My body screamed for me to stop, and I realized I *needed* to do so. But couldn't. It was stronger than me. It almost consumed all my energy. My parents thought I was sick, but I'd been in a terrible mood so they didn't know what to do with me. I just stuck playing, because if I lost, I had to start it all from the beginning.

And... after the last puzzle... a screen appeared. It told me to get a certain video from the local video-shop. But because I wasn't in Portland, there was no way I could see it. Someone had modified the file, for there was another screen after that one, including a YouTube link, explaining he/she had managed to upload the recording. It was the time to see what was after such an insane experience. If you're curious and don't want to play it (I don't have the rom anymore, and the forum was deleted some years ago), here's the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ). After it, I deleted the game. Went to the kitchen, ate something, and stared through the window. Something that had been inside me was finally released, and now there was a void. But... I realized I had beaten something that was mostly a creepy pasta. No, I had done something more.

I conquered a legend.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 19, 2015, 04:05:15 PM
lol i'd never heard of this before now, so i thought you were being for reals
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: Crow on May 19, 2015, 05:31:39 PM
you could at least be more clever with your links

i mean

link to an image of link

like for real
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on May 19, 2015, 09:09:52 PM
I don't even care if it's not real, or that it's the result of an early creepypasta or some urban legend. The entire concept behind Polybius fascinates the hell out of me.

So what's your actual #1? :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 19, 2015, 09:22:46 PM
Apparently its based on the game Tempest, which had a similar effect?  According to wikipedia, which is a reliable source as any, I know
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 19, 2015, 09:24:04 PM
It's not real? Then what the hell have I just been playing for the past half hour? And why is my nose bleeding?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: Outcrier on May 19, 2015, 09:57:54 PM
So what's your actual #1? :lol

The legendary Megaman Legends 2.

 :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 19, 2015, 09:58:39 PM
It's not real? Then what the hell have I just been playing for the past half hour? And why is my nose bleeding?

That happened to me when I got hooked on that Kim Kardashian game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 19, 2015, 10:31:19 PM
that Kim Kardashian game

ASSassin's Creed
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 19, 2015, 10:44:03 PM
ASSteroids
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on May 20, 2015, 01:04:26 AM
CASStlevania
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 20, 2015, 03:45:21 AM
Link to the pASSt
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: wizard of Thought on May 20, 2015, 04:20:04 AM
lol, to be honest, I didn`t ever believe that Polybius really existed. I still think it`s some kind of creepypasta which was just made up by some guys. You didn`t change that, since there is still risk you`re just trolling us.
Title: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: Sacul on May 21, 2015, 02:06:51 PM
Sorry it took me this long - my writeup went crazy and had to heavily edit it to make sense. I don't even expect you to read it, but please, give this game a chance.




1
Mega Man Legends 2
2000

(https://i62.tinypic.com/jfw7jd.jpg)

I can even remember how, after beating the first Legends title, I found out there was a sequel. But a copy wasn't in my town - there was no way to find it. So one day my mother went to the nearest major city, and reached to every single videogame store - spent basically the entire day just looking for it. And only on the last shop they said they "could get it". So she ordered it. And a few weeks later I traveled just to get it. But I had forgotten the name of the store! My father was a bit pissed off for walking all day around, but I finally retrieved the shop's name. And when I finally had the game on my bare hands... Who would have guessed it was but the beginning of an obsession? You can clearly see it, for 1) I have beaten the Legends Trilogy over and over, 2) two of the games made the top (and one honorable mention), and 3) as with all my fav games, I have replayed it countless times, on the PSOne, the PS2, and on emulators - it didn't matter. It was only the last time (around 2-3 years) that my English was good enough to understand the plot (there's no spanish version). I shit myself that day.

But how... how do you start describing your feels towards something like this? One would think that it should be easy to talk about your all-time fav game, 'cause there are many things to love about it, right? A perfect, 10/10, title, one of the best creations of humankind, huh? Well... no. At all.

Megaman Legends is not the best game ever made, not even close. It has several flaws, like a huge weapon arsenal, but very little time to try them. And not enough money, or an easy way to get it, to improve them to the max. Some side missions, are totally ridiculous with a near-impossible difficulty. Some levels could have a better design. And there could be a couple more of extra quests. There's some lack of NPCs, and the ones that are don't have much interesting things to day. Although hard to beat, there's little replay value on most of the ruins, with a few exceptions (like using a drill to get to secret parts). And some maps feel a bit empty...

(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/flutterfire/039.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/flutterfire/018.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/yosyonke/059.jpg)

But I don't care. Not in the slightest. I don't expect people to like this as much as myself, for Megaman Legends 2 resonates in a deep level with me. It has all I love about games - it appeals to my curiosity and sense of exploration. And my story-lover side. Let me explain a bit.

A few years after the events of the first game, it all starts with MegaMan and Roll watching a TV news report about their grandfather, Gramps. He has reunited with an old friend of his, Von Bleucher. They both are respected Diggers, for their discoveries have helped humanity reach a better understanding of ruins and refractors. Thirty years ago Bleucher and his friend Barrel traveled to and returned from Forbidden Island, but didn't get too far into it. Bleucher is enormously wealthy and has always desired to return to that place. And he is finally going to make his (and Gramps') dream true - to find the Mother Lode, a legendary treasure believed to have infinite energy. Their best guess is that is located somewhere on the island, a place near the North Pole, completely frozen and inaccessible due to the huge storms that cover it. After all this time, Bleucher has spent his fortune building the world's largest air ship, the Sulpher Bottom. And it's confident it will allow him to reach the mighty treasure.

But something goes wrong. For a mysterious woman appears in the middle of their conference, and starts giving a rather cryptic talk about the dangers and the disaster it happen if they set ground on the island.  "Has it occurred to you that this great lost treasure might not be what you think it is?" she says. "What happens to you is no concern of mine. Still, I'll give you this warning! What you call the "Mother Lode" is not what you think it might be! No, it's not a treasure at all - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!". Then, a giant machine flies by the windows, breaking them. And she jumps. She's now on-board a silver robot eagle, and shoots and damages the ship's engines. MegaMan and Roll can't believe it, and set to rescue their grandfather. After going to and returning from Forbidden Island, it is revealed that to gain access to the Motherlode, he has to gather 4 keys. But they're sealed on old, dangerous ruins all over the world. And The Bonnes (and other pirates) are behind them. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The beginning of a complex story, with an amazing worldbuilding behind, that will solve many questions the previous game raised.

(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/opening/031.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/opening/046.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/birdbotsattack/003.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/fourkeys/018.jpg)

New characters and arcs appear. What happened to Roll's parents? Why is she living with MegaMan, if he isn't her brother? Who's that mysterious woman who attacked the Sulpher Bottom? What was all that shit that Juno talked to MegaMan at the end of the previous game? WHERE IS THE F*CKING MOTHER LODE? But more important, the one that drives it all: Who is *actually* this blue-boy, MegaMan Volnutt?

Because Roll has sold all of MegaMan's weapons (WTF!?) to improve Flutter (their ship-floating-house), he has to explore the world and its ruins, obtain new upgrades and buster parts. And find schematics and miscellaneous stuff that Roll can turn into weapons. This time, the ruins are far more creative than on MML1. Not only there are new enemies, but the levels have multiple traps, hidden rooms, panels where you can download the whole map or the location of interesting items. Another novelty is the addition of the Digger's license. MegaMan has to pass the Digger's Guild tests in order to gain access to more dangerous ruins - and those are an inferno to pass them, for you have little time and lots of enemies. And one attempt. No pressure. Also, the special weapons are amazing, with one for each kind of playing style.

What I love most of this game is how *unique* it is. The worldbuilding, the ruins and the Diggers, the pirates, the anime-like visual style (it looks superb for a PS1 title), a complex plot, the gorgeous OST, the reaverbots - this is a mix of great idea after great idea. Rating Mega Man Legends 2 low for being a quite different Mega Man title, and therefore a bad one, and not for its own qualities, is stupid. No, you don't have platforms, neither a fat Dr. nor weird final enemies. This is an adventure game, with some RPG elements. And I love it. Not despite its flaws, but for them. Because reaching perfection is impossible. We humans are flawed by nature. Nature is flawed and chaotic. But somehow, it's an organized chaos. And has a perfect balance. MegaMan Legends 2 is no different. Some might see it as a bag of bad ideas that don't make sense. Some might think it's just a fun game. But what I can see, is all the love these developers had for their art. And I find that to be the greatest of the inspirations.

(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/saulkadaruins/046.jpg)(https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/saulkadaruins/018.jpg) (https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/elysium/011.jpg) (https://www.legends-station.com/mml2/screens/poktevillage/022.jpg)

It would all have remained as a happy nostalgic feeling but something broke my heart. Back in September 2010, Capcom announced the development of MegaMan Legends 3. Just imagine how extremely excited I was! And because I knew the series had a very dedicated, loyal fanbase, I followed the project on the Devroom. It also had the collaboration of fans for deciding artwork and character design! Capcom even made some demos that looked amazing, and was about to release them in the 3DS store to partly finance the project. And it was lead by Keiji Inafune, who had produced the series, and has several times confessed Legends were his fav MegaMan games. They ere some glorious months.

But... Inafune left Capcom some months later. And some weeks after the split, in 2011, the project... was... canceled. I cried, or tried, because I felt so empty I doubted I had any tears left. My childhood dreams, broken, tore into freaking small pieces, turn into ash, and pissed by fucking japanese directives. Why Capcom? WHY? Nobody could give a precise answer. But us fans didn't stop there. We created the "GetMeOffTheMoon" project, and made a FB page called "100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3", which as of now has reached 99K likes. But the company still has no plans on retaking the project. It's been 4 years now, and there's still a lot of activity on the page. More recently since The Misadventures of Tron Bonne has been *finally* released on the US PSN for just $6 (go and get it please). I just have hopes that the remaining titles of the series will some day make an appearance there, but for now, the only way to show Capcom support for the trilogy is by buying that game. Inafune has stated that he still want to make the game, but to get the licenses, and some publishing and marketing, without naming the development costs... It's unlikely that will ever happen anytime soon. Or never. I can forget Capcom's stupid moves, but I'll never forget when they betrayed their fanbase. All that's left for me is replaying MegaMan Legends 2 once more. I wonder if it will still be, in many years, my favorite videogame. I have hopes it will.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. More than a legend...
Post by: Sacul on May 21, 2015, 02:09:27 PM
Thank you for being patient enough to let me finish the list! :blush

The legendary Megaman Legends 2.

(https://www.quickmeme.com/img/45/45439cd6d55d18f83d442376405d61d076fd70bcef2f56b231e8ec853324fdab.jpg)

Was it too obvious? Just curious :P .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: Outcrier on May 21, 2015, 02:36:09 PM
Well, you hinted at it with "And then, I found the sequel" in your Megaman Legends write up  ;)

I have fond memories of playing the English version after many years of playing the Japanese one (Rockman Dash 2).
It was cool to finally be able to understand things and what was happening.

Personally, i think Megaman Legends 2 is a underrated PS1 gem. Great game to wrap up your list  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: adace on May 21, 2015, 05:47:13 PM
Absolutely loved playing Megaman Legends 1 and 2 as a kid. Nice pick, enjoyed your list :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: Cable on May 21, 2015, 09:34:19 PM

But... Inafune left Capcom some months later. And some weeks after the split, in 2011, the project... was... canceled. I cried, or tried, because I felt so empty I doubted I had any tears left. My childhood dreams, broken, tore into freaking small pieces, turn into ash, and pissed by fucking japanese directives. Why Capcom? WHY? Nobody could give a precise answer.


This is a related tangent; I think this is the present, sad state of games from Japan. I, for not an active console gamer, am closely following this Hideo Kojima & Konami drama, and it seems like Capcom is not that far off of Konami. I mean, Kojima is rumored to be pulling some of the most crazy real life = fiction I have ever heard of (search "Head Transplant Metal Gear"), and Silent Hills was brilliant via P.T. + the people behind it. SHs was cancelled, and Konami wiped PT from the face of the earth basically. And MGS5 "seems" to be it from Kojima at Konami. But this stuff is brilliant IMO (even though Kojima tries too hard IMO to cram all his ideas in one series), plus his Phantom Pain stunt was cool. But one game is cancelled, and he has been forced out as Konami shifts to a mobile focus.

I never played the Legends series (wish I did based on your write-ups), I did however grow-up ripping through MegaMan1-4 on original hardware. So my respect, and lament for the gutting of the BlueBomber is similar.  :(

I guess there just isn't the revenue there anymore for Japan based game companies? I guess Sega is slipping too. Even SquareEnix is focusing on mobile more from what I read. That in itself is a merger of two former powerhouses. And even Nintendo is now apparently going to be developing for Android and iOS. Luckily Kickstarter seems to be supporting some of the developers doing spiritual successors. But it isn't the exact same, and the industry really is changing.  :'(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: cramx3 on May 22, 2015, 05:45:26 AM
Hey guys so it would appear I am next, I just finished putting my whole list together but with no write ups yet.  I can start popping them out as I am not the most wordy anyway.  Depending how my work day goes today, either later today or this weekend I will start.
Title: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: Sacul on May 24, 2015, 11:12:20 AM
Well, you hinted at it with "And then, I found the sequel" in your Megaman Legends write up  ;)

I have fond memories of playing the English version after many years of playing the Japanese one (Rockman Dash 2).
It was cool to finally be able to understand things and what was happening.

Personally, i think Megaman Legends 2 is a underrated PS1 gem. Great game to wrap up your list  :tup
How is that you played the Japanese version first? :P But yeah, it's a tragically ignored PS1 game - I just wished they release it on the PSN. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne is already there (for $6 is a total bargain), so I don't see why it can't make it to the store. Btw, I recommend you that one - you get to know the Bonnes deeper and how they relate to Glyde. And it's tons of fun and humour ;D .


Absolutely loved playing Megaman Legends 1 and 2 as a kid. Nice pick, enjoyed your list :tup
Wow, didn't think anyone else heard about this game - thanks for following :heart



But... Inafune left Capcom some months later. And some weeks after the split, in 2011, the project... was... canceled. I cried, or tried, because I felt so empty I doubted I had any tears left. My childhood dreams, broken, tore into freaking small pieces, turn into ash, and pissed by fucking japanese directives. Why Capcom? WHY? Nobody could give a precise answer.


This is a related tangent; I think this is the present, sad state of games from Japan. I, for not an active console gamer, am closely following this Hideo Kojima & Konami drama, and it seems like Capcom is not that far off of Konami. I mean, Kojima is rumored to be pulling some of the most crazy real life = fiction I have ever heard of (search "Head Transplant Metal Gear"), and Silent Hills was brilliant via P.T. + the people behind it. SHs was cancelled, and Konami wiped PT from the face of the earth basically. And MGS5 "seems" to be it from Kojima at Konami. But this stuff is brilliant IMO (even though Kojima tries too hard IMO to cram all his ideas in one series), plus his Phantom Pain stunt was cool. But one game is cancelled, and he has been forced out as Konami shifts to a mobile focus.

I never played the Legends series (wish I did based on your write-ups), I did however grow-up ripping through MegaMan1-4 on original hardware. So my respect, and lament for the gutting of the BlueBomber is similar.  :(

I guess there just isn't the revenue there anymore for Japan based game companies? I guess Sega is slipping too. Even SquareEnix is focusing on mobile more from what I read. That in itself is a merger of two former powerhouses. And even Nintendo is now apparently going to be developing for Android and iOS. Luckily Kickstarter seems to be supporting some of the developers doing spiritual successors. But it isn't the exact same, and the industry really is changing.  :'(

I get that feel bro - honestly, I don't even know what will happen with the game industry in the following decade. It seems like it safer to make more and more titles of the same series (see AC, CoD, PES/FIFA, etc) rather than betting on new IPs. I'm even studying to work on the game industry in a few years, but with all that's going on, I really doubt if I'll find a place in a company where I don't have to design the next Mario or Modern Warfare. Maybe the future is on the indie community. Maybe it will happen as music, and all the great titles will go to the underground, while keeping a loyal fanbase.

Btw, the Legends games are totally playable on emulators, and since physical copies have gone crazy price-wise ($100 on eBay), it's the best way to play them - you can even tweak them so the internal resolution is higher, add anisotropic and Anti-Alias, and even texture filters. That way, the anime-looking textures look more gorgeous than ever. You should give them a try - the combats are addictive at least ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: cramx3 on May 25, 2015, 03:21:25 PM
So to start....with the only two hand held games in my list (one old, one modern)

25
Tetris
Game Boy


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Tetris_Boxshot.jpg)
(https://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tetris.jpg)

So this game is pretty straight forward and simple, yet was I guess we can say the Candy Crush of the late 80s/early 90s in terms of addictiveness.  I was very young when I got my first gameboy and Tetris, but I recall playing it non stop.  My goal was always to make it to level 10 and THEN see how far I can go since just making it that far wasn't terribly difficult, it was how you did once the speed got very fast and you may have already built yourself some obstacles that prevented you from knocking out a line.  A simple classic game.  This is the oldest game on my list.

24
Angry Birds
IOS/Android


(https://assets.rovio.com/UserFiles/Image/RovioProducts//800x600_293.png)
(https://screenshots.en.sftcdn.net/en/scrn/3332000/3332574/angry-birds-seasons-06-685x535.png)

This was my first mobile game addiction.  This was another simply and addictive game.  What made the game fun to me, was learning the different birds and their abilities and using that to get three stars on each level.  The objective was simple, fling your birds to hit the pigs, but as the levels went on, more elements and obstacles got in the way and you needed to become more and more clever to not only pass the level, but you also needed to be very accurate to get the three stars.  There were a few follow up games (Seasons, Space, Rio, Star Wars) but the original was the best and had the most levels.  Whenever I had a moment to wait on something, I'd fling a few birds to pass the time.  Eventually I got ranked into the top %5 in total score, but then lost my Ipod touch and although I got it for my android phone later on, I fell out of playing it.  I guess I just got bored after time, but the game is still a fantastic simple mobile game.  This is the only mobile game on my list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "No - it's a *catastrophe* waiting to happen!"
Post by: ReaperKK on May 26, 2015, 06:44:25 AM
I love tetris and it's my number 1 time killer when I'm flying somewhere or I have time to kill.

I really liked angry birds too but I quickly got over it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on May 27, 2015, 07:45:15 PM
Well that's it for handheld gaming, the rest are all console or PC...

23
College Hoops 2K5
PS2

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/ESPN_College_Hoops_2K5_Coverart.png)
(https://download.gamezone.com/assets/old/gamezone/24/0/26/s24026_ps2_54.jpg)

So this game is actually terrible.  The gameplay is really crap, the sound and announcers are terrible, the game had a huge bug that ruined my 8 seasons of playing, many other terrible bugs.... but I have played this game more than any other sports game.  This is a pure nostalgia pick and when choosing my games, it was really hard for me to not put this on my list even though I acknowledge how bad this game really is.  Basically, I bought this game because my college roommate and I wanted to play a basketball game together and somehow we ended up with this (I think my parents got it for me for christmas, but thats a foggy memory).  Anyway, we played the shit out of it. Started a career mode at a small school and worked our way to the big time school, winning national titles along the way.  We also liked to play against each other, we would similuate a 64 team tournament and the final game we would play.  We have a documented spreadsheet of over 100 matches with the scores and "memorable moments".  We still play a match and add it to the spreadsheet 10 years later.

22
Streets of Rage
Sega

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/37978-Bare_Knuckle_-_Ikari_no_Tetsuken_~_Streets_of_Rage_(World)-3.jpg)
(https://www.games4win.com/up/streets-of-rage-2_2s.jpg)

I really loved this game as a kid.  It was a gift for getting good grades on a report card when I was really young, except my mom did not realize until much later that the picture on the box contained a girl with some cleavage.  As a youngin that was inappropriate according to my parents and they hid the game from me until I was old enough.... well I found where they hid it and I played it all the time.  Even though it didn't change or anything, I would havea  friend come over and we would play through and beat it for fun, and it was always fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 27, 2015, 09:44:08 PM
Ooh yeah Streets of Rage. I used to play that game all the time on Master System (same basic game). I was always the chick because reasons.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Big Hath on May 27, 2015, 10:36:43 PM
College Hoops 2K5

oh dear . . .


the constant freezing in legacy mode killed this game for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on May 27, 2015, 11:42:21 PM
I like Tetris, and actually this thread plus a podcast inspired me to play it a few days ago via NES (licensed copy).  I never understood the full craze, nor did I get how people were so killer at it. I actually preferred the Gameboy version, and some other versions are hit and miss. Mostly I feel that is a result of game modifications; drop full speed without movement, saving pieces etc.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on May 28, 2015, 05:40:28 AM
Fuck yeah streets of rage.  Good memories of that one, classic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on May 28, 2015, 08:29:43 AM
College Hoops 2K5

oh dear . . .


the constant freezing in legacy mode killed this game for me.

lol I had always thought I was the only one who really experienced the bugs in that game since I played it to death.  BUt yea, the bugs really destroy the game, its on my list simply for nostalgia and hours spent playing (and still playing every few months).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Big Hath on May 28, 2015, 11:57:11 AM
I seem to remember the season calendar causing the most problems.  I think at one time I had figured out a way to enter/exit the calendar that lessened the amount of freezes, but even then it wasn't foolproof.  And the workaround took forever because you had to wait for menus to load, etc.  I don't know.  Just bad memories more than anything.

But hey, Streets of Rage!!!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on May 28, 2015, 09:53:28 PM
I preferred SoR2 personally.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on May 29, 2015, 08:07:14 AM
I preferred SoR2 personally.

Also a good game! 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Phoenix87x on May 29, 2015, 10:34:56 AM
I absolutely love the streets of rage series. Next to sonic, they were my favorite games on the Genesis.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on May 31, 2015, 11:33:31 AM
I came to appreciate Tetris just after playing the Android version. It's so addictive, yet hard. I would have made a higher score had the touchscreen not been so awful :lol .
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 01, 2015, 06:56:22 AM
21
Jet Moto
Playstation
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f3/Jet_Moto_Coverart.png)
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/391442-jet-moto-playstation-screenshot-highway.png)

I personally have never been a big fan of racing games.  There is one other on my list (and has been a standard on most if not all lists...), but this one is truly a standard racing game, but based around a slightly different type of vehicle.  Sort of a mix between a wave runner, motorcycle, and hovercraft.... Jet moto was so much fun because of how different and creative the race tracks were.  I guess I was also initially intrigued by the vehicles and speed of the racing.  Something about it just drew me in and I became very obsessed with this game.  The 2nd Jet Moto was also really fun, but its the first one that makes my list because it was the one that drew me in.

20
Counterstrike
PC
(https://la.cdnmob.org/androidgame_img/counter_strike_16/real/1_counter_strike_16.jpg)
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/6188/283827-counter_strike_freelancing1.jpg)

I was refered to this game by my friend and neighbor.  He was the first person I knew in the late 90s who had a cable modem and a nice PC for gaming (it was really his brothers who later on became a game designer) and it was him who introduced me to my first online multiplayer game.  I fell in love immediately with the pace and difficulty of playing against real people.  The action was so intense and the thrill at the time was so new for gaming.  You had to actually strategize and communicate to consistently win rounds.  I was never really good though, at the height of my CS gaming, I could say I was "decent" but one of my problems with coming back and playing the newer versions of the game, was that I am just not good enough to enjoy it anymore sadly.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 01, 2015, 07:21:09 AM
I love Counter-Strike! Some of my best gaming memories are playing back in middle school during the early beta, watching the game evolve.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Big Hath on June 01, 2015, 09:07:18 AM
almost put Jet Moto in my list.  Awesome game!  I worked for a church back in college and had access to our gym.  Me and my buddies would hook up the PS1 to a projector and play Jet Moto in life-size glory on one of the gym walls.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on June 01, 2015, 10:22:57 AM
Haha Jet Moto, I had a demo disc with that game on It. I remember using the turbo, at a specific spot where you can ramp up. There was a glitch which you use turbo at that spot, keep using it, and it'll take you higher than the stage which becomes a little dot.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 03, 2015, 06:00:19 AM
19
Bioshock
Xbox 360

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/8/5/2/63852_front.jpg)
(https://www.oneclickmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bioshock-2-campaigns.jpg)

Well this game or one of them has made many people's list and there's a reason for that.  The visuals and story telling along with the fun gameplay make for a great experience into Rapture.  My love for this game started before I ever bought the game, it started because the 360 was the first console I owned that you could download game demos.  I bought my 360 maybe 2 years after release and therefore quite some time after the release of Bioshock, but I remember the demo for Bioshock being a top download even at that time.  One late night, I finally decided to try it out.  You got to play the first 15 minutes or so of the game, and I was completely blown away.  That opening when you go down to Rapture and experience it for the first time was thrilling.  You actually felt freaked out by what you saw.  Well even though I was blown away, and played the demo many times, it wasn't until another year passed that a friend let me permanently borrow the game and then I finally played through and got to really experience it.  The amount of different ways to kill someone with the guns and plasmids made for a fun battleground.

18
Mortal Kombat
Sega

(https://img1.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/sega-genesis/mortal-kombat-world-v1.1.png)
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/414013-mortal-kombat-ii-sega-saturn-screenshot-choose-your-fighter.png)

This was a revolutionary game in gore.  I was pretty young when this came out and it was fairly controversial due to the amount of blood and the finishing moves which were unlike anything I had ever seen in a video game.  These types of fighting games are not my favorite types to play, but this was the first one I had ever played and at the time, I was obsessed.  We would always have friends over and fight each other and see who could pull off the fatalities.  Everyone had a favorite character and would learn the moves and it was always a fun challenge to play.  I guess I could say that Mortal Kombat Trilogy was a better game with more characters and more finishing moves, but the first is a classic and it needed to be on my list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on June 03, 2015, 06:16:56 AM
I played the hell out of MK2 before ever trying the first, so I always found the first a bit crude by comparison. But it's a good franchise in general. Reptile was always my guy.
I bought the game second hand, and it game with a printed/photocopied page of all of the fatalities etc, which at that time when I didn't have internet was pretty awesome.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 03, 2015, 06:34:42 AM
Yea back in the day you had to get a magazine that listed the moves and fatalities and there was always one kid who had it and everyone wanted to borrow it to learn the moves.

I totally agree though that the games progressed and did get better, my list reflects more so on my nostalgia of the games vs. the actually good gameplay so MK1 has way more memories for me than the next ones, but MK2 and MK3 were definitely better games.

I should also note, my list does not have multiple titles of the same game.  So while MK2 and MK1 are both good games, I only chose MK1 for my list and same with Bioshock so while 2 and Infinite are awesome, they will not make my list because I am only choosing one game from each series.  There is one exception and it only counts cause that game series spans across mutliple gens of consoles.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 03, 2015, 06:43:42 AM
Two great games. I played BioShock after playing Infinite and I had a great time, the game aged really well. I remember playing MK2 in the arcade (maybe? I was in elementary school at the time) but MK3 was the first one I had at home.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on June 03, 2015, 10:03:39 AM
You can't go wrong with Bioshock.  :tup

 I have never played a MK game, though.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on June 05, 2015, 03:11:29 AM
I've always wondered: how did people figure out fatalities before the internet?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 05, 2015, 05:36:30 AM
17
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Xbox 360

(https://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120120052622/callofduty/images/d/db/Modern_Warfare_2_cover.PNG)
(https://oliverhughes.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/modernwarfare-article-pic-21.jpg)

This was the first call of duty game I had played.  I must say that I actually enjoy the single player mode of these games.  Sure they are short and not really what you are buying the game for, but I always found them very fun to play through and they always felt like an action movie that you were playing through with all the craziness going on, but regardless, the meat is in the multiplayer.  The whole concept of creating a class with the perks was something new to me in online multiplayer games and created match up problems or solutions if you knew how to counter someone who was good at using a certain perk.  The kill cam was also something very enjoyable.  The game became something so addicting because it was so easy to get into a quick game and get that instant gratification of killing someone and leveling up and unlocking more stuff.  The call of duty line of games eventually got old to me, but this was my first and I probably spent the most time playing this one compared to the others.

16
Banjo and Kazooie Nuts and Bolts
Xbox 360

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/Banjo-Kazooie_Nuts_%26_Bolts_Game_Cover.jpg)
(https://faceplantreview.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/banjo2.jpg)

Not sure how many people have played this one or have even heard of it.  This game came free with my xbox 360 and was advertised as a children's game.  I had let the game sit for years in the seals disc holder it came in because I didn't know what it was and it was a kids game so it clearly couldn't be fun.... well I don't know what made me one day finally pop it into my xbox, but I did and I was very surprised.  I had played the original Banjo and Kazooie game on the N64 and I thought it was a solid platform game, but I was never crazy about it.  Well this game is still somewhat of a platform game, has the same feel of a super mario 64 or the original in that you you have your main world and then you go into sub worlds to complete missions to gain puzzle pieces to unlock more levels and so on until you have enough to fight the boss at the end.  THe difference here is that every mission required a vehicle to use to complete, could be a car, boat, chopper, plane, wagon... could be many options and that's what made this game unique and amazing.  You got to build whatever vehicle you wanted!  You could create one that does all of the above if you had earned and collected enough parts.  The creativity was amazing.  I felt compelled to complete every single mission in this one and design a custom vehicle for each one's unique task.  By the time I was done, my arsenal of vehicles was staggering, but I always had so much fun thinking of the way to build each vehicle.  I really thought that this might be a difficult game for a little kid because it helps to understand physics, but I ended up giving the game away to a coworkers young boy because I thought it would be a good game to play and learn something,  Anyway, I put a lot of hours into this one and it was gratifying.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on June 05, 2015, 05:49:31 AM
As a big fan of Banjo Kazooie, I wanted to like Nuts and Bolts, but it was such a muddle of a game. It couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a racing game or a platformer, and doesn't do either one well. The best part of the game for me was the hilarious opening sequence, which was classic Rare, but from there it just becomes a confusing mess. I finished the first vehicle task, then spent an hour exploring trying to find the next thing in the level to do only to find that there was nothing else to do there. I had to leave the level and unlock the next task which is accessed through a separate door despite being the same level. I still don't really get the game, as it explains things very poorly, but I managed several more of the tasks in that level.
I unlocked another level where I was supposed to save some workers or something, but that's where I gave up on it and never touched it again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on June 05, 2015, 07:09:30 AM
I do not like MW2 nearly as much as most. The single player was fun, though even Veteran difficulty was really easy. The multiplayer is a mess of balancing issues, and I just do not like playing games where everyone dies in 2-3 hits. Spec Ops was, by far, the best part of the game. I had a lot of fun getting 3 stars on every mission in the game (even the ones that require two players, as I just controlled both), many of which were rather difficult. I personally think that the first Black Ops is the best CoD game, though I will get to that when I post my own list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 05, 2015, 08:25:15 AM
As a big fan of Banjo Kazooie, I wanted to like Nuts and Bolts, but it was such a muddle of a game. It couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a racing game or a platformer, and doesn't do either one well. The best part of the game for me was the hilarious opening sequence, which was classic Rare, but from there it just becomes a confusing mess. I finished the first vehicle task, then spent an hour exploring trying to find the next thing in the level to do only to find that there was nothing else to do there. I had to leave the level and unlock the next task which is accessed through a separate door despite being the same level. I still don't really get the game, as it explains things very poorly, but I managed several more of the tasks in that level.
I unlocked another level where I was supposed to save some workers or something, but that's where I gave up on it and never touched it again.

The game was not an easy one to play.  It took awhile to understand the world and to also master how to use your vehicle.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on June 05, 2015, 08:26:49 AM
As a big fan of Banjo Kazooie, I wanted to like Nuts and Bolts, but it was such a muddle of a game. It couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a racing game or a platformer, and doesn't do either one well. The best part of the game for me was the hilarious opening sequence, which was classic Rare, but from there it just becomes a confusing mess. I finished the first vehicle task, then spent an hour exploring trying to find the next thing in the level to do only to find that there was nothing else to do there. I had to leave the level and unlock the next task which is accessed through a separate door despite being the same level. I still don't really get the game, as it explains things very poorly, but I managed several more of the tasks in that level.
I unlocked another level where I was supposed to save some workers or something, but that's where I gave up on it and never touched it again.

The game was not an easy one to play.  It took awhile to understand the world and to also master how to use your vehicle.

I did decide at the time that if I did ever give it another shot, I'd be using a walkthrough at least somewhat.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on June 05, 2015, 11:23:15 AM
In regards to the Banjo Kazooie game, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l69BP1uhlMs is all I have to say
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on June 05, 2015, 02:16:37 PM
I remember playing a demo of that Banjo Kazooie game and not liking it. The first two games blow it clear out of the water imo.

MW2 is great, can't go wrong there.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 05, 2015, 03:31:41 PM
I remember playing a demo of that Banjo Kazooie game and not liking it. The first two games blow it clear out of the water imo.

MW2 is great, can't go wrong there.

To be fair, its nothing like the first two games besides the characters.  Im guessing I am the only one who actually took the time to build some sick vehicles, but that's all that mattered as long as I enjoyed the heck out of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: sneakyblueberry on June 06, 2015, 01:29:11 AM
MW2 will always have a special place in me heart for all the fun multiplayer games I had with friends.  It was the last great party game I recks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 06, 2015, 08:29:15 AM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always wanted to try a Banjo game, everyone raves about them.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on June 08, 2015, 09:24:44 AM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always wanted to try a Banjo game, everyone raves about them.

play the actual banjo-kazooie games though

nobody raves about nuts and bolts, I'd say most people hate that game
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on June 08, 2015, 09:45:48 PM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always wanted to try a Banjo game, everyone raves about them.

On a tangent, I heard about a spiritual successor on Kickstarter, but I am not sure if it was funded. Something like Yuka-Lalee.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on June 08, 2015, 10:27:46 PM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always wanted to try a Banjo game, everyone raves about them.

On a tangent, I heard about a spiritual successor on Kickstarter, but I am not sure if it was funded. Something like Yuka-Lalee.

It's still going, and it's at about 1.8 million pounds, so yeah, it managed to get funded just fine. :lol I'm excited to play that one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on June 09, 2015, 12:22:09 AM
Never heard of Yooka-Laylee before but now I am excite. A Hat in Time is another platformer in similar style currently being developed, which I've been looking forward to for a while.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 09, 2015, 05:32:38 AM
15
NFL Blitz
N64

(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/nintendo/images/a/a3/NFL_Blitz_n64.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130422021420&path-prefix=en)
(https://gamestoresite.com/Image/covers/nfl-blitz/nfl-blitz-image747130.jpg)

I'm not sure if I saw this come up on anyone elses list, but this game was a big part of my childhood and is still played.  I guess you could say its the NFL version of NBA Jam.  A twisted version of the sport where there are less players on the field and less rules.  It's so easy to pick up and be able to play that makes it so fun.  The losing team always gets the "breaks" like turnovers to make the games competitive.  When we play now, it's usually a 63-56 overtime type of game which always makes it exciting.  I used to play a lot in college with my roommate, our goal was to shut out the computer on the hardest difficulty... and we eventually did.  We won something like 63-0 and afterwards we stopped playing for like 5 years lol

14
Goldeneye
N64

(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/goldeneye/images/e/eb/N64goldeneye.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140418045021)
(https://i2.cdnds.net/12/42/300x225/gaming_goldeneye_n64_1.jpg)

Well this is pretty much a standard.  The first multiplayer shooter game I ever played.  The single player was a lot of fun too, but it was the 4 player multiplayer that made this game stand out.  After it was first released, a friend had a birthday party sleep over with like 10 kids and we stayed up all night rotating playing the death matches.  It was such a rush at the time to play like that.  It really turned gaming around for me and made me interested in FPS games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Phoenix87x on June 09, 2015, 05:40:43 AM
Blitz- Absolutely love blitz and enjoyed this more than any Madden game


Goldeneye, both game and movie  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on June 09, 2015, 08:21:22 AM
I did not get Goldeneye's appeal until after N64's cycle. Mind you, Quake2 came out not long after, and I was already in the midst of playing Quake1 online. So sorry to Goldeneye, but it did not resonate at all because A) Q2 looked much better of course, B) Keyboard & mouse >>> controller, and C) Network play.

That stated, and I know I mentioned it earlier in this thread; Goldeneye was ground-breaking for playing FPS's on a console. I also think the control stick was the first of it's kind, and allowed for easier free look than a 4 position pad. And hearing, and seeing everyone (including my friends in that time period) play it, and speak fondly of it, I understood it more. It also I think paved the way for more realistic FPS games. I could be wrong, but many FPSs of the time were more sci-fi, whereas Goldeneye had things more grounded in reality setting wise. I can only think of Wolfenstein being set in a more realistic environment.

And what is overlooked at times is the single player. It was done extremely well, and followed the movie the best it could I felt. The scenes from the movie were all there, and the amount of weapons was very cool.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 09, 2015, 09:27:13 AM
Two great games there. I loved Blitz and Goldeneye was a classic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on June 09, 2015, 10:29:29 AM
Goddamn did I used to love Blitz. I played it at lunch nearly every day my first semester at college and Goldeneye is HOF all day. Fantastic choices.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on June 09, 2015, 12:18:37 PM
Played Goldeneye a ton as a kid. Classic game. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Chino on June 09, 2015, 12:19:53 PM
NFL Blitz, NHL Hitz, and Slugfest were all amazing. I wish they made those games on new consoles.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on June 09, 2015, 10:58:04 PM
Me too about Blitz. I would like to see them make the AI customizable though- the consistent comebacks got annoying at times.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 19, 2015, 05:32:15 AM
Sorry for the delay, been doing a lot of travel for work lately and haven't had the time to continue, I will try to continue later today.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 20, 2015, 03:17:56 AM
13
Sonic 2
Sega

(https://howlongtobeat.com/gameimages/250px-Sonic2_European_Box.jpg)
(https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/genesis/a/sonic2-2.gif)

This was a classic childhood game.  I got a Sega at a young age, around the time when it was first released and it came with the original Sonic game which I very much loved, but it was the 2nd game that really blew me away and had the replay value.  The speed of the game is one characteristic that was really fun, how you can spin and wind up and then boom fly through a level and launch off ramps into the sky.  It was so fun to find the secret spots and just see where you end up.  The level designs were fantastic and had such distinct differences as you go through each zone.  Another huge stand out were the boss fights.  Fighting off the different robots of Dr Robotnik was so cool as a kid and they were usually fun to play as well.  The casino zone and the airplane zone at the end were two of my favorites.  Just so much fun as a kid.  I bought the remasters for xbox 360 when they came out and had some fun with them.

12
Team Fortress 2
PC/Xbox 360

(https://static.planetminecraft.com/files/resource_media/screenshot/1506/tf2_group8601895.jpg)
(https://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/team-fortress-2-mac.jpeg)

It's possible I put more hours into this game than any other.  I already listed Counterstrike on my list and this game has the same type of feel, but a cartoonish version.  I started playing this game on the PC back when I started playing counterstrike.  At that time, I was not into this one as much.  I played it time to time and enjoyed it, but I was really into CS and hence this game was on the back burner most of the time.  It wasn't until the Orange Box for Xbox 360 came out that I found new love for this game.  I spent countless hours after work coming home and just having a blast.  The cartoonish characters and thier specific classes gave this game its own feel and seperated it from other shooters.  I think getting good at it also really helped with my enjoyment.  My "best" stats on the 360 were pretty insane IMO.  My favorite class was the engineer, I just loved building and defending my sentries in the defensive mode or sometimes slowly moving them up towards the other base or flag in a more offensive mode depending on the flow of the game.  THis game is so good and so much fun that I still play it time to time.  The difference of the classes and the maps lead to a really good balance to the game.  I should also add that the blood and gore is also awesome  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 20, 2015, 07:19:30 AM
I loved Sonic 2, one of the first games I remember playing!

As for Team Fortress, I spent so many hours playing the first one but I never played the second. I always think to myself that I'll play later. I should try it sometime soon I guess.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on June 20, 2015, 01:37:08 PM
I've got over a thousand hours in TF2, amazing game in every way.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 21, 2015, 07:31:11 AM
Jesus, I have a problem with sticking to a game. I think it's because my steam library is too large, I have well over 200 games but most I've played less than 4 hours. Dota 2 and Smite being the exception.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 21, 2015, 10:09:10 AM
A game like TF is easy to clock up hours over time because its so simple to just hop into a game and enjoy it, doesn't require a lot of skill to have fun either. I guess that's why I like FPS games in general. I often don't have hours to spend at a time to play more detailed and sophisticated games. I like to be able to just be a few clicks away from a fast paced multiplayer game that doesn't require me to spend much time playing to feel satisfied.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on June 21, 2015, 10:53:50 AM
and, unlike most CoD/other hyperpopular FPSs I see, TF2 doesn't get boring after half an hour.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 21, 2015, 10:55:36 AM
and, unlike most CoD/other hyperpopular FPSs I see, TF2 doesn't get boring after half an hour.

True as well, the game has lasted for years without a new one and without people bitching for a new one. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on June 21, 2015, 12:15:04 PM
There's no need for a new one. Valve just updates it with new content. Eventually, it might be ported to Source 2, and updated further.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 21, 2015, 12:48:03 PM
Man I remember the days when everyone was waiting for TF2
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 24, 2015, 05:46:52 AM
11
Half Life 2
PC/Xbox 360

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/25/Half-Life_2_cover.jpg/256px-Half-Life_2_cover.jpg)
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/257787-half-life-2-episode-two-windows-screenshot-an-abandoned-russian.jpg)

I had first played the original half life as a young kid.  To me, it was a wayyy better DOOM type of game.  Better graphics, cool storyline, and just a fun game overall.  It wasn't until many years later when the Orange Box was released for the Xbox 360 that I came back to the Half Life series (which by then was the same as it is now  :huh:).  This game blew my mind.  The world looked amazing, the storyline was good, and the levels were well designed.  The game was a first person shooter, but included many elements of puzzles to get to the next area on a map.  The gravity gun was a huge element to what made this game so much fun as well.  It felt so innovating and made great use of the game's engine and physics (which played a large role in the puzzles).  The expansion packs were great too that added more elements to the game play and visuals as well as story. 

10
Red Alert 2
PC

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Cncra2-win-cover.jpg)
(https://megagames.com/sites/default/files/game-content-images/redalert2_l4.jpg)

This was my first RTS game I ever played.  I'll be honest, I'm terrible at these types of games, always have been and likely always will be, but that doesn't mean I can't or don't enjoy them.  I really loved the idea of building my own base and forming a defense and eventually an attack team.  Maybe that's why I am bad, I always followed the same pattern, but that was honestly the way I liked to play.  I loved taking my time (yea another big negative) and getting to the point where I could build the biggest and baddest tank/plane/bomb to take out the enemy and do it in such a large mass that one attack would destroy the enemy.  The single player was a lot of fun, each level gaining more access to structures to build more units and complete the objective.  As a kid though, I always loved the skirmish mode so I could build my army the way I wanted and take my time.  This was also the first game I modded.  There were tools to create your own units and I had so much fun with that.  I spent a lot of time just playing around with this as a kid.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on June 24, 2015, 08:31:12 PM
I am a terrible person for owning HL2, and never really playing it. I had sound issues, and I lost interest at that time afterwards in FPSs and PC gaming.

RA2, on the other hand I played the heck out of. The amount of time I sunk into that game rivals only SC1 & SC2 for RTS. I only like one component of RA1 over RA2- the cruisers/Battleships. They could decimate a coast and part of a base from the water, and be safe without if no subs were available.

While I cannot say RA2 has the crazy balancing of SC that requires new techniques, I like the mirroring of the Allies and Soviets with some exceptions. And I also loved the theme/setting of RA over SC, and any other RTS actually. I'm partial to WW2 stuff, so it fit right at home.

And totally, just messing around with different units was fun. I was more inclined to do Allies, so trying to take out a base with Tanyas, Prisms tanks, or those Chrono trooper guys that disappeared buildings was great. And when the enemy built a nuke or weather plant, using those troops quickly to disappear the threat. Or trying to capture the enemies tech via an engineer.

I didn't mind the Yuri's Revenge expansion pack, but I feel Yuri was too weak vs. the other two. And the loss of mind control tech for the Soviets was a big one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on June 24, 2015, 08:33:40 PM
Love Sonic and Half-Life 2!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on June 24, 2015, 08:48:08 PM
Half-Life 2 is one of the *many* classic games I still have to play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on June 25, 2015, 03:15:46 AM
Half Life 2 :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: jingle.boy on June 25, 2015, 04:55:41 AM
I played a shit-ton of Sonic 2 in University.  I always loved being Tails.  Loved those challenge zones that were just about collecting all the rings.  And damn, some of those boss battles were tough!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 29, 2015, 03:48:04 PM
9
Resident Evil
Playstation

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Resident_Evil_1_cover.png)
(https://pixelfury.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/thedogs-resident-evil1.jpg)

My first dip into the action horror type of game (not sure of the history, but maybe this is one of the first of that genre?).  The horror was what really hooked me into this game initially.  As a little kid, when those dogs jumped through the windows early in the game, I was so scared!  From that moment I was hooked.  The puzzles were really tough I recall as a kid.  I have always wanted to go back and play through again to see if I could complete the game without a guide, but when I was young, I really needed the guide to figure everything out.  But the puzzles were a big joy in the game though, they seemed clever and fit into the storyline.  The storyline was also really cool (good enough to make movies apparently, or close enough).  The survival part of the game made it really challenging as well, it was the first game I played that had some RPG elements in it in that you had limited supplies and limited weight to carry so you had to plan things out.  I really liked the 2nd RE game as well, but the first one gets my vote for its originality and my personal memories of it.

8
WWF No Mercy
N64

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/NoMercyGameBox.jpg)
(https://i49.tinypic.com/2607acg.jpg)

I was a huge wrestling fan as a teenager.  I played pretty much every wrestling video game that came out during the 90s and 2000s.  This one was my favorite of them all.  The THQ N64 WWF games were the best.  The earlier WCW games were great and they just expanded and upgraded them every year or so until it climaxed with No Mercy.  This game had tons of characters, tons of stages, a bunch of fun single player storylines, an awesome create a character, and lots of new game modes.  I also used to have a game genie that could really hack this game and make for some really cool "stipulations" for matches.  Also online forums had CAWs set up for wrestlers who werent in the game, so it was very easy to essentially have anyone you wanted as a wrestler if you took the time.  I was obsessed with creating my own pay per view events and pretending to have my own wrestling league in my make believe world.  I should also add that the royal rumble is super fun to play.  In fact, if I have 3 of my buddies over, we will still fire up a royal rumble for fun.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on June 29, 2015, 03:57:02 PM
The original Resident Evil is my favorite from the PSX trilogy. So eerie.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on June 29, 2015, 04:26:21 PM
The original Resident Evil is my favorite from the PSX trilogy. So eerie.

This. I remember almost shitting my pants when those dogs jumped through the windows.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on June 29, 2015, 05:11:46 PM
I think the REmake is better in absolutely every sense. I might even get the last HD remaster, just for the sake of winning it for the 5th time or so.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 29, 2015, 05:12:35 PM
I think the REmake is better in absolutely every sense. I might even get the last HD remaster, just for the sake of winning it for the 5th time or so.

Whats the difference besides better graphics?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on June 29, 2015, 07:08:32 PM
The remake includes many new areas that were not present in the original, as well as altering the general layout in many ways. The most notable additions include a graveyard and a path into the woods, which feature some genuinely scary moments. Also, if you don't kill a zombie by blowing their brains, they will die for a while, just to revive as Crimson Heads - faster, way more deadly enemies. You can also burn their corpses before that. There are also new weapons, new puzzles, a longer playing time (around 9-10 hours compared to the original 7-8), and an extra subplot about Lisa Trevor. The mansion was also redesigned, and now doesn't feel so "empty" as before, with new decoration according to the building, yet still there's that feeling of loneliness and constant tension.

Here's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llZEtkYWd0A) a complete review video with all the changes explained  ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on June 29, 2015, 08:03:59 PM
Hooray for Resident Evil! The game that introduced me to legit getting scared, maybe screaming, and stopping play. Nothing in life, movies or whatever, made me anxious to do something. RE made me anxious to play it, sometimes choosing not to. A true unsettling environment, and a cool story to boot I feel.

I legit want to get this game (Sweet Home) in a reproduction cart, and it was inspiration to RE. https://kotaku.com/the-nes-game-that-inspired-resident-evil-1687040111

Apparently RE started as a remake of it, which explains a lot as it's the only game of the series that takes place in a home. Of course RE was also inspired by Alone In The Dark, as much as the creators deny it. Regardless, RE was huge, and really popularized the genre. Or created it to a degree.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Phoenix87x on June 29, 2015, 08:09:08 PM
The original Resident Evil is my favorite from the PSX trilogy. So eerie.

This. I remember almost shitting my pants when those dogs jumped through the windows.

This game blew my mind back in 98. Scared the shit out me and I loved every minute of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on June 30, 2015, 12:08:12 AM
Whoa, No Mercy! :metal Still the best wrestling game ever imo. As many features as the newer games keep adding, they still lack a lot of the little things that made No Mercy (and the other N64 THQ wrestling games) flow so well. Not to mention it had the luck of being at the height of the attitude era, so it had the best roster, and all of those memorable arenas.
The graphics sucked even for the time, the sound was crummy because they had to fit all of the theme music and entrance "videos" on there, but it more than made up for it with the gameplay.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on June 30, 2015, 01:49:08 AM
Though I'm a huge RE fan, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I've never played the original game. Planning on getting it soon.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on June 30, 2015, 02:00:27 PM
Whoa, No Mercy! :metal Still the best wrestling game ever imo. As many features as the newer games keep adding, they still lack a lot of the little things that made No Mercy (and the other N64 THQ wrestling games) flow so well. Not to mention it had the luck of being at the height of the attitude era, so it had the best roster, and all of those memorable arenas.
The graphics sucked even for the time, the sound was crummy because they had to fit all of the theme music and entrance "videos" on there, but it more than made up for it with the gameplay.

Nice, I was wondering if I was the only one here who loved that game, and your opinion mirrors mine in that it is STILL the best wrestling game out there.

The remake includes many new areas that were not present in the original, as well as altering the general layout in many ways. The most notable additions include a graveyard and a path into the woods, which feature some genuinely scary moments. Also, if you don't kill a zombie by blowing their brains, they will die for a while, just to revive as Crimson Heads - faster, way more deadly enemies. You can also burn their corpses before that. There are also new weapons, new puzzles, a longer playing time (around 9-10 hours compared to the original 7-8), and an extra subplot about Lisa Trevor. The mansion was also redesigned, and now doesn't feel so "empty" as before, with new decoration according to the building, yet still there's that feeling of loneliness and constant tension.

Here's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llZEtkYWd0A) a complete review video with all the changes explained  ;D

Thanks for the details, sounds like something I should check out.  When I think of remakes or remastered games, I usually just assume its better graphics, but from what you wrote, it sounds like a whole lot more.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: The Trooper on June 30, 2015, 03:59:54 PM
only game that kinda freaked me was the first Silent Hill. Eerie game.Deadspace 2 is also pretty f'd up.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 07, 2015, 06:24:38 AM
7
Super Mario 3
Nintendo

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/57091-Super_Mario_Bros._3_(USA)_(Rev_A)-2.png)
(https://purenintendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/super-mario-bros-3-virtual-console-image2.jpg)

This game is a total classic for me.  Played the crap out of it as a kid and is my most popular game to play on an emulator (on phone or PC).  This first two Mario games were fun and at release, great games, but it was the 3rd that really blew me away.  The world layout of the map gave you options for which levels you wanted to play, there wre whistles to sneak past other levels, there were more costumes to give you abilities, tons of different enemies, boss battles, secret areas, and just a ton of fun.  This was clearly my favorite Mario game from the NES platform. 

6
Battlefield 3
PC

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Battlefield_3_Game_Cover.jpg)
(https://gamingbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Battlefield_3_Screenshots_10.jpg)

While I put more hours total into TF2 due to it being around for so long, this game may have the most hours I put into it in a single year (or two).  I was not a PC gamer before this game was released and after building my first gaming rig, I picked up my first Battlefield game and was blown away by the massive size of the maps, the amount of vehicles, and the overall action of playing multiplayer.  The single player (like COD) is fun and enjoyable to play through once, but that's not the meat of the game.  The 64 player matches was were the fun was at.  64 players in a large map made it feel a lot smaller, but the vast amount of interaction in the world was unlike anything I had seen in a FPS.  The encouragement of teamwork and planning of attack made for a likely win so getting on a server where you can talk to your squad gave you a huge advantage.  I should add that the graphics and the sound were also big reasons for me loving this game, it was beautiful!  I also loved the expansion maps, they added so much to the game.  I did not play the older BF games, but the newer ones are good, but overall have not come as close to this game in terms of maps and overall gameplay plus the nostalgia factor for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on July 07, 2015, 06:27:01 AM
The only thing wrong with having SMB3 on your list is that it's only at number seven. :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 07, 2015, 06:36:39 AM
The only thing wrong with having SMB3 on your list is that it's only at number seven. :metal

He must be leaving room for SMW instead. :biggrin: But seriously, SMB3 is pretty awesome. :metal


I might have played Battlefield 3. Or a Battlefield game. I don't know.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 07, 2015, 09:11:06 AM
He must be leaving room for SMW instead. :biggrin: But seriously, SMB3 is pretty awesome. :metal
Yeah that's pretty much the only Mario game I prefer to SMB3. :lol Keep in mind I've never played the whole of any Mario game post-SNES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 07, 2015, 09:59:23 AM
I actually never owned a SNES so there is not a single SNES game on my list.... yea weird I know.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 07, 2015, 10:02:49 AM
I actually never owned a SNES so there is not a single SNES game on my list.... yea weird I know.

Since you're into emulation, you should fix that! :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 07, 2015, 10:25:02 AM
I actually never owned a SNES so there is not a single SNES game on my list.... yea weird I know.

Since you're into emulation, you should fix that! :biggrin:

I have a SNES emulator and have played a bunch of SNES games in the past at friends houses, just never owned one myself.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 07, 2015, 10:27:52 AM
I actually never owned a SNES so there is not a single SNES game on my list.... yea weird I know.

Since you're into emulation, you should fix that! :biggrin:

I have a SNES emulator and have played a bunch of SNES games in the past at friends houses, just never owned one myself.

Is owning it a requirement of it making your list though? There are games that would make my top 25 games that I only know from emulation (including from SNES).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 07, 2015, 10:33:08 AM
I actually never owned a SNES so there is not a single SNES game on my list.... yea weird I know.

Since you're into emulation, you should fix that! :biggrin:

I have a SNES emulator and have played a bunch of SNES games in the past at friends houses, just never owned one myself.

Is owning it a requirement of it making your list though? There are games that would make my top 25 games that I only know from emulation (including from SNES).

Nope, its not a requirement but its what ended up happening since if I owned it I was likely to play it a lot and enjoy it enough to make my list.  When I think about it, I really don't know why I never had a SNES, I guess i was just more into Sega?  I don't really remember.  I had most of the major game consoles growing up, but never that one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 07, 2015, 10:36:43 AM
We had most of the major game consoles growing up, except ironically the NES. Still played it as a kid though, and have lots of emulated games, including of course the Mario games. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 07, 2015, 11:19:58 AM
He must be leaving room for SMW instead. :biggrin: But seriously, SMB3 is pretty awesome. :metal
Yeah that's pretty much the only Mario game I prefer to SMB3. :lol Keep in mind I've never played the whole of any Mario game post-SNES.
Oh man, you're missing on the brilliant Super Mario Galaxies.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on July 07, 2015, 11:27:01 AM
My opinion: SMB3 > SMW

I can see how SMW could be considered better, but for my money, SMB3 started what pretty much every 2D Mario has tried to emulate since. Even the NSMB series, while really good, is just more levels designed with the same premise that SMB3 had. Lots of secrets, new suits to upgrade Mario with (including the Hammer Bros Suit, which can't be topped), different worlds each with a theme, and sooo many levels. For my money it's the best. Nice pick!

Oh man, you're missing on the brilliant Super Mario Galaxies.

Different topic, but yes. SMG1&2 are fantastic.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 07, 2015, 12:31:55 PM
Well I will say there are two more Mario games on my list and Mario is the only repeat game (in terms of iterations or variations).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: wizard of Thought on July 07, 2015, 04:53:19 PM
He must be leaving room for SMW instead. :biggrin: But seriously, SMB3 is pretty awesome. :metal
Yeah that's pretty much the only Mario game I prefer to SMB3. :lol Keep in mind I've never played the whole of any Mario game post-SNES.
Oh man, you're missing on the brilliant Super Mario Galaxies.

The TRULY brilliant Super Mario Galaxies. SMG2 might be one of my most favourite games of all time, still today I play it sometimes and I already completed it 100% a long time ago.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on July 07, 2015, 06:49:51 PM
I have been playing SMB3 on a loop basically for at least the past few weeks. It has been a good coping mechanism/mind off other issues type of thing recently for me.

I have always been on the fence about SMB3 or SMW as my favorite Mario. Galaxy 1 was great, didn't play 2 or Sunshine, the New SMB games are sweet with a group, and SM64 is overrated IMO. But to me, it always comes down to SMB3 or SMW, because those were my formative console eras.

I think after playing SMB3 a lot recently, it has pulled ahead for me just slightly. I love the suits, and I recently beat a Koopling with all three of the special suits (Frog, Tanookie & Hammer). And Hammer Bros Suit on Bowser it awesome, he can be taken out with just hammers.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Crow on July 08, 2015, 10:02:44 AM
sm64 was revolutionary for its time but by modern standards kinda sucks
3d platformers kinda weren't much of a thing before it tho so that makes sense
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 09, 2015, 06:22:09 AM
Top 5!

5
Mario Kart 64
N64

(https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/5/5f/MK64_Cover.png/300px-MK64_Cover.png)
(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/39946-Mario_Kart_64_(Europe)-2.jpg)

I don't think this has been a pretty much standard on these lists.  The game is just top notch fun with friends.  It's a game that still gets a ton of play in my house when people come over.  It's easy to pick up for someone who (somehow?) never played and because of the competition system they can even be very competitive making it fun for everyone.  There's not really anything negative about this game, besides whenever you play almost everyone wants to be Yoshi.

4
Halo Reach
Xbox 360

(https://www.covershut.com/covers/Halo-Reach-Front-Cover-47486.jpg)
(https://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110213164545/halo/es/images/8/89/Halo-reach-gameplay.jpg)

When listing the Halo games, I may be in the minority by saying Reach is my favorite.  Halo 2 is what usually gets the most love and the original Halo was a huge reason to buy an Xbox, but there is a special place in my heart for Reach.  Maybe it's because by the time this one was released, I had enough Halo experience to actually be pretty good at this game in multiplayer, but the reality is I played the shit out of this game.  It was hard to put down.  The single player was fun as all the Halo games were, beautiful graphics and smooth gameplay... but as normal for FPS, the multiplayer is where it is at.  The maps were enjoyable, the new abilities added a new dimension to the game, and the fan created maps that were used in matchmaking felt like free DLC.  I also find Halo to be the easiest FPS game for a non gamer to pick up and play.  Controls were easy, and it didn't require the skill level of BF or COD to be able to have some fun. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on July 09, 2015, 06:28:40 AM
Mario Kart 64 was a game I absolutely played to death back in the day with friends. Easily among the N64 games I played the most.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 09, 2015, 06:34:49 AM
Mario Kart 64 was a game I absolutely played to death back in the day with friends. Easily among the N64 games I played the most.

This probably applies to most N64 gamers, myself included. :lol Still a lot of fun. Like all other Mario side franchises, I'm a Luigi guy.

I never played Halo Reach single player, but I've played the multiplayer and it was a lot of fun, as is the case with all of the Halo games I've played.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on July 09, 2015, 07:01:03 AM
Mario Kart 64 was a game I absolutely played to death back in the day with friends. Easily among the N64 games I played the most.
This probably applies to most N64 gamers, myself included. :lol Still a lot of fun. Like all other Mario side franchises, I'm a Luigi guy.
I usually go for Yoshi.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 09, 2015, 11:15:44 AM
I've played all of the Mario Kart games except for the SNES and GBA games, and MK64 is easily my least favorite. It has some good course designs, but I could never get used to the awful controls. MKDS and all of the MK entries since then handle much better, and have even better tracks.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on July 09, 2015, 11:24:15 AM
...MK64 is easily my least favorite. It has some good course designs, but I could never get used to the awful controls. MKDS and all of the MK entries since then handle much better, and have even better tracks.

Pretty much this. MK64 put Mario Kart on the map (I don't understand how anyone can like SuperMK), but pretty much every iteration since has been better and better. The courses are great in 64 (Toad's Turnpike and Rainbow Road, specifically are awesome), but the controls are sooo painful. For anyone who hasn't played any Mario Kart, 64 would be the last one I would send them to. It's an iconic game, but there's just better ones. MK8 FTW!

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 09, 2015, 11:46:37 AM
I can't think of any problems with the controls on MK64, and that's even after playing later versions (which are all excellent too). The only one that doesn't hold up imo is Super Mario Kart (and possibly the one on GBA, I can't remember how it handled, but it was Mode 7 just like the SNES one).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 09, 2015, 11:53:11 AM
...MK64 is easily my least favorite. It has some good course designs, but I could never get used to the awful controls. MKDS and all of the MK entries since then handle much better, and have even better tracks.

