Top 30 Favorite Games Ever
All is well with me. I don't have much to write about. I'm putting together my Favorite Albums of 2008, which is coming in mid-December. I have another list to post, though... my Top 30 Favorite Games of All Time. Just like my Album Lists, these are my personal favorites... These aren't what I think the *best* are. That list would look different. These are games that have struck my heart on a personal level and ring through with nostalgia. Gameplay is important too, but it more so comes down to my personal satisfaction on all levels: story, design, sound, etc.
It's a little poorly written (some of it rushed through while on break at work) and probably still full of typos. I might clean it up at some point.
30. Anarchy Online (PC) - This is one of the only decent sci-fi MMORPGs on the market. Its style and atmosphere for its time were amazing. Unfortunately it takes some hits in the gameplay department, but that didn't stop this game from sucking me in.
29. Uniracers (SNES) - Notably the only racing-type game on this list (Sorry, Mario Kart). I'm not a very big fan of racing games in general but the ability to do cool tricks in this game really it for me. It was unique, fun, and required much finesse.
28. Clock Tower (PSX) - While survival horror games aren't my favorite genre, they've definitely been a steady interest over the years. Clock Tower was interesting in that you didn't play as a gun-toting rambo, blowing through zombies like it was as natural as breathing. You play as rather defenseless characters. You have to use the environment to survive. More often you are hiding rather than fighting. What's after you, you ask? Oh, just a raving, mystical lunatic with 3-foot long scissors who pops out when you least expect it. Add in some suspenseful music and you've got yourself one of the best survival horror games around.
27. Mario Paint (SNES) - My sister and I had so much fun with this game during the summer we got it. There were so many possibilities for creation. We made animations, music, and even played that silly mouse/fly swatter game addictively. A truly innovative and lovely creation by Nintendo. These are the kinds of ideas that've made Nintendo a great family company. You don't have to be a gamer to love this game. Nintendo still maintains this strategy today.
26. Final Fantasy VIII (PSX) - FF8 is one of those games that people either loved or hated. More often people hate it than like it, though. Admittedly, its gameplay is weak. The magic system is one of the most idiotic I've seen in a RPG. What makes up for all of this is the storyline and characters. I liked Squall a lot and identified with him. What can I say, I'm a sucker. But games as a medium for storytelling is highly important to me. They are like interactive movies sometimes. Yet, it is a "game" and as such it belongs on this list with other games. Though the criteria are different for each, this one wins on mostly the emotional.
25. StarTropics (NES) - One of the first "RPG-like" games to really strike me as a young child. This game was challenging, interesting, and imaginative. I could barely read when I first played this game, but fortunately it was closer to Zelda than Final Fantasy.
24. Super Mario World (SNES) - One of the great Mario games. It's not quite as nostalgic to me as 3, but Super Mario World continued the Mario legacy almost immaculately. The addition of Yoshi was highly welcomed. The level design was superb. Honestly, this game deserves to be higher up on the list. But this is where it belongs in my mind.
23. Tales of Vesperia (XBOX360) - It is very noteworthy that this is the *ONLY* current console generation title on this list. In fact, I don't even have anything from last console generation (PS2, GameCube, XBOX). So you could say, this is the first console game to come along in a while to really wow me (PC games have been wowing me much more often these days). It's got great characters -- especially the main character, Yuri. He's a badass without being too much of a jerk. He's kind of an antihero at times and does some questionable things (unlike his knightly counterpart "Flynn"). The storyline is a *little* cliche at first but it's not unbearable. The game has a great design, though nothing completely awe-inspiring.
22. Half-Life 2 / Portal (PC) - Portal could stand on its own here as a solid game title, but it's not exactly a *full* game. So I'm going to consider Half Life 2 (which was great) and Portal its own slot here. Half-Life 2 is Half-Life 2 and I don't really feel like going in and describing that in too much detail. It was a superb game and had a physics engine that was initially novel but quickly became the normalcy in PC first person games. Portal, on the other hand, was genius. Portal is the kind of innovation that renews my faith in gaming as an artform. It's such a fun puzzle game. And when you solve its puzzles, it's totally fulfilling. It's that Eureka moment of "OHHH!! =) Now I know what to do. I just need to pull it off...". Portal required skill and intelligence. It could have been a little longer, but hey...
