That’s the first reaction I had when I ultimately saw the “ending” of Her Story, when I found out how the murder at the center of the story occurred. However, this was around the middle of my play through, and though for all intents and purposes I had “solved” the central mystery, there were still so many unanswered questions that I dove right back in.
Her Story is unlike any other game I have ever played before. I am probably going to use “game” in the loosest sense here. You’re not controlling a character, per se, but rather scavenging through a police database and viewing hundreds of video clips. In Her Story, you are investigating the murder of a man, and to do so you must watch footage of the same woman being interrogated at multiple points. The twist is, however, that the footage has been broken up into various clips of varying lengths, and these clips are not immediately available to you. Instead, you need to use the database’s search engine, using search terms to see if that gives you any sort of results.
The main mechanic of the game is searching through a police database.
That’s the beauty of Her Story. I guess the term “risk-and-reward” could be used here, but in the case of “risk”, the only “punishment” is being presented with zero clips. You start of with general terms, such as “kill”, or the name of the victim, to figure out the general details of the case. But then you hear something that piques your interest, and then you subsequently enter that term into the database, and hopefully, you will be rewarded with brand new clips, and with them, new details that had never previously crossed your mind. One issue, however, that I had with the game is how you can just throw any term into the search engine, and these out-of-nowhere terms can present you with previously unseen clips. It’s a minor complaint, sure, but it did take a bit of the fun out of using a small detail presented to you and using that further your investigation.
Playing Her Story is what I would call going down a rabbit hole. Hearing one term can lead you to discovering other clips containing that term, and those clips may have another term that you look more into, and so on. By the end of my play through, I had entering specific terms, like objects and names of people, which I won’t list here due to them being spoilers. Believe me, you do not want to be spoiled about this game, as this is a game that lives on reveal upon reveal.
The story of Her Story is full of twists and turns that had me legitimately shocked, and I was completely engrossed the whole time. The non-linear story is what kept me engrossed the whole time, and the beauty of it is that while it is a narrative with a set ending, you craft the sequence of events, and one person playing may have a vital piece of information that another may not have even discovered yet.
Hannah (Viva Seifert) is the only face you'll see in the game.
I’ll say this now, Her Story is not a story about solving a murder. You’re not tasked with determining the guilt of the woman in question, that’s already happened. The goal of Her Story is to figure out why this murder occurred. This rests on the shoulders of Viva Seifert, who plays the woman in question, Hannah Smith, wife of the victim. Seifert is the only actor in this game, and as such, the game rests on her performance. And she absolutely nails it. The performance requires her to be both grounded and larger-than life, a performance that is both down-to-earth and larger-than-life. While the story is what kept me engaged, Seifert’s performance is what sold the story.
It’s been a few days since I finished Her Story, but I’m still thinking about it. It's been a long time since a game has gripped me so much. It's not a game that takes very long to play. In theory you could find the ending after a couple hours, but even then, really digging into the game's story took not much longer than that. Her Story is a special game, one that all gamers should play. Not only is it gripping, but it's also innovative.
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I'm still thinking about Her Story, but thankfully I'm not tweeting about it, so you can go ahead and follow me on Twitter. Also don't forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel!
An experience unlike anything I've ever played before.
Virginia is a special game. It's a game I thought about after finishing, a game I'm still thinking about. A game that I will most likely come back to soon. But I also use the term "game" very, very loosely. You have very little control in this game, and it funnels you through its story. Despite the limited control, Virginia is one of, if not the most cinematic game I've ever experienced. It's a brief experience, and one that may not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of games like Gone Home, Firewatch, and the like, I highly, highly recommend this game.
Anne Tarver
Virginia puts you in the shoes of rookie FBI Agent Anne Tarver, a rookie who is put on the case of a missing boy in a small Virginia town. You are paired with veteran agent Maria Halperin. The fact that Halperin's office being down in a grungy basement, along with you being assigned by Internal Affairs to keep an eye on her, immediately makes you wonder what exactly Halperin did to become so suspicious in the eyes of her superiors. Halperin isn't exactly thrilled to be paired up with your young upstart, doing things such as leaving you with the bill after morning coffee, but the developing relationship between the two is one of the highlights of Virginia.