Pretty much this. MK64 put Mario Kart on the map (I don't understand how anyone can like SuperMK), but pretty much every iteration since has been better and better. The courses are great in 64 (Toad's Turnpike and Rainbow Road, specifically are awesome), but the controls are sooo painful. For anyone who hasn't played any Mario Kart, 64 would be the last one I would send them to. It's an iconic game, but there's just better ones. MK8 FTW!

I've never had issues with the controls, but here is the thing... sooo many people enjoy playing MK64 and will come over and pick up a controller, play, and be competitive... I personally don't know anyone who has any other MK game that came out after or would come over and choose to play a newer one over the classic old one (an assumption if I had a newer one so maybe I am wrong).  That's a big reason for me as I don't care for playing that game solo, but for playing it with company that comes over.  I'm not shooting the newer ones down as I bet they are great games and tons of fun to play with people, my 30 year old self and friends however like to play the older one
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 09, 2015, 12:59:54 PM
Never had an N64 but played a reasonable amount of Mario Kart round at friends' houses. Definitely a great racing game. As a Playstation owner I played a lot more of Crash Team Racing, which was basically equally awesome but only because it was a total rip-off. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on July 09, 2015, 01:53:15 PM
I mean, it could be just me, but I always found the karts hard to control in the 64 game. They have definitely gotten easier for me. As for playing in a group, I've grown up with the whole series and rarely do we go back to 64. For the most part, Double Dash was our go to game for most years. And I don't have too many get-togethers these days, but when I have since getting MK8, that's what we play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 09, 2015, 03:37:34 PM
Thats the difference between your friends and mine, Im like the last one who still actively plays video games so my friends like to play older ones when they come over and not newer, for the most part that is at least.  N64 seems like the best console for gaming with friends these days for me when everyone is in the same room. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on July 10, 2015, 01:11:08 PM
I mean, it could be just me, but I always found the karts hard to control in the 64 game.


This. The graphics also do something strange to me, making feel even worse with handling. The rock stage with no rails and the boo house were routine out of commission tracks for me.. Mario Kart Wii has wonderful controls, and the brief amount I have played MK WiiU, the same. Haven't played any other ones outside of the SNES one.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 13, 2015, 07:02:25 AM
3
GTA IV
Xbox 360

(https://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071128223330/gtawiki/images/d/dd/Iv_boxart.jpg)
(https://eurowallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/GTA-4-Picture-Backgrounds.jpg)

One thing about my list is that I did not want to include more than one iteration of a game so when making my list there was no doubt GTA was one of my all time favorite games so I had to think about which one was the best?  I think most would disagree with my choice, as Vice City had the awesome 80s vibe, San Andreas had the huge map with tons of extras and cool things, 3 was revolutionary with going from 2d to 3d, the first two were tons of fun back in the day, and then the newer 5 is also amazing and has an immersive online world... well to me, 4 was my favorite single player to play.  This was a highly anticipated game for me, finally a xbox 360 version of GTA! The graphics were amazing and the recreation of NYC was done very well.  Being that I am from the NYC area, that may be a large reason why I loved this game, getting a sandbox of the places I knew in real life to mess around with.  Another reason this makes my list and maybe it's slightly cheating, was the DLC.  The Ballad of Gay Tony was probably the best set of GTA missions in any GTA game, they were just so much over the top fun and also adding the parachuting ability to the game.  Being that I've gotten pretty deep into GTA online in 5 now, 5 could overtake 4 on this list, but that is a recent change and I'm not ready to say that just yet.

2
Fallout 3
Xbox 360

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pARaPN42L.jpg)
(https://games-macdownload.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Fallout_3-image-2.jpg)

So my list is littered mostly with FPS, sports, and platform games, but finally here is an RPG.  Based on my list, I guess its apparent that I am not a big RPG fan.Not that I dislike those games, I just prefer other games.  Fallout 3 was really the first RPG game that I became obsessed with.  It's FPS elements are probably a big reason why I got into the game in the first place.  I've played the other Bethesda games that I have since come out and enjoyed them all, but its Fallout 3 that makes my list because this one had one of my all time favorite sandbox maps.  Filled with awesome locations and just an amazing immersive environment of post nuclear war D.C.  Playing the game felt like I was in a movie.  The storyline was great and with the Game of the Year edition, all the extra DLC missions were a huge addition to an already large game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on July 13, 2015, 07:04:32 AM
I have never played Fallout 3 but I hope to fix that soon. Once my steam account gets unlocked.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Chino on July 13, 2015, 07:05:04 AM
GTA-IV .... oof

Just for laughs I went back and played that last week for the first time in a good 4 years or so. That game did not age well. I think GTA-V is superior to it in literally every category.

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 13, 2015, 07:08:46 AM
GTA-IV .... oof

Just for laughs I went back and played that last week for the first time in a good 4 years or so. That game did not age well. I think GTA-V is superior to it in literally every category.

I agree with this.

I'll try to finish my list on time; I am around halfway done. If I do not post within two days of when cramx3 finishes his list, someone else can go first.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 13, 2015, 07:40:20 AM
The Fallout games are great, but I preferred New Vegas personally. Felt the narrative was a little stronger/more interesting. Both great games though!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 13, 2015, 09:14:16 AM
The Fallout games are great, but I preferred New Vegas personally. Felt the narrative was a little stronger/more interesting. Both great games though!

New Vegas improved on some of the game mechanics, but I didn't enjoy the story and "vegas" as much as 3.  Looking forward to 4 though.

GTA-IV .... oof

I knew I'd get negative feedback, but this game was way more fun at the time of release than 5 was at time of release.  Now 5 has really grown on me as I get closer to finishing all the online heists, but holy hell is online terribly annoying with the wait times to get into a game... and then the people who are terrible and constantly die and/or leave the game after spending 20 minutes almost beating it  >:(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Chino on July 13, 2015, 09:36:24 AM
You really need to do the heists with friends. Doing it with strangers is one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had gaming online. What system do you play on?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 13, 2015, 09:39:10 AM
PC, I always play with my brother who plays with me in our "command center" as I call it.  We dont have any other friends who play on PC so we are stuck with two idiots 90% of the time.  Every once in awhile we get matched with a couple guys who are good and then we can play a few missions together, but thats so rare.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 13, 2015, 10:55:16 AM
Oh yes Fallout 3 kicks so many asses  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 15, 2015, 09:42:25 AM
alright lets end this...

1
Super Mario 64
N64

(https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/images/3/3e/Super_Mario_64.jpg)
(https://i.testfreaks.com/images/products/600x400/183/super-mario-64.1348023.jpg)

So there is my only repeat series on my list and I already know from the previous comments that most will disagree about this being the best Mario and that's fine and all... but it is my personal favorite.  This game revolutionized platformers and took the very successful 2D mario world and made it into a fantastic 3d world.  I never had the control problems that others have stated so I really didnt have any issues with the gameplay.  I found the levels to be fun and although frustrating at points, but rewarding to finally get all those coins and collect all 120 stars.  The Bowser battles were fun too!  I just felt this game was as much fun as I could ask for in a game as a kid and to this day, I can still go back and replay the levels and enjoy those fun moments. 

As stated when I started, my list was a lot more based on nostalgia and so there it rounds up with maybe my most favorite childhood memories of video gaming.  I never had a Wii so I never played any of the new SMB games, I bet they are fun.... maybe one day I will get them, but I still enjoy playing SM64 or emulating SM3 for nostalgia.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 15, 2015, 11:30:11 AM
I've already given my opinion on this game, and feel no need to reiterate it.

As for my own list, I'll try to wrap things up and post the first entry by Friday.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 15, 2015, 11:34:03 AM
I've already given my opinion on this game, and feel no need to reiterate it.

Ditto.

But hey, I've got no problem with nostalgia, which would probably be very apparent if I did a top 25 list. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 15, 2015, 12:17:07 PM
This game... is my childhood. The first videogame I played, and the one that made me love them and want to study just work on game dev.

I can even trace most of my musical tastes back to its soundtrack! Truly Koji Kondo's finest work - what a pity is nearly-impossible to find an accessible copy. But I've got it flac  ;D


As for my own list, I'll try to wrap things up and post the first entry by Friday.
:tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 15, 2015, 12:25:59 PM
This game... is my childhood. The first videogame I played, and the one that made me love them and want to study just work on game dev.

I can even trace most of my musical tastes back to its soundtrack! Truly Koji Kondo's finest work - what a pity is nearly-impossible to find an accessible copy. But I've got it flac  ;D


The first world and castle map music are excellent, but the only other songs I can remember from the game are the ones taken from earlier games, and I don't like the re-arrangements much in that particular game.
I'd say all of the NES/SNES Marios have superior soundtracks, along with many of the Zelda games (OoT might be my favourite of his, possibly of any composer, but it's hard to compare them).
But it's Koji Kondo, so it's all good! :hat

Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: j on July 15, 2015, 02:08:02 PM
Dire Dire Docks.

-J
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: nightmare_cinema on July 15, 2015, 02:30:09 PM
I just don't understand why The Sims 3 is not on this list  :sadpanda:
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 15, 2015, 02:36:18 PM
That would require me to have actually played one, which I have not so I have no opinion on them, but from what I know, it doesn't spark my interest.  I seem to be drawn to games where I kill things.  Not sure if that says something about me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: nightmare_cinema on July 15, 2015, 02:40:08 PM
You can definitely kill things in the Sims. Removing pool ladders, setting people on fire then trapping them in a doorless room, electrocuting someone by having them repair a broken dishwasher whilst stood in a puddle, letting the dishes pile up so a swarm of angry flies kills them, letting them run outta air while scuba diving, releasing the kraken on another sim's ship, I could go on... lol.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 15, 2015, 02:41:47 PM
 :rollin

but is that frowned upon or do you level up by doing such mischievous things?  Regardless, that game sounds significantly more interesting now.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: nightmare_cinema on July 15, 2015, 02:45:33 PM
Well there's no formal 'levelling up' unless you count increasing skill levels, but it's pretty open ended really, that's the beauty of it. I've been playing it for about fifteen years ever since Sims 1 and I go months without touching it but have a binge ever now and then and wouldn't ever wanna be without the access to play it, and I do think the third inception beats Sims 2, 3 and 4 hands down. So I mean yeah, if you wanna go for the 2.4 kids, cute dog, white picket fence, successful career, thousands in the bank and a fancy car route you can do that. If you want to make a Sim with evil traits and have him invite the neighbours round for a barbecue and the systematically drown or set fire to every one of your guests, you can do that too :P I'm not generally into gaming (I'm literally scared of even tame games like Tomb Raider to the extent of having to turn the console off) but the scope of Sims 3 is mindblowing. You could play it for years and years and still never accomplish every 'goal' in the game. I even had something pop up the other day that I'd never seen happen before and yeah, I've been playing it pretty intensely for years.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 15, 2015, 03:00:02 PM
That's cool, I do enjoy games that have endless amounts of things to do.  I just always thought the SIMs were like a much more advanced tomagachi where its just about living a virtual life and keeping the family alive and growing. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: nightmare_cinema on July 15, 2015, 03:05:29 PM
Not really, there's no pressure to do that. You can just turn aging off and enjoy your singular Sim and take them on adventures to different countries, own holiday resorts, go to university, become a magician (or a werewolf), hunt for gems, own every business in town, generally have fun. Or impregnate every female in the neighbourhood so you end up with the whole town comprised of your spawn with zero childcare or expense involved. Maybe you'd like it :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 15, 2015, 03:06:14 PM
I just always thought the SIMs were like a much more advanced tomagachi where its just about living a virtual life and keeping the family alive and growing. 
Yeah, that is basically the game, only a lot more detailed than a tamagochi. I played the first one a bit way back when it first came out and it was quite fun, but the novelty wore off very quickly.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on July 15, 2015, 03:15:14 PM
FanTASTIC call with SM64 as your #1. I can pick that up any day and still have a blast. I'll admit that the controls were a little difficult for me for the first week or two but, bear in mind, this was in 1996 (early 1997 for me by the time my older brother could afford the N64) when gamers literally had zero prior exposure to analog sticks. I really can't see how anyone with extensive analog stick experience could struggle with it but I will gladly concede that the camera can be frustrating as fuck in tight quarters when it seemingly refuses to pan to an ideal vantage point for you because it seems stuck behind some imaginary obstacle.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 15, 2015, 03:18:44 PM
yay someone who supports SM64 as my #1!  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: wizard of Thought on July 15, 2015, 03:39:32 PM
Count me in there as well. SM64 is one of the most superior platformers of all time. If you only start beginning to think about later games which were all influenced by SM64. I doubt 3D platformers would have ever become so big without SM64.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 15, 2015, 04:05:27 PM
Well, it was #2 on my list so I appreciate it being at the top of yours ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on July 15, 2015, 04:07:10 PM
Great game. Recently played it for the first time using an emulator and really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 17, 2015, 08:57:52 AM
I have a few things to say before I begin. This list will be 10 entries rather than 25, with a maximum of one entry per franchise. This way, the list will not be dominated by, let's say, Nintendo. Or, now that I look at my finished list, it may be more accurate to say that it will not be dominated to quite an extreme extent. At the same time, this list is NOT a list of my top 10 game franchises. Additionally, I would rather have 10 games that I can say a lot about rather than 25 games that I can not write about as extensively.

Most of the games on this list are from the 6th and 7th generations of consoles, so something about modernity could tie into the thread title.

I plan to post 1 write-up a day, so this should be done in under two weeks. Now, let's begin!

10. Dead Nation (PSN)

(https://www.aripulkkinen.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/projects/project_dn.jpg)

If not for an unfortunate event, I would never have played this gem. Those of you who own PS3s may remember when the PSN went down a few years back. When it finally returned, Sony reimbursed its customers with free swag, including a choice of two games from a selection of five. Dead Nation was one of them.

The game is a top-down shooter set during a zombie apocalypse. Over the course of the game's ten levels, the game's protagonist Jack fights through hordes of zombies in order to reach the end zone. The only weapon available at the start is the rifle, which is easily the most versatile weapon in the game. Unlike the other guns, it has infinite ammo and can charge its shots. When charged, it becomes much more powerful, but your movement speed is significantly reduced. Mastering the rifle is key to conquering Dead Nation.

Of the other weapons, I only found a few to be useful. My favorite is a gun that shoots huge spinning blades that can massacre an entire swarm in one shot. The other important one is the launcher, which is almost mandatory when it comes to quickly eliminating the stronger mutants. The remainder of the available arsenal is not all that practical. Some of them, such as a weapon that can shock an entire horde of zombies and the SMG, are too weak, even when fully upgraded, to be useful. Others, like the shotgun, are made obsolete by the Rifle/Blade/Launcher combo.

Equipment, on the other hand, tends to be much more versatile. Each has its own niche that makes it a critical addition to one's arsenal. With the exception of the Molotov, every one attracts zombies. However, each has its own perks. Zombies swarm at a flare, allowing you to easily eliminate them with a single blade. The mine explodes multiple times. The Molotov sets the zombies on fire, allowing you to sneak by untouched. Every one is a critical part of your loadout, and their proper management is key to survival.

Killing zombies and finding loot will grant you money that can be used to upgrade these weapons. The weapons become significantly stronger with each new level. Proper money management will make the game much easier, though still fairly challenging on the higher difficulties.

There are multiple types of special zombies; the Bombie makes a suicide rush and explodes. The Mouth attracts other zombies. The Slasher can easily kill you in one hit. These varieties of the undead tend to be able to take much more damage than the lesser enemies, making the Launcher almost mandatory when confronting them.

And finally, the difficulty of the game. Dead Nation, from my experience, sports a somewhat steep learning curve. It is not nearly as extreme as, let's say, a technical fighting game, but it still takes some time to get used to. The game mechanics have some nuance to them that makes them slightly difficult to learn. For example, the direction you aim impacts your movement speed. Each weapon is most useful in certain situations, and you will be forced to switch between them on the fly in order to survive. This is not a game that can be beaten on the higher difficulties by running around and shooting everything in sight. Strategy is required to get through many sections of the game.

The last thing I want to talk about is the Road of Devastation DLC. It adds a new game mode, where you fight through various routes. You are given a choice of three main routes every round, each of which has two subroutes that branch off partway through. In each route, you are unlikely to encounter the specialties of other routes in high quantities. For example, money is bountiful in the money route, somewhat present in the health route (the other subroute connected to it), and is almost nonexistent in the others.

The biggest change in gameplay is the new equipment piece, the turret. It will attack any zombies that come within its range. They are critical to clearing the massive end-route swarms, as a combination of them and other equipment will allow you to concentrate on defeating the stronger types of zombies with the Launcher.

The route choice is very important; you are unable to go through the same route in two consecutive rounds, so repeating the easiest route (Health) over and over is impossible. You have five or so rounds to build your loadout through route choice before Slashers begin to appear, and the game becomes much more difficult.

The main game itself is one of the most fun arcade-style titles I have played. The DLC, rather than providing more levels, changes things just enough to keep the game interesting. The combination of the two produced a title that easily deserves a place on this list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 18, 2015, 03:34:14 PM
So...no one cares about Dead Nation? I know that it is a somewhat obscure game, but I would have thought that at least one person here has played it. Maybe this next entry will get more attention...

9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3)

(https://media.ign.com/games/image/object/143/14349500/blackopsps3.jpg)

I have mentioned several times in this thread that my favorite Call of Duty title is Black Ops, mainly when people included Modern Warfare 2 in theirs lists. Now, I will finally explain why.

First, a brief history of the franchise. The first three titles are standard WW2 shooters of little note. The fourth game, Modern Warfare, made many improvements to the online experience. It introduced custom loadouts and killstreaks, which have become a staple of online shooters since then. World at War, developed by Treyarch, implemented these changes into the series' traditional setting. I have found all of the non-Treyarch games since then mediocre. Modern Warfare 2, generally considered the high point of the series, suffers from crippling balancing issues and questionable design choices.

Then came Black Ops.

It has one of the most balanced multiplayer experiences in the entire franchise, and more importantly, you die in more than 2 hits. It is no longer a game of "I saw you first, you die", as now the assaulted has an opportunity to react. The killstreaks, which had gone way too far in Modern Warfare 2, have been scaled back significantly in power and no longer stack, thus rewarding good gunplay instead of killstreak farming. I had a lot of fun with the multiplayer modes, and I generally do not even like competitive (as contrasted with cooperative) online games.

Zombies is the best part of the game, and is the reason I included it on my top games list. Yes, I know that the previous entry was also a zombie game, but their back-to-back placement is a coincidence. I swear!

Zombies was introduced in the previously mentioned World at War, and each map adds new features and increases the mode's complexity. The original map was barebones, while the other World at War maps implements features, namely the power, traps, perks, Pack-a-Punch, wonder weapons, and special rounds, that tend to heavily improve the Zombies experience as a whole. Starting with Black Ops, the new features exist mainly to set each map apart from the others, and are rarely reprised on future maps.

(If you do not want to read my rather long explanation of the mode, you can skip to the [resume here] tag further down)

Zombies mode starts on Round 1, and the number, HP, spawn speed, and aggressive behavior of the zombies increases with every passing one. You start out with a pistol, though repairing barriers and damaging and killing zombies earns you  points that can be used to buy better weapons, among other things. The initial goal in most maps is to turn on the power, which unlocks perks, traps, Pack a Punch, and map-specific features. In order to do this, you must buy doors with the points I mentioned earlier in this paragraph. At the same time, purchases must be balanced between perks, weapons, doors, upgrades, and so on. Point management is crucial to survival in Zombies, and is one of the most important skills to master.

The other critical skill is moving, and thereby the manipulation of the zombies. They will always take the shortest path to the player, which led to the most common and effective Zombies strategy, training. By constantly moving in circles, players can force the zombies to form a 'train' behind them, allowing for easy elimination. Of course, it is a lot more nuanced than this. Once various train forms, dodging techniques, the location of the train itself, zombie slaying, and numerous other topics are taken into consideration, training actually reveals itself to be a rather complex skill.

Each game of zombies on most maps can be split into three parts: early rounds, transition rounds, and high rounds. The goal of the early rounds (generally the first 10 or so) is to maximize points and unlock as many important areas of the map as possible. Killing zombies in different ways yields differing point quantities, with the riskiest method, the knife, being the most rewarding. I will not go into all the nuances of maximizing points, but it is a lot trickier than it sounds, and is one of the most difficult Zombies skills to master.

The goal of the transition rounds (from round 10ish to whenever setup is complete) is to obtain your endgame setup, which includes both perk and weapon choices. You can only have 4 perks at once without obtaining a certain power-up, and most maps have more than 4 perks available. Weapon choice generally includes a Wonder Weapon (the only weapons that are able to effectively kill during really high rounds) and a point gun (a weak SMG on most maps) or backup weapon, and possibly a secondary grenade. The best weapons are only included in the Mystery Box, which give away a random weapon for a price. Once all of the important perks are obtained, weapons are bought and upgraded, and all important areas and features of the map are unlocked, the high rounds begin.

High round gameplay is a process of repetition and improvisation. The player will generally want to go for a safe strategy, though unexpected spawns and other occurrences may catch one off guard. Quick thinking is critical. As the rounds go by, ammo will become a problem, even with the wonder weapons. The game will continue until the player's death.

[resume here]

So, now that that is out of the way, why did I pick Black Ops? Zombies has appeared in three Treyarch titles: World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops 2. World at War set up the basics of the mode, and has several classic maps. Black Ops starts adding map-specific features, making each map play really differently from all the others. It also added in optional side quests that expand the Zombies storyline. Black Ops 2 took the complexity to a whole new level. Even though it has my two favorite maps (Mob of the Dead and Origins) and Die Rise, which is also very solid, I do not really care for the other BO2 maps. Every BO and WaW map is at least good, though the engine of WaW (it is almost impossible to execute a knife attack without lunging into the zombies, among other issues) pisses me off to no end. BO, for the most part, fixed these issues, and I therefore consider it to be the pinnacle of Zombies.

I have not even mentioned Co-op yet. This write-up is long enough as it is, so I will simply say that playing this game with other people is one of the most fun multiplayer gaming experiences I have ever had.

Even with my interest in gaming fading, I still pull out this game every month or so. It therefore deserves a spot on my top games list by virtue of play time alone, not to mention the quality of said time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 18, 2015, 04:03:52 PM
Never heard of Dead Nation, but I'm not a big fan of zombie-based games tbh  :P

Always wanted to check the Black Ops titles, but I've lost all interest in FPSs this last year, and focused on story-driven games - therefore I might never check it. It seems like a hell lot of fun though!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 18, 2015, 04:18:45 PM
Always wanted to check the Black Ops titles, but I've lost all interest in FPSs this last year, and focused on story-driven games - therefore I might never check it. It seems like a hell lot of fun though!

It's been a while since I tried out the actual multiplayer modes in BO, so I have no idea if they are still active.

If you want to try an FPS with a good story, one that you most likely have not played will be coming up in a few entries.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on July 18, 2015, 04:41:20 PM
I've never played Dead Nation but it sounds like something I'd be interested in.

As far as Call of Duty goes I only ever played World at War and I loved that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 19, 2015, 03:12:39 PM
I don't have as much to say about today's entry, but it is just as good as the others. And most of you have probably played it.

8. Bioshock (PS3)

(https://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/object/793/793104/bioshock_ps3_esrbm.jpg)

This is a game that has appeared on multiple lists, and for good reason. It is one of the best single player shooters in recent years. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

The game starts off with the main character's plane crashing in the ocean. He survives, and finds a lighthouse containing a bathysphere. He enters it, and then finds himself in one of the most compelling fictional settings within recent memory.

Bioshock's atmosphere and fusion of FPS and RPG elements drew me to the game. The underwater utopia of Rapture gives off a feeling of emptiness, of a once-great civilization that has collapsed as a consequence of its own hubris. Its residents have gone mad, and the city itself has decayed. As a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this aesthetic very appealing.

The gameplay is a primarily based on strategy. Using plasmids, genetic enhancements that grant fantastic abilities, fights can be approached in numerous ways. Many plasmids allow you to take advantage of your surroundings. My favorite application is placing proximity mines on a propane tank, and using telekinesis to launch it at the game's stronger enemies.

Partway through the game, you are given a camera that allows you to, well, take pictures. Each snapshot of an enemy levels up your research on that variety of foe, and can grant benefits ranging from increased damage to immunity from some of its attacks and even the automatic hacking of mechanical enemies.

Each weapon in the game has its own niche, and multiple ammo types. Each is at its best in certain situations, and has limited ammo, so strategic usage is critical for survival.

And now, the story. I normally abhor plot twists, and see them as nothing more than a cheap tool to excite audiences through shock factor, but the one in Bioshock is an exception. It ties into gameplay in a way that is genius in hindsight. The story in Bioshock is very well done, and is one of the best in the medium.

In summary, this game is amazing. The game exudes a chilling atmosphere, and the combat is surprising complex and open-ended. If you have yet to play it, would you kindly do so?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ReaperKK on July 19, 2015, 03:15:42 PM
I love BioShock, I enjoyed Infinite more simply because I thought the gameplay was a bit better.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 19, 2015, 03:38:29 PM
Although is my least favourite of the trilogy, I still think it's all kinds of awesome. I'm eager to see what Ken Levine will do on his next project.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Crow on July 19, 2015, 04:19:36 PM
ahh yes, beershark, a good FPS/horror game thing that i'm like 90% sure i talked about before

mm yes good choice
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 20, 2015, 05:37:47 AM
Love the original bioshock  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 20, 2015, 07:45:53 PM
7. Super Smash Bros for Wii U (Duh...)

(https://blogs.denverpost.com/videogames/files/2014/10/Smash-Bros.-Wii-U-Box-Art-210x300.jpg)

It took four entries, but we finally reach the first Nintendo title on this list. By no means is it anywhere close to being the last.

In the original Super Smash Bros, characters from Nintendo franchises were brought together to fight each other. The series is unique among fighting games for its lack of hit points; instead, the goal is to knock opponents offstage. Damaging opponents increases their percentage, which allows them to be knocked back more easily.

The sequel, Super Smash Bros Melee, used to be my favorite in the series. The game plays much faster than its predecessor, and expands the game with more characters, modes, and so on. The biggest improvement is the use of the Gamecube controller, which I feel is far superior to that of the Nintendo 64 (sorry, Chino). The controller works perfectly for Smash; it fits comfortably in my hand, and the focus on the A button complements the game's control scheme, and allows attacks to be easily combined with jumps.

Brawl is the worst in the series. It plays veeerrrryyyy ssssllllooowwwwwwllllyyyyyyy. For an idea of its poor game design, it implemented random tripping. Yup, you heard that right. Random. Fucking. Tripping. For a game with a competitive scene as big as Smash, the introduction of unnecessary elements of spontaneity is fatal. That is far from all of the gripes I have with the game, but this write-up is about its sequel, so I will cut this rant short.

Super Smash Bros for Wii U combines the competitive nature of Melee and the casual appeal of Brawl. It is nowhere near as fast or technical as Melee, but the gameplay still retains a great level of depth.

Smash has a deceptively simple control scheme. Input from three buttons and a control stick allows for 23 different attacks (a jab, 3 tilts and smashes each, 5 aerials, 4 specials, a dash attack, a grab, a pummel, four throws, and, for some characters, a Zair). In addition to these attacks, their is also a shield that allows for defensive maneuvers. They are all fairly easy to execute, and there are no long button sequences to master. Smash revels in the simplicity of its control scheme.

Outside of multiplayer matches, a score of other modes also exists. These range from Classic to All Star to Events to some new modes, several of which were notably missing from the 3DS incarnation of Smash. The Wii U version is a much more complete game.

The main appeal of Smash is its multiplayer suite. Like with the rest of the game, there is a ton of options. You can play seriously, without items, on stages that have no random elements. Or, you could play on stages with various hazards and with items for a more spontaneous experience. The multiplayer modes in Smash are expansive, and make it the perfect party game.

I have only recently become interested in competitive play, so I cannot go over it all that well. I do know that the skill ceiling for the game is very high, and an extraordinary amount of depth arises from its fairly simple controls. It is a complex, but highly rewarding, game, and possesses a charm that sets it apart from other fighting games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 20, 2015, 09:45:26 PM
I've only played the original and Melee (and a bit of the newest one on 3DS), and I didn't like Melee anywhere near as much due to the faster pace that takes the skill out of it, too many level hazards, and the bad GC controller (those analogue triggers aren't good enough for pressing quickly for grab attacks).
It sounds like the one for Wii U has gotten a good balance after a few versions of experimenting, and the roster keeps getting better. I don't know how similar the 3DS game is, but from what I've played of it, that was great.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Chino on July 21, 2015, 06:50:27 AM
Brawl is absolutely the worst. That fucking smash ball ruined everything. No one ever wants to turn it off.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 21, 2015, 07:32:06 AM
I've only played the original and Melee (and a bit of the newest one on 3DS), and I didn't like Melee anywhere near as much due to the faster pace that takes the skill out of it, too many level hazards, and the bad GC controller (those analogue triggers aren't good enough for pressing quickly for grab attacks).
It sounds like the one for Wii U has gotten a good balance after a few versions of experimenting, and the roster keeps getting better. I don't know how similar the 3DS game is, but from what I've played of it, that was great.

Melee requires a lot more skill. It is easily the most technical of the series, though the Project M mod for Brawl may come close. I suck at it, which is a large part of why I prefer the Wii U game.  :biggrin: As for the GameCube controller, I'm pretty sure that we have had this discussion before. I actually like the analogue triggers, which are used for shielding, not grabbing. That is done with Z (or A while shielded), a button that is kind of hard to reach, though I never had any issues with it.

There are many differences between the two. The Wii U and 3DS versions both have the same roster. However, the 3DS version only has Classic, All-Star, and Stadium modes for Single Player. The Wii U version has an improved version of Classic and a bunch of other modes such as Events. The multiplayer suite for the 3DS game is also rather limited. You may remember Special Smash/Melee/whatever from the titles you have player. This mode is only in the Wii U version. Aside from those differences, each title has its own, completely different, selection of stages. The Wii U game is much more complete.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 21, 2015, 07:49:44 AM
Melee requires a lot more skill. It is easily the most technical of the series, though the Project M mod for Brawl may come close. I suck at it, which is a large part of why I prefer the Wii U game.  :biggrin: As for the GameCube controller, I'm pretty sure that we have had this discussion before. I actually like the analogue triggers, which are used for shielding, not grabbing. That is done with Z (or A while shielded), a button that is kind of hard to reach, though I never had any issues with it.

Are you sure the triggers doesn't still act as grab? I've never ever used blocking in SSB. :lol
Either way I remember grabbing was a son of a bitch in Melee because of that controller, and the afterthought Z button was just as bad if not worse anyway.

I do recall that the 3DS version was somewhat limited in game modes, I just wasn't sure how similar the core gameplay was for character handling and moves, because I remember that being quite good. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 22, 2015, 07:48:00 AM
6. Borderlands 2 (PS3)

(https://wirelessmedia.ign.com/wireless/image/object/094/094189/borderlands2ps3m.jpg)

Ah, Borderlands 2. Where do I even begin?

Borderlands 2 is an FPS with heavy RPG elements. As you traverse the game's environments, opening chests and defeating enemies grants weapon drops. The stats of each gun or piece of equipment is randomized, meaning that there are literally millions of different guns in the game. Finding stronger weapons, weapons with special attributes, or the elusive legendary tier weapons is a satisfying endeavor. The quest to obtain a better loadout never ends.

Outside of weapons and equipment pieces, each character class has its own unique skill tree and special attributes. The most significant one is an action skill unique to each class. Leveling up grants skill points that can then be spent on perks. Though these stat increases are fairly small at first, they eventually become ridiculous. For example, I played as Maya the Siren, whose action skill, the Phaselock, renders an enemy helpless, allowing for easy elimination. Eventually, I bought skills that greatly improved it. My Phaselock pulls nearby enemies to it, deals damage of all four non-explosive elemental types to said enemies, greatly increases my fire speed, damage output, and health regeneration throughout its duration, and, if the enemy trapped by it is killed, spawns health orbs that actively seek out myself and my allies.

Elemental weapons add a new layer of strategy to the gunplay. Each element, with the exception of slag and explosive, is strong against some types of health bars, and weak against others. Explosive weapons are not as strong as incendiary, shock, or corrosive weapons, but deal consistent damage against all health bar varieties. Slag weapons cover enemies in purple goo, which increases the damage of all non-slag weapons when it is in effect.

Outside of the gameplay, the main appeal of Borderlands 2 lies in its sense of humor, which ranges from crude to my personal favorite type of humor, dark humor (as anyone who has played the Random Caption Game recently should know :censored). Each character has his or her own quirks, and is hilarious. My favorite character is the villain, Handsome Jack. He is a charming, yet sadistic, asshole. Throughout the game, he drops some of the funniest lines I have ever heard.

The humor extends beyond the characters, though. Several varieties of enemies, namely the bandits, have lines that never fail to make me laugh. Many of the quests have names, descriptions, and contents that contain references to and parodies of other works.

Possibly the best short display of this game's sense of humor is this quest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7Gh-EABf0).

As for the DLC, the first three were rather unremarkable. However, the final major expansion, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, is well worth it. Most of the cast is re-imagined as NPCs in a D&D-esque fantasy setting, with Tiny Tina, my favorite minor character in the game, as Dungeon Master. It has some compelling character development, and is one of my all-time favorite expansions.

So, yeah, Borderlands 2 is one of the best shooters I have ever played. It's charm never ceases to amaze me, and I still occasionally play it to this day, nearly 3 years after its release.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on July 22, 2015, 07:51:08 AM
I did like Borderlands 2, but it was far too repetitive for my tastes. I don't think I even finished the storyline before getting bored with it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on July 22, 2015, 12:22:37 PM
Love the Borderlands series, the second one is definitely my favorite entry.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 22, 2015, 02:31:35 PM
Never played any Borderlands games, but they seem quite fun  ;D
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 23, 2015, 07:54:19 AM
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3)

(https://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvUGxheXN0YXRpb25fMy9Sb2xlLVBsYXlpbmcvRmFudGFzeQ==/the_elder_scrolls_v_skyrim_frontcover_large_Ovo03yok6M7kMV4.jpg)

Even though Skyrim is one of the most expansive games I have ever played, I have surprisingly little to say about it.

Skyrim is an open-world Western RPG set in a Tolkein-esque fantasy world. The series has really expansive lore, much of which is chronicled in the various books found throughout Skyrim. The region of Skyrim is huge, and contains many different biomes, dungeons, cities, varieties of wildlife, people, and so on.

There is so much to do in this game. There is a main story, various guild questlines, Daedric quests, one-off sidequests, and other objectives. Or, you could skip those entirely, and explore the game's map. Skyrim is home to many dungeons waiting to be explored and plundered, many towns full of people to interact with, and a ton of beautiful sights and easter eggs. Or hell, you can even spend your time reading books about Tamriel's history.

There are many skills in the game, ranging from fighting skills such as proficiency with various types of weapons, skills associated with each school of magic, and other miscellaneous abilities. Using them will level them up, and give experience towards your overall level. Upon leveling up, you earn skill points that can be spent on a perk in the game's expansive skill tree.

One of my favorite things to do in Skyrim is building my own weapons and armor and enchanting them. With a fully maxed out Smithing skill, you can create armor far stronger than anything available for looting. Plus, Daedric armor looks awesome.

Once you level up, characters can become ridiculously powerful. My fully-leveled Breton can kill most enemies in a few hits, is proficient in all forms of magic (especially when donning a set of gear that nullifies the mana cost of a particular school of magic), and has powerful advantages in both bartering and stealth. After a point, the game loses its difficulty, but the ability to explore Skyrim's well-realized fantasy world unhindered is well worth the tradeoff.

There is so much to do in this game. I have put well over 200 hours into Skyrim, and I have not done close to everything the game has to offer.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Chino on July 23, 2015, 08:29:58 AM
I was just finishing the main quest by the time I hit the 200 hour mark.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 23, 2015, 09:06:31 AM
Skyrim was really great. Not very strong narratively (compared with, say Oblivion or Fallout: NV in the world of Bethesda open world RPGs), but a lot of fun to play and absurdly immersive.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on July 23, 2015, 09:14:36 AM
I sunk a ton of time into Skyrim. My dad's better at it than me though, heheh
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 24, 2015, 05:29:33 AM
I just noticed the thread title; I'm about 90% sure that my name is not "cramx3".  :lol

So, today begins the reign of Nintendo!

4. Pokemon Platinum / Black / Alpha Sapphire (DS/3DS)

(https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/8/83/Platinum_EN_boxart.png/250px-Platinum_EN_boxart.png)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Pokemon_Black_Box_Artwork.jpg)
(https://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll300/78-190-410-11.jpg)

Pokemon is simple in concept: the player must captures the titular monsters in order to defeat the region’s gym leaders so that he may challenge the Pokemon League. The great thing about these games is that they can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. If you want to play through the main story, using only cool-looking monsters taught moves with badass names, you can do that. However, I feel that if you stop there, you will miss out on what makes the series so great. After much deliberation, I have come up with three areas that make this series my favorite RPG franchise.

First is the post-game content. Pokemon games often contain new areas that can only be reached after the Elite Four is conquered. This is often in the form of a Battle Tower or Battle Frontier, though some entries such as Black reserve half of the region for post-game content. Exploring these new areas and completing their quests add much value to the game.

Second is the quest to complete the National Pokedex. The first generation had ‘only’ 151 Pokemon, though the number is well over 700 as of Gen VI. Catching each one of these monsters is a lot of work. Many are quite easy to find, and others can only be found through unique means. Drifloon, for example, only appears on Fridays, and many legendaries are only found at the end of lengthy side quests. Each generation adds new methods of finding and evolving Pokemon, many of which are quite obscure and specific. Some Pokemon only evolve in certain areas, while holding certain items, or when a certain Pokemon is in the party, among many other methods. Feebas even requires the player to feed it certain contest stat raising items to evolve into my all-time favorite Pokemon, Milotic. Knowledge really is power in the Pokemon games; without it, one will never complete the National Pokedex.

Finally, competitive battling. Without going into too much detail, I will say that it is a really involved process that quickly becomes complicated. At the same time, it is one of the most rewarding game experiences I have come across.

And now you are likely asking, “Why did you pick these games as your favorite Pokemon titles?” I could have easily picked any game from the third to sixth generation, but three titles stood out above the others.

Platinum does particularly well in post-game content. There is a new island to explore, a Battle Frontier, and plenty of repeatable high-level fights. The Elite Four gain levels, Gym Leader rematches are incorporated much better than they were in Emerald, and the trainers you paired up with in the game can also be fought. There are thus over a dozen trainers with Pokemon of levels in the seventies that can be fought infinite times, which makes leveling up monsters for the National Pokedex a much faster and more rewarding process than in previous games. In addition, Sinnoh is one of my favorite regions and introduced some of my favorite Pokemon, such as Lucario, Garchomp, Infernape, Cresselia, and Palkia. Finally, even though less than an hour is spent in the Distortion World, it is one of the most memorable hours in Pokemon history.

Black also does really well in terms of post-game content, as half of the region is blocked off until after the Pokemon League. Before this point, only new Pokemon were present, and monsters from previous generations were not available until much later. It really felt as though I was playing Pokemon for the first time. Like all generations, there is a mix of amazing and mediocre, uninspired designs. For the most part, the 5th generation of Pokemon is rather strong. I picked Black because I prefer the technological aesthetic of Black over White's natural landscape.

Alpha Sapphire is a remake of Gen III's Hoenn titles. Like the earlier Gen VI titles, it is a massive visual improvement over the previous generations. After finishing the main story, the Delta Episode is unlocked. This questline is easily the best part of the entire franchise story-wise, sporting characters that are actually compelling and solid thematic exploration. Aside from that, numerous gameplay improvements and additions make creating competitive teams a much faster and easier process.

I cannot pick a favorite between those three, so this entry will be a three-way tie.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: cramx3 on July 24, 2015, 05:43:34 AM
Skyrim is the shittt.  Never played a pokemon game though.

I just noticed the thread title; I'm about 90% sure that my name is not "cramx3".  :lol

 :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on July 24, 2015, 09:57:28 AM
lol 3 way tie

For me, it's an obvious Soul Silver, but Gen 2 has always been my favorite. Don't blame you for putting Platinum there, it's probably my second favorite
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. cramx3's "Chillest of the Chill" list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 24, 2015, 10:57:22 AM
I just noticed the thread title; I'm about 90% sure that my name is not "cramx3".  :lol

 :lol
:facepalm: :rollin
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 25, 2015, 08:07:34 AM
Nintendo's reign cannot be halted.

3. Metroid Prime (GCN)

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/gcn/5/metroid-prime-gcn-cover-front-eu-45807.jpg)

Metroid began as a non-linear 2D platforming series. It pretty much invented a style of game design that focused on exploration, upgrades, and backtracking. Super Metroid is the perfect representation of this style. However, the series was at its best when it made the transition to 3D.

Metroid Prime was developed by Retro Studios, who has yet to make a game less than stellar. Metroid Prime is its best work.

MP controls differently from most first person games. Normally, movement is performed with one stick while aiming is done with a second. Here, both movement and aiming are done with a single stick. It takes a while to get used to, but MP uses every button on the GCN controller effectively.

After a short introductory level, Samus is thrown onto Tallon IV with little equipment. As she explores the few areas initially available to her, she comes across new weapons and abilities. These open up new areas, which contain new upgrades. Which open up new areas, and so on.

As Samus becomes stronger, the enemies evolve as well. Initially, Phendrena Drifts is populated by Baby Sheogorath. After a certain point, they are replaced by their adult variants. Chozo Ghosts appear regularly in their ruins later in the game. Most areas of the game are like this.

The bosses are exceptionally well designed. They are rarely the "shoot the weak point until it dies" sort of enemy. The bosses require knowledge of its attack patterns and weaknesses to defeat.

One thing that sets MP apart from other games is its method of storytelling. There is no narration or exposition. Instead, Samus can scan her environment and store logbook entries on creatures, mechanisms, lore, and a few other things. The last provides a vast backstory of Tallon IV and the present conflict. The narrative is entirely optional. In addition, the world of Tallon IV itself is beautifully realized. Visually, MP still holds up fairly well today.

I cannot talk about Metroid Prime without talking about its sequels. MP2 increases the difficultly, and contains more bosses. The third game is more linear and focuses instead on action, provides a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy's narrative (though in a less optional manner), and has some of the best boss fights in the series. Though neither reach the heights of the original MP, both are great games worth playing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Crow on July 25, 2015, 10:06:11 AM
I never played Metroid Prime 1, only 2. I tried playing 3 but I got bored of the linearity a bit quick.
I know my brother got MP1 so I have a copy of it somewhere, just need to get around to playing it  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on July 25, 2015, 11:07:39 AM
Played MP for the first time last year. It was the first game in a long time to enter my top 10  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on July 25, 2015, 04:03:02 PM
I guess I'm a chump for only playing MP3. But I just had a Wii, and didn't feel like buying Gamecube stuff.

But based on my enjoyment of MP3, I reckon MP1 was the pinnacle, and reckon it is probably fantastic. Going on the 1st person transition, MP1 was a perfect translation of the Metroid world into 1st person.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 25, 2015, 07:01:34 PM
Loved the first Prime, but the sequel rocked my world. Maybe because I played it on the Trilogy edition, which adapted the gameplay to the Wii controls. It was a blast in every sense - few times had I been more iimmersed in a virtual world.

I was quite close to finishing Corruption but my brothers basically destroyed my Wiimotes, and they aren't cheap in my country  :'(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Bolsters on July 25, 2015, 10:03:11 PM
Loved the first, was bored almost to tears by the second, haven't played the third.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: adace on July 26, 2015, 03:22:28 AM
Love the Metroid Prime series :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 26, 2015, 07:09:21 AM
2. Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

(https://images.nintendolife.com/games/wii/super_mario_galaxy/cover_large.jpg)(https://images.nintendolife.com/games/wii/super_mario_galaxy_2/cover_large.jpg)


Mario’s console debut was Super Mario Bros for the NES. After a fiasco involving the sequel, the series found its stride with Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World, both of which are excellent releases.

Nintendo wanted to try something new with the release of the N64. Thus came Super Mario 64, one of the first 3D games. The formula set here, that of an open world with many objectives, is still found in many modern games. Though it is a landmark title, it has one crippling flaw: the filler. For example, many of the stages incorporate a tall structure in their designs. I can guarantee that at least two stars in these stages will require Mario to climb to the top and complete slightly different tasks. There is a lot of redundancy in the objectives, which hampers the strong level design.

Super Mario Sunshine is a controversial entry in the franchise. The camera is unfathomably awful at times, and there is even more filler than in SM64. In that game, any 70 of the 120 stars, with one exception, can be used to reach the final level. Here, 50 (technically 49) are needed. However, not any 50; a SPECIFIC 50 shines are needed to access Corona Mountain. Factor in the addition of FLUDD (which I actually liked), and it is easy to see why this game is disdained.

However, SMS succeeds in its superb level design. It is at its best in the “Secret” levels, where FLUDD is taken from Mario and he must advance using his other moves, only with no safety net in case a mistake is made. These levels suggested that there would be great things in the future of the franchise.

And boy, what a glorious future it was.

That brings me to the duo of Super Mario Galaxy games. I honestly cannot decide on which of these games I like better, so they share an entry. If I had to pick, I would likely lean towards the original, though the second is really close behind it.

The SMG titles are more reminiscent of the 2D Mario games than its 3D predecessors. The open environments are mostly dropped, though with a few notable exceptions, in favor of a more linear path for each level. There are no longer numerous ways to obtain certain stars like in SM64. In return, the level designs are focused and much stronger.

The main gimmick in these two games is the gravity mechanic. Each planet has its own gravity, and many sections require Mario to move between environments of contrasting gravitational properties. The second game focuses less on the gravity elements that were so prevalent in the first, and instead delivers levels more like the "Secret" stages in SMS.

Unlike the 2D Mario games, power-ups in the SMG titles serve more as puzzle elements rather than lasting upgrades. Each affects the way Mario can navigate his environment. The Ice Flower turns any water Mario comes into contact with into ice, allowing him to reach new areas. The Bee suit has a variety of fantastic attributes, such as the ability to cling to certain surfaces. Each greatly enhances the sections they are used in. Really, I cannot understate how amazing the level design in these games is.

I don't know where else to put this, but I wanted to mention that the games' soundtracks are phenomenal. I had both on my iPod at some point.

Now that I have given a general overview of these two titles, I want to discuss their differences. The biggest difference is in structure. SMG has a hub world similar to that of SM64 and SMS, though without all of the secrets. SMG2 is much more streamlined, and uses a world map instead. SMG features 15 main galaxies and a plethora of mini galaxies. The main galaxies have six stars: three main missions, two comets (which usually involve a level or section of a level with special parameters, such as limited health or sped up mechanisms), and a secret star. The mini galaxies are fast, one-off levels. In SMG2, galaxies have either two or three stars, with a maximum of 2 main missions. Consequently, the galaxies do not feel as fleshed out as in the first game. This leads me into the biggest difference in design philosophy between the two.

SMG tends to take its ideas, and use them to their fullest potential. This is usually a good thing, even though some ideas overstay their welcome. The second game is more about quantity; it introduces an idea or mechanic, and then switches to something completely different, even if the previous idea had significant unexplored potential. While the game is never boring as a result of its variety, I wish that it had explored some ideas further.

Next up is the post game. After beating Bowser in SMG, purple coin missions become available in all 15 main galaxies. These levels tend to be either timed, linear expeditions or open-world exploration stages. Some of my favorite levels in the game are purple coin missions. With these levels, the total number of stars goes up to 120. Beating Bowser again after collecting all of them unlocks Super Luigi Galaxy, which is the exact same game with changes in dialogue, a few levels, and the controls. Once the game is completed as Luigi, a short epilogue level is unlocked.

SMG2 does much better in the post-game department. Beating Bowser the first time unlocks World S, which is mostly comprised of levels and segments reprised from SMG and SMS. After collecting all 120 stars, green stars are unlocked in every galaxy. These are often out of the way, and tend to require perfect execution of tricky jumps to obtain. I much prefer this to simply replaying the game. After completing this quest, the final level is unlocked. Grandmaster Galaxy, and specifically "The Perfect Run", are fucking brutal.

Now that I have briefly touched on the differences, which do I prefer? SMG2's average level is of a consistently higher quality than SMG's typical level (especially in terms of comet levels, which are much more varied and provide more meaningful differences from the base level in the sequel), but the very best levels in SMG (in other words, anything from Freeze Flame, Toy Time, and Melty Molten, along with a select few other stars) easily beat anything from the sequel. Despite the few criticisms I have thrown at the games, I consider both to be excellent titles, and the highest point in Mario's history.

---

So, any guesses as to the identity of my #1? I will give two hints: it is the oldest game on my list, and no one else (that I can recall) has placed it on their lists.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: BlobVanDam on July 26, 2015, 07:15:48 AM
I'm calling it now. Custer's Revenge for #1.

I've never played either of the Super Mario Galaxy games, or really seen that much of them, as I've never owned or played a Wii (yet). I mostly enjoyed Sunshine aside from the on-FLUDD platforming levels due to the twitchiness of Mario's controls, but I never finished it, or probably even got close. I've seen Super Mario 3D World, and that looks like a cool game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lucien on July 26, 2015, 07:20:31 AM
 :tup

Won't guess #1 since I don't feel like going through 40 pages
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Genowyn on July 26, 2015, 11:52:40 AM
I will never understand what people see in SMG. The whole sphere gimmick got old for me approximately one second after it started.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on July 26, 2015, 12:03:16 PM
Zelda for #1  ;)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 26, 2015, 12:22:26 PM
I will never understand what people see in SMG. The whole sphere gimmick got old for me approximately one second after it started.

The variable gravity allowed for more varied level designs. The best levels are still those that do not overly rely on it, though. Their prevalence is overstated, especially in the second game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 26, 2015, 01:24:27 PM
Both games are brilliant :hefdaddy.

Superman 64 as #1.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on July 26, 2015, 06:38:00 PM
Wheel of Fortune for #1.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lynxo on July 27, 2015, 06:47:51 AM
Half-Life 3 for number one. Which makes it confirmed.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 27, 2015, 07:07:50 AM
Some of these were very close. Superman 64 and Custer's Revenge barely missed by top 10.  :lol

Zelda for #1  ;)

Ding Ding Ding!

1. Link: The Faces of Evil/Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (CDi)

(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/b/be/Link_-_The_Faces_of_Evil_(box).png/revision/latest?cb=20091010130701)(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/4/48/Zelda_-_The_Wand_of_Gamelon_(box).png/revision/latest?cb=20101030215001)

Nintendo tried to develop a cd-based add-on for the SNES with Phillips. Like its similar project with Sony, it fell through. These failed projects respectively led to the creation of the CDi and Playstation. Unlike Sony, however, Phillips had access to Nintendo's liscences.

So, what isn't to love about these games? They take everything that people hated about the previous Zelda games: competent button mapping, fluid gameplay, non-frustrating combat, good stage design, and more, and threw them away. And who could forget those  jaw dropping, well voice-acted cutscenes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aId1ytCeTb8)? Really, there isn't much to say about this pair of masterpieces. I'll post my real #1 later tonight or tomorrow
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Lynxo on July 27, 2015, 07:13:11 AM
 :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Outcrier on July 27, 2015, 07:41:49 AM
Bull´s eye  :hat
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: ariich on July 27, 2015, 08:07:58 AM
:lol Hadn't even heard of these.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 27, 2015, 10:46:11 AM
Thought it was for real for a sec  :rollin

Goat simulator as #1 then.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 28, 2015, 06:41:44 AM
1. Rayman (PS)

(https://img2.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/packshots/sony-playstation/rayman-usa.jpg)

I find it sad that only one person so far has put an entry from this franchise on his list. This series is exemplary.

The first title in this series that I played was Rayman 3. It was my first proper video game, and it still holds up today in terms of overall design. Its point system, combined with the drive to improve my score, adds a lot of replayability to the game. If not for my "1 entry per franchise" rule, this game would also be on my list.

I then moved on to Rayman 2, which is almost as good. It lacks the replayability of 3, but is still a great game in its own right.

After playing both of those games to death, I tried out the original. And...did not like it that much. It's really high level of difficulty, combined with the shitty PC controls, turned my much younger self off of the game.

A few years ago, an HD rerelease of Rayman 3 surfaced on the Playstation store. After realizing that that game was just as good as I had remembered, I decided to give the original Rayman another shot. I then proceeded to absolutely fall in love with it.

The game looks like a Saturday morning cartoon, and many of the sound effects are of a similar vein. The art style works very well. Considering that this is an early PS title, the graphics are surprisingly great. The multiple layers of backgrounds, each of which scrolls at its own rate, look particularly amazing. The music also deserves mention. I rarely notice music, whether in video games, movies, anime, and so on, unless it really stands out. I not only noticed many of this game’s tracks, but had them stuck in my head for days after playing. Each tune fits perfectly in the game, and can add atmosphere and tension when needed..

The game is comprised of five main worlds, each of which contains 3 or 4 levels of 2-6 stages each. A sixth world is unlocked later. Several of the worlds do not follow the typical platformer themes; for example, one world is composed of musical staffs, notes, and instruments while another is crafted from art supplies.

The gameplay is simple; Rayman can initially only walk and jump, though he quickly gains his signature fists and helicopter, among other abilities. Rayman must navigate his way through each stage to a ‘!’ sign that leads to the next one. This is not easy; while the first world is not too difficult, the challenge increases significantly in world 2, and continues to rise from there. Through trial and error, you will slowly learn the layout of an area and how to reliably navigate it. Very few deaths are cheap. Instead, most of them stem from mistakes. There is a way to reliably get through almost every part of the game. Repeating sections is rarely an issue, as checkpoints are generously laid out… most of the time. The game feels challenging at nearly all times, but rarely gives an impression of insurmountable difficulty. In addition, the levels are really fun to play through. Some levels, such as “Allegro Presto” and the entirety of Picture City, easily rank among my all-time favorite video game levels.

The bosses of are particular note. Each follows an attack pattern which provides an opening to deal damage. Through trial and error, you figure out how to dodge his attacks while chipping away at his health. These bosses exemplify the trial and error design philosophy on display in Rayman.

The only element that goes against this idea is the limited lives and continues. However, there is a code you can enter that resets your continues if they get too low. If you can beat the game without using it even once, I must congratulate you. You are a much better gamer than I am.

Unfortunately, the series took a steep nosedive after Rayman 3. Rayman 4 was supposed to be a 3D platformer that took level themes from the first game, and had the potential to be the best game in the series. However, it was cancelled, and instead replaced with a mediocre Wii-motion-control-gimmick minigame collection. Ubisoft cranked out several sequels to that title, instead of a proper Rayman game. From what I have seen, the recent Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends are a return to form, though I have yet to play either.

Rayman is a platforming masterpiece that I recommend to any fan of the genre. I consider it to be the best 2D platformer I have ever played, and my favorite game of all time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on July 28, 2015, 03:57:23 PM
Rayman is awesome. 

That music stage was brutal at 8 years old.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on July 28, 2015, 04:10:48 PM
I'm not really a fan of platformers (I suck a lot at them), but always wanted to give this iconic, yet it seems to me, a bit underrated, series a try. Will try to get this title soon  :) . Nice list!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Randaran on July 28, 2015, 05:09:33 PM
I'm not really a fan of platformers (I suck a lot at them), but always wanted to give this iconic, yet it seems to me, a bit underrated, series a try. Will try to get this title soon  :) . Nice list!

Definitely start with Rayman 2 or 3. The original is much more difficult.

There are a few different versions of Rayman og and 2. For Rayman og, I played the PS version. Each version has some differences, ranging from minor changes like the music to larger ones like different cage placements and level designs.

For Rayman 2, go with either the PC, N64, or Dreamcast version.

And thanks
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Crow on July 28, 2015, 05:23:43 PM
I LOVE YOU MAN. Rayman is a fantastic game, as are Origins and Legends  :heart
I had the Rayman Forever PC version which is slightly different and adds an entire game's worth of levels, too  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Cable on August 04, 2015, 09:21:38 PM
Next?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on August 04, 2015, 09:32:40 PM
Damn, forgot about this, sorry :facepalm: .

Obfuscation, but he hasn't logged in since Year's end - sent him a PM tho. If he doesn't answer in 3 days, then Parama can start, or any of the "May go in the future" list.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Crow on August 04, 2015, 10:28:22 PM
wow i completely forgot i signed up for this
i don't have a list at all ready tho
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on August 05, 2015, 08:03:14 AM
I'd just skip Obfuscation for now.  If he hasn't logged in for months, I'm sure he's probably to busy with whatever to post a list regularly.  Trying to bring people back into the fold doesn't seem to work well, they need to find their way back here on their own.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Randaran's randy list (pg. 39)
Post by: Sacul on August 05, 2015, 10:49:08 PM
Wow, he replied, and told me to skip his place. So since Parama ain't ready, I'll PM Sycsa to see if he is.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Lynxo on August 06, 2015, 03:10:44 AM
If he's not ready, I can start. :) I have a rough outline of what I want to talk about already.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Sycsa on August 06, 2015, 08:06:37 AM
If he's not ready, I can start. :) I have a rough outline of what I want to talk about already.
Yeah, go ahead, it's my busy season. I'll be happy to do my list starting this October, so bump me down approximately til then.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Lynxo on August 06, 2015, 08:41:36 AM
Nice! I'll do my first post tonight.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: sneakyblueberry on August 06, 2015, 03:57:07 PM
OBSFUCATIONSSIONGDS is back he just PMd me.  Maybe flick him a PM so he can go after Lynxo maybs. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: jingle.boy on August 06, 2015, 06:35:53 PM
I'd like to go sometime... still have my list, just need to do some thought/writeup for it.  Maybe after I've done my roulette - so perhaps over the Christmas holidays I'll commit some time to do it, and go early in January.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Sacul on August 06, 2015, 07:00:01 PM
Done, and OP updated. If after this list any of you in the "May go in the future" list feels like ready, just let me know so you can start.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Lynxo on August 07, 2015, 12:28:45 AM
All right, here we go. There are so many franchises from which I could pick multiple entries, I decided to stick to one game per franchise. I debated wether I should also only pick games I've completed but decided against it since I sucked at video games when I was little and it would really be sad not to include some classic games as well. :lol

25. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are just plain cool. I have no idea why though. It's such a strange concept and execution of said concept. Using logic to explain the Ninja Turtles's popularity will only leave you baffled, for the Turtles seem to defy logic at every turn. Why would four turtles love pizza as their number one food? How could a rat learn the art of Ninjitsu by mimicking his owner's movements from a cage? Why the hell does the buxom April O'Neal always wear that horrendous banana yellow jumpsuit?
None of these oddities seem to matter, as the Ninja Turtles's cool factor overrides it all.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/57218-Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_II_-_The_Arcade_Game_(USA)-3.jpg)

TMT2 is a brawler, plain and simple. You choose a turtle and then fight your way through levels filled with angry Foot Soldiers. The controls are easily mastered and since you really can't do combos it makes the combat much more strategic than you might expect.

(https://38.media.tumblr.com/d924cdd645fd3b4925490c3f13faf855/tumblr_mf6x0besEj1qd4q8ao1_500.gif)

The visuals are amazing! Detailed and smooth and just brimming with the personality you might expect. Little details like cars driving in the background or Foot Soldiers making their entrance by ripping down bilboards makes the whole game feel really interactive. The music are just as good, with plenty of nods to the melodies from the show.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/TMNT_II_Snow_Level.PNG)

I recently played this again and I managed to get all the way to the final boss Shredder. But he shredded me. :( Oh well, at least I now know I'm a lot better at video games than back then. :lol





24. Blade Runner

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/BladeRunner_PC_Game_(Front_Cover).jpg)

Oh man, this was such a cool and ambitious game! I remember my computer could barely handle it (the installation alone took up soooo much space) but man - was it worth it!

The game takes place at the exact same time as the movie with the same name. You play as Ray McCoy - a blade runner who hunts down replicants in Los Angeles. This is a point and click game with some action elements thrown in.

(https://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/medium/2008/01/Blade_Runner_-_Office_McCoy.jpeg)

The big selling point for this game when it was released was the unpredictability - the story would make slight changes each time you played and there were over a dozen endings. It brought a sense of mystery to the whole game. A character who were a human the first time around might be a replicant the second time around.

The gameplay is a primitive precursor to what LA Noire set out to do today. You're a detective, collecting and analyzing clues. It mostly plays like a classic point and click and you get to pick up objects, interact with the environment and talk to several people. The conversations are the highlight for me - the game is filled with so many excentric and interesting characters and the voice acting were awesome for its time.

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/41206-blade-runner-windows-screenshot-combat-screen-mccoy-opens-fire.jpg)

The graphics are a mixed bag. The backgrounds are gorgeous with so many details and cool lightning effects. They feel ripped out right out of the movie. (I think a couple of them actually are). However, the characters themselves are pixelated and placed righ above the backgrounds, which just looks odd! Sorta like the PS1 era Final Fantasy games but a lot worse. But the moody music makes up for it - it's subtle, mostly electronic music.

