The Video Game Blog Challenge: Question 30

Phew! I’ve made it to the end! And kudos to you if you’ve actually read all these video game posts!

30. Favorite Game of All Time

Ugggggh. I guess I should not at all be surprised that this is the final question, but I can’t just pick ONE game. I can’t. It’s like picking a favorite child. So I’ll give you a top five list, and bit of an explanation of why it makes the Top 5.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
I first played this game at eleven years old on my brother’s N64. I started out watching him play, and was completely enraptured by the world. An adventuring child tasked with saving the world in a sprawling beautiful landscape?! I wanted this to be my life.
Eventually, I asked my brother if I could start a game, which he obliged, under the condition that I didn’t pass him (he is four years older than I am, making him 15 at the time, and being passed by his little sister in a video game was unacceptable apparently. We laugh about this a lot today!). I fell head over heels in love once I started to play. I loved the story, the world, the characters, the gameplay.  The feeling of accomplishment when I FINALLY solved a tricky puzzle, or beat a level I’d been stuck on (I’m looking at you, Water Temple. . .). Beating this game filled me with such triumph, and some sadness too, simply because it was over!

2. Final Fantasy VII
This was the next game I delved into after Ocarina of Time, and I’m not sure I can quite convey just how much this game meant to me at 12 years old. I loved it for all the reasons I loved OoT, only multiplied by at least fifty. I found the story incredible, and oh, the characters. This was the first game I played where I became truly attached to the characters, to the point of weeping silently onto my controller when my favorite died. I feel in most cases, the first Final Fantasy you play tends to still be your favorite, and that is so true for me. I have yet to feel another FF game compares to VII. It will stay with me forever.

3. Beyond Good and Evil
This game makes the list because (as previously stated in this section of the VGBC) it’s a game I consider near perfect. It has an excellent story. Great characters, with even better dialogue. A fun world to explore. Excellent gameplay. It’s pretty much the full package, and what I consider a shining example of what video games can be.

4. The Last of Us
No shocker that this game is here! I’ve raved about it already, and I still will. I’m sure you already know that it has a great story, gameplay, and all that. But what really makes is so spectacular to me is how invested I was in these characters. No other game has ever caused me so much emotional turmoil. I had to take a few week-long breaks from playing this game becuase I was either A: truly so creeped out I didn’t want to continue, or B: so stressed out at what was going to potentially happen to the characters that I didn’t want to continue and find out. I realize that actually sounds like a bad thing, but I love caring that much. If a game makes me feel so intensely about the characters, or feel that scared about a fictitious world, you have done something right in a BIG way. I can certainly understand that this game doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it is without a doubt a truly phenomenal game.

5. Mass Effect 3
I’m picking Mass Effect 3 because I loved this whole series, and I really thought that ME3 was great as it was. None of this alternate DLC ending mumbo jumbo! 😉 I went into Mass Effect 3 fully preparing myself to be disappointed with the ending because (like anyone else on the internet at that time) all I had heard were bad things. I avoided specific spoilers, I just heard the overall opinion was BOOOOOOOOO. So I played it through, and loved it! I though the ending was great, and actually made a great deal of sense in the series. Overall, the Mass Effect games were wonderful and it was great to get lost in them. Plus, I was really impressed that they offered not only a female character option to customize but also gay/lesbian relationship options. I feel that was a huge step in a gaming series, especially one so popular, and I definitely applaud that!

Well, I hope you enjoyed getting a look into my video game history. Part of me is sad that I can’t game as much as I used to, but I still get some in when I can! It’s definitely something I won’t ever ‘grow out of’ as my mother was so apt to say haha! Gaming helped shape the person I grew into, and it is something I really love!

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 28 & 29

Almost to the finish line!

28. Favorite Game Developer

These are the top three companies that have given me the most enjoyment from games. Square Enix for Final Fantasy of course, but even non FF Square Enix games are usually amazing. Nintendo mainly for Zelda, but also Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. both of which have provided hours of fantastic entertainment for me and my friends. Ubisoft just puts out some really great games – the Assassin’s Creed series, Beyond Good and Evil, the Splinter Cell games, the original Prince of Persia. All great fun, and all games I’ve really liked.