Both the missing person case and your relationships drive Virginia's story
I'm far from the first to make this comparison, but Virginia is very much in the vein of Twin Peaks. FBI agent investigates in a small town, only to discover a much larger conspiracy. One scene in particular almost directly harkens to Twin Peaks, featuring a torch singer. Now, Virginia doesn't go as in-depth into the psyche of the town and its people as Twin Peaks does, but instead it focuses on what lies behind the surface of the FBI and its agents. I loved learning the secrets our two main heroines hid beneath the surface. Why Anne is plagued with nightmares involving her graduation, and what is the deal with the mysterious woman on Maria's locket? These are answers that are slowly revealed in the course of Virginia's under two hour story.
This is maybe a bit of a tired comparison, but of any game I played, Virginia very much felt like an interactive movie. This is mostly due to the sweeping score, performed by the Prague Philarhomic Orchestra. The score added another layer of emotion to this tale, and appropriately aligned with what was currently going on in the game. Virginia most definitely has one of the best scores in any game I've played.
The fact that Virginia lets you connect so easily to its main characters, and makes you so invested in their backstories, is incredible considering that this is a game with no dialogue, written or spoken. This isn't even a case of environmental storytelling, either, this is a narrative-driven game with no words spoken. Surprisingly, the story and development excels, despite the "limitation". There were some parts where some parts were I was a bit confused about what was going on, but these weren't major issues, and I eventually figured out what was happening. I even think that these somewhat ambiguous parts were intentional, and the game seems to encourage repeat playthroughs.
However, the game, to me at least, falls apart during its last act (the game is divided by days of the week). The combination of the lack of dialogue, plus many things happening at once, made it almost impossible for me to follow. Again, I figured out what happened, but it was just way too much going on for one to comprehend it fully.
This game is one of the most surreal I've played
The bigger problem was the lack of interactivity. The goal of the game is to go through this concrete story. It's a brief experience, taking me just under two hours to complete. However, for a game about solving a mystery, there was very little exploration. There are some points where you are given a bigger areas to explore, but even then, you are given a specific location to go, and no other room to find other pathways. Other times you are driven down a specific path, and sometimes the location cuts while to another mid-walk. I'm not complaining about being guided through a story, as I adore The Last of Us, but in that game, you are still given large areas to explore despite the point of The Last of Us is to experience one specific narrative. It's a shame, because the painterly world of Virginia is gorgeous.
I really, really loved Virginia. To be fair, this is not a game for everyone. The absence of dialogue, in addition to the relative lack of control in the game, will probably be a turn-off for some. It's a game that encourages multiple playthroughs, from its brief playtime to being able to select chapters to play from the menu. Virginia is a special game, and if it even sparks your interest, play it.
Of all the games I've played recently, Oxenfree has been one of the best when it comes to atmosphere. Wandering around Edwards Island was extremely engaging and unsettling. It also has some of the best character work and interactions I've seen in a game, which while not exactly realistic, worked for the world of the game. The biggest issue holding this game back is its pacing, but despite this, Oxenfree is something special.
The game is often very creepy and unssettling
Oxenfree casts you as Alex, a girl who is approaching a crossroads at her life. We've all been there; approaching graduation, unsure of what do to do with our lives. Alex has also recently had tragedy in her life, which has also had an impact on other people in her life. The game begins with Alex, her friend Ren, and new stepbrother Jonas going to Edwards Island, an abandoned island, where they plan to meet some others to have a party. Turns out the only other people there are fellow students Nona and Clarissa, who doesn't like Alex especially. You later find out why, and that adds another layer to the relationships between these characters.
Dialogue choices affect your relationships with the characters
The characters and their relationships are what help make this game stand out. As the game progresses, more and more layers of these characters are revealed, deepening your connection to them. The dialogue isn't the most fluid and realistic, but the voice performances are so good that it fit perfectly in this world. Early in the story, I found Ren to be quite irritating, and I tended to side with other characters during the game, and that came back to haunt me. The character I connected with the most was Jonas, who was my first companion during the game. Because of this, I decided to go on my whole journey with Jonas, and two people who were almost strangers slowly became siblings.
