What games express sheer joy?

[Hobie-wan]

Some games that don't have violence at all and have a great attitude and gameplay are...

Bust a move series

Suffocating bad guys in bubbles, the popping said bubbles so they go flying off the screen?

[prfsnl_gmr]

When I think of joy in games, I now think of Journey, wherein the joy you experience is first tempered with sorrow but is much stronger for it. It is one of the best examples of a true happiness-inducing ending in a game that I can recall (though Flower does something similar).

"Sheer" is a tough qualifier, as it suggests experiencing a sense of joy throughout a game from the moment you first turn on the switch through to the end - which is something most games do at a very basic level (e.g. they create fun, joyous experiences). Most good games do this throughout. I would be more interested in the way that a game can build/create unexpected or maybe overflowing joy - something that is hard to contain and is more than you get from a typical genre experience.

I very much enjoyed Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, but I was unprepared for the joy I experienced starting each level in Super Mario Galaxy.

For those who have not played the game, at the beginning of every level, Mario flys in like Superman and throws his hands up triumphantly when he sets down. The camera then pans behind him to show the fantastic world before him (and, therefore, before the player).

I experienced the most joy when the camera, rather than revealing a relatively peaceful galaxy, would show spinning blades, lava, spikes, magi-koopas, etc. The more dangerous the world appeared, the more joy I experienced wathcing Mario set down on it. Having conquered every Mario game up to that point, I knew that I was up to the challenge - and the way Mario triumphantly set down on each planet indicated that he was up to the challenge as well. It was like him saying, "I've done this before - and I am going to do this again - but this time, I am going to do it with style." Moreover, by the time you reach some of the more challenging levels, you really can do it with style. There were some imposing levels where, after setting down, Mario took off at full speed before wall-jumping and back-flipping his way to victory in a single life.

In any event, I had a tremendous smile on my face almost the entire time that I was playing through the game, and I enjoyed it much, much more than I ever anticipated. Additionally, I have played a lot of games - and a lot of 3D platformers - but the joy I experienced wathcing Mario set down at the start of each new, fantastic level was far "more than get from a typical genre experience."

[AppleQueso]

Some games that don't have violence at all and have a great attitude and gameplay are...

Bust a move series

Suffocating bad guys in bubbles, the popping said bubbles so they go flying off the screen?

Nah man that's Bubble Bobble.

Bust-A-Move is the puzzle game one.

[Key-Glyph]

Some games that don't have violence at all and have a great attitude and gameplay are...

Bust a move series

Suffocating bad guys in bubbles, the popping said bubbles so they go flying off the screen?

Nah man that's Bubble Bobble.

Bust-A-Move is the puzzle game one.

Yeah. In Puzzle Bobble your enemies come pre-shrinkwrapped in colorful bubble prisons which you demolish with rounds of technicolor ammunition, resulting in said enemies' plummeting unknown distances toward their adorable demise.

No really, I love Puzzle Bobble. If we're talking joy, I very much love the sound the Neo Geo/Saturn version makes when a challenger appears. I can only describe it in writing as "Ba-KEEEHH?!"

[Goregasm]

as far as happy vibes go I think pikmin does pretty good. the first tomb raider game brings alot of joyfull memories, the exploration and the music that plays when you walk into a secret area made me feel extremley happy.

[AppliCotton]

Loads of Japanese games...

- Cute 'em ups like Twinbee, Parodius, Cotton...

Yes, Parodius and Cotton can put a smile on anybody's face. Other than that Wonder Boy III Monster Lair, PC Engine version (the redbook audio is the happiest music I've ever heard, not beep beep either, it's an actual band) and oooh Star Parodier. Yeah, I'm gonna say nothing tops Star Parodier for pure joy.

[GryeDor]

i'll be honest, i skimmed most of this, but didn't see this...

how has no one said Yoshi's Story yet??

[AppleQueso]

i'll be honest, i skimmed most of this, but didn't see this...

how has no one said Yoshi's Story yet??

Probably because a lot of people really dislike that game

[insanecow0]

I second Katamari, particularly any level in We <3 Katamari with this song playing in the background.

Man, EVERY song in the Katamari games is amazing.

Definitely dude, the Katamari series has some of my favorite game OSTs ever.

[Bradtemple87]

Hobbie obviously just trolled all of you

Let's add Jumping Flash