Geek Out Challenge – Day 12

As we reach Day 12 of the 30 Day Geek Out Challenge we shift our focus on video games. Megan from A Geeky Gal has posed another challenge question for us today – What is your favorite video game? I admit I was pretty excited upon seeing this…I enjoy talking about video games JUST ABOUT as much as spending my spare time playing them :). Earlier today, I wrote down a list of the first games that come to mind when I attempt to compile a list of my favorites; games that I have finished multiple times and could seemingly play forever. It only took a minute or two before realizing that the list had grown to a few dozen games…so, I decided to narrow it down to what would likely be my 5 “desert island” games. The games listed are mostly action/adventure type games; this most likely being due to platforming action/adventure games are the first game genre that I really loved as a kid, I developed a taste for FPS and RPG games a little later on. In no particular order we have….

Super Mario Bros. 3 – One of the very first memories I have is playing Mario games on the family NES and Mario 3 quickly became my favorite. Since its release in 1990, Mario 3 has been a critical and commercial success. I played it again recently and still remember every level after all this time. The soundtrack is iconic and still brings about all kinds of wonderful fuzzy feelings of playing this as a kid. This is as pure as platforming gets and still holds up exceptionally well after just about 30 years. I absolutely love this game and still play every so often.

Resident Evil 4 – I didn’t really get into Resident Evil games until after playing the Resident Evil remake on the Gamecube, so by the time the much anticipated Resident Evil 4 was released I was super eager to play it. RE 4 introduced many changes in the RE formula and was a bit of a departure for the series. It shifted away from the survival horror genre and became more action-oriented, something that bothered some longtime fans of the previous games, and subsequent sequels pushed even further in this direction Whether you prefer the atmospheric horror of the first RE games or not, no one can deny the greatness that was RE 4 after its release in January of 2005. Many elements from RE 4 became action game staples, for better or worse, button-mashing quick time events were shoehorned into countless games afterwards. I remember working in the electronics department of a Kmart when RE4 was released and I remember anxiously waiting for my shift to end so I could bring the game home and begin playing. I have played through this game countless times on countless consoles…it’s Capcom’s Skyrim 😉

Metroid Prime – My favorite Metroid game is a bit of a toss up between Metroid Prime or Super Metroid, but I chose Metroid Prime as of how it was the game that took the Metroidvania gameplay of Super Metroid and allowed you to experience it through a first-person perspective. I wouldn’t necessarily call Metroid Prime a first-person shooter, there are common elements but the emphasis in Metroid Prime is on exploration as you traverse the various landscapes of the planet – Tallon IV. The graphics, sound, gameplay were as close to perfection as I had seen in a game. The game is still fun to play, with the one outdated feature being unable to aim freely with a second joystick, or C Stick, in case of the Gamecube. The Metroid Prime Trilogy being remastered and ported to the Switch is something I dream about…

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is still my favorite of the Metal Gear Solid series; the gameplay of MGS V is the most fluid, but the story and setting are what drew me in. MGS 3 is a prequel taking place during the early 60’s in the midst of the Cold War where veteran soldier, Snake has been sent into the jungle of the Soviet Union to rescue a nuclear scientist who wishes to defect to west of the Iron Curtain. As a history nerd, the premise alone would have gotten me to play the game, but the story, which I still consider to be the best of the series is what kept me hooked. I have known plenty of people who dislike MGS games for the heavy emphasis on story rather than gameplay, along with the at times, convoluted storyline. What I love about the series is the style in which in presents the ambitious story. I remember watching a trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3 on a dvd included with a gaming magazine that showed Snake using the head of a crocodile to stay hidden underwater before ambushing an unsuspecting guard, and thinking of how cool the game looked.

Donkey Kong Country – While not being the first game that Rare had developed for Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country for the SNES was the game that brought much acclaim to the British studio. I remember sitting playing this in our neighbor’s living room and couldn’t believe how amazing this game looked and played. The 3d rendered graphics are nothing special by today’s standards, but when the game was released in November 1994 they showcased an exceptional quality and realism that had yet to be seen. I had played the original Donkey Kong on an Atari 2600 at a very young age so I knew the character, but this was a bold re-introduction for the aging gorilla. The soundtrack iconic as well and still gives me goosebumps listening to the relaxing, ambient music from the underwater levels. The gameplay elements of the first DKC are a little simplistic compared to the sequels it produced, but I will always remember my first time playing through this game…and the stressful mine cart levels…

I will conclude my list here, I could ramble on about old Nintendo games for WAY too long! What are some of your favorite games or simply your favorite game series? Let me know in the comments. See you tomorrow for another day of the Geek Out Challenge!