21. Asheron's Call (PC) - This is the second MMO I played, after EQ1. It featured one of the first--if not *the* first--seamless worlds in a MMO. The size of the world was truly immense. The skill system was highly complex and was not class-based. You could pick and choose what kind of character you can make based on skills rather than template classes. This was also one of the first game betas I participated in. The end of Asheron's Call beta was really fun. During the last day of beta, they made it analogous to the "end of the world." Basically, the sky turned red, and portals opened up all over the world pouring out high-level demons that were destroying all of the cities. I guess that sounds stupid now that I've typed it out, but if you've never played a MMORPG, you couldn't understand how that'd be cool anyway.
20. World of Warcraft (PC) - WoW is a staple MMO. It's solid. My main problem with it is that it doesn't have a good sense of Risk vs. Reward. But it's at least addictive and has a lot to do in it. The Blizzard design aesthetic has its pros and cons. Sometimes I hate its cartoonish style, but Blizzard surprises me every now and then with some really great area design. WoW is WoW, and I don't think there's much else to say.
19. Super Mario 64 (N64) - I'll never forget when Nintendo 64 first came out. I was 11 years old. I didn't have a preorder, so I was waiting in line with my dad at Target in Ocoee at like 6am waiting 2 hours for the store to open. It's ironic because nowadays, that sounds like it's not early enough! People wait in line for new consoles DAYS in advance. But back then: 2 hours early and we were the first in line there.
Around 7:45am, though, people starting arriving like crazy. All of a sudden there was a huge crowd. My dad and I were up at the front. Target wasn't really prepared at all for it. They basically opened the doors and we all rushed to the electronics department. I tried to take a shortcut through an aisle but there was a big Doritos display blocking my path so I had to course correct. I still ended up being one of the first people there. The bedazzled cashier was like "Uhh, just take a number!" My dad grabbed one and we bought it.
Now... getting home and playing Super Mario 64 made this whole event worth it. It was everything I hoped it would be. It is *the* best 3d platformer ever made. It had great replayability because I would go through levels again trying to find all of those gold stars. It was a crazy fun game and lived up to all the hype.
18. Killer Instinct (SNES) - The only fighting game on this list. I enjoyed my share of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Soul Caliber... but for some reason, Killer Instinct has always been my favorite fighter. i just loved the combo system they had. I would sit there for hours trying to master them. The design was cool, the soundtrack was solid... but this was all about the gameplay.
17. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Who would have thought that Nintendo could pull this off? Mario RPG remains a treasure in the SNES library. It is lighthearted, yet serious. The gameplay was top notch. There were some really challenging fights, which is surprising. There were a decent amount of secrets to find. The story was great. This was such a great RPG that really made me love the genre as a kid.
16. Resident Evil (PSX) - The first RE remains as my favorite of the series. Nothing can beat the atmosphere of the mansion. I didn't like how the other REs have you go through cities, labs, police departments, and a whole array of boring environment. RE had it right with its creepy mansion. This was the first game I played that scared me. The soundtrack and effect work in this game really pulled you in. The puzzles were just the right difficulty--not too hard, not too easy. I liked exploring the mansion and finding keys and trying to unravel its mysteries. I don't like the newer REs that have essentially become shooters.
15. System Shock 2 (PC) - The predecessor to BioShock had it all right the first time around. System Shock 2's complex skill system made it the premiere RPG/FPS. Add in an meticulously detailed environment: a gloomy, sci fi horror... and you've got yourself a game that I can easily call one of my favorites.
14. Dark Age of Camelot (PC) - Another outstanding MMORPG. Mythic did so much right here. DAoC had 3 separate realms (WoW has 2: Alliance and Horde). In each of DAoC's realms, they have unique classes (WoW's two realms share the same exact classes). Sure this game had its balance issues, but when it came down to it, this concept made it so much more fun. The HUGE RVR battles made this game amazing... defending a keep against 100+ player-controlled enemies was such a rush. There was no instancing. This was all out in the game world. It was so unpredictable: especially since there were 3 realms instead of just 2. So much stuff went down on the frontiers... oh, I could blab about this game for hours. But for now, just now that it was awesome.
