Top Ten Video Games

I decided to keep the Top Ten theme going and list my favorite games of all time.  I'm not saying they're the best games; they're just the ones that have given me the most enjoyment over the years.

10. Dragon Warrior

 

This was the first RPG that I really enjoyed playing. I can remember fueling myself on No-Doz and Jolt cola so I could play this one into the wee hours of the morning. My favorite part was the battle with the black knight.

 

9. Raiders of the Lost Ark

 

Like most movie buffs with a lick of sense, I’m a big Indiana Jones fan. When this game came out I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I remember it was ultra-difficult, but that didn’t stop me from playing it again and again.

 

8. Oblivion

 

I never have got around to completing this game, but not because I didn’t like it. I got so distracted by the side missions and general exploring that I kind of forgot about the main quest. The game seemed less enjoyable whenever I would follow the storyline. By the time the Shimmering Isles expansion came out I had moved on to other things, but I definitely plan on revisiting this masterpiece sometime in the future.

 

7. Rock Band

 

Whether I’m on lead guitar, bass, drums, or mic I get as close to feeling like a rock star as I’m ever going to get. From its character customization to it’s great list of songs, this game does almost everything right. I have a small issue with the profile restrictions when it comes to transferring them from band to band, but it’s a really minor complaint. What makes this game even better is that my whole family gets into it. It’s not uncommon for us to get together and jam for six or seven hours on a Saturday.

 

6. Final Fantasy VII

 

Dragon Warrior introduced me to RPG’s, but FFVII made me fall in love with them. This game set a standard for RPG’s that few have surpassed. If you didn’t sit there in shock with your mouth hanging open when Sephiroth killed Aeris, then you probably have no soul.

 

5. Mario Kart 64

 

I’m not really sure why I liked this game so much, but I couldn’t get enough of it. I’ll take this racing game over any of the Project Gothams and Forzas of today. It was fast paced, the cars were armed, and you could play as Toad (who doesn’t love Toad???). My friends and I even had a little plastic trophy that was awarded to the winner of our weekly Mario Kart tournaments.

 

4. Halo (1-3)

 

I don’t think I need to go into a lot of detail as to why I like this game. If you don’t already know about Halo, you probably shouldn’t consider yourself a gamer.

 

3. Mass Effect

 

This game could easily move up or down on my list in the near future, because I haven’t finished it yet. A friend of mine told me I’m about an hour from the end. I’m itching to play it, but I want to wait until the wife goes on a shopping trip or something so I can give it my full attention. Small, graphical glitches aside, this is damn near a perfect game. The storyline is deep and compelling, the characters are well developed, and I love the combat system. Depending on the subsequent sequels, this one has the potential to move up to the number one spot on my list.

 

2. Goldeneye

 

Goldeneye is the first FPS I ever liked and until Halo was the only one I liked. I’ve played a lot of Halo, but the number of hours on all three Halo’s together probably wouldn’t equal the amount of time I’ve spent playing Goldeneye. Earlier, I mentioned the trophy for the Mario Kart tournaments. Eventually that same trophy became our award for our weekly Goldeneye tournaments. I read a rumor a few weeks back that Goldeneye may be coming to Xbox Live. If that happens, I guess Halo will be going back in its case.    

1.  Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

 

I’m a huge Star Wars fan. As a result, whenever a game using the Star Wars name is released my expectations are rather high. Until KOTOR, those expectations were never met. KOTOR surpassed my expectations and had me the most addicted to a game as I had ever been. I once played it for thirty-four hours straight and probably would have kept playing, but I had to get some sleep before work. Once I beat a game, I rarely go back to it, but I’ve played through KOTOR several times. In fact, I played it again back in November when I was on a business trip.  Now, every game I play it compared to KOTOR.

And for those of you who just scrolled straight to the end...