mr dave

yeah but it's also by a company that used to use the word count in its titles as a selling point. Baldur's Gate 2 features over 800 000 words of audio dialog!

i'm curious but i think i burnt myself out on medieval fantasy in the recent past. my initial impressions are that they're 'borrowing' the world style from The Witcher and mashing it with a big budget production. although the unique intro / origin aspect for each of your characters is interesting. unfortunately the teaser videos seem to give the impression the player is railroaded into standing up to the 'oppressive' humans regardless of their 'origin'.

either way i'm gonna stick to Borderlands as my digital timekiller for now. i wouldn't mind a bit of a review once you get more playtime with the game. i hope my initial impression was incorrect but that's really what their press presented.

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i am the universe

Fruitonica

I've been pondering for a while..

1- Deus Ex
I lent this to a guy at school and a few weeks later he moved to Portugal, I'm still gritting my teeth about that. It really is the perfect storm of gameplay mechanics. The RPG and stealth elements and sprawling maps imbue the game with an incredible amount of depth and freedom of choice for what is at it's core a FPS. All wrapped up in an engaging cyberpunk conspiracy theory.

It's a pity the sequel couldn't live up to the original, I hope one day they make a third one.

2- Thief 2
I've never played MGS so maybe this is a bit premature, but honestly this is the pinnacle of stealth gaming, especially when you crank up the difficulty to stop you killing from range. The sneaking is so finely honed, and it works perfectly with the size and intricacy of the levels, packed with different routes, secrets and loot.

3- X-Com: UFO Defense
This was actually one of the first games I can remember playing, of course at the time it went completely over my head and I found it impossible. The learning curve is steep, but it's also one of the most rewarding games to master. The base management is highly detailed and provides a very organic type of progress, but where it truly excels is the excruciating tension in the turn-based combat.

4- Half Life 2
I only wanted to include one of the series, so this was a difficult decision. The original has a much more frenetic pace, and the marines are better than their combine counterparts. (also assassins!)
But sequel takes the cinematic aspirations of the original and realises it in spectacular fashion. The storyline actually became something worth paying attention to, the variety of settings and set pieces constantly keeps thing fresh, brilliant level design. And finally the gravity gun is just awesome.

5- N
The best set of platforming mechanics I've ever come accross. Your little ninja is so agile and the physics engine so finely attuned that after playing this Mario and Sonic feel sluggish and unresponsive. I think this is one you should check out Boo Boo, after a pretty nice learning curve the difficulty really picks up, it has the old time hard core edge that you like. Plus it has a great level creator and heaps of user created content. Plus it's totally free.

6- Super Mario World Advance
The best Mario game I've played, perfectly balanced old school platforming. With some fiendish level design near the end, and so many things to do. Actually probably the only video game my sister ever really go into, she clocked up a 100% completion which is no mean feat for someone totally uninterested in games.

7- Chrono Trigger
This tussled with Golden Sun, but in the end the combat system on this is slightly more satisfying because of the blend between turnbased and real time. I don't know why more RPGs don't take this route. Also, the story is ridiculous in all the best ways.

8- Pokemon Gold
It's been a while since I played, so this might be chalked up to nostalgia - but I don't think so. But if any game defined my childhood it's probably this. God knows how many times I reloaded to catch Hoo-Ho? (the red legendary bird).

9- Warcraft 3
Just a perfectly balanced RTS. I still fire it up every now and then for a run in single player.

10- Advance Wars 2
It makes turnbased strategy so accessible and addictive. And I love the soundtrack.

Kirby

Just thought I should say, if you play N on the computer, make sure you get the downloadable version. Terrific game.

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Guybrush

I've played it some more and it's definetly much more entertaining some 6 hours in than it was at start. I think Mass Effect and the Knights of the old Republics which are quite similar were more immediately entertaining and interesting, but the last couple of quests I did in Dragon Age were actually really entertaining.

The world feels much less real than in RPGs like Fallout 3 and even less real than Mass effect I'd say. You can't really interact with the environment much. It's more generic and less immersive and playing in little areas and having to load between them makes me feel a bit like I'm playing out an act on a computerized stage .. It's like you know the back of that building probably doesn't even have textures because there's no way the game would let you see it anyways.

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Something Completely Different

boo boo

Usually complex stories get in the way when it comes to games but RPG's are an exception, that's a genre based entirely around storytelling so if I'm not digging the story, I probably won't dig the RPG.

Pokemon is the big exception to this rule, not only is it the only RPG series that dosen't put any emphasis on big plots, backstories or character development, it's the only one that can get away with recycling the same goal and premise over and over and over again for over a decade, and still make enough money to buy the entire continent of Africa.

You gotta love Nintendo.

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It's only knock n' knowall, but I like it

http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs

Kirby

1. Metal Gear Solid (PSX) - My brother first got this game when he was sixteen (I was ten). I remember being so amazed and how fun the gameplay was. I had never been so into a game after MGS. I still play this game a couple times a year. I've never grown tired of it, and thus, from the years of wear and tear, and the love that I still have for this game, it EASILY takes my number one spot.


