This was...difficult. I
have too many favourite games. I was sitting in the car on the
way to Canmore and I began to think seriously about what games I
would pick as my top 10. Picking out the games that have had the most
influence on me would be way easier, but that would make up another list
entirely. So I decided to think of what games I have invested the
most time and interest in and came up with this list. I will warn you that if you haven't played the games before and don't want anything ruined, these will contain some spoilers. I plan on posting some of my other lists in the near future, but for now...
*PS - Sorry for any bad grammar or typos. I'll look over this later...I'm just really tired right now.
10 Lost Kingdoms
(Gamecube)
This one was hard,
because a lot of games could have taken this slot. I had to think a
long time about it, but I decided to go with Lost Kingdoms, a game I
discovered by renting. When I browsed rental stores (and now game
stores), I look for art or concepts that pop out at me. This game was
one of those. I had it for five days when I rented it in my teenage
years and I played it A LOT. The concept behind the game is that a
princess, Katia, must fight off the monsters and find her father. To
do this, she uses cards that summon monsters to fight (insert YuGiOh
joke here). The game leaves a lot of room for strategy and appeals to
my pack-rat, collector side. The night it had to go back I was on the
final boss, which nearly drove me to insanity. I had to try so many
times to beat that boss, but I finally did it just before the game
had to be returned. A couple years later, I played the sequel to the
game, which was decent, but not the same experience as this game by
far. At this point, I decided that I had to have the game, and
immediately search all my local game stores, pawn shops and
second-hand stores. I couldn't find it, so I went to e-bay. I
eventually found good combos for a deck (and a way to break the final
boss), which pleased me greatly. I chose this game because I
constantly replay the game and enjoy every minute of it.
9 Dungeon Keeper 2 (PC)
The first copy I owned
of this game was a burned copy given to me by my dad's friend back
when I was about 7 or 8 (seems to be the age of enlightenment for me
in terms of video games). I played a lot of this game at that age,
mostly the “My Pet Dungeons” where I had all the time I needed to
build perfect dungeons filled with heaps of cash and spells and happy
evil creatures. This is one reason why I haven't tried minecraft. I
poured hours into this game, playing little of the campaign and more
of the free-play dungeons. I remember I got stuck on the third pet
dungeon because I couldn't figure out how to group creatures during
possession, so my 8-year-old brain deduced that the only way to beat
the level was to buy hundreds of alarm traps for the points. It took
me a very long time to get enough points and I nearly ran out of
money. I returned to this game later on when I got my laptop and
played through the entire campaign. I found this extremely
entertaining and really got into fighting off other keepers and
heroes for what was rightfully mine. This game has that fantastic
dark humour that I just love. Something about savagely murdering the
heroes of “Lovesong” and “Smilesville” that's just so
satisfying. I know that a lot of people love the first Dungeon
Keeper, but I never played it until recently, and I just didn't find
it as immersive. It's a good game, but I can't compare it to a game I
grew up with and loved for many years.
8 Dungeon Siege (PC)
Dungeon Siege was one
of those games that I constantly replayed and I had no idea why. The
game itself was cheesy with its over-the-top dialogue and story, but
after doing and LP of it, I think I realized why I kept returning.
The game is silly, but it makes an effort to create a huge, unique
world with creatures not seen in other games. Granted there are many
similarities, but the environments and creatures encountered were so
varied that every chapter had something new in store for the player.
The game was also a challenge on hard mode. I have no idea how many
times my characters died, how often I had crisis when running out of
potions and the amount of difficult mobs that I fought. I was forced
to try harder, think of solutions and play better than I would in a
lot of other games. This game gave me a challenge, and I accepted it
with gusto. Dungeon Siege 2, in my opinion, was another fantastic
game, but not quite as good as the second. The game was bigger and
focused more on items and parties and abilities while the first one
was more story and adventure oriented. Nostalgia plays a huge role in
making a lot of choices that I made, including Dungeon Siege.
7 Assassin's Creed 2
(PS3)
Oh Ezio, why are you
just so God damned loveable? One of my favourite characters from one
of my favourite games, so naturally I needed to place this game on
the list. I played Assassin's Creed 1 in university months before AC2
was released for the PS3. Despite the extremely laggy area between
towns, the random game-ending glitches and slightly monotonous
gameplay, I loved playing this game. My favourite parts were when you
had assassinated someone and had to run from an entire city as it was
on alert for you. The story was good, the concepts and plot was
interesting and engaging and I really loved the creativity
(especially with the assassinations). This is why I was super excited
for its sequel, and boy did it deliver. Most of what the first game
did wrong, the second one did right. The gameplay was smoother, the
moves were more refined, the graphics and environments were epic, the
quests and tasks were far more varied and there were some intense
twists. I got to care about the characters, have a few good laughs
and leap off of rooftops onto unsuspecting victims. It was delicious.