One of the best mechanics of the game is that there are no true cut scenes. Conversations and dialogue choices are made while walking from one location to another, which helped keep the game's flow going. And I'm glad I never lost control, as I was completely enthralled with the world of this game. The game slowly became more and more unsettling, and by the end of the game it became a full-on horror game. I just wish the pacing of the game were better.
Oxenfree involves a lot of walking
Now, I know I said that the lack of cut scenes helped keep the flow, but that doesn't mean it didn't mean the game's pacing was consistent. In fact, there were many points where the game started to drag. You see, the only form of transportation in this game is walking, and there are no quick-travel points. So that means you have to walk to every point in this game, and many times it involves walking through many locations before getting to your destination. Now, the conversations mentioned earlier do help, but many times these end before you get there, meaning it's just you walking in silence to your next location.
This criticism also applies to the game's mechanics, or rather, mechanic. There's only one real mechanic in this game, and that's the radio that Alex has on hand. The radio is used in everything, from unlocking doors to closing supernatural rifts. This becomes a bit monotonous, as all you do is reach a location, open your radio, and cycle through it until you reach the one station that happens to be the solution to that specific problem. This problem is amplified when you get an upgrade to your radio later in the game, which has even more stations to choose from. Now, this isn't something that ruins the game, but it is most glaring issue in what is otherwise an amazing game.
Oxenfree isn't perfect, but it's so far my favorite game of the year. The narrative, character development, performances, and environment all come together to create one of the most memorable experiences I've had in a long time. I was engaged and connected with the characters all throughout, and I cared so much that I thought carefully about which dialogue options I chose, lest I run the risk of ruining my relationships with the others. The mystery at the center of the story is something I actively wanted to get to the bottom of, and the atmosphere was effectively unsettling. The game's pacing issues unfortunately bring the game down, and it has the unfortunate problem of monotony, but at the center of it all it's an engaging and heartfelt story about growing up and dealing with all the problems that occurs along with it.
Video games are something that have been with me my entire life, and something that I don't think will ever leave. From playing my cousin's SNES that was at my grandparent's house, where my cousins and I spent hours playing games like Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country 2, to the first ever system that was truly mine, a "glacier" Game Boy Advance that I still own today, which came with a crappy Shrek fighting game that I was too young to realize was awful. That turned into a GBA SP, a Nintendo DS, a second DS, (the first one was in a tragic accident), and finally a 3DS. That turned into a love of console gaming, starting with a used PlayStation my mom bought for my sister and I. We later upgraded to a PS2, which was used probably about 90% for Guitar Hero. Then came the two systems I bought with my own money, the Wii and the PlayStation 3 (I have an amazing story about the time I acquired my Wii, but that really warrants its own article). And before you ask, no, I currently do not have a PS4, though I'm getting closer and closer to finally getting one.
Note: I have never had an Xbox system of my own, not for any reason in particular, just that I only have so much money to spend, and as I've always had Playstation systems, I went with what I knew.
The point is, video games are some of the most important things in my life, and for some reason I'll never know I decided to narrow all of the games I've played & loved to ten. This was actually much, much easier than I would have ever thought, until I realized that I was listing off games that was adding up to be much, much more than ten. Simply put, I love too many games to narrow them down to only ten, but somehow I've managed to do it.
So without further ado, here are my top ten games of all time. Note: For the sake of my sanity, these are presented in no particular order. For multiplatform games I will list only the system I played them on.
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Mass Effect Trilogy (PS3)
Why not start off this list with a cheat, huh? Yes, I know these are three separate games, but to be fair I did get them in one collection so that counts, right?
In all honesty, I tried to decide which one I wanted to have on its own, but each game is so essential to the bigger picture that I just could not pick one game to represent this series. Unlike most video game series, each entry is one part of a larger overall narrative, with choices in previous games affecting the current playthrough of the one you're currently playing. This was essentially unheard of when Mass Effect was announced, and no one knew for sure if it would pan out. But it did, and what a way it did. I refused to play any Mass Effect game until the first one was ever released on PlayStation (the first one was originally published by Microsoft and was an Xbox 360 exclusive), and I could not be happier with my decision. The first game is essential, it's where you are introduced to this vast universe Bioware created, the first time you meet characters that have become mainstays.
