Here’s a fun little exercise: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen video games you’ve played that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. (I saw this first at Forbes.com but have seen it elsewhere now)
Lemonade stand – I don’t remember what system I played this on first (probably my friend’s C64) but I’ve always considered myself a entrepreneurial/capitalistic kind of guy, so I was all about selling that lemonade.
Below the Root – Another game that I played non-stop at a friend’s house, Below the Root was a world I loved.
TSR/SSI/Goldbox Games – I’m cheating here a bit, but all the goldbox games will always stick with me, especially the Dragonlance series.
Tradewars 2002 – A precursor to MMO’s and browser-based games, BBS Doors were some of my favorite games, but TW2002 was my favorite. I always named my ships “Ride the Lightning” and I continue that naming system to this day.
Syndicate – I actually only remember playing Syndicate for maybe six hours total, but this mini-strategy game was one that tapped directly into my pleasure centers. I am still hoping for a remake.
Mortal Kombat 2 (arcade) – I may have mentioned this before, but I worked at an arcade in high school, so I had free arcade games for about two straight years, in the hey-day (in my opinion) of video games, the early 90’s. We’re talking X-Men, Ninja Turtles, Off-Road and of course Mortal Kombat. When Mortal Kombat 2 came out, I was already in college and no longer working at the arcade, but I couldn’t get enough MK2.
Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off Road (arcade) – Another video game I could play all day. When I buy my first upright arcade game, it’s going to be Super Off Road.
Doom – Opened my eyes and forever made me a fan of first person shooters.
Super Mario Brothers – Take which ever one you want and you’ll be fine. Right now, I’m loving Super Mario Galaxy 2. That’s TWENTY ONE YEARS of playing Super Mario. That’s got to count for something.
Metroid Prime – I loved the 8- and 16-bit versions of Metroid, but Metroid Prime was a transcedent experience for me. The atmosphere, the loneliness and the music. Oh, the music. It’s still on heavy rotation on my iPod to this day.
Resident Evil 4 – I’ve beaten it more times than I care to admit. And probably played Mercenaries more than that. Also: HUNK.
Neocron – Very misunderstood, tragically underplayed Sci-Fi MMO from Europe. Had the best crafting in the business.
EVE Online – Another misunderstood Sci-Fi MMO that I wish I had more time for. Spreadsheets in Space is not a bad thing. Another game that scratched that entrepreneurial/capitalist itch I have.
Dead Rising – It’s probably because I’m currently playing (and loving) Dead Rising 2, but Dead Rising will always stick with me as a game I loved. What a game.
My list isn’t in any order, other than roughly chronological. This would be a great weekend de-lurking opportunity. Don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it, just list 15 games that will always stick with you. Let us know what they are in the comments! (Or throw up your own blog post and send us a link)
This exercise will show my age, but here we go…chronoligical
1. Burgertime – Dumbest..most addictive game…and on (Intellivision).
2. Dragon’s Lair (Arcade) – The cartoon-based arcade game that was ahead of its time.
3. Legend of Zelda (NES) – One of the greatest games…evah…
4. Metal Gear (NES) – Ditto…
5. NHL 94 (Genesis) – Players get injured and the blood flows on the ice. Beautiful.
6. Myst (PC) – Ruined an entire quarter for me and my roommates at OSU. me = nerd.
7. Halo (Xbox) – Combat Evolved Indeed
8. Doom III (Xbox) – Game scared the crap out of me…srsly
9. Half-Life 2 (Xbox) – No comment needed
10. NCAA 2006 (Xbox 360) – Remember when this game was just about having fun playing with your favorite college football team? This was probably the last year that you didnt need to study a playbook in the NCAA series..which began to look more and more like Madden each year after.
11. Bioshock (Xbox 360)
12. FIFA 2010 (Xbox 360)
13. Metroid (NES)
14. Limbo (Xbox 360)
15. Mario Kart (Wii)
Ah, yes, Dragon’s Lair. Many tokens and quarters were dropped in that machine.