(https://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/medium/2008/04/1528697C-DE0A-B8CB-E82A69A8DD90ED38Blade_Runner_-_Sadik.jpeg)

This one I haven't played since I was young and I suspect it may not have aged that well. So consider this a nostalgic entry. :lol





23 Batman: The Video Game

(https://s.emuparadise.org/fup/up/54880-Batman_-_The_Video_Game_(USA)-1.jpg)

This one was a tough choice because I really...really...REALLY hated this game as a kid. :lol: I thought it was the hardest thing ever! I never even made it anywhere near the final boss Joker.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pBcUc8YT1BE/maxresdefault.jpg)

Movie licensed games doesn't really tend to be that good. Sunsoft however did a really great job bringing Michael Keaton's Batman into the 8-bit world. How they managed to move Tim Burton's dark, atmospheric world into this game is nothing short of incredible. The graphics are dark and stylistic and you don't even react to the fact that Batman is purple. :lol

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/54880-Batman_-_The_Video_Game_(USA)-6.jpg)

The game is a sidescrolling action platformer. It borrows more than a few ideas from similar games from its time, like Ninja Gaiden and Megaman, and really perfects the formula. Batman's main weapon of choice is punching people (and holy crap, does that feel satisfying) but he also has a few weapons and gadgets at his disposal. It also features some of the hardest wall jumping I've ever seen. (I swear, some of them aren't possible to pull off without hurting yourself!)

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/54878-Batman_-_The_Video_Game_(USA)_(Beta)-2.jpg)

The fact that it's so loosely based on the movie really works in its favor and allow the game to really focus on what matters - which is the gameplay. Even though I never made it very far as a kid, I loved every second of it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 07, 2015, 01:08:25 AM
That Blade Runner game was a good one as far as atmosphere goes and the graphics were great for the time. But I never finished it, I either was too dumb or the game was too hard (probably the first) but I got stuck every time.

Maybe I should play it again.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 07, 2015, 01:18:22 AM
I've played the TMNT arcade game, not the other two. That Batman game looks pretty cool though. It reminds me of some of the other old Batman games I loved, especially on the Amiga 500.

Enjoying the list so far. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: ariich on August 07, 2015, 03:24:19 AM
This could end up being the most retro list yet. :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Lynxo on August 07, 2015, 03:33:57 AM
 :lol

Don't worry, I've got some modern games on my list as well. :tup

That Blade Runner game was a good one as far as atmosphere goes and the graphics were great for the time. But I never finished it, I either was too dumb or the game was too hard (probably the first) but I got stuck every time.

Maybe I should play it again.
Several people I've spoken to have said that the game had problems with important character not appearing when they should (restarts were neccessary) so it might have been something like that. Fortunally, I've never experienced that myself.

I've played the TMNT arcade game, not the other two. That Batman game looks pretty cool though. It reminds me of some of the other old Batman games I loved, especially on the Amiga 500.

Enjoying the list so far. :tup
Batman is super tough but so, so rewarding and satisfying. Highly recommended.  :tup

And thanks!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: cramx3 on August 07, 2015, 05:40:51 AM
TNMT2 was awesome!  That was a great game as a kid although I think I liked the third better.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 07, 2015, 05:55:41 AM
This could end up being the most retro list yet. :lol

Didn't we have a list that was mostly early '80s arcade and console stuff? I can't remember whose list that was.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2015, 08:27:37 AM
This could end up being the most retro list yet. :lol

Didn't we have a list that was mostly early '80s arcade and console stuff? I can't remember whose list that was.

yeah, that was me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on August 07, 2015, 08:33:10 AM
mmmm TMNT2 was awesome. Played that in the arcade a LOT growing up and eventually got it on NES. Such a good game. Never got to Shredder, though, without help from Game Genie. (although I could have in the arcade if I had more quarters!)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. WHO'S NEXT FOR AN EPIC RAP BA- to begin a list
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 07, 2015, 09:06:43 AM
This could end up being the most retro list yet. :lol

Didn't we have a list that was mostly early '80s arcade and console stuff? I can't remember whose list that was.

yeah, that was me.

That's the one! Being a fogey at heart, I enjoy the more oldschool lists. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cable on August 07, 2015, 05:04:11 PM
Echoing the quality of this list thus far.  :tup

Played 25th and 23rd games, own the 25th presently, sold the 23rd. Thinking I may need to buy the 23rd game again. I beat Batman as a kid, and was probably the hardest one I did beat. I agree about the game not mirroring the movie, but had enough details to be very solid.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 07, 2015, 08:02:24 PM
Fucking LOVED TMNT2. There was something really impactful about the first time I saw the game since I'd never seen a 4-player arcade game and that seemed like an amazing feature since even 2-player co-op was a spotty, at best, thing at that time. The sound was about as good as anything else out at the time and that flickering fire in the foreground was snazzy as shit. I remember first really being able to fully appreciate that specific detail about a year ago while playing it at some awesome bar/kitchen/arcade a block from the Superdome®. As an adult, we're able to have a much better perspective about stuff like that since as a kid we usually think "that looks cool but it'll be nice when things look more like real life" but nowadays we can competently notice each generation's graphical limitations and marvel at how developers made the most of what they had at the time.

Ironically, I've never played any 4-player arcade games with three other people simultaneously as far as I can remember.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2015, 09:13:58 PM
back in the early 90's, there was a game show called Video Power where kids played video games for high scores to move on to trivia round, then they played another video game to get to a prize round.  The winner wore a velcro suit and ran around a maze of video games and accessories while picking some of them up and sticking them to their suit.  The ones that were still stuck to them at the end of the prize round were ones they kept.  I remember almost every kid would pick up that Batman game in the prize round.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 07, 2015, 09:25:58 PM
It was weird that it existed in two distinctly different formats since one was the game show you mentioned and the other was a cartoon with stock video game characters like a wrestler, basketball player, monster truck (with stilt abilities!), tomato, and an adversary whom could launch his own detachable fists as weapons. Long live Johnny Arcade.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Big Hath on August 07, 2015, 09:58:28 PM
yeah, that was pretty weird.  Complete overhaul from season 1 to season 2.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Crow on August 07, 2015, 10:36:04 PM
god, the blade runner adventure game is one I really need to get around to playing someday.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 08, 2015, 01:10:13 PM
22. Worms: Armageddon

(https://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/13/12665/1boxshot.jpg)

Stupidly fun. That's really the best way to describe this game.

Worms is an absurd turn-based strategy games where you take control of a team of worms, trying to kill the other team of worms. At your disposal, you have bazookas, grenades or even amazing weapons like the sheep bomb. It has to be seen. Imagine a non-offensive Michael Bay movie starring cartoon characters.  :lol

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZTHXKGq6xFI/maxresdefault.jpg)

The look of the game is entirely cartoonish and fits the mood greatly! The worms themselves all look the same but they have so much character that it really doesn't matter. And you can name them yourselves! Immature as I was when I was a kid, I spend way to much time coming up with different variations of dirty words to name them. I'm not sure they can be properly translated to english but needless to say - there were many variations of "fuck", "dick" and "poop". :lol

(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7025/452618-worms_armageddon_45.jpg)

There are several play options. You have tutorial levels to familiarize yourself with the many weapons at your disposal, there are a series of missions, deathmatches and, off course, multiplayer. I'm sorry Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but this game is the PERFECT PARTY GAME. You will laugh your ass off, cry like a baby and try to strangle your friend in your quest to kill your opponents worms.

Before I stop, I gotta mention the voices. Oh man, they are HILARIOUS! I get giggly just thinking about it.





21. Half-Life 2

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Half-Life_2_cover.jpg)

I was a big fan of the first Half-Life. It broke so much new ground when it was first released and the level of immersion were something I had never experienced before. But...the second game is even better! It takes everything that was great about the first game and just rank it up so many notches, my mind hurts just thinking about it.

(https://gregory.hrycaj.free.fr/news/grande%20half-life-2%2001.jpg)

Just as in the original, you take control of the silent protagonist Gordon Freeman in a classic first person shooter. I'm not usually a fan of the silent protagonists but in this game, they really make it work superb. The game takes place several years after the original and instead of being confined to only labs, you get to explore an entire city after an alien race called the Combine has conquered the Earth in what is known as The Seven Hour War.

(https://www.dreyersmit.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/half_life_2_01.jpg)

You have all the classic weapons at your disposal, including the crowbar from the original game. But the new big thing in this game (boy, Valve sure likes to innovate) is the Gravity Gun and the physics engine. Basically, you can pick up anything and throw it around. And the Gravity Gun allows you to pull objects to you and fire them at your enemies. It is so much fun to play around with! I remember the Ravenholm stage where you could pick up circular saw heads and fire them at the zombie like creatures!

The graphics were mindblowing for its time and I think it still holds up. The character animations and the voice acting makes for a truly immersive experience.






20. Diablo II

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/Diablo_II_Coverart.png)

I never played the original, and still haven't. But when this game was released, my friends went completely insane over it and couldn't stop praising it. So naturally, I had to try it out. And boy, am I glad I did!

(https://archive.org/download/DiabloIiDemo/DiabloIIDemo.jpg)

Diablo II is a hack and slash game. That's basically all you do - click on your enemies to attack them until they die, and then collect their loot. What makes this so great is Blizzard's ability to pull you in and not let you go. You always want to play "just five more minutes", and then you get another cool upgrade that makes you want to play just a little bit more, etc...

(https://opiumpulses.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DiabloII-1.jpg)

The story in itself is nothing out of the ordinary, but there's just something very intriguing about the dark and mysterious style of the game. And the kind of corny voice acting adds to it! I think that's something that was lost in the third game.

(https://www.pelaajanvalinta.fi/WebRoot/PV/Shops/tamsi/5516/0C99/8659/7706/5E15/0A28/104B/7BCA/Diablo_2_PC_1.jpg)

If you're gonna play this game, definitly get the expansion pack as well. It adds so much value to the game, I couldn't image playing it without it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Zydar on August 08, 2015, 01:20:33 PM
Diablo :metal

I played D2 and the expansion Lord Of Destruction a lot, must have been about 10 years ago now. Now I play nothing but D3, but D2 holds a lot of memories for me.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on August 08, 2015, 03:38:37 PM
Well, HL2 is a solid pick, obviously.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Obfuscation on August 09, 2015, 01:29:23 AM
It feels good to be back and am looking forward to this list and the next ones after this. Also keep me in the "Will Go in the Future" list for a bit while I for sure finish my roulette and have my list ready and done so I can have no excuse to take forever again and disappear.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 10, 2015, 05:07:50 AM
19. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

(https://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/05/30/1831644-kotor_cover.jpg)

Here is where my love affair with Bioware started. Sure, I played around a bit with the Baldur's Gate games, but this is the first time I got obsessed. This game is like having sex with forty beautiful girls in a pool of chocolate.

(https://lh3.ggpht.com/sobmPoqky8bnZZ14BZ87OusQPzD_c3BJM89E_hb1oUwACiT_s4C9WP2r5hC31C4IPzc=h900)

The story takes place 4000 years before the movies, allowing the developers great freedom with the material. But don't get me wrong - this certainly feels like a true Star Wars entry! Especially the revelation halfway through the game, which I'm not going to spoil here.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of any Bioware game is the oppoturnity to play things any way you want, and that is avaliable here as well. You get to follow the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force and choose for yourself how to tackle the events any way you want.

(https://www.icxm.net/team/uploads/Star-Wars/Star-Wars-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic_3.jpg)

The combat is turn-based but masks so it looks real time. I would think it's somewhat dated now but I thought it was really cool back then, especially that you could pause and issue orders any time you wanted.

(https://lh3.ggpht.com/KLrypEt7i-G09ShLRVA91jQhopeTG-Ial8JiY8eNqA41DY9uRCmLwO_BH9f3-YTkqFk=h900)

Are you a Star Wars fan? PLAY IT! Are you a RPG fan? PLAY IT! Are you neither? FUCKING PLAY IT AND LEARN TO APPRECIATE IT! Ahem...





18. Rollercoaster Tycoon 2

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/RollerCoaster_Tycoon_2_(boxart).jpg)

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! That could sum up the game right there. Or as a great philosopher once said in a text about the joys of weekends: FUN FUN FUN FUN.

(https://www.holarse-linuxgaming.de/sites/default/files/2009-11-13-8/RollerCoaster%20Tycoon-2.jpg)

In this game, it's your job to build the theme park of your dreams. But that does not only include fun rides - you also have hungry people to feed, employees to hire, finances to track and land to buy. Just as in the original.

(https://paulthetall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Rollercoaster-tycoon-2-screenshot-1.png)

(Yeah yeah, I know, five sequels in a row now. What can I say? I just love the way some developers improve upon their games.)

As the name implies, it's the rollercoaster that's the star of the show. You get to design it all by yourself (or use an existing design) and just go crazy with loops as you see fit. Nothing gives me greater joy than seeing all my belowed guests at the end station of a ride, vomiting up every organ they have or didn't know they had.

(https://cdn.emgn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/RollerCoaster-Tycoon-4.jpg)

The only thing lacking in this game is that is almost identical to the original. So it's not really recommended if you already have that. However, if you want to try out the series, definitly start from here!





17. Portal 2

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Portal2cover.jpg)

I never could have imagined I would have this much fun with a puzzle game. But Portal is something really unique.

(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/half-life/images/7/7f/Portal_2_coop_jan_22_3.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110205173221&path-prefix=en)

The first smash hit that came as sort of like a bonus game in The Orange Box turned out to be just as good as Half-Life 2. Perhaps a bit short and under-developed, we now get a proper sequel. And what a sequel it is!

I really don't want to spoil anything about the plot for those few people who haven't had the pleasure to play this yet, but needless to say - it is hilarious and awesome! The AI known as GLaDOS is back and this time, we get introduced to a new character called Wheatly, who turns out to be just as funny and a great addition to the cast.

As I mentioned, this is a puzzle game. You go through a series of rooms, completing puzzles and levels as you go. At your disposal, you have once again the portal gun that allows you to create portals on walls, allowing you to for example get up on a high ledge.

(https://learningworksforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/portal2-screenshots-7.jpg)

As great as the narrative is, the real genius lies in the way they set up the puzzles. Every new mechanic is introduced to you slowly and at just the right amount of speed, allowing you to feel that great sense of satisfaction whenever you discover how to solve one of the puzzles. Never frustrating enough for you to rage quit but never easy enough to get boring.

And the atmosphere! God, the characters may be hilarious and the voice actors brilliant but the thing that makes me really invested in the world is the amount of detail they put into the settings and the scenery. They tell just as much of the story as the character does.

There's really only thing I don't like about this game and that is the fact that it took so long for me to play it. :(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lucien on August 10, 2015, 06:48:06 AM
The first smash hit that came as sort of like a bonus game in The Orange Box turned out to be just as good as Half-Life 2.

I very much disagree, however I won't argue the game's placement in the list  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 10, 2015, 06:58:54 AM
KOTR is a stellar game.  Talk about getting addicted - I sure as shit did.  There was one mission - the swoop-racing thing - that took me FOREVER to complete.  I was put off at first between the mix of real time and RPG, but ended up loving it

Great game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Phoenix87x on August 10, 2015, 07:05:49 AM
Love roller coaster tycoon 2

Love KOTOR

God, I wish they would make KOTOR 3
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 10, 2015, 07:24:05 AM
Love roller coaster tycoon 2

Love KOTOR

God, I wish they would make KOTOR 3
I thought today about how AWESOME it would be if they would remake KOTOR 1 and 2. Give it to Obsidian so they can properly finish the second one while they're at it. (Since it was so rushed and so much content was cut.) I would buy and play the SHIT out of that!

Oh, and while Obsidian is busy with that, Bioware can make KOTOR 3 off course.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ReaperKK on August 13, 2015, 08:47:43 AM
I'm ashamed to say I never played Kotor, my brother keeps giving me shit to play it but I just haven't gotten around to it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Sacul on August 13, 2015, 10:01:39 AM
Not a fan of Star wars so I haven't played any of their games :P

Portal 2 is...  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 14, 2015, 04:44:54 AM
Sorry about the lack of updates! The plan was to finish up the texts and post them on every lunch from work but it's been really stressful lately so I haven't even had time to even have lunch! But here are three new entries. :)

16. Pokemon Red/Blue

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GMKNSJ9GL.jpg)

So yeah...do I even need to say anything about this one? I chose the originals since they're still the only ones I've played very much.

(https://operationrainfall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/POKEMON-002.jpg)

But they blew my little child mind when I finally got my hand on the blue version. I used to bring my Game Boy everywhere! And when I got home, I popped this fucker into my Super Game Boy and continued.

Unfortunally, I never knew anyone that had the link cable or had any interest in getting one, so I could never catch all Pokemons. However, I got as many as was possible. I think it's about 140 or something? I still have my save file, if I wasn't at work right now I could go check.

(https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/17243/large.jpg)

Anyway, the graphics may make it hard to go back to this one and I suspect the newer games improved on the formula so much it's really unneccessary. But I've had so much fun with this game!




15. Dragon Quest VIII

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Dragon_Quest_VIII_Journey_of_the_Cursed_King.jpeg)

I've always been a huge Final Fantasy fan (at least the classic games) but I never really gave the Dragon Quest series much of a chance. When I bought this game for the PS2, it was my first exposure to the series and it was love at first sight.

(https://s.emuparadise.org/fup/up/150531-Dragon_Quest_VIII_-_Journey_of_the_Cursed_King_(USA)-1.jpg)

First off, this is a true hardcore japanese style RPG. Everything that you associate with the genre is here. But it feels so polished that it doesn't really matter.

The first thing that striked me was the amazing visuals and sounds. The entire game is cel shaded and it looks beautiful. All people have so much character to them. When other games went more and more for the realistic look, this game went for a more cartoony look and because of this, the visuals still hold up very well. And the beautiful landscapes! There's nothing more peaceful and relaxing than being on the world map, looking out into the distance and listening to the symphony orchestra doing its job.

(https://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/614/614475/dragon-quest-viii-journey-of-the-cursed-king-20050516011419752.jpg)

The gameplay is classic RPG - turn based battles, random encounters, big dungeons with a big bad boss at the end. You know the drill, nothing new. But as I said, it's very polished.

(https://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/gamespot/images/2005/317/reviews/699572-583527_20051114_002.jpg)

I also have to mention the voice acting. It's entirely british with very charming accents! It really contributes to the overall vibe of the game.




14. Super Castlevania IV

(https://www.original-gamer.com/og/images/castlevania4.jpg)

Time to go a little bit more retro with my favorite console of all time!

I have a confession to make - I've never played any of NES Castlevania games. And nowadays, they're incredibly expensive! Lucky for me, I got a hold off the first SNES sequel and man, it was NOT a bad way of getting introduced to the series.

(https://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/928/928902.jpg)

Super Castlevanie IV is a sidescrolling action game. You play as Simon Belmont and it's your job to whip your way to Dracula and then whip his ass to eternity. Which sounds kinda erotic when you put it that way, but I digress!

This was released early in the console's life cycle but really, there's no way you could tell that! The graphics and sounds are awesome! There's so many little details that I've discovered only much later. Like in the first stage, in the background you can see little bats. They're hardly visibile but they're there!

And the soundtrack! Oh my God, I frigging LOVE the soundtrack! Simon's Theme made it's way to music player on my phone and I used to play it on the way to work in the morning. It got me so pumped!

(https://images.eurogamer.net/2013/usgamer/castlevania4-spot2.png)

The controls are perfect, and you really feel like you're in control. They're smooth but with a little bit of weight to it. You can attack with the whip in all possible directions. All this makes it so that every time you die, it's because you weren't good enough. And it motivates you to get even better!

I can't praise this game enough - it is so awesome and really show what the SNES were capable of.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on August 14, 2015, 06:22:54 AM
Not my favorite from their franchises but really enjoy both Pokemon and Castlevania IV and their soundtracks, especially the latter (my favorite in the franchise along SOTN and Dracula's Curse OSTs).

Dragon Quest VIII is a game that i played sometimes but just for some minutes, don't know why. Maybe i was tired of playing RPGs.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Chino on August 14, 2015, 06:40:40 AM
For me, Pokemon peaked at Silver. I bought a 3DS to play the new X and Y games and quit after the first three gym leaders.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lucien on August 14, 2015, 08:58:15 AM
Platinum is still my favorite pokemon game, but nobody can deny how awesome the originals are
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cable on August 14, 2015, 03:43:51 PM
Oh yes some Castlevania action!

I'm so mixed about C4 at times. On one hand it is fantastic, smooth, has great music and graphics for the time as you mentioned. On the other, it is way too easy IMO compared to the first 3. A lot of that comes down to the improved controls- stuff like altering direction in air and stair jumping. But overall, fighting Death/Grim Reaper in C4 is much easier to me than in C3.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Ruba on August 14, 2015, 05:11:15 PM
I prefer Half-Life to Half-Life 2. The first has so much better athmosphere, sorta claustrophobic at times. And Half-Life 2's plot is kinda, well, incomplete. Luckily there are two episodes that broaden the story and if we count them as the same game, the two games are pretty much even in my books.

Ravenholm, whoo. That is one nasty level. Especially if you're trying to get that once achievement, where you only use Gravity Gun. Fast zombies are nasty motherfuckers if you aren't allowed to use a shotgun.

I recently bought Portal 2 and I haven't finished it yet. So far I've liked the first one better. :lol Well, probably only because of Still Alive. :lol And I do know that Portal 2 ends with a song as well.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on August 15, 2015, 02:50:05 AM
I prefer Half-Life to Half-Life 2. The first has so much better athmosphere, sorta claustrophobic at times. And Half-Life 2's plot is kinda, well, incomplete. Luckily there are two episodes that broaden the story and if we count them as the same game, the two games are pretty much even in my books.
I feel that way much more about the first Half-Life. The narrative is pretty thin in the main game, and it's only really by playing the expansions and seeing the story from those other viewpoints that it feels more rounded. I would say Half-Life 2 is vastly superior, both narratively and in terms of how fun it is to play.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Randaran on August 15, 2015, 06:31:45 AM
I suspect the newer games improved on the formula so much it's really unneccessary.

Yes, they did. While every generation has some lazy designs, there are still enough great ones in every new game. The gameplay mechanics, especially in regards to competitive play and in-game team building, have been greatly improved.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 17, 2015, 04:28:07 AM
13. Duke Nukem 3D

(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/dukenukem3d.jpg)

"I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum! And I'm all out of gum!"

This is a ridicolous game. :lol: This is a game for the people who enjoy those cheezy, stupid but oh so fun Arnold movies of the 80s. It's a first person shooter where you go around killing alien invaders and saving babes.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/93172-Duke_Nukem_3D_(1996)(3D_Realms)-4.jpg)

What set it apart from other shooters from its time were its (really immature) humor. It never took itself seriously and never set out to be anything other than fun. But it was also really polished and well made - every weapon you found felt useful and nice to use, every monster were fun to gun down and every environment just had FUN written all over it!

(https://static.3drealms.com/media/screenshots/c4e3a7325cd848918422c990935e1e73.jpg)

Duke's cheezy oneliners...oh dear god. Not to mention those pixelated boobies. This is a game that could not have been made in any other time period. The gaming industry were young enough and the society had still not become socially aware of difficult issues. Not to mention the 80's were still fresh in the developer's minds.

(https://www.maku.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/tits.jpg)

However, if there's one thing the sequel Duke Nukem Forever showed, it is that the gaming industry has matured A LOT over the years and started tackling really difficult issues. Duke Nukem just seems like a cartoon character, aimed to appeal at horny teenagers. So while I love this game for what it is, I don't think a new Duke Nukem will ever feel as fun again.




12. Duck Tales

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/nes/0/ducktales-nes-cover-front-72949.png)

Time to go retro again! And this time with a music theme that's so catchy, it'll drive you insane!

Capcom really were the Disney masters. All their games based on Disney property were awesome and that's because they were allowed some freedom with their games. The gameplay mechanic always seems to have developed first, with the Disney character being put in later.

(https://gamingmomentum.com/wp-content/uploads/duck-tales-transylvania.png)

In this game, you play as Uncle Scrooge. It's an action platformer where you travel around the world, collecting treasures. Scrooge has his cane as a weapon and as a means of transport - you can smash enemies and objects with it and you can bounce with it. And let me tell you - bouncing is fun! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lITuHDdhdkw)

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/55364-Duck_Tales_(USA)-3.png)

The levels are really fun to explore, thanks to the many secrets and the great graphics! And you could play them in any order and even revisit them to access new areas after collecting certain items.

(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/11/110494/1557497-934896_nestopia_2009_03_17_17_42_09_67.png)

I haven't played the remastered edition but it's supposedly really good. So I'm probably gonna pick that up.





11. Mass Effect Trilogy

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/9/5/8/250958_front.jpg)

Oh man, these games...oh man oh man...

It may be a copout to include an entire series but the truth is that I bought the trilogy set for the Playstation3 and played them all in succession. It took a lot of time but man, did I have a blast!

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4UeJSoKjWU0/maxresdefault.jpg)

The Mass Effect games certainly needs no introduction - who hasn't heard about Bioware's epic space opera? The epic scope of the saga and the stakes of your mission is just mindblowing - I have saved the world on many occassions in many different types of games, but I have never, EVER saved an entire galaxy from mass destruction before.

It's the presentation, the environments, the plot and the voice acting that provides the appropriate tone. They're all excellent and really well made! Not a single character in the entire franschise feels underdeveloped or uninteresting. You'll happily spend hours upon hours just going around your ship talking to your crew.

And the entire universe is just a really interesting one. It's history and previous wars and political turmoils provide just enough context for the actions that drives its current population forward. You want to know the history of its people because it explains why they look and act they way they do today. It feels so wellwritten!

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OyWurWoxhuA/maxresdefault.jpg)

The battle mechanics were slightly changed between all games, Bioware kept refining and making improvements as they went along. If I were hardpressed to pick one thing I didn't like about any of its games, it was probably changed for the better for its sequel. Like the inventory system of the first one, that got a complete rehaul for the second one.

(https://gamingillustrated.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/MassEffect-2012-7-14-7-18-19-541.jpg)

Many cried about the ending to the entire franschise and on some levels, I agree with the critism. But how the entire thing played were in my mind really interesting - can you imagine a movie maker getting negative feedback on the ending of a movie and a few months later realease a new version with a slightly changed ending? On one hand, it's exciting that game developers get to communicate directly with their audience. But on the other hand, should the loud mothed, butt hurt trolls really have the power to make a company change that piece of art that they worked so hard on and probably really believes in?

It's a double edge sword and a different topic altogheter. But I think it's so interesting! Gaming really is an unique medium in so many ways. And so is this game!

(Also, PLAY AS A FEMALE! Jennifer Hale is so awesome as the voice actor and makes the experience much more emotional rather than the wooden male actor they've got.)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on August 17, 2015, 05:58:13 AM
I've been meaning to go back and play the ME series as the female Shep - agree that the male voice actor is pretty wooden, especially compared with, well, pretty much the whole rest of the cast.

But yes, incredible series.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on August 17, 2015, 07:28:42 AM
Duck tales woohoo!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cyclopssss on August 17, 2015, 07:41:51 AM
Duke Nukem!  :metal Great game, but I didn't think that Duke Nukem Forever was that bad at all. I had a fun ride with it!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on August 17, 2015, 07:44:29 AM
Duke Nukem!  :metal Great game, but I didn't think that Duke Nukem Forever was that bad at all. I had a fun ride with it!

I was pleasantly surprised with Forever.  Got such terrible reviews and I got it free, but I enjoyed it enough to play through the enitre game.  Thought it was better than the reviews.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cable on August 17, 2015, 09:30:01 PM
"Your face, your ass, what's the difference?"

"Come get some!"

"Damn, I'm looking good!"

Never really played Ducktales. Which is a giant shame, because I'm aware of its legacy. I also watched Ducktales as a good, and one of my cats is named Launchpad. It's on my buy list thou for NES.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on August 18, 2015, 07:51:21 AM
Capcom made some great games for the NES. Duck Tales is definitely up there. I would even venture to say that the Remastered Version is even better, as it has few modifications that makes the game a bit easier (and you can turn them off for anyone who likes the NES-hard type of challenge).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Phoenix87x on August 18, 2015, 08:34:37 AM
Mass effect 1 was really cool and I really liked it

Mass effect 2 is one of my favorite games every made

Mass effect 3 I made it a couple hours in and didn't make it any farther than that
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Randaran on August 18, 2015, 09:35:02 AM
I never played the original ME, as it had not yet been released on PS3 when I tried playing the series. ME2 was okay, and I consequently never bothered to try 3.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on August 18, 2015, 09:50:53 AM
Mass effect 1 was really cool and I really liked it

Mass effect 2 is one of my favorite games every made

Mass effect 3 I made it a couple hours in and didn't make it any farther than that
Bwuh?

I mean, I get why some people didn't like the ending and all, but the game itself I thought was terrific and very much carried on where the second one left off.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 24, 2015, 04:54:32 AM
I'm sorry for the lack of updates everyone! I got sick and all my writeups were stashed away in my work computer. But now I'm back on my feet so here it goes! We're now down to the top tens.

10. Super Metroid

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXg2e7fmIig/hqdefault.jpg)

THIS GAME USED TO FREAK ME THE FUCK OUT! Seriously! I played it with the lights turned off and it felt worse than playing a survival horror game.

Super Metroid perfected the formula set up by its predecessors. You play as bounty hunter Samus Aran and rather than going in a straight line from start to finish like most games of its time, you get access to a huge map with many paths closed off. You open them up as you go along, collecting various power ups and weapons allowing you access.

(https://siliconsasquatch.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/super_metroid_screen.png)

It may seem like any other genre today but back then, its world felt huge and full of endless secrets. This game genre was combined almost perfectly with its visual style, atmosphere and music. You just felt lonely, isolated and by yourself.

But sometimes, yo go into a long tunnel, full of paths, only to arrive at a place you've already been too and that's the key moment when that feeling of being lost is replaced with an "aha" moment! And you know how it all connects and how to proceed. It's like solving a Rubic's cube (without a guide, I might add) - you feel like you just accomplished something huge and get a fulfilling sense of purpose.
And...then you get lost again. :lol

(https://s.emuparadise.org/fup/up/35801-Super_Metroid_(Japan,_USA)_(En,Ja)-1.jpg)

Released late in the Super Nintendo's life span, the game took absolute control of the little grey machine - spitting out incredible detailed graphics and environments. And I just have to mention the soundtrack - it's unlike anything Nintendo had ever done before. So creepy and atmospheric.

All Alien rip-off moments aside, this is a great game and a Super Nintendo classic. BUT...it's not my favorite SNES game. ;)




9. Dragon Age: Origins

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Dragon_Age_Origins_cover.png)

This game reignited my love for RPGs. This was a time when I had grown tired of the JRPG formula and I hadn't really played any of the western style RPG yet. I remember thinking Baldur's Gate looked way to nerdy for me, not knowing that I would someday out-nerd it myself!

(https://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/gamespot/images/2009/305/reviews/1069089-920668_20091102_001.jpg)

Anyway, I remember seeing the Dragon Age trailer and thinking it looked terrific and really LOTR-like. And it didn't disappoint! I had never experienced the Bioware dialogue tree's before and I was just amazed at the level of interaction you had with the world and its characters. It felt huge and amazing! (That's what she said.)

I also really, really like the setting. I love the way that Bioware take the usual fantasy formula and shake things up quite a bit. It feels familiar, yet new.

(https://images.eurogamer.net/2014/usgamer/13974984.jpg)

The game was however quite buggy, especially the PS3 version that I have. About a year ago when I replayed it, it still felt really slow at times when it shouldn't and quite unstable. This is something that was fixed to the sequel but yeah...that game had other problems.

Anyway, I love this game!






8. Suikoden II

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Suikoden2_NA.jpg)

One of the most underrated JRPG's of all time. From time to time, I see people rave about it (most recently when they finally released this fucker on the PSN) but for the most part, most people seems to write this game off. Which is a shame, because if you can look past the dated graphics, you've got one of the most heartfelt games of all time!

(https://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2014/12/Suikoden-2_hanging-720x540.png)

This game takes place shortly after the short one (but playing that is not really neccessary). The story focuses on two youths during a violent civil war and how they both end up in completely different places. I really don't want to say any more about the plot but suffice it to say - it's got a LOT of interesting characters and cool settings. Not to mention, one of the best villains ever in Luca Blight! This guy could even rival Sephiroth and Kefka if you ask me. You really do grown to hate that guy so much!

(https://techgenmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/suikoden2.jpg)

Just like every other game in the franchise, you get to collect a total 108 characters and build your castle and your army. Its plot is a lot more focused on political turmoil and character interactions than the usual fantasy elements.

The combat is smooth, fast-paced and fluid, if perhaps a little easy. You get the feeling that this game's focus was always on the plot side of things.

(https://samhainsgrim.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/suikoden-ii-dragon.jpg)

I cannot stress this enough - this game is one of the most heartfelt games I've ever played! The feelings, man, the feelings! :( Go download this fucker right now, because you don't need to hunt down an expensive copy anymore! (Unless you're me and you love this game so much, you want to cuddle with the CD case, telling the game that it's all right.)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on August 24, 2015, 07:02:29 AM
Oh man, Super Metroid and Suikoden II... absolute favorites of mine.

Grew up on the original Metroid and played Super soon after it came out. I just remember being in awe that some of my favorite places in the original were still intact in the 16-bit version (some complete with the original music!) What a joy it is to play that game, even today after beating it so many times.

Suikoden 1 was another game I grew up on and loved. Didn't get around to finishing it, however, until recently when I saw they were finally bringing SII to the PSN. Now, I still haven't finished it yet (I'm geting there), but even without knowing how it ends, the gameplay and story is just as good, if not better, than the first.

Great update!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on August 25, 2015, 03:08:24 PM
Some classics there eh?  :tup for Super Metroid, appeared on my top 25 too.

Now, i'm expecting to see Symphony of the Night because, one who loves Super Metroid shall love SOTN too :P
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 26, 2015, 02:01:45 AM
Maybe, maybe not. ;) I'll update later today with three more games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 26, 2015, 02:10:59 AM
A bit late, but I have to give more praise to Duke Nukem. That's just one of the coolest games ever. The setting, the cheesy one-liners, the monsters, the strippers  :biggrin:, the weapons. I mean, the f*ckin' shrinking gun, reduce your enemies to small midgets and trample them to death. Sorry Doom, sorry Quake and Unreal and all the rest, you're all good ego-shooters but it's Duke that takes the cake.  :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cyclopssss on August 26, 2015, 04:18:49 AM
Anyone ever played Descent ? That game hooked me to videogames for good!
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 26, 2015, 09:35:25 AM
7. Curse of Monkey Island/Grim Fandango

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/The_Curse_of_Monkey_Island_artwork.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/Grim_Fandango_artwork.jpg)

Okay, so I may be cheating a bit here but darn it - I can't choose!

Both of these games are adventure games from LucasArts. It's the typical click and point game genre that LucasArts were masters off back in the day. I used to love these kind of games for the stories, the interesting characters and the often times really funny humor that they usually deployed.

Curse of Monkey Island is a pirate themed cartoon game, where you play as wannabe pirate Guybrush Threepwood on his silly adventures. The situations he finds himself in are often times hysterical! I've never laughed as much as I did playing this.

(https://firsthour.net/screenshots/curse-of-monkey-island/curse-of-monkey-island-voodoo-priestess.jpg)

Grim Fandango on the other hand has a more serious tone, going more for atmospheric environments and a really interesting and well built world. But don't worry, there's still plenty of humor to be found here! Just looking at Glottis can make me laugh.

(https://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2788052-hl2+-+hl2+-+2015-01-20+02-48-3454.jpg)

Both of these games employ a rather unique graphics style that still holds up well. Curse's 2D cartoon look looks great even today, like it's straight out of a saturday morning kids show. Grim Fandango's polygons could very easily have been really ugly. However, the game is clever enough to use it's blocky graphics to its advantage, most notibly by having large skeletons as characters.

While the characters and dialogues in Curse is more silly, funny and to the point, Manny Calavera of Grim Fandango goes for a more serious tone, trying to tell a really interesting story. What game I prefer really depends on my mood. But they're both really well made and fun to play!

(Also, I frigging LOVE MURRAY!!!)




6. Chrono Trigger

(https://www.finalfantasykingdom.net/chrono/ctcover.jpg)

Oh man, this game...where do I even start? Made by the supposedly "dream team" of Square and Enix's employees, this game was hyped from the very start. But it still delivers!

It's the usual JRPG with turn based battles and random encounters. However, both of these elements have been refined so they do not appear that way at all, but rather seemless. Whenever you enter a battle, you don't get an entirely new screen - you see the enemy before the encounter and when the battle begins, you just draw your weapons and off you go! (According to an interview I saw a while back, this was apparently really hard to code and took a lot of time.)

(https://lh4.ggpht.com/cR1AoSEZ3B5ziJ9cuRJTBBN9GRDvxvhGj6EYap8JfV4OFbjRR6MUTq_YU3H0W6sTH60=h900)

The story is a rather straight forward one, employing time travel and characters from different time periods coming together to defeat the ultimate evil. But what makes it so good is the same thing that makes everything good about this game - the attention to every single detail! Every story is well told, every dialogue is interesting and/or funny. You really grow to care about the characters and the world that they live in.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/ChronoTriggerInside.PNG)

And the frigging music! Oh my god, the music...I can't even begin to describe how good it is. One of the best soundtrack I've ever heard. I listen to the piano collections CD of the soundtrack all the time!

This game might not do anything new or extrordinary. But everything about it is so well-polished - it took everything that was great about the JRPG formula and took it to a whole new level! So awesome.





5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

(https://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=60838353)

Before this game, I had never played an Elder Scrolls game more than a few minutes. However, when I saw the trailers for this game, I got not only interested but so frigging pumped! I'm not sure what it is that I saw that suddenly made it so interesting but whatever it was, it got me to even pre-order the special edition of the game.

And man, it did NOT disappoint!

(https://www.infotales.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/skyrim-gameplay-3.jpg)

This is a open world RPG, with a big focus on the "open world" part. You can do ANYTHING you could ever want in this game. And not only that, every single questline, every single dungeon is fulfilling to complete. It's just something about the atmosphere and the environment that draws you in. It has this epic, big feeling to it, but still really open. Like it whispers in my ears how awesome it is and how much it wants me. Like a beautiful girl lying on my bed, telling me to come join her.

(https://www.godisageek.com/wp-content/gallery/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/skyrim-screenshots-troll-fire-sword.jpg)

You can create any character you want, from a number of different races and factions. And even if you create a character whose base ability lies in magic, you can still skip that and become a melée character if you want. The game adapts to your playing style and allows you to truly play it any way you want to.

One day, I went off and join the Thief's Guild and became a thief. The other day, I saved the world from an evil dragon. And then I went off and joined the Dark Brotherhood. And maybe on the way I did something completely different and unrelated. Every single time you place a marker on your map and go off towards that location, you run into something completely different that you just can't help but explore.

I think my save file has more than a hundred hours on it, and that's all the needs to be said about this game really.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cool Chris on August 26, 2015, 09:38:46 AM
LucasArts were indeed masters of the point-and-click. Just the other day I found on my computer "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis." Fun memories of playing games like that and Monkey Island. 
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on August 26, 2015, 09:45:37 AM
I think my save file has more than a hundred hours on it, and that's all the needs to be said about this game really.

A testament to this game is that I have not met a single person who has played it and not put in at least 100 hours.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Bolsters on August 26, 2015, 09:49:24 AM
I approve of the inclusion of both Skyrim and especially Chrono Trigger. dat soundtrack :metal
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on August 26, 2015, 11:23:48 AM
I approve of the inclusion of both Skyrim and especially Chrono Trigger. dat soundtrack :metal

Yasunori Mitsuda owning. And he continued to do that with Chrono Cross and Xenogears :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Sacul on August 26, 2015, 11:37:05 AM
Chrono Trigger bored me to tears, and couldn't finish it. Too cliched for my tastes  :lol .

Spent almost 200 hours on Skyrim - insane how addictive it is. The OST is gorgeous.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 27, 2015, 12:58:57 AM
Back then Lucas Arts couldn't go wrong with their adventures. The Monkey Island series is an absolute classic and I remember playing the Curse alone in my room and laughing out loud several times, it's just so funny.

Grim Fandango has an interesting setting and a great atmosphere, the only thing that bothered me were the controls. Point and click just works better for adventures. Nonetheless a great game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 27, 2015, 02:16:17 AM
Back then Lucas Arts couldn't go wrong with their adventures. The Monkey Island series is an absolute classic and I remember playing the Curse alone in my room and laughing out loud several times, it's just so funny.

Grim Fandango has an interesting setting and a great atmosphere, the only thing that bothered me were the controls. Point and click just works better for adventures. Nonetheless a great game.
Yeah, the controls are definitly not that great. I remember trying to enter those damn elevators.  :lol But that's really the only flaw I can think off. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Crow on August 27, 2015, 09:11:48 AM
I only ever played the first two Monkey Island games but they're pretty great games in general so I imagine this one is too  :lol
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on August 31, 2015, 04:39:14 AM
All right, we're down to top 4. And now, I'm going to do two games per post. Also, I'm gonna have a short "honorably mentions" list before unveiling the number one.

4. Super Mario World II: Yoshi's Island

(https://supermariotips.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1159006594-00.jpg)

IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!

There's something so faschinating about game changers. A game with a formula so revolutionary, it practictally invents a new genre or turns an existing one upside down.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/35757-Super_Mario_World_2_-_Yoshi's_Island_(USA)-6.jpg)

Yeah, this game is not that. What it is, is a game that perfected the existing formula. This is an action platformer starring everybody's favorite Yoshi, on his quest to uniting baby Mario with baby Luigi, making this game a prequel. (By the way, why do Yoshis go around with saddles on their back? Are they all waiting for babies to drop out of the sky or something?)

The gameplay is similar yet completely new. Your goal is still to get your character from point A to point B. But instead of the "one hit and you're dead"-formula, you get something completely different - you carry baby Mario on your back and if you're hit, he escapes from you and you have to catch him until the timer drops to zero.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/35757-Super_Mario_World_2_-_Yoshi's_Island_(USA)-12.jpg)

Also, Yoshi still has the ability to swallow his enemies. But this time, he craps out an egg whenever he do! (I really don't want to know the science behind that one. Get it? Behind?) And you can throw those eggs at your enemies to defend themselves.

This game just oozes creativity at every turn. How about large polygon doors falling on top of you? A flower that makes the entire world spin around you? A boss that grows in size, eats you and then you have to do the battle from within his stomach? You get the feeling that the developers just played with the graphics engine and created gameplay moments from what they could squeeze out of it.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/35757-Super_Mario_World_2_-_Yoshi's_Island_(USA)-16.jpg)

And the result is amazing and one of my favorite games of all time.







3. Sonic 2

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/gen/3/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-gen-cover-front-eu-28715.jpg)

Speaking about perfection...how about the blue hedgehog's second entry?

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/39128-Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_(World)_(Beta)_(Simon_Wai)_[Hack_by_Esrael_v0.23]_(~Sonic_2_Delta)-4.png)

The first one was a solid enough game and the third game was a BEAST of a game, I feel like the second is the only one where everything just felt perfect and well made.

Let's start with the amazing music. This game contains some of my favorite tunes of all time and opening track Emerald Hill Zone never fails to put me in a good mood.

(https://retrozoid.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/sonic-2-md.jpg)

Also, the graphics engine received a significant overhaul since the first game. It's looks sharp and colorful and the camera almost always catches up with you on your stupidly fast runs through the stages.

All the elements of a great Sonic game is here - several paths to complete the game, amazing bonus levels and fun boss fights (but perhaps just a bit on the easy side). I've completed the game more times than I can count and it seems there's always new paths to explore.

I really don't have much else to say - this is a really well made game. I love it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Bolsters on August 31, 2015, 04:45:27 AM
Yoshi's Island is one of my all-time favourites aswell. :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: BlobVanDam on August 31, 2015, 04:50:52 AM
Two excellent 2D platformers. :tup

I do prefer SMW slightly to SMW2, but they're different enough that they don't really need to be compared. SMW2 has lots of great little additions to the gameplay that make the game unique for the time, my only gripe is how annoying it is hearing baby Mario scream his head off. :lol Also one of my favourite games.

And Sonic 2 is my favourite Sonic game, and another of my favourite games.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on August 31, 2015, 10:55:37 AM
Never played SMW2, but Sonic 2 is the shit for that series
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on August 31, 2015, 11:03:44 AM
Not my favorite games from these series but they both great nonetheless  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on August 31, 2015, 03:42:49 PM
Sonic 2 is fucking amazing.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: jingle.boy on August 31, 2015, 09:41:09 PM
Never played SMW2, but Sonic 2 is the shit for that series

Word.

Played the shit out of that game in university.  I was always Tails, and man did me and my buddy get fucking pissed at each other if we didn't nail the bonus stages at 100%.  Many a drunk night (either pre, or post bar) were spent on that game in 1992 and 1993.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on September 01, 2015, 03:01:57 AM
Never played SMW2, but Sonic 2 is the shit for that series

Word.

Played the shit out of that game in university.  I was always Tails, and man did me and my buddy get fucking pissed at each other if we didn't nail the bonus stages at 100%.  Many a drunk night (either pre, or post bar) were spent on that game in 1992 and 1993.

Nice, although I must admit those bonus stages were a PITA.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: jingle.boy on September 01, 2015, 07:30:33 AM
Never played SMW2, but Sonic 2 is the shit for that series

Word.

Played the shit out of that game in university.  I was always Tails, and man did me and my buddy get fucking pissed at each other if we didn't nail the bonus stages at 100%.  Many a drunk night (either pre, or post bar) were spent on that game in 1992 and 1993.

Nice, although I must admit those bonus stages were a PITA.

Even moreseo when you're shit-faced.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on September 04, 2015, 02:52:52 AM
Time for the second game entry. This is going to be long.

2. Metal Gear Solid

(https://www.gamempire.it/data/images/0/4/3/7/abcba6a68320a4025ed4d18da0b8f724.jpg)

Yes, the first one. I agree that for example, the third entry might be a technical better game. But if you take into account the times for when it was released, it was something huge, big and amazing. And most of all - unique in every single way.

Metal Gear Solid pushed what people thought was possible with 3D graphics and showed that the medium was capable of telling a deep and engaging story with compelling characters. I remember just sitting there in awe after every single cutscene, not believing what was happening in front of my eyes. And I loved every single second of it!

(https://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/mgs12-1366657377.jpg)

The story is a rather simple one, before it got needlessly complex in the later entries. You are Solid Snake, tasked with infiltrating a nuclear weapons facility on Shadow Moses Island, where a group of terrorists are demanding the US goverment hand over the remains of Big Boss. If the US refuse, the terrorists will launch a nuclear attack. As you expected, a lot of stuff happens on the island and you get to meet a lot of interesting characters, both good and bad.

What's most surprising about the story (at least for its time) was the themes it choose to cover. Anti-war, nuclear detterence and the human cost of conflict are all covered here. And yes, there is just as much subtlety as you could expect but it's still really impressive to see a game tackle real world issues and really try to tell its players something of importance. But yeah, to be honest, the script feels more than a little cheezy at times. I can still remember the awkward line "can love bloom on the battlefield".

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/52372-Metal_Gear_Solid_(E)_(Disc_1)-9.jpg)

At the same time, Kojima always seems to be super aware of himself, filling the game with just as much humor and fourth wall breaking as he continued to do in later installments. Can you even imagine getting to the Psycho Mantis boss fight for the very first time? A boss character who read your memory card and couldn't be beaten unless you plugged in your controller in the second port?

(My favorite fourth wall breaking moment in MGS is NOT those that people always talks about - about halfway through the game, you get captured and tortured. When you're in your cell, you can call up Naomi Hunter, who instructs you to put the controller on your hurting arm. The game then gives the controller a small rumble, which results in Snake muttering "thanks". So small yet so brilliant.)

Another unique thing about this game is the boss characters. Every time you defeat them, they all give these long speeches about themselves that Snake listens to with great patience. While it's a bit absurd that they all always seems to have time to tell their life story before they die, it also shows Hideo Kojimas wish to always flesh out the story and give motivations to every single character.

(https://gamesthatrocked.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/fight.jpg)

Also, the voice acting! Oh my God, it's so freaking good! I always got the feeling that the actors had really fun with the script and just went for it, and it makes all the character that much more rich and fun to listen to. My greatest grief with the fourth entry is that the voice actor for Liquid Snake couldn't return for story reasons. I love his over the top character. That's one thing that has hold up really well - I can name tons of modern games where the voice acting really bugged me.

I know many people critisize the Codec system, saying its a cheap way to have cutscenes without having to animate people. I disagree - at least for this game, the Codec allowed the game to include even more characters who were always there to help you. The fact that you could call anytime and get hints provided a great sense of importance to the mission.

The gameplay's biggest flaw is its controls - I got used to them at the time and didn't think they were that bad. But going back, it's the thing that has dated the worst for me. However, I love the radar system and the fact that you can see the enemies field of vision (even though that is really silly if you think about it). I love all the different weapons you have at your disposal. Also, I love the mini metroidvania-style the game provided, where there's many doors with new weapons and items you can't access until later in the game, where you've gotten access to the right keycard. It makes Shadow Moses feels like an believable place.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/52372-Metal_Gear_Solid_(E)_(Disc_1)-5.jpg)

I gotta say, you own it to yourself to play this if you haven't already. This is a piece of gaming history - a game changer that showed just as many players as developers what power a gaming system had. And if the historical reasons aren't enough, the game's story holds up really well. It's avaliable on the PSN.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on September 04, 2015, 03:23:26 AM
The first MGS was definitely fantastic and groundbreaking. Man I loved that game.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: cramx3 on September 04, 2015, 04:37:39 AM
I actually have never played a MGS game.  I know I am missing out, but just really never looked into it.  I guess with 5 out I should check it out.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 04, 2015, 06:07:15 AM
Love the Metal Gear Solid games but never cared too much for the original PSX one because it wasn't the first i played and probably i couldn't go back to it after playing MGS2 and 3, which i love.

Still, huge respect for it as it was the template for some of my favorite games of all time.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Phoenix87x on September 04, 2015, 07:00:45 PM
MGS1 for PS1 is still my favorite of the entire series and in my top 3 games of all time. I really lost my shit when this came out and played it for hours on end.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Genowyn on September 04, 2015, 07:04:02 PM
Chrono Trigger bored me to tears, and couldn't finish it. Too cliched for my tastes  :lol .

I hope you know this is the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" thing. Like, the reason it's cliched is that it created many of the cliches that later games use. Like New Game +.

That being said, Chrono Trigger only #6? Fail. :p
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 04, 2015, 07:09:24 PM
Symphony of the Night for 1#  :yarr
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Sacul on September 04, 2015, 07:47:15 PM
Chrono Trigger bored me to tears, and couldn't finish it. Too cliched for my tastes  :lol .

I hope you know this is the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" thing. Like, the reason it's cliched is that it created many of the cliches that later games use. Like New Game +.
The problem I have with the game are the following:

-Bland, predictable characters
-Dull plot ("Hey, let's save the world!")
-Boring combat system. Although I like how to combine several character's attacks into one, the rest is pretty straightforward. And, boss fights are endless and with little variety.
-Cheesy scenes here and there.

I would have enjoyed it as a kid tho. But since I played it last year, and my save is gone, I have no intentions of replaying it.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Cable on September 04, 2015, 08:59:29 PM
Chrono Trigger bored me to tears, and couldn't finish it. Too cliched for my tastes  :lol .

I hope you know this is the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" thing. Like, the reason it's cliched is that it created many of the cliches that later games use. Like New Game +.

That being said, Chrono Trigger only #6? Fail. :p


I also did not get Chrono Trigger. I know I already said it in here, but I loved Chrono Cross. From what I gather, it didn't blaze any trails like CT. But those blazed trails of CT are not apparent to me. However, my RPG experience is basically confined in FF's and DQ/Warriors.

Solid choice on Solid. :-) Unless one of MGS2-5 is your top one, MGS1 should be the highest MGS game IMO. Haven't played beyond 3 though.  :-\
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on September 09, 2015, 04:52:50 AM
1. Final Fantasy VII

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/ps1/7/final-fantasy-vii-ps1-cover-front-eu-46933.jpg)

The story of why I love this game is deeply connected to personal experiences and my own growth as a human being, so this will probably be long. And funnily enough, I won't talk much about the actual game but rather what the game meant to me. And you know, it's not like you guys need me to describe this game for you. ;)

This game was released back in 1997, when I was ten years old. I can't remember exactly how old I was when I first played it, but probably around eleven or twelve. I was at a friend's house and after playing FIFA World Cup 1998 for 20th time, he showed me a new game I've never seen before. The cover was as simple as it was intriguing - no huge painting, no characters and no landscape. Instead, it's just the title with some kind of round object behind it. I later learned that this was a meteor and how it was relevant to the game. But I didn't know it at the time, and it's faschinating to me that a game that tries to tell and show so many things doesn't show any of it on the cover. It's like a statement: "My content is larger than any cover could ever depict, so here's just a logo, bitch!"

(After doing some research for this text, I discovered the american version actually had an entirely different cover! Before anybody points that out. ;) )

We popped in the game and one of the most faschinating experiences of my lifetime started. I had never even played an RPG before, so this was new on so many levels for me. To say that my mind was blown is not entirally accurate - I felt like I was experiencing something I could not yet fully comprehend.

(https://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/articles/2011/03/22/final-fantasy-7-screenshot.jpeg)

My buddy on the other hand got bored so I bought the game from him. And I played it and I beat it. And I played it again, this time with a walkthrough, and I beat it. And I did it again and again and again. And now, I'm going to try to explain why I did this, and why this game meant so much to me.

I was in many ways a weird and lonely child. Most important of all - I wasn't comfortable being a weird and lonely child, but I didn't know how to change that, nor did I know how to get comfortable in my own skin. So what did I do? I read books and I played video games. I participated in many forms of escapism, where I could turn off the outside world and be somebody else - experiencing wondrous things and meeting interesting characters. But video games to me had not yet reach its full potential - I loved playing games so much but reading books always felt like a much better way to escape the reality.

(https://download.gamespotcdn.net/d4/user_images/886/ff7flashback_2.jpg)

Final Fantasy VII revelead to me what video games could be, in a similar way that Metal Gear Solid did, only on a much grander scale. All its characters felt life-like and I could relate to them. I loved interacting with them and going on adventures with them.

Going through Cloud's story arc is what finally set the deal for me. Cloud is someone who's also not comfortable in his own skin. He has no self-confidence and doesn't believe in himself at all. Through a series of events, he ends up copying another person - a person he looks up to and who he wants to be. But in that process he losts himself and forgots his past and all the mistakes that he's made. And only by processing his past can he fully come to realize the person he wants to be - a flawed but very much human character, who has much to give the world.

This game taught me that it is okay to be yourself - that you are good enough. And most importantly that everybody has something to give to this world. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and be confident in who you are. Everybody can accomplish great things.

For teaching me that important life lesson, I will forever be grateful to SquareEnix (back then only Square) for finally releasing a Final Fantasy in Europe and for making it crazily ambitious. I'm not saying the game is perfect - far from it! It suffers from ugly character models in the fields and bad translation among other things. But for what it is and for the time it was released in, the game was huuuge and it's no wonder why it is on so many people's lists.

I hope that even if you don't agree with my number one choice, you can see where I'm coming from. :)

(And also, I'm super super hyper omega excited for the remake!!!)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on September 09, 2015, 06:36:12 AM
We popped in the game and one of the most faschinating experiences of my lifetime started. I had never even played an RPG before, so this was new on so many levels for me. To say that my mind was blown is not entirally accurate - I felt like I was experiencing something I could not yet fully comprehend.
This is really similar to what I experienced as well. I had played an RPG before - Zelda: Link to the Past, but it was nothing on the same scale. I bought FFVII because I'd heard good things about it, but didn't really know what to expect and I'd never played anything this ambitious.

The thing I remember most of all was being blown away by how much the game and its ideas expanded as you got into it. In every game I had played up to that point, I knew from early on what the game was about and where it was going. So my initial reaction to FFVII was the same. You have these characters and this setting, in Midgar, and you're trying to blow up one of the Mako reactors. Once you'd spent a good number of hours on all that, and got past that point, it dawns on you that this is not the setting. This is only the introduction. It completely opened my eyes to the quality and depth of story-telling that you can get in video games, and to this day RPGs are undoubtedly my favourite genre of games as a direct result.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 09, 2015, 07:08:19 AM
Although I'm an avid RPG player I've never played a Final Fantasy Game. If I were to rectify that, what would be the best game to start? I understand that there are several FFs around.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on September 09, 2015, 07:12:47 AM
We popped in the game and one of the most faschinating experiences of my lifetime started. I had never even played an RPG before, so this was new on so many levels for me. To say that my mind was blown is not entirally accurate - I felt like I was experiencing something I could not yet fully comprehend.
This is really similar to what I experienced as well. I had played an RPG before - Zelda: Link to the Past, but it was nothing on the same scale. I bought FFVII because I'd heard good things about it, but didn't really know what to expect and I'd never played anything this ambitious.

The thing I remember most of all was being blown away by how much the game and its ideas expanded as you got into it. In every game I had played up to that point, I knew from early on what the game was about and where it was going. So my initial reaction to FFVII was the same. You have these characters and this setting, in Midgar, and you're trying to blow up one of the Mako reactors. Once you'd spent a good number of hours on all that, and got past that point, it dawns on you that this is not the setting. This is only the introduction. It completely opened my eyes to the quality and depth of story-telling that you can get in video games, and to this day RPGs are undoubtedly my favourite genre of games as a direct result.
Oh yeah, I should have mentioned that time when you first got to the world map and realized that Midgar was only the beginning. That feeling was amazing.

Although I'm an avid RPG player I've never played a Final Fantasy Game. If I were to rectify that, what would be the best game to start? I understand that there are several FFs around.
Hard question because they're not that great these days.  :lol So if you're going to play one, you need play it with your retro glasses on. If the blocky graphics of FFVII don't scare you off, then I'd say that's an excellent introduction. If you don't mind classic 2D, then FFVI is another excellent game.

However, none of these are connected (except for the direct sequels called X-2 and the like) so you could really start anywhere. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 09, 2015, 07:40:19 AM
I have absolutely no problem with retro. My first RPG-experiences were Ultima IV and later Bard's Tale on a Commodore 64 (yes I'm old) and I revisited both just some time ago with a C64 emulator.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on September 09, 2015, 07:56:01 AM
Hard question because they're not that great these days.
Not sure I'd entirely agree with that, though for me VII and IX do stand out as being great in both gameplay and story/character. I haven't disliked any and they've all done one of those things well, but none of the rest have done both well. VIII and XII had great gameplay (XII is probably my favourite in that regard) but considerably less interesting stories/characters, whereas I really liked the narrative and characters in X and XIII but the gameplay in both was quite linear and not as fun.

EDIT: Yeah if you have no problem with out of date graphics then I would say definitely start with VII. Personally.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 09, 2015, 08:15:11 AM
Alright thanks, if I get it somewhere for a reasonable price I probably will try out FFVII.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on September 09, 2015, 08:36:57 AM
Pretty sure it's available on almost all platforms now, including Steam, PS4 and mobiles.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 09, 2015, 08:42:53 AM
Was hoping to find it on GOG because I like their DRM-free approach. I don't have a PS4 and playing on mobiles/tablets suck if it isn't just a casual game. Will look into Steam when I'm home.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: TioJorge on September 09, 2015, 08:45:08 AM
For real, that thing is everywhere. And y'know, after being livid that the remake would be changing the battle system...I bought the new mobile version (which is useless unless you've got an iPhone6 apparently and unless I have zero other apps running, it runs like shit) and I totally wouldn't mind a revamped battle system. HOWEVER, god forbid they change the materia system, I absolutely love that system and other than adding some tweaks to it, I'd love if it remained relatively the same. It promotes leveling of a character, yet is diverse enough to allow customization of others and different combinations (or even combining this system with Crisis Core...which I vaguely remember being very similar but different somehow). Good stuff.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 09, 2015, 08:46:15 AM
Hard question because they're not that great these days.  :lol

This would be an opinion that I do not share. I have played through 12 of the original 14 Final Fantasies (excluding FFXI Online and XII, which I have played but haven't finished). And while there are one or two that are clearly at the bottom of my personal list, I would say they all have something great to offer. The fact is they are all different, and they have different eras that people enjoy differently. My opinion is maybe play one from each era and work from there.

NES - Play the first one. It's easily better than II, and infinitely easier than III.
SNES - Play VI. It's arguably the best of the 3 for SNES. It has a better storyline than V, and better gameplay than IV.
PSX - Can't go wrong with any of them, but VII is easily the most-loved. My favorite was VIII, and IX felt like a classic FF.
PS2 - This was the dark ages for me. Never played any of these when they came out. Have beaten X, which was good. XI you probably won't be able to play as it's an MMO that is 10 years old and at the end of it's life. XII was good, too, but like I said I haven't finished it.
PS3 - Play XIII. It is easily the most polarizing of the series, but go into it with an open mind. You may be surprised. XIV was actually really good, and was my first venture into MMOs. If not for the monthly sub, I would still be playing this.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 09, 2015, 09:32:08 AM
Final Fantasy VII was good but never loved it like most people maybe because the first FF i've played was VIII and my love did go for that one instead.