29. A Game I Thought I Wouldn’t Like, But Ended Up Loving

Definitely the original Halo. I remember walking into my brother’s room one day and sitting down to watch him play on his behemoth of an X-Box thinking, This game is so DUMB! Who cares about just shooting aliens?! And then I played it, from the beginning, with my dad. And I fell in love with it. And not because you shoot aliens, but because it had a great story. I fell in love with Master Chief and Cortana’s relationship, with 343 Guilty Spark’s snide comments and wit. It gave life to what is essentially a game where you just shoot aliens. In fact, it’s still one of the only first person shooters I enjoy. Pretty much all the others I’ve tried I end of finding incredibly boring and repetitive. They exist just for people to shoot things (I’m looking at you, Call of Duty). And that just isn’t enough for me.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 24 & 25

24. Favorite Classic Game

I feel like I already covered classic games with the first question (Your Very First Video Game) so this game might not be a ‘classic’ by the standard definition, but I consider it a classic because of all the amazing memories I have playing it.

Baldur’s Gate, and it’s not-as-good but still fun dungeon crawler companions. I played these with my middle school best friend and we sunk hours into them, having laughs and in general enjoying being geeks together. I still have so much nostalgic love for these games!

25. Game I Plan On Playing

Super Smash Brothers 3DS is the only new game I am 100% playing in the near(ish) future. I. Can’t. Wait. The Smash Brothers games have always been a favorite of mine – the only fighting game I enjoy in fact! Peach is my character of choice – something about kicking ass in a poofy pink dress with a frying pan just soothes my soul.

Other games include Destiny and Dishonoured once we own a PS4, and knowing me, at some point we will own a WiiU just so I can play whatever new Zelda game comes out.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 21 -23

21. Game With The Best Story

I know these games keep coming up, but what can I say? They are two games in my top five games ever, so I guess it’s to be expected.

I was so completely blown away with the story of FFVII when I first played it. The complexities of the storyline and characters were just amazing.

When I first heard of The Last of Us, I assumed it was just a cool looking zombie shooter which, what with having a soft spot for all things zombie, I was still really excited about. I have never been happier to have a game be so much MORE. The main story arc, along with watching the character’s relationship develop was just fantastic. I would happily read this game story as a book. It was just that good.

22. A Game Sequel That Disappointed

I realized when trying to answer this that I don’t play too many sequel games that I haven’t enjoyed! But I still mustered up a couple.

Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within. After The Sands of Time, I was so excited for the next Prince of Persia. So imagine my surprise when was I got was a game with horrendous camera work and terrible controls. Yuck. A huge letdown.

Also, any Sonic game since Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast. Those games just went so badly downhill.

23. Game With The Best Graphics or Art Style

Such a subjective question. In terms of realism, I was blow away by the Last of Us graphics, and the vid of FFXV that have been released is just droolworthy.

 

But I also love the painterly style of Okami. So much fun!

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 17 – 20

17. Favorite Antagonist

Honestly, I find what I consider to be a ‘good’ bad guy hard to come by in video games, or at least the ones I’ve played. I like my villains to be somewhat complex, and often I find video game bad guys subscribe to the oft-used GIVE ME ALL THE POWER school of villainy. While that certainly doesn’t make a bad game (case in point – every Legend of Zelda ever. Ganondorf just wants power. Always.) when picking a favorite bad guy, I had trouble coming up with someone I actually liked as a character.

The first that popped into my head was Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2. I love him as a villain just because of his humor. He is hilarious. Some of the lines he comes up with to taunt the main protag just cracked me right up – truly laughing out loud. When a psychopathic villain can make me laugh, I’m sold.

As for a complex character, I really love Sephiroth from FFVII. Yes, he’s a big ole ball of angst, but really he has every right to be. I loved learning about his origins, and watching him fall deeper into becoming a psychopath as the game progressed.

18. Favorite Protagonist

I feel like I already covered this in the ‘Favorite Character’ question, but I’m happy to list a couple more!

Joel, from The Last of Us. His storyline was amazing, and I loved watching his relationship with Ellie develop. I most certainly got emotionally invested in him – I cried three different times based on things that happened to him.

Cortana, from the Halo series. She’s more of a secondary protagonist, but I loved her wit and personality. I also loved how she grew and developed as a character, even being an AI.