13. Super Metroid (SNES) - what can I say, I'm a sucker for dark sci-fi games. Super Metroid's design was amazing. The sound work in Super Metroid is some of the best I've heard in a game... they put in so much effort for little details that I appreciate. The gameplay was fantastic. The puzzles were awesome to solve. A+
12. Chrono Trigger (SNES) - An RPG about time travel? Some of the best turn based gameplay ever? Count me in. Chrono Trigger is a timeless (pun intended) classic with a novel story idea, great characters, and of course, superb gameplay.
11. Xenogears (PSX) - An epic RPG that had one of the most mature and intense, dramatic storylines I've seen not only in a video game, but in ANY media. The game tackles morality, religion, and the human condition. The characters are deep and life-like. The design is some of the best. I got pretty choked up a few times during this game. This game is just plain amazing.
10. Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) - This is my favorite Zelda game. I liked Zelda 64, but I think it's overrated. A Link to the Past holds a much dearer place in my heart. The gameplay is Nintendo at its finest. The journey is epic. The design is what Zelda is all about.
9. Metal Gear Solid (PSX) - The newer MGS games are alright... but the first one on PSX takes the cake. The stealth-action gameplay was done so right here. I loved the design. The story was like a movie. The game has some of the best voice acting ever in a game. Solid Snake is such a badass and you are more than happy to play as him... and all his cynicism is welcomed by me gratefully.
8. Final Fantasy III/VI (SNES) - Terra's Theme is my favorite video game song. The opening title sequence of this game is so memorable. The storyline is gripping. Kefka is probably the best villain out of any game. He was sick and you really wanted to go after him. The gameplay was fantastic -- probably the best for any turn-based FF game.
7. Half-Life (PC) and subsequent mods - Half-Life on its own was an amazing game. The environment pulled you in. The gameplay was great. And if that wasn't enough, the game had so many great mods. I would have to say that the purchase of Half-Life is probably one of the most cost-effective purchases out of any game because through free mods, you were able to get *so* much replayability. Compare it to the normal console game back in the day where you pretty much beat it and it's over.. yeah. Counter-Strike is a game I played a lot, though I wouldn't rate it solely a title on this list. Natural Selection, a sci-fi mod that was about aliens versus marines, was a genius amalgamation of FPS and RTS.
6. Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) - FFT probably has the best straight-up gameplay out of any Final Fantasy game. The strategy and party-building required a lot of planning and... well, tactics. And, fortunately, the storyline was also up to par with other Square titles. Beating this game felt like a true accomplishment given the difficulty in some areas.
5. Starsiege: Tribes (PC) - This game sucked so many hours out of my life. If I wasn't playing a MMORPG, I was probably playing Tribes. It's one of the few online games I actually played competitively in a league. There was so much finesse required to play this game well. It has one of the biggest learning curves just in terms of moving your character around quickly and gracefully since there is a jetpack involved. The precision and focus required to play this game is unparalleled. My heart has not race faster while playing any other game than when I was capturing the flag in an OGL ladder match. Tribes was endless fun.
4. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES) - As a kid, this was one of the first games I got even close to addicted to. It was just so much fun to play it through again and again. Do I really need to go into describing this game? It's Super Mario 3. Come on.
3. Earthbound (SNES) - The design aesthetic of this was so in sync with all the quirkiness of me. The story was simultaneously cliche and unique. An RPG that takes place in modern times? It sounds wacky. And yes, it was wacky in the best of ways. The gameplay was solid. This game, for me, is the definition of nostalgia. I love Earthbound.
2. Final Fantasy VII (PSX) - Yeah, okay. FF7. Big surprise, right? A lot of people put this game down and say it was all graphics. A lot of people like FF3 (6) better. And that's totally their opinion and I respect it. And to some degree, I understand it. But the thing is... FF7 brought gaming to another level. Don't get me wrong. FF6 was great. But groundbreaking? It hadn't brought a whole lot new to the table.