Ow man, no Symphony of the Night  :'(
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Crow on September 09, 2015, 01:56:25 PM
can I say my piece

i played symphony of the night recently, and didn't find it that great. good, sure, far from a bad game, but not like, mindblowing or anything, maybe you had to be there i dunno
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 09, 2015, 03:03:19 PM
Hm, i have no problem with Lynxo not having Symphony of the Night on his list. I just thought it would appear since he has Super Metroid on it and both games are considered the best Metroidvanias ever (and i happen to love them too ;)).
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lynxo on September 11, 2015, 09:06:23 AM
It certainly could have been there, if not for the fact that I never owned a copy and thus, have only briefly played it. I've been meaning to get a copy of it but it's GOD DAMN expensive these days. (The physical copy that is.)

And the reason I say that modern FFs are bad is because of XII and its sequels. I simply HATE 13 with a burning passion for turning my favorite game series of all time into a bad anime plot with SUPER ANNOYING characters, a plot that makes no sense, a battle system with an "Auto Battle" command and eeeeendless corridors. But that's just my own opinion of course. :)
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lucien on September 11, 2015, 10:04:29 AM
XII and its sequels

XII had sequels? I think there was like one sequel for some handheld system, but nothing huge. You must be talking about XIII and its sequels.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 11, 2015, 10:45:59 AM
He meant the FFs that came after, not direct sequels. After XII, there was XIII, XIII-2 and others.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 11, 2015, 11:53:58 AM
It certainly could have been there, if not for the fact that I never owned a copy and thus, have only briefly played it. I've been meaning to get a copy of it but it's GOD DAMN expensive these days. (The physical copy that is.)

And the reason I say that modern FFs are bad is because of XII and its sequels. I simply HATE 13 with a burning passion for turning my favorite game series of all time into a bad anime plot with SUPER ANNOYING characters, a plot that makes no sense, a battle system with an "Auto Battle" command and eeeeendless corridors. But that's just my own opinion of course. :)

Firstly, SOTN is worth playing on any platform. You can download it on PS3 for 6 bucks. Highly recommended.

Second, I cannot disagree with you more about FFXIII. I enjoy every aspect of the game that you seem to dislike, haha. The battle system especially. I love RPGs with Auto Battle. Because, really, at the end of the day, what normal run-of-the-mill enemy is going to pose a threat the 14th time you fight them? Probably not many. Give me an auto-battle so I don't have to think about it and they can just die. And it's not like you HAVE to use the auto battle. And, for the bosses and the tougher enemies, you definitely need more of a strategy going into the battle than just "auto." I think the battles are much faster paced than other RPGs, and therefore a lot more fun! In. My. Opinion.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Outcrier on September 11, 2015, 01:20:22 PM
And the reason I say that modern FFs are bad is because of XII and its sequels. I simply HATE 13 with a burning passion for turning my favorite game series of all time into a bad anime plot with SUPER ANNOYING characters, a plot that makes no sense, a battle system with an "Auto Battle" command and eeeeendless corridors. But that's just my own opinion of course. :)

That's the general consensus actually, nothing abnormal about your complaints.

You should definitely play SOTN. It's even better than Super Metroid imo.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Lucien on September 11, 2015, 03:28:18 PM
He meant the FFs that came after, not direct sequels. After XII, there was XIII, XIII-2 and others.

Well, in that case, XII was awesome anyways. You didn't HAVE to make your entire team automatically do stuff; you can turn that function off, but the fact that you could make your team actually intelligent was always really cool to me. 'Oh, your partner just died next to you, yes, you CAN use that Phoenix Down to save them!'
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ariich on September 14, 2015, 11:58:46 PM
Shouldn't someone else go now?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: ReaperKK on September 15, 2015, 06:08:20 AM
I hope someone picks it up soon, I love this thread.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 15, 2015, 07:50:15 AM
hmmm... looks like I'm next. I got my list ready. I'll try and make a post tonight after I get out of work.
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Sacul on September 15, 2015, 09:59:42 AM
I sent a PM to the guys in the "May go in the future" list, but got no response. So you're free to go and start your own now :)

Do you want a specific title for the list?
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 15, 2015, 09:07:30 PM
Welcome to OpenYourEyes311's "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" Top 25 Video Games! It was very tough for me to widdle it down to just 25, so I'll be throwing in some honorable mentions, and grouping a few games together. For my list I am going to post two at a time, but some posts will contain a third as an honorable mention (#30-26). This first post, along with a lot of the rest of the list, contains some classic NES games that launched their respective series'. A lot of series have multiple entries in this list. I'm sorry for the lack of variety as I grew up playing a lot of sequels to games I really loved as a kid, and also if some of the posts are kind of short, as I'm not great at writing. Hope you enjoy anyway! And without further ado...

25. Final Fantasy (1987)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d8/FF1_USA_boxart.jpg/250px-FF1_USA_boxart.jpg)

The fantasy that started it all. For me this game was the start of my obsession with RPGs. For anyone who hasn't played the original I'll describe it a bit. You start the game off with the ability to choose your four characters. You give them each a name and one of six jobs: Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, Black Mage, or White Mage. What's great about this aspect of the game is that every game you start could have a completely different party. You could go in all balls out with three or four Fighters, or you could take a more balanced party of a Fighter, Black Belt, Red Mage, Black Mage (this was my favorite, although balls out was fun too!). The game then drops you on a world map where you can fight enemies in a turn-based style. The fighting in this first entry of the beloved series was a little quirky, however. There were lots of "misses" and your characters would not move on to the next enemy if the one they were fighting was killed mid-turn (they would just miss). Part of the charm, I guess! The story is pretty straight-forward, but with what could be called a twist at the end. What really made this game so much fun for me growing up was the replayability. I never had a problem with "grinding" so much, which this game has A LOT of, and playing as different classes/parties was very fun on multiple playthoughs. Final Fantasy has been re-released often, usually with graphical and sound upgrades, most recently for mobile devices in 2012, and the 3DS in Japan in 2014.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/Final_Fantasy_I_Lich_Battle.png/220px-Final_Fantasy_I_Lich_Battle.png)


24. Super Mario Bros. (1985)


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Super_Mario_Bros._box.png/250px-Super_Mario_Bros._box.png)

The GAME that started it all. I'm not sure that I even need to descibe this game. Is it possible that a video game fan has NEVER played this?? I suppose it is. In any event, this is the game that pretty much re-invented video games as a whole, and especially the platforming genre. There's so much that makes this game great. The fact that I can run through it in about 10 minutes by warping, or take my time and play all the levels straight through. The fact that no matter how many times I play it, it still has VERY hard sections that will trip me up. There's just no denying, and really I don't think I need to go on about it. All I'll say is that this game's legacy is still around today, with the release of Super Mario Maker just last week. You can make your own SMB levels for everyone's enjoyment. If you want to play the original it has most recently been re-released for the Virtual Console on Wii U in 2013, and 3DS in 2014.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/NES_Super_Mario_Bros.png)

Again, hope you enjoy the list. The write-ups will probably be pretty terrible, and if I F--- up the images, let me know and I'll try and fix it.  :tup
Title: Re: The Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Lynxo's "It hurts when I poo" list (pg. 44)
Post by: Bolsters on September 15, 2015, 09:09:15 PM
I could never get into the older Final Fantasy games. The earliest one that interested me was IV.

Super Mario Bros. -  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: cramx3 on September 16, 2015, 07:43:56 AM
As awesome and nostalgic SMB is, it's probably just above SMB2 as my least favorite Mario game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 16, 2015, 07:50:02 AM
Never played a FF game, but SMB is obviously great. Cant' say anything that hasn't already been said. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 16, 2015, 08:47:39 AM
As awesome and nostalgic SMB is, it's probably just above SMB2 as my least favorite Mario game.

FYI, there will be lots of awesomeness and nostalgia in this list, haha. And there will be more Super Mario games, as well!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 16, 2015, 08:49:57 AM
I approve of both nostalgia and Super Mario! Can't wait. :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ReaperKK on September 16, 2015, 08:57:38 AM
I could never get into the Final Fantasy game, the universe just never seemed appeaing.

SMB is a true classic.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: cramx3 on September 16, 2015, 09:42:15 AM
I approve of both nostalgia and Super Mario! Can't wait. :metal

 :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 17, 2015, 03:39:10 PM
HONORABLE MENTION: Mickey Mousecapade (1987)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/MickeyMousecapadeBoxart.jpg/220px-MickeyMousecapadeBoxart.jpg)

So this is a fun little platformer that I just had to mention. Again, nostalgia plays a big role here, but also the fact I just recently in the last few years started playing this again every so often and was able to beat pretty regularly (something I was never able to do as a kid). It's a nice, short platformer where you control not only Mickey, but Minnie as well. This is both a blessing and a curse, as she provides an extra attack (assuming you don't miss her "Star" in the first level that allows her to attack), but other than that is pretty much a nuisance to control. But what I love about this game is the environments. Although there's only 5 levels, each has it's own theme and they're all fun to play. Levels 2 (Ocean) and 4 (Pirate Ship) are pretty short and straight forward, but levels 1 (Fun House), 3 (Woods), and 5 (Castle) are pretty much mazes where you have to figure out where to go. It's like a puzzle game in a platformer. I love stuff like that! Mickey Mousecapade has never been re-released, so you'll have to track down an original NES copy, or grab an emulator.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/Mickey2.png)

23. Kirby's Adventure (1993)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Kirby%27s_Adventure_Coverart.png/250px-Kirby%27s_Adventure_Coverart.png)

Awwwww, HE'S SO CUTE! So the beginning of the list has LOTS of NES games. Sorry. It just had so many good games! And Kirby's Adventure is no different. In this game, if you don't know, you play as the lovable marshmallowy Kirby, who eats his enemies and gains their power. Kinda like if Mega Man was a cannibal. The best partof the game is the powers you get. A lot of times you have to figure out what works best in what level. Sometimes there are secrets that can only be unlocked if you have a certain weapon (kinda like Metroid). Now that I'm thinking about it, Kirby is kinda like Metroid and Mega Man and Mario all rolled into one marshmallow. No wonder I like it so much! Adventure's latest re-release is for the Virtual Console on Wii U and 3DS, so check it out if you never have (or even if you have)!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/NES_Kirbys_Adventure.png/250px-NES_Kirbys_Adventure.png)

22. X-COM: Enemy Unknown (2012)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/XCOM_Enemy_Unknown_Game_Cover.jpg/250px-XCOM_Enemy_Unknown_Game_Cover.jpg)

Yes, I do play games for today's systems too. I should preface this by saying that I usually do NOT like strategy RPGs. Never got into FF Tactics, tried Rainbow Moon, I just can't get into them. Now, when I say this game BLEW ME AWAY, you'll know why. I grew up watching my brother play the original game on PSOne. I thought it was very intriguing, but looked way too hard. So when I heard they were updating it, I had to check it out. Well, it didn't disappoint. In this game you are fighting aliens that come down to Earth with their UFOs. You shoot them down and go to the crash sites and infiltrate. The longer you survive in the game, the bigger and badder the aliens get. Throughout the game you come to trust your squad. When someone dies, you really feel it, because they're gone for good, and you have to replace them with a rookie.  It's all very realistically done (as much as a video game about an alien invasion could be). Sometimes you'll debate whether resetting and losing an hour or two is worth not having your level 5 sniper die, haha. As I said, the gameplay is strategy, turn-based, which usually turns me off. But this is just so wonderfully done, I completely forgot that I don't usually like games like this. Not knowing what was around the corner made this game pretty intense. It was hard to put this one down. I was always finding reasons to stay up and do another mission. Now I'm finding it hard to stop praising it, haha. Anyway, check this one out if you get the chance. It's on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7a/XCOM_Enemy_Unknown%2C_illustration_of_the_combat_UI.jpeg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ReaperKK on September 17, 2015, 05:34:12 PM
I haven't any of those games but I do own XCOM but I have never installed it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on September 17, 2015, 09:47:13 PM
Kirby's Adventure is great. Probably still the best Kirby game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 18, 2015, 06:04:34 AM
Kirby's Adventure is great. Probably still the best Kirby game.

Yeah, definitely. Squeak Squad for DS comes close though. It plays like Adventure with a few tweaks. Very fun game!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: cramx3 on September 18, 2015, 07:24:53 AM
Loved Kirby as a kid, great game!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on September 19, 2015, 09:58:37 PM
On late to the FF train, but Final Fantasy may be my number 4 or 3 best FF game. I played it when it first came out on NES, and my appreciation grows for the game.  The music was top notch, and underrated IMO. The challenge was crazy- having to go the town to revive for a lot of the game was tough. And man, I had a lot of deaths. The limits on spell casting was a challenge. I love the game a lot.  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 21, 2015, 10:12:24 PM
21. Knytt Underground (2012)

(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/13/130684/2381425-vc7_12oqqbede1qswjjc_shot_1_450.jpg)

Here's one you may not know. This is a great Metroidvania-type game, but this one takes a minimalist approach. There are almost no enemies in this game, only obstacles. For most of the game you can move around as a sprite character who can only jump and transform into a bouncing ball. The ball gives you the ability to bounce higher than you could jump, letting you reach places and platforms that would otherwise be too far out of reach. Where most Metroidvania games focus on defeating enemies to gain abilities, Knytt focuses on exploration, giving you all the abilities you need right off the bat. You just need to figure out how to use them wisely. While the map is very large, it doesn't take too long to beat this game. For me, I just needed to see what the next room looked like. Speaking of which, another reason why I absolutely love this game is the way it looks. Some of the backgrounds are just so breathtaking. Very vibrant and colorful. Btw, the endgame secrets are some of the hardest platforming puzzles I've ever seen. Worth the price if you're into that sort of thing. If you would like to check out this deceptively challenging adventure game, you can get it for Wii U, PC, and PS3.

(https://www.voletic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Screenshot-of-Knytt-Underground_12.png)

20. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

(https://images-mediawiki-sites.thefullwiki.org/02/1/2/9/36043822874069260.jpg)

Speaking of Metroidvanias... here is the original from the Castlevania series. This is another game that gets me all excited. I was lucky enough to own this when a college buddy of mine bought it for me. We had recently done a musical in school called "Drakula: the Rock Opera." Don't ask. After rehearsals we would go back to his room and play through the original Castlevania games on NES. We ended up beating all three of them eventually. Anyway, that Christmas he ended up getting me SOTN as a gift! I had never played it up until then, and it did not disappoint. What I LOVED about this game, was that instead of a Belmont, you were using Alucard as your main character. Growing up with Dracula's Curse, my favorite battle was easily the triple threat battle with Sypha, Trevor, and Grant. Seeing these four back together was a sight for sore eyes. Even if you do have to end them, haha. You owe it to yourself to check this platformer out. It's pretty rare these days on PSX, but you can get it cheap on the PlayStation Network. Worth every penny.

(https://thefreecheese.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-cthulu.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Crow on September 21, 2015, 10:18:30 PM
Spoilers: If I ever get around to doing this list?

Knytt Underground could potentially be my #1. Absolutely beautiful game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lynxo on September 22, 2015, 02:32:45 AM
I've found a store that sells the PSX copy of SOTN and I'm gonna buy it soon and play through this fucker. :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 22, 2015, 06:35:01 AM
Spoilers: If I ever get around to doing this list?

Knytt Underground could potentially be my #1. Absolutely beautiful game.

That's awesome! I was hoping someone had played this game. Stunning, and a lot of fun!

Also, I knew I would f*** up the pictures at some point. I'll try to fix them when I get home from work.  :blush
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on September 22, 2015, 01:51:23 PM
SOTN is all kinds of awesome. One of the best Metroidvanias and game OSTs and don't fell dated, at least for me.

Despite my love for FVIII, which i admit may be because of nostalgia, SOTN could be the best PSX game. For starters, it currently is at GameFaqs (and top 10 overall).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 23, 2015, 08:57:33 AM
Despite my love for FVIII, which i admit may be because of nostalgia, SOTN could be the best PSX game. For starters, it currently is at GameFaqs (and top 10 overall).

I definitely can't argue that point, but it's not the last PSX game on my list. ;D

I don't know what's going on with those pictures, either... they work at home but not at work. Sorry to anyone who can't see them. I'll try posting my next couple when I get home tonight.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 23, 2015, 09:22:59 PM
HONORABLE MENTION: Little Samson (1992)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/NES-LittleSamson.jpg/250px-NES-LittleSamson.jpg)

Here's a game that would have made my top 25 if I had grown up with it. However, I only recently found this game. Apparently this game did not sell well out of the gate and is one of the more rare NES carts around. In any event, none of that makes a great game. But this one is just that. This is an action platformer in the style of Mega Man and Mario. In this game you can be one of four characters: Samson (a man), Mouse, Golem, or Dragon. All have different abilities and they all come on the adventure with you, so you can switch out at anytime. They each have their own lifebar too, which means there no penalty for switching out, and in fact it's quite helpful. In any event, this game is a lot of fun for people who like platformers. And it has a difficulty setting, so even beginners can have fun with it. Unfortunately, it's never been re-released, so you'll have to find a copy for your NES to play it. Good luck with that!

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/253946-little-samson-nes-screenshot-the-fire-breathing-dragon-crosses.png)(https://l.j-factor.com/gifs/LittleSamson-GoldDragon.gif)

19. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/72/ZeldaWindWakerGCNCoverArtUS.jpg/260px-ZeldaWindWakerGCNCoverArtUS.jpg)

I love Zelda games. I spent 2007 beating every single one that had come out at the time. This one, for my money, as far as 3D Zelda games go, is the best one. Yes. You read that correctly. Yes, that means there will be no Ocarina of Time on this list. Sorry, folks! This is where it's at when I want some big Zelda adventure. First off, it's the best looking game of the series. The cel-shading style looks absolutely beautiful to this day. The HD remake looks AMAZING. I love the sailing aspect, too. Just Link and the sea. Endless, as far as the eye can... what's that?? Let's check this island out for an hour! FUN! There's just so much to see on the water in this game, so many little side quests and secrets. And it actually has a compelling storyline about what the Hell happened to Hyrule. This game knocked my socks off, and as much as I enjoy Ocarina, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword, I really don't think anything will ever touch the grandeur of Wind Waker. Check out the HD version on Wii U.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/30/Wind_waker_1080p.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6d/The_Legend_of_Zelda_The_Wind_Waker_HD_screenshot_Link_Windfall_Island.png)

18. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/95/Castlevania_III_Dracula%27s_Curse.jpg/250px-Castlevania_III_Dracula%27s_Curse.jpg)

Remember before when I said I grew up loving Castlevania III? Well here it is. The best NES Castlevania. What makes this the best one for the system is it's replayability. There are so many different ways to play this game. You start out playing as Trevor Belmont, in a time before Simon (from the first two games) was ever born. Along the way you have opportunity to meet and recruit one of three friends: the super-quick Grant, the surprisingly powerful Sypha, and Drac's son himself Alucard. As if that wasn't enough choice for you, when you come to the end of certain levels, you can choose the next path you take. To see all the levels it takes about three run-throughs of the game. Eventually each path converges toward the end of the game, culminating in a final showdown with Drac. Unlike Symphony of the Night, where if you continue to fight enemies you will gain levels and become stronger making the game easier, this game becomes much more difficult very fast. By the end of the game Trevor will be taken out in four hits, and some of his partners even less. If you have a thirst for vampire killing, and a strong will to survive (or at least try, try again), then check this game out on Virtual Console for Wii and Wii U.

(https://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/943/943933/DraculasCurseInline2_1231799200.jpg)(https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/castle3trevor-2.gif)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on September 23, 2015, 09:28:18 PM
Not a big fan of the old Castlevania games for the NES but i do think DC is one of the best OSTs in the series (along SOTN, SC4 and DoS).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 23, 2015, 09:33:07 PM
Wind Waker would have been great if it had a map instead of empty ocean and more than 2 or 3 real dungeons. The blue-ballsiest Zelda game. :lol Right when it finally starts getting good, bam; last third of the game is just pure padding. Collect a billion rupees to pay midget, sail for ten minutes through emptiness to find the thingy, repeat. (and I hate to say it, but your whole description reads as a troll to me, I disagree that strongly :lol )

Don't know the other two. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 24, 2015, 08:48:54 AM
Not a big fan of the old Castlevania games for the NES but i do think DC is one of the best OSTs in the series (along SOTN, SC4 and DoS).

Oh, man, YES! I can't believe I forgot to talk about the music in this game. There were times that instead of playing the game I would just listen to the soundtrack at the beginning (B+START at the opening screen, I believe). So good.

Wind Waker would have been great if it had a map instead of empty ocean and more than 2 or 3 real dungeons. The blue-ballsiest Zelda game. :lol Right when it finally starts getting good, bam; last third of the game is just pure padding. Collect a billion rupees to pay midget, sail for ten minutes through emptiness to find the thingy, repeat. (and I hate to say it, but your whole description reads as a troll to me, I disagree that strongly :lol )

I mean, I can't disagree with you. And I've heard that opinion before. But it was stuff like that that made me love this game. It felt like a journey to a far off land every time you set sail. I swear I'm being genuine! :laugh:  :P ::)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on September 24, 2015, 08:57:49 AM
Wind Waker would have been great if it had a map instead of empty ocean and more than 2 or 3 real dungeons. The blue-ballsiest Zelda game. :lol Right when it finally starts getting good, bam; last third of the game is just pure padding. Collect a billion rupees to pay midget, sail for ten minutes through emptiness to find the thingy, repeat. (and I hate to say it, but your whole description reads as a troll to me, I disagree that strongly :lol )

I mean, I can't disagree with you. And I've heard that opinion before. But it was stuff like that that made me love this game. It felt like a journey to a far off land every time you set sail. I swear I'm being genuine! :laugh:  :P ::)

I'm just ribbing you, man. :tup The reason it even bugs me was because of the flashes of brilliance, especially those later dungeons, which were among the best in any Zelda game. It's still a Zelda game, and I still enjoyed it a lot, it's just a shame it felt so rushed to me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on September 24, 2015, 08:53:22 PM
Castlevania 3 is fantastic. It's not my favorite in the series, but at the same time the switching spirits was so cool. I always fell back to Grant, he was the most useful IMO with skipping parts of stages, and his height was handy on the axe throwing knights. Alucard was nearly worthless IMO, which as kids we are all excited about him when hearing about the game. Actually as you were describing Little Samson OpenYourEyes, I thought of C3.

The challenge was up there for C3, some say more than C1. But I don't always agree. Then again, without "Help Me", that makes more sense. I don't think I've beaten it without that  :lol. I need to go do that.The game was harder with using just Trevor and skipping the spirits. I forgot how I beat the dopplegangers. And that second quest- shoot, I need to go play this one again soon!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 25, 2015, 06:48:53 AM
Castlevania 3 is fantastic. It's not my favorite in the series, but at the same time the switching spirits was so cool. I always fell back to Grant, he was the most useful IMO with skipping parts of stages, and his height was handy on the axe throwing knights. Alucard was nearly worthless IMO, which as kids we are all excited about him when hearing about the game. Actually as you were describing Little Samson OpenYourEyes, I thought of C3.

The challenge was up there for C3, some say more than C1. But I don't always agree. Then again, without "Help Me", that makes more sense. I don't think I've beaten it without that  :lol. I need to go do that.The game was harder with using just Trevor and skipping the spirits. I forgot how I beat the dopplegangers. And that second quest- shoot, I need to go play this one again soon!

Grant was my go-to for a long time. But I was never able to finish the game with him. Always got stuck at Death. These days I still go get him so I can get the 1up and points in the clock-tower, but I always end up switching him with Sypha. Her lightning spell is sick and really does the job against Death.  And yes, Alucard is pretty useless in this game. Although I've seen videos online of people using him, and I guess if you know how to use him he's pretty good. I've never tried Trevor alone. I imagine that would be impossible (for me anyway, haha)!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 28, 2015, 10:36:51 PM
Couple of Mario games today!

17. Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/SuperMarioGalaxy.jpg)

This is the first 3D Mario game I ever played and enjoyed. I didn't really have N64, so Mario 64 didn't appeal to me. And I didn't really get into Sunshine either, maybe played it for about an hour and put it down. But when I got a Wii, I could not put this game down. I really enjoyed the "space" aspect of the game. How you could run around the different planets, and they each had their own gravity, and how you could fly from planet to planet. I thought the boss fights were generally really cool. I remember the feeling of getting the 120th star, and the big sigh of relief that it was over, only to unlock Luigi mode and have to do it all over again! While I did enjoy Super Mario Galaxy 2 enough to beat it, it did not suck me in as much as the original. I wasn't a big fan of Yoshi coming into the fold. One more thing about this game is the music. It's done with a actual orchestra, and it's pretty breathtaking. If you have a Wii or Wii U and (somehow) not played this game, go pick it up!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Mg_planetoid.jpg)(https://www.gioteck.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2013/04/Super-Mario-Galaxy-for-wii.jpg)

16. Mario Superstar Baseball (2005)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2f/Mario_Superstar_Baseball.jpg)

This is an odd pick, I must say. Absolutely a nostalgia pick. While growing up, my buddy and I always enjoyed playing sports game against each other. But one of us was always better than the other one. He was better at football and golf games; I was always better at hockey games. Then came Mario Baseball. We both picked it up and started playing the single player game on our own. What's funny is the actually single-player game isn't that great. I mean, it's okay. There's kind of a storyline, and there's challenges you can do with each character to give them a superstar and make them better, and even mini-games, but the real fun was when we got together and played against each other head to head. We each had our own style: people we liked in the field, or at bat, or pitching. I loved Waluigi as pitcher, he was a Boo guy. I was nasty with Noki at the bat, and Dry Bones in the field. He couldn't stand using either. But it always went back and forth. I would win a game or two, then he would. It was always interesting. Then we came up with the idea of the Mario Baseball World Series. Rules were simple: seven games; we pick all players at the beginning and they all have to play at least once in the first four games (in case of a sweep); you need at least 3 starting pitchers and they can't come in for relief, or play in the next two games after starting a game (so your ace would go 1,4,7... the other would play 2,5 and 3,6). Each game took about 30-40 minutes, so we would play for a very long time. Most Series' went to 7 games, many in dramatic comeback fashion. The last time we did this was the morning of my bachelor party, where I came back from a 3 game deficit to win in seven. Oh man, good times. If you've got a buddy you can kill some time with, check this one out for Gamecube.

(https://screens.latestscreens.com/gamecube/screenshots/mariosuperstarbaseball/i_7945.jpg)(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B_ifh9__9jM/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: cramx3 on September 29, 2015, 05:54:47 AM
I've really been considering getting a Wii U lately to play the Mario games, new and old.  I haven't played a Mario since M64  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ReaperKK on September 29, 2015, 06:22:37 AM
I noticed when my girlfriend and I moved in that she had a copy of Super Mario Galaxy, she said she had a great time playing the game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on September 29, 2015, 11:35:30 AM
Ahh, the joys of playing Mario Baseball with friends.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Chino on September 29, 2015, 11:38:48 AM
Mario Golf on 64 was easily my favorite Mario-based sports game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on September 29, 2015, 11:41:40 AM
Mario Golf on 64 was easily my favorite Mario-based sports game.

This was a great one, too. I liked all the Mario Golfs, actually. The one on Gamecube especially. For me though, Baseball was hands down the most fun of them all. Although I didn't get into the second one (as I didn't think the motion controls would be anywhere near as good as what was on Gamecube).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 01, 2015, 11:18:01 PM
Sorry for taking so long with this. Tough to make the posts at work, and life after work is getting in the way. I will do another tomorrow afternoon.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 02, 2015, 03:09:49 PM
15. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence/Curse of Darkness (2003/2005)

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Castlevania_-_Lament_of_Innocense_(Gamecover).jpg)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CurseofDarknessCover.jpg)

While I absolutely love the 2D Castlevanias, and usually would go for a more traditional 2D game over a 3D one, these two games are hands-down the best Castlevanias I’ve ever played. I group them together because they play very similarly to each other and I played both of them back-to-back so they kinda flow together in my mind. I will say that the storylines are completely different. Lament is kind of an origin story, taking place well before any of the others in the canon, and has the creation of the famous Vampire Killer whip. Curse is a continuation of my favorite NES CV: Dracula’s Curse, which is just fantastic as you run into Trevor multiple times throughout the game. When played in order, you will see that in Lament, you are confined to the one castle, but it’s split into five areas. You play each area in order as if they were levels, but you get to go back to any of the other ones at any time in case you missed an item or something. At the end, you can also unlock a bonus boss fight, which is pretty gruesome. Lament also has a bit of replayability as it gives you codes to play in different modes once you beat the game (like hard mode, or as a different character).

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)

Curse of Darkness, on the other hand, drops you in a huge world where you can go pretty much anywhere you want. It’s kind of like a journey to get to the castle, as opposed to already being there. I remember being pretty overwhelmed with how much land there was to cover in this game. Also, the main side-quest in this game is a massive 50-floor tower that you have to fight through to get to the top. Each floor is harder and harder, so hopefully you’re pretty stacked before tackling it. There’s a pretty gnarly secret at the top, too, which made me chuckle and groan at the same time when I figured out what it was. In any event, both of these games are worth checking out. I can best describe them both as Symphony of the Night in 3D. Both for PS2, and Lament is now on PSN.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)

14. Blaster Master (1988)

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)

Another one of my all-time favorite games. This is the one game on my list that breaks my self-imposed “must be able to beat without cheating” rule. This game is deceptively hard. If you don’t know where exactly you need to go, you could spend hours on the first level alone. In this game, you’re a character named Jason, who drives a badass car with a gun on it. You control the car along platforming levels, eventually finding small doors where you need to get out of the car and infiltrate with Jason. The game then turns into a top down shooter. The levers are all really big, and have many different ways of going and many different doors. All but one door lead to dead-end (usually with power-ups, some with nothing). The one you’re looking for is the boss room. Once you defeat a boss, you get a new ability for your car (better gun, walk on walls or ceilings, ability to hover…) that will help you make it to the next level. It’s kind of like a Metroidvania before that was even a thing. While I have been able to beat this with the Game Genie, I haven’t tried without it in YEARS. I could get pretty far though, I remember getting to the last level once before I got a game over. This one is definitely worth checking out, for NES and Virtual Console. Also, as a quick honorable mention to the sequel that came out for WiiWare in 2010, Blaster Master: Overdrive, is pretty much the same thing with better graphics and sound (same soundtrack!), and new gameplay features, and also totally worth checking out.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lament_of_Innocence_gameplay.jpg)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blaster_Master_top-down_perspective.png)

THE PICTURES AREN'T WORKING FOR ME AT WORK. I'll fix it when I get home if needed. Okay, well I tried at home. I'm not understanding why they aren't working. Too tired to figure it out.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Crow on October 02, 2015, 03:47:19 PM
they are also not working for me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Big Hath on October 02, 2015, 10:13:17 PM
14. Blaster Master (1988)

awesome!  #8 on my list way back on page 17.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 11, 2015, 11:03:50 PM
So life has gotten in the way the past week. Sorry to all, I will try and update more frequently so as to not hold up the next person.

13. Mario Kart 8 (2014)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/MarioKart8Boxart.jpg)

This is the game I've always wanted Mario Kart to be. I grew up on 64 and Double Dash, but never loved a MK game as much as this one. First off, it's in HD, so it's clearly the best looking of all the Kart games. But the gameplay is just so refined. I love that they brought back the coins from SuperMK (the more you have, the faster you are). And the DLC is really a huge game changer. Eventually, I hope to beat every race on 200cc (it's so fast!!). But there are so many fun new races, and upgrades to old classic races, that so far I have yet to tire of this game! Easily the best Kart game, and the reason you should pick up a Wii U to play it!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/Link_mk8.jpg)(https://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/1535/15351135/2495927-preview_mariokart8_20140318v2gs.jpg)

12. Metroid (1986)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/Metroid_boxart.jpg)

Metroid is the first game I can remember owning. It's kind of a tragic memory, because all I remember was spilling juice all over the booklet only minutes after opening the box. But I clearly remember my 14" tube TV shining in the livingroom of the house I moved away from when I was 6, with the world of Zebes unfolding before my eyes. Nothing excites me more, gaming-wise, than an adventure. Not knowing what's behind the corner, or in the next room. Is it going to be an enemy I've never seen? A much-needed powerup so that I can get into that red door I saw a few screens back? Or, worse yet, a terrifyingly hard boss? It was heart-pounding playing this game as a child. But I loved every second of it. If not for Nintendo Power's map of the entire game, I may not have ever beaten it. But after literally memorizing the item sequence in NP (...#7 Boots, #8 E-tank...), I was able to finally make it to Mother Brain. Only to die, pretty every time until well into high school. This game is not for people who quit after dying a couple times, it is quite hard regardless if you are 6 or 26, or 60. But definitely worth checking out if you've played some of the sequels. It's interesting to see where the series began. On Virtual Console for 3DS, Wii, and Wii U.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/NES_Metroid.png)(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FAfKRNN6ny0/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on October 12, 2015, 08:40:12 AM
Now i'm expecting Super Metroid to show up soon  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 12, 2015, 09:55:49 AM
 ;)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Onno on October 12, 2015, 01:47:57 PM
Mario Kart 8 is awesome. A few friends of mine have it and I love playing it. Double Dash was always my favourite but Mario Kart 8 is really refreshing (where Mario Kart Wii wasn't) and I love the high amount of tracks, characters and cars/bikes.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 14, 2015, 07:13:36 AM
Mario Kart 8 is awesome. A few friends of mine have it and I love playing it. Double Dash was always my favourite but Mario Kart 8 is really refreshing (where Mario Kart Wii wasn't) and I love the high amount of tracks, characters and cars/bikes.
I felt the same way. Me and my friends LOVED Double Dash, and the Wii game was just a let down after that. But they got back on track with 8.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 14, 2015, 07:15:57 AM
Is there anything wrong with the Wii Mario Kart game, or was it just not particularly innovative? I haven't played it, but we just got a Wii, so obviously games like that are top of the list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Kwyjibo on October 14, 2015, 07:22:57 AM
Mario Kart Wii was really fun to play, in fact the only game I played on the Wii more than once. Previously I've only played Mario Kart 64 so I have no real comparison.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on October 14, 2015, 07:28:33 AM
I thought it was better than Double Dash, but I guess that isn't saying much. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 14, 2015, 07:31:47 AM
I thought it was better than Double Dash, but I guess that isn't saying much. :lol

Double Dash was a great game! I do prefer Mario Kart 64, but it was still a lot of fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ReaperKK on October 14, 2015, 07:38:57 AM
Is there anything wrong with the Wii Mario Kart game, or was it just not particularly innovative? I haven't played it, but we just got a Wii, so obviously games like that are top of the list.

My gf has Mario Kart on wii but I haven't hooked it up so I haven't gotten a chance to play it. I do remember seeing it at my buddies house and it looked pretty fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 14, 2015, 07:57:07 AM
Don't get me wrong, it was still a fun game. But Double-Dash had a tandem aspect (2 players on one kart) that they got rid of in MKWii. That was one of my favorite things about DD. Me and my buddy used to OWN doubling up (uh-uh). Also, if 3 or 4 players were playing the Wii game at the same time, it looked like crap for some reason. MK8 kind of has the same problem, but it's in HD so it obviously looks a whole lot better. And while they didn't bring back the double-up karts in 8, they upped the wow factor on the races by using the anti-gravity parts, brought back the coins to make the game a bit faster, and added fun new items (like the Crazy 8!).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lucien on October 14, 2015, 10:12:52 AM
getting used to turning the remote in mario kart Wii was really hard after having played mario kart DS for basically forever
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 20, 2015, 11:05:21 PM
HONORABLE MENTIONS (going with 2 HMs and 1 entry so I can set up the top ten)

Final Fantasy PSX Series (1997, 1999, 2000)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c2/Final_Fantasy_VII_Box_Art.jpg/250px-Final_Fantasy_VII_Box_Art.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/Final_Fantasy_8_ntsc-front.jpg/250px-Final_Fantasy_8_ntsc-front.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/Ffixbox.jpg/250px-Ffixbox.jpg)

What can be said that hasn't already been said? Just fantastic games, and really the whole series is great, but the PSX run of VII, VIII, and IX is probably the strongest trilogy of the bunch. I mean, we all have our favorites, and ones we don't like. For me, II was a huge dud on NES. IV wasn't that great either. X was okay, but XI was online and I never even got to play it. The PSX trilogy, however, when taken as a whole is perfection. What's great is that they're all different, but yet they're all familiar as you get into them The gameplay for each is amazing, but the change it up every time. VII has materia, VIII has the Draw system, and IX has the learning system (which reminds me of VI's magicite system, and probably why I really like it). The stories for each are probably the best story telling in Final Fantasy games to date. I got really invested in every single character from each game. If you've only played one of these (VII, for example), you owe it to yourself to try the others, because they're just fun RPGs. And they're all available on PSN.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/FFVIIbattlexample.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/de/FF8battlexample2.png)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Ff9_screenshot_bossbattle.png)


Wii Sports (2006)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/Wii_Sports_Europe.jpg)

I'll start off by saying that the Wii was the first and only system I ever bought on launch day. I was also a poor college student and couldn't afford to buy any games with the system. So when I tell you I played this s#!t out of this... I mean, it's all I had. But man, all five games in Wii Sports are pretty flippin' fun. I was pretty bad at Baseball and Boxing, but they were still fun. I liked how the boxing introduced the nunchuck to you. Golf was pretty cool, and Tennis was a lot of fun with friends. But Oh. My. God. Bowling! I was so good at bowling! I used to crush people in my dorm room at bowling til the wii hours of the morning. I couldn't get enough. I think I may have bowled my last game when someone bet me $5 that they could beat me (some time in 2009ish). I ended up bowling a perfect game (my second one). I retired after that.

(https://pixelkin.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Wii-Sports.jpg)(https://www.gengame.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/wii-sports-club-3.jpg)

11. Suikoden (1995)

(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/suikoden/Suikoden%20Cover.jpg)

This game is the pinnacle of PSX RPGs, for me. While the second one is very highly regarded (with good reason I'm finding out, as I'm in the middle of playing it), this is the game I grew up with. I love everything about this game. The look is beautiful, the characters all have great stories and personalities (which is amazing considering there's 100+ playable characters!), and the storyline is awesome. I love the war theme, which was brought into the sequel. I love that there are three separate types of battle, too. There's the regular turn based battles, which happen most frequently; duels between two characters (which, if you lose, your character can die and be gone for good); and war battles, where again you can lose characters if they fall in battle. So, if you're looking for an overlooked RPG from the PSX era to satisfy your turn-based itch, this is one I would recommend whole-heartedly. And now it's reasonably price on the PSN!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2e/Suikoden_screen01.jpg/220px-Suikoden_screen01.jpg)(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xjg0qNn1XlE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on October 20, 2015, 11:10:33 PM
I could never get into any of the PS1 Final Fantasy games, and I never bothered with anything PS2 or onward. So for me the best trilogy is IV V and VI.

Suikoden is one of about a hundred PS1 RPGs I've been meaning to play for the better part of a decade and a half, but haven't gotten around to. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 21, 2015, 12:02:43 AM
Wii bowling is fucking choice. The mechanics are phenomally true to real life bowling and the best of any bowling game I've ever played. Silver Strike Bowling (an arcade-only game from the mid-2000s) has virtually perfect physics too but the track ball's got nothing on being able to use the exact same arm motion you use when actually bowling. The hook mechanics just feel real-life perfect.

Never got a perfect game though since I've probably only bowled about 40-50 games on it in my entire life since I've never owned it. I did get a 277 though which is, realistically speaking, every bit as good as a 297 the way I did it since my game was 11 strikes surrounding a mid-game 7-count where I picked up the spare and the only way to get a 297 (or anything higher than a 290) is to open with 11 in a row going into your final shot so my 277 and a 297 both include 11 strikes and a 7-count but in a 297 you don't even have to convert the spare since the 7-count can only occur on your final shot.

Oh yeah, the trick shot and 100-pin bowling modes are fantastic ways to expand upon a very simple and old concept. They really should add a mode where you can practice any spare pickup by allowing you to choose which pins are standing in some kind of practice mode.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lynxo on October 21, 2015, 01:45:19 AM
The PSX FF Trilogy is one absolutely fantastic run of games and probably my favorite trilogy of all time.  :tup

And I'm happy to see Suikoden mentioned here.  :biggrin: While the second one has undoubtly a much more fulfilling story and interesting characters, the original one is awesome too! :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ariich on October 21, 2015, 04:29:26 AM
Agreed that the PSOne years of the Final Fantasy series were the greatest. VIII is a weaker one for me, especially compared with those two but even compared with most of the more recent ones. However, there were some aspects of it that were really great. The music is easily the best of the entire series, the graphics were by far the best they had developed at that time and the gameplay was pretty good. It was just hugely let down by story and characters (similar to XII in that way).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on October 21, 2015, 02:36:11 PM
Also, what makes FFVIII my favorite is the atmosphere, the world design, how well the music blended.
It kinda made me excuse some gameplay mechanics i didn't liked such as drawing magic, how you can't use magic because of you need it for the stats junctioning and etc....

My personal preference is VIII > IX > VII. They all pretty good though and i love these OSTs.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on October 21, 2015, 09:00:52 PM
Ah, Wii Sports. Never has so much been gained from a tech demo. It is sad, because I feel so much more could have done with the potential of the system. And this is apparent from the fun of Wii Sports, and just how many different kinds of people played it.               
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cool Chris on October 21, 2015, 09:19:08 PM
I have never played a Final Fantasy game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Sacul on October 21, 2015, 09:40:33 PM
I have never played a Final Fantasy game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on October 22, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
My personal preference is VIII > IX > VII. They all pretty good though and i love these OSTs.

Nailed it.

I have never played a Final Fantasy game.

Tough to go wrong with PSX series if you're looking for a place to start. Or FFVI.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on October 22, 2015, 01:00:17 PM
PS1 series is no better or worse than what came before or after it, if you ask me. VII is one of the only poor entries (with X) in the series, VII ends great but the first disc is poor, and IX is in the top 5 best. I tend to feel nostalgia elevates the PS1 era.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on October 22, 2015, 06:51:34 PM
While I pump up other FFs as a result of the attention FFVII gets, saying it's poor is a bit harsh IMO. Sure, it has it's flaws like so many others. But its impact on gaming, PS & Sony for that matter in general, RPGs and consoles in general was monumental. Kind of like how everyone identifies SMB3 as great, FFVII is great. For many of us it may not be our favorite, but the game is legendary. So many people have played it, non RPG fans included.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on October 23, 2015, 12:09:53 PM
Just a typo, notice I talked about VII twice. I meant VIII is poor. I like VII a lot, but the first disc has many annoying things that keep it from being one of the best in the series.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on October 23, 2015, 06:56:28 PM
Gotcha, my error.  :facepalm:

Agreed on both points.  :tup VII can be uneven. I do not think VIII is 100% poor, but certainly more of the black sheep of the series. Some good concepts that fell flat as a whole.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on October 23, 2015, 09:04:01 PM
I do think that was clearly my error! :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on October 24, 2015, 10:24:21 AM
I don't see VIII as the black sheep of the series. For starters, it is better received than many FFs, notably II (NES) and XIII.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on October 24, 2015, 05:18:36 PM
So? It's all personal opinion. II is one of the best, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on October 25, 2015, 10:53:57 AM
You should like both II and VIII then because the common complaint is that both have broken systems  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on October 25, 2015, 11:43:35 AM
Joke or not, not amusing. Just looking at the 'broken' systems...

II has a broken system only if you purposefully abuse it. Don't attack your own players and don't power level, and it's balanced fairly well. That's not unreasonable. In fact, power leveling is discouraged in the system, it holds your character back. You level the fastest and have the highest potential in this game if you  keep yourself as low as possible. It's a very cool balance that encourages you to attempt to challenge yourself in battle. You can spot power levelers easily on forums because they're complain about their level going up painfully slow. It's a broken system, alright, but not breaking it leaves you a quality system.
 
VIII borders on damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's just kind of confusing as to what to be doing. You can attack, but it doesn't seem to gain you much. You can farm magic, but that's boring and stupid. It's bad when the 'no encounter' ability seems like the most important ability (and you can get it very early). It's broken, but that's because it is difficult to find a quality 'gaming' path. It discourages grinding, but by doing so you make the game easier. Where's the fun sweet spot?

XII is also considered broken due to the gambit system, but I think that's the best game in series. The gambit system is not only completely optional, it only effectively runs itself if you've devoted some effort to it. It is arguably broken, but when solution you think it should have is simply don't do it, what are you complaining about?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lucien on October 26, 2015, 10:02:41 AM
XII is also considered broken due to the gambit system, but I think that's the best game in series. The gambit system is not only completely optional, it only effectively runs itself if you've devoted some effort to it. It is arguably broken, but when solution you think it should have is simply don't do it, what are you complaining about?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Accelerando on October 26, 2015, 09:02:41 PM
Wii Sports is always a good time!  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on October 31, 2015, 10:29:45 AM
When are we getting the next installment? 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 03, 2015, 06:53:00 AM
When are we getting the next installment?

Tonight. And it'll be a bigger one to make up for the lack of posts.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 03, 2015, 09:56:31 PM
10. Super Mario 3 (1988)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Super_Mario_Bros._3_coverart.png)

So SMB3 is my favorite Mario game. Hands down. As a kid, I had the Nintendo Power that was just a guide for this game. It had every secret, including N-Cards, 1-ups, strategies, etc. And I pretty much memorised the whole game. I can still run though every level and get all the secret power-ups (which were the best of the series). Has it ever gotten better than the racoon tail or the Hammer Bros Suit? I think not! Still run through this game every so often with my friends. Few hours for every level, or about 20 minutes if we warp. Either way it's a good time.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Super_Mario_Bros._3_overworld_map.png)(https://www.gamespite.net/img/wiki/games2/spot_g5-supermariobros3-2.gif)




9. Metroid Prime (2002)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/MetroidPrimebox.jpg)

Metroid. In 3-D. What was done right in this game is it feels like Metroid. The hunt for new weapons. The need to backtrack. The secret passages to hidden missles. Ridley. Everything about this game was familiar in an unfamiliar way. I was totally skeptical of this game as I do not like first person shooters normally. But I was very pleasantly surprised. The locking mechanism for aiming really helped me along in this one, and once I got through the first section of the game and I was on Tallon IV, I kinda forgot I was playing a FPS. My favorite thing about this game was the challenge. I was scared to go through that next door. Literally, my heart would race as I went through every cavern. Space Pirates were around every corner and were not very friendly. Then there were the bosses: Thardus was an a-hole, and Omega Pirate was a major problem (still never beat him on hard mode). And the last boss was pretty beastly, too. But again. It was all Metroid. Besides the lack of Screw Attack, it was everything I could have hoped for in a 3-D game that brought one of my favorite franchises to life in a big way. I'm hoping eventually for an HD sequel, but not holding my breath.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/M_screen017.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7a/Morphball.jpg)




8. Chrono Trigger (1995)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Chrono_Trigger.jpg)

What used to be my #1 game has slipped in the past few years. By no fault of it's own, of course. CT is an amazing game. In fact, it's only slipped because I've overplayed it in the last twenty years. I have beaten this game all the way through probably over 50 times, every version multiple times, and it still amazes me when I do play it. My favorite things about this game are the characters and story. Every character has a fleshed out story of their own that fits into the overall storyline. The gameplay is fast paced, and still fun and challenging. And the antagonists. Who's cooler than Magus? And Lavos himself is a beast as well. Sometimes I wish that I had never played this game, just so I could experience it again for the first time. It's just that good of a game.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/ChronoTriggerInside.PNG)(https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/chrono3.jpg)




7. Super Metroid (1994)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/Smetroidbox.jpg)

As was listed earlier, Metroid was one of my favorite NES games growing up. In 1994, I was walking through Toys R Us and saw the demo for this game, and was floored. What I saw when I picked up the controller to play a bit of it was a destroyed Tourain from the end of the first game. I turn a corner, and there sits an empty cage where Mother Brain once was. Then, further in, an elevator that brings me back to the beginning of the first Metroid game. This was a place I was familiar with. To the left, yup, the Morphing Ball was still there. All of this was in glorious 16-bit. Something I had never experienced up until this point at my home. I must own this game. Bought a SNES and the game not much later and the rest is history. Easily the best game in the series, and it kind of saddens me that it's not top 5. But... well...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Super_Metroid_Grapple_Beam.png)(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/35801-Super_Metroid_(Japan,_USA)_(En,Ja)-3.jpg)




6. Final Fantasy Anthology (1992, 1994)

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/36895-Final_Fantasy_Anthology_-_Final_Fantasy_V_[NTSC-U]-5.jpg)

In 1999, two of the best RPGs ever made were re-released for the Playstation under the title Final Fantasy Anthology: the epic and awesome FF6, and the at-the-time-never-released and often overlooked FF5. While the PSX versions did not update much of anything for either game, aside from a beastiary, it did give fans of the series a second look at my favorite era of Final Fantasy, the SNES era. While, admittedly, FF4 doesn't hold my interest as much as later games, these two back-to-back classics make up for it in spades. Most everybody already knows or has heard how great FF6, so I'll focus my energy on converting people on 5. Two words: Job System. An updated version of the system from FF3 makes a return, and in a big way. Over twenty jobs are at your disposal as you make your way through this game, meaning your characters can take on any role they choose at any time, for an infinite number of combinations. When they master a job, they can take some portions of that job, even innate abilities, along with them while using other jobs. Eventually, you can make your characters pretty much unstoppable forces if you master many jobs. Until Exdeath. Exdeath will f--- you up. So take a look if you haven't yet at these two remarkably fun RPGs from the best era in gaming. Both are on PSN.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Final_Fantasy_V_Active_Time_Battle_screenshot.png)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d1/Final_Fantasy_V_-_Job_System.png)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/WikibattleFF6.PNG)(https://www.stiqblox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/final-fantasy-VI-screenshot-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on November 03, 2015, 10:06:33 PM
I approve of all of these. Although I think you're cheating with that Final Fantasy Anthology. :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Sacul on November 03, 2015, 10:26:02 PM
I approve of all of these. Although I think you're cheating with that Final Fantasy Anthology. :P
This, except for CT - I guess I'll never get the praise for that game. Totally cool if you love it, but I can't really see anything of it worth as "one of the best games ever". Oh well  :P

Btw, I'd kill for an HD Remaster of Metroid Prime Trilogy  :o
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ariich on November 04, 2015, 12:05:36 AM
How confusing - in Europe the FF Anthology was IV and V as they released VI separately.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lynxo on November 04, 2015, 01:54:50 AM
How confusing - in Europe the FF Anthology was IV and V as they released VI separately.
Yeah, no kidding, had to google to make sure I wasn't dreaming what I used to play as a child.  :lol

Those PlayStation remakes are plagued with bad loading times but other than that, they're awesome. You really can't go wrong with any SNES era Final Fantasy. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on November 04, 2015, 05:07:12 AM
Super Mario Bros. 3 is as good as Mario gets. I'd love to see them yop it one day but I ain't holdin my breath.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 04, 2015, 05:13:57 AM
Super Mario Bros. 3 is as good as Mario gets. I'd love to see them yop it one day but I ain't holdin my breath.

They topped it with the very next Mario game. They haven't topped that one since though. :biggrin:
Mario games are always enjoyable though, as are most first party Nintendo games. I guess they need to deliver, since they can't rely on third party developers to care about Nintendo's consoles.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 04, 2015, 06:36:57 AM
How confusing - in Europe the FF Anthology was IV and V as they released VI separately.

That's really strange. They packaged IV with Chrono Trigger here in the States as Final Fantasy Chronicles. And with FF Origins (I&II) you could play 1-9 on PSX, with the exception of 3. Those were good times.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Jarlaxle on November 04, 2015, 07:26:29 AM
My brother's and mine record for SM3 was something like 8:53. Sub 9 minutes anyway. We played for days on end one-upping each other. I think he's the one that holds the best time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 04, 2015, 08:09:58 AM
My brother's and mine record for SM3 was something like 8:53. Sub 9 minutes anyway. We played for days on end one-upping each other. I think he's the one that holds the best time.

That's a sick time. That's more like my time for SMB1. Usually I'm not going for speed, though. I like to enjoy every level. But that time is probably half my best at least. Nice work!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 04, 2015, 11:05:06 AM
FF6: One of the best.

FFV: One of the few lousy ones. Find transportation mode, take it one place, lose it, repeat. The job system was awful, and I really like III's system. Beating the final boss was finally doable when I took all my characters in on brand new classes, to enable the right ability combos. There was no planning needed and being strong in a class discourages staying in it (or even in a similar class), terrible system.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 04, 2015, 11:44:56 AM
Holy shit, what an amazing update, Batman  :lol

Love Super Metroid, love Metroid Prime, love Chrono Trigger, really like Final Fantasy 5 (Job System FTW) :hefdaddy

Bit of a sin that i never played SM3 or completed FF6 though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 04, 2015, 11:47:01 AM
FFV: One of the few lousy ones. Find transportation mode, take it one place, lose it, repeat. The job system was awful, and I really like III's system. Beating the final boss was finally doable when I took all my characters in on brand new classes, to enable the right ability combos. There was no planning needed and being strong in a class discourages staying in it (or even in a similar class), terrible system.

Valid points. The story was definitely not the best. But where I disagree is the fighting system. I love the fact that if I get a great ability (like bare-fists) by being a master in the Monk class, I can bring that over and pummel people in with my Level 1 White Mage. So now my Mage can attack with ferocity and still heal when needed. I thought it was great! (my opinion  ;D)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 04, 2015, 11:53:09 AM
I thought FF5 was pretty good much more because of the gameplay than the story and characters, very much like FF12 (at least for me).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 04, 2015, 02:01:17 PM
Love Metroid, too. Echoes was my favorite out of Prime. Hearing about the upcoming 3DS installment was nothing short of a disappointment. I don't have a big problem with it if it was coming along with a proper title, but on such a long hiatus for the series it feels like an insult to fans to slap the name on a game that doesn't seem to care about the franchise. Ah well, been a fan since the original, I'll wait longer.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OnTheBacksofAngela on November 04, 2015, 02:10:57 PM
Love Metroid, too. Echoes was my favorite out of Prime. Hearing about the upcoming 3DS installment was nothing short of a disappointment. I don't have a big problem with it if it was coming along with a proper title, but on such a long hiatus for the series it feels like an insult to fans to slap the name on a game that doesn't seem to care about the franchise. Ah well, been a fan since the original, I'll wait longer.
Ah Metroid! I agree, it was a gem!
Though I am wondering if any of you guys played Mario? Any Mario games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 04, 2015, 02:22:03 PM
Nice games, not much else for me. Nintendo hasn't had much staying power with me outside Metroid and, somewhat, Zelda.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OnTheBacksofAngela on November 04, 2015, 02:28:24 PM
I see. :justjen
What Zelda games? Ocarina of Time?
Do you play any of these games: Dota, League of Legends, Starcraft, World of WarCraft, COD, Pokemon, Halo, GTA, FIFA, NBA, NFL, FF.
If neither, what games are you interested in?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 04, 2015, 02:29:55 PM
I thought FF5 was pretty good much more because of the gameplay than the story and characters, very much like FF12 (at least for me).

Totes.

Love Metroid, too. Echoes was my favorite out of Prime. Hearing about the upcoming 3DS installment was nothing short of a disappointment. I don't have a big problem with it if it was coming along with a proper title, but on such a long hiatus for the series it feels like an insult to fans to slap the name on a game that doesn't seem to care about the franchise. Ah well, been a fan since the original, I'll wait longer.

I liked Echoes enough, but the first will always be my favorite Prime. Corruption was disappointing because of the lack of Gamecube controls (when you can plug in a GameCube controller, it should at least be an option... :facepalm:) Echoes, as I said, was good. but something about the duality of light and dark felt... done before? I dunno. I wish they just didn't use a gimmick like that and had me just explore a bigger planter than the first.

Though I am wondering if any of you guys played Mario? Any Mario games.

Yes. Can't go wrong with Mario. As you can see SMB3 is #10 on my list, and on many other lists. Not to mention SMB1, SMB2, SMW, Yoshi's Island, SM Galaxy... the list goes on.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OnTheBacksofAngela on November 04, 2015, 02:32:02 PM
Though I am wondering if any of you guys played Mario? Any Mario games.

Yes. Can't go wrong with Mario. As you can see SMB3 is #10 on my list, and on many other lists. Not to mention SMB1, SMB2, SMW, Yoshi's Island, SM Galaxy... the list goes on.
[/quote]
You play Super Mario Galaxy?! I love that game! Do you play the Paper Mario series also? Gosh, I could talk about those two games all the time! What galaxies were your favorite? Did you enjoy the soundtrack also?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 04, 2015, 04:45:21 PM
I see. :justjen
What Zelda games? Ocarina of Time?
Do you play any of these games: Dota, League of Legends, Starcraft, World of WarCraft, COD, Pokemon, Halo, GTA, FIFA, NBA, NFL, FF.
If neither, what games are you interested in?
I like some variety, but mostly in the vein of the action/adventure games thaat incorporate exploration, puzzle and/or rpg elements. Castleroid games, stealth games, more open rpg's.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lynxo on November 06, 2015, 01:53:47 AM
I thought FF5 was pretty good much more because of the gameplay than the story and characters, very much like FF12 (at least for me).
Very much this. How people can say that FFV is terrible but give 13 and its sequels a pass is beyond me. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ariich on November 06, 2015, 04:55:45 AM
Depends what your priorities are. I haven't properly played V yet so can't comment on that, but while gameplay was mediocre in XIII, I thought it was one of the best in the series narratively.

XIII-2 was much weaker in that regard though, and the gameplay wasn't all that much better. Haven't played the final one yet.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 06, 2015, 07:21:10 AM
Disliked V, only finished it because of the rest of the series.

I enjoyed all of the XIII series. I prefer more open exploration, so it got better each game, even.

They're so very different games, people will just have different opinions. It is also not uncommon for fans to dislike either of those games, so I don't think we can call many opinions on either, surprising.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 07, 2015, 02:22:27 PM
I thought FF5 was pretty good much more because of the gameplay than the story and characters, very much like FF12 (at least for me).
Very much this. How people can say that FFV is terrible but give 13 and its sequels a pass is beyond me. :lol

I don't see many giving 13 a pass since it's probably the most hated entry in the main series  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 10, 2015, 10:47:15 PM
5. Mega Man Series (1987-2010)

(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/megaman/images/8/83/Mmlogo1.png/revision/latest?cb=20070331121043)

Okay, so maybe putting 10 games into one entry is a little like cheating. Well I can't choose my favorite, and if I didn't do this then there would probably be at least five Mega Man entries anyway. I first got the original Mega Man game in the late eighties, and have always been a fan of the series. What is so great about this series (other than being a tried, tested and truly fantastic action platformer) is that they were always adding to the formula, trying to make it better. The first game was pretty quick featuring only ten levels and six robot masters. From there they added two more robot masters and a longer ending castle. In the third we got the slide, Rush, Proto Man, and an even longer route to Dr. Wily. Then the introduction of the Mega Buster; then Beat; then alternate routes in many levels. By the time the series hit the next generation (SNES) we were on #7. And while 7 & (especially) 8 are widely overlooked, I think they both have great things to offer, including the introduction of bolts to spend in the store to gain power-ups. Fast forward 11 years, and we finally got a Mega Man 9. And it was everything I ever hoped it could be. The creators went back in time, and created a new NES Mega Man that was just as great as the originals, playable on the PSN, Wii, etc. It was fun, fairly original (as much as it could be), and difficult. It was like I was 5 again. Then 10 came and it was more awesomeness. I swear, they could churn out the same game over and over (they did, actually) and I would eat it up.  So here I wait, patiently, for a Mega Man 11. I'm pretty positive Capcom may be done with the Blue Bomber, but I will hold out hope until I am no longer around.

(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/56246-Mega_Man_(USA)-9.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Mega_Man_4_gameplay.jpg)(https://www.tigmo55.com/mm7freez.jpg)(https://static.squarespace.com/static/5227cd84e4b02515a5badc7f/522e7089e4b0ae98001e1da2/522e7137e4b0ae98001e5ebc/1351894562000/mega8-jetsled.gif?format=original)(https://media.bigshinyrobot.com/uploads/2009/12/Screenshot_06_bmp_jpgcopy.jpg)




4. Final Fantasy XIII (2010)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Final_Fantasy_XIII_EU_box_art.jpg)

Interesting that a post about Final Fantasy V would spark conversation about XIII. Well, however surprising, this one is my favorite. Don't know what to say about it other than what most people didn't like is what I loved, strange as that may seem. I love the story: beautifully written, with six great main characters, all with their own flaws and strengths both in the story and in battle. The battles were fast and furious: you could auto attack the crap out of stupid easy enemies (because that's the way it should be - don't waste my time, thanks), but any strong enemies or bosses you came across would mean imminent death if you didn't have a plan going into the fight. All the characters were useful: Lightning was the best fighter, Hope the best mage, Vanille the best healer, Fang the best Saboteur, Snow the best Sentinel, and Sazh... ok well Sazh was pretty useless, but he was still a great character to the story (***SPOILERS*** actually what happens with him in the middle of the story was just so shocking and crazy... that was the moment this game jumped into my top 5). The look of this game is (as my best friend who hates RPGs once said) "the most beautiful game I have ever played." And it's so true. I've never seen a better looking game. Even the sequels, to me, don't look as good as the original. One more thing: Gran Pulse. Man, when the game opens up toward the end and you land on Gran Pulse, I've never felt so small in a video game up to that point in my life. I never minded the game being so linear up to that point (which they all are, so that really can't be an argument as to why this game "sucks." And if you don't believe me, go play FFX!) And when it opens up, there all sorts of things to do. And I did them all, making this my first platinum trophy on my PS3 (1st of 3, with XIII-2 and Lightning Returns - done earlier tonight!) In any event, I love this game. I do understand that some people do not, but I don't understand why. I hope if you haven't played it, you give it a try because I had great fun for 180 hours on my way to platinum.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Final_Fantasy_XIII_battle.png)(https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gamelife/2010/03/ffxiii_battle-event-01.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lucien on November 10, 2015, 11:34:12 PM
XIII?