2.Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) - This was the first game that I had ever owned. I remember wasting hours with it, and my mom getting mad that I could beat it before she could. I still have cravings to play this game randomly. For starting my video game love, however, it gets the number 2 spot.


3.Kirby Super Star (SNES) - Kirby games are generally easy, that's a fact. But they're also slightly addictive. I've never not had fun playing a Kirby game. And this one is EIGHT GAMES IN ONE! I've spent many hours getting 100% on this game, and I've done it many times. It's still very fun to play.


4. Tales of the Abyss (PS2) - Terrific RPGs are somewhat hard to come by, with all of the shitty ones everywhere. But, if you're a fan of RPGs and have not played this, you're definitely missing out. This game has a pretty fun battle system, crude, but witty, humor/comedy, lots of level up room (you max out at 200, I believe), and while you battle you get Grade (+ or - depending on how you do each battle), and it builds and you pick perks at the end of the game for your next play through. The story line is a pretty good on, too. A few plot twists here and there, and tada! An all around terrific game.


5. Soul Calibur (Dreamcast) - This is the first fighting game that I ever liked. At all. I grew up hating fighting games, because my brother was always the best at them, and he constantly reigned supreme, and I never had a chance. Until Soul Calibur came along. I had the upper hand, because at the time, I got to play it more, and it pretty much caught me up with fighting games (when competing with my brother). I still have a memory of an epic "One Hit" match (set health to a one-hit kill) and it actually lasted for about fifteen minutes. Dodging, spinning. Kilik (him) vs. Siegfried. Ah, brotherly bonding.


6. Shenmue (Dreamcast) - How has this not been mentioned yet? This game has been one of my favorite for a long time, if not for anything else, because of how interactive everything was. I remember spending hours trying to get money to collect all of the capsule toys. I was so amazed at collecting capsule toys in a video game. Hell, when this game came out I remember being like "You can even cut the light off!!!" The action scenes are fun, too. It makes you pay attention, because you never know when you'll have to press a random button.


7. Pokemon Red/Blue (GameBoy) - This started my dabbling into the Pokemon video games. I was even lucky enough to meet someone who had gotten a legit Mew (from a Nintendo event) and he traded me Mew, and solidified my Original 151 Pokemon. At the time of playing this game the first time, Pokémon was for all the cool kids. I remember hustling cards at school. Even though I've outgrown the cards, and never liked the show, I still continue to play the video games. You can't deny that they're great.


8. Zelda: Link's Awakening/Link's Awakening DX (Gameboy/Gameboy Color) - One of the best (and first) Zelda games I'd ever had the pleasure of playing. I played through both of them (the original, and DX version) and they're both terrific. I'll talk about the DX version, because it's the same thing, with extra goodies. As with most Zelda games, the story is pretty good. You have to collect instruments to wake a Wind Fish so you can get back to Hyrule. The major difference in the DX version for GameBoy Color is the added color, obviously, and a "Color Dungeon" which deals with color based puzzles, and at the end you can get a Red or Blue tunic (your choice) for Attack or Defense. Overall, a terrific, and sometimes overlooked game, in the Zelda series.


9. Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2/Xbox) - For the sake of the actual rating of the game, I had to put both consoles. But the Xbox wins by default, because of the custom soundtrack thing. Grand Theft Auto 3 was a defining moment in the history of Grand Theft Auto. It was a terrific conversion from the Overhead games (that I also loved, btw, and can be download legally here). The sandbox gaming made for hours of fun, while you search for every little thing, and find all the easter eggs, and hours of mindlessly killing everyone made for great times.


10. Dynamite Headdy (Genesis) - One of my favorite platformers of all time. Headdy is about a creature that uses it's face to attack things. The levels are set up like a play (curtain drops, your "health bar" is a spotlight that changes colors, etc.). He's always harassed by a cat, for whatever reason. It's really a hard thing to explain. But it was definitely fun. And that's all that mattered.


HONORABLE MENTION:

Puggsy (Genesis) - One of the hardest, but most fun puzzle platformers. Incorporated physcis on the Genesis. Aggravating game, though. 50+ Levels, and a 21 character password system.








Also, yes, I know my descriptions are lame.

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+81

I started making a list a little while ago, just have to get on some ranking/reasons.

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Violent & Funky

1. Halo 2 (Xbox) - I've spent more time playing this game than any other. It revolutionized online gaming for platform shooters. "Slayer!"

2. Super Smash Bros (N64) - My favorite "dorm game". I've played this game for hours in a row without getting bored. So much strategy packed into such a simple game.

3. Pokemon (GB) - A cultural phenomenon, Pokemon is a thinker of a game that I have gone back and enjoyed at several different ages. Trying to beat this game at a young age was nearly impossible without guides and my friends, and only rivaled in difficulty by Ocarina of Time.

4. 007: Goldeneye (N64) - It was my first FPS, not to mention the first rated Teen game I ever played. It's another great dorm game, though I personally don't feel it has held up as well as any of the other games on this list.

5. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) - It was oh so tempting to make this Modern Warfare 2, but I've got to go with the game that laid the foundation for the rest of the series. It's probably the best online FPS ever made.