What makes these games unique is that everyone can have vastly different playthroughs. Even the smallest choice can have a huge butterfly effect that's not seen until a different game. One person may make a choice that another may not even have the option to choose. What truly makes this series succeed is the amazing world-building Bioware did. I grew with the characters, I cared about this world, I felt like part of the Normandy crew. By the time I finished the Citadel DLC (the final piece of content released for Mass Effect 3), I was tearing up, knowing that my time in this world was almost done.
The series became progressively less RPG-focused as it went on (Property of EA/Bioware)
Now don't get me wrong, these games aren't perfect at all. ME1 is pretty rough to get through, and while I didn't outright hate ME3's ending like many, I totally felt disappointed by it. In addition, the gameplay weirdly shifts throughout the series, with ME1 being a full-on RPG with some action elements, and ME3 ending up as a third-person shooter with some RPG elements thrown in. It may not be perfect, but Bioware created an amazing universe I just wanted to get lost in, and I can't wait to return to it in 2017.
Everyone's favorite six-wheeled space exploration vehicle (Property of EA/Bioware)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
Remember when I mentioned that SNES at my grandparent's house at the top of this post? Well, this was one of the games we had, and this was the one that had the biggest impact on me. Right from the opening cutscene, the storybook look of this world is something that has stuck with me since then. I knew I loved it as a kid, but I grew to appreciate it even more as a young adult.
How can you say this isn't beautiful? (Property of Nintendo)
This game wasn't just charming as hell, it was just a flat-out great platformer. It took the basic concepts of the Super Mario series (run, jump, etc.) and added a whole new element. Yoshi, the loveable dinosaur-thing introduced in the absolute masterpiece that is Super Mario World, is the main character you control. After the stork carrying Babies Mario and Luigi is attacked, Luigi is taken to Baby Bowser's castle, while Mario falls right in the middle of Yoshi's Island, surrounded by a rainbow assortment of Yoshis. The Yoshis decide to band together to reunite the babies and save Luigi from Bowser. Each level involves a Yoshi carrying Mario on its back, and you need to protect him all the way through. If something gets to him, well, if it hasn't been ingrained in your head yet, let me show you:
As Yoshi, the game introduced concepts that are now mainstays of the Mario/Yoshi series. Egg shooting, ground pounds, and Yoshi's flutter jumps all originated in this game. The game looks beautiful even today, and while I won't give it away, the level Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy is an amazing feat of technology for a 16-bit machine. The graphics, gameplay, and soundtrack all come together to what may be (in my opinion at least) a perfect game.
Thomas Was Alone (PS3)
"Are video games art?" This question is asked multiple times, and this question has popped up even more in recent memory. To me, art is something that hits you emotionally, and makes you feel something. This is what video games do to me, and while others may object, this is why I consider video games to be art. To me, nothing exemplifies this more than than the indie puzzle-platformer, Thomas Was Alone. It is a game that makes you care about what are, essentially, rectangles. Now, they're much more than that, but what this game accomplishes is nothing sort of incredible. There is no spoken dialogue between the characters, and the narrative is told only by the narrator. The narrator speaks for the characters, gives them individual personalities, and ultimately is what makes you care for this ragtag group.
The colorful cast of heroes (Property of Mike Bithell)
As a puzzle-platformer, the gameplay is solid, and can be legitimately challenging sometimes, for me at least. Each character has it's own special ability along with it's unique personality. For example, one can swim, while no one else can, and so can be used as a sort of "boat" to carry the others across water. Another one can be used as a trampoline of sorts, and other characters can bounce off of her to reach even higher platforms. Each character is also a different size, with one being tall and narrow, and another being short and wide, adding another layer to the platforming.
Each character has their own unique ability, forcing you to become creative (Property of Thomas Bithell)
While the gameplay is engaging, it's really the narrative that makes this game so memorable. In addition to the wonderful narrator, the minimalistic soundtrack also adds another element to this game. When everything is thrown together, it makes for a gaming experience that I will never forget.
