So I’ve been revisiting some of my back catalog of games over the last few months and thinking back onto what my favorite games have been and replaying them. It’s been a bit of an interesting ride as many games that vie played have not quite aged as well as well as I remember them to be….
Final Fantasy 9 – The story behind FFIX is in my opinion the best in the series. For the first time, I really connected with the emotions and drive of each if the characters. While many consider FFVII to be the ultimate story that has been told in the series, I very much disagree. The characters in 7 were just not as believable and the tired anti-hero cliche that is Cloud just doesn’t stand up to the zealous buccaneer that Zidane portrays so well. Further the interpersonal relationships that happen in 9 are much more grounded and believable. I could never figure out why Aeris and Cloud dated, but totally understood Zidane and Daggers flirting. From a gameplay perspective, I found the grind festiveness of FFIX to be less than that of 7,and the graphics still feel palatable even ten years later.
World of Warcraft – a close second. Few games can boast the number of life destroyed as World of Warcraft. All said and done in spend the better part of 4 years playing WOW, and throughout most of that time, I raided nightly and led a fantastic guild (http://www.thegla.com). It wasn’t the gameplay ghat drew me back though, it was the people. I am proud to say that I have many friends that to this day am very close to due in part to WOW.
Final Fantasy Tactics (Really the whole damn series) – This series has held it’s talons in me since day one, the comedy is that I am unable to actually finish the first game in the series. I’ve owned every release of the game to date yet never gotten past Act two. I’m not sure why, it’s not for lack of trying or enjoyment, just other stuff comes up every time. I hope someday that I’ll hurry up and finish it, as the genre is sorely lacking in today’s market, and good tactical strategy games are few and very very far between.
EVE Online – I’m not sure if it’s the beauty of this MMO or the depth or the spreadsheet nature of it that gets me and keeps me. As new father my play time is greatly limited, yet I still manage to squeeze in not only enough time to play EVE but enough time to manage three characters. I do this because there are so many areas of the game that I want to experience and see but cant unless I specialize in many things. Also CCP is a pinnacle in the industry as far as customer relations and support, they have been dutifully maintaining this fantastic piece of art for over six years now. Finally the community is also fantastic, which helps draw me back in when ever I get bored of being mostly a solo player in a multiplayer game.
Halo – This game turned me from a PC gamer into a console gamer, nothing has ever matched the fun of going to the theater with 15 of my buddies and playing system linked Halo. From then on each release of Halo has seen me line up in front of the local game shop at midnight to be a part of the the firsts to play. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting a bunch of bungie guys on a number of occasions. I can safely say that from now on all bungie games will have me dutifully swiping my credit card for regardless of the title.
I’d love to know your favorites or why you don’t agree with me!
Jess
- Posted from my iPad
Location:112 St NW,Edmonton,Canada
First off, I completely agree with World of Warcraft. No MMORPG has pushed and pulled me like WoW. Its expansive and growing world continually fuels my grinding interest and social networking. Blizzard created a seemingly immortal franchise that I will always have an interest in.
I agree with your statements about how Halo brings friends together for endless nights of bloodshed and cheers. Halo was the reason I purchased an Xbox in the first place, but I don’t really follow it anymore. I was never gripped by the story, but the online gameplay is occasionally fun to jump into.
Your tweets about EVE Online have sparked my interest in what looks like an incredibly daunting and time consuming game. A friend and I sat down one day and dissected what it was all about and were impressed with its depth. I will keep looking in to it.
I never played either of the Final Fantasy titles you listed, and rather have only played FFXIII. Its compelling story kept me progressing game, despite it “one button” gameplay. I will have to play the titles you mentioned, as story is a key asset for me in gaming.
My list:
1. Mass Effect (whole franchise)
I can’t separate ME1 and ME2 as hard as I try. I love the RPG depth and thorough dialogue of ME1, but also love the shooter mechanics and INCREDIBLE art and level design of ME2. I have never connected so emotionally to characters like Garrus or Tali in any other game. The story and score compliment the entire project to present a syfy fantasy epic unmatched by any other title. Seeing as how you worked on this franchise, this might seem like gushing, and to some extent it is. Even if I wasn’t writing this list to you, Mass Effect would still be my favorite game(s).
2. Earthbound
This SNES classic features quirky humor with a soul touching story. With combat borrowed from earlier Final Fantasy titles, there’s no massive innovation present, but Earthbound’s unique presentation has had a lasting impression on my gaming mind. With weapons like frying pans, baseball bats, yo-yo’s, and so forth, character customization is intriguing and effective. Combined with a brilliant score and the most unique final boss battle I’ve ever encountered, HAL studios created a cult-classic game.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
This is not an uncommon title to see on top 5 lists, that’s for sure. The combination of music-based travel and countless mind-bending puzzles, Ocarina of Time drives the player emotionally and mentally. The unique world of Hyrule changes around Link as he recovers colourful medallions and stones to defeat a Satan-esque enemy. This classic game grows with the character in terms of strength and ability, leading the ending into a satisfactory climax.
4. Resident Evil 4
I have never felt more endangered and vulnerable while playing a game. The constant battle for ammo, while also managing a painfully limited inventory box, really throws the player into survivalist mode. Leon proves to be a bad ass in every situation that confronts him, even with an emo-style haircut. The compelling need to just escape the zombie-filled countryside drive the story so that you can prove the game wrong. It’s that particular theme to drives my interest in RE4.
5. Phantasy Star Online
The last (and most embarrassing) of my top 5 list is the SEGA classic, PSO. Despite only having 4 distinct levels and essentially no story at all, I have not logged more time on any other game. The constant hunt for rare weapons and armor combined with a unique anime style fueled my desire to play this game. With a seemingly unchanging community, members of this MMO were close-knit and willing to help others. This game was my first MMO and will always shape how I view RPG inventories and importance of rare weapons.
Closing notes:
I hope you enjoyed my list and comments above. I have a great amount of respect for the work that you do, and applaud your intellect and creativity in your field. I’ve never been so engrained in a community like Bioware’s, and your personal connection to gamers is unmatched. I thoroughly enjoy your games, and with probably die of stress-related complications in anticipation for Mass Effect 3. Keep up the excellent work, and again, thank you for your commitment to prolific and emotional game creating.
-hayden_epro