Video games were born when I was a kid and we’ve kinda grown up together. I think we’re both still kids inside, but that’s another blog post for another day.
First, my credentials: I owned Pong. End of story. Your argument is invalid.
I also had a Vic 20, and soon thereafter the groundbreaking Commodore 64. So I thought I’d give you a recap of my ten favorite video games of all time, oldest to newest. I have spent far too much time on each of these bad boys:
1. Bruce Lee, Commodore 64
This game had it all: A Kung Fu master, Ninjas, Green Sumos (hated those guys!), and increasing levels of difficulty. The flying drop kicks were oh so satisfying.
2. Raid On Bungeling Bay, Commodore 64
This game was epic. So epic that I recorded the Airwolf soundtrack from the TV show and blasted it into my skull via headphones while playing this game. The aerial battles made my heart pound. They really did.
3. Super Dodge Ball, NES
I’m not a sports gamer. At all. But this was sooooo good. Something about pounding the other players into oblivion with the big white ball, probably. Which made it more appealing than, say, golf. When a player ‘died’ a little angel floated up and offscreen. Into heaven, presumably. Which helped me feel better about destroying them.
4. Jedi Knight for PC
So much fun. I remember the online version of this game being a nail-biter. When you or your opponents died, text would appear on the screen:” _________ has become one with the force,” or “___________ has become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.” Near the end of my time on this game, players caught on to this concept and named their characters “Your mom,” or “My butt.” Insert those into the phrases above and you’ll see how much fun was to be had.
5. Battlefronts 2, PS2
Jedi Knight was cool, but this was the first game that let me live my Star Wars fantasies with graphics worth celebrating. I can’t even explain how awesome it was to be a Jedi. Or a stormtrooper. (Confession: I didn’t like being the Rebels). Fighting in classic movie battles was a great way to spend an afternoon.
6. Worms: Armageddon, PC
Worms was so simple: A turn-based war game with cute little worms instead of people. This was the first game on my radar that could be described as having personality. The voiceovers for the worms are brilliant. I loved this game so much that I now have it for my iPhone and iPad. Proof that gameplay is still king.
7. Battle For Middle Earth 1 and 2, PC
I tend to be a first-person kind of dude, but these battle command games were completely engrossing, and could eat up many hours at a time. I loved the gradual build of battle, the ebb and flow of skirmishes, the strategic factor… and wiping the floor with my computer enemy after the dust cleared. My favorite part of the game, though, was ranking up Gandalf and using his word of power while buried in a sea of orcs. Sent ’em flying like a field of bowling pins being nuked.
8. Warhawk, PS3
I remember the first time I played this game. I spent most the time marvelling at how fun it was. Climbing, jumping, grenades, planes, jeeps, and relatively smooth online multiplayer goodness made this a classic in my personal video game mythology. Hours of fun. I played it long after people had left it to play ‘better’ games. Unfortunately, this game also dug deep enough into my psyche to become the first game to truly infuriate me when I thought other people were clearly cheating. Don’t look at me like that. They were cheating.
9. Resistance: Fall of Man, PS3
The campaign for Resistance was phenomenal, and online multiplayer was amazing, too. I should point out that while most people were into Halo during this period, zapping purple baddies on some distant world, I was busy blowing up aliens invading earth. Our home, people. Which meant my cause was far more noble. You sleep better at night because I blew up bad guys that mattered to your peace and happiness. You’re welcome.
10. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, PS3
This is the game I’ve played most recently, and is probably the most fun I’ve had gaming in a long time. I love being able to climb just about anything I can see. I love the jumping, rolling, fighting—the freedom you have as you play. The graphics are superb. So well done! The only problem is that my youngest son, Joel, has become far more proficient at this game than I’ll ever be. “Good try, dad.” Thanks for nothing, Joel.
So those are my top ten favorite video games of all time. Do you share any on this list? Which would you add if you made your own list?