Pokemon was the first gaming series that I ever connected with, Emerald specifically. I had always watched the anime as a kid, and once I finally got that GBA, I knew I had to get my hands on a Pokemon game. Why did I connect with Pokemon? I think it's because it was the first game I played that was my adventure. The protagonist isn't necessarily a character and more of a vessel for yourself. You can name the character after yourself, catch whatever Pokemon you want, and ultimately play however you want. Add a simple, yet deep and engaging gameplay system, and you've got a winner on your hands.
So why these two games specifically? In all honesty, this was probably the hardest part of making this list. I knew a Pokemon game had to show up on this list, but which one? I've played every one so far, and while I could make a case for my first ever game (Emerald) for purely nostalgic reasons, or the originals (Red/Blue//Yellow) for their historical impact, but then I realized that the one I think about most is the remake of the Gen. II games. (Note: I myself had played SoulSilver, though the differences between versions are minimal.) I feel like the biggest reason for this is something that's shallow and superficial on the surface, but in the end adds a whole new layer to the game; walking Pokemon. Having any one of your Pokemon follow you throughout your entire journey, and the ability to interact with them, really drives home the fact that you truly aren't alone on this journey, you have (up to) six comrades along with you. By getting to spend quality time with your Pokemon, you realize that they aren't just your allies in battle, they truly are your family.
During most of the game, the Pokemon at the top of your party will follow you in the overworld (Property of Game Freak/Nintendo)
In addition, the game is just jam-packed with content. Not only is there the main campaign, plus completion of the campaign opens up a whole other region for your to explore, filled with its own objectives. There's also the Battle Frontier, which I've honestly never cared for all that much personally. I can't be certain, but this game may have the most meaningful post-game content (the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is pretty darn great, though). Pokemon is one of the most important series in video games for me, and these remakes stand above the rest.
The game gives you a total of sixteen gym leaders to fight, the most in any main Pokemon campaign (Property of Game Freak/Nintendo)
Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation)
Final Fantasy IX is my favorite Final Fantasy, if it's placement on this list didn't make that obvious. This is another case where I had to do an internal ranking within a ranking. It was a close race between IX and the also-great VI and X (Note: I have not yet played FFXII, though it is one of the games in my backlog that I most want to play), but ultimately, this love-letter to the Final Fantasy games of yore came out on top. And I think the reason why is because of his heart.
The ATB system is, as usual, fantastic (Property of Square-Enix)
See, after Final Fantasy VII (which I like), VIII (which is actually fairly low on my ranking of the FF titles), and to an extent VI (which I love), which were all dark and brooding, with similarly brooding protagonists (VII and VIII in particular), it was just so refreshing to get a character like Zidane who just loves adventure. He doesn't want to be a hero, but he's not reluctant to be one either. He just ends up in a larger-than-life situation, and just decides to go along with it. In comparison to the dark steampunk settings of the previous three, IX goes all-in on the Fantasy in the title, being a lovely throwback to the original FF titles.
While I mentioned my love of Zidane, honestly I love all of the characters. They're all just so diverse, species- and personality-wise (QUINA QUEN!!!); and this is just a matter of taste, but I love when characters have specific roles within a party. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed both the Materia system of VII and the sphere grid of X, but I just love when each character has a defined role to play in battle, and strategizing around those roles. Add all of what I said above with the alway-great Active Time Battle system, and you've got what is (in my opinion of course) the best Final Fantasy, period.
The colorful cast of characters that will join you on your journey (Property of Square-Enix)
Paper Mario (Virtual Console (Originally on N64))
I remember exactly when I first played Paper Mario. It was the summer before I was going to enter high school, and I had recently had surgery on my arm. Because of that, I was unable to do much, so I was looking for more video games to play to occupy my time. I was on the Wii Shop channel, and discovered a quirky Nintendo 64 game which is the game I'm currently discussing. First off, this game is gorgeous, with a paper-based look (obviously), that mixes 2D character models with 3D backgrounds. The later games in the series expand upon this, and admittedly look superior, but there's a special charm about this game's look, and this game built the foundation for the rest of the series.
This game just oozes charm (Property of Nintendo)
As a spiritual successor to the also-wonderful Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (can you tell I like RPG's?), Paper Mario expands on the awesome battle system used in that SNES masterpiece. The battles are turn-based, but before you land an attack, you have an opportunity to give even more damage. If you time a button press or flick of the analog stick, your damage will double. It also works the other way too, with a well-timed button press can decrease some of the damage you take from enemies.
