Hello there, fellow video gamers. What!? You don't like video games!? Then what are you doing here!? Go out and get a life! Now, for those of you, like me, with no lives and love every minute of sitting down with a game of Megaman or Final Fantasy, this is the website for you.
First off, my name is Andrew J Byus(although I go by several, more prefereable aliases-ranma124x and Zer0+1) and ever since I got my Atari 2600, video games have played a major part of my life. From a simple game of Asteroids to the awesome Soul Caliber, from the 8 bit systems, to the 16 bit systems, to the portables, etc. etc., video games have been a way of life for many people, like myself. Case in point-Many games today sport soundtracks that are far better than a lot of crap, released today. Several of the more popular games have motion pictures out, based on them. The industry as a whole is worth a couple billion dollars. In short, video games have gone from the closet hobby of yesterday, to the entertainment forefront of today.
Okay, enough of my rambling....Over 18 years worth of gaming, I have several favorites which, while not as big as Zelda or Metal Gear Solid, are as memerable to me, personally, as those two will be. Case in point: Whenever I play a game of Megaman 2, I just get a very content feeling, just playing it, something I don't get from playing the two aforementioned games. Therefore, I created this website, not only to let you readers know what my favorite games are, but I want YOU(yes, you!) to let me know what your favorite games are. All you have to do is send them to me(but read my guidelines first!) Later on, I'll put stuff like music files on, but the bulk of the site will be top ten lists of favorite games(a la David Letterman!)
GUIDELINES:
1. Okay, basically, I want you to make a top ten list of your favorite video games and send them to me, so I can post them on this website. This can be done any way you want-favorite N64 games, favorite arcade games, favorite action games, hell, just favorite overall games-hopefully, after I get more used to creating my webpage, I'll be able to sort them out a bit. I'll also accept least favorite list, because, unfortunatly, a lot of games suck, big-time. Be as ruthless as you want on these-I want game developers who make crap-ass games to read it and possibly change their ways. The ONLY limitation is to refrain from the "F" word.
2. My rules for the top ten lists are:
A: I want at least two sentences, describing why you like or hate the game mentioned. If you write something like:
#1. The Legend of Zelda-It kicks ass, man!
or: #1 Pac Man-It sucks, man!
I simply won't post it and I'll junk it, without thinking(I will laugh, though).
B: List the system and(if possible) the company that makes the game.
C: I will allow imports, but I won't allow games that have not been released yet-I don't want to run the risk of being hunted down, by people looking for Resident Evil 5!
D: Please limit the sequels to 3! I'm very lenient on this, but don't submit a list, that has the name 'Street Fighter' in everything!
3. I'll also have random news posted, from time-to-time. Still, most of it will come from www.videogames.com , which I think is the best source for up to date video game news on the web!
4. I'm supposed to put something about not stealing images or something, but I forget...Oh yeah, that's right! Steal any images on this page and (insert threat here!) Some goes for the top ten lists...get my consent first!
5. Anyone wanting to swap links-let me know.
HERE IT IS-MY TOP TEN!
At #10 we have:
DRAGONBALL Z: SHINBUTODEN(Sega Saturn-Bandai)
Okay, first off, I have to say one thing-this game is horrible! It's a 2D fighter, with 27 characters that all play exactly the same. The fighting is horribly derivative, with a kick button, a punch button and a beam button. Combos consist of mashing the punch button and the control doesn't respond well at all. I win with Captain Ginyu all the time, just by ramming into my opponents. So why's this game here? Simple...
IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND! Saturn games have been dead in the water for over a year now and importers don't want to sell games made in 1995 for a dead system. This means, we have to tolerate Dragonball Z Legends, which is no fun at all and Dragonball Z UB 22, which is the Playstation version of this game, stripped to it's bare bones.(I haven't played Final Bout yet!) The rarity adds something of value to this game.