Color me surprised, at least. Not a terrible game, my dad enjoyed it quite a bit (not as much as XII though), but it was eh for me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ariich on November 10, 2015, 11:55:46 PM
Glad to see some love for XIII!

While I'm not a huge fan of the gameplay, I love the narrative and the characters.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 11, 2015, 12:12:09 AM
Nice to see XIII up there. Good Final Fantasy, one of the pack. It was fantastic once Gran Pulse rolled around. Lightning Returns was my favorite out of the trilogy, though I'm a huge fan of the Valkyrie Profile series, which it feels like a lost sibling of. Not surprising given Tri-Ace's involvement.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Lynxo on November 11, 2015, 02:39:47 AM
Glad to see some love for XIII!

While I'm not a huge fan of the gameplay, I love the narrative and the characters.
I already know you and I are in great disagreement over this so I won't go into this too much.  :lol But I really, really hate this game with a passion. I think the story is poorly told, the voice acting funny and the characters God awful annoying and repetitive. And I really dislike all those long corridors with nothing to do but get from point A to point B. (Yeah yeah, Gran Pulse, but that is MANY hours into the game). And I really don't like the auto-battle system.

But hey, that's just my opinion.  :) I'm glad others can find enjoyment in this, that means Square Enix can keep pumping out more games and maybe I'll like the next one better. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 11, 2015, 08:33:01 AM
Don't use the auto-battle, then. Totally optional, I had no problems not using it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ariich on November 11, 2015, 09:20:21 AM
Don't use the auto-battle, then. Totally optional, I had no problems not using it.
Yeah I don't think I ever used it. I used it much more in XII, which was a much more open game generally and vastly superior in terms of gameplay (best in the series IMO) but much weaker on story.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 11, 2015, 09:35:27 AM
I personally loved the auto-battle. I loved that it let me switch my characters' jobs on the fly and they'll just pretty much (not always) know exactly what I need automatically. And, again, it wasn't like you could auto-battle the bosses. You needed your Paradigms set up pretty perfectly for most of them, and needed to manually put in the right moves or else you were pretty dead (especially for the optional enemies/hunts). And the hunts themselves were really cool. Most of them were one-time enemies that needed a different strategy than any other. That was probably my favorite part of the game.



Any love for the Blue Bomber in these parts??
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 11, 2015, 08:14:16 PM
Seems like we love the most hated FFs (me VIII and you VIII and XIII) :hifive:

I do enjoy the blue bomber, but more because of the X series than the classic. One thing they have in common is the great music  ;)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Sacul on November 11, 2015, 10:27:09 PM
Any love for the Blue Bomber in these parts??
I'm not really a fan of any MegaMan outside the Legends trilogy, so nope  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 17, 2015, 10:52:14 AM
So, when we're gonna get the top 3?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Sacul on November 17, 2015, 10:54:42 AM
Hope everything's fine dude, but this is taking a bit too long  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 17, 2015, 09:59:36 PM
So very sorry for the delay. I know it's been like pulling teeth. Didn't expect the fall to be so busy for me. Anyway, one more post after this one, and it'll happen tomorrow night (about 24 hours from now).

HONORABLE MENTION
Contra (1987)


(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/55137-Contra_(USA)-9.jpg)

While I'm not big into shooters usually, Contra is the main exception. The main reason is co-op multiplayer. Getting to play simultaneously with a buddy in the late '80s was almost unheard of. So laying waste to an army of bad-guys and aliens with my best friend has kind of become a gaming tradition in my house. I would say at least 2-3 a year we'll fire up the old NES and try our luck, sans-30-live-code. I think another reason we come back so often is both the very smooth gameplay and the difficulty towards the end of the game. While the last level isn't so bad, the two leading up to it are a nightmare, even after beating them a hundred times over. If you've never played this rapid-fire shooter, do yourself a favor and grab a buddy and an NES and have a blast. UUDDLRLRBA!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Contra_%28NES_version_screenshot%29.png)(https://www.gamecrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Contra-NES-%C3%BAltimo-jefe.jpg)

3. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Zelda_II_The_Adventure_of_Link_box.jpg)

While a strange departure from the original, and a black sheep under the Zelda name, Zelda II still makes for a very entertaining few hours for me. I think the reason I rank this game so high, aside from the actual quality of the game (it's an awesome game), is that growing up it was just so hard! I remember having so much trouble remembering how to get through most of the levels, to the point where I would get lost. The last level was a nightmare for me until college. Then, at some point, something clicked. I figured out how to kill the Thunderbird, how to destroy the bird knights without getting smoked myself, and figured out the best way of levelling up so that I'm as strong as I can be going into the last castle (or even before that). Now, I've almost perfected my run of this game. While I'll never be able to do it in record time (something like under 90 minutes or so, I think), I've been able to run through this game in about four hours. I wouldn't necessarily tell a Zelda fan to go out of their way for this game, especially if they've only played newer ones, but I would still recommend this game to anyone who likes a difficult, old-school platformer. While most people rave about A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, I could rave all day about The Adventure of Link.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Zelda2_Spectacle_Rock.png)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Zelda_II%2C_The_Adventure_of_Link_%28North_Temple%29.png)

2. Mega Man X (1993)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/Mega_Man_X_Coverart.png)

Absolutely, hands down, the best platformer game ever made. I really don't know what else is close. I know I just put Zelda II and the Mega Man Series in the top five of my list, but really, it's not even close. Mega Man X is light years ahead of every other platformer I've ever played. It's fast paced, it has secret weapons, upgradable armor, a difficulty that's just right. I mean, really it has it all. This game blew my mind when I first played it. Coming from a Mega Man background (and LOVING it), I couldn't believe how much better this game was. My favorite thing about this game is using the weapons. I don't really do that in the original series, but in this game it's just so fun! Using fire to mow down pretty much anything in my way, or charging up the Sting Ray to become invincible and run through your enemies. Or taking out Sigma's dog in one hit with the Hadouken! Man this game is fun. A small honorable mention to the rest of the series, too; although the big drop in quality after X4 kept them off the list, they're all pretty fun games. I would recommend the original, though, to anybody! It's available on Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles! Get it!!

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/24/Mega_Man_X_Armadillo_stage_running.png)(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/34559-Megaman_X_(USA)-3.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Outcrier on November 18, 2015, 02:35:25 PM
Yeah a great Megaman game, although i generally like the X series, even the ones that came after X4.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 18, 2015, 11:22:08 PM
RECAP:

Honorable Mentions: Mickey Mousecapade, Little Samson, Final Fantasy PSX Series, Wii Sports,  Contra

25. Final Fantasy
24. Super Mario Bros.
23. Kirby's Adventure
22. X-COM: Enemy Unknown
21. Knytt Underground
20. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
19. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
18. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
17. Super Mario Galaxy
16. Mario Superstar Baseball
15. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence & Curse of Darkness
14. Blaster Master
13. Mario Kart 8
12. Metroid
11. Suikoden
10. Super Mario Bros. 3
9. Metroid Prime
8. Chrono Trigger
7. Super Metroid
6. Final Fantasy Anthology
5. Mega Man Series
4. Final Fantasy XIII
3. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
2. Mega Man X












1. The Legend of Zelda (1986)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Legend_of_zelda_cover_%28with_cartridge%29_gold.png)

The original. My favorite game of all time. I play this game about once a month, just for fun. It's just something I don't get sick of playing. I have finished this game many more times than I can count. And like it's NES sequel, I can kick the crap out of this game pretty quickly, with a modest 90 minute session. If you have never played this one, but enjoy the newer versions, I suggest you take a look when you get a chance. The basic gameplay is the same now as it was then, take Link through 9 dungeons to save Zelda from Ganon. Find all the heart containers. Use bombs and boomerangs and candles to find tons of secrets. Do it again for a second quest. And never get sick of it, haha, cuz that's what I do! Really I can't say much else about this game, except 25 years after it came out, I still have a blast every single time. You should too! Thanks for bearing with me through my first, and probably last, list here on DTF! I appreciate your patience and hope the next person has as much fun as I did reminiscing about some of the best games ever made.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3a/Legend_of_Zelda_NES.PNG)(https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14939240/2455807-legend_of_zelda_nes_gameplay_screenshot_8.png)(https://gamegravy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/The-Legend-of-Zelda1-e1311893105137.png)(https://www.game-art-hq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Fight-Ganon-NES.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: yorost on November 18, 2015, 11:43:34 PM
Still probably my favorite Zelda game, though I have not played most.

I like that you included the PS2 Castlevania games, loved those. They don't get enough credit for quality.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 20, 2015, 06:54:42 AM
I like that you included the PS2 Castlevania games, loved those. They don't get enough credit for quality.

Those Castlevania games were my favorite of the series. The creators really took the spirit of the original 2D games and translated it perfectly into 3D. The difficulty is just right (as it is for most CV games), and the fact that they have the map system similar to SOTN was just really cool. Throw in some secret items, dungeons, and bosses and you got a couple of quality games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cable on November 23, 2015, 07:24:48 PM
In for the Zelda 2 love!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Sacul on November 24, 2015, 02:04:06 PM
I haven't played a Zelda game, except for the first few levels of Ocarina of Time - I should ask my brother to lend me his 3DS so I can finish it  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on November 24, 2015, 03:17:15 PM
I haven't played a Zelda game, except for the first few levels of Ocarina of Time - I should ask my brother to lend me his 3DS so I can finish it  :P

THIS MUST CHANGE. Do yourself a favor and grab an emulator and the first five games (Zelda, Adventure of Link, Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and Ocarina of Time). You'll get a good feel of where the series has been and if you like the gameplay of any of those you can check out the rest of the series. All 5 of the these have different feels to them, but all still are very much Zelda. :yarr

In for the Zelda 2 love!

Nice!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Cool Chris on November 24, 2015, 08:40:18 PM
The Legend of Zelda is an amazing game, and one I could never see myself tiring of playing. For as much as you could say about it, it really comes down to enjoyment. The enjoyment level of the game is off the charts. Sometimes it feels like game developers are too busy trying to throw the kitchen sink in to their games, at the cost of making it enjoyable. Which is really the main reason we play these games, right?

I remember Zelda 2 being noteworthy for me as it was the first big game I got before my best friend at the time, who had wealthier parents and always had the newest games and systems before I did. Bastard still got the hammer before I did, after a marathon of playing during which I fell asleep.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Accelerando on November 25, 2015, 02:25:03 AM
Alright, alright, alright, ladies and gentlemen, here is "Accelerando's Princess Is In Another Castle" list. My favorite games of all time, ranked. To give you fine folks a brief history of my personal gaming, I grew up playing the NES and Super NES until I got more focused into playing sports. I would casually play games like Super Smash Brothers and Goldeneye with my friends, but I just wasn't into it. I've missed several generations of consoles and games. Luckily, I made a good friend about 5 years ago who got me back into. As in I went out and bought a PS3 console! Games have just become more cinematic than I ever remembered, and having studied film in college, those elements really just appealed to me.

I'll start off with some Honorable Mentions!



Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Halo_-_Combat_Evolved_%28XBox_version_-_box_art%29.jpg)

When Halo first came out, that's what all the boys in school were talking about. I didn't have an Xbox and I didn't have any interest in getting one, but I knew I had to play. Went to my buddy's house after basketball practice one day and few of us crowded around his tv and we played the multiplayer mode for hours. I remembered getting my ass kicked since I never played a first person shooting game before.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/Halo_-_Combat_Evolved_%28screencap%29.jpg)

Fast forward about 5 to 6 years later, Accelerando is in college. Roommate has an Xbox and I finally had the chance to play the story mode. I was hooked. I remember at that time it was one of best looking video games out there. I was immersed with the colorful scenery, big time graphics, and ridiculously awesome soundtrack. Still, my best memories with this game is just going against friends in multi-player mode.





Epic Mickey (2010)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Epic_Mickey.jpg)

 I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because of the Disney history involved in the game, like old Disney park attractions that closed or some that never got to see the light of day. Also getting the chance to play through some of my favorite classic Disney animated shorts like "Steamboat Willie", "Oh, What A Knight", and "Clock Cleaners." Because of this, I could turn a blind eye from the games choppy camera work and struggling Wii controls.

(https://files.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/180959_S/Epic-Mickey-Screenshots-Details-Revealed.jpg)

But I think even if you are not a big Disney fan, I think there's a lot to enjoy about this game. The materializing of objects with the paint and thinner game play is unique. Another thing that I loved is  what you do throughout the game will determine what happens to you on your main mission as well as your side missions. Epic Mickey is graphically impressive for a Wii game. Just like Super Mario Galaxy (more on that later), the developers find an expressive style while accounting for the Wii's limitations. The 2D side scrolling levels where you find yourself playing through classic Mickey and Oswald cartoons are my favorite thing about the game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on November 25, 2015, 03:11:55 AM
I never really got what was so great about Halo. I've never played Epic Mickey.

Still following though. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 25, 2015, 03:36:20 AM
I never really got what was so great about Halo.

For single player /co-op I've found every Halo game to be pretty dull, but multiplayer with a bunch of friends, and they're all a ton of fun. Also Halo 1 was still relatively earlier days for console FPS games, so I think it managed to establish itself.
I generally hate the FPS genre though.
I haven't played Epic Mickey either.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Bolsters on November 25, 2015, 03:57:24 AM
For single player /co-op I've found every Halo game to be pretty dull, but multiplayer with a bunch of friends, and they're all a ton of fun. Also Halo 1 was still relatively earlier days for console FPS games, so I think it managed to establish itself.
I think for me it was just how overblown its supposed innovation was. Graphically it was amazing for its time but the gameplay is as you say, quite dull, and not as revolutionary as the Halo fanboys would have me believe. I guess I could be a bit biased here because I had almost everyone around me at the time tell me how amazing Halo was and how it was pretty much the best game ever, and I just didn't see it, so I became very annoyed with constantly being around people who thought that.

I'm not a big FPS player myself and I was even less of one back then, but I enjoyed games like Perfect Dark or Tribes (if we leave consoles and go PC) far more than what Halo had to offer.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 25, 2015, 04:05:01 AM
I don't recall people calling it innovative, but I wasn't really paying attention to gaming at the time either, so I don't have much perspective on that. My kind of people were always more into Nintendo. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: ReaperKK on November 25, 2015, 06:38:48 AM
My college roommate loved playing Halo so he got me into it. I never played through any of the campaigns but the multiplayer was nice.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Randaran on November 25, 2015, 08:14:26 AM
Halo's single player is not all that great, but its multiplayer, especially in Halo 2 onwards, is a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite split screen games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: Accelerando on November 25, 2015, 01:54:37 PM
I tried playing the campaigns for Halo 2 and 3, and I put down the controller and never went back after a couple hours of game play. The first Halo game is the one that I went all the way through. I enjoyed it, but I think like everyone here, I enjoyed the multi-player the most.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: orcus116 on November 25, 2015, 08:53:22 PM
For single player /co-op I've found every Halo game to be pretty dull, but multiplayer with a bunch of friends, and they're all a ton of fun. Also Halo 1 was still relatively earlier days for console FPS games, so I think it managed to establish itself.
I think for me it was just how overblown its supposed innovation was. Graphically it was amazing for its time but the gameplay is as you say, quite dull, and not as revolutionary as the Halo fanboys would have me believe. I guess I could be a bit biased here because I had almost everyone around me at the time tell me how amazing Halo was and how it was pretty much the best game ever, and I just didn't see it, so I became very annoyed with constantly being around people who thought that.

Completely agree. I could never get over how bad the level design was and there was something about the guns and combat that just turned me off. Outside the fact that I could never get used to dual control gunplay the whole aesthetic of the game is incredibly boring .
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on November 27, 2015, 02:31:37 AM
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and gobbled up as much turkey and stuffing that you can handle!

Time to count down my top 25!

(https://img03.deviantart.net/070e/i/2012/353/2/3/let_the_games_begin_by_cyanidemachine-d5oj239.jpg)


25. Tetris (1989)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Tetris_Boxshot.jpg)

Although the game was actually made earlier, the version I know and love came to me in the form of a hand held console.  I'm sure many of you are just as guilty as I am wasting time playing this game and not stopping. I mean, how is placing falling shapes into rows this entertaining? If you think about it, it should be as entertaining as cleaning your room.

(https://www.everyview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/tetris-original.gif)

For me, the music is just as addicting as putting together these darn puzzle pieces. I mean, as far as Russian music goes it's Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and the son of a bitch who composed the score for Tetris. When Nintendo released it for their hand held console, they probably didn't see the storm coming. It single handily sold millions Game Boys! Like everyone with a Game Boy had this game. It's a great classic game that has had many versions in it's 30 years of existence, but it's the core Tetris that is the most memorable.






24. Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

(https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tPCaGMWCL.jpg)


Some people wouldn't be caught dead playing on a Wii, which I find rather surprising since it has sold more consoles than the PS3 and Xbox 360. Despite it's limitations, the Wii produced some fantastic games. Super Mario Galaxy is one of the great games in the Wii library. Galaxy offers beautiful graphics, great dynamic gameplay, and new innovation to the Mario franchise. 

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/3/0/7/gfs_68186_2_11.jpg)

The gameplay is absolutely top notch. Every stage in the game has a great deal of replayability. It's just a to of fun. I like that once you complete an area, you can go back and engage in a specialized version of it like speeding up all the enemies in an area or putting you on a timed run. One of the other great elements about this game are the graphics. It's one of the best looking Wii games you can play. The character designs, level details, and animations are all incredibly colorful and vibrant, and just a joy to look at. The music is top notch, with some of the best renditions of the original tracks in any Mario games. This is a must own Wii game.



Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on November 27, 2015, 05:58:13 AM
I hear a lot about Super Mario Galaxy on the Giant Bombcast. My girlfriend loves it too, it definitely looks like an interesting game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Phoenix87x on November 27, 2015, 06:11:58 AM
I also hear them talk galaxy on the Bombcast a lot as well. Luckily I have had a chance to play through it and its really excellent

Tetris... oh man so many hours upon hours spent playing that. Love it  :heart
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on November 27, 2015, 06:18:54 AM
I'm going to have to hook up the wii now. I've been saying it for months but haven't done so, plus my GF wants to play mario kart with me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on November 27, 2015, 07:30:46 AM
Can't complain about either of these.  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: black_biff_stadler on November 27, 2015, 09:31:33 AM
Great opening duo of games. I've barely played Galaxy at all yet since I've still not even finished Sunshine but it's definitely my most anticipated Mario game. Tetris was great but I hated playing it when I'd be around 130-140 lines and my screen would pick THAT point in time to begin fading from low battery power. Super Gameboy was such a fucking game changer. Within a couple months of getting it, my all time record from playing it on Gameboy got thoroughly smashed. On the regular GB, my best had been 146 lines for at least a year or two. I broke that record probably 10-15 times in those first few months of owning a Super GB until my record plateaued at 229 lines. Still haven't topped it since but I'd like to give it a go some time for a couple weeks and see where I could get.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on November 27, 2015, 12:40:13 PM
Lots of games of Tetris were played at the arcade.  It was the go-to game when all the good games were taken up.  Great time killer, and it kept your mind sharp.  You could never just go through the motions.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Cable on November 27, 2015, 10:44:42 PM
Epic Mickey was a lot of fun, issues and all. I don't know what happened on the 2nd one (didn't play it). Clearly so much good to build on from the first one. I wonder if Disney rushed it or something.

It was also the sort of significant re-introduction of Oswald- I liked his character.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on November 29, 2015, 02:32:30 AM
Epic Mickey was a lot of fun, issues and all. I don't know what happened on the 2nd one (didn't play it). Clearly so much good to build on from the first one. I wonder if Disney rushed it or something.

It was also the sort of significant re-introduction of Oswald- I liked his character.

The second Epic Mickey game wasn't good. However, some of the things that I loved about the first game, such as playing through the animated shorts, were still retained. But overall, unlike the first Epic Mickey game, it was a missed opportunity.








#23 Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II (2001)

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Rogue_Squadron_II:_Rogue_Leader#/media/File:Rogue_squadron_2_Box.jpg)

I think for a while, this was the epitome of Star Wars games.  In many ways, it was similar to first Star Wars Rogue Squadron game released for the N64. It had dogfights and search and destroy gameplay, as well as similar control schemes. The first Rogue Squadron game was good, but maybe didn't quite capture the spirit of the original movie trilogy the way Rogue Leader does. Visually, Rogue Leader blew the first game out of the water. Rogue Leader is just simply the bigger and badder successor.


(https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/50377/large.jpg)

Rogue Leader is the kind of game that was really easy to get into, but the mission were no walk in the park. It wasn't an easy to master. It may take you a few times to get through the mission, but once you get the hang of it, it makes for a really rewarding Star Wars gaming experience. There's only a 10 missions though plus bonus levels, so it's not like an epic undertaking. However, for those who always wanted to fly the ships of Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles, this is the perfect game for you.







#22. Super Mario Brothers (1985)

(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/mario/images/6/60/SMBBoxart.png/revision/latest?cb=20120609143443)

For millions of people, this was the stepping stone of getting into gaming, and it still an entertaining game as it ever was. There's probably no other game in the world that's as recognized as this one. It was instantly a big hit when it came out in the 80's. Back then, side scrolling games were not accessible to the NES. People all over the world played and loved all the levels and the pure and simple controls.  And just as the game itself, the music for Super Mario Bros are some of the most memorable pieces in video game history.

(https://www.globalgeeknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/super-mario-bros-deluxe.png)

This game is extremely enjoyable to play. The controls are very well done and the variety in the levels makes the game much more worthwhile. The game never really gets boring and I can go on playing for hours. This game was the mold for every platform game to come in the future on this same system and systems to come. The game play was excellently designed, and it's no wonder why this game has gone down in history like it has. There is great replay value for a game that is 30 years old.

Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 01, 2015, 01:23:17 AM
#21. Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes (2012)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/Legobatman2.jpg)

I'm a huge fan of the Lego video game franchise. It seems silly, really. The child in me though is having an absolute joy ride playing these Lego games, especially when I am able to play my favorite movie and comic characters as lego figures in their universes completely made by Legos. These games are fun, and accessible to all ages. Plus, they are fun date games. My girlfriend and I look forward to every release because we are able to play with each other and just act like goons.

Lego has made three Lego Batman games: Lego Batman - The Videogame, Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes, and Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.  These games are regarded as some of the best in the Lego gaming franchise, but to me, Lego Batman 2 is the ultimate sandbox experience.


(https://cache.lego.com/r/videogames/-/media/franchises/videogames/batman%202/screenshots/batman%202%20xbox%20004/largescreenshot.jpg?l.r2=856779412)

Like it's predecessor, Lego Batman 2 isn't based on any of the Batman movies of the past 25 years. They have original scenarios for us to get absolutely get zoned into. However, Lego Batman 2 isn't only limited to Batman characters. You get an array of DC super heroes and villains to unlock and play, like Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern.  Lego Batman 2 is also the first Lego game to have original voice acting. The previous Lego games had their stories told with grunting and shrugs. With a great story and replay value, Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes is one of the best Lego games to date.




20. Super Smash Bros. : Melee (2001)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/Super_Smash_Bros_Melee_box_art.png)

Many thought that this game was going to be a minor upgrade to the N64 original, but ended blowing out it predecessor by a metric ton, and one of the most impressive games in the GameCube's library. On the N64, Super Smash bros was made primarily to be a multi-player game. You can gather up to 4 people and battle each other with some of the most popular characters in the Nintendo canon, including Mario, Luigi, Link, Samus, and Fox McCloud. Moving on with the sequel, the developers wanted to add more depth and variety, resulting into hours and hours of fun.

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/b/9/4/gfs_52731_2_2.jpg)

The single-player was vastly improved. You can play two different versions: The Classic mode and the Adventure mode. The Classic is similar to the original single player mode in the first game, but only it's fleshed out. You move from arena to arena fighting a random set of characters until you reach the final boss. Interleaved between the fights are bonus challenges. Adventure mode is a side scrolling experience combined with arena fighting. It probably was my favorite mode. The multi-player gaming was more polished than the first game. With Melee, you are able to dodge attacks in midair, and deflect attacks with use of your shield. The complex controlling have made it a more sophisticated gaming experience than other "Button Mashers." New players can jump into a game together and do relatively well in their matches, but there's also plenty of room for expert players. My buds and I played this game for hours and hours with plates of pizza bagels and soda. Since then, multi-playing reached new limits and game play, but i'll always treasure my days of ignorance with Super Smash Bros: Melee.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 01, 2015, 01:46:48 AM
I'm a big fan of the Lego games, and Batman 2 was a good one (still haven't finished it off yet). :tup It had too many levels focused on that boss though.
I haven't played the first one, and I'm still working through the third one.

I love Super Smash Melee too, although I prefer the fighting and levels in the original game more.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on December 01, 2015, 08:13:18 AM
I love Melee as well, though I prefer the Wii U game. Melee was a huge improvement over the original.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on December 01, 2015, 09:02:01 AM
The only Lego games I played completely were the Star Wars OT ones.  Tons of fun.  Played a few of the others - kids had the first Batman on Wii, and Marvel Superhero's on the PS3.  Usually pretty fun, but frustrating at times as well.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on December 03, 2015, 05:48:33 AM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always been curious of the lego universe. Are those games simply games themed with lego toys or is there a building aspect to it?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 03, 2015, 05:55:52 AM
I haven't played either of those games. I've always been curious of the lego universe. Are those games simply games themed with lego toys or is there a building aspect to it?

A lot of the gameplay is simple puzzle solving that involves breaking Lego objects and rebuilding them, and later ones also include mini-games that involve choosing the right Lego pieces to build objects. I think they strike a pretty good balance between being Lego themed and whatever the franchise is.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. "(Lack of) Variety is the Spice of Life" (pg. 47)
Post by: cramx3 on December 03, 2015, 07:30:42 AM
Halo's single player is not all that great, but its multiplayer, especially in Halo 2 onwards, is a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite split screen games.

Except they took away split screen play in the new Halo  :facepalm:

I personally love the campaigns.  They are beautiful and a lot of fun, a lot more depth to them and then story as well compared to most FPS out there.  Halo is just a very simple game though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 03, 2015, 07:37:03 AM
Halo's single player is not all that great, but its multiplayer, especially in Halo 2 onwards, is a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite split screen games.

Except they took away split screen play in the new Halo  :facepalm:


Is that just for co-op or all multiplayer?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on December 03, 2015, 09:45:41 AM
Halo's single player is not all that great, but its multiplayer, especially in Halo 2 onwards, is a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite split screen games.

Except they took away split screen play in the new Halo  :facepalm:


Is that just for co-op or all multiplayer?

For all, completely gone, co-op and multiplayer.  Fucking terrible decision, it was honestly the best part about halo.  4 way split screen FPS with friends.  The multiplayer is actually really really strong in this, but I find it un interesting to play since I can't play online with my brother.  Ruins the experience and I won't bother buying the next one if they don't put split screen back for at least 2 people since the single player is only like an 8 hour game anyway.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 03, 2015, 09:50:20 AM
Halo's single player is not all that great, but its multiplayer, especially in Halo 2 onwards, is a lot of fun. It is one of my favorite split screen games.

Except they took away split screen play in the new Halo  :facepalm:


Is that just for co-op or all multiplayer?

For all, completely gone, co-op and multiplayer.  Fucking terrible decision, it was honestly the best part about halo.  4 way split screen FPS with friends.  The multiplayer is actually really really strong in this, but I find it un interesting to play since I can't play online with my brother.  Ruins the experience and I won't bother buying the next one if they don't put split screen back for at least 2 people since the single player is only like an 8 hour game anyway.

Well that's poo. Do they think gamers don't have friends any more, or were they just too lazy to optimize the game to render 2-4 screens? What about once the servers are gone? Games are getting lazier.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on December 03, 2015, 10:02:17 AM
Their reasoning is that the games performance would suffer if they rendered more screens.... id rather they take away some of that performance for more playability.  And honestly, the game looks nice, but it doesn't look like a game that can't be rendered at least in two screens by the xbox1.  It feels like BS to me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 05, 2015, 04:34:01 AM
19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time (1992)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Turtles_in_Time_(SNES_cover).jpg)

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was my jam growing as a kid. I had action figures, t-shirts (with one that specifically said TURTLE POWER that I think was my favorite shirt back then), and I had the live action movies on constant rotation. I first learned of James Cagney because of Michelangelo's impression of him in the first movie. Mom came home one day with a gift that she picked up from the store, and it was TURTLES IN TIME for the SNES. I never played the arcade version that was released in 1989, but let me tell you that I played the SNES game FOR HOURS as a kid, and I had to play each character.

(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/7/0/8/gfs_62686_2_50.jpg)

I think one of the reasons why I loved this game so much because it had reminded me a lot of the cartoon series that was popular back then. The graphics sort captured the colorful personality of that show. The characters looked real good, and was one of the more impressive games graphic and animation was at that time. It was a great beat em up game, which was a reason why I went back to this game so much because it was hours and hours of fun. There was a multiple player option so your friends can join in too....I always had to be Michelangelo, of course. The formula is classic; go through a bunch of enemies and fight a boss. The levels have various traps here and there, and you get little waves of enemies and attacks. Once you defeat two or three of these waves, you progress to the next area of enemies. It one of the most fun side scrolling games I ever played, and I'm sure at 28 I can have as much fun with as I did when I was 6.




18. Tomb Raider (2003)

(https://tombraiders.net/stella/images/TR9/large/box-art/TR-box-art-PC.jpg)


I never played the original Lara Croft: Tomb Raider games, so I don't have those to compare the reboot to. However, that doesn't matter. I had so much fun playing this game. It had the flare of Uncharted with open world exploration. As I mentioned before, one of the things that got me into gaming again was the cinematic quality games have nowadays, and this is no exception. There was great jaw dropping sequences in this game that I got play through and just made the gaming experience more enjoyable. The action is gritty and intense, and kept me on the edge of my couch playing through this the entire time.


(https://mygaming.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Tomb-Raider-2013-review-screenshot-1.jpg)

What I love that storytelling is such an integral part of gaming nowadays to where people get upset if someone spoils a game for them like they would if someone spoiled the new episode of The Walking Dead. This game is delivers character development at the highest degree. The first hour or so is very scripted, setting up set pieces and learning Lara Croft's abilities until the plot starts thickening. So this reboot is supposed to be Lara Croft in her early years, so we see a very vulnerable Lara. It takes a good while before she makes her first kill, which is a very dramatic scene and important to her characterization. From there things pick up, and action moves forward. You upgrade Lara's skills and weaponry to a gratifying extent. The Uncharted inspiration is there, with masterful wall-climbing and cinematic action sequences, but one thing that Uncharted doesn't have is free roaming in an open world. Tomb Raider is dramatic, exciting, and incredibly well made. A must play for any video game fan.



17. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga/The Clone Wars (2005 - 2011)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/Lego_Star_Wars-The_Complete_Saga.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Lego_Star_Wars_III_-_The_Clone_Wars_Coverart.png)


As jingle.boy said in response to my Lego Batman write up, the Lego Star Wars games are "Tons of fun." They are probably one of the best Star Wars games made. It's Star Wars with the unique and clever humor of the Lego brand. That's one thing I love about these Lego games that makes me excited for each title release is that these games don't really take themselves seriously. They embrace the ridiculousness that these licensed brands are being Lego-lized, where you are playing through scenes from the movies or comics where everything is made out Lego pieces and you are allowed to cause utter chaos.

Lego Star Wars started it all, developed by Traveler's Tales. The raw concept of building new kits, smashing stuff up, and collecting studs through memorable moments from the movies. As I mentioned in my previous write up, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes started the voice acting aspect of these games, so with Lego Star Wars and then Lego Star Wars II:  The Original Trilogy, the cutscenes that are usually voiced in any other case are replaced by goofy grunts, squeals, and shrugs. The charm about this was it made the moments more entertaining.

(https://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/screenshots/lego-star-wars/screenshot1.jpg)

The first Lego Star Wars game focused on the prequel trilogy, and was released for the older consoles like Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox. I'm sure the decision to do the prequels first had to do with that fact that it was going to be released in 2005 when Revenge of the Sith was released and back then, was suppose to be the very last Star Wars movie ever made. So you play through several different scenes from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. The replay value comes in when you can go back to these scenes as  free play, which means you can play different characters that you unlocked, and all have different special skills for you to complete each scene at %100. So you have the opportunity the play Darth Maul battling Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of Sith. This is the basic formula for all Lego games, and with the games evolving, it's doesn't get boring.

(https://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/63570/emp1.jpg)

In 2006, we get Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, with the same game engine as the previous game. However, they made improvements on the camera angles and movement, created vehicle levels such as dogfighting in A New Hope, and introduced character building. In 2007, they compiled both games to The Complete Saga. It incorporated the improvements from the sequel into the original game, and a new hub so that your characters will have access to all six episodes to go and replay, and was the first Lego game for the new PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii consoles.

(https://media.gamerevolution.com/images/games/pc/lego-star-wars-3-the-clone-wars/lego-star-wars-3-the-clone-wars_033.jpg)

2011 brings us Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, based on the now canon cartoon series originally aired on Cartoon Network. While the game play is similar to the previous titles, it introduces scene swap in the franchise, which is a co-op type game play that lets characters play in two vastly different areas to complete multiple-part objectives. For example, one character will be fighting droids underground while the other character is blowing up generators off in the forest. You don't have to play with two people to complete these objectives. You just simply hit a button that'll switch to the other character. The split-screen gameplay with two people is actually excellent! Another great novelty of this game is the war strategy element. You are able to command large armies of Clone Troopers to battle the droid armies,  capturing control points on a map, then call down troops and vehicles to use in an effort to take the battlefield from the enemy. I know many people who prefer this game over the other Lego games because of this new mode.

The Lego Star Wars games are fun, aesthetically pleasing, and a great use of the most popular license. Any fan of Star Wars can find pure joy playing these games, or any of the other Lego games. I'm sure Traveler's Tales has something cooking for future Lego Star Wars games, perhaps Rebels before they tackle the new trilogy and Anthology movies.


Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 05, 2015, 05:43:44 AM
I'm enjoying the Lego game love. :tup
We have Lego Star Wars 1 and 2 for the Gamecube, although I've mostly only played the OT. I'll have to grab the complete saga for the 360 some time and play it all.

The TMNT game is also great fun. I remember playing the arcade version too.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on December 05, 2015, 07:39:19 AM
I'm enjoying the Lego game love. :tup

Same here.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on December 05, 2015, 07:58:27 AM
TNMT was a great game. I spent many hours playing it.

I'm the opposite, I played a bunch of the old Tomb Raider games and while I have the reboot I never played it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Lynxo on December 05, 2015, 08:29:12 AM
The Tomb Raider reboot is awesome and deserves more praise IMO. It pissed me off to no end that the sequel only made it to the XBone, at least for now. Anyone knows if it will eventually get to the PS4?

And TMNT is awesome, no doubt. Especially with friends! :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ariich on December 05, 2015, 08:41:01 AM
Pretty sure Rise of the Tomb Raider is only a timed exclusive, so it's expected on PC and PS4 sometime next year.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Lynxo on December 05, 2015, 02:18:37 PM
Pretty sure Rise of the Tomb Raider is only a timed exclusive, so it's expected on PC and PS4 sometime next year.
Well, that's good to hear.  :tup Can't wait to play it!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 05, 2015, 03:53:42 PM
Yep, stoked about it. I'll be patiently waiting for that PS4 release too.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on December 07, 2015, 02:47:02 PM
+1 to the Tomb Raider reboot love, that game was SICK.  Great visuals and game play while keeping some of the old feel there, but just modernizing it... and doing a good job at it.  I can't wait for the sequel to make its way to PC.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: adace on December 07, 2015, 04:29:32 PM
Absolutely love TR 2013 although I like the new one even more.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 08, 2015, 12:39:43 AM
16. Mario Kart Double Dash (2003)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Mario_Kart_Double_Dash.jpg)

The Mario Kart series has always been fun, especially with a group of people! Now with 8 games under it's belt, Mario Kart has endured many changes like going to from 2D to 3D, motion controls, and the removal of fan favorite characters. I played 7 out 8 of these games (Never had access to a DS), and for me, my favorite one is the best one. Double Dash gives you a double dash of fun. Two characters. One vehicle. It's the most technical Mario Kart game, as you try to find the right combo of heavy/medium/light drivers. Each driver has their own set of special weapons at that. I'm glad that this fantastic game is the only one that has this concept, but it's also insane none of the other Mario Karts after it has attempted it.

(https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/3570/large.jpg)

Double Dash has some of the best courses in my opinion. The crazy Baby Park. A four player Baby Park was absolutely nuts. Other original courses like DK Montain and Mushroom Bridge just elevated the games well-designed, fast-paced, insanely fun multiplayer action.



15. Donkey Kong Country (1994)

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/snes/7/donkey-kong-country-snes-cover-front-eu-32727.jpg)

Donkey Kong Country is one of the most graphically impressive games of the entire SNES catalogue. On a 16 bit system, you got rendered 3D models and very detailed character animations set in a lush jungle background. You can still pick up this game today and still be impressed by it. I remember playing nothing like back in the 90s.

(https://www.rarefandabase.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dkc_05.gif)

The gameplay is basic, yet incredibly fun. Donkey Kong is on a quest to get back his bananas that was stolen by some bad crocs, and along the way he is accompanied by Diddy Kong. You can also switch between the two Kongs at any time in order to take advantage of Diddy’s speed and higher jumps or Donkey’s strength and more powerful attacks. Every level has its own unique mechanics like rope-swinging, deep-sea diving, blasting between barrels or charging underground on a mine cart. It never felt repetitive.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 08, 2015, 12:48:35 AM
Two more great picks! :tup

You can't go wrong with any Mario Kart, and DD is great fun when you're playing with someone else.
Donkey Kong Country is also one of my favourites, although DKC2 improved upon it in every way imo (and we'll forget that DKC3 even exists).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on December 08, 2015, 05:39:15 AM
Haven't played either of those games. I think the only time I touched a DK was on the SNES.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Bolsters on December 08, 2015, 05:42:00 AM
DKC is classic. :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on December 08, 2015, 07:43:38 AM
DD is one of my least favorite Mario Karts. I greatly prefer the way the entries from MKDS onwards handle; DD doesn't feel tight (?) enough.

I never played more than a few hours of the classic DKCs, though I love Retro's newer entries. I'll definitely have to give them a proper runthrough someday.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 12, 2015, 12:57:16 AM
14. God of War III (2010)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/God_of_War_III_cover_art.jpg)

I love me some Greek mythology. I took a Greek mythology class in college for shits and giggles because I love it so much. So my buddy about 5 years ago handed me God of War, and I had an outrageous amount of fun with it...even though that Tower of Blades was absolute RAGE.

Fuck that Tower.

The God of War games truly depicted the quasi violence in Greek Mythology. As loose as these adaptations were, it was still interesting to see how characters would be incorporated, and if possible, how they would meet their end in the hands of Kratos, who to me, hands down, is one of the greatest video game characters ever. The beautiful set pieces were also a huge appeal. The same year I played both God of War and God of War II, God of War III was released. As much I loved the previous God of War games, I LOVED God of War III  even more.

(https://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/god-of-war-3-first-titan-screenshot.jpg)

God of War III is one of the best pure action games I ever played. It's way more brutal than the previous two games by a large margin. It's rated Mature with a capitol M. Kratos is always surrounded by enemies, and we gotta use our area attacks more often. I like that the additional weapons you pick up are good in any situation, and that your magic is tied with each weapon. The scope of the some of the scene you play through are absolutely breathtaking. Kratos never looked better. It's the most cinematic God of War game at that.





13. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5b/Uncharted_Drake's_Fortune.jpg)

Speaking of cinematics, here's one of the great cinematic games of all time. I site Uncharted as the sole game to truly get back into gaming. The entire series are some of the most fun you'll ever have playing a game (Yes, even Uncharted 3 with all its flaws). Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is the total package: A great story, fantastic gameplay, a sweeping score, and breathtaking visuals. If Batman: Arkham Asylum makes you feel like Batman, then Uncharted makes you feel like Indiana Jones. In fact, Uncharted is the Indiana Jones game LucasArts never made. While it's not an Indiana Jones game, the influence is impeccable.

(https://www.justpushstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Uncharted-Golden-Abyss-Gameplay-1-1.jpg)

To me, what makes a great cinematic game great is that you are not watching the story unfold before you, but rather, you are playing through it. The characterization of Nathan Drake, Sully, and Elena progresses as you fight pirates and discover the treasures of Sir Francis. You fight by ducking, rolling, climbing, and popping out firing weapons at your enemies. It doesn't feel like a chore at any moment. It's The game is fast paced and exciting.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on December 12, 2015, 06:02:14 AM
To me, what makes a great cinematic game great is that you are not watching the story unfold before you, but rather, you are playing through it.

Precisely.  Fantastic game/franchise.  Soooooo looking forward to #4.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 12, 2015, 06:16:11 AM
Two games I've played to death, followed by two games that not only have I never played, but never even played the console they come from. :P

Goes to show the nice diversity of this list. I'm enjoying it so far. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Bolsters on December 12, 2015, 06:20:05 AM
I'd probably play those Uncharted games if they were on PC, I just don't have enough incentive to get a PS3/4 yet. Maybe in a few years.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on December 12, 2015, 07:04:35 AM
I love God of War III; it barely missed my own top list.

As for Uncharted, I prefer the second. I played the absolute shit out of its online modes when it came out; it's a shame that most players abandoned it for MW2 a few months later. I can see why someone would prefer the first, but it was too monotonous for me. Most areas in the game look exactly the same, and the much needed variety came too late. The sequel improved on the original in almost every way, both visually and in terms of gameplay, to make an even better game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Outcrier on December 12, 2015, 07:50:35 PM
Love some GoW (the two first appeared in my top 25). Unfortunately, never had a PS3, so no GoW III for me  :-\
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: TL on December 13, 2015, 12:47:35 PM
The Uncharted games are games that, on paper, I should absolutely love. The idea of playing through an Indiana Jones type adventure is right up my alley.
Having gotten through all of them though, I just never really enjoy how they actually play.

The production is certainly through the roof, and there's obviously something there based on how many people absolutely love those games. They're just not for me though.

I did absolutely love The Last of Us though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Kotowboy on December 13, 2015, 12:55:02 PM
Donkey Kong Country / Diddy's Kong Quest

Donkey Kong Country 3







Tropical Freeze - what a shit game that was.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Crow on December 13, 2015, 03:28:51 PM
the only DKC I've played thus far was Returns on 3DS which was... kinda bad
it sounds like tropical freeze isn't any better though, blah
got them both free from club nintendo rewards at least
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 13, 2015, 08:40:59 PM
I haven't played Tropical Freeze, but Returns is excellent from what I've played (except the motion control which isn't a problem emulated or on 3DS).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: adace on December 13, 2015, 09:29:47 PM
GoW 3 is fantastic, one of my favorite Playstation games. Uncharted 1 is good but U3 is my favorite in the series.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on December 16, 2015, 02:27:09 PM
catching up -- Double Dash! If not for MK8, that one probably would have made my list. Good times playing that one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 19, 2015, 10:42:51 PM
12. Goldeneye 007 (1997)

(https://ocremix.org/files/images/games/n64/0/goldeneye-007-n64-cover-front-31991.jpg)

Let's face it. Most video games based off of movies are bad. I mean, really bad. Blues Brothers 2000. The Karate Kid. Catwoman. Enter The Matrix. Most of them are just quick cash cows. But there are a few exceptions, including one that has influenced an entire generation of gamers. Anyone rocking an N64 in the 90s more than likely would have a copy of Goldeneye 007 on them. It's one of the most iconic and respected games ever. Without Goldeneye, we would not have Halo and Call of Duty. It is the very first First Person Shooter game to make it from PC to Console, and it was huge success. Lots of late nights were spent with friends with this game, and lots of memories too.

(https://www.nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/goldeneye_007-1.jpg)

One of the most impressive things about this game, especially for it's time, was the AI. The enemies would react and shoot at you when Bond made a sound, which was something almost unheard of at it's time. Also, famously, grabbing their crotch when being shot in the marbles. The multiplayer aspect of this game is where many memories were made. The split screen
in multi-player death match was so well done and effective. It influenced our current staples of FPS games such respawn points and head shots. It was the golden standard. Also, imagine how many friendships would still be going strong if they didn't have the Odd Job option  :lol



11. The Walking Dead: Season 1 (2012)

(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/walkingdead/images/4/4f/TWD_GOTY_Edition.png/revision/latest?cb=20131007220343)


I haven't played many Telltale games (although that will be fixed with this new Batman game they are developing), but the only one I did play, The Walking Dead: Season 1, it immersed me in a way I did not expect. It's not a traditional game play, but it incorporated a major element that I've always wanted from a game: Storytelling. The story fully developed the characters along the way with a unique choice driven game. In most choice driven games, there is a right way and a wrong way. In The Walking Dead, there is no right way or a wrong way when shooting a child turned into a zombie or stealing supplies in order to survive. It never pretends to be anything less than cruel, creating a very depressing and horrifying game as it is remarkable and beautiful.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Walking_dead_telltale_game_dialog_screenshot.jpg)


The Walking Dead is more focused on what you do than how you do it, which is why the point and click gameplay works very effectively. It makes you feel like you are a part of this world with the decision making, and it plays an integral part in crafting the world. The game incorporates incredible strong writing and  phenomenal voice acting that compliments the narrative. It hard not to feel compassion for any of the characters. Your actions have an impact not just on the events that you encounter, but in how people treat you. If you don't back up a character, that character might not back you up in later events. The Walking Dead is a great, well thought out game. I only hope that if The Walking Dead ever makes it on the big screen, that it's adapted from this game. This story of reflecting the reality of life must be told.

Also, I don't know anything that is worse than the look that Clementine gives you if you make a decision she doesn't like  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Crow on December 19, 2015, 10:52:45 PM
Yeah TWDS1 is still the best telltale thing I've played. S2 was nowhere near as good though it was alright at least.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Dr. DTVT on December 20, 2015, 08:43:24 AM
I didn't recognize Goldeneye because the screen wasn't divided into 4 mini-screens.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Train of Naught on December 20, 2015, 08:47:10 AM
Goldeneye 007 :metal

Not familiar with anything TWD
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on December 20, 2015, 02:37:24 PM
I didn't recognize Goldeneye because the screen wasn't divided into 4 mini-screens.

And also because that screenshot clearly isn't from Goldeneye 64. :lol
Probably from either Goldeneye Source or the remake that was on Wii/360.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on December 21, 2015, 05:52:06 AM
I didn't recognize Goldeneye because the screen wasn't divided into 4 mini-screens.

And also because that screenshot clearly isn't from Goldeneye 64. :lol
Probably from either Goldeneye Source or the remake that was on Wii/360.

 :lol I literally looked at that picture and thought it looked way better than I remember.

Anyway, +1 for Goldeneye, great game.  Never played TWD games, but heard many good things.  If my gaming time were infinite I would have played them, or at least tried them out.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 21, 2015, 02:13:16 PM
I started TWD some time ago but haven't finished yet, because I didn't find the time. It's not your typical adventure game, more like an interactive movie but a lot of fun nonetheless.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on December 23, 2015, 11:46:08 PM
I didn't recognize Goldeneye because the screen wasn't divided into 4 mini-screens.

And also because that screenshot clearly isn't from Goldeneye 64. :lol
Probably from either Goldeneye Source or the remake that was on Wii/360.


Damn it, I thought it looked too posh  :lol



10. L.A. Noire (2011)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/LA-Noire-Box-Art.jpg)

I'm only familiar with a few Rockstar Games, such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, but from what I gather they generally always create great concepts with environments that are second to none. L.A. Noire is unique in allowing me to be a part of this 1940's neo-noire crime tale, and does something that I've seen before in video games. The only complaints I have this game is that it is repetitive with the crime solving, but the narrative, gameplay, atmosphere, and especially the music overshadow my only gripe. While there are car chases and gun fights, it's different experience because of a slow pace, even meditative, crime solving element that is core of this game. The focus isn't on how good you are at scoring headshots with a pistol but instead your ability to read a suspect's face and determine if he or she is telling the truth, holding something back, or flat out lying.

(https://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/LA-Noire-Gameplay-3.jpg)

The facial expressions and voice acting are absolutely on point. Every wrinkle, twitch, downward glance, grimace, and hard swallow is from an actual actor playing a part using this amazing technology. With it, you have pick up on the facial ticks and eye darting to detect inconsistencies in testimony. You really have to pay attention, and have the clues to help you determine whether the person you are interrogating is telling the truth, lie, or doubt. Some of the lying is completely obvious, while others you have to pay attention to the mannerisms, like is someone's mouth thinning or are their eyes looking away. L.A. Noire isn't all about badgering people.  There are more action oriented missions in this is still an open-world game. You're free to deviate from a case and explore the faithfully recreated 1947 Los Angeles. You can't run wild like in Grand Theft Auto, for every civilian killed and property damage will have an effect on you ranking up in the LAPD. This a very immersive world Rockstar has created.


9. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010)

(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/assassinscreed/images/2/2a/Assassins_Creed_brotherhood_cover.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101014125856)

I am a HUGE fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise. So much that you didn't see any of them early in my list just for the sake of variety, or else I would have listed maybe 2 more of these games. There are some stinkers in the franchise, such as AC: Unity and AC III, but there are other that are masterful open world goodness, like Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Brotherhood is the third game overall, but the second game in the Ezio saga that started with Assassin's Creed II and ends with Revelation. It takes place in the Italian Renaissance. While Assassin's Creed II took big steps from the original Assassin's Creed game with new mechanics, new setting, and variety in the gameplay, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood had a much harder task as it was still set in the same time period. However, what makes Brotherhood  distinguish itself from the excellent Assassin's Creed II are the secondary mission goals, and the ability to call upon a guild of Assassins at your disposal.

(https://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/A/Assassins%20Creed%20Brotherhood/Everything%20else/2010-10-18%20preview/ACB_SP_S_29_BrotherhoodIconic--article_image.jpg)

Just like the previous games before it,  you’ll spend most of the game climbing huge, medieval buildings, free-running across rooftops and slaughtering roving packs of guards as you chase down the game’s story missions. However in Brotherhood, the fights have been retooled with a few new moves. You spend some time riding on horseback, and you can even attack from the horse. Brotherhood introduced a crucial spec in the Assassin's Creed games which is the ability to switch your attention from one attacker to the other, especially after you killed someone. At a certain point of the game, you’ll earn the ability to recruit Assassins by helping out citizens the guards are harassing. These recruits can then be trained, starting out as weak apprentices and gradually earning experience until they’ve become top notch fighters.  You then can call on up to six of them at virtually any time to swarm your enemies like raptors, or to just take out every onscreen baddie at once with a hail of arrows. To earn experience for your recruits, you’ll need to send them on timed missions. This concept has been used in AC Black Flag and Rogue, only with ships!

Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: AcidLameLTE on December 24, 2015, 02:42:27 AM
Brotherhood was the pinnacle of the series for me. Revelations was a slight step down, didn't enjoy 3 and I got bored of Black Flag pretty quickly so I've pretty much given up on the series. It's a shame because I used to really love it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on December 24, 2015, 07:03:55 AM
I have LA Noire that I picked up in a sale. I didn't really think that it was my type of game but I was wrong, it was a blast.

I've only every played one AC game and that was Black Flag and that was a stellar game, those ships. . . . .
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Randaran on December 24, 2015, 07:13:11 AM
I've played the most recent GTA titles, but never touched Noire. I may have to give it a try one day. As for AC, the only one I played was III. I didn't like it, so I never bothered with the earlier titles.

Tropical Freeze - what a shit game that was.

wut
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Outcrier on December 24, 2015, 11:05:20 AM
Prefer II over Brotherhood but no wrong going with either of the two, they're the pinnacle of the series  :tup

As for AC, the only one I played was III. I didn't like it, so I never bothered with the earlier titles.

Probably because you started with the worst one  ;D
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on December 24, 2015, 11:22:18 AM
I've played the most recent GTA titles, but never touched Noire. I may have to give it a try one day.

Same here, I played all GTAs and RDR, I remember when this game came out I thought it could be really good since I like these Rockstar games, but honestly felt the whole crime thing *might* not be for me and since I didn't know anyone who played just figured I wouldn't pay the money for the game and then totally forgot about it.  Maybe I should go back and revisit.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Crow on December 24, 2015, 12:27:43 PM
not into GTA-style games but i am totally into mystery games and detective games and L.A. Noire is pretty good
though i remember there being a lot of car chases that i got tired of
a lot of car chases
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on January 01, 2016, 11:18:59 PM
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Years! Time to get back at it, and what better game to list first in 2016 than....


8. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Batman_Arkham_Asylum_Videogame_Cover.jpg)

Be yourself. Unless you can be Batman, then you should be Batman. Kicking off the widely popular game franchise based on arguably DC Comics greatest character, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the game that let's you be Batman. It has been hard to translate this character into the video game format (Batman: Return of the Joker,  The Adventures of Batman and Robin for example) because he doesn't have super powers. With Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady has figured out the perfect formula for gamers to be able to utilize Batman's physical and mental abilities. It's a third person game where you get to move and hide in the shadows, use gadgets, fight super villains, get assistance from Alfred and Oracle, and using your brain figure out tactics on engaging the enemy. The voice actors from the DC Animated Universe offered their talents for this game, including two that define Batman and the Joker, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, as well as Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn.

(https://s.pro-gmedia.com/videogamer/media/images/xbox360/batman_arkham_asylum/screens/batman_arkham_asylum_48.jpg)

We find Batman in Arkham Asylum after apprehending the Joker, but once they get to Arkham, the Joker breaks free and takes control of the penitentiary. The game is enormous and encompasses all of Arkham Asylum on Arkham Island, which you get freely explore and roam. The gameplay is great. The fighting mechanics are the biggest draws to this game by many players. There's a lot of freedom on how you want to engage these bad guys, and it's one of the best parts of the game. You could wait for a guy to be alone and then glide kick in and perform a ground takedown, but you've got access to Batman's entire utility belt if you want. You earn XP that will allow to to upgrade your gadgets or gain new fight moves. There's a lot of gameplay other than the main story line. There's the challenge of finding Riddler trophies that you have to use your upgraded skills, gadgets, and your smarts in order to get. More on this great game franchise farther down my list!




7) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

(https://game4u.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Uncharted-2-Among-Thieves-Custom-Cover-PAL1.jpg)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves took everything I loved from Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and just turned it up to 11! I mean, this game is fantastic. The story is better, the game play is better, the control mechanics are better. Everything is better, and the first Uncharted game was GREAT. Even though you're technically doing the same sort of shooting, climbing and puzzle solving throughout the game, the different ways the scenes are presented gives Among Thieves a greater sense of gameplay variety than the original.

(https://projectgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/504x_uncharted2_2.jpg)

Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on January 02, 2016, 06:36:46 AM
Two awesome games there!  Probably my two favorite franchises in the PS family.  I'm so looking forward to (finally) playing Arkham Knight, and Uncharted 4 is gonna be off the charts.

FYI, I'll finally be ready to go when this list is done.  Got my list and pics ready, just starting some of my writeups.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Train of Naught on January 02, 2016, 06:44:23 AM
Never played the batman game, but Uncharted 2 is amazing:
Uncharted 4 is gonna be off the charts.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on January 02, 2016, 08:05:17 AM
I only got halfway through Batman but it was one hell of a game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on January 04, 2016, 09:15:49 PM
Love the Batman games, am looking forward to playing the newest some day.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on January 05, 2016, 01:08:23 AM
Well I highly endorse Arkham Knight because....


6. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/arkhamcity/images/6/60/Batman_Arkham_Knight-coverart.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140304202555)

....it made it in my top ten. Needless to say, next to Assassin's Creed, the Batman: Arkham franchise is my favorite. Arkham Knight is the 4th installment, and vastly improves from the previous Batman: Arkham Origins game. It expands on the past 3 games with building on the franchise's revolutionary strike and counter fighting style with more powerful moves, contracting a larger and more detailed open world, and instead of flying to get to places, you now have full capability of using Batman's mainstay gadget: THE BATMOBILE. And let me tell, there's no greater joy than being able to race in the streets of Gotham than using that Batmobile.

(https://gameluster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Batman-Arkham-Knight-review-4.jpg)

Arkham Knight wraps up the game franchise nicely. This is it. Rocksteady says that this is the very last Batman: Arkham game, but there's Easter Eggs in the game that teases that is not the last Superhero game that they will develop. The story is very respectful to one of the most enduring Batman storylines ever. The performances in this game are top notch, most notably John Noble of The Lord of the Rings and Fringe fame as The Scarecrow. Mark Hamill returns as The Joker, despite him announcing that Batman: Arkham City would be his very lasting voicing that character. I'm not complaining! He absolutely shines. The series ended on a high note.


5) Super Mario World (1990)

(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/nintendo/images/e/ed/Super_Mario_World_(NA).png/revision/latest?cb=20120509225518&path-prefix=en)

Super Mario World is my favorite Mario game ever. Not only was it the launch title of the great SNES console, but   it featured the new signature gameplay mechanic of a rideable dinosaur. It's one of the most fun games that I have ever played in all of my life. The level designs are among some of the best and most challenging the series has ever had, and even if you've already found all the hidden stuff, it's still fun to just go back and play through them time and time again. It's not a long game by today's standards, but there's so much wacky hidden stuff to dig through. The thing that really makes Super Mario World stand out is just how incredibly well crafted an adventure it is.

(https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gamelife/2013/05/marioworld_660.jpg)

Even though it was the launch game for the SNES, it was still one of the best looking games, and it still pleasing to look at today. The graphics are colorful, the animations are cute, and there's a wide variety to the world's scenery. Mario's abilities are more focused than the previous games, and there are certain inventions that made it's debut, like the item storage box where an extra power-up would rest in reserve until called upon. The game is still great to pick up and play today.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Bolsters on January 05, 2016, 01:18:29 AM
Can't complain about SMW being in the top 5. :hefdaddy
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 05, 2016, 01:21:55 AM
Can't complain about SMW being in the top 5. :hefdaddy

:tup Ditto. Easily my favourite of the Mario games, and I'm a big fan of all the 8 and 16 bit Mario games. I love the aspect of exploration and second level endings to find the bonus levels.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Cable on January 05, 2016, 08:09:15 AM
Can't complain about SMW being in the top 5. :hefdaddy

:tup Ditto. Easily my favourite of the Mario games, and I'm a big fan of all the 8 and 16 bit Mario games. I love the aspect of exploration and second level endings to find the bonus levels.

Amen bro.  ;D

While I think I have firmly placed SMB3 in the top spot over SMW, it's not an easy choice. SMW had less options as far as power ups, but the power up with the cape felt so well designed and useful. I mean, you could fly over a whole stage, without needing a somewhat rare pWing. It also required skill though. With a pWing you would just mash the fly button.

The jumping options were stellar, and the little quirks you could do as a result were awesome. I'm thinking things like tossing a Koopa Shell up and catching in on a vine, jumping off of Yoshi in mid air, and not swimming as high in water by using a different button/arrow pattern. And that Blue Yoshi- how flipping awesome was he?! I swear the Special world stages would have been so much harder without him.

After talking about this, me thinks I need to play SMW again- maybe SMB3 is not a clear winner hahaha.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Phoenix87x on January 05, 2016, 08:47:47 AM
Super Mario world is a God tier kind of game  :hefdaddy

I really enjoyed Arkham knight. My only complaint would be too much tank combat. The batmobile itself I was fine with though, especially after I got the 89 Burton batmobile. I wish I could have played the whole game with that.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on January 05, 2016, 09:22:10 AM
I should get Arkham Knight, I just heard it was unplayable on PC when released so kind of went to the back of my mind, but if the bugs are fixed, I should get it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on January 07, 2016, 11:14:16 PM
4. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/Assassin%27s_Creed_IV_-_Black_Flag_cover.jpg)

Black Flag is a stunning and beautifully realized Pirate tale, full of adventure and exploration. Perhaps that is why Black Flag is my favorite game in the series. It does expand on the very disappointing Assassin's Creed III, but bests it on all accounts. The agonizing forest exploration is now simplified, crafting becomes fun as it's integral to your high seas journey, and you get more naval combat. Like 60% of the game is set on a pirate ship that you have to upgrade throughout the game in order battle more powerful ships. It's not starting to sound like an Assassin's Creed game, huh? It's such a departure from the previous games, as well as the franchise's most ambitious game. Next to Ezio, Captain Kenway is the best character in the series.