6. Mario Kart 64 (N64) - The last of my three favorite dorm games, this was my first video game I ever owned. I remember spending all of Christmas Day playing it. Nowadays, I can still enjoy it as Beerio Kart.

7. Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) - This game was ****ing hard. Almost too hard for my age because sometimes it pissed me off. Thinking back now though, I'm so glad I can say I beat this game.

8. MVP Baseball 2005 (Xbox) - I'm a huge baseball fan and this is still the best MLB baseball game you can play. I still play a modded version on the computer with updated rosters.

9. Madden NFL 2006 (Xbox) - These days I only play the NCAA football series, but this is my favorite football game of all-time. It was perfectly balanced and I wish Madden still used the same features (bring back QB vision!).

10. Guitar Hero: World Tour (Xbox 360) - My top 9 came to my head right away but I wasn't sure what to put here. I went with World Tour because I've spent a ton of time playing it and because you finally get to play the bass in the Guitar Hero series!

lucifer_sam

alright...it's high time i at least attempt this. most of my video game experiences are different than other people here, since i never had access to an S/NES, Sega, N64 or anything from the most recent generation console. in fact, these aren't what i would consider the "best" video games at all, since i never really had the necessary void in my life to spend on video games. it's just what i can remember from my childhood.

1. Final Fantasy X

The tragic coming-of-age story that blatantly ripped off Chrono Cross came out sometime before my formative high school years and altered my perspective considerably on what made a video game "good". I think I spent that summer in near isolation, trying to get all the legendary weapons before I beat the game. Incidentally I think I may have developed a fondness for women who resemble Yuna.

2. Sim City 2000

Probably the first "real" game I ever played, my father bought it for me when I was still rather young. To me it seems like the natural predecessor to all design games -- and this certainly afforded me the opportunity to enjoy myself.

3. Pokemon Yellow

Yes, I was part of this generation. While this may have missed the boat for the social circles I was part of (by the time it came out I think we moved on a bit), it was most definitely the version of Pokemon I remember most fondly. I can also remember waking up at 6:30 to watch the show (first season, mind you) & seeing the movie and being incredibly disappointed at the same time, neither were nearly as good as the video game. You get all THREE badass starters and Pikachu. How groovy is that?

4. TimeSplitters 2

Like I said earlier, I never had access to N64 (and GoldenEye with it), but this FPS I will acknowledge as my absolute favorite. The physics were somewhat elephantine and the mechanics were sometimes aggravating, but the gameplay was enormous fun, integrating numerous favorites from years past (CTF, assault, deathmatch, etc).

5. Worms Armageddon

This, THIS was the cult favorite back in middle school. Not GoldenEye or any of those acrimonious fucking games that catch on like the plague. A game about worms. You get to control them in their natural environment (you know, cheese, bricks, graveyards, artillery dumps...), make them run, jump, rappel, and most notably, beat the shit out of one another. The weapons were anything but sinister and when you finally beat the incredibly difficult single player mode you were awarded Full Wormage and the honor of the Concrete Donkey.

6. Final Fantasy VII

Yes, I'm one of those people. I count Final Fantasy VII among one of my favorite games not for the gameplay or the replay value (it has none) but for pure nostalgia. I never played it when it first came out and it was probably 2001 or 2002 before I first beat it, but the timing was right, and despite the clearly outdated graphics I latched onto the characters unrepentantly. Even today, when I feel like digging out my childhood I'll play through a few scenes in the game to make sure I still have some attachment to years past.

7. Star Wars Jedi Knights 2: Jedi Outcast

Deep within the musty folds of my room somewhere this beast waits for me. It was my first MMORPG love -- I don't think I ever played the single player campaign but I spent hours acclimatizing myself to the agonizing effects of lag and poor servers. It might possibly have been one of the worst FPS games in history, but the lightsaber duels more than made up for its shortfalls.

8. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Perhaps my first introduction to a Mario Brothers game and one that I consider to be severely underrated in that universe. While it has a much more linear structure than most, there's still plenty of hidden levels and a good deal of work before you can get to the (only) Wario castle. I wish I could expound upon this more but I think the last time I may have played it was in the late '90s.

9. StarCraft

One of the many games I inherited from my brother, this one occupied a significant portion of my time from grades 6-12. This would be significantly higher on the list, but I tried reliving the nostalgia a few short weeks ago and I seem to have lost my taste for any of the game mechanics I once loved.

10. FIFA 09

The one and only game from this generation (and incidentally the only one I've never owned). I'm not really a fan of playing video games in social circles but I fancy myself quite the skillful shot at FIFA. It isn't the first sports game I've played with regularity, but it is far and above my favorite. Perhaps technology finally caught up with real-life gameplay mechanics.

Notable (But Otherwise Dishonorable) Mention: Halo 2

I invested way too much time, energy, and anger into this shitpile of a game and have no desire to repeat it again. End of story.

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first.am

Kirby

I loved these three games.

I remember being low on money in Sim City, so I would just leave my game on to gather money through taxes and whatnot.

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