My Top Five Games of All Time

MY TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME

5. Super Mario Bros (NES) – This was the first game I was introduced to. I was about six years old and often fought with my older sister and cousins over the NES controller to get a chance to play. This is the game I’m sure most gamers have played at some point in their lives and helped start a ‘love affair’ with gaming. The graphics are very dated in comparison to today’s standards, but it is a pinnacle in gaming and many games since it’s inception have followed the timeless formula.

4. Tony Hawk Pro Skater (PS1) – THPS was a game changer for me in terms of gameplay. It is truly the first game I have invested hundreds of hours in. Executing manuals and reverts, looking for the hidden tapes and kick-flipping through iconic stages such as The Warehouse, School #1, et cetera. Also, the soundtrack was constantly in head during the long days at school, namely ‘New Girl’ by The Suicide Machines:

Verse 1

Well I can’t wait to tell you all about her, all about my new girl
(he can’t wait to tell you about his new girl)
And I can’t wait for you to hear me shout it, all about my new girl
(he can’t wait to tell you about his new girl)
When we were together you tried to break my heart
Said you always did your best at keeping us apart
Said now you’re dead and gone and I’ve got a new thing going…
I can’t wait to see your face when you and your friends show up Listen | Buy

So I’ve got a – I got a new girl (repeat 4 times)

3. Final Fantasy VII (PS1) – This is the first Final Fantasy game I have ever played and it left an indelible impression on me when I first played it in 1997. This was the first game where I truly became invested in the story and the characters. Final Fantasy VII was the first RPG I have played and it was not the last. Like Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy VII was a major milestone in my gaming life. I actually teared up when the HD remake was announced at this year’s E3. I can’t wait to see how Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura will reignite fan’s excitement with the remake.

2. Mass Effect Trilogy (X360, PS3) – I am cheating a bit here in including three games at the number two spot but I view the series as a saga. It is one engrossing story told over the series and it done in an epic fashion. The gameplay was a perfect blend of action and role playing, with an engaging group of characters and moments that left a lasting impression on me. I won’t discuss the ending(s) of the third game in the franchise or whether I was a part of the majority that vocalized dissatisfaction in how said scenarios seemingly took away the player’s ownership of their character’s story (Paragon/Renegade, Spacer/Earthborn/Colonist, War Hero/Ruthless/Sole Survivor, et cetera). Nevertheless, this trilogy has been a staple of my gaming catalog and is one series that I constantly go back and play. As much as I am anticipating the fourth game in the series, Mass Effect: Andromeda, I truly hope that Bioware/EA would bring the trilogy to the PS4 and Xbox One in a HD remaster with all DLC included.

1. Shenmue (Sega Dreamcast) – So much of my childhood revolved around this game. I remember the moment I asked my mother for this game for my 16th birthday. The game was released on November 8th, 2000 and I was ecstatic when received both the Sega Dreamcast and the game on my birthday. The following days I spent playing through the story were incredible. The immersive gameplay, particularly the combat system and learning new moves by buying/collecting scrolls was game changing and very unique. Tasks that seemed tedious at first were addictive, such as collecting capsule toys/figures, earning money by holding a part-time job, forklift racing at Yokohama Harbor, as well as interacting with the numerous NPCs in the game (Tom, Nozomi, Harasaki, Tom Johnson, an orphaned kitten). Ryo Hazuki is probably my favorite video game character of all time, despite the somewhat wooden delivery and his strange obsession with finding sailors (you would have to play the game to understand the reference). Yu Suzuki, the creator of the franchise, developed arguably the most ambitious game in the second generation of console gaming. I can say with all honesty that I cried tears of joy when Shenmue III was announced. It will probably be a couple of years, but I can honestly say it is my most anticipated game of this console generation. Until then, I will dust off my Sega Dreamcast and fire up my copy of the game, reliving those moments that made Shenmue my number one game of all time.