(https://www.mtv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/multi/2013/06/ac4.jpg)

Black Flag is nothing short of remarkable. Cities like Havana and Nassau reflect the series' trademark attention to detail, from the stonework cathedrals of the former to the ramshackle taverns of the latter. Then there are the remote islands inhabited by nothing more than crabs and sea turtles, underwater shipwrecks waiting to be explored, and vast stretches of sparkling Caribbean waters that are every bit as deadly as they are gorgeous.

What makes Black Flag so special is the way it captures the thrill of sailing the open sea. It's more than the spectacle of a humpback whale leaping into the air, or the sound of your crew breaking out into a sea shanty just as the sun is beginning to set across the horizon. It's the feeling that there's always something out there to be discovered, rewards waiting to be captured no matter who's standing in your way.


#3 Red Dead Redemption (2010)

(https://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100809102302/reddeadredemption/images/e/e6/Red_dead_redemption_cover.jpg)

Red Dead Redemption is hands down one of the greatest video games ever made. No game has put in the passion and power of the Old West like this one has. Rockstar have created this beautiful world with finesse that satisfies every need of anyone who has ever fantasied about being a cowboy. I've never played a GTA game, but from what has been described to me about this games, Red Dead Redemption is played out like it only it's set in the 1800s. There's a straightforward mission until the story branches off into separate areas and you meet different characters. Which missions he takes, and in which order he takes them is – within the constraints of the central story – up to him, and even if he’s not on an active mission, there’s still plenty of stuff to do.

(https://www.gamingangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Picture-32.jpg)

The majority of the game takes place in the vast spaces of the canyons and the wild frontier. In this game, you fight, you hunt, you herd cattle, and ride horses. The main character, James Marston, is a gunslinger by trade. Firing guns, especially while ducking and hiding, has never been more fun. There’s just enough assistance when aiming to make you feel like a bad-ass without leaving you feeling like the game is playing itself. The various varmints you’re up against aren’t the smartest adversaries around, but they can use cover and move about when necessary, and the game can challenge you with overwhelming numbers. It's fast paced, and it's fun. Red Dead Redemption is a complete game in every sense, and manages to offer an attention to detail you rarely see from a game of this scope.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on January 08, 2016, 07:22:57 AM
Red Dead, very nice!  I'd love a sequel on next gen for that game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ReaperKK on January 08, 2016, 07:49:55 AM
There are rumors that there is a third on in the works.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Accelerando on January 11, 2016, 03:36:10 AM
Time to finish this bad boy off!

25. Tetris

24. Super Mario Galaxy

23. Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II

22. Super Mario Brothers

21.  Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes

20. Super Smash Bros. : Melee

19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time

18. Tomb Raider

17. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga/The Clone Wars

16. Mario Kart Double Dash

15. Donkey Kong Country

14. God of War III

13. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

12. Goldeneye 007

11. The Walking Dead: Season 1

10. L.A. Noire

9. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

8. Batman: Arkham Asylum

7. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

6. Batman: Arkham Knight

5. Super Mario World

4. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

3. Red Dead Redemption



2. The Last of Us (2013)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Video_Game_Cover_-_The_Last_of_Us.jpg)

Naughty Dog has proven itself again as one of the most accomplished development teams in the world. The Uncharted franchise is one of the greatest showcases of cinematic storytelling. They have shown how far the craftsmanship of making video games has come. Naughty Dog's pinnacle game however is The Last of Us. Simply put, The Last of Us is a masterpiece. It's the Playstation 3's best game, and the PS4 remaster is even more great. Easily. It's powerful, emotionally draining, and absolutely one of the finest games of this generation.

(https://cdn.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/last-of-us1.png)

This game has a tendency of getting you emotionally attached to the characters of Joel and Ellie. These are two amazing characters who are heart and soul of this journey. What follows these two incredible characters is a journey that will test your limits as it touches upon society as a whole in ways that I myself wasn't even expecting. Their dysfunctional father-daughter like relationship with Joel pushes the story forward. The visuals in this game are just superb. The environments are absolutely loaded with detail that builds a frightfully immersive and believable world. It feels real as you traverse it. The game encourages exploration and scrounging, and with a variety of supplies, you can craft numerous weapons to help defend yourself against monsters and humans alike. Simply put, one of the greatest games I ever played.



1. Batman: Arkham City (2011)

(https://cdn.europosters.eu/image/750/posters/batman-arkham-city-cover-i11510.jpg)


This is my all time favorite game. Batman: Arkham City is a game that I put at any time, and I will fully invest myself in playing. It doesn't matter what mood I'm in. I'll spend hours and hours playing this game, exploring the open world, and fighting bad guys in one of the most entertaining combat mechanics ever in the history of video games.  Arkham City elevates everything that Arkham Asylum gave us. It's a bigger, better, and more pulse pounding game than Asylum. While City plays out very similar to Asylum, but the stakes are bigger, as is the incredibly detailed open world.

(https://www.ng4a.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/15699_4c7e80feb2152.jpg)

This game has a dark look and feel that pulls you in. The dingy, grungy look of the city, the background music and ambience. All of these together invade your subconscious until you feel alive with primal, survival instincts. The enemies are different this time around. There are bad guys with stun rods, armored outfits and broken bottles all have to be dealt with in very specific ways. Feeling like Batman made Arkham Asylum a must-play, and Arkham City continues that tradition. I needed to assess threats and engage situations like Batman would. Batman's gliding ability combined with being able to grapple from midair makes it easy to get around the city. It's fun, the physics are well done, and it is practically useful. Not only is this game one of the best, if not, the best super game ever made, its simply one of the best games of this generation.






Thank you everyone for following! Hope you enjoyed it as much as i did making this list!

Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on January 11, 2016, 09:25:10 AM
You really love those Batman games!  Can't blame you though, they are great and totally agreed on the fighting mechanics.  So much fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on January 11, 2016, 09:31:20 AM
A worthy entry for anyone's favorite game.  It's practically flawless.  Builds upon everything great in Asylum, makes it better, and has a tremendous storyline to go with it as well.   :tup

I'll start firing mine up by the end of the week.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Jarlaxle on January 11, 2016, 05:03:52 PM
Never played a batman game, but with all the love recently I just might.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 11, 2016, 11:14:11 PM
I've had the Wii U Arkham City for a year and haven't played it. May have to do something about that.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Crow on January 12, 2016, 12:04:07 AM
have arkham city on steam, already played asylum, thought it was pretty good, wasn't blown away by it or anything though. will get to city inevitably.

personally i prefer yoshi's island to SMW but both are great
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ariich on January 12, 2016, 02:29:29 AM
Akrham City is good, definitely better than Asylum and a really fun game, but I wouldn't put it anywhere near my top games ever, personally.

The Last of Us, though, that's one powerful game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Cyclopssss on January 12, 2016, 04:23:16 AM
deleted
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: ariich on January 12, 2016, 06:08:01 AM
Is that about one of the games posted recently, or did you mean to post in the video games thread?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: cramx3 on January 12, 2016, 06:17:35 AM
I've had the Wii U Arkham City for a year and haven't played it. May have to do something about that.

have arkham city on steam, already played asylum, thought it was pretty good, wasn't blown away by it or anything though. will get to city inevitably.

Took me a year to get around to playing Arkham City so I guess I am not the only one who had this game on the back burner for awhile.  It was worth it though when I finally played through it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on January 15, 2016, 05:23:13 AM
Ok... chatter died off pretty quick, but that was a damn fine list, Accelerando.  But now, it's time for the Rise of the Fogey

Just so you know what you’re getting in to if you decide to follow.  My video game history is broken into 4 distinct segments – in the early 80s as a pre/teenager, the Commodore64 was my platform.  I easily played 50+ different kind of games on that platform.  Then, as a teenager with more freedom and mobility, hours upon hours (and surely hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars) were spent at the arcade with a fistful of quarters (great documentary by the way) – actually, gimmee a roll of quarters a few times a week, and I’d be good to go for hours at a time, or an entire weekend.  In 1992, I went to University, and had floor-mates in first year with a Sega Genesis console.  Many hours were spent in the dorm lounge and/or room-mate’s rooms.  I remember how sore my thumb muscles were the first week I spent playing that system. After graduation, I never had a console of my own, so only played a handful of PC games from ’96-’10, when I finally bought a PS3.  Anyone not at least in their mid-30s is gonna have the C64 games go completely over their head, while any fogey’s here might get a trip down memory lane.

Given the sheer number of C64 games I played, I probably could've made a list of 25 of those games pretty easily.  So, I'm gonna fire off some honorable mentions first - and for you younglings, some screen caps of what our graphics in the 80s was like.

Honorable Mentions (Part 1):
Choplifter – as a helicopter pilot, you have to navigate through warzones to rescue fallen POWs, while dropping bombs (like turds) on the enemy.
(https://screenmania.retrogames.com/c64/01/c64_0032_04.png)

Hard Hat Mack – a knock off of Donkey Kong and Miner 2049r.  This was the first game published by EA.

Impossible Mission I and II – sleuth/detective… you’re a secret agent racing against the clock to reassemble and decrypt password pieces by searching various rooms

Lode Runner – you’re s stick figure collecting gold from multi-level brick-like structures with ladders and hand-over-hand bars for vertical/horizontal movement while being chased by stick-figure guards
(https://www.c64-wiki.com/images/a/a3/Lode_Runner_Tape-Version_Level_065_-_High-Score_738.125.png)

Motor Mania – top view driving game.
(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/764634-motor-mania-commodore-64-screenshot-starting-at-the-gas-station.png)

Out Run – 3D third person racing.  Man, I thought these graphics (in 1987) were radular
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ef/6e/18/ef6e189aea5583a5979be4e538edf37a.jpg)

Raid Moscow – Russia plans to launch 3 nukes at the US, and you (a space pilot) have to complete three stages to stop them
station.

Way of the Exploding Fist – before there was Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, there was this.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/C64_explodingfist.png)

Winter/Summer Games – just as it says… Olympic gaming competition
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 15, 2016, 05:24:57 AM
I know a few of those (and some other very similar games as you got back then). :tup

And Outrun's graphics WERE radular!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Bolsters on January 15, 2016, 05:35:05 AM
I remember playing Outrun in arcades. Played the shit out of Summer/Winter Olympics on the 2600. Not sure if I played any of the others, no bells ringing.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 15, 2016, 06:19:52 AM
Another Fogey reporting in.

My gaming experience started with a Commodore 64 too and I had a shitload of games, many of them I looked at once and dismissed them but a lot of them I played regularly.

Impossible Mission: "Destroy him my robots, ha ha ha". This game had actual speech.

Raid over Moscow (and Beach Head from the same company) were put on index in Germany (meaning you can't buy it openly and not if you're younger than 18) because of it's violence. We had them nonetheless and how daring we felt, because we had forbidden games  :biggrin:

Outrun: We thought that graphics couldn't get any better

Way Of The Exploding Fist: Played it till my fingers bled

Summer/Winter Games: simply epic, especially when playing with more people.

Ah, those were the days.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: King Postwhore on January 15, 2016, 07:23:40 AM
Outrun was so damn fun to play with friends.  We'd battle for best times.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 15, 2016, 07:35:08 AM
Since you know Miner 2049er, I expect it on the list now.  Or else.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Podaar on January 15, 2016, 08:26:58 AM
I never had a C64 (when it came out, I was a poor 21 year old with a baby girl and different priorities) so most of these games don't fall into my experience. A neighbor friend had one and I do remember playing Out Run on his machine.

I was somewhat of an Atari loyalist, probably because I'd bought an Atari 800, when I was 18 or so, on the recommendation of my best-friend's Dad. I mainly used my Atari to play chess games and write die-rolling programs to speed up conflict resolution for our Thursday night AD&D games...yes, I was a Dungeon Master. :blob:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: jingle.boy on January 15, 2016, 08:28:20 AM
yes, I was a Dungeon Master. :blob:

Weren't we all?  :biggrin:  I dug being the master occasionally, but my forte was my Paladin Knight.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Podaar on January 15, 2016, 08:53:17 AM
I was about to derail this thread with reminiscences of AD&D...

Better not.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Big Hath on January 15, 2016, 10:13:18 AM
And Outrun's graphics WERE radular!

Outrun: We thought that graphics couldn't get any better

Outrun was the best thing I had ever seen.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 15, 2016, 10:14:43 AM
The C64 was before my time, but you are right about those graphics on Out Run.  Judging from that screenshot it looks like something that could have been on Sega.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Thread! v. Accelerando's "Princess Is In Another Castle" list
Post by: Big Hath on January 15, 2016, 10:15:06 AM
Since you know Miner 2049er, I expect it on the list now.  Or else.

doesn't sound like it's going to be.  We might have to settle for it being one of the honorable mentions on my list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 18, 2016, 08:32:37 AM
Honorable Mentions - Part 2

The honorable mentions from the other 'phases' of my gaming history.

Arcade
Addams Family – the highest selling pinball game of all time.  “Thank you Thing.”
Asteroids –The algorithms to get the complete randomness of your jet propulsion, and the asteroids (speed/direction/size) was pretty good.  Visually, it’s as basic as it gets though.
Double Dragon – beat-em-up tag-team martial arts
Gauntlet – multi-player medieval combat game
Missile Command – this required some strategy, quick thinking and even quicker reflexes
Mortal Kombat – the 1st gen was an unbelievably innovative game.  FINISH HIM!
Space Invaders – the grand-daddy of all arcade games
Spy Hunter – one of the first non-joystick/roller ball games, aided by the Peter Gunn main theme.
reflexes
Terminator 2 (Pinball) – with the movie being as popular as it was at the time, and actual Arnie audio prompts, this was a hella fun game.

Sega/PC
Sim City – the original that everything became based off of.
NBA Hangtime – I’d always play with my pals as Kevin McHale.  Man that dude could knock down some trey’s.
Star Wars: Dark Forces – Doom, but for Star Wars.  What a great storyline.  It was the highest selling game from ’93-’99.  That Dark Trooper was hard as shit to kill.  This would've been game #26 on my list.
Tie Fighter – First person dog fighting from a Tie-Fighter.

PS3
Battlefield – Got this on the cheap, and the single-player missions in I and II are really fun.
Spider Man: Web Of Shadows – Great combat modes, huge world, lots of inclusion of additional characters, and you can chose to play good/bad in red-suit or black-suit.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on January 18, 2016, 12:14:02 PM
Arcade
Asteroids –The algorithms to get the complete randomness of your jet propulsion, and the asteroids (speed/direction/size) was pretty good.  Visually, it’s as basic as it gets though.
Double Dragon – beat-em-up tag-team martial arts
Gauntlet – multi-player medieval combat game
Missile Command – this required some strategy, quick thinking and even quicker reflexes
Space Invaders – the grand-daddy of all arcade games
Spy Hunter – one of the first non-joystick/roller ball games, aided by the Peter Gunn main theme.

 :metal for all of dat

I spent a small fortune playing Spy Hunter
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on January 18, 2016, 02:49:36 PM
I played the NES ports of Gauntlet and Double Dragon- much fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 18, 2016, 03:26:17 PM
Love the arcade mentions.

I dumped a ton of quarters into DigDug and Moon Patrol (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBOKWCpwGfM).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 18, 2016, 05:45:18 PM
Love the arcade mentions.

I dumped a ton of quarters into DigDug and Moon Patrol (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBOKWCpwGfM).

Yup... I remember both of those!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 05:52:06 AM
Ok, let's get this fucker started.  I'm gonna do my damnedest to do one per day, and be wrapped up in less than a month.  We'll see how that goes.   :biggrin:

25.  Mattell Classic Football / Handheld
(https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Mattel/Mattel-Football.jpg)

(https://www.retroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Mattel-Electronics-Football.jpg)

Before there was the 3DS or Gameboy, there were a plethora of these single-game handheld devices – and they couldn’t get any simpler.  You’re on offense for this football team, and all your little “dash” has to do is run left-to-right, avoid all the other defensive “dashes” by moving up or down (your "dash" was darker than the game's "dash").  The “defense” moved up and down to try and block your way (ie, tackle), and that was pretty much it.  You could call a passing play, but the path between the quarter-back “dash” and the receiver “dash” had to be completely clear.  The defense would charge/rush you, so there was an element of patience, waiting for your gap (which sometimes never came).  Here’s a 1 minute clip of the gameplay (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNKgpAFOsa0)

Many a rainy day was spent on this in the late 70s/early 80s, or my (four years older) brother and I arguing in the back seat of our Plymouth Volare station wagon as to who got to play it, and for how long.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 21, 2016, 05:54:40 AM
That's not even a video game, you old git! :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on January 21, 2016, 05:58:18 AM
If you only know 24 video games better than that, you need to play more video games. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 21, 2016, 06:14:54 AM
Wow, talk about old school. I never played this but I know similar games that my friends had and we played those for hours. Couldn't get any simpler and still it was a whole lotta fun back then.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 06:29:25 AM
Wow, talk about old school. I never played this but I know similar games that my friends had and we played those for hours. Couldn't get any simpler and still it was a whole lotta fun back then.

^ This guy gets it.

That's not even a video game, you old git! :lol

If you only know 24 video games better than that, you need to play more video games. :biggrin:

Nostalgia mother fuckers!

@ Bolsters... wait until you see the rest of my list.  Beauty is in the eye (and palms) of the beholder.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 21, 2016, 06:29:30 AM
I think I'll rename this the Top 25 Ancient Artefacts List Thread.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 21, 2016, 06:34:02 AM
Nostalgia mother fuckers!

I'm just messing with you. I understand the nostalgia. :tup



My nostalgia just isn't as old as yours. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on January 21, 2016, 06:41:55 AM
That game trained me for my teen years of self mutilation. :lol

I played Mattel Football everywhere I went.  I loved that game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 06:47:33 AM
That game trained me for my teen years of self mutilation. :lol

I played Mattel Football everywhere I went.  I loved that game.

Knew you'd have my back.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on January 21, 2016, 06:53:02 AM
These young bucks are spoiled having the systems they have today.  We blew a billion quarters for a tenth of the graphics they have today.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 21, 2016, 06:54:50 AM
Holy call back, Batman. I had one of those! My left thumb still gets sore in rainy weather from pounding on the forward button.

Chad, you've made me prouder than I can say, and a little bit weepy.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 21, 2016, 07:12:16 AM
I love the C64 mentions.  I had shit-tons of games for my C64.  Lode Runner, Summer Games, Impossible Mission, all stellar choices.  I, as you can probably imagine, was partial to Artworx Strip Poker.  Also, Infocom's interactive fiction games (all text) were some of my favorites.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 21, 2016, 07:37:09 AM
I think I'll rename this the Top 25 Ancient Artefacts List Thread.

Im literally laughing out loud in my office right now reading the responses to the start of this list

 :rollin

I'm all about nostalgia so this is cool even if it's probably from before or around when I was born.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 07:42:14 AM
I love the C64 mentions.  I had shit-tons of games for my C64.  Lode Runner, Summer Games, Impossible Mission, all stellar choices.  I, as you can probably imagine, was partial to Artworx Strip Poker.  Also, Infocom's interactive fiction games (all text) were some of my favorites.

I had a couple of those interactive adventure fiction games, but for the Commodore PET.  I still remember one of the first games of those I ever tried, the line the game told me was explaining the items that were in the environment, and made some comment about my position being "closer to the latter".  I kept asking the game to "climb latter", assuming it was a typo (I think my 9 year old linguistic skills at the time didn't know former/latter).  I must've tried a dozen combinations to climb that damned ladder, but I kept getting "cannot climb latter", or "cannot ...." whatever I typed.

There wasn't a lot of AI in those games... you had to type EXACTLY what the programmer had written into the code.

 :lol  Good times.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 21, 2016, 07:58:32 AM
We worked really hard to get through Infocom's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  THAT was a fun game.

Other notable favorites were Mail Order Monsters, Fort Apocalypse, Bruce Lee, Jumpman Jr., Castle Wolfenstein, Montezuma's Revenge, Satan's Hollow, Radar Rat Race, the aforementioned Miner 2049er, Phantasie, Agent USA (impossible, but fun), and countless others that I can't remember.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 08:10:40 AM
We worked really hard to get through Infocom's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  THAT was a fun game.

Other notable favorites were Mail Order Monsters, Fort Apocalypse, Bruce Lee, Jumpman Jr., Castle Wolfenstein, Montezuma's Revenge, Satan's Hollow, Radar Rat Race, the aforementioned Miner 2049er, Phantasie, Agent USA (impossible, but fun), and countless others that I can't remember.

I'm sure I'll be able to jog that memory soon enough.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 21, 2016, 08:11:10 AM
Awesome.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 21, 2016, 08:12:26 AM
I could do a top 50 out of C64 games alone  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 08:20:50 AM
I could do a top 50 out of C64 games alone  :metal

I probably could've as well, but would've had to think long and hard.

You should sign up, and do this.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on January 21, 2016, 10:44:12 AM
sweet, we had that football handheld.  Had the baseball one too.  There was also a racing game my friend had.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cool Chris on January 21, 2016, 11:06:06 AM
Count me in as someone who had that Mattel Football game as well!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 21, 2016, 11:25:55 AM
Hell, I hate football and I had one of those.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 21, 2016, 12:00:14 PM
Hell, I hate football and I had one of those.

(https://i.imgur.com/vnEXbRk.gif)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on January 21, 2016, 06:39:14 PM
sweet, we had that football handheld.  Had the baseball one too.  There was also a racing game my friend had.
I remember having a racing game handheld that was only slightly more advanced than this. Pretty sure the car was a picture on a moving tab of plastic. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on January 21, 2016, 11:40:37 PM
yeah, I think I know which one you are talking about.  But the one my friend had was just dots just like the Mattel football/baseball games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 23, 2016, 06:25:53 AM
24. Archon / Commodore 64
(https://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_64/Box/big/Archon-_The_Light_and_the_Dark_-_1984_-_Electronic_Arts.jpg)

This chess-like game pits you against another player, or the computer, to win 5 points on the board.  Instead of traditional chess players, you have Knights (Pawns), Dragons, Banshee’s, a Phoenix, Shapeshifter, and other more fantasy-like players.  Upon landing on the opposing players ‘spot’, the game breaks away to a screen where the two players duel.  Some characters could move faster than others, could fire projectiles – with each character having various speed and/or strength of said projectiles - some only had attacks that could be performed at close range.  There was some strategy involved here, as certain opponents were better suited to defeat others – the only way to defeat that fuckin Phoenix was with a Knight clubbing it to death :lol.  Not a lot more to say here, but it was a good combination of strategy (chess), and combat.

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/79780-archon-the-light-and-the-dark-commodore-64-screenshot-a-phoenix.png)

The bars on each side of the screen is your players health, and the dots scattered throughout are things you can use to hide behind when fighting an opponent that shoots projectiles (which most do).  In this shot, the yellow dude is a Phoenix - supposed to be one of the most powerful opponents - and it is... except vs the Knight (also pictured here in blue).

(https://www.c64-wiki.com/images/a/a4/Archon_Animation3.gif)

If that wasn't enough for you, here's about 3 minutes of gameplay.
Gameplay (https://youtu.be/s1UvQGENO14?t=26)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 23, 2016, 06:34:21 AM
Never had a C64 so I've never played this game but it actually sounds pretty cool idea!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 23, 2016, 06:35:44 AM
Woohoo, one of my all time favorites!

It was equally fun when choosing the computer or an other person as an opponent. I loved that even the most powerful of opponents could be killed with a combination of luck and skill. The phoenix, ghost and fucking unicorn were really tough to bring down though. Still, it could be done.

I noticed that there is a version of this available on Steam. I may pick it up just for the nostalgia.

Never had a C64 so I've never played this game but it actually sounds pretty cool idea!

Reap, I know I played it on my Atari 800 so I'm sure it was available for all Atari 8bit systems.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on January 23, 2016, 06:42:34 AM
Never heard of it, like the idea though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 24, 2016, 05:42:19 AM
Great game that brings back a lot of memories. The real fun was to play it against each other but you could play it against  the computer as well and that was really hard. Always thought that the computer was cheating.

I always was best with the unicorn and really sucked with those close range fighters.

There were even two sequels but they couldn't match the first one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on January 24, 2016, 07:25:33 AM
I never saw that game Chad.  Very cool!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 24, 2016, 09:30:14 AM
23. Centipede / Arcade

(https://videogamecritic.com/images/arcade/centipede_front.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xGEZ3NNH6cs/hqdefault.jpg)

Not a lot to say here.  Kill the centipede, try not to split it up to much, keep the bottom area free of mushrooms, and watch out for those fucking fleas and spiders.  Every level gets progressively harder – everything moves a little faster, and the frequency of the fleas and spiders increases.  Eventually, it always got to a state of absolute pandemonium.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 24, 2016, 09:41:42 AM
 Sorry, I'm late.  I love the first three so far, especially the Mattel Football game!  Piss off, haters.   :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 24, 2016, 10:30:57 AM
Sorry, I'm late.  I love the first three so far, especially the Mattel Football game!  Piss off, haters.   :lol

:hifive:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 24, 2016, 10:44:59 AM
Sorry, I'm late.  I love the first three so far, especially the Mattel Football game!  Piss off, haters.   :lol

:hifive:

:happydance:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 24, 2016, 11:46:21 AM
Good lord, is this now the "nostalgia is heroin for old people" thread?!

:P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 24, 2016, 12:49:25 PM
And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Rich's small prostate grew three sizes that day.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 24, 2016, 12:50:38 PM
We wouldn't know. As Blob said... We're older than nostalgia.

And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Rich's small prostate grew three sizes that day.

 :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 24, 2016, 12:52:23 PM
And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Rich's small prostate grew three sizes that day.
:lol :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on January 24, 2016, 01:53:52 PM
I think I should rename this as the Archaeology thread  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on January 24, 2016, 07:18:23 PM
Jingle.boy is 44- I feel most of our fond VG memories are from when we are growing up. Makes sense. Much like how my list will be NES centric- i'm 33.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 24, 2016, 07:42:58 PM
I'm almost 30 now and a lot of my best memories were of games while growing up. Don't get me wrong I love video games but it's so hard to find the uninterrupted time to play them anymore.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 25, 2016, 03:02:02 AM
This is the equivalent of discussing the Beatles, Stones, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson etc. in a music thread. This is were it's started and where all the ones that came after draw inspiration from.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 25, 2016, 05:43:29 AM
I'm almost 30 now and a lot of my best memories were of games while growing up. Don't get me wrong I love video games but it's so hard to find the uninterrupted time to play them anymore.

Which definitely has an effect on which era of games we cherish. Me and Jingle will probably have somewhat of a similar list if I were to do one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on January 25, 2016, 05:55:33 AM
I played Centipede a lot but it wasn't one of the Arcade games I excelled at.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 25, 2016, 06:01:13 AM
Centipede is one of those games that was still around and popular when I was a kid, but I never really liked it.  I always just got annoyed playing and losing so easily.  Actually, a lot of those old school games were like that for me as a child.  It was really Tetris that got me to enjoy some of those simpler games (probably because I was better at Tetris).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 25, 2016, 06:08:32 AM
I love Centipede!  I've been meaning to get an emulator so I can play that and Space Invaders.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 25, 2016, 06:58:16 AM
I, of course, gave Centipede a few handfuls of quarters, but the game never grabbed me the way some of the others did. All of the early arcade video games steadily ratcheted up the difficulty, obviously. Centipede's chaos seemed to build up faster...or something. It just never seemed like a good entertainment investment. Or, I just sucked at it.  :biggrin:

And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Rich's small prostate grew three sizes that day.

That's pretty insensitive BF...posting that where you know I would see it. Prostate cancer nearly killed me!




Just kidding, buddy. That was funny as hell!!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 25, 2016, 07:14:52 AM
The old games were definitely harder, you couldn't save your progress, you couldn't respawn, you had a limited number of lifes and then it was "Game Over".
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2016, 07:38:43 AM
... and $0.25 per game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Randaran on January 25, 2016, 09:36:13 AM
The old games were definitely harder, you couldn't save your progress, you couldn't respawn, you had a limited number of lifes and then it was "Game Over".

How do any of those things make games harder? Sure, you are less likely to finish titles that implement them, but all of those aspects only artificially increase the difficulty of the game, and are IMO elements of bad game design.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 25, 2016, 09:50:22 AM
I, of course, gave Centipede a few handfuls of quarters, but the game never grabbed me the way some of the others did. All of the early arcade video games steadily ratcheted up the difficulty, obviously. Centipede's chaos seemed to build up faster...or something. It just never seemed like a good entertainment investment. Or, I just sucked at it.  :biggrin:

And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Rich's small prostate grew three sizes that day.

That's pretty insensitive BF...posting that where you know I would see it. Prostate cancer nearly killed me!




Just kidding, buddy. That was funny as hell!!

<3
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Crow on January 25, 2016, 09:51:14 AM
anyone who says the old game were "harder" has never played modern games in the vein of i wanna be the boshy or super meat boy

those aren't even necessarily good games, but  :lol

he's right that life systems and game overs and all don't make games harder, it's just more tedious.

the only way you could say old games were "harder" is when it comes to stuff like stupid puzzle design that you'd never be able to solve on your own because of how insanely obtuse the puzzles are but that's definitely "bad"
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 25, 2016, 09:55:09 AM
the only way you could say old games were "harder" is when it comes to stuff like stupid puzzle design that you'd never be able to solve on your own because of how insanely obtuse the puzzles are but that's definitely "bad"
You still get that sometimes these days, but it's so easy to look things up online if you get stuck that it's at least not so frustrating as it was in the past.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 25, 2016, 09:59:46 AM
Kind of hard to compare difficulty in a game as simple as Centipede (or many of the other older games) vs the games of today. 

I've always thought the basics of the older games were much more difficult than the newer games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2016, 10:04:30 AM
I guess it depends on how you define "harder".  Challenging, frustrating, ability to complete, ability to stay alive.  Take a role-playing game that is coming up later in the list.  You could get to the final boss, and if you died on your last life, it was start all over again.  For other games, if you ran out of quarters and couldn't "continue" (or didn't want to spend more money on it), you were shit out of luck, and had to start from scratch next time.

I think that is what Kwiji is talking about as it relates to 'harder'... harder to complete.

It's just the evolution of gaming, and something that today's younins probably don't have an appreciation for.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 25, 2016, 10:06:41 AM
Yea, agreed.  Just not easy to say "harder" without taking into account many things. 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 25, 2016, 10:11:18 AM
What jingle said. And I don't say that it was better or worse or bad game design. It was just what it was.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 25, 2016, 10:13:11 AM
I think the best arcade games had a good balance of "challenge" and "ease of play". It makes sense from a money making stand point. When you're trying to entice quarters out of kids, you don't want them rage quitting before you've emptied their pockets. If they're too easy, there's no bragging rights either. Twas a real art form.

Of course, once video games made it into the living room, the goals changed along with the game design elements.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Randaran on January 25, 2016, 10:32:25 AM
The way I see it, you can increase difficulty through one of two ways: through clever level design and game mechanics, and by "bullshit" such as limited attempts, no respawns, and so on.

I've actually already touched on this topic during my own ranking. I'll repost part of my entry for Rayman here, as I feel it applies.

Through trial and error, you will slowly learn the layout of an area and how to reliably navigate it. Very few deaths are cheap. Instead, most of them stem from mistakes. There is a way to reliably get through almost every part of the game. Repeating sections is rarely an issue, as checkpoints are generously laid out… most of the time. The game feels challenging at nearly all times, but rarely gives an impression of insurmountable difficulty.

...

The bosses of are particular note. Each follows an attack pattern which provides an opening to deal damage. Through trial and error, you figure out how to dodge his attacks while chipping away at his health. These bosses exemplify the trial and error design philosophy on display in Rayman.

The only element that goes against this idea is the limited lives and continues.

Rayman displays both approaches, and I considered the presence of "type b" game design to be its most significant flaw. As Podaar said, the latter design philosophy made sense in the arcade days, but has no place in today's gaming world.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on January 25, 2016, 11:00:53 AM
nothing better in centipede than getting the centipede caught between mushrooms and/or the side of the screen and just blasting it away as it came straight down at you.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2016, 11:10:04 AM
nothing better in centipede than getting the centipede caught between mushrooms and/or the side of the screen and just blasting it away as it came straight down at you.

Damn straight.  'Running-the-field' (as it were) in that manner - especially on later levels because it rarely happened - was very gratifying.

:fistpump:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 25, 2016, 04:30:25 PM
In the interest of keeping things going....

22. Madden 93 / Sega Genesis
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/John_Madden_Football_'93_Coverart.png)

So I said that I was introduced to console gaming (for the most part) at University in ‘92/’93, and this was one of the staple games.  Get a couple guys together in the lounge, and it was either this, or another game (to be named later) that was invariably being played.  This was fundamentally the same as ’92, with some subtle enhancements like no-huddle (thanks Buffalo), instant replay reviews, taunting, one-handed catches and some other minor cosmetic things.  Gameplay started by selecting from different modes, weather conditions, teams; play against another player, or co-op against the computer.  One of the nice things was to play as some all-time great teams, and a couple of All-Madden teams – my fave being the ’84 Niners.  I never did keep up with the franchise after this, so I have no point of comparison against other football games (other than the previously mentioned Mattell Classic)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AQX-g0FR-OE/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 25, 2016, 08:52:44 PM
Respect! My brother and I rented this in early summer '92 and it blew my mind. I never knew video games could actually deliver a fun experience even remotely resembling football and this was just such a phenomenal treat. It's crazy to think 3 proper Madden games came out while CBS still had the NFC broadcasting package (4 if you count that obscure, 7-on-7 PC game from like '87 that looked more like Football on the 2600...I personally don't.)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 26, 2016, 12:05:28 AM
Not just an old game, but an old girl game.

I don't think this list is for me. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 26, 2016, 04:27:03 AM
Not just an old game, but an old girl game.

I don't think this list is for me. :lol

For the most part.  There will likely be a few gems in here for you to appreciate though.

Now you know how I've felt during most of these lists.   :)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 26, 2016, 06:15:20 AM
I never once tried any of the football games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 26, 2016, 06:19:16 AM
I was never a fan of the game console football games, except for 10-Yard Fight.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on January 26, 2016, 07:17:50 AM
Im not sure if I remember playing this exact one, but I remember the really old Madden games.  They were great!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 26, 2016, 07:41:50 AM
Not just an old game, but an old girl game.

I don't think this list is for me. :lol

For the most part.  There will likely be a few gems in here for you to appreciate though.

Now you know how I've felt during most of these lists.   :)

For sure, and the great thing about this thread is how different the lists are!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on January 26, 2016, 01:36:26 PM
Haven't played any games on this list except for Archon. Had that growing up on NES. Same premise, different graphics, but still a really cool game!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 12:45:04 PM
At the risk of alienating Rich even more ....

21. Jumpman I and II / Commodore 64
(https://www.computerbrains.com/ScreenShots/ccs58.JPG)

The concept of this multi level game was very Pac-man and Donkey Kong-ish.  Defuse some bombs (dots), by touching/collecting them, use ropes/ladders to go up levels, and jump the gaps – all the while avoiding these bullets that randomly came in from the edge of the screen, and would magically accelerate when they got in line with you (unless you were in the air) – and goddamn you had to be cautious around the edge of the screen – or they’d come out of nowhere and kill you before you had ANY reaction time.  Collecting the bombs could break portions of a ladder or the floor, reveal hidden areas, or other funky things.  Upon being hit or falling from a height, Jumpman tumbles down to the bottom of the screen, with a measure from Chopin's Funeral March being played.  The midi sounds and effects really topped off the experience!  Points were based on time it took to clear the level.  Successive levels would throw in more difficult challenges such as having to build a ladder, ladders that disappeared and re-appeared, robots that chased you, moving floors, and moving bombs.  30 levels, and you defeated the game.

(https://www.armchairarcade.com/aamain/e107_images/illustrations/issue2/platform01.png)


(https://www.c64-wiki.com/images/e/e6/Jumpman_Animation_Demo.GIF)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 27, 2016, 12:47:55 PM
Jingle, I've never played that but it does look fun. I need to get some emulators.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 27, 2016, 01:00:46 PM
Nope.

Not familiar with that one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 01:04:31 PM
Go YT it guys.  The sounds are worth it alone.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 27, 2016, 01:13:05 PM
Go YT it guys.  The sounds are worth it alone.

I'm on YT now and listening to it, getting weird looks from my coworkers as they walk by my computer. The level completion music sounds like it belongs in the middle of Metropolis or Dance of Eternity.   :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 27, 2016, 03:29:42 PM
At the risk of alienating Rich even more ....
Dammit Chad. I haven't even heard of this one. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 03:31:17 PM
At the risk of alienating Rich even more ....
Dammit Chad. I haven't even heard of this one. :lol

That I'm not surprised about.

But for John/Gregg, I kinda am.  I thought Jumpman was one of the 'flagship' C64 games.

Calling Bosk!  Bosky... back me up?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on January 27, 2016, 03:37:41 PM
I owned that Madden game and console.  That bastard cost me a lot of money over the years.

Chad, my buddy had Jumpman.  It's such a Donkey Kong rip off.  I still had fun playing it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 27, 2016, 03:51:03 PM
That I'm not surprised about.

But for John/Gregg, I kinda am.  I thought Jumpman was one of the 'flagship' C64 games.

Calling Bosk!  Bosky... back me up?

I resent the implication that John and I are two sides of the same coin. We're both heads.

I never had a C64 though, if you'll recall. There's a huge gap in my exposure to video games that started around '82 (when my first son was born) and when Doom came out in '93 for PC.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: bosk1 on January 27, 2016, 03:55:33 PM
At the risk of alienating Rich even more ....
Dammit Chad. I haven't even heard of this one. :lol

That I'm not surprised about.

But for John/Gregg, I kinda am.  I thought Jumpman was one of the 'flagship' C64 games.

Calling Bosk!  Bosky... back me up?

I vaguely recall that one.  ...I think.  :lol  Sorry.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 04:18:49 PM
That I'm not surprised about.

But for John/Gregg, I kinda am.  I thought Jumpman was one of the 'flagship' C64 games.

Calling Bosk!  Bosky... back me up?

I resent the implication that John and I are two sides of the same coin. We're both heads.

I never had a C64 though, if you'll recall. There's a huge gap in my exposure to video games that started around '82 (when my first son was born) and when Doom came out in '93 for PC.

yeah, I have a similar gap from the time I graduated Uni ('96), until I finally got a console ('10).  Not a lot of new exploration in there - marriage and kids took up most of my disposable time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: bosk1 on January 27, 2016, 04:30:00 PM
For my money, Spelunker (I believe by Broderbund Software) was my go-to C64 game.  I poured countless hours into that game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelunker_(video_game)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 04:34:00 PM
Ironically, I vaguely recall THAT one.  Stay tuned, I'm sure there's more coming you'll recognize.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on January 27, 2016, 04:36:37 PM
Huh, and here I thought Spelunker was just a Sasha Grey movie.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 27, 2016, 04:44:19 PM
Huh, and here I thought Spelunker was just a Sasha Grey movie.

(https://replygif.net/i/1187.gif)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 27, 2016, 06:29:47 PM
That I'm not surprised about.

But for John/Gregg, I kinda am.  I thought Jumpman was one of the 'flagship' C64 games.

Calling Bosk!  Bosky... back me up?

I resent the implication that John and I are two sides of the same coin. We're both heads.

I never had a C64 though, if you'll recall. There's a huge gap in my exposure to video games that started around '82 (when my first son was born) and when Doom came out in '93 for PC.

I was about to cry insult but then noticed the small text.   ;)    As for your Sasha Grey comment...

(https://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y393/Prog_Snob/step0001_zpsth87dzz0.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on January 27, 2016, 06:36:53 PM
Chad, I really like how you've opened up my eyes to so many 2nd gen games I can try in the future. Also, you easily have my favorite presentation of anyone who's done a list. Very appealing layout style.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on January 27, 2016, 06:43:35 PM
Jumpman is awesome.  I played it on my friend's Apple 400.  The game was deceptively hard.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 27, 2016, 06:50:40 PM
Haven't played any of these games Jingle but I'm having a great time following the list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on January 27, 2016, 07:47:44 PM
This one looks very familiar, I'm sure I played it a little back in the day, but it wasn't one that I owned myself.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 28, 2016, 02:48:52 AM
I know this game as Jumpan Jr. but it's definitely the same. I liked it but I didn't love it. For playing this kind of game Miner 2049er was my choice. It's not the same but it's similar enough.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 28, 2016, 04:31:50 AM
I think there was a third version Jumpman Jr.  Not much deviation... different levels/obstacles, but essentially the same.

@ Josh... dunno what I'm doing that others didn't, but thanks!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 28, 2016, 12:33:44 PM
I had Jumpman Jr.  Looks like the same thing.  Also:

I guess it depends on how you define "harder".  Challenging, frustrating, ability to complete, ability to stay alive.

(https://miscetceteradotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/426042_605438839485573_259243291_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Chino on January 28, 2016, 12:37:38 PM
I saw a guy beat Tetris. It brings you to a final bonus stage where all the pieces are invisible. You only get to see them when they are cued up off to the side, once they are in the level, you can't see them. The guy beat that one too. I'll give you three guesses what nationality he was, but you'll only need one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on January 28, 2016, 01:27:55 PM
Nerd?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Crow on January 28, 2016, 01:56:32 PM
I saw a guy beat Tetris. It brings you to a final bonus stage where all the pieces are invisible. You only get to see them when they are cued up off to the side, once they are in the level, you can't see them. The guy beat that one too. I'll give you three guesses what nationality he was, but you'll only need one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwDUiCzPVU
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on January 29, 2016, 01:06:56 AM
Wow
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on January 29, 2016, 09:17:03 AM
Holy heck, read through all 59 pages.
This thread is THE best.
Will reside here. And Jumpman is a really good game and provides a nice challenge.Better than those FPS games. Yeah, I grew up with Nintendo.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on January 29, 2016, 09:32:54 AM
Oh and can the OP, Sacul, right? May I be added to the list?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: masterthes on January 29, 2016, 11:27:10 AM
Remember playing Jumpman a lot
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 31, 2016, 05:06:31 AM
And finally, welcome to the 2000's

20. Deus Ex: Human Revolution / PS3
(https://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/object/142/14220592/deux_ex_ps3_m.jpg)

(https://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution-screen-1.jpg)

It took me a long time to decide to play this game, as I wasn’t too enthralled of the idea of a mixed first/third player mode.  With an absolutely killer theatrical trailer, and getting it on the cheap on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, I decided to chance it.  The first handful of hours took a lot of paying attention to with the different modes around Stealth, Combat, Hacking and Social.   Strategy to get the right augmentations (as that is what this whole franchise and dystopian is about is about - human augmentations and the social/political/economic ramifications) for the right mode or scenario.  The plot is incredible, travelling globally with different actual cities providing the backdrop in a very dark and gritty way.  It wasn’t a completely open-world, but it was more than big enough..  It’s also a dynamic story with multiple endings depending on the choices you make.  I remember the first boss fight (Barrett) was one hard and frustrating mother-fucker to kill – you had to constantly run and hide and pick your spot to attack from. 

And of course, the absolutely brilliant trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJxQjWytIcU)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on January 31, 2016, 05:12:21 AM
Agreed about it being just the right level of openness - open world games serve a different sort of purposes, whereas for something that has such a strong, focussed narrative, that just wouldn't work. But there was enough freedom to explore. Amazing game, one of my favourites!

Really looking forward to Mankind Divided as well.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on January 31, 2016, 05:46:25 AM
re Mankind Divided... Top 3 anticipation level for this year.

See... I told you there'd be a few gems for you!   :)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on January 31, 2016, 05:53:33 AM
Finished this one some months ago. Excellent plot, and game overall  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 31, 2016, 06:43:21 AM
I once tried to play a Deus Ex game demo once back in 2000. I don't think I had space to install it. This is my total experience with this franchise. :lol


I think I shall finally ask to be put on the waiting list for my own list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on January 31, 2016, 07:09:56 AM
I've been dying to play Deus Ex HR ever since it came out because I loved the original Deus Ex.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 02, 2016, 12:33:40 PM
19. Beach Head I II / Commodore 64
(https://www.computerbrains.com/ScreenShots/ccs60.JPG)

(https://media.classic-retro-games.com/535/beach_head_remake_03.jpg)

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/331341-beach-head-commodore-64-screenshot-on-the-beach.png)

Was it Gregg that dropped mention of this game earlier?  Many hours were spent replicating the Faulkland Island war carefully navigating my fleet into doing battle with the enemy, aiming my Destroyer’s guns at oncoming aircraft (praying I didn’t run out of ammunition), then hoping I got the range right before they did with the heavy duty artillery.  Then navigating the tank field, and taking out that bunker.  It was always gratifying when you could get it with only two tanks.  There wasn't a lot of depth to this, and once you knew what to do, the AI on the computer wasn't too sharp.  You just had to wash/rinse/repeat.  Still pretty fun stuff.

(https://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/331342-beach-head-commodore-64-screenshot-destroy-all-citadel-windows.png)


Beach Head II brought a little more to the table – albeit still only four levels to complete.  This time, the battle is more around individual military personal battle, and the screams of “Medic” and “I’m hit!” as the enemy pulverized you with heavy machine guns.  The final, 10 round, knife throwing duel was a favourite of mine, and something that was pretty easy to defeat.  “You can’t hurt me!”

Beach Head II gameplay
(https://www.c64-wiki.de/images/d/d4/Beachhead2rescue.gif)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 02, 2016, 03:15:41 PM
Quote
<C> 1983

I was a sperm in my Dad's testicle still.

As for Deus Ex, I never played the first one, but I really enjoyed the 2nd.  I also look forward to the new one coming out.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 02, 2016, 03:33:25 PM
Was it Gregg that dropped mention of this game earlier?

Twernt me, old son. I've never played it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 02, 2016, 03:49:03 PM
Was it Gregg that dropped mention of this game earlier?

Twernt me, old son. I've never played it.

Right... a quick look back to page 53 confirms it was Kwiji.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on February 02, 2016, 03:51:17 PM
I never played that game. I need to investigate!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: bosk1 on February 02, 2016, 05:12:47 PM
"Medic!"  Hahahaha!  I had long forgotten where that came from, but every now and then, that line has popped into my head at comedicly-appropriate moments.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on February 02, 2016, 05:19:55 PM
"Medic!"  Hahahaha!  I had long forgotten where that came from, but every now and then, that line has popped into my head at comedicly-appropriate moments.  :lol

By any chance, was it Starcraft? I remember that.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 03, 2016, 04:37:20 AM
No, it was Beach Head II - https://youtu.be/efXtNbUONig?t=150
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 03, 2016, 06:06:20 PM
18. Tetris / Arcade
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r6X5hJwAYoc/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1qqaqwZQnUQ/hqdefault.jpg)

The thinking man’s video game.  Not really a lot to say here.  Everyone’s played this.  It has made a bunch of lists already.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on February 03, 2016, 06:27:39 PM
 :metal

I love that game. My father turned me on to that game back when we got our first computer so many years ago. I would play for hours and hours.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on February 03, 2016, 06:31:46 PM
I'm not sure if generational gap has anything to do with this, but I've never played Tetris in my life.







































































If you thought that was a lie....you are correct.
I have played it once or twice, but it wasn't my childhood favorite.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on February 03, 2016, 06:35:03 PM
I played this on the Nintendo DS for weeks at a time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on February 03, 2016, 06:55:01 PM
There was a study I recently read, not sure if it is new or older, that Tetris increases intellectual ability and/or helps with neurocognitive disorder (aka dementia).
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 03, 2016, 07:41:02 PM
I've never played an arcade version of Tetris, but the original Gameboy version got a lot of play in my household.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 03, 2016, 08:49:49 PM
There was a study I recently read, not sure if it is new or older, that Tetris increases intellectual ability and/or helps with neurocognitive disorder (aka dementia).

Lots of different activities that use the mind are supposed to help with that kind of thing, so I don't doubt this.

Is there anyone in this thread who hasn't played some form of Tetris or one of its 1 million clones? If you haven't, you've probably missed out on a lot of things in life.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on February 04, 2016, 01:47:34 AM
Ok this is an oldie that I definitely appreciate. I used to find this game so insanely addictive, and yet it's just so simple.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 04, 2016, 09:15:00 AM
I've never played an arcade version of Tetris, but the original Gameboy version got a lot of play in my household.

Gameboy and NES were how I played.

I do have it on my phone though, but rarely play.  It is still fun.  It's a timeless classic if you ask me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 04, 2016, 09:19:09 AM
I played it, of course. Mostly on PC but I think the kids had a version of it on NES too that I probably tried a few times. It was fun, but not really my thing.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lynxo on February 05, 2016, 03:50:46 AM
The Game Boy version of Tetris might be one of my first gaming experiences.  :metal (Unless some NES game made it before.) My mum used to borrow (steal...) my Game Boy just so she could play it. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 05, 2016, 07:18:59 AM
17. Assasins Creed II / PS3

(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3HpUEld2UM8UXcHaYLEXTYhjJ0ugLakGHUcHuGziflgFoK8KT)

Building on the incredibly innovative story from the opener in the franchise, this one opened the world up, made up for some frustrations (thank you for that goddamned horse and fast travel!), and added some other neat little features like swimming, eagle vision while moving, and Leonardo Da Vinci provides some enhanced 1500th century tech.  With an incredibly complex combat system, lots of main and side missions (with both day and night-time cycles), this gave countless hours of exploration, and different attempts to win your battles.

(https://old.gamegrin.com/files/images/games/a/Assassins_Creed_2/standard_AC2_09.jpg)

(https://retrogamerevue.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/wsjqa.jpg)

Beautiful scenery (I remember reading an online blog/article somewhere at the time that someone roamed around in the game for their grandma, so she got a chance to visit Tuscany and Florence, and "visit" some of the famous landmarks), engaging characters, seamless combat with smart AI, and a very interesting storyline are all the elements that I look for in a great game.  It was all right here.  I never did play III, even though jingle.son did.  I might give it a go sometime, but with mixed reviews there, I think I’ll just hang on to my memories of the sophomore entry in the franchise.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 05, 2016, 07:24:44 AM
Black Flag is the only AC game I've played. I liked it well enough, but even with the addition of the naval gameplay I thought it was incredibly reptitive and the story never captured my interest in the slightest (I thought there was a lot of untapped potential given the setting, so it was rather disappointing). I didn't even finish the main storyline in it before getting bored, and this doesn't look like a series with a lot of variety in it, so I haven't bothered playing any other AC games as a result.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 05, 2016, 07:49:26 AM
I thought it was incredibly reptitive

This was what people told me after playing the first one and it actually prevented me from ever playing any of the AC games.  I know they are very popular so maybe I should try one especially since I got BF for free with my xbox1, but I probably won't be playing it anytime soon.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 05, 2016, 09:34:39 AM
I've only played AC: Black Flag and I've always wanted to go back and play the other AC games. My brother told me the first game was garbage but the second game was a lot of fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on February 05, 2016, 09:35:50 AM
Too bad my parents don't allow me to play those kind of games.
They say that it: "Messes with my brain and will cause me to do violent acts."
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 05, 2016, 09:41:29 AM
Too bad my parents don't allow me to play those kind of games.
They say that it: "Messes with my brain and will cause me to do violent acts."

That's a lie. I played a ton of GTA growing up, and I never killed anyone. Sure, I smacked around a hooker or two, especially when she was hogging all of the coke that I paid for using the money I earned from robbing that corner store, but who hasn't done that at some point?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on February 05, 2016, 09:45:21 AM
Too bad my parents don't allow me to play those kind of games.
They say that it: "Messes with my brain and will cause me to do violent acts."

That's a lie. I played a ton of GTA growing up, and I never killed anyone. Sure, I smacked around a hooker or two, especially when she was hogging all of the coke that I paid for using the money I earned from robbing that corner store, but who hasn't done that at some point?
:lol :lol :lol :lol
Typical Korean parents. They flip the heck out if they ever catch me playing those games, no matter how much I say that it won't hurt me at all.
And the hooker story  :rollin :rollin
can't stop laughing.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lucien on February 05, 2016, 11:11:12 PM
"Medic!"  Hahahaha!  I had long forgotten where that came from, but every now and then, that line has popped into my head at comedicly-appropriate moments.  :lol

By any chance, was it Starcraft? I remember that.

Always been a Team Fortress 2 line in my head.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 08, 2016, 05:45:57 AM
"Medic!"  Hahahaha!  I had long forgotten where that came from, but every now and then, that line has popped into my head at comedicly-appropriate moments.  :lol

By any chance, was it Starcraft? I remember that.

Always been a Team Fortress 2 line in my head.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on February 08, 2016, 05:49:13 AM
It's too recent for me to know anything about.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 08, 2016, 06:08:11 AM
It's too recent for me to know anything about.

Well, let me help you out...

16. Super Sprint / Arcade
(https://www.arcade-history.com/images/cabinetmini160/2761.jpg)

I didn’t play a lot of racing games, and certainly note a lot of 1st person racing games.  This was a top-down non-scrolling game, and pits 4 cars to complete 3 laps of the course – there were probably a dozen different tracks.  The machine had three stations for drivers – each color coded to your car with a steering wheel, and foot accelerator.  Occasionally, wrenches appeared on the track, and with 3 of them, you could exchanged them for upgrades of better traction, higher top speed, or faster acceleration. 

(https://archive.org/serve/arcade_ssprint/ssprint_screenshot.png)

(https://obsoletegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Super-Sprint-Gameplay-Screenshot-3.png)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j0WpVs_aLJU/hqdefault.jpg)

The winning driver got to move on to the next race without losing a life.  Successive levels brought tougher conditions, better Drone cars, obstacles like oil slicks, gates that opened/closed, and tornadoes.  If you crashed and exploded, a helicopter would come zipping across the screen to drop a new car onto the track.  The best was when you were playing on your own, or with ONE other player for a while - the opposing Drone cars were just as fast as you (after a number of 'upgrades... so it wasn't too easy for you), and then a new player dropped a coin in the slot.  The opposing Drone cars had to essentially be as weak/slow as the newest player.  Made winning real easy when you had 4x speed or acceleration over the noob player!  Of course, that also proved a challenge when you were THAT driver ... and very satisfying when your shit-quality car beat those with a bunch of upgrades already.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 08, 2016, 06:10:53 AM
I remember playing this as a kid in arcades.  This was a really fun game! Also from a non racing game fan.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on February 08, 2016, 06:11:35 AM
I liked the old racing games. Excitebike is probably still my favorite. Either that or the original Mario Kart.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 08, 2016, 06:16:35 AM
I played something similar to this on the NES, but I don't remember what it was called.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 08, 2016, 06:27:38 AM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 08, 2016, 06:33:01 AM
That sounds really fun! I wish I had run into it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 08, 2016, 06:48:19 AM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road

Was that the one that looks almost the exact same but with monster trucks?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 08, 2016, 06:53:27 AM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road

Was that the one that looks almost the exact same but with monster trucks?

On dirt tracks!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 08, 2016, 07:08:41 AM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road
That looks like it. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 09, 2016, 08:15:37 PM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road

Was that the one that looks almost the exact same but with monster trucks?

On dirt tracks!

This was the go to game at a local arcade. If I remember correctly there were 4 steering wheels for 4 player support.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on February 09, 2016, 10:32:37 PM
I remember playing that game at places like Chuckie Cheese and Peter Pipers
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on February 09, 2016, 11:18:03 PM
There were a variety of off-shoots.  I remember Off Road

Was that the one that looks almost the exact same but with monster trucks?

On dirt tracks!

This was the go to game at a local arcade. If I remember correctly there were 4 steering wheels for 4 player support.

it was three steering wheels plus the computer controlled a truck

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41605.msg1845918#msg1845918
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 10, 2016, 07:05:17 AM
15. Terminator 2:Judgment Day / Arcade
(https://www.popcorn-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/XuJ3e.jpg)

In 1990/91, I probably dropped more on this game than any other.  The challenge was you really needed a second player to get thru the final battles.  It could easily take $5-$10 to defeat this fuckin game, it was so hard.

(https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/terminator-arcade-game.png?w=650)

This is a side scrolling game, where you are shooting in 1st person at your enemy targets.  The first levels are set in 2029, and you’re a re-programmed T-800 trying to infiltrate Skynet.  Once you do so, you’re sent back in time and follow the storyline of T2 and tasked to keep John and Sarah Connor alive (naturally).

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ISusgKIE5Jw/maxresdefault.jpg) (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8irJtYodKEc/UriecyX19AI/AAAAAAAAP_0/i2JmT1ozOsU/s1600/t221.png)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/152ps9zk2ws/hqdefault.jpg) (https://gaminghistory101.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/t2_arcade_2.jpg)

The final battle against the T-1000, you had to continually reload your shotgun shells (which fell from the screen, and by “reload” I mean you had to shoot them) while trying to attack the T-1000.  When its health got low enough, you then had to shoot at a falling grenade launcher (to capture that weapon), and fire that at the T-1000… and you only had a couple of seconds to do so - because the T-1000 (just like the movie) kept regenerating its health.  Fuck it was tough – and virtually impossible if you didn’t have a partner giving you cover.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 10, 2016, 07:08:03 AM
Never played this one. I did have the NES T2 game though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 10, 2016, 07:08:48 AM
I remember playing this in arcades as a little kid and hating it because it was too difficult.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 10, 2016, 07:22:40 AM
I've played the port of it (either SNES or Genesis or both, can't remember), and found it pretty boring. I'm sure it's a lot better with the arcade gun though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 10, 2016, 07:35:08 AM
One of the few arcade games I played more than once. In fact I played it a lot with a friend, it was fun but it was tough. We never made it to the end.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 10, 2016, 08:00:44 AM
I keep hoping that our game history will overlap some. So far, not.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 10, 2016, 09:26:35 AM
One of the few arcade games I played more than once. In fact I played it a lot with a friend, it was fun but it was tough. We never made it to the end.

I think I finished it once.  Went in with a roll of quarters (and and a buddy with the same), and we agreed we were going right thru to the end.  I think I saw it finished one other time as well.  It was brutally hard.

I keep hoping that our game history will overlap some. So far, not.

I'm as surprised about this as you are - though I thnk we've got close to 10 years difference, so there's that.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 10, 2016, 11:03:19 AM
I will say, I love that you are including Arcade games. Some of the best memories I have with my mates is shooting pool, playing video games, and making-out with girls in the parking lot of "The Farmer's Daughter". Just seeing the machines in this thread invokes a "good times" feeling.

 :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 10, 2016, 11:09:12 AM
I will say, I love that you are including Arcade games. Some of the best memories I have with my mates is shooting pool, playing video games, and making-out with girls in the parking lot of "The Farmer's Daughter". Just seeing the machines in this thread invokes a "good times" feeling.

 :tup

Cool.  You should sign up - I'd love to see your list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 10, 2016, 01:28:00 PM
I'll think about it. I'm not sure I could even put a list together, but it might be interesting to try.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 10, 2016, 02:14:47 PM
I'll think about it. I'm not sure I could even put a list together, but it might be interesting to try.

Pictures of games that old don't exist, eh?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 10, 2016, 02:36:05 PM
It's difficult to author an exciting description of rolling a stone around with two sticks.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 10, 2016, 02:50:41 PM
It's difficult to author an exciting description of rolling a stone around with two sticks.

:crypt:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 10, 2016, 02:53:47 PM
*sigh*

I'll get my coat.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on February 10, 2016, 04:50:19 PM
In for the Super Sprint love. I played the Super Off Road variant in arcade form (EXACT machine), and home ports on NES and SNES. I played the heck out of the game, and loved the style. Despite some cheating by the CPU in the home ports, it overall was lots of fun.


I've played the port of it (either SNES or Genesis or both, can't remember), and found it pretty boring. I'm sure it's a lot better with the arcade gun though.


I get that. I'm guessing the series Lethal Enforcers has a home port. Yet I cannot imagine playing that game without the foot pedal to duck/reload. So the same probably goes for T2, with using that massive rifle. I would almost think playing a home port without a peripheral is like playing DuckHunt without the LightGun. That game probably blows without it, and it becomes entertaining for 5-10 minutes with it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 11, 2016, 05:11:33 AM
Agreed.  I couldn't imagine the appeal of T2 without the actual machine gun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 11, 2016, 05:20:31 AM
Gun games are all about the input. Without the skill of manually aiming, it takes half the fun out of it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 11, 2016, 05:22:27 AM
Gun games are all about the input. Without the skill of manually aiming, it takes half the fun out of it.

We're still talking video games, right?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on February 11, 2016, 05:37:31 AM
Gun games are all about the input. Without the skill of manually aiming, it takes half the fun out of it.

We're still talking video games, right?

(https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e2f8d9aafe05239b58a8623a33af6c21a32ab7f8/c=341-0-4315-2988&r=x1443&c=1920x1440/local/-/media/2016/02/01/DetroitNews/DetroitNews/635899524852519218-GettyImages-507811096.jpg?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 11, 2016, 06:27:17 AM
Gun games are all about the input. Without the skill of manually aiming, it takes half the fun out of it.

We're still talking video games, right?

You tell me.....








( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on February 11, 2016, 06:50:10 AM
 :lol

I remember thinking how expensive that terminator game was to play.  I was already becoming an old man.

"I will not pay more than a quarter for an arcade game"!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cool Chris on February 11, 2016, 11:36:34 AM
:lol

I remember thinking how expensive that terminator game was to play.  I was already becoming an old man.

"I will not pay more than a quarter for an arcade game"!

