As I have mentioned before I like a good Video Game, they relax me, bring me joy and allow me to take out my frustration on passers by (without being arrested). So I figured for this blog I would take a look at some of the best games I have played.
Now this is not an attempt at ranking the greatest games of all time, or me trying to force my opinion on you, rather this is me talking about games I have loved over the years. Sort of like me talking about ex girlfriends only with less chance of my wife getting upset.
1. Civilization 2:
There are many forms of the Civ series and I have played them all but this still remains my favorite. So much so I still play it, in fact I have a game on the go at the moment* and I suspect I shall keep playing it until my PC no longer supports it.
All to often when a sequel to a popular game is released tons of extras bits are added that make it less enjoyable and that is exactly what I have found with the sequels to Civ2. So I have stuck with this incarnation and I am happy being the leader of a Fundamentalist nation kicking the arse of the French on a regular basis.
2. Grand Theft Auto San Andras:
Rockstar really struck gold with the GTA series and in my humble opinion this is the best game of the lot. I love the idea of a Sandbox game** but I also think if you are going to do one based on criminal activity it needs to be fun and light hearted. It’s like Superheros, they don’t work when you go grim and gritty, they are a silly premise so keep it light.
San Andras had the right mix of great missions and light hearted fun, plus a great voice cast and killer soundtrack. It’s way way better than GTA 4 and I hope the GTA5 takes a leaf out of this book rather than the brown depressing world of Nico Belic.
3. Goldeneye:
The N64 was made for two games, Super Mario Kart and Goldeneye, both games are good but Goldeneye is great.
It’s one of the few movie adaptations that actually follows the plot of the film and as an added bonus give you extra levels that don’t seem shoehorned in. Sure the graphics are dated now but it is still fun to get drunk at a pub and come home with a couple of mates and play this multi player.
License to kill + facility + proximity mines = The most insane fun you can have on an N64.
4. Fable 2:
You know what? This game gets a lot of hate for no good reason. It’s not World of Warcraft and it was never meant to be, it’s a pick up and put down fantasy game, not one you have to spend hours on to get anywhere.
What makes Fable great is that you get to chose whether to be a hero or a villain and the world is genuinely shaped by the outcome of your actions. Now for all the complaining about it’s shortness and some stupid expression mini games it’s worth it just to play the hero for once. Bizarrely I find in this game I can’t play a villain. Put a sword in my hand and tell me to save the world and I just can’t be a selfish dick, I have to man up.
5. Smackdown Here Comes the Pain:
I have played many wrestling games but this one holds the best memoires. The story mode in this game is what makes great, you start off in an empty area and follow a 2 year story arc where you can make your own choices and win pretty much every belt going. I still love the fact that I took The Hurricane to be The World Champion and The Rock was my tag team partner.
Until Smackdown vs Raw 2010 none of the other games have come as close as this one for sheer fun.
6. Burnout 3:
Again this series has suffered with (for me) over complicating things since the release of this game. The latest game for example makes you drive to each race and you can only change car at a garage (which you have to drive to). If I am playing a driving game I want to choose my race and car and get the hell on with it, not have to worry about crashing the car before I even get to the race.
This game feels like a successor to Mario Kart in a way, and is all the better for it.
7. Halo 2:
When I was in my 20’s I had a house share with 4 other guys, we all had Xbox’s and we all owned Halo 2. I had snagged an old printer hub from work which we used to link up our machines (along with a lot of cabling) and play the hell out of this game.
Great memories from an otherwise crappy time in my life.
8. Tetris:
I really should not have to explain why this game was (and still is) great. Simple, addictive and fun. OF course now you can play the thing on your mobile fun which means it will never fade away.
9. Saints Row 2:
Fellow blogger Spike Marshall refers to this game as the spiritual successor to GTA San Andras and he is right. More comedic mayhem, total customization of your gang, character and cars , another killer soundtrack and top notch voice casting.
Plus name another game where you can break up a gang fight between Pirates and Ninjas with the aid of a Flamethrower?
10. Red Dead Redemption:
This should come as no surprise to anyone that has played it, in fact I am warming to the opinion that this may well be the best game ever made. GTA with cowboys, how can you not think this is cool.
But beyond that it has the best plot to any game I have ever played and truly draws you in. I dare you to play this game and not root for John Marsden to win through at the end.
A future classic for sure.
So there we have it, I hope you enjoyed my little taste of nostalgia and that it prompts you to pull out some of those older games in your collection for another go.
But never play me at Civ 2, you will be crushed like the insects you are.***
*The glorious nation of Kentopia is attempting to conquer Europe. And we shall, all will fall before my power!!!
** For those that don’t know this means a game where you can do anything and are not tied to one liner plot. You are free to complete the game in any order and at your own pace.
*** Ok I admit it, I want to rule the world.