Honorable Mention - Devil's Third. Because Devil's Third.ElkinFencer10 wrote:1. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 - My trademark weeb JRPG
2. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - This was my first introduction to the Fire Emblem series and remains my favorite
3. Gal*Gun: Double Peace - I legit can't think of a more distinctly "This was made specifically for ElkinFencer10" game ever made
4. Civilization VI - Take your time with turns, be as aggressive or diplomatic as you want, and build giant robots in the endgame. It's perfect.
5. Earth Defense Force 4.1: Shadow of New Despair - EDF! EDF! EDF! 'Nuff said.
What 5 games define you as a gamer?
-
ElkinFencer10
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 8960
- Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:34 pm
- Location: Elkin, North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
Patron Saint of Bitch Mode
-
BoneSnapDeez
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 20148
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2011 1:08 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. - I was born in '83 so my first gaming experiences consisted of a mixture of Golden Age / second gen and third gen titles. These three (obviously related) games are the ones that impacted me the most, and ignited my lifelong obsession with the medium. Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. were brilliantly addictive quarter-munchers, while Super Mario Bros. was a revolutionary experience that expanded the "platformer" concept even further. It was the first game that made me want to actually own video games, and was indeed the first one I ended up obtaining. All three continue to be part of my regular rotation to this day.
The Legend of Zelda - Miyamoto strikes again. I received this one as a gift when I was seven or so, expecting another platformer or perhaps a fixed shooter or something similar. Zelda blew my mind. An open-world exploratory experience with fast-paced arcade-y combat. I spend years picking away at it. Drawing maps, discovering secrets, studying the lore, hoping the next issue of Nintendo Power would provide more hints. A timeless experience; I can pop this in at any time and get whisked away for a few hours.
Contra - At the time, the most "bad ass" game I had ever seen. Actually, that's still probably true. Big, bold, bad, and tough - it inspired me to actually "practice" and hone my video game skills, as this one wasn't going down easy. Pretty much flawless from top to bottom. It isn't simply the best run 'n' gun game ever, it may be the best "action" title ever conceived.
Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI, EarthBound, Chrono Trigger - I wanted to be specific. Growing up, I was never loyal to any specific type of game. I just bounced around and tried to grab whatever was "hot." My love of Zelda inspired me to seek out other fantasy-themed games, and thus I found my true calling: the JRPG. There's just a magical je ne sais quoi about such games. I invariably seem to like/love all retro JRPGs, and I'll seemingly never run out of those for the Super Famicom. Those released in the 1993-95 window, such as the four I named, are the peak of video games generally speaking, as far as I'm concerned.
Ys Book I & II - Pure bliss. The game feels strangely archaic, like it comes from another time and wasn't crafted by human hands. Not simply "another RPG", this one sent me down the rabbit holes of obscure consoles (PCE and so on), Japanese exclusives, "anime" games, and so on. Ys is unstoppable.
The Legend of Zelda - Miyamoto strikes again. I received this one as a gift when I was seven or so, expecting another platformer or perhaps a fixed shooter or something similar. Zelda blew my mind. An open-world exploratory experience with fast-paced arcade-y combat. I spend years picking away at it. Drawing maps, discovering secrets, studying the lore, hoping the next issue of Nintendo Power would provide more hints. A timeless experience; I can pop this in at any time and get whisked away for a few hours.
Contra - At the time, the most "bad ass" game I had ever seen. Actually, that's still probably true. Big, bold, bad, and tough - it inspired me to actually "practice" and hone my video game skills, as this one wasn't going down easy. Pretty much flawless from top to bottom. It isn't simply the best run 'n' gun game ever, it may be the best "action" title ever conceived.
Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI, EarthBound, Chrono Trigger - I wanted to be specific. Growing up, I was never loyal to any specific type of game. I just bounced around and tried to grab whatever was "hot." My love of Zelda inspired me to seek out other fantasy-themed games, and thus I found my true calling: the JRPG. There's just a magical je ne sais quoi about such games. I invariably seem to like/love all retro JRPGs, and I'll seemingly never run out of those for the Super Famicom. Those released in the 1993-95 window, such as the four I named, are the peak of video games generally speaking, as far as I'm concerned.
Ys Book I & II - Pure bliss. The game feels strangely archaic, like it comes from another time and wasn't crafted by human hands. Not simply "another RPG", this one sent me down the rabbit holes of obscure consoles (PCE and so on), Japanese exclusives, "anime" games, and so on. Ys is unstoppable.
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
This is actually really tough, because I've been playing games for most of my 40 years. I'm having to think way back, here, so pardon the holes in my memory.
This list is in loose chronological order.
Combat (Atari VCS/2600)
This was the first game we had for the Atari, and the Atari was the first system we had (I don't count our week with a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A and Munch Man). I think Combat came with it. I would play with friends when I could, but as a wee lad I was only allowed so much TV time and my friends were more interested in the outdoors, so when I did play, I mostly played against the Atari. I think I preferred the 3 little planes in formation against the 1 giant plane the most. I spent tons of time just repeatedly shooting an easy or non-responsive opponent. The sound of a successful hit was quite visceral.