FF7 propelled gaming into the cinema-like quality that it is today. So many RPGs have tried to imitate FF7 and failed. Hell, FF7 didn't even have voice acting and it managed to be one of the best motion pictures (I use that term ambiguously) I've seen. FF7's gameplay wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. The experience of FF7... the storyline, the full motion video sequences, the design... all of the little secrets of the world you could discover. Raising chocobos and racing them. And I'll never forget the first time you are riding up to the Gold Saucer... the video sequence where you first see it... I was in awe. It was spectacular. A theme park in a game! Games inside the theme park. All completely optional. FF7 is *the* paragon of modern console RPGs.
FF7 is an epic, amazing experience. My high school English teacher and mentor agreed that it's the next level of storytelling and deserves the respect and admiration of all other media critics.
1. EverQuest (PC) - It's 1998 and I'm 13 years old on summer vacation. I'm bored out of my mind. Little would I know that this concept of "boredom" had a cure. EverQuest was my first MMORPG. I had no idea what to expect. An persistent online world? What the HECK is that? I had to find out.
There are so many "I'll never forget..." moments attached to EQ1. Especially the first time I played. EQ1 drops you in the middle of the world of Norrath with little explanation. No easy to do quests. No direction. Just you, the world, and sky's the limit. The world was alive. The community was amazing. The gameplay was a paradigm for so many games to come after it with imitation. Sure, Ultima Online broke a lot of ground, but it was EQ that captured the genre perfectly in a 3d world.
I could go on and on all day. I'm pretty sure no one who reads my journal even cares about the specifics because they never played. But that's OK. EQ1 got me through high school, for better or worse. It was my escape. It's my favorite game ever.
It's a little poorly written (some of it rushed through while on break at work) and probably still full of typos. I might clean it up at some point.
30. Anarchy Online (PC) - This is one of the only decent sci-fi MMORPGs on the market. Its style and atmosphere for its time were amazing. Unfortunately it takes some hits in the gameplay department, but that didn't stop this game from sucking me in.
29. Uniracers (SNES) - Notably the only racing-type game on this list (Sorry, Mario Kart). I'm not a very big fan of racing games in general but the ability to do cool tricks in this game really it for me. It was unique, fun, and required much finesse.
28. Clock Tower (PSX) - While survival horror games aren't my favorite genre, they've definitely been a steady interest over the years. Clock Tower was interesting in that you didn't play as a gun-toting rambo, blowing through zombies like it was as natural as breathing. You play as rather defenseless characters. You have to use the environment to survive. More often you are hiding rather than fighting. What's after you, you ask? Oh, just a raving, mystical lunatic with 3-foot long scissors who pops out when you least expect it. Add in some suspenseful music and you've got yourself one of the best survival horror games around.
27. Mario Paint (SNES) - My sister and I had so much fun with this game during the summer we got it. There were so many possibilities for creation. We made animations, music, and even played that silly mouse/fly swatter game addictively. A truly innovative and lovely creation by Nintendo. These are the kinds of ideas that've made Nintendo a great family company. You don't have to be a gamer to love this game. Nintendo still maintains this strategy today.
26. Final Fantasy VIII (PSX) - FF8 is one of those games that people either loved or hated. More often people hate it than like it, though. Admittedly, its gameplay is weak. The magic system is one of the most idiotic I've seen in a RPG. What makes up for all of this is the storyline and characters. I liked Squall a lot and identified with him. What can I say, I'm a sucker. But games as a medium for storytelling is highly important to me. They are like interactive movies sometimes. Yet, it is a "game" and as such it belongs on this list with other games. Though the criteria are different for each, this one wins on mostly the emotional.
25. StarTropics (NES) - One of the first "RPG-like" games to really strike me as a young child. This game was challenging, interesting, and imaginative. I could barely read when I first played this game, but fortunately it was closer to Zelda than Final Fantasy.
24. Super Mario World (SNES) - One of the great Mario games. It's not quite as nostalgic to me as 3, but Super Mario World continued the Mario legacy almost immaculately. The addition of Yoshi was highly welcomed. The level design was superb. Honestly, this game deserves to be higher up on the list. But this is where it belongs in my mind.