Adam Jensen, from Dues Ex: Human Revolution. His character is a lot in what you make it, given the dialogue response mechanics, but I loved his story, how he wound up with all his bio-mechanical parts, and his history. I haven’t played the other Deus Ex games, just watched, but I always liked his character. Plus (minus that cigarette) he’s pretty hot. 😀

19. Picture of a Game Setting You Wish You Lived In

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has such gorgeous areas. I would love to live there, and be able to explore every nook and cranny of the world!

20. Favorite genre

I can’t pick just one. So many of these questions are favorite questions, and it’s killing me! With the amount of options for good yet different video games, how do you compare? So I’m picking multiple.

1. RPG (Including JRPG and tactical RPG) – Obviously the Final Fantasies and pretty much anything Square Enix ever does. RPGs have provided me some of my most favorite gaming experiences ever.

2. Adventure – this is how I classify Zelda games, Beyond Good and Evil, really any game that has exploration/combat/side quests yet doesn’t fall into the RPG category.

3. Third Person Shooters (especially those that include stealth aspects) – I much prefer third person shooters to first person shooters. I always get more enjoyment out of them.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 14 – 16

Through the halfway point!

14. Current (or most recent) Gaming Wallpaper

I’ve never really been one to use video game wallpapers on my devices. I usually tend to favor pictures I’ve taken. But I do have the 25th Anniversary Zelda poster hanging in our living room (last Friday’s Links to the Past I posted has an awesome behind the scenes video of the digital painting!) My hubs bought me a linen print of it for Christmas last year, and it’s glorious. Click here to see the full poster (and definitely click to zoom in to full!) – I don’t want to post it here as it’s gigantic and you’d have to scroll for ages to get to the end.

15. A Screenshot From The Game I’m Currently Playing

Bravely Default. Still. I am getting my ass handed to me in a sidequest at the moment. There are multiple dragon bosses to fight. They are wiping the floor with me. Partially my own fault, as I’m using my alternate jobs, but I really want the experience for these jobs, as my main jobs are maxed out so it seems like a waste if I beat the boss that way! However, last night I FINALLY beat my first dragon boss! Only five more to go. . .

Current party: Tiz -Salvemaker, Agnes – Spiritmaster, Ringabel – Pirate, Edea – Templar

16. Game With The Best Cutscenes

This was a hard one for me. Do I pick a game with good graphics? One that I just thought was cool? One that had the most emotional impact?? I couldn’t decide, so here’s a few I think are sweet.

I loved this game, and I really liked the opening. It has a quick moment of gore though, just as a warning.

This dragon vs. airship fight scene from Final Fantasy IX was just awesome the first time I played it.

This one isn’t at all exciting if you’ve never played it. The ending of Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask for me was just so personal, and I loved seeing everyone you’ve saved after the fact. Especially everyone who ties into all the masks you collect along the way (Anju and Kafei’s wedding – ahhh!!). It just gave such a sense of satisfaction and closure. I’m also realizing I absolutely should have included Majora’s Mask for the ‘Games I Think Are Underrated’ post. This game is fantastic. Extremely difficult, but fantastic.

I could post so many more, but those were the first three that popped into my head!

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 10 & 11

Back with more gaming fun!

10. Best Gameplay

I find this to be a ridiculously hard question to answer as I really can’t see how you compare the gameplay of an FPS to an RPG. Apples and oranges here, people! So, with that in mind, I’ve broken it down into a few categories

First Person Shooter (FPS)

The Halo trilogy. Now, I haven’t played too many FPSes, but these games were yet another defining gamer moment for me. Playing the original Halo, couch co-op with my dad, was amazing. The experience, how in it you felt. But focusing on gameplay, I really didn’t find any flaws. Targeting was easy, you could change your button layout to what you were comfy with, they had the option for inverted y-axis (the ONLY way to play in my opinion) and it was smooth sailing.

Role Playing Game (RPG)

This game has already come up a lot (and will continue to) but I have to go with Final Fantasy VII. Seriously, the materia system in this game has yet to be topped in my opinion. It was perfect. How materia equipped to weapons, how it leveled, how you could equip any kind to any party member – it was just brilliant. I have never found a battle/magic system that measures up to it. As for other gameplay, it was on par with other FF games – great open world exploration, easy navigation, nothing that stands out as bad.

