top 5 games via facebook

[aaron]

i typed way too much on facebook for it to just be wasted there so i'm copying/pasting. apologies.

1) Sonic & Knuckles
perfect 16-bit platformer. the genesis is much, much faster than the snes (68000 @ 7.61Mhz vs. 65816 @ 3.58Mhz = you do the math), so don't come at me with that super mario world bullshit. for my money, it doesn't get much better than locking sonic 3 onto this cart, because you have an immersive story (without dialogue), intricate level design, and intuitive controls. game rules, sega wins, eat one.

2) Tetris
perfect puzzle game. could seriously spend hours playing this and it never, ever get old (and i have, actually). it's such a simple concept but it works so well. accessible enough for anyone to pick up and enjoy, but deep enough that mastering it is quite an accomplishment. the NES version (the one pictured, not the tengen release) wins as far as overall presentation is concerned thanks to its simplicity as well as the charming "c-type" music.

3) Final Fantasy X
perfect JRPG. i don't care if it's "teh eeeeeasiest FF evar!" or what, it's amazing. presentation is polished, visuals are stunning, the story sucks you in (though its a little run of the mill), the characters are engaging, it's just great. the battle system is probably my favorite out of the recent FF games because i hate active time battles and love the ability to swap out characters mid-battle. maybe it's too easy for some people, but they can stick to playing dragon quest or whatever. i like FFX. suck it.

4) Shadow of the Colossus
i can't really begin to explain how beautiful and innovative this game actually is. i'm sure you can tell by now that i'm all about presentation in gaming, viewing it as more of an art form or means of expression over anything else. this game is beautiful and the scope of the landscape is absolutely HUGE. i really appreciated the puzzle aspect of having to topple the colossi and the controls feel so natural for something that could have been really hard to get the hang of. it's like playing the original super mario bros for the first time; you get it initially, but then after spending some time with the controller in your hand, you really GET it. plus i'm a sucker for the "prince saving the princess in distress" type of stories.


5) Braid
i really like this game, and i may be only throwing it on here because i've been playing it so much lately, but it's really unique to me in that its the first game i've played in years that has made me so fucking frustrated and angry, yet compels me to keep trying rather than going and doing something else. (run-on, sorry) the puzzles are HARD as hell, super creative, and unlike anything i've experienced in gaming thus far. the style of the game is very smooth, i like the art style and i really appreciate the "story" books before each world. very well written and almost hauntingly esoteric. the music is amazing also. solid game, backed hard.



boring night. thanks for being here, racketforums.

[Dakinggamer87]

All those games are awesome.. especially FFX FTW!!

[mako72]

I also did this. I picked:
1. Ikaruga- Perfection. This game spoiled me for shmups. I always look for something better but nothing compares.
2.Another World- A game by one man who created it "as he went along". Seriously I think he spent a year making the opening cinematic before starting on the actual game.He ended up making one of the greatest platformers by breaking all the conventional rules of game design. I love the art design of this game. In a way I kinda feel like its connected to Ico and SOTC in its setting.
I recommend the updated 15 year anniversary edition.
3. Shadow of the Colossus - a great game that I loved but I dont know if I will ever play it again. I dunno, its amazing. Maybe ill play it tomorrow.
4. Tomb Raider- when this game first came out it blew me and my brothers mind. We had never seen anything like it before. I will never forget how much we freaked out on the Lost Valley level.
5. Portal- minimalism at its best. Also another game the broke game design conventions.

Its funny that some of the best games are the ones we don't play all the time. They are single use games. Like a once in a lifetime trip that you will never forget.