23. Tales of Vesperia (XBOX360) - It is very noteworthy that this is the *ONLY* current console generation title on this list. In fact, I don't even have anything from last console generation (PS2, GameCube, XBOX). So you could say, this is the first console game to come along in a while to really wow me (PC games have been wowing me much more often these days). It's got great characters -- especially the main character, Yuri. He's a badass without being too much of a jerk. He's kind of an antihero at times and does some questionable things (unlike his knightly counterpart "Flynn"). The storyline is a *little* cliche at first but it's not unbearable. The game has a great design, though nothing completely awe-inspiring.
22. Half-Life 2 / Portal (PC) - Portal could stand on its own here as a solid game title, but it's not exactly a *full* game. So I'm going to consider Half Life 2 (which was great) and Portal its own slot here. Half-Life 2 is Half-Life 2 and I don't really feel like going in and describing that in too much detail. It was a superb game and had a physics engine that was initially novel but quickly became the normalcy in PC first person games. Portal, on the other hand, was genius. Portal is the kind of innovation that renews my faith in gaming as an artform. It's such a fun puzzle game. And when you solve its puzzles, it's totally fulfilling. It's that Eureka moment of "OHHH!! =) Now I know what to do. I just need to pull it off...". Portal required skill and intelligence. It could have been a little longer, but hey...
21. Asheron's Call (PC) - This is the second MMO I played, after EQ1. It featured one of the first--if not *the* first--seamless worlds in a MMO. The size of the world was truly immense. The skill system was highly complex and was not class-based. You could pick and choose what kind of character you can make based on skills rather than template classes. This was also one of the first game betas I participated in. The end of Asheron's Call beta was really fun. During the last day of beta, they made it analogous to the "end of the world." Basically, the sky turned red, and portals opened up all over the world pouring out high-level demons that were destroying all of the cities. I guess that sounds stupid now that I've typed it out, but if you've never played a MMORPG, you couldn't understand how that'd be cool anyway.
20. World of Warcraft (PC) - WoW is a staple MMO. It's solid. My main problem with it is that it doesn't have a good sense of Risk vs. Reward. But it's at least addictive and has a lot to do in it. The Blizzard design aesthetic has its pros and cons. Sometimes I hate its cartoonish style, but Blizzard surprises me every now and then with some really great area design. WoW is WoW, and I don't think there's much else to say.
19. Super Mario 64 (N64) - I'll never forget when Nintendo 64 first came out. I was 11 years old. I didn't have a preorder, so I was waiting in line with my dad at Target in Ocoee at like 6am waiting 2 hours for the store to open. It's ironic because nowadays, that sounds like it's not early enough! People wait in line for new consoles DAYS in advance. But back then: 2 hours early and we were the first in line there.
Around 7:45am, though, people starting arriving like crazy. All of a sudden there was a huge crowd. My dad and I were up at the front. Target wasn't really prepared at all for it. They basically opened the doors and we all rushed to the electronics department. I tried to take a shortcut through an aisle but there was a big Doritos display blocking my path so I had to course correct. I still ended up being one of the first people there. The bedazzled cashier was like "Uhh, just take a number!" My dad grabbed one and we bought it.
Now... getting home and playing Super Mario 64 made this whole event worth it. It was everything I hoped it would be. It is *the* best 3d platformer ever made. It had great replayability because I would go through levels again trying to find all of those gold stars. It was a crazy fun game and lived up to all the hype.
18. Killer Instinct (SNES) - The only fighting game on this list. I enjoyed my share of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Soul Caliber... but for some reason, Killer Instinct has always been my favorite fighter. i just loved the combo system they had. I would sit there for hours trying to master them. The design was cool, the soundtrack was solid... but this was all about the gameplay.
17. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - Who would have thought that Nintendo could pull this off? Mario RPG remains a treasure in the SNES library. It is lighthearted, yet serious. The gameplay was top notch. There were some really challenging fights, which is surprising. There were a decent amount of secrets to find. The story was great. This was such a great RPG that really made me love the genre as a kid.
16. Resident Evil (PSX) - The first RE remains as my favorite of the series. Nothing can beat the atmosphere of the mansion. I didn't like how the other REs have you go through cities, labs, police departments, and a whole array of boring environment. RE had it right with its creepy mansion. This was the first game I played that scared me. The soundtrack and effect work in this game really pulled you in. The puzzles were just the right difficulty--not too hard, not too easy. I liked exploring the mansion and finding keys and trying to unravel its mysteries. I don't like the newer REs that have essentially become shooters.