Donkey Kong (ColecoVision)
Our second console was a ColecoVision. We had several games for it. My mom really enjoyed Ladybug (which was a quite good maze game), but my favorite was Donkey Kong. The ColecoVision version was pretty good for the time, and the control was acceptable, despite the horrible ColecoVision controllers. Some of the jumps still felt a little wonky, though. I nearly mastered all three levels in that port of the game. Only the controls held me back.
Lode Runner (Apple II)
Lode Runner on the Apple II had fairly small character sprites and level tiles, but it meant there was a lot going on on a given level. I loved how aggressive and predictable the AI was, and how it still managed to kick my ass. I also loved the included level editor. The ability to make and then save your own levels was a completely new idea to me. It makes sense that a platform with a writable magnetic medium would allow creation of new content, but this was my first exposure to that idea. Sure, there were only so many different level elements available, but there were so many things you could do with those elements, especially with as much screen real estate was available. I was never enamored of the console ports to NES or PC Engine, as all the levels felt really cramped, what with larger tiles and lower screen resolution.
Champions of Krynn (Apple II)
My first Gold Box game. I played the crap out of this. This might have been my first RPG (and it got me into tabletop D&D). I loved the strategic battles. I've always been disappointed that JRPGs and even most subsequent western RPGs couldn't figure out how to combine strategic battles with more traditional first-person or overworld exploration. I even figured out how to finagle the character load/save interface to let me do things you weren't supposed to be able to do. See, when you beat the game, some of your best gear is taken away from you. You can still wander around and pick fights, but you are short some of the best weapons and armor in the game. This is surely to help maintain balance when your import your characters into the sequel. But I found ways to keep all that stuff. Further, I found a way to transfer all that equipment to brand new characters when starting a new game. So I basically played this game thoroughly. I even made sure to explore EVERY SINGLE STEP of the area map.
Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (PC Engine SuperCD)
The TurboGrafx-16 was the first video game system that I personally owned, as opposed to my family/household. I bought it with my own money and negotiated for TV time with my parents. They saw I was hooked and eventually got me the TurboCD attachment one Christmas. I used the detachable CD drive all the time to listen to my only CD and whatever I could borrow from friends (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack was the CD I owned). I spent lots of time playing even crappy games since I couldn't afford to own more than a few games. I never did beat Keith Courage, but I made good progress. So when I was in high school and had a chance to visit Japan for a couple weeks, I jumped at the chance. I had read about Dracula X in game magazines and decided I was going to try and find a copy while I was in Japan. I turns out in the summer of '95 some stores were still carrying a few new PC Engine titles. But I didn't see Dracula X until near the end of my trip, in a little shop in a train station. So I bought it. My host sister's younger sister had a PC Engine with CD-ROM so I was even able to try it out just a little bit before coming back to the US. I played this game near to death and figured out all the tricks and secrets without any help on-line. And when I took my Turbo setup to friends' houses, this game was usually the one folks wanted to play.
My gaming life continued to grow and develop during and after college, so I will probably need, at some point, to ponder another 5 games that defined my gaming life as I transitioned to adulthood. But this list here is absolutely the defining list of games that represent my gaming childhood.
This list is in loose chronological order.
Combat (Atari VCS/2600)
This was the first game we had for the Atari, and the Atari was the first system we had (I don't count our week with a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A and Munch Man). I think Combat came with it. I would play with friends when I could, but as a wee lad I was only allowed so much TV time and my friends were more interested in the outdoors, so when I did play, I mostly played against the Atari. I think I preferred the 3 little planes in formation against the 1 giant plane the most. I spent tons of time just repeatedly shooting an easy or non-responsive opponent. The sound of a successful hit was quite visceral.
Donkey Kong (ColecoVision)
Our second console was a ColecoVision. We had several games for it. My mom really enjoyed Ladybug (which was a quite good maze game), but my favorite was Donkey Kong. The ColecoVision version was pretty good for the time, and the control was acceptable, despite the horrible ColecoVision controllers. Some of the jumps still felt a little wonky, though. I nearly mastered all three levels in that port of the game. Only the controls held me back.
Lode Runner (Apple II)
Lode Runner on the Apple II had fairly small character sprites and level tiles, but it meant there was a lot going on on a given level. I loved how aggressive and predictable the AI was, and how it still managed to kick my ass. I also loved the included level editor. The ability to make and then save your own levels was a completely new idea to me. It makes sense that a platform with a writable magnetic medium would allow creation of new content, but this was my first exposure to that idea. Sure, there were only so many different level elements available, but there were so many things you could do with those elements, especially with as much screen real estate was available. I was never enamored of the console ports to NES or PC Engine, as all the levels felt really cramped, what with larger tiles and lower screen resolution.
Champions of Krynn (Apple II)
My first Gold Box game. I played the crap out of this. This might have been my first RPG (and it got me into tabletop D&D). I loved the strategic battles. I've always been disappointed that JRPGs and even most subsequent western RPGs couldn't figure out how to combine strategic battles with more traditional first-person or overworld exploration. I even figured out how to finagle the character load/save interface to let me do things you weren't supposed to be able to do. See, when you beat the game, some of your best gear is taken away from you. You can still wander around and pick fights, but you are short some of the best weapons and armor in the game. This is surely to help maintain balance when your import your characters into the sequel. But I found ways to keep all that stuff. Further, I found a way to transfer all that equipment to brand new characters when starting a new game. So I basically played this game thoroughly. I even made sure to explore EVERY SINGLE STEP of the area map.
Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (PC Engine SuperCD)
The TurboGrafx-16 was the first video game system that I personally owned, as opposed to my family/household. I bought it with my own money and negotiated for TV time with my parents. They saw I was hooked and eventually got me the TurboCD attachment one Christmas. I used the detachable CD drive all the time to listen to my only CD and whatever I could borrow from friends (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack was the CD I owned). I spent lots of time playing even crappy games since I couldn't afford to own more than a few games. I never did beat Keith Courage, but I made good progress. So when I was in high school and had a chance to visit Japan for a couple weeks, I jumped at the chance. I had read about Dracula X in game magazines and decided I was going to try and find a copy while I was in Japan. I turns out in the summer of '95 some stores were still carrying a few new PC Engine titles. But I didn't see Dracula X until near the end of my trip, in a little shop in a train station. So I bought it. My host sister's younger sister had a PC Engine with CD-ROM so I was even able to try it out just a little bit before coming back to the US. I played this game near to death and figured out all the tricks and secrets without any help on-line. And when I took my Turbo setup to friends' houses, this game was usually the one folks wanted to play.
My gaming life continued to grow and develop during and after college, so I will probably need, at some point, to ponder another 5 games that defined my gaming life as I transitioned to adulthood. But this list here is absolutely the defining list of games that represent my gaming childhood.
-
BogusMeatFactory
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 6770
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:16 pm
- Location: Farmington Hills, MI
- Contact:
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
These are done in no particular order.
1. Combat! (Atari 2600) - This was the first game I ever played and was the one that drew me in so quickly. At first I played it solo, getting used to the idea of movement and interacting with an environment freely. It helped me with my aim at firing at stationary targets and really drove home the idea of what a video game is. As I grew and improved, I got to play against my older brothers and it was the real catalyst for my love of competitive play. Combat is why I love fighting games, why I love the likes of Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Splatoon, Team Fortress etc. It is the reason as to why my brothers had to do gimmicks like blindfold me when playing against me, or unplugging my controller or turning off the tv to try and win and gain an edge. It gave me the drive and mindset to understand the mechanics of a game and how to utilize those mechanics in fun and exciting ways. It taught me how to understand games.
2. MYST (PC) - Y'all have heard me rant and rave about the Myst franchise before, but I can never fully bring to light the real reasons why the franchise is so special. As a child with a new PC and this new fangled CD-ROM drive, my rich aunt bought us a copy of Myst, a game they themselves were in love with. I remember them visiting from out of state and handing it to us, with an encyclopedia sized amount of paper from a printed out walkthrough they found on the super early days of the internet. The game scared me as a kid, but also entranced me. It made me appreciate context in a game and to acknowledge the importance of story. It created worlds that sparked imagination and excitement unlike anything I had experienced prior. The sequels continued that love and emboldened it in ways I never thought possible.
3. Shenmue (Dreamcast) - Would you find it odd that I originally did not like this game? The Dreamcast was complicated for me. I originally disliked everything on it. some of my most favorites like Samba De Amigo and Shenmue were games I didn't understand. Like David Bowie was for my music tastes, I slowly had to ease my way in and begin to understand and enjoy them and when that happened...it happened in a BIG way. Shenmue taught me the love of foresight. Few games develop their story in its entirety before releasing a single title. Shenmue taught me the importance of making things connect over long periods of time... to slowly build up suspense and develop character bonds in a natural pace. It had a vast attention to detail that gave you the feeling of a living breathing world. Characters were quirky and strange at times, like the owner of the Happy Bear Burgers hating Tom's Hot Dogs, or that the little old lady that runs the general store in Ryo's neighborhood and how her and her husband were separated during World War II and how she opened this shop on the ruins of their bombed home in hopes of him returning. There is nothing that can truly compare to the love and detail given to each and every person and it really is magical.
4. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - My cousin got a Nintendo 64 before I did and was the big reason as to why I in turn got one. I remember him coming home with Mario 64 in tow and both of us firing it up in great anticipation. Why this was such a defining game for me was the mystery of the game. Before the days of old and the internet being prolific, you had no guides to turn to, no mass of people to exchange tips. It was just him and I, brainstorming about the meaning of each star's clue and exploring this seemingly enormous world together. It taught me that objectives should never be laid out plain before you and that you should work to understand what you need to do and how to achieve it. It provided challenge and a broad toolset to accomplish those challenges.
5. Magic Knight Rayearth (Sega Saturn) - This is a strange one, I know, but for me at the time it was inspirational. It was the first time I genuinely connected with a cast of characters and empathized them during their journey. The game offered an immense amount of detail with objects being observable by each of the three protagonists, all with their own unique perspective. It was that perspective that drew me in. The characters had personal journals that depicted their side of the story as you progressed and you as a person grew with them. You bonded with them and were a part of their adventure. I got emotional when it ended and genuinely did not want it to end.
1. Combat! (Atari 2600) - This was the first game I ever played and was the one that drew me in so quickly. At first I played it solo, getting used to the idea of movement and interacting with an environment freely. It helped me with my aim at firing at stationary targets and really drove home the idea of what a video game is. As I grew and improved, I got to play against my older brothers and it was the real catalyst for my love of competitive play. Combat is why I love fighting games, why I love the likes of Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Splatoon, Team Fortress etc. It is the reason as to why my brothers had to do gimmicks like blindfold me when playing against me, or unplugging my controller or turning off the tv to try and win and gain an edge. It gave me the drive and mindset to understand the mechanics of a game and how to utilize those mechanics in fun and exciting ways. It taught me how to understand games.