I'm not just going to gloat about how I found this game(Thanks Matt! I owe you a link for finding this game!) but the other reason it made my top ten list is, quite simply, I love Dragonball Z and this game presents it very well. The opening runs for 2 minutes and it shows all the characters in the game, in FMV. All 27 characters are animated very well and hearing their original voices is great. Also included is a tournement, which mimics the ones in Dragonball and Dragonball Z, complete with an announcer. As a result, the only real flaw with this game is it's absolutely unplayable, but other than that, it deserves a spot on my top ten.
Okay, at #9, we have:
METAL SLUG(Sega Saturn-SNK)
Here's a coincidence...I got Metal Slug in the same package as Dragonball Z Shinbutoden(Matt, you're the man!) This is another one of those rare Saturn games(discontinued, in fact! The Playstation version is still available, though) but, unlike DBZ, this game has some of the best overall gameplay I've ever experienced. Remember the original Contra? Well, add a huge, metal tank, some funny-ass bad guys, six stages of mayhem and a chick, who tries to get you to join the army, and you've got one classic shooter.
This is probably SNK's signature shooter series for it's NEO GEO, which you almost never hear about, due it's high cost. The gameplay is rock solid, with emphasis on dodging bullets, as well as blowing things up, with your weapon. The tank is too awesome and it rocks, driving through enemy barracks, blowing away everything in sight, with that bad boy. The graphics have to be seen to be believed...Enemy soldiers do everything you could think of, before they spot you. In one particular area, you destroy a can of TNT, which sets a soldier on fire. With flames coming off him, he runs into a building full of gunpowder and...BOOOOOM! There's even an art gallery, where you see early sketches of all the characters. Also, there's an extra mode, that let's you try to set time records on finishing stages.
Of course, this game wouldn't be complete without one thing...Sophia Greenville. I swear, she only appears in the time trial mode and in the art gallery, but this babe is gorgeous. It's funny watching her various expressions, as you navigate time trial mode and listening to her naggy voice. There's even a story behind her, which is told with a couple sketches in the art gallery.
On a final note, there are two sequels to this game(Metal Slug 2 and Metal Slug Championship Edition, er, X), but since they both run on the expensive NEO GEO, I don't think I'll ever have a chance to play them(sigh!) Nontheless, this game suits me just fine and I have yet to get through Expert mode...
That was a mouthful...Okay, at #8, we have:
MS. PAC MAN(Namco-Arcade version)
Ah, a real classic! A game I can play for hours on end and never get tired of, no matter how hard I try. Please note: The version ranked here is the ORIGINAL, not the version with the new mazes nor the ones on consoles. The new mazes are fun, but they're mostly forgetable, when the original ones tend to stick in my head well enough for me to be able to draw them. So far, no console, except the Atari 2600 has done this game justice. Sometimes, the ghost AI is too stupid or too smart(let's clarify something-When the red ghost comes out, he's supposed to run to the upper-left corner, then the upper-right corner, before he can give chase-He can't just come after you, as soon as he leaves the box!) while the Namco museum forces you to turn your T.V. set on it's side, to play the game in full resolution-Low resolution gives me a headache!
Not much more to say...eat the dots and rack up the points! This game ages like fine wine and, with luck, I'll be able to track down an arcade version, for a good price. I think I'll put it right next to the fish tank.....
At #7, we have:
BALLOON FIGHT(Nintendo-NES)
I can see some of you scratching your heads on this one, so I'll explain...Balloon Fight is a game for the original 8-bit Nintendo(in fact, I think it was a launch title-it's dated 10/85) It was a cross between Joust and the original Mario Bros, where you flew around on a single screen, on a pair of balloons, knocking bad guys out of the sky, by bursting their balloons AND parachutes. Sound generic? You're right...it is...and I love every minute I spend with this underrated classic...something I can't say for a lot of games.
This was another game I had to track down...for five years, I searched for a copy, before Funcoland FINALLY sold me a copy for $5(that's right, five years, it took for them to get this game in!) I wish this game would have caught on...The gameplay is even more addicting than Super Mario Bros and a sequel would have been a blast. Even the music is exceptional. The bonus game is fun and Balloon Tour is wicked cool! To me, this game is worth it's weight in gold. Nintendo, I beg you for a sequel to this and Clu Clu Land(another fun, little game!) I don't have ROM's, but try to find this game and draw your own conclusions.