Do these games even exist anymore? Whats the going rate on an arcade game?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 11, 2016, 11:42:30 AM
:lol

I remember thinking how expensive that terminator game was to play.  I was already becoming an old man.

"I will not pay more than a quarter for an arcade game"!

Do these games even exist anymore? Whats the going rate on an arcade game?

There is an arcade by me, it's exclusively old school games.  You pay by 15minutes, get a wrist band and play any game you want so no more quarters. 

Some places along the NJ boardwalk have arcades and newer games.  Games cost around a dollar to play.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Accelerando on February 13, 2016, 05:39:01 PM
Just catching up on your list Jingle. Love the inclusion of Assassins Creed II. For me, II and Brotherhood IS Assassin's Creed. When I think of those games, those are the two that pop into my head.

AND HOLY HELL I FORGOT ABOUT THAT DAMN TERMINATOR 2 ARCADE GAME  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lucien on February 14, 2016, 12:03:45 AM
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

This is the first and hopefully last time I ever see this face on this forum
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on February 14, 2016, 12:08:40 AM
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Fluffy Lothario on February 14, 2016, 01:17:22 AM
Haven't followed this thread, but I just scrolled through a good chunk of it and barely a single game that is one of my favourites is on anyone's list.  :lol Plenty I've thought to myself it'd be fun to play at some point though. Assassin's Creed II, Halflife I / II, The Last of Us, Portal...

I live in a time warp though. There are a handful of games from the late 90s / early 00s that are still pretty much all I play. I'm about the laziest person ever when it comes to checking out new games. I mean, I'm currently playing the first Age of Empires for the 1000th time.

 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 14, 2016, 04:53:41 AM
14. The Force Unleashed / PS3

(https://media.ign.com/games/image/object/823/823668/SWTFU_PS3.jpg)
(https://psmedia.playstation.com/is/image/psmedia/starwarsforceunleashed_sc003?$MediaCarousel_LargeImage$)
(https://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/770/770534/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-20070305081343049-000.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nys_W1iH3Sw/maxresdefault.jpg)

Wow, the promise of this game.  The cinematic trailers were something special, and the game engine that gave the physics/mechanics of The Force were amazing.  A very nice story – in which you actually start the game as Darth Vader, and pretty powerful.  In a raid on Kashyyk, Vader captures a child strong with the force, and raises/trains him as his apprentice.  Ultimately, Vader betrays him, and the game is spent hunting down Vader/Palpatine, with two different outcomes depending on your choice… either ending in death, or a Vader-like destruction at the hands of the Emperor (which had a nice expansion pack in that scenario).

This game had beautiful backdrops and landscapes, traveling to Kashyyk, Bespin, Felucia among others, and finishing up on the Death Star.  It gave you the ability to use the force in ways like never before, with massive force pushes, lightning (which can be used as a shield) – I loved lifting storm stroopers up, then hurling my lightsaber right thru their chest.  You could also put-together some badass combos.  There was dis-memberment, beheading, destruction of objects, Rancors, aerial manoeuvres, great costumes… a brilliant 3rd person game, all set to a Star Wars theme. 

:drool:

The sequel built upon all of this fantastically … except for the fact it was probably the shortest game I’ve ever played.  Eight levels (maybe 9… I can’t remember), and I finished it in a weekend.  SOOOOOOO incredibly disappointing. 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 14, 2016, 08:40:01 AM
I remember being incredibly intrigued by the trailers for this game. I liked the idea of arcade style gaming in the Star Wars universe.

And then I promptly forgot about it until seeing it on your list! It's only $20.00 on Steam...I may need to give it a go.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on February 14, 2016, 08:42:51 AM
Shadows of the Empire on N64 is the only Star Wars game I've owned or played for any real length of time. This looks and sounds like an excellent installment though. I think there were like three made for the SNES and I really wanna get to those eventually too.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lucien on February 14, 2016, 07:16:41 PM
Eh, it was okay
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lynxo on February 15, 2016, 03:04:17 AM
I got that game recently for PS3, I've been meaning to try it out.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: HarlequinForest on February 15, 2016, 04:03:01 AM
edit: whoops thought this was the main video game thread for a min.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 16, 2016, 07:36:12 AM
13. Forbidden Forest / Commodore 64

Time to alienate Rich and anyone under the age of 40 yet again.  Actually, this is probably one of the more obscure C64 games. 

(https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/f/forbidden-forest-67l/forbidden-forest_1.gif)

Not a lot to this one – you’re a an archer roaming through a forest looking for all sorts of demons and monsters to kil.  It’s a bi-directional side-scrolling game with four different difficulty levels - Innocent, Trooper, Daredevil and Crazy which determine the number and speed of the monsters.

(https://www.cvgm.net/static/media/screenshot/image/forbidden_forest_05.jpg) (https://content6.flixster.com/question/49/93/59/4993592_std.gif)

Five or six levels that included spiders (falling blobs really – it was centipede revisited), dragons, banshee/skeletons, a big-ass serpent, and the final boss “Demogorgon”.  This was one of the first games to use blood, and also had a day/night-time setting.  Death was accompanied by your enemies descending upon you to mange on your corpse.  Once you cleared a level, the archer did a dumb-ass little dance, and the jingle to go along with it is stuck in my head to this day. 

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AkWoyTBwaGs/UVnY3Z_FnEI/AAAAAAAAMEw/6gycZDbdZ78/s1600/FF10.gif)

This one required about 30 minutes – with a lot of patience necessary, as you had to hit most enemies in a certain spot - arrows would go right thru the skeletons, and the banshee had to be hit in a certain spot in the hood.  The final boss was tough, as the demon was only visible during lightning strikes – it took a lot of guessing, and usually dumb luck to hit that fucker in the spot that would kill him. 

Most games ended with this mofo coming down and gobbling you up:

(https://www.retrogamer.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/7_demogorgon_wins-616x384.png)

Gameplay for a giggle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j86veyiIcS8.  DAT MIDI MUSIC!!!!  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on February 16, 2016, 07:44:56 AM
Scrolling backgrounds, day/night cycle, multi channel music, AW SHIT YEAH.




Nope, sorry. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 16, 2016, 07:45:25 AM
Never heard of it, but it looks interesting. It's rather impressive graphically for a C64 game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 16, 2016, 08:21:01 AM
Oh man, I remember that one. Fun little game with a creepy atmosphere and for that time pretty violent.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on February 16, 2016, 09:21:44 AM
I had a f*ckton of C-64 games and I never saw this one before.  Wow.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on February 16, 2016, 11:09:01 AM
The C in C-64 stands for Canada since I've never seen it before. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on February 16, 2016, 03:36:17 PM
I've never played that but it looks fucking fun.   :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Ben_Jamin on February 16, 2016, 06:11:09 PM
When the banshee dies, it sounds creepy. Itd scare me if played that in the dark
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 17, 2016, 01:36:22 AM
Just watched the video and listened tot he music again. Ah, the memories  ;D

This game needs a serious remake and then Uwe Boll could make a cheap and terrible movie out of it.  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 18, 2016, 07:52:44 AM
12. Crysis II / PS3

(https://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/object/845/845451/crysis_2_ps3.jpg)

This is my preferred 1st person shooter franchise.  Never tried CoD (believing that it’s more geared to multi-player), and Battlefield is fun (but pretty quick).  This franchise is fan-fucking-tastic.  The first one was kinda short, so this sequel scratched me right where I itched, with a much bigger playground.  Although not exactly open world, it was another game whose main quest was plenty big on its own, with the odd hidden gem here and there to explore.

(https://images.eurogamer.net/articles//a/1/3/4/2/7/9/3/filtering_360.bmp.jpg)

In 2023, an alien infestation has taken over New York, which becomes the playground for this game.  You’re a Marine with a Nanosuit (which gives abilities such as cloaking, speed, different vision modes, and armor), tasked to destroy the Ceph (aliens) while avoiding the private military, because they think you have been infected by the alien virus – which the suit partially has been … but it’s really absorbing some alien tissue to give you additional abilities.  It’s a fairly typical shooter game, with varying weapons, targets, missions, allies, enemies etc… The short of the story line is that you have to make your way through a destroyed NYC, navigating the ‘urban jungle’ on ground, or through buildings.  The final mission is to destroy the alien spire before a nuclear bomb is dropped on Manhattan.  There’s a shit ton of death and destruction along the way – Grand Central Station in ruins, collapse of high-rise buildings, Central Park being pulled out of the ground, which gives for some pretty intense cutscenes.

(https://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/05/Crysis2_Screen5_05122010.jpg)

Crysis 3 provided some enhancements (namely stealth weaponry – a bow), but didn’t give me the same sense of expansiveness that the sophomore edition did.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on February 18, 2016, 08:03:16 AM
Yes, yes! *Ace Ventura pelvic thrust*

Now, we've hit the big time! I loved this game (even though I never finished it) and it's predecessor (which I completed multiple times). Both had their pluses but this one is better for one reason and one reason only.

Kicking cars into your enemies! That's right kids, go screaming toward the alien scum in speed mode, veer off toward a trashed car, switch to strength mode and kick that fucker into their grill. Muuuuuahahahahaha.

Seriously though, great game and the heavy armor mode was very visceral. Somehow the transferred the feeling of being heavy and tough to the screen really well.

Great choice.  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 18, 2016, 09:40:28 AM
Solid FPS game.  The second Crysis is actually the only one of the series I played.  I enjoyed one play through but never came back to it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ASacrificedSon on February 18, 2016, 10:49:46 AM
Looks pretty interesting.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on February 18, 2016, 05:39:49 PM
The Crysis games have been on my radar for a while, but as I'm not the biggest FPS fan they are perpetually on the back burner.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: wolfking on February 18, 2016, 06:03:10 PM
Don't know why I haven't followed any of this thread yet.  Don't know many of Chad's games.  I was a sega baby.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 18, 2016, 06:59:43 PM
The Crysis games have been on my radar for a while, but as I'm not the biggest FPS fan they are perpetually on the back burner.

I was like that too for the longest time.  I think Crysis 1 (I rented it) was the first FPS game I ever took a go at.  Loved it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on February 18, 2016, 09:21:58 PM
Can your PC handle it?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on February 21, 2016, 06:30:40 AM
Crysis used to be thing thing I benchmarked my new PC builds but I did enjoy them as FPS games, not my favorite but they certainly weren't bad.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: TheSilentHam on February 21, 2016, 01:06:22 PM
So late to the party, but huge overlap in gaming experience, Chad, going back to Mattel football.  I had that white model, and remember being jealous of those with the green version,  which including passing.  I just got caught up, and am basking in nostalgia.  After the C64, I have remained hidden away in the PC gaming world for decades.  I did have the WII to play with the kids, but just bought a PS4 a couple of months ago.  Looking forward to the rest!  :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on February 23, 2016, 07:39:42 AM
Sorry for the pause here folks... rough weekend, and I'm now traveling for business.  If I get a chance, I'll try to fire one off when I have some hotel room down-time.  If not, Friday we'll get back at this.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 02, 2016, 11:19:26 AM
And we're back... Thanks for waiting patiently - dog issues, work trip, and then me getting sick as shit put a crimp into this.

11. Raid on Bungeling Bay / Commodore 64

(https://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/MSX/Title/big/Raid_on_Bungeling_Bay_-_1985_-_Br%C3%B8derbund_Software.jpg)

Probably the most interesting thing about this game is – and I didn’t know this until researching for this thread - that this was the first game designed by Will Wright – who is the mastermind behind the Sims franchise, designing the very first Sim City and The Sims.

(https://americanart.si.edu/taovg/midsize/8bit_c64_raidonbunglingbay.jpg)

RoBB was a top-view 3rd person helicopter game, where you are roaming around the playing field (Bungeling Bay) searching for six factories scattered across islands (building WMDs no doubt!) and bombing them to destruction.  The helicopter had two attacked (because that’s our joysticks only had 1 button back then) – machine gun for air-to-air combat, and if you held the trigger for 2 seconds, you dropped a bomb.  Your helicopter was launched (and repaired) from a roaming aircraft carrier, where you could also reload your bombs (I think you could only hold 10 at a time, and it took 6 to destroy a factory).  There was a scale-out map available PIP to chart where you were, but finding that last factory was always a bitch. Destroying the first factory alerted the “Bungeling Empire” to your presence, and you then had to fend off escalating counterattacks by gun turrets, fighter jets, and guided missiles.  Plus, the Empire was also building a battleship that would go out and destroy your aircraft carrier, so you had to be mindful of the progress on that as well.

On the above shot, the blue "L" shaped thing is the factory you have to destroy; the 'sword' thing is the gun turret defending it, and the white-ish thing along the river is you, the helicopter.  Below is the battleship that slowly builds throughout the game.

(https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/r/raid-on-bungeling-bay-5oo/raid-on-bungeling-bay_4.gif)

Interestingly, as a pre-cursor to Sim City, Wright designed the factories would grow and develop new technologies to use against the player, and if you left them too long, you were completely overwhelmed by the enemy forces.


Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 02, 2016, 11:25:14 AM
Glad your back! Hope you and your dog are better!

Another game I haven't played but love the write up
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on March 02, 2016, 11:28:38 AM
Welcome back, Chad.

Yeah, yet another game that our experience doesn't overlap. It does sound like great fun though.

Hey, ReaperKK, you may wish to read this: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=38548.msg2111910#msg2111910
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on March 02, 2016, 12:53:54 PM
Your epic return does not disappoint, Chad.

I've never heard of it. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 02, 2016, 01:01:09 PM
Not to worry chaps... my Top 10 only has one C64 game - everything else is either pretty modern, or a complete classic everyone knows.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Randaran on March 02, 2016, 03:08:56 PM
Not to worry chaps... my Top 10 only has one C64 game - everything else is either pretty modern, or a complete classic everyone knows.

Well, at least your list will finally contain games that I've heard of, and maybe even played.  :)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 02, 2016, 04:25:59 PM
^ Most of the games I played are older than you are!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 02, 2016, 04:31:52 PM
JB, did you ever play Master of Orion?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Orion
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on March 02, 2016, 04:34:15 PM
Holy crap Chad. I haven't played that in 30 years.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 02, 2016, 04:44:01 PM
JB, did you ever play Master of Orion?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Orion

No... not ringing any bells.  Looks way to complicated.   :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 03, 2016, 01:26:31 AM
Seems like I'm again the only one to know this game.  ;D

Played it a lot back then and it was really fun but also really frustrating because I was never able to beat it. I think four factories destroyed was the most I achieved.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 03, 2016, 01:28:11 AM
JB, did you ever play Master of Orion?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Orion

Master Of Orion was a great game, I always went for total domination and total annihilation  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 03, 2016, 01:28:56 AM
I've heard of Raid on Bungeling Bay but never played it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 03, 2016, 04:57:48 AM
Seems like I'm again the only one to know this game.  ;D

Played it a lot back then and it was really fun but also really frustrating because I was never able to beat it. I think four factories destroyed was the most I achieved.

Guess this is the Jingle-Kwiji list then.

The sixth factory was always a bitch, because by then, the battleship was being built at an incredibly fast pace, the last factory itself was always hard to find, and the collective defenses by the Bungeling Empire were pretty strong.  Once that battleship sunk your aircraft carrier (the only place to get repaired), it was only a matter of time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cyclopssss on March 03, 2016, 05:11:48 AM
Anyone on here ever play 'Manhunt'? I'm asking because there's a piece on that game on Den of geek. I tried to order that game from europe back then and never was able to due to 'Too violent' bans and sh...stuff.

Did I miss anything?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 03, 2016, 06:35:50 AM
No... not ringing any bells.  Looks way to complicated.   :lol

It's basically like Civilization, but in outer space and yeah, slightly more complicated.  It actually looks a lot more complicated than it is.  A few plays through and man is it super-addicting.  I'll still sometimes bring it up and play for hours.


Master Of Orion was a great game, I always went for total domination and total annihilation  :metal

I never had a specific strategy, aside from staying ahead of everyone via tech and building fucktons of ships with all the latest upgrades.  Then I'd always reserve oneship spot for what I called a missile boat.  A medium to small ship with fast maneuverability, with all four weapon slots loaded with as many of the best missiles I could give it.  Since they'd be smaller ships, you could build a ton of them pretty quickly.  You stack several hundred of them and you can destroy bigger enemy ships fast.  Of course, once their missiles are used up, they're worthless until the next encounter, so I'd often put a beam weapon in one of the four spots instead.

I lost the election and everyone declared total war on me, if I had the edge on ships and tech, I'd just march around the galaxy bombing the living shit out of every planet I could.  Sooner or later, they'd run out of places to retreat to and as my advancing fleet continued to grow, they didn't stand a chance.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 04, 2016, 05:26:05 AM
10. NHL 93 & 94 / Sega Genesis

(https://img2.game-oldies.com/sites/default/files/titles/sega-genesis/nhlpa-hockey-93-usa-europe-v1-1.png)
(https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1094314/chambers.png)

As good Canadian citizens, if we weren’t playing Madden NFL, it was more likely that the dorm room was playing NHL.  These two games were the 2nd and 3rd iterations of the franchise from EA Sports (“It’s in the game!”).  The ’94 version was ground breaking in that it was the first game endorsed by both the NHL and the NHLPA.  These were the years where body-check’s resulted in blood being spilled (below) and players being knocked out for the game, instant replays, one-timers, slap shots, breaking the glass, player rankings, line changes – all stuff taken for granted now, but in the early 90s, it was “whoa!”.  The only horrible thing done was that fighting was removed in ’94.

(https://33.media.tumblr.com/494893763e2944cdd8140423e6ac87ed/tumblr_movxjr1zVS1sx364qo1_500.gif)

I can't begin to imagine the number of hours spent playing this when we should've been doing schoolwork.  It's amazing I made it out of 1st year University.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on March 04, 2016, 05:47:09 AM
I never played it but I did play the Nintendo hockey game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 04, 2016, 06:42:55 AM
I played a shit ton of NHL games starting on Sega Mega Drive with, I think, the '94 reincarnation, later on pc. I think I played every new NHL game during the 90s and the beginning of the 00s. I played alone through several seasons and tournaments with friends, sometimes the whole weekend long. I got blisters on my thumbs and I think at that time I knew more about canadian hockey players than about my favorite football (that's the one with the round ball) players  ;D

Classic games for sure.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Big Hath on March 04, 2016, 10:27:37 AM
Trent: I wish they still had fights in this game so I could bitch-slap Wayne.
Mike: What? They don't have fighting anymore?
Trent: Doesn't that suck?
Mike: Why'd they get rid of the fighting? It was the best part of the old version.
Sue: I think kids were hittin' each other or somethin', man.
Trent: Yeah but you know what, Mike? You can make their heads bleed in this one.
Mike: Make somebody's head bleed.
Sue: No man, we're in the playoffs.
Trent: I'm gonna make Wayne Gretzky's head bleed for super-fan #99 over here.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on March 04, 2016, 12:09:32 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 07, 2016, 10:37:02 AM
9 Dishonored / PS3
(https://media.ign.com/games/image/object/112/112931/Dishonored_US_ESRB_PS3.jpg)

I think I’ve mentioned it, but I’m not an online gamer.  I hate multi-player, because I suck at it.  As you can all tell, I grew up playing either one-on-one, or against a computer… not against a thousand real people who have way more time to game than me, where I spend more time re-spawning than actually playing a game.  So, I look for a game with a unique, innovative, creative and compelling story.  And holy mother-of-god is this one got the creative aspect nailed – out of the park.

(https://www.cheatcc.com/imagesps3/dishonored_review_2.jpg)(https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02255/1691Streets_2255786b.jpg)

It’s a steam-punk style, 1st person adventure where you are an assassin sent to accomplish various missions, but you don’t have to actually kill anyone if you don't want to.  Every choice you make and action you take has repercussions – either instantaneous, or later in the game.  You can use stealth and/or combat.  I of course, chose combat most of the time.  Really should go back and try to do it stealth mode – but fuck it was hard in the situations where I did.

Set in a fictional, plage-ridden city of Dunwal (inspired by 18th century London/Edinburgh), you start as a royal bodyguard, framed for the assassination of your Empress, and spend the rest of the game seeking revenge.  You gradually gain magical abilities, most notably “Blink” and “Dark Vision” (short distance teleportation and a sense to see enemies/danger through walls).  I was engrossed with the complexity of how and when to use your powers, implications and consequences, balancing stealth vs combat, main vs side quests… all intricately and delicately woven together into a brilliantly captivating storyline.  I will say this… the final boss battle was anti-climactic.  I don’t know if I got very lucky, or happened to used an absolutely perfect combination of weaponry and magic, but it was over within a few seconds.

No matter, fantastic game, and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel later this year.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on March 07, 2016, 11:00:46 AM
I would rank this game much higher...probably #1.

As we've discussed before, I'm a PC gamer, and for me, this is the perfect first person PC game. The precision of mouse and keyboard really makes a difference. I've probably played all the way through it at least eight times. By far, the hardest and most rewarding method was going for the Ghost (never detected) and Clean Hands achievements while still gathering all collectibles. I think it took me nearly a month to accomplish the feat and it never got boring or too frustrating (well mostly  :) ).

There are so many terrific ways to approach playing the game. Flesh and Steel, where the only power you're allowed is the first level of Blink (tough). High Chaos where you basically kill anything that moves.

I still enjoy firing up this baby once in a while and I'll go into the options and turn off all HUD cues, mission markers and cross hairs, and exact vengeance on the most hated, reprehensible villains of any video game to date. It plays just like a movie when you do.

I'm really bummed that the sequel has been pushed back to December. Although, in the end, that may be a great development.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Stadler on March 07, 2016, 02:47:03 PM
How different/similar is that to Thief?  I just finished that game and man, did I get playing value for dollar from that one.  I played it all the way through I think six times to get all the trophies and complete all the challenges, and it never once felt stale. 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on March 07, 2016, 07:49:10 PM
I was really disappointed with Dishonored, all of the so called "innovative" mechanics I felt were already on other, better games, and the story isn't really deep or creative - just a classic revenge plot with power conspiracies behind. Decisions don't have much of an influence, because you can end up with basically the same ending despite them. And at ~6 hours, too short for my taste. Oh well  :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 07, 2016, 08:06:49 PM
My brother raves about Dishonored, it seems like a very cool game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 08, 2016, 12:19:04 AM
This game is too new for me so I don't know it  ;D

But I've heard great things and will probably try it one day.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 08, 2016, 05:07:22 AM
And at ~6 hours, too short for my taste. Oh well  :P

Not sure how/what you were playing, but I put way more than 6 hours into the game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on March 08, 2016, 06:13:37 AM
How different/similar is that to Thief?  I just finished that game and man, did I get playing value for dollar from that one.  I played it all the way through I think six times to get all the trophies and complete all the challenges, and it never once felt stale.

It's quite a bit different than Thief, in that it's faster paced...or rather, it can be faster paced. They share some similarities, like picking pockets is way too easy but your character moves way more fluidly and with an upgrade in Agility more quickly. Also, the freedom to move vertically way better than thief due to blink.

I was really disappointed with Dishonored, all of the so called "innovative" mechanics I felt were already on other, better games, and the story isn't really deep or creative - just a classic revenge plot with power conspiracies behind. Decisions don't have much of an influence, because you can end up with basically the same ending despite them. And at ~6 hours, too short for my taste. Oh well  :P

Uuuuum, yea... you're doing it wrong.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Stadler on March 08, 2016, 12:34:11 PM
How different/similar is that to Thief?  I just finished that game and man, did I get playing value for dollar from that one.  I played it all the way through I think six times to get all the trophies and complete all the challenges, and it never once felt stale.

It's quite a bit different than Thief, in that it's faster paced...or rather, it can be faster paced. They share some similarities, like picking pockets is way too easy but your character moves way more fluidly and with an upgrade in Agility more quickly. Also, the freedom to move vertically way better than thief due to blink.

Seeing as how much I loved Thief (and played the PC version back in the day), would I like this you think?



As for the list, I'd throw a hat in there to give my list.   I have fully EIGHT titles on my list that haven't even been mentioned in passing, let alone in an actual list.  I'm only at "20" though; if I need 25 I might have to scrounge a little...
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on March 08, 2016, 03:18:21 PM
Stadler. It's hard to say, really. I love the game but I may be biased.

Here's a YouTube walk-through by the best stealth player (IMO) in the community. I'd suggest you watch the first mission video to see if it's something you'd like. Be warned though, this guy is very good and makes difficult maneuvers seem easy.

Mission 1: Dishonored (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsHS53Hs6Qw&index=2&list=PLBz-8qkNkY370nhILSBsZZai1stjHCabK)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on March 08, 2016, 06:25:12 PM
And at ~6 hours, too short for my taste. Oh well  :P

Not sure how/what you were playing, but I put way more than 6 hours into the game.
First time I played through the main missions, second time tried to so the "secondary" missions, but they mostly involve just looking for some random treasure or escorting someone iirc.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on March 09, 2016, 12:54:28 PM
+1 for NHL 93/94.  Those games were great.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 09, 2016, 12:56:39 PM
8. Uncharted II / PS3
(https://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/object/142/14225971/uncharted_2_ps3_esrb1.jpg)

Modern day Indiana Jones, set to a video game.  That sums it up.  As a Playstation exclusive, those not on this platform have sorely missed out.  This was one of the reasons I chose Sony over Microsoft in the first place (along with Infamous, and the PS3 being BluRay vs HD-DVD).

(https://www.craveonline.com/images/stories/upl_images/uncharted2-03.jpg)
(https://www.psu.com/media/uncharted22_08.jpg)

Pretty sure this was the game that put Naughty Dog on the map – at least with respect to the PlayStation, as it was their first PS3 game.  This one really appealed to me because at the time, I still wasn’t too comfortable with 1st person games.  So the 3rd person aspect was right up my alley. I think Uncharted was my 2nd PS3 game, and it was incredible. What Uncharted 2 did to expand on the franchise wasn’t anything extraordinarily earth shattering, but it was just bigger and bad-asser ??  Cut scenes aren’t too cumbersome or drawn out, but propel the story along nicely and appropriately. 

It’s a helluva opening scene – you start the game regaining consciousness on a train that hanging off the edge of a cliff, and you gotta move fast to survive.  Near the end, there is a level that involved fighting monsters that was tough as shit.  Man I hated that level.

The awards this one has received since its release are numerous, and it still remains for some as one of the best games of all time – and surely the best linear game ever.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on March 09, 2016, 01:21:06 PM
Pretty sure this was the game that put Naughty Dog on the map – at least with respect to the PlayStation
No way man, their Crash Bandicoot games were legendary on the PS1. And their Jax & Daxter games on PS2 were pretty well received as well I think.

Anway, never played the Uncharted games but am definitely interested.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 09, 2016, 01:32:29 PM
Pretty sure this was the game that put Naughty Dog on the map – at least with respect to the PlayStation
No way man, their Crash Bandicoot games were legendary on the PS1. And their Jax & Daxter games on PS2 were pretty well received as well I think.

Anway, never played the Uncharted games but am definitely interested.

Ok... fair enough.  I don't know jack about PS1 and PS2 era gaming.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on March 09, 2016, 01:45:20 PM
So you basically went straight from C64 to PS3.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 09, 2016, 02:13:32 PM
So you basically went straight from C64 to PS3.

With a brief stop at the arcade.  But pretty much ... yeah.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Podaar on March 09, 2016, 02:32:14 PM
I'd like to play it, but, you know...Sony. PS exclusive. The PS4 is not backward compatible. I don't like to support developers who do exclusives anyway.

Sounds great otherwise.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 09, 2016, 07:50:49 PM
Yeah if these were released on PC I'd be all over them.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 09, 2016, 09:47:34 PM
So you basically went straight from C64 to PS3.

With a brief stop at the arcade.  But pretty much ... yeah.

You've basically skipped most of my top 25 list! :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lynxo on March 10, 2016, 02:37:17 AM
Pretty sure this was the game that put Naughty Dog on the map – at least with respect to the PlayStation
No way man, their Crash Bandicoot games were legendary on the PS1. And their Jax & Daxter games on PS2 were pretty well received as well I think.

Anway, never played the Uncharted games but am definitely interested.
Exactly - Naughty Dog have been creating amazing games for a long time. :metal The only Naughty Dog game beating Uncharted 2 might be The Last of Us, but Uncharted 2 was an experience unlike anything I'd experienced at that time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Randaran on March 10, 2016, 05:20:26 AM
Uncharted 2 was great. It's definitely one of my favorite linear games. The multiplayer was also a lot of fun; its too bad that most players abandoned it for the far inferior Modern Warfare 2 shortly after U2's release.

And that reminds me, I really need to finish The Last of Us.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 13, 2016, 04:32:36 AM
7. Hardball / Commodore 64
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SO04IJ8K1Q0/hqdefault.jpg)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v718/PaulEMoz/Hardball6.jpg) (https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/h/hardball-5ar/hardball_2.gif)

Ok… topping the list of my C64 games is a baseball game, that while perhaps not my the most engaging or creative, it was without a doubt the C64 game I invested the most time in.  Before sporting games could keep track of every little statistic, or run season-long affairs, that’s exactly what I did with this game – with about 4 notebooks, and a lot of pencils and erasers.  The home-town Blue Jays were perennial playoff contenders from ’85-’93 (don’t get me started on the 1987 collapse!), so in 1991 and 1992 during my break between High School and University, I setup the blue team from this game as the Blue Jays… Alomar, Carter, Gruber, Devon White, Dave Stieb, John Olerud, Tom Henke, Jimmy Key, Al (see-ya) Leiter… man, what a team we had back then.  So, I made my roster, kept track of all the major statistics, and intended to play me a 162 game season.  I don’t recall how far I got, but I know I didn’t get a whole season in. 

What’s to say about this game?? It’s a baseball game.  Not too smart on the AI either – each batting position had pretty much the same outcome – batters 3-4-5 could all smoke lots of hits and homers; lead-off was fast as shit; bottom of the order couldn’t clear the infield.  The fast players almost always beat out an infield hit, and were rarely thrown out on a steal.  You could play a full 9 innings in about 30 minutes or so.  It got kinda repetitive after a while, and tiresome, because after like 40 games, I was 37-3 or something ridiculous like that.  Still, I put a lot of time into this game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 13, 2016, 05:03:06 AM
We had this game on the Amiga 500. I don't remember much of it though, since I'm generally not into sports games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 13, 2016, 08:06:22 AM
I remember that one as well but I didn't play it very often. Baseball was/is just not my idea of fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 14, 2016, 06:56:36 PM
6. Sonic II / Sega Genesis

(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/genesis/son2-tit.gif)
(https://www.theisozone.com/images/screens/dc-1425-11311396250.jpg)

Tails was my character of choice here.  I loved the first iteration, and then when they added Tails as a tag-team partner, me and a buddy of mine would constantly go thru this – him as Sonic, me his faithful companion.  We’d endeavor to go through each level at 100% coin collection, and the all of the rings in the half pipe bonus stages:

(https://media.insidepulse.com/zones/diehardgamefan/uploads/2009/02/sugc1.jpg)

The additional attack moves made some levels and boss battles a little easier, and Super Sonic was of course, a bad mother-fucker.  Occasionally we did split-screen competitions, but for the most part, it was team-mate action.  Large levels, nice graphics (for 1992), enhanced attack moves, and an expanded cast of opponents, enemies and bosses all made this a great continuation of the franchise. 

Jingle.daughter bought me a Sonic game for the PS3 a couple of years ago, but the nostalgia of the 2D side-scrolling style is what I remember and love about this.  The newer 3D game just didn’t click for me.  But, going back to 1992 and 1993, we played a shit load of this, a lot of it pre-drinking at our apartment before heading out to the bars.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 14, 2016, 08:15:29 PM
PHENOMENAL game. Boners me up to this very day. This is definitely the best Sonic game ever. 1 lacked the spin dash, 3 tried its ass off but the music wasn't nearly as good and it was a tad too easy, and S&K is very close but damn are some of those levels repetitively long in certain spots. Sonic CD may give this a run for its money based on what I've heard but I haven't played it yet.

I remember my brother telling me he had a surprise for me when I went to visit him at my dad's apartment in fall '93. I thought "Shit! We finally got cable!" but it turned out that he'd gotten the second model Genesis bundle with this packed in as well as Street Fighter II: Champion Edition and the original Mortal Kombat. Even though it was amazing, I was still hoping it'd been cable instead since we already had an SNES and not having cable was a real stinger in the 90s.

Regardless, it was a fucking blast of a weekend. My thumbs were painfully sore by Sunday night and we probably gamed at least 12-15 hours that weekend and at least we already knew ABACABB going in.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on March 14, 2016, 10:34:46 PM
Woo good Sonic! I go back and forth between 1 and 2 with regard to which is better. Cannot go wrong with 2!

I prefer to play without Tails if I am playing solo, as much as I like Tails as an addition and character.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 14, 2016, 10:44:53 PM
Now you're talking my language! This game has come up in other people's lists, so I'm sure I've already said plenty about this game, but it's one of my favourite platformers and games of all time.

PHENOMENAL game. Boners me up to this very day. This is definitely the best Sonic game ever. 1 lacked the spin dash, 3 tried its ass off but the music wasn't nearly as good and it was a tad too easy, and S&K is very close but damn are some of those levels repetitively long in certain spots. Sonic CD may give this a run for its money based on what I've heard but I haven't played it yet.


I basically agree with your opinion on the other games, and I hated Sonic CD with a passion. It feels like a mess of a fan game to me, with awful music (depending on which country's version you get). A lot of fans adore it though, so maybe you'll disagree with me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lynxo on March 15, 2016, 02:55:42 AM
HELL YES! It came up in my list as well.  :metal I agree with you, the very best Sonic game ever made.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on March 15, 2016, 07:07:06 AM
HELL YES! It came up in my list as well.  :metal I agree with you, the very best Sonic game ever made.

Same with me, great classic game!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on March 15, 2016, 12:39:42 PM
The memories with this one. :tup Might be my favorite Sonic game. The bright and vivid colors in the visuals, the level design, the music.

Only gripe is those damn special stages. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 15, 2016, 08:13:50 PM
Gonna try and power thru the Top 5, and be done by the end of the weekend so the next guy can go.

5. Sim City 2000 / PC
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/SimCity_2000_Coverart.png)

In the early 90s, I got a taste of Sim City on the Sega, and it was a pretty neat concept.  Fast forward a few years after I got out of University, and holy shit did this version take it up a notch.  Far more granular with the zoning/construction (for residential, commercial or industrial areas), a lot of added enhancements (prisons, schools, libraries, police/fire stations, airports, seaports, parks, mass transit etc…), more types of power plants (including wind farms) moving to a more 3D and rotating view as opposed to top-down all made the game that much more complex and engaging. 

(https://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/SimCity2k-590x330.jpg)

The biggest improvement I remember was having to take care of all the utilities – water, power, gas etc.., along with an underground mode to ensure everything beneath the city was running properly as well. 

(https://www.will-wright.com/sitepics/simcity20003.jpg)

The game also came up with a far more elaborate and intricate tax/revenue system – budgeting was critical in being able build and run a successful city.  Don’t pay close attention, and businesses will close up and leave, residents will move, and areas will become abandoned, crime ridden, or both.  Fear not though, get out a bulldozer or two, and just wipe the area out and start over.

Great tactical game – one I wish I could re-do again, and have been wondering if my current Mac could handle the load.  I also don’t exactly have the time to dedicate to it, but it sure was a helluva lot of fun.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 15, 2016, 08:18:08 PM
I played the shit out of this in the late 90's.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on March 15, 2016, 08:25:27 PM
I got addicted to it on December, and it was a blast :metal

So bad I sucked a lot and my cities didn't grow a little  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 15, 2016, 10:38:42 PM
I don't think I played much of this particular version, but every kid loved Sim City. Nice choice. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 15, 2016, 10:48:27 PM
I think this and the 2013 one are the only ones I've played properly. 2013 was okay but had plenty of problems, and I got bored with it rather quickly.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on March 16, 2016, 07:05:06 AM
I always loved the Sim City games, mostly as a kid, and even 2013 I enjoyed.... but I dont think in all of the hundreds of combined hours of playing the different versions I have ever created an awesome self sustaining city.  >:(
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 16, 2016, 07:31:34 AM
I don't think I played much of this particular version, but every kid loved Sim City. Nice choice. :tup
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on March 16, 2016, 07:56:12 PM
Awesome! The last SimCity game I played. I forgot about this game, and I long to play it at times. Friggin such an awesome upgrade to SimCity. It's like what the SNES did for their NES counterparts- took the same formula basically, and made more fantastic games while sticking true to the originals.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 18, 2016, 05:23:49 AM
4. Infamous / PS3
(https://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/object/800/800208/Infamous_PS3_ESRB.jpg)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/pt/archive/3/3c/20130205141655!Infamous_screen.jpg)
(https://gamesintrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/infamous2_5.jpg)

Like my comments for Dishonored, this game brought some very creative and innovative gameplay to the table – I loved being the weapon.  Another PS3 exclusive, the premise behind this action/adventure game where the character (Cole) has been infused with abilities to use and manipulate electricity.  You start with being able to shoot lightning like a bullet, and progressively adding skills and abilities throughout the game, you eventually gain 17 different capabilities such as lightning explosions, missiles, psychic vision, shockwaves, thrusters, lightning storms and lots of others

You can play as a good hero, or an evil vigilante - depending on who and how you help in society.  It’s largely an open world game, with three main maps (islands comprising “Empire City” – based on NYC) with a main quest, and lots of side quests – some leading you to the “good” karma path; some towards “evil” … you chose what direction you want to take Cole. 

I really enjoyed the details in the storyline, though the main arc was nothing entirely spectacular - seeking out the origin of the accident that gave Cole the electrified abilities.  Various missions help you put all the pieces together, while trying to restore Empire City to a “normal” city, or simply letting it fall further into chaos.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 18, 2016, 06:00:39 AM
More that I would definitely play if it came to PC.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 18, 2016, 08:53:59 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIGtHhAfe8w
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 19, 2016, 09:31:21 AM
3. Dragon's Lair / Arcade

(https://gameroomjunkies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dragonslair.jpg)

Very few times has there been a game that is so radically different, so much more innovative than everything else in the gaming industry/market.  This is one such game.  In 1983, all games were built on pixilation, and artists/developers were very limited in what they could render and put into a game.  As one of the first laser-disc games (and certainly the first to gain popularity), Dragon’s Lair overcame this by utilizing the vast storage available on a laser-disc to essentially create a video game that was a series of stitched together video clips.  As such, the most advanced animation techniques of the day could be used to create a video game.  You were essentially playing and controlling a cartoon show.

(https://static.trueachievements.com/customimages/005609.jpg)
(https://www.texturemonkey.com/HCG/blog/dragonsLair_(14).jpg)

Movement was simple – up/down/left/right and attack (with a sword).  You’re often given visual cues of what movement to take, and audio cues (“ding”) once you’ve made the right move.  As Dirk the Daring, your mission is to rescue Daphne from the clutches of an evil dragon.  There were about 20 different levels – scenes really – to complete, all completely random.  Some levels only needed a few moves to complete, but as you progressed in the game, many levels got progressively difficult requiring several moves (at precisely the right time) to continue – or death awaited.  There was a lot of comical aspects to the visual and audio elements of the game.  Many levels/scenes had a corresponding mirror image level, so the required movements to complete it were reversed – such trickery!

This one got a lot of my quarters – one wrong move at any level… the wrong movement, or just bad timing, or a faulty joystick, or worse yet, dick-head friends that would hit your sword button if you weren't paying attention, and you were toast - there goes a 'life'.  But it was incredibly gratifying when you finally got everything just right, and saved Daphne.  You know Dirk was gettin some tail later that night!   :lol

(https://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2956219-dragon1.jpg)

I bought the iPad port a few years ago, and it's flawlessly replicated.  Such a good time
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on March 19, 2016, 02:48:10 PM
I love Don Bluth's animation on this, but I can't say it works as an actual game IMO. I'm not one for QTM's, though I can see how much of an addictive thing this game must have been in the arcades back in the day.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cool Chris on March 19, 2016, 04:14:44 PM
But it was incredibly gratifying when you finally got everything just right, and saved Daphne. 

Yeah, that never, ever happened to me. I remember thinking how awesome this game was as a kid, and the only one I knew of was the Chuck E Cheese, which of course we only went to on special occasions. And this game always had a line of bigger kids queued up. Which was good for my quarter allotment.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: King Postwhore on March 19, 2016, 05:17:29 PM
I blew 50 cents a million times playing Dragon's Lair.  Such a fun game. It was a visual to a Zork like game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 20, 2016, 02:36:21 PM
Seems I lost people.  Well, I said I'd finish it off by the end of the weekend, so here's my top 2:

2. Arkham City / PS3
(https://media.ign.com/games/image/object/055/055050/batman_arkham_city_ps3_final1.jpg)
(https://www.gamesmelter.com/wp-content/gallery/ao/AO_1.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZBcPilafGu4/maxresdefault.jpg)

The best open world game I’ve ever played.  Period.  Such improvements from the original – which was out of this world itself.  Better combat flow, gadgets, missions, side quests, artwork, character design, detective mode and tools, music… everything about this was a step up from Asylum.

It’s made a lot of lists here already, so there’s not really a lot to add that hasn’t been said.  I didn’t completely finish it – never got thru all 440 Riddler challenges, or the challenge maps – although those were really fun to try and complete fighting as Nightwing and Robin.  Playing as Catwoman was also pretty fun, and a nice little break/diversion.  Tons of awards, 6 million units sold/shipped, and this deservedly gets a place at the top of my (and should for anyone’s) list.

Flawless game.  Absolutely flawless.

1. Street Fighter II / Arcade
(https://blog-imgs-80.fc2.com/k/a/n/kankokunohannou/20150809-02.jpg)
(https://www.fightersgeneration.com/np5/gm/sf2-s3.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r2cRXcZD3mc/maxresdefault.jpg)
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iaODt2pfvdg/hqdefault.jpg)

Where do I start with this game?  This was my go-to arcade game for quite a few years.  There was one arcade/pool hall that I frequented and spent a shit-ton of time and money on this game.  Got pretty good at it too.  There was one regular at the arcade that I got to know through this game that was one of the few that I had a hard time beating.  While Ryo and Ken were my go-to characters (and I eventually learned Guile), this fucker could play any/every character and pretty much beat anyone – even using the clowns nobody could use - Chun-Li, Zangief, Blanka or Honda.  This guy even came up with a four-hit power combo for Guile – because he had such a long leg-sweep reach.  It was impressive – jump-in-punch, side uppercut, spinning back-fist, and a leg sweep.  I don’t think any other player could do a four-hit POWER combo.

When the “Champion Edition” of the game came out, we all got a chance to play as the Grand Masters – Balrog, Vega, Sagat and Bison.  I loved the latter 3 – Balrog was fuckin useless.

This was by far the most popular game at the arcade for a long time – with lots of people crowding around the system, with plenty of challengers always willing and forthcoming – we’d even go easy on the youngins/noobs … sometimes.  Rarely did anyone have to play very long against the CPU, but that was always fun and challenging regardless.  We’d organize tournaments, with brackets and seeds, and wager some hard dollars against each other.  And of course, it spawned the famous phrases of "You Win!", and "Round 1... FIGHT!"

I never did follow the franchise past this arcade game – though I tried the PS3 versions of Marvel vs Capcom, and Injustice … I just couldn’t get into the fighting games with the PS3 controller.  Give me a joystick, and 3 kick/3 punch buttons.


Thanks everyone for following along, even though most of you will never know the joy in slipping a 5.25” floppy into a 1541 disc drive and waiting a few minutes to play a highly pixelated 8-bit game that only had 6 levels of varying difficulty, with about 4 minutes of cycling midi sounds/effects.  Thanks to Kwiji, Coz, and other fogeys for indulging me there.

(https://thumbs.newschoolers.com/index.php?src=https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh171/Rowengartner/272909002.gif&size=400x1000)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on March 20, 2016, 05:52:57 PM
Oh, the sickening grinding noises that came from my 1541.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on March 20, 2016, 05:54:36 PM
 :metal

Much time spent on SF2:Turbo on the SNES. My left thumb would hurt after awhile. I would play as a lot of the characters. My favorite from standard SF2 would probably be Ryu.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on March 20, 2016, 06:46:25 PM
Ah, classic. It's been so long since I've played it, but I think I usually chose Chun Li. I was more of a Mortal Kombat guy though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Bolsters on March 20, 2016, 09:10:48 PM
I gave Arkham City a go, but I found it to be boring, so I didn't get very far in it.

Street Fighter II is a classic and I remember playing it a bit in the day, but I was never the biggest fighting game fan, so I didn't play it much.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cool Chris on March 20, 2016, 10:34:12 PM
I can't keep track of all the Street Fighter II editions, but whichever one my friend had, we had some epic battles in his SNES in the early 90s. When I was playing as Blanka, you couldn't stop me, you could only hope to contain me.

Thank you for the enjoyable read jingle.boy!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 20, 2016, 10:55:24 PM
Street Fighter II helped me realize there were other games besides Mario. When I first got into it hardcore in summer 93, I'd played maybe 60-70 games ever. This includes everything my brother and I owned, all games we'd ever borrowed from our cousin whom had several 2600 games, and anything I'd ever so much as dropped a single quarter in at arcades. Throughout all of this, there were Mario games and others that were merely there to spell my interest during down times in between.

This game would make SF the second series I legitimately considered an urgently needed part of my gaming life. Mere weeks later, Mortal Kombat would gradually begin its effort to become my third legit series as well as Sonic (it's basically a coinflip as they both were running on virtually identical timelines in regard to how quickly they were cementing their way into my heart.)

As I'd mentioned in my post replying to the Sonic 2 discussion, my older brother's autumn 93 purchase of a Genesis with SFII:CE, MK, and Sonic 2 really helped shape my gaming interests for years to come.

Back to SF. I was actually late to the game as referenced with the summer 93 thing earlier in this post. I believe it came out in February 91 so it was well over 2 years old by then and Champion Edition and Turbo: Hyper Fighting were already in the arcade. Shit, Super SFII would already be out just a few months later. Because of having SFII's first three iterations all available to me from the very moment I became interested in it, I obviously latched onto Turbo due to it having more features to offer than the other two. Man, cheapin noobs out with repeated M. Bison Psycho Crushers was great for 12 year old me. Also, it felt like I'd hacked the game when I realized you could actually latch onto the fence with Vega when playing on his stage. I thought that woulda been one of those cheap, computer-only things like how CPU-controlled characters in Mortal Kombat's first two installments could uppercut you from a standing position without ever ducking.

In all, I still enjoy the hell out of this game to this day and I'm thrilled to see it topping your list, Chad. Great list too btw as it showed me some good older games to check out.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on March 21, 2016, 07:30:54 AM
Love the Batman games.

SF2 was probably my favorite as a kid, but those side scrolling fighting games were a lot of fun as a kid, but are games I don't play at all anymore.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ReaperKK on March 21, 2016, 07:46:22 AM
Awesome list Jingle :tup, lots of games I haven't played but it was great following along.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 22, 2016, 04:18:45 AM
Haven't played the last couple of games so I can't comment on these.

But thanks for running this list, thanks for digging up some really cool and old stuff and reminding me what fun we had back then and how old I am.  :biggrin:

PS: And the 1541 was high-tech, I started with a C64-tape, the floppy came a year later and cost as much as the C64.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on March 22, 2016, 05:00:15 AM
Haven't played the last couple of games so I can't comment on these.

But thanks for running this list, thanks for digging up some really cool and old stuff and reminding me what fun we had back then and how old I am.  :biggrin:

PS: And the 1541 was high-tech, I started with a C64-tape, the floppy came a year later and cost as much as the C64.

Oh, I remember the tape drives too - putting a cassette in, running the program, then going to make lunch while the game loaded.  Did you think that the 1541 was blazingly fast when you got it?   :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Prog Snob on March 22, 2016, 05:47:26 AM
Street Fight got a lot of play time for me. I remember after basically only playing SMB and Zelda, it was nice to try something different. I spent hours and hours against friends and the computer trying the different characters. I did prefer Mortal Kombat once I got my hands on that, though.  But I can't deny the awesomeness of SFII.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 22, 2016, 06:02:57 AM
Haven't played the last couple of games so I can't comment on these.

But thanks for running this list, thanks for digging up some really cool and old stuff and reminding me what fun we had back then and how old I am.  :biggrin:

PS: And the 1541 was high-tech, I started with a C64-tape, the floppy came a year later and cost as much as the C64.

Oh, I remember the tape drives too - putting a cassette in, running the program, then going to make lunch while the game loaded.  Did you think that the 1541 was blazingly fast when you got it?   :lol

Oh yeah, compared to the tape the 1541 was near light speed and it had the unbelievable capacity to store 664 blocks (=165kb) on one disc  :metal

Later there was a thing called Speed-Dos that really made the loading times bearable but you had to change some of the eprom in the c64 and the floppy in order to make it work.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on March 22, 2016, 06:29:17 AM
I did prefer Mortal Kombat once I got my hands on that, though.  But I can't deny the awesomeness of SFII.

I also prefered MK.  I was more into the blood and gore.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on March 30, 2016, 08:09:15 PM
Next?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: cramx3 on April 01, 2016, 09:37:44 AM
Next?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: ariich on April 01, 2016, 10:15:22 AM
Next?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: YtseBitsySpider on April 01, 2016, 11:27:25 AM
https://www.houseoftarg.com/

surely this may be....the greatest place ever.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: masterthes on April 01, 2016, 12:18:14 PM
SF 2 was probably the only fighter game I ever got decent at. All the other games were way too complicated
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on April 05, 2016, 03:47:26 PM
Sorry guys, roulette and college have taken most of my time, and although the first one is over, I'll stay away from the forum for some time, so I don't feel like being able to take care of this thread, thus any of you is invited to do so. I've updated the OP and sent PMs as a last activity here, but won't continue to do so.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 05, 2016, 04:38:31 PM
I'll run it if you're cool with that.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on April 05, 2016, 05:21:07 PM
As long as you can keep it up, sure  :smiley:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: wolfking on April 05, 2016, 10:31:15 PM
Sonic 2 and Street Fighter are two of my all time fav games, absolutely unbelievable!  Still play them both from time to time through the gens emulators.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 05, 2016, 10:33:45 PM
Sonic 2 and Street Fighter are two of my all time fav games, absolutely unbelievable!  Still play them both from time to time through the gens emulators.

I use Kega Fusion these days, but Gens was the shit back in the day. Dem startup screens!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: wolfking on April 05, 2016, 10:37:41 PM
Sonic 2 and Street Fighter are two of my all time fav games, absolutely unbelievable!  Still play them both from time to time through the gens emulators.

I use Kega Fusion these days, but Gens was the shit back in the day. Dem startup screens!

I'll have to check that one out.  Gens is just simple to use.  Haven't played in a while though, I'll check Fusion.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 05, 2016, 10:49:43 PM
Kega can player Master System / Mega Drive / 32X / MegaCD, is more accurate (especially with sound), and can record video, but Gens is still fine if you just want to play a Mega Drive game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: wolfking on April 05, 2016, 11:37:57 PM
Kega can player Master System / Mega Drive / 32X / MegaCD, is more accurate (especially with sound), and can record video, but Gens is still fine if you just want to play a Mega Drive game.

Sounds good.  My love is 95% for Mega Drive but I did start with a Master System which I have great memories of too.  I'll have to check it out.  Never got the MegaCD and I had a 32X but wasn't that big on it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 06, 2016, 12:08:08 AM
The only MegaCD game I have is Sonic CD which I hate, and no 32X games, but at least the option is there. Neither add-on really caught on, so it's not a huge loss.
I had a Master System first too (I think we're one of the only countries that cared about that console :lol), so I have lots of those games. Actually, I have every Master System game on my PC. Some of those old games still hold up well, others not so much.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Lynxo on April 06, 2016, 03:34:01 AM
My only question is - does the emulator also run 32X CD games?? :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 06, 2016, 04:03:30 AM
Why yes it does! All 6 of them, I assume. :lol Now you can finally relive the magic of Slam City with Scotty Pippen!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on April 07, 2016, 09:01:34 PM
The next two up haven't gone, so this thread is kind of dead in the water re: next up. Does anyone mind if I go? I have a good amount of mine written...
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: jingle.boy on April 07, 2016, 09:16:32 PM
Since Sacul doesn't want to / can't maintain the thread (ie, updating the titles), I'd suggest Josh start a new thread first.  Maybe a mod (Rich watches this one) can lock this?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 07, 2016, 09:30:53 PM
Word. I'm cool with running this thing and starting a new thread to simplify matters. My only hangup is losing the bond so to speak by having to prematurely close this one. If one of the mods can get ahold of XJ Denton and see if he knows of a way to let me manage the OP in this thread without having to start a new one that'd be quite swell. Otherwise, a new thread it'll be I guess.

Anyway, my weekend starts at 1pm US eastern time which is 14 hours from now so I'll plan on being productive to get this thing back in full swing tomorrow pending how readily those on the list can reply. I figure all of us end up going a day or two without checking the forum sometimes so by that reasoning it's only fair to give each participant two days to answer a PM before skipping them.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Sacul on April 07, 2016, 09:35:56 PM
Jarlaxle told me he wasn't ready yet, and let the following one start with his list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 07, 2016, 09:59:59 PM
Yeah, he sent me the same message after reading the recent posts in this thread and noticing the change. Thanks a bunch for letting me know regardless. I PMed adace and CableX to see if the former can start some time this weekend and, if not, if the latter could start early next week should the former fail to reply over the weekend.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 07, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
I just want someone to start soon so I can tell them I've never heard of their favourite games and that they all suck. :getoffmylawn:

Unless I'm up next, in which case I have heard of all of them, but they still suck. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 08, 2016, 12:27:35 AM
CableX agreed to go next but accidents are known to happen from time to time...
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Cable on April 08, 2016, 03:24:07 AM
I just want someone to start soon so I can tell them I've never heard of their favourite games and that they all suck. :getoffmylawn:

Unless I'm up next, in which case I have heard of all of them, but they still suck. :neverusethis:


Alright, here goes then. You will have *plenty* of chances to point out the SUXorage!  ;)

So I guess my title will be "Worse Than My Top25VG Music list!"
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.0

I have five *just missed the cut* games. One of these could have been easily swapped out for something in the lower range of the list. In the case of the first game mentioned, it probably should have, and could be even higher. But oh well.



Starcraft: Brood War
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/89/Brood_War_box_art_%28StarCraft%29.jpg/250px-Brood_War_box_art_%28StarCraft%29.jpg)



Battle toads
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Battletoads_Coverart.png/250px-Battletoads_Coverart.png)



Legend of Zelda II
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/Zelda_II_The_Adventure_of_Link_box.jpg/250px-Zelda_II_The_Adventure_of_Link_box.jpg)



Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Cncra2-win-cover.jpg)



Wing Commander: Prophecy
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/WC_Prophecy_cover.jpg/250px-WC_Prophecy_cover.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games List Thread! v. jingle.boy's "The Rise of the Fogey" (pg. 53)
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 08, 2016, 03:44:44 AM
StarCraft Broodwar and C&C2 are the only ones I know and played but I enjoyed them quite a bit. But both wouldn't probably make my top 25 either.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 08, 2016, 06:40:42 PM
25) Silent Hill 2
(I will be attaching links to any of my Top25 VG music posts to my Top25 VG list posts if they match, having the luxury of doing the former first).
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2102612#msg2102612



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Silent_Hill_2.jpg)




I played this game for about 30-60 minutes. That is all. On this note, I cannot really place this deserving game higher because I just didn’t play it. The atmosphere was that freaky to me, where I just said eff it.


(https://tardypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/silent-hill.png)


I am not the smartest when it comes to figuring out things, and this game has so much in it that it’s hard to come away from one cohesive interpretation. Hearing a Letsplayer describe the room where Angela was with the pistons was enough to really detail this game, and how much goes into it- creepy and disgusting it may be. Watching videos and descriptions, and reading about it has been enough for me to say this is a top game. Even though my playtime on it has been so limited.



(https://www.yetanotherreviewsite.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sh2-pyramid.jpg)



From what I gathered too, this is basically the consensus pinnacle of SH. My friends played SH1, and enjoyed it. And I was already late to the PS2 gen, so that's one of the reason why I just picked up SH2 briefly. I guess after SH3, it is mostly downhill.

So this is basically an atypical game on my list. I am basically playing it backwards- looking at interpretations, watching people play it, listening to the music out of context of the game (I bought the soundtrack). I do plan on legally playing this one day, when it comes to a device or Mac/PC I own. Although these days with Konami, I’m not holding my breath.  :sad:

***Next up, that fast Blue guy makes an appearance.***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 09, 2016, 11:37:05 AM
24) Sonic The Hedgehog
-my tune age post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2100207#msg2100207 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2100207#msg2100207)



(https://www.drinkabeerandplayagame.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sonic-The-Hedgehog.jpg)



While the Mario makes an appearance, I respect a specific quirk about Sonic much more. Most games involve killing something, or knocking something out. Sonic and Mario are no exception. Someone told me that she liked Sonic because at least he did not kill anyone really, he just set the animals free.



(https://betweenlifeandgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/sonic_the_hedgehog_freed_animals.png)



I really respect this in the day and age of highly animated violence. And I can look fondly back on games of my youth, like this one, as at least a little kinder in nature. Sonic was also probably the first game that gave me a great sense of speed. Whenever I did speed up though, I would usually fail. But the game has this sweet sensation of just moving super fast.



(https://www.dotemu.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/game_screenshot_639x293/product/screenshots/sonic_the_hedgehog_2.jpg)



As I listen to podcasts now, and various tidbits about games, people highlighted that at its core, Sonic is actually not about speed. I agree and disagree with that. I do feel that later stages, it is really hard to speed through. But not watching a AwesomeGamesDoneQuick on this, I know someone can probably beat this game full tilt all the way.

***The unplanned, disowned, non-canon child of Snake***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 09, 2016, 11:45:49 AM
:tup
I love the classic Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic games. The speed is earned, not given, and speed can reward you with shorter, alternate paths. Now they mistakenly think Sonic games are all about instantly going 1000mph all the time.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 09, 2016, 12:30:38 PM
I never played this one until getting Sonic Mega Collection on GC a few years ago. If this game had the spin dash attack it'd be perfect. Aside from that, the level design, graphics, and music are excellent and I had a true blast playing it but it did just feel a tad lacking compared to the fun I had with 2, 3, and S&K because of the spin dash's absence. Still a 9/10 game any day of the week though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbVZPu_JM6I
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 09, 2016, 12:37:20 PM
I never played this one until getting Sonic Mega Collection on GC a few years ago. If this game had the spin dash attack it'd be perfect. Aside from that, the level design, graphics, and music are excellent and I had a true blast playing it but it did just feel a tad lacking compared to the fun I had with 2, 3, and S&K because of the spin dash's absence. Still a 9/10 game any day of the week though.

Some versions of S1 have the spindash included. If you're into emulation, you could probably easily get it.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 09, 2016, 12:45:14 PM
Thanks for the heads up dude! I think once I eventually beat it regular style, this is something I'll look into.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Outcrier on April 09, 2016, 01:03:33 PM
I never played SH2, but it's one of my favorite VG OSTs ever.

Love the old Sonic games.

:tup
I love the classic Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic games. The speed is earned, not given, and speed can reward you with shorter, alternate paths. Now they mistakenly think Sonic games are all about instantly going 1000mph all the time.

Quoted for truth.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on April 09, 2016, 11:08:37 PM
Fucking Labyrinth Zone.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 11, 2016, 04:46:26 PM
23) Snake’s Revenge (Metal Gear- kind of)



(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/56932-Snake's_Revenge_(USA)-1446135513.jpg)



Sure, Hideo Kojima had no part in this game. But that is a *good* thing. Kojima is great, while at the same time creating historically placed events that never could have occurred. MG2:SS was the beginning of the far fetched crap, where SR was mostly believable. Was the real Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake all in all a better game? Yes. Especially when we talk about the added features that made stealth much more enjoyable. However, the MSX2 was a far superior spec’ed machine to what the US market had. When this was out, all I had was a NES. To me, this game was better than the original MG port on NES.



(https://lparchive.org/Metal-Gear-1-2/Update%2014/25-Snake_s_Revenge_123.png)



I actually enjoyed the side scrolling, and the story had a good twist. The music was also stellar. I played this game a lot back when, and also gave me a little scare here and there.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yLTe2a2kqH0/hqdefault.jpg)



***Tropical, Open world? FPS***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 11, 2016, 06:49:19 PM
I'm a huge fan of the Sonic series but never played/know very little of the Silent Hill series.

Next up, Far Cry 1/2/3?

Just Cause 1/2/3?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on April 12, 2016, 07:28:24 AM
I played through the first Silent Hill and quite enjoyed it.  With that, I went out and bought a used copy of SH2 and never got around to playing it.  I REALLY want to though.  There are games I'm stuck not finishing on the Playstation, so maybe one day I can revisit it and beat those and finally play SH2.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 12, 2016, 05:49:29 PM
I'm a huge fan of the Sonic series but never played/know very little of the Silent Hill series.

Next up, Far Cry 1/2/3?

Just Cause 1/2/3?


Correct!

22) Far Cry



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Far_Cry_Coverart.png)



I beat this game between the start of this thread and now. I had the game since 2003, but did not beat it. It was good enough to chart.

One of four FPS’s on my list, and to me the most unique gameplay wise.