2. MYST (PC) - Y'all have heard me rant and rave about the Myst franchise before, but I can never fully bring to light the real reasons why the franchise is so special. As a child with a new PC and this new fangled CD-ROM drive, my rich aunt bought us a copy of Myst, a game they themselves were in love with. I remember them visiting from out of state and handing it to us, with an encyclopedia sized amount of paper from a printed out walkthrough they found on the super early days of the internet. The game scared me as a kid, but also entranced me. It made me appreciate context in a game and to acknowledge the importance of story. It created worlds that sparked imagination and excitement unlike anything I had experienced prior. The sequels continued that love and emboldened it in ways I never thought possible.
3. Shenmue (Dreamcast) - Would you find it odd that I originally did not like this game? The Dreamcast was complicated for me. I originally disliked everything on it. some of my most favorites like Samba De Amigo and Shenmue were games I didn't understand. Like David Bowie was for my music tastes, I slowly had to ease my way in and begin to understand and enjoy them and when that happened...it happened in a BIG way. Shenmue taught me the love of foresight. Few games develop their story in its entirety before releasing a single title. Shenmue taught me the importance of making things connect over long periods of time... to slowly build up suspense and develop character bonds in a natural pace. It had a vast attention to detail that gave you the feeling of a living breathing world. Characters were quirky and strange at times, like the owner of the Happy Bear Burgers hating Tom's Hot Dogs, or that the little old lady that runs the general store in Ryo's neighborhood and how her and her husband were separated during World War II and how she opened this shop on the ruins of their bombed home in hopes of him returning. There is nothing that can truly compare to the love and detail given to each and every person and it really is magical.
4. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - My cousin got a Nintendo 64 before I did and was the big reason as to why I in turn got one. I remember him coming home with Mario 64 in tow and both of us firing it up in great anticipation. Why this was such a defining game for me was the mystery of the game. Before the days of old and the internet being prolific, you had no guides to turn to, no mass of people to exchange tips. It was just him and I, brainstorming about the meaning of each star's clue and exploring this seemingly enormous world together. It taught me that objectives should never be laid out plain before you and that you should work to understand what you need to do and how to achieve it. It provided challenge and a broad toolset to accomplish those challenges.
5. Magic Knight Rayearth (Sega Saturn) - This is a strange one, I know, but for me at the time it was inspirational. It was the first time I genuinely connected with a cast of characters and empathized them during their journey. The game offered an immense amount of detail with objects being observable by each of the three protagonists, all with their own unique perspective. It was that perspective that drew me in. The characters had personal journals that depicted their side of the story as you progressed and you as a person grew with them. You bonded with them and were a part of their adventure. I got emotional when it ended and genuinely did not want it to end.
-I am the idiot that likes to have fun and be happy.Ack wrote:I don't know, chief, the haunting feeling of lust I feel whenever I look at your avatar makes me think it's real.
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
It was really tough to nail down 5 games for the list. I began by making a list of categories and narrowing that down to 5. Then I picked a single standout game from that category. For the curious my categories are:
-Early to Mid 80's Arcade
-My first console games: Atari 5200, NES, SNES
-Fighting Games
-JRPGs
-PC Gaming
Mario Bros Arcade
My earliest gaming memory would have to be playing Mario Bros and Donkey Kong at the two gas stations near my house. Mostly Mario Bros because that particular gas station was the closest. Mario Bros was especially fun because I could play it with my older sister. I always demanded to play as Luigi (I was 3 or 4 at the time and was probably pretty whiny about it). Almost 15 years later when I was in college, I purchased a Mario Bros arcade cabinet to put in my apartment. I traveled all the way to Michigan from Georgia to get it on the cheap. Sadly I sold it just a few years back because my family was growing and we lacked the space for it in our tiny house. Now that I have the space again, maybe one day I'll get another Mario Bros cab. None of the ports of Mario Bros quite lives up to the original arcade version.
Super Mario Bros 3
I got my NES rather late compared to just about everyone I went to school with. I am pretty sure I got it for Christmas in 1988. Like a lot of kids my age, I eagerly watched the great Super Mario Bros 3 commercial The Wizard. I was immediately sold and started dropping hints to my parents. I think it is the only video game they ever got for me that wasn't a Christmas or birthday present. I'm pretty sure they got it just to shut up me up (and my sister to a lesser extent). I'm also sure it is the reason they got us kids a separate TV for our game consoles when the SNES came out.
Killer Instinct (1994)
I played Street Fighter II a few times in the arcade but it did not really do much for me at the time. It wasn't until Mortal Kombat came out that fighting games really caught my attention. But it was Killer Instinct that cemented my love for fighting games. At the time, the graphics were astounding. As was intended by the developers, the announcer really added a lot to the game. It really made the game stand out when you walked into an arcade. It is one of the few games that I actually stood in line to play. I usually had limited time in the arcade because they bore my parents to tears. I spent many hours pouring over the move list and memorizing combos. One of my favorite things to do was to select the secret playable boss character Eyedol to catch opponents off-guard. Almost no one knew how to defend against him. If I had my pick of any arcade cabinets to own, this would be my #2 choice right after Mario Bros.
