Summer Games Challenge 2017 - Begin when ready!

[alienjesus]

To get in on this action...

Parasite Eve II (PS1) - Ehh... not a fan. Below 80 on Metacritic, global sales at 580,000 according to VGChartz, which may not be accurate, but I figure it's a decent ballpark figure. Borderline for sure.

Square's own figures put its sales at over 1million = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213144 ... 000-01.pdf

That was before re-releasing it, digital distribution, etc. I think it is hard to argue that a game that sold over 1 million worldwide is not a classic, especially given its development pedigree.

I concur that King's Field (II) is a cult classic. I am keeping it on my list because it is also the only one there.

God Hand...I dunno. I can see the argument for it and against it so it may be the first to go in a potential revised version of my list. It has so often been cited as one of the best ever PS2 games, though, that I think it exceeds "cult" at this point. It made that "1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die" book. It was also re-released on PSN, for what that is worth. Here's a good take on it: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/play ... rtable-915

I own that 1001 games to play before you die book and it is by no means an indicator of a game being classic. Especially as about 300 of the games are from the handful of years prior to the books release. It's also packed to the gills with cult classics too

I also disagree with your idea that a rerelease is a good indicator of classic status. There loads of guff rereleased on Virtual Console. All rereleases indicate to me is that the company owning the ip is stil fortunate enough to exist and able to republish it.

I'm on my phone right now, but I'll be making some counter arguments to your list later, especially because there is no way some of them are less classic than God Hand or Parasite Eve 2

[Exhuminator]

muh picks

Parasite Eve II (PS1) - No classic, but an entertaining game.

King's Field (PS1) - I assume you mean King's Field II if this is the USA release. Is this a classic? This is the classiest classic and too good for this podunk dive.

Beyond Oasis (GEN) - Not a classic, it never gripped me, been meaning to give it another chance.

Eye of the Beholder II (PC) - I think this is a classic, at least in the PC DOS world.

Dungeon Keeper (PC) - Same as above.

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (PC) - Cool game, but nah.

Another World (remaster - Vita) - Absolutely a classic.

Ratchet & Clank (remaster - Vita) - Nope.

God Hand (PS2) - Cult classic, but one I've been meaning to play forever.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Pile of shit game, but unfortunately a classic.

I think Dsh runs into what I always run into with this challenge. You've already beaten most of the legit "classics", so you have to start digging deeper into cult classic territory to form a list. That's what I did last year. This year I just said hell with it, I'm going with "summer themed" games instead.

[fastbilly1]

I think Dsh runs into what I always run into with this challenge. You've already beaten most of the legit "classics", so you have to start digging deeper into cult classic territory to form a list. That's what I did last year. This year I just said hell with it, I'm going with "summer themed" games instead.

I would say a good chunk of us have that issue. If you havent beaten, you have played enough to know that the game is not for you.

[Sarge]

That's a huge problem for me for sure. About the only way to fix it is to get outside your preferred systems/genres. Which means I should probably prioritize PC games, RTS, shooters, stuff like that.

I should get back to that playthrough of Baldur's Gate...

[CFFJR]

For all of you who think I am joking about my critique, I am in fact not at all joking. My language may have been a bit hyperbolic, but those picks are genuinely bad picks and not really appropriate fodder for what this annual challenge is/was meant to be. I am laughing, sure....but I am also not laughing. Fix yer shit.

I don't think anyone thinks you're joking. I never have.

The presentation is funny nonetheless. It's not a bad thing.

[Exhuminator]

Maybe we should have a Winter Games Challenge, except it explicitly focuses on cult classics. It could take place between December, January, and February.

[marurun]

I think the more tightly you lock-down an idea like this, the more narrowly (and thus incorrectly) you interpret stuff like "classic", the less appealing the whole affair can become. It doesn't mean there isn't a place for challenge-gaming, but I'm not sure relying heavily on terms with questionable or amorphous definitions is helpful. Set benchmarks. If the goal is play games that scored 80% or better, sold at least 1.5 million copies, and are at least 10 years old, then make those the rules.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Questionable list Dave #1. Remasters? If you're gonna play classic video games go for the original version.

[fastbilly1]

I think the more tightly you lock-down an idea like this, the more narrowly (and thus incorrectly) you interpret stuff like "classic", the less appealing the whole affair can become. It doesn't mean there isn't a place for challenge-gaming, but I'm not sure relying heavily on terms with questionable or amorphous definitions is helpful. Set benchmarks. If the goal is play games that scored 80% or better, sold at least 1.5 million copies, and are at least 10 years old, then make those the rules.

Thats why no matter what DSH says, I play what I chose.

I mean technically a Cult Classic is a Classic. It is in the name...

[Exhuminator]

Set benchmarks. If the goal is play games that scored 80% or better, sold at least 1.5 million copies, and are at least 10 years old, then make those the rules.

That's an excellent list of criteria. Might prove a little nebulous trying to figure out how many copies a game sold though. I've heard VGChartz is full of lies for example.