FPS/RPG Combo

The Borderlands games. Especially Borderlands 2. A brilliant combo of excellent FPS battle, open(ish) world exploration, and RPG elements with leveling your character. I loved picking and equipping skills, changing out guns and their stats – add in a customizable element and I’m happy. However, Borderlands 2 was definitely more shooter than RPG.

On the opposite end, Fallout 3 was amazing too. SO many customizable RPG elements, from leveling to dialogue. The shooter aspect of the game was definitely secondary, but well done nonetheless. The V.A.T.S. system provided quite the amount of fun.

And, with less explanation:

Tactics RPG – Fire Emblem series

Stealth/FPS – The Last of Us

Adventure – Beyond Good and Evil

 

11. Gaming System of Choice

At this point in my life, it would have to be my Nintendo 3DS XL. It perfectly suits my lifestyle. A small part of me wishes I could still be a semi-hardcore gamer, buying the latest systems and games, then binge playing them from start to finish. But that’s just not gonna happen! When my daughter was little, I still managed to fit in console game time. But ever since she was old enough to actually pay attention and comprehend what was happening on the TV, console gaming has taken a mostly permanent backseat. There are very few games I play that I would consider appropriate for her to be viewing. Then there’s the lack of time. True, I COULD spend every free second gaming, but at this point in my life, I don’t want to! I love other things too much. So my 3DS is perfect, as I can pop it out, play for a bit, and then just tuck it away in a jiffy.

Of course I have the Zelda 3DS!

As for consoles I want, I think I’d actually pick a WiiU over a PS4. It has way more games that will be appropriate for my daughter in the coming years, plus ZELDA!!! I would honestly buy any new Nintendo system just to play the new Legend of Zelda game that comes out. I may have a bit of an obsession. I’m okay with it.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 4 – 6

Back with more gaming questions and anwers!

4. My Guilty Pleasure Game

I’m gonna go with the Little Big Planet games. The ‘guilty’ part doesn’t come from the actual gameplay, but the amount of time I spent customizing my Sackboy (Sackgirl really). Basically every time I unlocked new costume pieces (aka, pretty much every level) I’d have to redesign. There were just so many fun and cute options!! I even bought, as in with REAL MONEY, custom costume packs for my Sackgirl.

As for current guilty pleasure games, I am so addicted to this game on my phone called Meow Meow Star Acres. I originally got it for my little miss to play if we were ever in a situation and my phone were the only entertainment (normally Mummy’s phone is 100% off limits unless she’s talking to someone, in which case I hold it. I don’t quite trust my three year old with it yet). But anywho, I was testing out the game for her, and of course got totally sucked in to all it’s pointlessness. Brief overview: You run an island with little kitties who grow and harvest crops, take care of animals, and make food to sell to other kitties on the island. So addicting. Plus, there is super silly stuff just for fun. As in, I just got my kitties a trampoline so in their spare time they can go bounce and be happy. Oy. But they are just so damn CUTE! Who can resist such little kawaii kitties?!

5. A Game Character I Feel I Am Most Like, or Wish I Was

There really aren’t any game characters I directly relate to in my life. I’d need a female protag who makes art and stays home with her adorable daughter and cats. So some Sims gal maybe??? As for characters I wish I were like? That’s an easy one.

Jade, from Beyond Good and Evil (more on this game later in the challenge). I was so impressed by Jade when I first played. She’s a total badass, who runs an orphanage, loves to take pictures, AND takes on a big government conspiracy. Yes. Sign me up.

Also, FemShep from Mass Effect. My FemShep was obviously modeled on what I’d like to be. But really, even the generic FemShep qualities are pretty nifty – great leadership skills, integrity, her own SHIP. Did I mentions she’s also a badass? I’ll take it. I have a weakness for BAMFy females, as I don’t consider myself to be a physically strong tough chick and would secretly kind of like to be one.

6. Most Annoying Character

Two popped into my head instantly.

Navi, your fairy from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Her bothersome, nagging, cringe-worthy voice (HEY!! LISTEN!!) is still a source of anger when I replay OoT. I KNOW I NEED TO GO TO THE FIRE TEMPLE, BITCH. She is intended to be a helpful reminder in case you get lost, or can’t figure out where to go next. But unfortunately, she chimes in when she wants to, even if you need no help at all. And you can’t turn her off. Resulting in rage that makes me want to table flip.