15. System Shock 2 (PC) - The predecessor to BioShock had it all right the first time around. System Shock 2's complex skill system made it the premiere RPG/FPS. Add in an meticulously detailed environment: a gloomy, sci fi horror... and you've got yourself a game that I can easily call one of my favorites.
14. Dark Age of Camelot (PC) - Another outstanding MMORPG. Mythic did so much right here. DAoC had 3 separate realms (WoW has 2: Alliance and Horde). In each of DAoC's realms, they have unique classes (WoW's two realms share the same exact classes). Sure this game had its balance issues, but when it came down to it, this concept made it so much more fun. The HUGE RVR battles made this game amazing... defending a keep against 100+ player-controlled enemies was such a rush. There was no instancing. This was all out in the game world. It was so unpredictable: especially since there were 3 realms instead of just 2. So much stuff went down on the frontiers... oh, I could blab about this game for hours. But for now, just now that it was awesome.
13. Super Metroid (SNES) - what can I say, I'm a sucker for dark sci-fi games. Super Metroid's design was amazing. The sound work in Super Metroid is some of the best I've heard in a game... they put in so much effort for little details that I appreciate. The gameplay was fantastic. The puzzles were awesome to solve. A+
12. Chrono Trigger (SNES) - An RPG about time travel? Some of the best turn based gameplay ever? Count me in. Chrono Trigger is a timeless (pun intended) classic with a novel story idea, great characters, and of course, superb gameplay.
11. Xenogears (PSX) - An epic RPG that had one of the most mature and intense, dramatic storylines I've seen not only in a video game, but in ANY media. The game tackles morality, religion, and the human condition. The characters are deep and life-like. The design is some of the best. I got pretty choked up a few times during this game. This game is just plain amazing.
10. Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) - This is my favorite Zelda game. I liked Zelda 64, but I think it's overrated. A Link to the Past holds a much dearer place in my heart. The gameplay is Nintendo at its finest. The journey is epic. The design is what Zelda is all about.
9. Metal Gear Solid (PSX) - The newer MGS games are alright... but the first one on PSX takes the cake. The stealth-action gameplay was done so right here. I loved the design. The story was like a movie. The game has some of the best voice acting ever in a game. Solid Snake is such a badass and you are more than happy to play as him... and all his cynicism is welcomed by me gratefully.
8. Final Fantasy III/VI (SNES) - Terra's Theme is my favorite video game song. The opening title sequence of this game is so memorable. The storyline is gripping. Kefka is probably the best villain out of any game. He was sick and you really wanted to go after him. The gameplay was fantastic -- probably the best for any turn-based FF game.
7. Half-Life (PC) and subsequent mods - Half-Life on its own was an amazing game. The environment pulled you in. The gameplay was great. And if that wasn't enough, the game had so many great mods. I would have to say that the purchase of Half-Life is probably one of the most cost-effective purchases out of any game because through free mods, you were able to get *so* much replayability. Compare it to the normal console game back in the day where you pretty much beat it and it's over.. yeah. Counter-Strike is a game I played a lot, though I wouldn't rate it solely a title on this list. Natural Selection, a sci-fi mod that was about aliens versus marines, was a genius amalgamation of FPS and RTS.
6. Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) - FFT probably has the best straight-up gameplay out of any Final Fantasy game. The strategy and party-building required a lot of planning and... well, tactics. And, fortunately, the storyline was also up to par with other Square titles. Beating this game felt like a true accomplishment given the difficulty in some areas.
5. Starsiege: Tribes (PC) - This game sucked so many hours out of my life. If I wasn't playing a MMORPG, I was probably playing Tribes. It's one of the few online games I actually played competitively in a league. There was so much finesse required to play this game well. It has one of the biggest learning curves just in terms of moving your character around quickly and gracefully since there is a jetpack involved. The precision and focus required to play this game is unparalleled. My heart has not race faster while playing any other game than when I was capturing the flag in an OGL ladder match. Tribes was endless fun.