Final Fantasy III
I didn't get into RPGs until high school when a friend of mine forcefully loaded Final Fantasy III to me. I'm a glad she did because it has become my #1 favorite game of all time. Before I played Final Fantasy III, I never really played video games that had a detailed narrative. I fell in love with the story, the cast, and especially the music. The Final Fantasy III soundtrack is one of the first things that I ordered off the internet. I'm pretty sure I had to mail in a check because my mom did not want to use her credit card online. FFIII is also the first game that I ever "binged" on. Prior to FFIII, I usually only played a game for an hour or two at most. I distinctly remember playing it one Saturday after lunch and the next thing I knew my parents were calling for me to eat dinner. I couldn't believe that time had melted away such as it did. Because I liked FFIII so much, I immediately jumped on the PlayStation band wagon when I heard that Square ditched Nintendo for Sony. Because of the booming 90's economy, my parent's business was doing very well and they were able to get me a PlayStation for Christmas 1995. It would be nearly two years later before FFVII was released but luckily there were still a few SNES Squaresoft RPGs to keep me occupied like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG (see honorable mentions).
Everquest
Everquest was starting to gain a lot of hype on the internet and gaming magazines during my senior year of high school. It released while I was a freshman in college. I was working as a student worker in the IT department and all the employees were super into it. They convinced me to give it a try. Well I did and I hated it. The death penalty was too harsh and most races were blind as hell at night. I got my human paladin to level 5 before I quit. I could not see what all the fuss was about. Fast forward a few expansions to just before Legacy Of Ykesha and I decided to give it another go. This time I started a beastlord and played with my roommate. I wasn't diggin on the beastlord very much because I could not solo really well. I looked up what classes could solo well and I made a halfling druid. I started leveling like a madman. Remember all the guys in the IT department I worked with? Well I was nearly caught up to them in a a few weeks when they had been playing for years. I started playing with them again and we had many a great adventure. My two favorite zones were The Halls of Betrayal (Chardok B) and the Plane of Mischief. The Plane of Mischief was especially fun because most players could not navigate it. It was full of traps, invisible walls/floors, teleporters, etc. We would setup camp anywhere in the zone and we did not have to fight other players for item drops. I played Everquest almost exclusively until the Gates of Discord expansion.
Honorable Mentions:
-Early to Mid 80's Arcade
-My first console games: Atari 5200, NES, SNES
-Fighting Games
-JRPGs
-PC Gaming
Mario Bros Arcade
My earliest gaming memory would have to be playing Mario Bros and Donkey Kong at the two gas stations near my house. Mostly Mario Bros because that particular gas station was the closest. Mario Bros was especially fun because I could play it with my older sister. I always demanded to play as Luigi (I was 3 or 4 at the time and was probably pretty whiny about it). Almost 15 years later when I was in college, I purchased a Mario Bros arcade cabinet to put in my apartment. I traveled all the way to Michigan from Georgia to get it on the cheap. Sadly I sold it just a few years back because my family was growing and we lacked the space for it in our tiny house. Now that I have the space again, maybe one day I'll get another Mario Bros cab. None of the ports of Mario Bros quite lives up to the original arcade version.
Super Mario Bros 3
I got my NES rather late compared to just about everyone I went to school with. I am pretty sure I got it for Christmas in 1988. Like a lot of kids my age, I eagerly watched the great Super Mario Bros 3 commercial The Wizard. I was immediately sold and started dropping hints to my parents. I think it is the only video game they ever got for me that wasn't a Christmas or birthday present. I'm pretty sure they got it just to shut up me up (and my sister to a lesser extent). I'm also sure it is the reason they got us kids a separate TV for our game consoles when the SNES came out.
Killer Instinct (1994)
I played Street Fighter II a few times in the arcade but it did not really do much for me at the time. It wasn't until Mortal Kombat came out that fighting games really caught my attention. But it was Killer Instinct that cemented my love for fighting games. At the time, the graphics were astounding. As was intended by the developers, the announcer really added a lot to the game. It really made the game stand out when you walked into an arcade. It is one of the few games that I actually stood in line to play. I usually had limited time in the arcade because they bore my parents to tears. I spent many hours pouring over the move list and memorizing combos. One of my favorite things to do was to select the secret playable boss character Eyedol to catch opponents off-guard. Almost no one knew how to defend against him. If I had my pick of any arcade cabinets to own, this would be my #2 choice right after Mario Bros.
Final Fantasy III
I didn't get into RPGs until high school when a friend of mine forcefully loaded Final Fantasy III to me. I'm a glad she did because it has become my #1 favorite game of all time. Before I played Final Fantasy III, I never really played video games that had a detailed narrative. I fell in love with the story, the cast, and especially the music. The Final Fantasy III soundtrack is one of the first things that I ordered off the internet. I'm pretty sure I had to mail in a check because my mom did not want to use her credit card online. FFIII is also the first game that I ever "binged" on. Prior to FFIII, I usually only played a game for an hour or two at most. I distinctly remember playing it one Saturday after lunch and the next thing I knew my parents were calling for me to eat dinner. I couldn't believe that time had melted away such as it did. Because I liked FFIII so much, I immediately jumped on the PlayStation band wagon when I heard that Square ditched Nintendo for Sony. Because of the booming 90's economy, my parent's business was doing very well and they were able to get me a PlayStation for Christmas 1995. It would be nearly two years later before FFVII was released but luckily there were still a few SNES Squaresoft RPGs to keep me occupied like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG (see honorable mentions).