Equally obnoxious is Ashley from Resident Evil 4. RE4 was a fantastic game. But the mechanic of having to protect Ashley truly made me want to throw my controller at my television. Full out game rage. Oh, there are zombies up ahead? PLEASE, RUN RIGHT TOWARDS THEM. NO, DON’T HELP ME SHOOT THEM OR ANYTHING, JUST COWER IN THE CORNER UNTIL YOU GET EATEN. THAT’S SO HELPFUL. It got to the point where my friend and I, who were each playing the game, no longer referred to her as just Ashley but always Useless Tool Ashley. And still do.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 1 – 3

1. My First Video Game

My very first two games are some classic oldies. Centipede for the Atari, and Gorilla Basic for DOS (does anyone remember DOS for computers?). I was probably five or six years old, and my dad taught me how to play both.

I loved Centipede, and in my six year old head I kicked ass it. In reality, that’s highly doubtful.

Gorilla Basic was harder, but I still liked it. Here’s a basic layout of the game: Two gorillas are on opposites ends of a city atop skyscrapers. They throw apparently explosive bananas at each other in an attempt to blow the other gorilla up. To throw your banana, you have to calculate the velocity and angle needed to hit the other gorilla, taking wind speed into account. Clearly this was not math I was doing at age six, so I do remember my dad giving me a jumping off point, and then I took over with trial and error. Missing was just as much fun, as you ‘blew up’ giant chunks of building in great 8-bit graphics.

I still have such clear memories of playing Gorilla Basic. The triumph I felt when I blew up my brother’s monkey. My delight at his annoyance. That game probably started what would be years to come of sibling video game rivalry.

Centipede and Gorilla Basic were fun, but they never felt like mine. They were on my dad’s computer (and Atari), which we were not allowed to use without my dad’s permission. The first system that truly felt like mine (even though I had to share it with my brother) was the SEGA Genesis. It was bought just for US. I still remember booting it up and hearing the wonderful SEEEGAAA!! voice blare out. First games for that: Revenge of Shinobi (ridiculously hard), Sonic (ridiculously awesome), and X-Men (which kicked off me reading the comics).

2. My Favorite Character

It pains me to have to pick favorite characters in video games. It’s like trying to pick your favorite character out of all the books you’ve read. There’s just so many! In so many genres! And they’re all great for different reasons! But, I narrowed it down to two, from two games that 100% defined my gamer life.

First, Link from the Legend of Zelda series. To be perfectly honest, Link as a character is pretty shallow. He’s always kind of the bumbling hero, who just stumbles into the role of guy-who-must-save-the-world. But at nine years old, playing Ocarina of Time for the first time, I loved that. He was just an odd kid, who turned out to be the chosen one to save the world. And I remember thinking at the time THAT COULD BE ME!! I still love Link. How he pretty much always stumbles into the role of hero, and embraces being the chosen one. I also love that he’s never had a voice. It just fits.

The second is Aerith (Aeris) Gainsborough from Final Fantasy VII. I adored her character. I wanted to be her. I loved her story, I loved that she was the healer of the party (I’ve always favored the healing classes) and I loved her character interactions. I spent hours leveling her, and obviously went the route of her and Cloud for the love story aspect. Needless to say, when she died, I was heartbroken. More on that later in the challenge.

3. A Game I Think Is Underrated

This is kind of an odd and old pick, but did anybody every play Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup for the Nintendo Gamecube? I loved that game! I loved it because A) you were playing freaking QUIDDITCH – what’s not to love? and B) The team special moves were so much fun. It was great as you could play as the Hogwart’s house teams (Ravenclaw all the way!!) and as any country for the Quidditch World Cup. I loved to play as France or Australia, because their team special moves were so cool looking, and Japan wasn’t too shabby either. Also, you could collect cards, just like in the books, for different teams/players/etc. Useless collectible unlockables? I’m in. They are a game weakness of mine.

However, this game certainly had it’s issues. It’s controls were a bit clunky; it took some serious getting used to to navigate. And also, there was no Ireland team. None. WTF?! If I’m being 100% honest, I can’t see anyone who isn’t a Potterhead enjoying this game. Being a huge Potterhead, and this being the closest I could come to playing Quidditch at the time, I adored it.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.