I was also going to include Halo, but went with Doom. Even though I have probably played 50 times more Halo (cumulatively) than Doom, Doom will always stick with me.
I really need to check out Limbo.
Alright not so chronological at the end…
1. Donkey Kong Country (SNES) – in fact, all three of them
2. Super Mario World (SNES) – I grew up playing this thing
3. Mega Man X (SNES) – the best Mega Man game ever made
4. Gex (3DO) – awesome 2D platform game
5. The Need For Speed (3DO) – the first of the series
6. Star Wars KotOR 2 (PC) – spent many hours of my life playing it
7. Mortal Kombat 2 (SNES) – the best
8. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo (3DO) – man, I loved my 3DO
9. Pokemon Silver/Gold (GBC) – I used to play a lot
10. Counter Strike (PC) – when it was released, it became like a fever here in Brazil
11. Doom 2 (PC) – I used to play it in my windows 95
12. Star Wars The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) – awesome story and gameplay. Looking to buy TFU 2
13. Gears Of War 2 (Xbox 360) – also, one of my favorites for 360
14. The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time (N64) – I was almost forgetting one of the best Zelda games ever
15. Fable II (Xbox 360) – This one is a master piece! I’m looking forward to play Fable 3
Well, that’s my list 🙂
Linardi – thanks for the comment! Good to see another gamer that spent a lot of time on the SNES, for my money the best console of all time.
I’m going to start off and say “Yes, I’m a PC Gamer”.
1. Blood (PC)-Got me through High School.(Thank you Video Games for a release of insanity.)
2. Soldier of Foutune 2 (PC)-Spent many a night playing the heck out of this game. (GHOUL engine was great!)
3. Tecmo’s Deception (PS1)-Killing people with Traps.It’s one of those games I had to keep renting that I should have just bought it.
4. X-COM: Terror from the Deep (PC)-FANTASTIC! So much turn base fun.
5. Everquest (PC)-So much to explore that I loved playing it.WoW has nothing on this game.(Dark Elf/Necromancer)
6. Battlefield 2 (PC)-What other game can I hide in the middle of a map with my brother and snipe with a high powered Sniper rifle and still not see the other side of the map.
7. Team Fortress 2 (PC)-Arena…hats…playing with my brother…. What else can I say.
8. Starcraft (PC)-Played this sooo much with 2 friends and my brother.
9. Dead Rising (360)-Still the best. Reason being it’s not easy.
10. Oblivion (PC)-I MODed the heck out of this game that it looked like a new game.(I love PC)
11. Doom 2 (PC)-So much fun.
12. Mortal Kombat 3 (SNES/PS1)-Kabal is my dude to play.
13. Age of Empires 3 (PC)-Wow I have no clues as to how many times I played this game. It was a blast build up yout town.
14. Garry’s Mod (PC)-TTT. It’s the reason that I bought GMod.
15. Battlefield Vietnam (PC)-When I was in my first Dev Team that was the game of choice.
Alright, third time is the charm. No particular order.
1. Everquest (PC) The best at it’s time and still kicking.
2. Battlefield 2 (PC) IMHO the best military FPS ever. Until 3 comes out of course.
3. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 (PC) Really awesome game, turn based strat which I think is better than Civ.
4. Marvel vs Capcom (PS1) Ahhh… Summers wasted.
5. Dark Sector (360) No one I know played this but a really great game that didn’t receive enough support.
6. Xenogears (PS1) The BEST RPG I have played….ever.
7. FF3 (SNES) Got me started/hooked on RPGs
8. Team Fortress 2 (PC) Best game I ever bought for $10. I play this game whenever I get the chance.
9. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (PS2?) It was the best.
10. Starcraft (PC) Played everyday after school for hours.
11. Diablo 2 (PC) Enough said.
12. Warcraft 2 (PC) Making people think you used cheat codes because you we so good. Yea, life was good.
13. Metal Gear Solid (PS1) Pure awesome!
14. Quake 2 (PC)
15. Tribes 2 (PC) Gundam mod was PIMP.