The companions in this game are top-notch (Property of Nintendo)
The game also has a great partner mechanic. Mario acquires eight partners throughout the course of the game, each based on a classic Mario baddie. In addition to distinct personalities, they all have special abilities that can be used in the overworld. One can turn Mario invisible, one allows Mario to swim across water, and so on. These abilities are not only needed to progress through the game, but also allows you to discover secrets throughout. While the story is an expansion of the classic "save the Princess" Mario story, it takes you to many diverse locations all throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and is filled with humor and heart.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my favorite films. There's just something about the adventure genre that I love, all the globe-trotting, puzzle-solving, and exploration that I gravitate towards, and I always jump at the chance to experience these in a more interactive form. I love the original Tomb Raider, though gameplay-wise it certainly hasn't aged well. I also love Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, which was my first PS3 game, probably more than most. As much as Drake's Fortune, Naughty Dog managed to take everything that worked in that game, and only expanded upon for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
First off, the scope of the game is just bigger. While the first one took place exclusively in South America, Among Thieves, while not as wide-reaching as the subsequent sequels, took place in more locations than the first, going from the jungles of Borneo to the Himalayas. The game is also beautiful, and the set pieces were just ramped up from the original.
Nathan Drake just doing what he does best (Property of Naughty Dog/Sony)
That's not even mentioning the characters. Their character work is what truly has made Naughty Dog the special studio it is today. The main trio, Nathan, Elena, and Sully, were given even deeper characterizations this time around, with the game taking a deep dive into the darker aspects of Nate's treasure hunting. Among Thieves is also responsible for introducing us to Chloe Frazer, one of my favorite characters in a video game (I still wish to this day she was utilized more in Drake's Deception). The gameplay is solid, with the platforming, puzzle-solving, and (mediocre in my opinion) gunfights; but let's be real here, when it comes to a Naughty Dog game, it's the story that truly makes it stand out.
Nathan Drake also doing what he does best (Property of Naughty Dog/Sony)
Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
Kingdom Hearts is the reason I got a PlayStation2. Well, not exactly. It was the reason I wanted a PlayStation 2. I am a huge Disney fan, and so when I discovered this weird game that mashes up a bunch of classic Disney films, I new I needed it.When our dad decided to buy a PS2 for our family my sister and I each got to pick a game out. I think you can guess which game I got.
However, this story turns somewhat sad. I got a used copy of the game, which worked fine until I reached the second time you visit Traverse Town, the game's hub world. The game froze right before the boss battle, and did so every time I tried restarting it. So, I begged my parents to get me a new copy, which they did (love them!), and so I was finally able to continue my journey to stop the Heartless.
Donald and Goofy helping you fight while inside Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio, as usual (Property of Square-Enix/Disney)
This game just brings back so many memories for me. It was my first introduction to the world of Final Fantasy (I had no idea who all these strange characters were), which, as you can tell from this list, was a pretty big deal for me. Obviously the Disney of it all is a huge factor for me. Even to this day when I replay it I get a smile on my face when I see Donald and Goofy teaming up with Tarzan, Aladdin, and the like. And can we talk about that soundtrack? Yoko Shimomura is one of the all-time great composers in my eyes, and Kingdom Hearts is my favorite game soundtrack, ever. If you've managed to never have heard this before, you're ears are in for a treat.
The story is one of the best for me. When looking at the series as a whole (I still adore the entire series, by the way), it at least appears that Tetsuya Nomura is apparently coming up with this thing as he goes. I don't even want to go into detail about the overall plot of those games. This game is a prime example of why I think that. It is a perfectly self-contained story, but still leaves it open for sequels without the need for cliffhangers. The destruction of his home, and loss and subsequent search for his friends is so heartwarming. As Sora goes on his journey, going to different worlds and getting entangled in a plot involving the Heartless and the Princesses of Heart (those whose hearts are completely devoid of darkness), this is a prime example of a hero's journey. While not the most complex RPG, I still is very playable, and I encourage everyone to play this game, though the sequels/spin-offs (except II, which is great!) are totally up to you.