(https://raodaozao.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/farcry-2011-10-09-09-56-05-75.jpg)



Far Cry is somewhat like an FPS game I was hoping to be created, since playing them mostly since their inception. So many were run and gun, and it got way stale after awhile. Halo was already out at this point, but I didn't play it. So the smart AI of flanking you, and retreating was new to me. The main standout of the this game was the ability to approach outdoor missions in a variety of ways. My favorite was sniping enemies from as far away as possible. The tropical setting made this truly a enjoyable thing, as scoping around for enemies in the great looking environments in 2003. I remember there was a valid debate if this game looked better than Doom3, with full tilt hardware.



(https://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/Farcrypc_022204_08_1080102977.jpg)




The story was not the best ever, but for the genre pretty good. A twist, bad voice acting, but it worked. The trigens could be creepy when they appeared, and hard to bring down at times. Those rocket ones are hard at first, but even the small ones are a pain. The ending part with the bunch of rocket guys, and snipers was a huge challenge. I needed to use a hint to hide around a door to do it.



(https://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/5/3/2/4/2/4/4.bmp.jpg/EG11/resize/600x-1/quality/80/format/jpg)



***”what a horrible night to have a curse”***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 12, 2016, 06:52:20 PM
21) Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest



(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/e/e8/Castlevania_II_-_Simon's_Quest_(gamebox).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141221051334)



This game rocks, AVGN be damned. He has kind of even said a chunk of his opinion was hyperbole. Sure, the game was cryptic, and had slow transitions from day to night. Apparently the cryptic nature was a part of the game, so we did what we did back then; asked friends, called the hint line, or in my case, we used Nintendo Power. But I do not even recall being bothered by any of this as a kid.



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Nintendopower002.jpg)
(https://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/78/59/7859a83eee2a5e79f9e6a2a2953301f1.jpg?itok=xMmkmK9d)



Despite the shared nature of the game, me and brother could never figure out why we used to get one of the colored endings, then the black and white one. It was only when I played it as an adult that I read that it was based on time. These are things that make me appreciate the game more. The game stretched maybe a bit too far with certain things. I also find it funny that the whole “Metroidvania” subgenera started at Symphony of the Night, yet this one had RPG elements.



(https://cdn.wikimg.net/strategywiki/images/0/04/Castlevania_SQ_ending_2_(normal).png)



Some great innovations here- day to night, flame whip, RPG elements, and the tunes. Really not a bad one on here, with the now iconic Bloody Tears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww) The bosses were nothing, but if you didn’t know to attack Dracula when he was appearing, he would destroy you.



(https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/castle2bad-1.gif)



***The Wii at its finest, with the guy in green***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on April 12, 2016, 07:17:54 PM
Loved. This. Game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 13, 2016, 05:32:15 AM
I love FarCry 1. I remember that I couldn't wait to try the game with my brand new video card. It was gorgeous at it's time and it was fairly tough in some areas as well.

Never played any of the Castlevania.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 13, 2016, 05:37:30 AM
Haven't played the last 3. I always hear about the Castlevania games, but have never played one for some reason.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on April 13, 2016, 07:51:13 AM
I always hear about the Castlevania games, but have never played one for some reason.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 13, 2016, 03:58:23 PM
20) The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword



(https://s1.thcdn.com/productimg/0/600/600/53/10215553-1318871353-158316.jpg)



The controversial highest placement of a Zelda game for me on my list. I thoroughly enjoyed this game. To me, it was the best realization of the Wii for one of the big three franchises. Prime 3 was cool (didn’t play the trilogy pack), but it didn’t have the motion control like SS did.

I never have held Zelda as this great “open world” franchise, or neither a great story overall. Frankly, I grow tired of the trend of open world. It seems like any game that has a piece of that, people go nuts over it. And if it doesn’t, the game stinks. I had no problem with the hub feature. I do understand home many would though.



(https://www.gengame.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/skyward-sword-best-worst-zelda-2.jpg)



The story was pretty cool too. I still think Nintendo’s timeline is bogus. When I read the Gamespot review of Twilight Princess, I think it said that game was another reimagining of Zelda. To me, that is what most Zelda games are, a retelling basically of the story.



(https://zelda.com/skywardsword/mobile/img/media/video/sword/item-menu.jpg)



I had great fun with the boss fights, getting out of my seat so I could be more precise. The second play thru was also enjoyable. What probably makes this game important for me is it was a coupling of a new way to play a game, with a known franchise. Unfortunately it looks at this time it will be all for naught though.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p6aBI-aoC8E/maxresdefault.jpg)



***"S.T.A.R.S."***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cool Chris on April 13, 2016, 04:34:44 PM
Prime 3 was cool (didn’t play the trilogy pack)...

If you enjoyed Prime 3, I highly recommend getting the trilogy. I don't know how much it is going for these days, but I think it is highly worth it.

And I agree with you about the Zelda timeline. I don't give a crap where a Zelda game fits in the timeline when I am playing it. I just want a fun gaming experience. Sadly, I found SS disappointingly lacking in enjoyment.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 13, 2016, 07:38:43 PM
I've never played it. I've never been a big Zelda guy for some reason. I did however love OoT.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 13, 2016, 10:20:30 PM
Haven't played this one yet, because we only got a Wii recently. I love the Zelda series though, so this still gets a :tup .
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Bolsters on April 13, 2016, 10:22:32 PM
I only got around to playing this and TP just last year, because I only got around to buying a Wii last year. :lol I enjoyed SS quite a bit but was very disappointed with TP.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 13, 2016, 10:23:47 PM
I only got around to playing this and TP just last year, because I only got around to buying a Wii last year. :lol I enjoyed SS quite a bit but was very disappointed with TP.

Was it the Wii version of TTP? The port seemed like a bit of an afterthought to me, but I've only played the GC version, and it's easily my second favourite behind OoT.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Bolsters on April 13, 2016, 10:25:10 PM
I only got around to playing this and TP just last year, because I only got around to buying a Wii last year. :lol I enjoyed SS quite a bit but was very disappointed with TP.

Was it the Wii version of TTP? The port seemed like a bit of an afterthought to me, but I've only played the GC version, and it's easily my second favourite behind OoT.
Yeah it was the Wii port, but that wasn't why I wasn't impressed with it. I'd have been just as disappointed with the original Gamecube game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 13, 2016, 10:31:28 PM
Fair enough. TTP doesn't seem to get much love for some reason, so that doesn't surprise me, but I thought it was great. I don't know what the general consensus on SS is by comparison, but I'm sure I'd like it too.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 13, 2016, 11:38:20 PM
Twilight Princess actually has one of the highest aggregate scores of any Zelda game iirc.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 13, 2016, 11:47:17 PM
Does it? From my casual discussions on forums, I always gathered the response was very mixed at best, so I'd be glad if that's not the case. How does SS compare?
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 14, 2016, 06:37:23 AM
I enjoyed TP, and played the Wii version. I cannot remember everything honestly though. To me, it was a spruced up OoT. Then again, SS could somewhat be considered like that also.

I feel the best Ganon(dorf) fight so far was in TP. But I honestly cannot say TP is better than OoT or LTTP.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Bolsters on April 14, 2016, 06:53:09 AM
I feel the best Ganon(dorf) fight so far was in TP.
That was one of the things I was most disappointed with. :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 14, 2016, 05:35:00 PM
19) Resident Evil 3: Nemesis [1999]



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a5/Resident_Evil_3_Cover.jpg/250px-Resident_Evil_3_Cover.jpg)



Not the best in the series, and is basically RE2.5 due to the same setting. I could have easily put 2 on the list, but I got so much more replay out of 3. The game also to me was the scariest in the series (I stopped at 4). I only officially own(ed) 3 and 4.



(https://www.theisozone.com/images/screens/playstation-56917-41406977230.jpg)



Nemesis was unpredictable when you did not drop him twice in each encounter if I remember. For example with the picture below of the text. If you go into the station instead of fight, Nemesis most likely will enter the station off camera, and then just somewhat randomly appear at some point. All of sudden you would get the door animation, and snap, there he is in your face with creepy music. The guy seriously was tough because he just kept coming, and he was quick. And of course, the jump scares were still all there. Nemesis therefore makes a lot of the game for me. The quick turn-around move was useful too in some instances with him.



(https://magixbuttons.com/sites/default/files/magazine/feature/resident-evil-franchise_3.jpg)
(https://speed-new.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/4525.jpg)
(https://misfires.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1778-re3-choices-png-610x0.jpg)



I got a lot out of the Mecenaries game once you beat the game. If you do well enough, you can grab infinite ammo items and rip thru the regular game. I think I had to do this at least 8 times. And each time was just as enjoyable, because I could lay waste to Nemesis easily. He deserved it after all the anguish he caused me!



(https://img.youtube.com/vi/iMiWPJ_nlYs/0.jpg)



***Octacon***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on April 15, 2016, 06:11:44 AM
Never played the 3rd, but loved the first two.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 16, 2016, 04:49:41 PM
18) Metal Gear Solid {1998}
music - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2095747#msg2095747



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/Metal_Gear_Solid_cover_art.png)



If no one noticed, I obviously like a bit of nostalgia. Plenty more where that came from! Anyway, due to me playing the Metal Gears released on NES, I was well aware of the franchise. I did not however know about the real Metal Gear 2. Regardless, it was a long wait until this one. I will never forget it either. I had gone to Funco Land to pick up Castlevania:Symphony of the Night. On the backside of the liner notes/book for the game was an add for MGS. I about lost my crap. I knew exactly what it meant, I had no reservations about buying this game day one.



(https://vgcollect.com/images/cart-art/7207.jpg)

So I followed this game to a tee. I bought the magazine that came with the demo disc, and played the heck out of that. The full game itself didn’t really let me down. My only real gripe for this game is what I sort of already mentioned for Snake’s Revenge. The game had a distinct time period, and there was supernatural stuff involved. I have nothing wrong with that, but my issue is your character is not supernatural. So that makes things worse for me. Either go no real supernatural, or go all the way. Then again, I guess having unlimited lives is supernatural at the core, so yeah.



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/MGS_screen_psx.jpg)
(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/7776/208886-metal_gear_solid___metal_gear_rex.jpg)


Any way, this game brought the franchise to the 3D realm in glorious fashion. I think it has aged pretty well, which a lot of the games of this era haven’t. While the radar was a bit cheap, it worked with the camera angles that may have been limited on purpose. I got a good amount of replay value from this one, wanting to replay it for the stealth camouflage and the bandana. The VR missions (including the extra disc) further extended the enjoyment for me.



(https://geekti.me/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/36813-metal-gear-solid-windows-screenshot-vr-missions-snake-protects.jpg)



The story was quite engaging too, and while it had a lot of dialogue, it was not weighed down by excessive amounts as later games in the franchise would be. It also had superb voice acting in my opinion. In this time frame, voice acting was still new. As a result, some games were quite bad and/or cheesy with voice acting (Castlevania SOTN!) MGS had no issue here, and there was not a bad voice actor if I recall.



(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/0/0d/MGS1_Codec_2..png/revision/latest?cb=20100706135006)



***A Voodoo2 GPU to run the 2nd of this FPS***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 16, 2016, 05:05:11 PM
17) Quake II {1997}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/Quake2box.jpg)



QuakeI may have been the more pivotal Quake, moving the franchise to true 3d, and set up internet play. And Q3 was a multiplayer powerhouse, that to this day is still used. Q2 was special to me. It was when my brother bought a new computer, and then I bought an upgraded 3d GPU for it (Voodoo2). It was still a rather new technology back then. The game basically was a big title in the early 3D graphics card era. As such, it also brought to us the Railgun, so well inspired from the Arnold movie Eraser.



(https://mimg.ugo.com/201001/35130/railgun-quake2.jpg)



So the is the first game without John Romero, as he was fired and busy squandering millions of dollars at this point. As much as John Carmack is the better of the two, this game probably signified the big switch in id. From this point on, the games were more about looking great, then actually being great games all in all. However, I feel this one was not really subject to that. This also was probably at the height of id’s influence mostly. Games still licensed this engine, and Unreal was still being developed. Half-Life as well, which used a modified QuakeI engine. Halo, COD and so on were still in the early thought stages too. As a result, this was as advanced as an FPS was at the time.



(https://www.quake2.com/pics/screenshots/q2061107.jpg)



The story, like other id Software stuff wasn’t remarkable. But I had fun in the single player. The game had a rocking metal/industrial soundtrack by Sonic Mayhem (I think they are called). And the game was just smooth to me, and I got so much time sunk into the multiplayer of that online. This is the last FPS that I really played a lot over a span of time, and also the one I spent the most time playing multiplayer in. Despite having a dial-up modem, I still had fun back then with it.



(https://www.quakewiki.net/archives/modcentral/3tctfpic.jpg)



***A random Wii game, a 1st party rehash of a party Mario has***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 16, 2016, 07:48:11 PM
One more today, two tomorrow so I can be on the pace I want.

16) Wii Party {2010}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3a/Wii_Party_boxart.png)



Basically this is Mario Party, but stripped down in a way. It is nothing special, but fun with a group of people. It is even more fun because it is a very casual game, that can be random. This is what made the Wii very appealing, and what I value so highly about it. I doubt what Nintendo does a lot of the time, and also have sworn off modern games mostly. Therefore, I am biased. But the Wii to me represented a welcome shift in gaming, gimmicky or not. My posts about VR reinforce this, as I am now about new gaming experiences, not having people I shoot look like a real person.



(https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/wiiparty/images/8/82/Chop_Chops.png/revision/latest?cb=20120311014439)



So the Wii, and Wii Party to a degree, offered me new ways to play games, and have fun. Some Wii games were like board games to me, in that it is about the fun with others in a sometimes random, sometimes skill setting.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8DWznRqKkao/maxresdefault.jpg)



I have a lot of time spent with this one among family and non-game people so to speak, because it was fun for everyone. The game also did not require button destroying like I heard is prevalent in Mario Party titles. The Wii MP titles were not really button mashers however.



(https://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/B003O6DZSQ.02.lg.jpg)



Regardless, the first party Nintendo polish really shines through on this game. The big hallmark to me for this game over Mario Party is the speed of the game. It was quickly to rip through menus and games, where as Mario Party 9 could take a long time.



(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/a/a/9/gfs_168414_1_4.jpg)



***The Blue bomber’s appearance, sliding in with his finest IMO***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 17, 2016, 11:01:41 AM
I'm a huge fan of MGS, I played the hell out of the game and just ordered the disk again so I can replay it this summer.

I never had a chance to play Q2, I was a big fan of Q3.

Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 17, 2016, 11:11:19 AM
Played a lot of Q2 back then. Great gameplay, great graphics but meh story. Played mostly single player because I sucked in multilayer.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 17, 2016, 12:51:17 PM
15) Mega Man 3 {1990}

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2097166#msg2097166 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2097166#msg2097166)



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Megaman3_box.jpg)



This game does nothing really the best in the franchise, at least for the first NES 6 MM games. It doesn’t have the best music (MM2), the most features (MM5 or MM6). It isn’t the hardest (MM1). The story isn’t told very well (MM4-MM6 do it better). But MM3 easily is number two in a lot of those categories. Second hardest one IMO, second best music IMO. And it has many top cuts of music- intro, all of Wily stages music, ending. Stellar boss themes.



(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/megaman/images/6/6e/Magnet_man_stage.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110824122139)



It also did the cool thing of rehashing all of the robots from MM2. And those guys were much harder in this game than MM2. I recently played through the game, and I lost a fair amount of lives on several robots and stages.



(https://static.squarespace.com/static/5227cd84e4b02515a5badc7f/522e7089e4b0ae98001e1da2/522e713ae4b0ae98001e5fff/1352568965000/MM3_DocCrash.png?format=original)



MM3 also brought to us Rush, which was basically just a central mod of two of the 3 number items from MM2. Most importantly, it brought us the slide. The unique thing about the slide is it replaces a duck feature that would be nice, but still makes it a challenge to use it due to the forward movement. So care is needed when performing it.



(https://static.squarespace.com/static/5227cd84e4b02515a5badc7f/522e7089e4b0ae98001e1da2/522e7137e4b0ae98001e5f11/1351956559000/megaman3-95.png?format=original)



The enemy robots had some unique items. Shadow star was a weakened MetalMan blade, but we had the Top Spin. Also Gemini laser, and the Search snakes all were not just a projectile.



(https://www.vizzed.com/vizzedboard/retro/user_screenshots/saves5/58496/Mega%20Man%203_Sep21%2017_29_31.png)



Thinking more about it, the balance of weapons in this game was great, and the last of the three with useful items. MM4 started the controversial MegaBuster. The thing with MM3 is that the weapons are not overpowered, and make fighting the bosses not a drop in the hat. MM2 you could rip through the game with MetalMan blades. Something like Hardman Knuckles was a weaker CrashMan bomb. The game just had this great balance overall IMO.



(https://aznbadger.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/battle.jpg)



***Comstock***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 17, 2016, 06:59:47 PM
14) Bioshock Infinite {2013}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Official_cover_art_for_Bioshock_Infinite.jpg)



Alright, here is my second to last modern AAA game, and could be one of my last ever at this rate. It also is my last modern AAA game that was on multiple platforms. So fair warning here!

I will probably repeat what has already been said. But I will try to not do too much of that, including repeating myself too much.



(https://guides.gamepressure.com/bioshockinfinite/gfx/word/191106218.jpg)



My only disappointment with this game was the gameplay mechanics. I know Bioshock/System Shock were not known for fantastic improvements in AI and gameplay. More so it seems it was about the RPG elements, and game narrative. But still, it’s 2013 for this game- I still feel like I’m playing Doom for a lot of these games. However, the battles I had were epic. The open feel of the spaces allowed me to take different approaches. So I would spend 30-60 minutes I think on some of them. This was a nice contrast to Bioshock, with the natural closed nature of Rapture. Those Handymen battles were a giant pain, and were the somewhat equivalent of Big Daddies. Although Big Daddies were more numerous, and a more creepy concept overall. The Handyman battles were more chaotic for me, and more scary.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O8uIg90kVEQ/maxresdefault.jpg)



An Eff you to the Songbird battle. At first I enjoyed it, but reading opinions about it, the battle ratcheted up the difficulty WAAYYYY too much. But the hardest battle should be the finale battles.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t2VrHERp0gQ/maxresdefault.jpg)


[Spoilers]

The story is amazing. I still do not fully understand everything about it, but that doesn’t detract from it. It is more amazing the more I think about it, or just stuff happens in my life. I generally don’t put stock into the infinite universes. But something that really hit close to home was the this Booker took this path, this one also did, but those other ones didn’t. Like life decisions we make, there is always at least one alternate path. And what does that create?






[/Spoilers]

Almost as good as the story was the environment. I know Bioshock1 gets all the praise for Rapture, as it has in this thread. And rightfully so. But I legit felt like it was the early 1900’s here. Everything was done so well. And of course there is the racial inequality at the forefront basically. But the immersive details in the game were amazing.



(https://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/sites/viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/files/Bioshock%20Raffle.jpg)



[Spoilers]


Comstock does not trump Andrew Ryan as a villain, or his overall character. His motivations were weak to me, where as Ryan was done so well and made sense. That said, Bioshock1 as I said here lost WAY too much steam IMO after Ryan. The game’s highpoint was there, and that was 66% into the game at best. Infinite’s twist went ALL THE WAY to the end. But the game kept going, and truly did end brilliantly. The peak was no doubt at the end. I loved how you were able to walk around still as the story was unfolding.




(https://adventuresinbackstory.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/bioshock-infinte-lighthouses.jpg)








[/Spoilers]


***QB Eagles, QB Bills, QB Browns, Bo Jackson***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 17, 2016, 07:16:56 PM
Tecmo represent! Also, I should play this game since I've owned the whole trilogy for months now and have yet to touch them.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cool Chris on April 17, 2016, 08:07:18 PM
***QB Browns***

(https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/322e4242cc3c6beab28925fd1d81fcfadd2c1878/c=0-26-2200-1681&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/05/08//1399606093000-USP-NFL-2014-NFL-Draft-026.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 18, 2016, 05:57:56 PM
13) Tecmo Super Bowl {1991}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/Tecmo_Super_Bowl.jpg)



(https://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/230/041/QB-Eagles-tale_display_image.jpg?1274223304)



Ah, my guy. Boy do I love playing as the PHI Eagles during a season. Randall Cunningham, er QB Eagles, I am so thankful for your 1990 year. Of course, people had many other favorites. Bo Jackson of course. But some more deeper cuts like David Fulcher, Wayne Haddix, Dennis Byrd (at wrong position due to forced 3-4 defense), Christian Okoye and so on.



(https://www.baconsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tecmo-bo-jackson.jpg)
(https://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/tsb_bojackson_stats-300x248.jpg)



I got into a debate about this on a message board before, but I know for a fact this happens. After about 6-8 games into a season, the AI gets ridiculously harder. I can drop 70-0 and 63-7 games no problem, and throw for 8 touchdowns. But then the defense gets insane, and those games are much closer. I have had to play at least complete 15 seasons of this game and counting. My only lament is I didn’t grow up with this game. Bases Loaded was my primary sports experience.



(https://thenastyboys.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/tsb.jpg?w=345&h=322)



This game also has a bit of a subculture now. Tecmo Madison is a famous yearly tournament. There are other matches here and there. I don't think I’ll ever go that far with it, although I have a winning record against people I have played. It is very fascinating playing a HUM vs HUM game, as scores are much closer, and defence is much tighter. People overall are insane skill wise who play it competitively. People even have jerseys created from players who were in the game. I cannot say I will go that far, although I do own a QB Eagles shirt as nerd/dork/loser culture seems to be in now!



(https://www.tecmomadison.com/Images/Tecmo%20X/Gallery/TecmoX%20-%20Stream%20Station%20View.jpg)
https://www.tecmomadison.com (https://www.tecmomadison.com)



To conclude, initially this game was hard for me to play coming from Tecmo Bowl, as those players are larger. But very quickly, I adjusted. And the many more options more than made up for it. I can also thank Tecmo Bowl/Super Tecmo Bowl for teaching me American Football. It was the last of the main five sports that I didn’t understand. Now it is my favorite sport.



***Ah, the movie The Wizard was a great 100 minute commercial for this game***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 18, 2016, 06:44:55 PM
Yes! More love for BioShock Infinite!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 19, 2016, 04:07:13 PM
12) Super Mario Bros. 3 {1990}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Super_Mario_Bros._3_coverart.png)



What else can be said about this game? I do not think many if at all had it in their lists? I remember Super Mario World, but not this one. I could be wrong.

A bit of nostalgia exists for me and SMB3. My brother and I received it as a gift, but we were both being punished for some reason and the game sat on top of the fridge for about a week. When we got into it finally, it was awesome.

SMB1 has a bit of a challenge for me to this day. SMB3 did and didn’t. Going through, collecting the power-ups/suits, and having 1ups decreased the skill needed. When I play it now, I will ignore some of these at times to increase the challenge of the game.



(https://071bc3d04e2671665c74-5a267f839fbe60d0845a37698418bb02.r26.cf5.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/super-mario-bros-3-screenshot-toad-house.jpg)



The game was an awesomely released full successor to SMB1. A much bigger game, expanded music, expanded abilities, and expanded bosses and secrets. I think this game really started the Mario charm so to speak. In the US, they created a TV show about it. Obviously hype was huge with a movie being basically made about it.



(https://www.superluigibros.com/images/the_wizard_smb3.jpg)



But it created that wholesome so to speak image of Mario to me. Outside of its influence, SMB1 was limited, and kind of bland at times looking back. SMB3 was vibrant and colourful.



(https://themushroomkingdom.net/images/maps/smb3_w5-hb.png)



Playing this game not too long ago, I decided the Hammer Bros. suit > Tanooki Suit. Hammer Bros suit can block fireballs, and it’s hammers can destroy many things that are not possible without it. Also, Bowser can be destroyed with hammers which was quite awesome.



(https://orig10.deviantart.net/7848/f/2008/137/a/b/hammerbros_mario_in_giant_land_by_8_bit_painter.jpg)



***The finest RPG on the NES, the 4th in a series named Quest***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on April 19, 2016, 07:46:48 PM
Bravo. Bravo! Motherfucking BRA...VO!!!

I adore this game to this day and even own 4 versions of it (NES, Allstars, NES version on Wii U virtual console, and the virtual console version of the Super Mario Advance one on Gameboy Advance.) It's a crime they've never remotely tried to make powerups as awesome as these in any Mario game since then. The concept of themed worlds was a huge part of helping this game become as iconic as it is. The music is so well done too. The athletic theme is so happy it's like an audio hug and the castle theme was the last instance of a Mario game having truly haunting castle motifs (shit, SMW's castles are mostly light colors ffs.)

Bottom line? This game is the most brilliant example of what made the NES great. Awesomely involved games you and a friend or sibling would simply melt into for hours at a time on weekend or holiday late nights while shoveling delicious junk food down your gullets.

Unquestionable top 5 all time game for me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cool Chris on April 19, 2016, 08:47:41 PM
Agreed with all of the above except for the last sentence. For my gaming history, the impact of SMW, and then SM64 had more impact. Probably because those were systems I got on board with at launch, whereas with SMB3 I had a lot of NES gaming under my belt already, and while SMB3 is certainly the pinnacle of NES gaming experience, SMW and SM64 had more of a lasting impact on me.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Bolsters on April 19, 2016, 09:49:15 PM
YES
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on April 20, 2016, 12:21:36 AM
What else can be said about this game? I do not think many if at all had it in their lists? I remember Super Mario World, but not this one. I could be wrong.

I'm sure other people have had it in their list, at least as many had SMW (because I'm on SMW's side :lol ).

Great game, best Mario on the NES, although I think I'll always prefer the original game for various reasons.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on April 20, 2016, 06:05:24 AM
What else can be said about this game? I do not think many if at all had it in their lists? I remember Super Mario World, but not this one. I could be wrong.

I'm sure other people have had it in their list, at least as many had SMW (because I'm on SMW's side :lol ).

Great game, best Mario on the NES, although I think I'll always prefer the original game for various reasons.

Was #7 on my list.  LOVED this game, my favorite of the NES, but I personally liked SM64 the best. 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 22, 2016, 04:47:15 AM
11) Dragon Warrior/Quest IV {1992}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/Dragon_Quest_IV_cover.jpg)



This game is still owned between me and my brother. It is a mildly rare game now, fetching a used price that is close to inflation. But we bought it back when it came out.

Dragon Quest is kind of a forgotten about franchise, or at least not as big as other JRPGs. Shoot, Nintendo Power gave away the first game for free. I am pretty sure that is how we got into the franchise. This game series however in Japan is mammoth.

So in DQ4, you get another party of four eventually. No change in the battle screen. The story was pretty solid for DQ, and in my opinion probably the best of the NES RPGs. You have five chapters, and do not unify as a party with the Hero until the 5th chapter. As such, we learn about the other characters of your party in the chapters. This is quite unique, and also a big deal back then.


(https://www.lordyuanshu.com/images/DWIV/Mara%20Nara%20Chapter/DWIVMaranaradance.png)
(https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dragonquest/dq4-30.png)



The battle system was tweaked in the 5th chapter, in that you could not directly control your party’s action. Rather, you gave them a command of the style or theme to follow for their actions. So that added a twist, for better or for worse. This was apparently changed in the remakes, but I cannot verify as I have not gotten far in the iOS version yet.



(https://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/6/1/1/gfs_29016_3_5.jpg)



Overall, it was just a fleshed out, full game.



***The King of speed-run games. Kill the animals after Mother Brain!***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 22, 2016, 04:48:33 AM
10) Super Metroid {1994}

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2102142#msg2102142 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2102142#msg2102142)


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/Smetroidbox.jpg)



My biggest regret with this game is I did not play in when it was released. I had a SNES, was aware of the game, but just did not go after it.



(https://obsoletegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Super-Metroid-Super-Nintendo-Gameplay-Screenshot-1.jpg)



So as a fan of Super Castlevania IV, and playing Link to the Past, this game was a perfect combination of the two when I finally played it. Again, not fully understanding this Metroidvania concept, the game already had these elements.



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Super_Metroid_Grapple_Beam.png)



This game is probably close to being perfect as a game can be. Even though the speed runners have optimized the game, it not really has been a result of glitching. More so, just raw skill. This game seems to have basically been the one that started the Speedrun subculture.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lmfV8IhsHq0/maxresdefault.jpg)



So game wise, the things established in Metroid are here. Suit upgrades being needed to basically advance. Multiple areas, with unique appearances are fauna to them. Ridley and Kraid return, along with Mother Brain. It tells the story established in Metroid and Metroid II well. Also, it had the very welcome feature of a map, but was still limited in that it didn’t show all secrets. It had a wonderful menu, in that you could switch options for Samus’ beams. It continued the process of saving from of Metroid II.



(https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/2627/575576-metroid_map1.jpg)



It just is a solid game, top to bottom. And a top game IMO of the platforming genre.



***The Jaquio***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on April 22, 2016, 05:52:57 AM
Nice update :tup

I've never played or heard of Dragon Warrior and I've never played Super Metroid.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cool Chris on April 22, 2016, 03:32:14 PM
My biggest regret with this game is I did not play in when it was released. I had a SNES, was aware of the game, but just did not go after it.

Same here. I didn't have Metroid when I had my NES, though I recall playing it at friends' houses. And didn't have SM when I had my SNES, and don't recall ever playing it, until a couple years ago. And as I never had any handhelds, my first real Metroid experience was Prime, of all things. Not that anyone cares... but great game, along with ALttP, a generation-defining game, and one that will be played and appreciated for many years.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 22, 2016, 07:18:00 PM
9) Ninja Gaiden {1989}

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2104436#msg2104436 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2104436#msg2104436)


(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/Ninja_Gaiden_%28NES%29.jpg)



This game sucks.This was my Holy Grail of challenges, which I finally met as an adult. I do feel like I cheated the game though; I practiced the final three bosses on an emulator. I reckon back in the day, I would have videotaped myself if I was able to think like an adult back then. The only games that really exceed this in difficulty are its sequels IMO.



(https://199.101.98.242/media/images/56434-Ninja_Gaiden_(USA)-2.jpg)



Despite the increasing difficulty throughout the game, to an absolute killer at the end, the ride up to that point is wonderful. The cinematic cutscenes are unique to the world of games at that point. Whether you like the story of not, it is executed brilliantly. Which was also a rarity back in this day- only RPGs could claim that. I feel the translation was perfect too, as I do not recall glaring issues. There are twists, and it all makes sense.



(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WygCwrYk7_w/TnfUGa8ErqI/AAAAAAAAJFU/aTCdSGS8jH4/s1600/Ninja_Gaiden_%2528NES%2529_03.png)


(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-zMEHJb0WTQ/hqdefault.jpg)



A recap of the music post- it is quite possibly one of the most missed parts of this game. It is wonderful from start to finish, and at times fits the moods of the stage/scenes perfectly. To me, there is not a bad track.

And of course, another disgusting speed run feat. I think in one of these marathons, someone did like a hitless run, and something else crazy too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrODauyuMgY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrODauyuMgY)



***Terrible voice acting be darned for the first time in the series. Let’s play Blitzball!***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 22, 2016, 07:19:29 PM
My biggest regret with this game is I did not play in when it was released. I had a SNES, was aware of the game, but just did not go after it.

Same here. I didn't have Metroid when I had my NES, though I recall playing it at friends' houses. And didn't have SM when I had my SNES, and don't recall ever playing it, until a couple years ago. And as I never had any handhelds, my first real Metroid experience was Prime, of all things. Not that anyone cares... but great game, along with ALttP, a generation-defining game, and one that will be played and appreciated for many years.


Prime recently I have seen got a little criticism due to story line up issues or something. But that game is considered top notch, and if not #1 for many, it is #2 Metroid for many. I have only played Prime3, but I for sure loved the heck out of the solid transition of the game into mostly FPS.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 26, 2016, 08:25:37 PM
8) Final Fantasy X {2001}



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Ffxboxart.jpg)



(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/f/f8/FFX_Poison_Status.png/revision/latest?cb=20100124221714)



Alrighty. To start, this is the first of only two (I think) games to make me emotional to the point of tears. So I will be darned if the voice acting was atrocious (it was), the music is a real odd mixed bag (it is), and one of the villains are not too solid (it is not). I could do without the Sphere Grid system I think it was called. I really would like more than three people in my party too.



(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/3/38/Q-boost-sg-mini.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090810202731)



The emotions and search for answers really set this apart for me. This is the first Final Fantasy that had it for me. Maybe blame it on translations, or me being not in touch with the theme and characters of the game. As much as I disliked my FF8 experience overall, I have to say Squall might be one of the most complex characters. In this game, I felt something for all of the characters, and they really stood out from each other. They each had distinct personalties, something that was there in the other games. But this one was fully realized. I do admit that a lot of the medium (PS2) aided this probably, where the PS1 games were limited.



TINY SPOILER!







(https://cdn.idigitaltimes.com/sites/idigitaltimes.com/files/styles/large/public/2015/05/13/feels-aka-tidus-and-yuna-final-fantasy-x.jpg)







[/TINY SPOILER!]

I actually do not mind the voice acting, and think there is far worse out there. Tidus exudes enthusiasm. So as annoying as people have rightfully called him, he fits the mission of the game, and being a unique character amongst the others.



(https://legendsoflocalization.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/final-fantasy-x-tidus-macarena-1280x720.jpg)



Blitzball in my opinion is by far the best FF mini game out of the FF’s I have played (1,4,6-10) all the way through. It had a little bit of luck, but mostly it was skill based and level/stats. This is stark contrast to the FF8, and whatever the other ones had. I only remember FF8’s Triple Triad because I wasted many hours reseting the system to win cards I wanted, due to the luck factor. Blitzball was fun, like an actual sport, and would be a very good mobile game or something on its own.



(https://dazcooke.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/blitzball.jpg)



So to me, this game isn’t the best in the series at anything outside of Blitzball IMO. But it is a sum of the parts, and the fact that it resonated with me really well is why I adore this game over other franchise darlings (6 and 7).



***For Artanis***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 28, 2016, 09:14:31 PM
What the crap, I wrote a lot on this one.





(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/StarCraft_II_-_Box_Art.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b8/SC2_Heart_of_the_Swarm_cover.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/77/StarCraft_II_-_Legacy_of_the_Void_cover.jpg)



7) Starcraft II: Wings Of Liberty (WoL), Heart of the Swarm (HotS), and why not- Legacy Of The Void! (LotV) {2010,2013,2015}



Re-packaged Starcraft I it may be, this game did not disappoint for me. Starcraft1 very easily could actually be on this list, or at this ranking. It could be above SC2. I placed A LOT of mileage on SC1, both with the campaigns, and CO-OP Multiplayer with my brother. It is a revolutionary game, in that it took the RTS genre to new heights. I could debate that the game was even more important than World Of Warcraft, and very well could be the most popular global multi-player game of all time. Look no further than Korea, and that is what is shaping my opinion. So what did SC1 also do? The MOBA genre is huge apparently now, and is a successor of what Blizzard did with SC1, and by extension WOW in my view.



(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KIVlm49n--/18j2vapwkzlaajpg.jpg)



So then SC2. SC2 was like the bigger, badder in a good way sequel. Although this is debated, it keeps that insane balance between the three races. What works for one race strategy wise might not work for the other race. One race requires extreme attention to detail and rewards speed. Yet one race is really no better than the other all in all, although we all have our preferences (Protoss!). To me, SC1 and SC2 is like Terminator and Terminator 2. Apparently people love Terminator, and it did some cool stuff. Terminator 2 was the fully realized, fully spruced up awesome sequel that just nailed it on all fronts. While maintaining the same formula and feel.

Sc2 had a solid influence from more modern games. I will admit, I have not gotten thru the campaign on LotV yet. HotS was a little spotty, but overall the RPG like elements were an awesome addition for all the games. The ability to take different paths of upgrades based on your style is nice. Also, the achievement system kept me coming back for hours and hours. From what I understand, that is no doubt a Call Of Duty influence.



(https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/content_folder_media/af/AF00RKZTQWG51415236782584.jpg)



(https://www.goldfries.com/images/gamereviews/2010/starcraft2/stats.jpg)



The campaign missions were a step up too. Stuff like the lava mission in WoL was awesome, and others of the sort. They clearly took their time with level design, and not just on the features and terrain of the map.



(https://portforward.com/games/walkthroughs/Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Liberty/Starcraft-2-Wings-of-Liberty-small-37.jpg)



The voice acting was good as well. The actors, the best they could, added emotion to a rather flat story. That isn't a knock on the story, just that one race are giant insects, and another are mouth-less monks that are not far off the Jedi to me. The story isn’t a world beater, but it hits hard at times.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XYfqLqDnHRg/hqdefault.jpg)



Even the mini-game Lost Viking is not bad. I sunk a lot of time in that when going for achievements, and I came out thinking it was not total time wasted. At first I did not really care for it though.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fWCfYge5-zc/maxresdefault.jpg)



Shoot, the “expansion” packs were done well. Rather than DLC all within a few months, they spaced them out to give each one time. And they are more like half a game or more, rather than some extra missions or something. If any is the weakest link at this point IMO, it’s HotS. That one took the longest of the two. Then again, Zerg is my weakest race, so I’m biased!

And so the multiplayer- awesome to me. SC2 will probably go down as the game that messed too much with the formulas of races. For me, it’s a moot point because I don’t do Player vs Player really at all. But I understand why though. The battle.net overhaul for this game made things easier IMO. It has a ladder system, with again criticism angle people think is terrible or something. It matches based on skill as well. So this is modern day stuff, but the leap from SC1 to this was done superbly. LotV has some awesome multi-player additions. They added more probes/SCVs/drones to start. They also did these cool level up multiplayer missions in scenarios. My one gripe is I wish they would have expanded that. They also have Archon mode (I think it’s called), which allows you to have two players controlling one shared race.



(https://www.blizzardguides.com/starcraft2/images/tvz.jpg)



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m6IVNqXIEAE/maxresdefault.jpg)



So all in all, this game brings it hard. It is the sequel that SC1 deserved, and fired on nearly all levels without any issue. The shame about this is that SC2 very well will be the last one probably. The RTS has shifted to MMORPGs and MOBAs. That’s not a bad thing. I just have a huge place for Starcraft. I have always loved the SciFi theme, vs. my Warcraft days.



***Grab the double-barrel shotgun for one shot kills***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on April 28, 2016, 09:38:44 PM
6) Doom II {1994}
Mostly related tune post - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2095076#msg2095076 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2095076#msg2095076)



(https://img.gamefaqs.net/box/0/6/4/3064_front.jpg)




So probably the only FPS I was decent at. Once aiming was added in Quake1, I lost it! This is the last FPS on my list, so if those are your bag only you will not like my remaining list. We enter the top 5 after this, and the head-stretching will commence!

Doom1 is easily the more influential game, and overall better in most ways. All Doom2 was is repacking of Doom1, with no aesthetic updates really. Some of this will be kind of including Doom1 in my rating and discussion.

Doom was awesome, period. I played Wolfenstein 3d, even bought the 3.5 disks via mail. Doom was just so much better and cool. It brought in the masses, and changed gaming forever. It also was the start of the huge developer in a way, with Carmack and Romero being propelled into the limelight. Carmack has always been an interesting one. Despite indulging a bit as a he should, he has always been focused on bettering things. This came at the determinant IMO once Romero got lazy and he “resigned.” The games have been garbage gameplay wise since post Quake basically, looking at the overall scope. As much fun as I had with Doom3, it was basically a nicer looking Doom1. Scarier though no doubt.



So the main reason why I picked Doom2 was the double-barrel shotgun.



(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/DOOM2_ingame_1.png)



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cZotY_F8UlU/hqdefault.jpg)



That thing changed multiplayer for me. Single player, the normal Shotgun was the horse you rode. Outside of the Cyberdemon and Spider Mastermind, I would take down everything else at times with the shotgun. The double barrel upped the anti. It made diversified multiplayer in that it was wholly unique item. Generally, it was rocket launchers and plasma rifle. Sometimes the BFG if you had time, but generally it took too long to fire. The normal shotgun was worthless. So the double added in one shot kills at close range. So for example, someone lights up a BFG, rush them quickly if you can with a double barrel at point blank and they are done.



(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/doom/images/c/c2/BFG_Doom_II.png/revision/latest?cb=20120628155648&path-prefix=it)



The WAD scene was awesome too. I played people not only via LAN, but dial-up modem. Frequently, we all played the DWANGO mods, which were amazing for multiplayer.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tpajTaDPlUI/hqdefault.jpg)



(https://images.wad-archive.com/screenshots/333ca955620fd1678619e62976fb96bb/MAP08.jpg)



***Fight the mind-controlling Zemus***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on April 29, 2016, 08:28:39 AM
 :tup :tup to Doom and Starcraft

My only problem with Starcraft is myself, I am so bad that I can never play multiplayer because I just get my ass handed to me.  Been awhile since I even played for fun though.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 29, 2016, 08:51:14 AM
Doom is a classic but I played Duke Nukem 3D much more.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Outcrier on April 29, 2016, 09:25:04 AM
I like Doom, especially Doom 3.

The fourth one is finally coming this next month. I hope it brings back the series in great style.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 01, 2016, 06:44:33 PM
(https://www.droid-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ff4.jpg)
(https://fantasyanime.com/finalfantasy/ff4/ff2boxfront.jpg)



5) Final Fantasy IV {1991}

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2105626#msg2105626 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2105626#msg2105626)



A nostalgic pick, but an important game still. From a series perspective, this game brought about the Active Time Battle (ATB) system. I guess this was a big deal, and something overall that has been used since. Unfortunately when I played the game on iOS, I had to turn it off because the controls were not fast enough for me.



(https://tcrf.net/images/b/b3/FF4-ConfigPSX.png)



To me, this game has a classic kind of RPG story. To me, that is about swords and magic, royalty and knights and all. This game starts with you, Cecil (canon), as a Dark Knight for what turns out to be a corrupt kingdom. The big part of the theme of this game is redemption for more than one character, mainly you. So that is the big draw of what brings me back to this game.



(https://lparchive.org/Final-Fantasy-IV-Advance-and-DS/Update%2001/10-image010.png)


Also, FF became certainly more Steampunk at FF6 and beyond. To me, having magic and for sure swords is kind of lame when I can just shoot someone. My brother correctly citied this movie’s scene when also aptly making fun of FF7 and FF8 for guns with swords;



(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9d/d2/86/9dd286627d2447fafe443e71eb336833.jpg)



So sure FF6, FF7 and FF8 have some much better components. But the theme of those games has always bugged me. Yes, FF4 clearly has technological portions. But they are a little more believable, especially considering the most advanced tech is made by a different race.



(https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/starships/images/6/6d/Lunarwhale_ffiv.png/revision/latest?cb=20130911191631)



This game reinforced my love of four people in my party, with this game having five. It also had fixed character classes, which I wish more RPGs would do. Not everyone should be able to use magic IMO, which will always be my knock on FF6 and beyond. This concept is one of the only reasons I like FF9, because it had fixed roles. Having a physical attacker also be the best mage ever is just kind of lame.



(https://socksmakepeoplesexy.net/images/ff4/stats.png)



Overall, the challenge is pretty solid. The original FF2 for US used EasyType, which was mostly a joke. I have played a translated ROM, which was quite challenging. The remakes fall somewhere between the original hard eversion, and EasyType. I believe the iOS port of the DS version has a difficulty selection, but I could be wrong.



(https://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ffivadvance_2.jpg)



***Found a giant green frog, but my frog is actually red. Use the grenade + pause trick!***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 02, 2016, 07:04:53 PM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Blaster_Master_boxart.jpg)



4) Blaster Master {1988}

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2101080#msg2101080 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2101080#msg2101080)



So after the fact, this game apparently is highly held as an open world game, since that is all the rage these days. I do not fully understand that, as you have to beat the stages in order to advance in order. To me, it is more of a hub game. Stage 1 has access to Stages 2 & 4, and then you access the other worlds from those. There were no known glitches back in the day that I knew of to sequence break.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UFqdxyYg1lY/hqdefault.jpg)



Onto the gameplay. One of the great parts of this game is the multiple game play styles. You spend the majority of the time 2D in a tank that can jump. It adds abilities such as hovering and wall climbing as you go. You can also jump out of the tank and fire, but you take more damage, and call die from falling. It is required to get out of your tank to enter the different mode in dungeons so to speak, but that is all it is needed for. Sans one place in World4. When entering dungeons, your character Jason is viewed as larger in an overhead perspective. In this mode, you have access to grenades, and an upgradable gun.



(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vg2SEZfWIz4/S2D4IGhE9YI/AAAAAAAAB3A/8v9Y_N65UCs/s400/BLASTER_MASTER_455.png)



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3neY-yMezpo/maxresdefault.jpg)



This game was made much easier with the grenade + pause trick on bosses from stage 2,4,6 & 7. I fought the stage 6 boss without it, and was consistently rocked. I barely beat him on my last batch of lives. This game appears on hardest game lists. It was never extremely hard for me. But I knew where to go, and had the grenade trick. Without these things, I would be more inclined to agree.



(https://s1.dmcdn.net/MkSa/x240-lbT.jpg)



A solid game from top to bottom. Solid gameplay, solid challenge, and great music.



***The pinnacle of FMV games, Mark Hamill does well***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Big Hath on May 02, 2016, 09:52:32 PM
hooray for Blaster Master!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on May 03, 2016, 11:29:26 AM
Blaster Master was one of my favorites, but I never got to beat it without the help of Game Genie. Got very far into Level 8 multiple times without it, but was never able to beat the final boss.

My brother actually made up the best Game Genie code for this game. KKPSTV will kill all enemies and bosses in one hit. You do tend to take a bit more damage from running into enemies (which also kills them), but it's not so bad. Anyone who wants to run through this game on a much easier mode should try that code out. Lots of fun.

I would also recommend the Blaster Master Overdrive game that came out for WiiWare some time ago. Pretty much an updated version of the first game. All the music is there, but updated. Most of the weapons and power-ups are back, but it gives you a map (Metroidvania-style) and a fewmore options as far as Jason's gun goes. It's a bit easier as I was actually able to beat it, but the challenge was still there.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 03, 2016, 05:52:58 PM
(https://www.wcnews.com/background/images/wc4sleevehigh.jpg)



3) Wing Commander IV {1996}



Paging MrBoom_shack-a-lack, he may be the only other person here who played this! Historically speaking, I feel this game was after the peak of Full-Motion Video games. They had a quick buildup, with the 7th Guest and Myst leading the way. Wing Commander 3 (WC) cemented the medium. So WC4 expanded upon it. A king’s ransom went into production costs, and creator Chris Roberts is doing  that now with Star Citizen as well.



(https://cdn.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/wc4lexington.jpg)



The story is that you are Mark Hamill as Christopher Blair, who is retired but called back to action. Other co-stars are Tom Wilson (Maniac) and Malcolm McDowell (Tolwyn). I will not really give anymore for those that don’t want to be spoiled. The game has an awesome twist. This is really the first game that struck up emotions for me, and the ending was brilliantly done. Also for the story, you often have two paths to chose in conversations, which slightly modify the ending. They have a great impact on the missions you do. These were a feature in the predecessor WC3 as well.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L0esB6iZhZQ/maxresdefault.jpg)



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/53PfhN9KvWA/hqdefault.jpg)



The only downfall of this game is the dated combat look. Quake2 came out the following year, and I think 3D graphics GPUs were slowly being adopted after this game. One negative review I read somewhere in preparation of this basically criticized the game based on that it had seemed. WC:Prophecy would address this issue in flying colors IMO- that game looked and felt awesome.



(https://images-4.gog.com/534b232ff88571b5eca50a751da2f7a6234142bf7bdbdc7cbe9b012b9158f70b_product_card_screenshot_600.jpg)



(https://www.pixsoriginadventures.co.uk/blogimages/wc4_264.png)



To me, the actual combat was no better or worse than WC3. The ships were better I feel, and the armament was quite cool. Using a mini-gun type cannon was fun. Also, getting the Dragon ship near end was so cool. The features that thing had made the game even more enjoyable.



(https://static.wcnews.com/wcpedia/images/thumb/Dragon01.jpg/250px-Dragon01.jpg)



The missions were a step up too. Some a little strange (launching marines in a missile), but also interesting at the same time. There were a lot of missions with new touches beyond just a dogfight and escort type missions.



***So here is that overrated, overhyped, crappy indie game***
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on May 03, 2016, 07:43:22 PM
The Wing Commander series is so underrated in video game history.  Mad props for the high ranking.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 03, 2016, 11:07:38 PM
Never heard of it, but I give it points just for having Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on May 04, 2016, 06:56:47 AM
I played WC1 for SNES. Fun game, but never played another one.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Dr. DTVT on May 04, 2016, 07:23:33 AM
I played WC1 for SNES. Fun game, but never played another one.

I'm not sure how that would have worked out, the game really needed PC computing power back in the day.  WC3 & WC4 were also several steps up from the early games.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 05, 2016, 06:47:03 PM
.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Sacul on May 05, 2016, 07:52:45 PM
Done, but wouldn't it be easier to make a new thread and archive this one? Just saying :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 05, 2016, 08:33:18 PM
Yeah. I'll probably do that when CableX finishes. Thanks for your promptness too.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 06, 2016, 07:14:41 PM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Undertale_logo.jpg)



2) Untertale {2015}



-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2103735#msg2103735 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2103735#msg2103735)





[TINY SPOILERS POTENTIALLY, but I didn't tip off any specific characters and plot.I tried to be spoiler free.]





This game defies words for me at times. For those that don’t know, it is an independent game, mostly done by one guy (Toby Fox). It is an RPG, with some heavy throwback elements, most obviously the graphics and most of the music. This game is also heavily inspired apparently by Mother2/EarthBound. Genowyn is the only person I saw with EB on his list. I personally have never played Earthbound, but some of the humor and eccentric-ness of that inspired this, and that is clear.



(https://1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Undertale3.png)



(https://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1406/14063904/2968500-image02.jpg)



This really is also my first independent played game, per recommendation from my friend. The game is bookended by this unexpected tension, and almost shock at times. It also has a stellar foundation of choices built into it, and it remembers little tiny tidbits of things you did.



(https://i.onionstatic.com/avclub/5629/03/16x9/960.jpg)



So why does this rate so high? It truly made me think about myself, and how I do things and what I think and feel. It has provided *determination* for me. It reinforced my beliefs about the balancing forces of people and the balance of things overall. Therefore, I think a game that has done that much for me, it is worth placing this high up this soon. This very well could be number one eventually. But it could shift to #3 as it stands now.



(https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000132223140-87xp54-t500x500.jpg)



The game is a sort of commentary on various things. Most notably, it comments on the nature of RPG’s as whole. While not giving away the one large thing, it pokes fun at selling your wares at town stores. In basically all RPGs, this is an option.



(https://lparchive.org/Undertale/Update%2017/7-1303.png)



That is not to say it is perfect. There is some drag in the game, I would say about a middle way in, lasting past 2/3’s in. I REALLY dislike one of the secondary characters a whole lot. And not every song is a home-run. Also, one other thing about a character bugs me, but it is buried so it really doesn’t matter.



Music reprise, Smooth McGroove has been nailing the songs. SPOILER THOUGH, don’t actually watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8543q-vR0D8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8543q-vR0D8)

(https://www.gizorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SS12.png)



The battle system is worth commenting on as well. It is atypical to most RPGs IMO, in that is combines bullet-hell movement in commands. To me, most traditional RPGs don’t have action game elements.

All being said, people will still not play it due to hype. One person I know dismissed the game based on a portion of Letsplay. I cannot blame him, but that is also missing the point. I guess that it is fine. The game is brilliant, but it is not for everyone due to presentation maybe. But the fact that so much emotion IMO is packed into the game, all without voice acting, it a pretty remarkable thing. Further, that one guy basically did the whole thing. Fox exceeded basically any game I have played in emotional resonance. Even if he didn’t for other people, the fact that one guy did this much is commendable. All the games I mentioned had bigger teams, and nowhere near the feel IMO.



(https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/undertale/images/8/8e/TobyFox.png/revision/latest?cb=20160109084419&path-prefix=fr)



And to conclude my anti-climatic top two…
  ***Who wins, the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za or Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah*** 
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Crow on May 06, 2016, 10:42:33 PM
undertale is pretty great but i'm really tired of hearing about it at this point  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 07, 2016, 08:31:14 PM
undertale is pretty great but i'm really tired of hearing about it at this point  :lol


I'm not  ;), but I get that. It was highly over saturated for at its core, a pretty basic game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 07, 2016, 08:55:19 PM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c3/Star_Control_II_cover.jpg)



  1) Star Control II {1992} 

-Music post- https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2099418#msg2099418 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45829.msg2099418#msg2099418)   




So again, this game is mostly playable right now, if you want to play it. https://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php (https://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php) When I tried to play it about month ago, the Mac link would no longer work on OS X 10.11, although the HD version did. Not sure about the PC version.

Why this game? Undertale will overtake this one soon. But for now, SC2 has my respect for longevity. While doing this list, I had to think why I liked SC2 so much outside of the gameplay, and nostalgia. It then hit me about this game. It is all about diplomacy. To me, at the time this game was created, that was kind of a unique concept. I’m sure it existed in a game somewhere. But certainly console games were all about jumping on things, or killing things. I hadn’t played PC games in 1992, so I cannot comment there.



(https://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/images/blog/224609/sc2-blog-cnv.png)



SC2 mixed in its diplomacy with exploration, lots of it. If you didn’t cheat with hints on what to do, the game could be quite hard. It was packed in with a giant map of the star system. I remember my brother’s friend making copies of of the map for this friends. The game has an solid in-game map shown below, which is spoiler free. A little feature such as auto-pilot to two points is useful, especially before Quasi-Space. A great amount of time can be spent flying between two distant points.



(https://www.star-control.com/sc2/images/sc2_starmap.png)



So there is not just going to star system after star system. There is also the act of exploring the plants within the star systems. Sometimes there can be eight, some including moons.



(https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/newsc-system.png)



The actual planet exploration involves utilizing a lander. The exploration does not have much to it, as a huge chunk of the time you will be grabbing minerals. Often also, there are environment hazards to dodge, such as fire, lightening and earthquakes. There is a way to help protect from these, which I will get to. The more limited portion of plant exploration is you will pick up an item of importance on the surface, or explore some buildings via a text box. The minerals drive your economy for early game, and can for the whole game if you chose to. Generally I move onto destroying enemy ships when my flagship is powerful enough.



(https://www.star-control.com/sc2/images/sc2_lander.png)



Also when you visit planets, you are trying to find the home plant of the other races. When you do, you will basically get attacked. But the majority of races will eventually be able to be won over to your side. You can also refuse to be allies, and attack or upset the other races. I do have never tried to be non-diplomatic, and there are some races you need to be friendly with to complete the game. A big chunk of this game is conversing with the other races. Some of it can drag on, but mostly it is entertaining. Paul Reiche and Fred Ford III (Toys For Bob, TFB) seem to be humorous guys, as evident by the dialogue written.



(https://lparchive.org/Star-Control-2/Update%209/02.jpg)



The over-arching theme of the game is the battle between the two factions of the Ur-Quan; Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah. If one of the two eventually wins, the victor will slowly conquer the rest of the galaxy. So the game actually has a time limit. It takes a while though. However, I can imagine someone actually playing this game without being walk-thru’ed may burn out their time. These two races pose the biggest challenge in battle, even with a fully upgraded ship. The ending of the game goes through these two races however.



(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ag50ct3EBxQ/hqdefault.jpg)



So the battle. A carry over from StarControl 1, which itself was inspired by Spacewar!, although I am not sure how much. TFB did spruce up the look and feel of combat, and added many more ships. The great thing about combat is it is very balanced. Lesser ships with a good player could overcome a weaker player with a better ship. But there are inherent weaknesses of some ships vs. others. Even the most powerful ships can go down against the right ship. Combat is the only component available in two player, but is a big part of the campaign as well.



(https://www.star-control.com/sc2/images/sc2_melee2.png)


(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AwTJY4Nw6UM/hqdefault.jpg)



In the campaign, your flagship is a one of a kind relic of long missing race. It starts out quite weak and slow. With upgrades to propulsion, the ship can outrun many ships, as well as out-maneuver them. You can also upgrade your tech though also, which makes it a powerhouse. The way to upgrade is unique, in that you have to find a race that trades in information. The race is seeking two types of information about the galaxy, and they will sell you technology upgrades, information and fuel. The upgrades are always a focus, and things like the Hellborne cannons and ATS to automatically track projectiles. The upgrades also include upgrades to your planet lander to make it more resilient. The one challenge to obtained upgrades is they are done in a pre-determined order, so generally the best stuff comes at the end. The planet lander takes some upgrades to get to the good ones as well, so this inflates the challenge early to mid game. There is also the issue of actually finding the information the race pays for.



(https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/s/star-control-ii-1ve/star-control-ii_8.gif)



With all of this, I think I have said it all. It is a fully realized game, and has a lot of fun components. All the while, it is placed in a theme of being diplomatic. The odds are also stacked against you, and has a significant challenge via a non-upgraded ship, and actually exploring the whole galaxy. It also at times is hard to find A) good minerals that yield higher amounts of $, and B) actually finding non-violent planets, especially in early game without an upgraded lander. I highly recommend this game, it is a great one. Considering the free nature of the game, the only barrier is the look of the game.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 11, 2016, 07:25:49 PM
My top two was like a misfiring grand finale of fireworks.  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 11, 2016, 07:40:54 PM
Sorry man. I wish I had played at least one of 'em cuz it blows to put as much effort in as you did for those posts just to hear crickets.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 11, 2016, 08:20:21 PM
I think we all have cricket games on our lists. Some more than others- I had my fair share of "and what game is this?" from other peoples' lists. I know I played at least one game based on someone's opinion and/or write up. So if a write up makes someone think about trying a game, that is cool.

I knew the top three were going to be head scratchers. I am surprised WCIV got the most attention, I felt Undertale followed by SC2 would be the dialogue takers. SC2 must be the definition of a cult game.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 11, 2016, 11:48:29 PM
Sorry man. I wish I had played at least one of 'em cuz it blows to put as much effort in as you did for those posts just to hear crickets.

Yeah, a lot of the games you listed I haven't even heard about, but anyway, thanks for running this. Always interesting to read and see what others like and maybe someone grabs a game or two because of your list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on May 12, 2016, 07:44:14 AM
Sorry man. I wish I had played at least one of 'em cuz it blows to put as much effort in as you did for those posts just to hear crickets.

Yeah, a lot of the games you listed I haven't even heard about, but anyway, thanks for running this. Always interesting to read and see what others like and maybe someone grabs a game or two because of your list.

Yea same here, just couldn't add much to the convo as I didn't even know much of these games, but cool list regardless!
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 12, 2016, 10:33:13 PM
Hey y'all, I'm gonna start a new thread in the next day or two so Blob can begin his list. Is everyone cool with that?

Also, I wanna give incredible props to CableX for doing an exemplary job of running his list. Timely as fuck with updates and the posts were rife with visual appeal and meaty writeups. I hope more follow your lead.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on May 13, 2016, 05:46:32 AM
RIP
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ReaperKK on May 13, 2016, 05:53:45 AM
Sounds good, can't wait to read more lists.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 13, 2016, 05:59:37 AM
Sounds good, can't wait to read more lists.

Mine's up next, so have fun. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Bolsters on May 13, 2016, 06:22:02 AM
Well I know you like classic platformers, so I will probably like your list.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 13, 2016, 06:35:17 AM
If you like classic platformers, you will probably like my list. If you don't like platformers, you're probably shit out of of luck. :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 13, 2016, 06:50:40 AM
If you like classic platformers, you will probably like my list. If you don't like platformers, you're probably shit out of of luck. :lol

Shit, I'm out of luck  ;D
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: BlobVanDam on May 13, 2016, 06:59:00 AM
I apologize for nothing! Maybe there will be something in there for you.
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Lynxo on May 13, 2016, 08:46:33 AM
I predict Blob's list will have a high placement for Sonic 2!  :metal
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: ariich on May 13, 2016, 01:09:15 PM
I predict Blob's list will be even more old fogey than Chad's. :P
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: cramx3 on May 13, 2016, 01:12:48 PM
I predict Blob's list will be even more old fogey than Chad's. :P

So his list will be:

Tic Tac Toe
Solitaire
Chess

I don't know if video games get much older than Chad's list  :lol
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: Cable on May 13, 2016, 05:00:20 PM
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v57gNCwnjRY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on May 14, 2016, 06:52:44 AM
(https://thedoteaters.com/tde/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/t4t_game_feat.jpg)
Title: Re: Top 25 Video Games Lists! v. CableX's "Worse Than My Top25 VG Music" (pg. 62)
Post by: jingle.boy on May 14, 2016, 07:12:10 AM
I predict Blob's list will be even more old fogey than Chad's. :P

I'll be impressed if it is.

@ Cable... I followed, but didn't have much to offer because

Sorry man. I wish I had played at least one of 'em cuz it blows to put as much effort in as you did for those posts just to hear crickets.

Yeah, a lot of the games you listed I haven't even heard about, but anyway, thanks for running this. Always interesting to read and see what others like and maybe someone grabs a game or two because of your list.

Yea same here, just couldn't add much to the convo as I didn't even know much of these games, but cool list regardless!

This