I enjoy the sequels (expansions? mu?) Brotherhood and Revelations a
great deal, but I almost found them to have too many gadgets and that
Ezio had too much experience. While I was entertained by the new
environments and seeing the continuation of Ezio's life, I've been
ready for something new for some time. I was never really into the
multiplayer either so...the games were basically just add-ons for me.
Assassin's Creed 2 had a great mix of story and fun gameplay, which
keeps on bringing me back to play more. It also has a kick-ass
soundtrack. Just putting that out there.
6 Age of Empires 2 (PC)
This series
successfully mixes two of my favourite pastimes: history and video
games. I love that these games are based on history and give the
player a chance to re-enact stories and legends I had heard about. I
have never been good at RTS games. As I have mentioned time after
time, I just don't have the focus or micromanagement skills. This is
one RTS that I absolutely loved, and thought I was pretty good at it.
I didn't play with too many people (as the multiplayer is a pain to
get to work), but I found so many ways to fight and achieve my
objectives. I also tended to be a little bit silly and mass units
like battering rams or fire ships and just troll the people I was
playing with (or against). I also loved to build my own maps and
scenarios with the editor. I liked to make up stories of fortresses
and champions and heroes and legions of demonic monkeys. I'd normally
give the hero a few pet wolves for good measure. I played through a
lot of the campaigns, even when I was younger. I wasn't always good
at them, but I found they gave me a challenge and I enjoyed seeing
history unfold before my eyes. Age of Empires 2 was a game that I
played constantly from when I was quite young to this day. Granted I
haven't been playing AoE2 too much lately because I can't find the
CD, but it's around somewhere...I'll find it.
5 Infamous (PS3)
I downloaded this game
for free off the PSN after they went down for a month when awhile
back. I was just happy to get a few free games, but what I didn't
expect was one of the best games I've ever played. I got hooked on
this game really quickly as it had a fun concept, a lot of fun moves
and a good story to go with it. When Infamous 2 came out, I was super
excited to get it, more than I have been for a lot of other games
(except maybe Skyrim). What added to that excitement was the fact
that I had no money, so I had to WAIT until I did before I got it (no
one got it for me for Christmas...). I picked Infamous 1 over its
sequel, however, because I felt that the story was more tight and
complete. There is a huge plot hole in Infamous 2, which I really
don't want to get into here because it's on the verge of becoming a
paradox and I honestly don't want to make this explanation four times
as long. While Infamous 2 had a lot of new, shiny abilities, a good
story, some crazy plot twists and an awesome sandbox environment, I
still have to say the first one is my favourite. I got so engaged
that I'd feel bad about some of the decisions I made, or angry when I
was betrayed, or shocked when I found out the truth about the game's
antagonist. I just found that the game had a more significant impact
on me than the second one. Both are fantastic games though, taking
this fifth spot on my list. Electrocution for the win.
4 Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(Genesis)
Sonic the Hedgehog and
I have a long history. One of the first console games I ever played
(that wasn't on Colecovision or Commodore 64) was Sonic the Hedgehog
2 on my uncle's genesis. Whenever we went to his house, I would ask
him to set up the game for me on his tv. He often declined because
the only tv in the house was the one where everyone was sitting and
visiting, but occasionally he would set it up for me. I LOVED this
game as a kid. I played this game and Sonic Spinball every chance I
got. The one problem was my poor 4-year-old self couldn't get past
Stage 2 in the Chemical Plant Zone. The rising chemical water part
would always kill me. My uncle would sometimes play for me, but I
only ever saw him get to the Aquatic Ruin Zone. Years later after my
uncle lost (and then later dug out of storage for me) the genesis, I
got my Gamecube. This was my first console (as in I owned it and not
someone else). One of the games I got for it was the Sonic Mega
Collection, which had Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on it. I played it and on
my first try I got past this level that stumped me as a kid. I was so
excited that I continued to play, seeing all these levels I hadn't
seen when I was younger. I played this game for hours as a teenager,
and eventually beat it after playing one of the most difficult final
levels and final boss sequences I've encountered in a game. One of my
favourite games (and a close second for this spot) would have been
Sonic Adventure Battle 2, which was one of my first games for
Gamecube. My Sonic Phase re-emerged in high school and I ended up
playing this game for hours. It also has a fairly tough final boss,
which still gives me a bit of trouble when I play (though I am REALLY
out of practice). I have played and enjoyed a lot of other Sonic
games (I was super hyped for Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, which I
couldn't play because I didn't own a console that could play
it...turns out it's rather silly), but never as much as Sonic the
Hedgehog 2. Regardless, the game and the character have a special
place in my heart.
3 Half Life (PC)
I don't know how or why I
watched this as a child. The game was released when I was 8 years old
and I used to watch my dad play it all the time. He loved the
survival aspect to it (I should really introduce him to Left4Dead)
and how Dr. Gordon Freeman was on his own underground (though he
didn't like the “random alien world” parts so much apparently). I
only saw bits and pieces of this game when he played. I could usually
only watch for a short while before I got too scared (I was still
afraid of a lot of Disney villains at the time, so I really shouldn't
be surprised), but I remember the game vividly. In my first year of
university, I picked up the game again and installed it on my laptop.