We don't talk about the Gummi Ship (Property of Square-Enix/Disney)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
I have just one word to describe A Link to the Past: magic. This is another of those games that we played with that SNES I mentioned earlier, though this game mysteriously disappeared. (Seriously, to this day no one still knows what happened to it). When I finally got to play the full game years later, I was enthralled. There's something special to me about 16-bit graphics, and this game perfectly exemplifies that. I was born after this game came out, and was two when Ocarina of Time came out, so I didn't get the chance to really experience this game as a child. By the time I seriously got into video games, the PlayStation 2 was well out, and I didn't play Ocarina of Time until the 3DS remake, so I just can't create the emotional attachmeant that so many have with that game. Don't get me wrong, that game's still a masterpiece, but I just don't associate it with the nostalgia of stepping out into Hyrule field.
One of my favorite video game memories (Property of Nintendo)
This game, however, created just that. It's said so many times, but 16-bit graphics truly are timeless, and this game is beautiful even today. I love weather effects in video games, so that famous rain even got to me. I love exploration, so getting to explore this Hyrule Field was a special experience for me. Zelda game nail the gameplay, so I don't really feel the need to go into too much detail about it here.
But let's talk about the Dark World. I somehow didn't know anything about this when I played, so stepping into this new world (as a rabbit no less), was a moment I will never forget. So many things about this game work, from the look, to the gameplay, to the story, that I could just ramble on about it. But that would be a waste of everyone's time, so just do me a favor, and play this game if you haven't already. It's playable on almost every post-SNES console (except N64 and Gamecube), so it's not a very hard game to find.
HE'S SO CUTE (Property of Nintendo)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC)
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....". I still get chills every time I see this, and hearing that John Williams fanfare is something I'll never get over, and the first time seeing those words on the big screen, before The Force Awakens on opening night is one of those memories you cherish for a lifetime. Suffice to say, I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so getting to experience my own Star Wars adventure was a pretty surreal experience.
The game takes you to all-new Star Wars locations (Property of Lucasfilm/Bioware/EA)
Taking place 4,000 years before the films, Knights of the Old Republic has you play as a soldier (male or female) waking up to find out the ship your on, which is transporting Jedi Bastilla Shan, is attacked by by Darth Malark. You crash on the planet Taris, where you need to find Bastilla. What follows is an adventure that takes you all across the Star Wars galaxy, where you'll discover planets new and old, and meeting a variety of faces along the way, both friend and foe. You recruit all different characters to aid you on your mission, from a Twi'lek teenager and her Wookie companion, to an assassin droid. You even become a Jedi yourself, getting to fight with a lightsaber.
The gameplay plays very much like an old-school RPG, where you can plan your moves ahead of time before watching your hero play them out. You can choose from three different classes, and then more subclasses after starting your Jedi training. Maybe it's because I haven't played any other Star Wars games, but fighting with a lightsaber was awesome. You can also customize your party even more, by giving them certain traits and upgrades, and equipping them with whatever gear or weaponry you feel fit.
As is usual for a Bioware joint, dialogue is a main component of the experience (Property of Lucasfilm/Bioware/EA)
As this is a Bioware game, the worldbuilding is top-notch. As this takes place well before the established canon, Bioware was free to do what they wanted within this pre-exisiting universe. The Star Wars universe is so wide that it can fit any number of stories in it, and I love exploring new corners. Getting to see all new planets was such a treat, and the story, of course, is great as well. This game also has one of the most famous twists in video games, though I won't spoil it here. I will say that you may either see it coming, or have it completely blow up in front of you (like it did for me), either way, I love this game (and its sequel), and I'm hoping the EA-Disney partnership will lead to a KoTR 3.
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Well, I did it. Hopefully you stuck around me rambling about things I love. To be honest, this was hard. There are so many games that I had to leave off this list that just kill me. Games like The Last of Us, Journey, Super Mario Galaxy, Lego Marvel Superheroes, Bioshock, Super Mario World, and so many other games are amazing in their own right, but the ten games I listed just stand above the rest in my eyes.
I also made a video of me talking about why I love these games. It's way less concise than this post, and is more me gushing about these games that hold a special place in my heart. I'll try to post more videos like this, so if you enjoy it, like the video and don't forget to subscribe!
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