4. Super Mario Bros. 3 (SNES) - As a kid, this was one of the first games I got even close to addicted to. It was just so much fun to play it through again and again. Do I really need to go into describing this game? It's Super Mario 3. Come on.
3. Earthbound (SNES) - The design aesthetic of this was so in sync with all the quirkiness of me. The story was simultaneously cliche and unique. An RPG that takes place in modern times? It sounds wacky. And yes, it was wacky in the best of ways. The gameplay was solid. This game, for me, is the definition of nostalgia. I love Earthbound.
2. Final Fantasy VII (PSX) - Yeah, okay. FF7. Big surprise, right? A lot of people put this game down and say it was all graphics. A lot of people like FF3 (6) better. And that's totally their opinion and I respect it. And to some degree, I understand it. But the thing is... FF7 brought gaming to another level. Don't get me wrong. FF6 was great. But groundbreaking? It hadn't brought a whole lot new to the table.
FF7 propelled gaming into the cinema-like quality that it is today. So many RPGs have tried to imitate FF7 and failed. Hell, FF7 didn't even have voice acting and it managed to be one of the best motion pictures (I use that term ambiguously) I've seen. FF7's gameplay wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. The experience of FF7... the storyline, the full motion video sequences, the design... all of the little secrets of the world you could discover. Raising chocobos and racing them. And I'll never forget the first time you are riding up to the Gold Saucer... the video sequence where you first see it... I was in awe. It was spectacular. A theme park in a game! Games inside the theme park. All completely optional. FF7 is *the* paragon of modern console RPGs.
FF7 is an epic, amazing experience. My high school English teacher and mentor agreed that it's the next level of storytelling and deserves the respect and admiration of all other media critics.
1. EverQuest (PC) - It's 1998 and I'm 13 years old on summer vacation. I'm bored out of my mind. Little would I know that this concept of "boredom" had a cure. EverQuest was my first MMORPG. I had no idea what to expect. An persistent online world? What the HECK is that? I had to find out.
There are so many "I'll never forget..." moments attached to EQ1. Especially the first time I played. EQ1 drops you in the middle of the world of Norrath with little explanation. No easy to do quests. No direction. Just you, the world, and sky's the limit. The world was alive. The community was amazing. The gameplay was a paradigm for so many games to come after it with imitation. Sure, Ultima Online broke a lot of ground, but it was EQ that captured the genre perfectly in a 3d world.
- When it comes to EverQuest, I'll never forget...
- Earning enough money to buy my first suit of leather armor after killing a bunch of vermin outside of town for copper and silver.
- Hunting dervish cutthroats in North Ro every day for like a week.
- Seeing a high level Enchanter with the werewolf illusion spell and being like "Wow!!!!!!! I want to be that class" and logging off to create it and realizing that it was the class I was meant to play.
- Making the journey from Freeport to Qeynos. This was *the* test for newbies. If you couldn't make it, you were doomed for failure in your EQ career!
- Finally getting the Clarity spell and just going around the world casting it for donations. I usually set up shop at the aviak tree in South Karana and made total bank.
- Going around the world doing the Stein of Moggok quest.
- Joining an "Erudite Only" guild and making some great friends.
- Bartering for hours and hours in Greater Faydark. Sometimes I'd spend an entire day buying and selling items.
- Going to Lower Guk for the first time and being scared out of my mind trying to find the group I was invited to down at the bottom of the dungeon.
- Camping the Ancient Cyclops for 10 hours straight in the Ocean of Tears. When he finally popped, it was like a dream. Getting my Journeyman's Boots was my first moment of true eliteness in a MMO.
- Joining a guild and raiding the Plane of Hate and Plane of Fear. Nevermind any loot: I was just grateful to be there. It was so fun and so difficult.
- The Ruins of Kunark expansion coming out. Oh my god. I was so excited. And it was so great. Such a huge new continent to explore and no one knew where anything was. Going around and discovering new dungeons that no one had been to yet... getting new spells and items... it was one of my best gaming experiences.
I could go on and on all day. I'm pretty sure no one who reads my journal even cares about the specifics because they never played. But that's OK. EQ1 got me through high school, for better or worse. It was my escape. It's my favorite game ever.