I wanted to see why it kept my dad's interest. I played through the
game and since I have re-played it many times. I love this game and
it's unique story-telling, suspense and all-around entertaining
gameplay. This game encouraged me to buy the Orange Box and continue
the story. I love Half Life 2, but there's something about the first
one that really stands out as one of my favourites. This is the
reason I have played these games, got interested in Portal, and am
STILL waiting for Episode 3. I am planning to do an LP of this
game...probably text as I will most likely be posting on the Dungeon
Keeper YouTube page, but I really look forward to playing it,
whatever I decide.
2 Fire Emblem: Path of
Radiance (Gamecube)
The first time I picked
up this game was in a movie rental store back when I was still in
high school. I had no idea what sort of game it was or what I was
getting into. As I took it home and began to play, I was pleasantly
surprised by its turn-based, board game-like style and interesting
characters. I remember playing the third or fourth mission and had
one of my characters die. I was surprised at the end of the mission
that the character was actually dead and not just incapacitated. So I
started the game over and made it my goal for all future Fire Emblem
games to complete it without killing any of the characters. I just
love the multiple strategies, the different ways to fight, figuring
out which methods worked best and all the neat character
conversations and dialogues. The game is legitimately a challenge for
me and keeps my interest for hours. It also works great with my
schedule and lifestyle as each level is anywhere between 10 mins to
1hr 30mins long. I think the longest I ever spent on a level was 2
hrs, and that's because I'm an idiot and really messed up with my
characters. The game is set up so that if I have a period of time
where I need to work or want to pull an all-nighter and marathon it,
I have those options. My only complaint would be that there were no
save points in the levels, so if you messed up, you had to start over
from the beginning. On the other hand, that's one of the reasons why
the game is so good. It can be extremely unforgiving and gives me
that challenge I mentioned (that and the computers totally cheat...I
get pissed off when the numbers don't quite add up to me...). I also
like how out of all the Fire Emblem games, this game has a group of
mercenaries as the protagonists, not the princes and princesses of a
nation. The game deals with issues like war, slavery and racism as
well, which is interesting. If I had to pick a second favourite from
the series I'd choose Fire Emblem for GameBoy, because that game was
excellently executed and has tons of gameplay options. I also like
how the player ends up being a character as well.
1 Oblivion (PC)
I can see a lot of
people hating me for this, but I cannot deny the fact that I just
love Oblivion. It seems like that black sheep in between Morrowind
and Skyrim that most people declare was good, but not AS good. I
honestly have to disagree. I love the Elder Scrolls series. I have to
admit, I have not played the first two, so I have no opinion of
those, but out of the other three, Oblivion has the most engaging
story and quest lines for me. I can literally talk about this game
for hours without getting bored. I have racked up over 700 hours
playing it and have archived the save files for almost every single
character I've played. I know a lot of the glitches, a lot of the
exploits, where to find special items, how each of the quest lines
end, which builds work best for me etc. What I haven't done is play a
lot of the mods made for this game, which I will probably do once I
exhaust my interest in the rest of the game. The only quest lines I
haven't done really is the Arena, which I am currently working on
right now with an Imperial Monk specializing in hand-to-hand. ANYWAY,
before I digress more, I want to clarify what parts of the game are
better than the others in the series. First off, I have to admit that
Skyrim has much better graphics, more beautiful and varied landscape,
better controls and a much more immersive world HOWEVER, my level of
engagement is based on how much of myself I can put back into the
game. I liked how a lot of the skills were handled in Morrowind and
how doing anything in that game was more difficult and realistic than
Oblivion, but a lot of its mechanics were too clunky for me to get
used to fully. What it really comes down to for me is story and
combat. Feed me a good story or a good fight and I can guarantee
you'll have my interest, even if everything else is sub-par. The
quest lines and guilds in this game were addictive, interesting and
in some cases extremely intense. My favourite was the thieves' guild.
Holy man was that an intense finale for me. As for the main quest
line, it was long enough that I didn't feel like I was being ripped
off and had a decent ending. Point is, I can role-play characters
much easier in Oblivion and enjoy the story a lot more despite its
glitchy, silly moments. While I have dumped a great deal of time and
effort into the other two games, Oblivion is the one I keep coming
back to over and over. It's a nasty addiction I call “Oblivion
Phases” and they usually appear around exam time.
*Runners Up: Haunted
Mansion (for Gamecube...in which I'd say almost ties Lost Kingdoms
for guilty pleasures, especially since I've played through it about
15 times now...thinking of doing an LP for this one), Portal 1 and 2
(PC), Diablo 1 (PC), Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
(Gamecube...“Watch Out! Those testicles are powerful!”), Super
Smash Brothers Melee/Brawl (Gamecube and Wii), Overlord (PC)*