Everquest
Everquest was starting to gain a lot of hype on the internet and gaming magazines during my senior year of high school. It released while I was a freshman in college. I was working as a student worker in the IT department and all the employees were super into it. They convinced me to give it a try. Well I did and I hated it. The death penalty was too harsh and most races were blind as hell at night. I got my human paladin to level 5 before I quit. I could not see what all the fuss was about. Fast forward a few expansions to just before Legacy Of Ykesha and I decided to give it another go. This time I started a beastlord and played with my roommate. I wasn't diggin on the beastlord very much because I could not solo really well. I looked up what classes could solo well and I made a halfling druid. I started leveling like a madman. Remember all the guys in the IT department I worked with? Well I was nearly caught up to them in a a few weeks when they had been playing for years. I started playing with them again and we had many a great adventure. My two favorite zones were The Halls of Betrayal (Chardok B) and the Plane of Mischief. The Plane of Mischief was especially fun because most players could not navigate it. It was full of traps, invisible walls/floors, teleporters, etc. We would setup camp anywhere in the zone and we did not have to fight other players for item drops. I played Everquest almost exclusively until the Gates of Discord expansion.
Honorable Mentions:
Last edited by bmoc on Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
BoneSnapDeez
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 20148
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2011 1:08 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
I almost included the first video game I ever played... but it was E.T. not Combat. 
I also came close to including Rayearth myself... The Super Famicom game, that is. Why? First fan translation I ever played.
I also came close to including Rayearth myself... The Super Famicom game, that is. Why? First fan translation I ever played.
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
This is definitely tricky, I feel like my answers could change easily.
NiGHTS into Dreams - I was a hardcore Sonic kid growing up and even though this isn't really a Sonic game, it is a Sonic Team game back when that meant something. That flying purple jester captured my middle schooler-imagination like few other things. This is also a game I love playing for scores. I never really cared about scores in Sonic games, but this has some of that intense arcade-style action I love! Sega needs some representation in my list!
Dragon Quest III - I love RPGs and this one stands out as being one of the best I've ever played. I had already liked the first one a lot and thought the second one was okay, but this game cemented in my mind that the Dragon Quest series is something extremely special. The JRPG formula polished to perfection, the gameplay is constantly fun, the plot feels like it's constantly moving even when you're on a "collect all these magical orbs" quest, and the connections to the previous games really play up the nostalgia-angle in a way that's downright masterly.
Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 - I *love* DDR and music games in general. I went through a phase when I was playing every day and able to beat many of the hardest songs on the hardest difficulties, using a "Cobalt Flux" high-end hard-pad. While most DDR-fans had the Playstation versions for playing at home, I had the original Xbox before I got a PS2, so I played the Ultramix games! Ultramix 2 stands out in my mind as having a great selection of songs, good looking characters, and a polished feel that makes it seem snazzier than the PS2 games IMO. Maybe I should have picked an arcade version (Supernova is the one I've played the most in the arcades) but I played on consoles more than at arcades! Someday I'll get a setup in which I can play again...
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - What even needs to be said about this game aside from the fact that it's an absolute masterpiece? I love the spooky-gothic style, the awesome soundtrack, the fun exploration, being able to equip wacky items. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS GREAT. I think it lives up to its reputation as the best Castlevania game, although the later 2D ones for GBA and DS were pretty fantastic as well. I wish Konami was still making them (maybe Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will be good?). Anyway, this is my "2D action game" of this list, because I need to have at least one of those.
Sam & Max Hit the Road - it doesn't feel right for me to not include a DOS game and Sam & Max is one of my favorites. LucasArts adventure games are regularly fantastic, but this one has extra appeal to me in that it has its origins in underground comics and is chock-full o' WEIRDO-AMERICANA! This game has inspired me on real-life roadtrips, to stop at Stuckey's and to visit weird/awesome tourist attractions. Someday I still hope to see the World's Largest Ball of Twine!
Many others probably deserve to be on the list: Commander Keen, Bubble Bobble, Ultima IV, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Phantasy Star IV, Sonic 2, Metal Slug, Deathsmiles, Street Fighter II... oh well, 5 games are 5 games.
NiGHTS into Dreams - I was a hardcore Sonic kid growing up and even though this isn't really a Sonic game, it is a Sonic Team game back when that meant something. That flying purple jester captured my middle schooler-imagination like few other things. This is also a game I love playing for scores. I never really cared about scores in Sonic games, but this has some of that intense arcade-style action I love! Sega needs some representation in my list!
Dragon Quest III - I love RPGs and this one stands out as being one of the best I've ever played. I had already liked the first one a lot and thought the second one was okay, but this game cemented in my mind that the Dragon Quest series is something extremely special. The JRPG formula polished to perfection, the gameplay is constantly fun, the plot feels like it's constantly moving even when you're on a "collect all these magical orbs" quest, and the connections to the previous games really play up the nostalgia-angle in a way that's downright masterly.
Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 - I *love* DDR and music games in general. I went through a phase when I was playing every day and able to beat many of the hardest songs on the hardest difficulties, using a "Cobalt Flux" high-end hard-pad. While most DDR-fans had the Playstation versions for playing at home, I had the original Xbox before I got a PS2, so I played the Ultramix games! Ultramix 2 stands out in my mind as having a great selection of songs, good looking characters, and a polished feel that makes it seem snazzier than the PS2 games IMO. Maybe I should have picked an arcade version (Supernova is the one I've played the most in the arcades) but I played on consoles more than at arcades! Someday I'll get a setup in which I can play again...
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - What even needs to be said about this game aside from the fact that it's an absolute masterpiece? I love the spooky-gothic style, the awesome soundtrack, the fun exploration, being able to equip wacky items. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS GREAT. I think it lives up to its reputation as the best Castlevania game, although the later 2D ones for GBA and DS were pretty fantastic as well. I wish Konami was still making them (maybe Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will be good?). Anyway, this is my "2D action game" of this list, because I need to have at least one of those.
Sam & Max Hit the Road - it doesn't feel right for me to not include a DOS game and Sam & Max is one of my favorites. LucasArts adventure games are regularly fantastic, but this one has extra appeal to me in that it has its origins in underground comics and is chock-full o' WEIRDO-AMERICANA! This game has inspired me on real-life roadtrips, to stop at Stuckey's and to visit weird/awesome tourist attractions. Someday I still hope to see the World's Largest Ball of Twine!
Many others probably deserve to be on the list: Commander Keen, Bubble Bobble, Ultima IV, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Phantasy Star IV, Sonic 2, Metal Slug, Deathsmiles, Street Fighter II... oh well, 5 games are 5 games.
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
Bold selection. I played this for the first time a couple years ago, and didn't think too much of it until I got to the floating gardens, and heard the BGM, at which point it hit me that, 'Yeah, this game is pretty baller.' I cared considerably more about the Rayearth characters and narrative when I was in middle school, but as you say, the detail in interactions with each of the three main characters really lends itself to investing in them throughout the game. When the Saturn was on its way out, I saw the US version at a Software Etc, or Babbages, and despite great deliberation, did not grab it. I can only imagine how much I would have fallen in love with the game back then, if I had actually bought it.BogusMeatFactory wrote:5. Magic Knight Rayearth (Sega Saturn) - This is a strange one, I know, but for me at the time it was inspirational. It was the first time I genuinely connected with a cast of characters and empathized them during their journey. The game offered an immense amount of detail with objects being observable by each of the three protagonists, all with their own unique perspective. It was that perspective that drew me in. The characters had personal journals that depicted their side of the story as you progressed and you as a person grew with them. You bonded with them and were a part of their adventure. I got emotional when it ended and genuinely did not want it to end.
This reminds me of playing DDR in college. One of my roommates had a bunch of the PS2 DDRs, and one of the considerably better dance pads (with the tumbling mat style insert). For a while I was playing it so much that I had gotten into clearing Challenge level songs. It was something of a ritual that I would get a gallon jug of water, and play until it was gone, or I couldn't stand anymore (whichever came first). Sometimes we would go to a mini golf establishment that had a couple of the arcade machines, too. Good times. Guitar Hero 1 and 2, and DDR were some of the games that I felt I could legitimately impress people with, back then. It's amazing how quickly DDR skills fall off, though. I probably couldn't even clear "Can Be Real," or "Kind Lady" on Heavy, anymore (two of my favorites for warming up). Some really great music in those games, too.Nemoide wrote:Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 - I *love* DDR and music games in general. I went through a phase when I was playing every day and able to beat many of the hardest songs on the hardest difficulties, using a "Cobalt Flux" high-end hard-pad. While most DDR-fans had the Playstation versions for playing at home, I had the original Xbox before I got a PS2, so I played the Ultramix games! Ultramix 2 stands out in my mind as having a great selection of songs, good looking characters, and a polished feel that makes it seem snazzier than the PS2 games IMO. Maybe I should have picked an arcade version (Supernova is the one I've played the most in the arcades) but I played on consoles more than at arcades! Someday I'll get a setup in which I can play again...
I really prefer the classicvania games, but SotN, as a metroidvania, is so classic that it really stands alone in the subgenre, for me. That is, unless one were to throw the Monster World games into the mix.Nemoide wrote:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - What even needs to be said about this game aside from the fact that it's an absolute masterpiece? I love the spooky-gothic style, the awesome soundtrack, the fun exploration, being able to equip wacky items. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS GREAT. I think it lives up to its reputation as the best Castlevania game, although the later 2D ones for GBA and DS were pretty fantastic as well. I wish Konami was still making them (maybe Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will be good?). Anyway, this is my "2D action game" of this list, because I need to have at least one of those.
_____________________________________
Steam (and other) keys for trade/free: viewtopic.php?p=1189267#p1189267
B/S/T Thread: viewtopic.php?p=1188724#p1188724
Steam (and other) keys for trade/free: viewtopic.php?p=1189267#p1189267
B/S/T Thread: viewtopic.php?p=1188724#p1188724
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
Hmm, this might be tough.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - As my first NES game, I suspect it was a bit influential on my tastes. I very much had a love-hate-love relationship with it, but I still replay it every few years.