Next up, at #6 is:
Okay, I have a tie between two favorites: GUILTY GEAR(Atlus-Playstation) and STAR OCEAN: SECOND STORY(Enix-Playstation)
Both games excel tremendously in their respective genres. Guilty Gear, besides Street Fighter Alpha 2(that's not a misprint-Alpha 3 isn't on the list!) is the best 2D fighter on the Playstation, with a killer soundtrack, gorgeous character designs and a fighting engine, that makes you breath a sigh of relief, when the match is over. The animation is superb, the character voices and stories are portrayed in a very interesting manor(name another fighting game, where each character has a specific quote for the other characters in the game!) and, overall, it has a polished feel to it. Minor complaints include the instant death move(cheap as shit!) and the bosses, who think it's okay to harm you, but you can't harm them(cheaper than shit!) Overall, a solid 2D fighter. I hope the rumored sequel wasn't just a rumor. Here's a cool thought: Guilty Gear vs. Street Fighter! I'd better keep dreaming....
Now, I feel Guilty(pun intended!) for putting Star Ocean up this high, as I haven't finished it yet, but from what I've seen, this game is innovative, fun, and it eats up time by the bushel. I love learning new techniques, through the skill point system and combat is the best part, as it requires skill, preparation, luck and strategy(the battle theme is THE best of any RPG ever!) The story(so far) has been pretty straight-foreward, but along the way, you really get to know your characters, by aiding them in various tasks. This is something some games just fail at, making the characters seem forced and not thought out. Another cool thing is the characters actually talk! They have great voices and things like that make them grow on you(I love Celine-She's so bitchy, you can't help, but fall in love with her. Precis is REALLY annoying, though!) An excellent soundtrack accompanies this game and is worth buying, seperately.
If it sounds like I'm giving Star Ocean more than Guilty Gear...well, I am, but fighting games and RPG's are two completely different genres and, since both of these games excel in different genres, it would be unfair to compare them head-to-head. RPG's offer more of an overall experience, but fighting games give you the chance to beat the snot out of people and prove you're better than they are. Guilty Gear does this magnificently. Bottom Line: I can't choose!
Going for the #5 spot is:
FINAL FANTASY 6(Final Fantasy 3 in the U.S.) (Squaresoft-SNES)
Heh, heh, here we are...One of the best games of all time, soon to be re-released in the Final Fantasy Anthologies package, clocks in at number 5(we're getting down to crunch time!) I've spent two full summers with this game, which goes to show the replay value this game has. FF6 blows away Final Fantasy 7 AND 8, with the esper system, a storyline equivalent to "The Odyssey", two worlds to explore, classic RPG action and a cast of memerable characters. There's just so much to this game, that you never get tired of it, no matter how many times you play through it. I just can't say enough good stuff about this game.
I remember renting it, and as soon as I played through half the game, I started fishing through the couch for pocket change, so I could buy it. So, from summer of 95 to the spring of 97, this was the game I had my hands wrapped around. It's just so cool learning spells for everyone and digging out all the secrets in the coliseum(I still love the Econimizer-Ultima spell combo, along with the Offering, Genji Glove and Atma-Weapon combo)
Another reason I like this game is because it combines the Medievil touch(castles, dragons, kings) with technology(Magitek!) The two latter Final Fantasies are just too modern...I prefer the medieveil touch, even if the graphics are a tad dated. Another thing I've noticed... Final Fantasy seems better in a 2D world, rather than a 3D one. I've actually played Final Fantasy 8 and...well, it just doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy game. Neither does part 7. As far as I'm concerned this was the last Final Fantasy game, ever made...The others are just pretenders to the series.
I beg you...buy this game, cherish it, feed it, sleep with it, but most of all, play through it at least once, just for the storyline.
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