Dragon Warrior - My first RPG. I knew I wanted the game when I saw the coverage in Nintendo Power. So cool. As a bit of a numbers geek, RPGs as a whole appealed to me, so this was one of the games that put me on that path. Dragon Warrior IV would end up my favorite, and it's very nearly on this list as well.
Final Fantasy III - I didn't get a SNES for quite some time, so when I found it along with FFIII at a yard sale, I was one happy camper. I got my money's worth, that's for sure. While I'd be tempted to put Chrono Trigger here simply because it's my favorite, it really wasn't quite a turning point.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - This game was a revelation. The fact that an 2D exploratory platformer could even exist in the PlayStation era, much less be as good as this one, is rather mind-blowing. This is another one of my "revisit" games.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Not my first Game Boy game, but the one that really showed that a console-quality Zelda could exist on the Game Boy.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - As my first NES game, I suspect it was a bit influential on my tastes. I very much had a love-hate-love relationship with it, but I still replay it every few years.
Dragon Warrior - My first RPG. I knew I wanted the game when I saw the coverage in Nintendo Power. So cool. As a bit of a numbers geek, RPGs as a whole appealed to me, so this was one of the games that put me on that path. Dragon Warrior IV would end up my favorite, and it's very nearly on this list as well.
Final Fantasy III - I didn't get a SNES for quite some time, so when I found it along with FFIII at a yard sale, I was one happy camper. I got my money's worth, that's for sure. While I'd be tempted to put Chrono Trigger here simply because it's my favorite, it really wasn't quite a turning point.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - This game was a revelation. The fact that an 2D exploratory platformer could even exist in the PlayStation era, much less be as good as this one, is rather mind-blowing. This is another one of my "revisit" games.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Not my first Game Boy game, but the one that really showed that a console-quality Zelda could exist on the Game Boy.
-
Jmustang1968
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 6530
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:51 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: What 5 games define you as a gamer?
Madden Series
I have been playing Madden games every year since they first released on Genesis 92/93. I have been through all the evolutions with the series and is has been integral to my gaming lifestyle. I also played it a ton in college with friends and continued after into online league and then franchise modes.
World of Warcraft
WoW dominated my free time and was a major focus of gaming for me for years. It has helped cause my current backlog. I spent hours upon hours leveling, raiding, PVP etc... My wife and I also played together a bunch before and after we were married. In college, she bought her first computer (before they just had a family PC) to play and would bring it over for WoW "date nights". I have finally had my fill of WoW, but I dont think there is a game I hVe sunk more time into. I have made friends from WoW that have continued outside of the game.
Shining Force 2
This was my first RPG experience. I recall wanting a game I could build up a group of characters, and went to the rental store looking for such. I found it with SF2 and loved it from the first few minutes. I even met one of my best friends from middle and high school from this game. I was stuck at a part, and I knew he liked stufd like this and asked him how to get past. Friends ever since. This has sparked my love of SRPGs.
Baldur's Gate 2
This game was immersive and deep. Character interactions, a truly epic journey, and non linear freedom. This game set up my love for western style RPGs and the experience they offer. I always get an itch to go bsck and play this
Ogre Battle & Final Fantasy Series
I couldnt leave either out. Perhaps my 2 favorites series of games, and I have played just about every release (minus a few FF spinoffs). Ogre Battle has a unique game system, and tactics ogre has an engaging plot and solod tactical combat. FFVI showed me the potential for grand and emotional stories in games, plus perhaps the best cast of characters.
I have been playing Madden games every year since they first released on Genesis 92/93. I have been through all the evolutions with the series and is has been integral to my gaming lifestyle. I also played it a ton in college with friends and continued after into online league and then franchise modes.
World of Warcraft
WoW dominated my free time and was a major focus of gaming for me for years. It has helped cause my current backlog. I spent hours upon hours leveling, raiding, PVP etc... My wife and I also played together a bunch before and after we were married. In college, she bought her first computer (before they just had a family PC) to play and would bring it over for WoW "date nights". I have finally had my fill of WoW, but I dont think there is a game I hVe sunk more time into. I have made friends from WoW that have continued outside of the game.
Shining Force 2
This was my first RPG experience. I recall wanting a game I could build up a group of characters, and went to the rental store looking for such. I found it with SF2 and loved it from the first few minutes. I even met one of my best friends from middle and high school from this game. I was stuck at a part, and I knew he liked stufd like this and asked him how to get past. Friends ever since. This has sparked my love of SRPGs.
Baldur's Gate 2
This game was immersive and deep. Character interactions, a truly epic journey, and non linear freedom. This game set up my love for western style RPGs and the experience they offer. I always get an itch to go bsck and play this
Ogre Battle & Final Fantasy Series
I couldnt leave either out. Perhaps my 2 favorites series of games, and I have played just about every release (minus a few FF spinoffs). Ogre Battle has a unique game system, and tactics ogre has an engaging plot and solod tactical combat. FFVI showed me the potential for grand and emotional stories in games, plus perhaps the best cast of characters.
My Sales Thread
My Gameroom and Collection pics
Game Room Video Tour
RPGamer Previewer
Current Feedback: +266 Racketboy, +172 NintendoAge
My Gameroom and Collection pics
Game Room Video Tour
RPGamer Previewer
Current Feedback: +266 Racketboy, +172 NintendoAge