Just as with books, movies, plays etc the past holds a treasure trove of amazing experiences. Unless you have a lot more free time than I do it’s unlikely you’ve played anywhere near the majority of the classics. Let’s get out those pink sunnies and compare notes on some of our favourite releases.

I’ve recently been going back in time a little on the retro pi and looking at console games I never had.

  • I have to say Chrono Trigger blew me away with it’s stunning art, puzzles with surprisingly little moon logic, and beautiful music.

  • Mario golf on the SNES is very simple but for tired evenings cuddling on the couch it’s been a winner in our household.

  • The n64 Zelda games are surprisingly great too although that awkward period of 3d had some unusual controls. Even the gameboy ones are a blast although the water temple in oracle of ages it a bit frustrating.

  • Heroes of might and magic 2 and 3 hold a special place in my heart and I can still dump hours into skirmishing with those (32167 for when hom2 gets too frustrating amiright?)

  • I loved neverwinter knights as a kid but recently tried to check it out again and just… idk the magic wasn’t there. I think now I’d rather just play some actual ttrpgs instead of sprawling CRPGs

PS1 is a mystery box to me so I’d love to hear some recommendations from that old thing. All I ever played on it was time crisis at my mates house (which was and is soooo coool, RIP lightguns).

What about you folks? What games hold a special place in your heart? or what have you checked out for the first time recently and found it’s actually pretty good?

  • mbryson
    2·
    1 year ago

    • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. My favourite game of all time. I played it long after it had released thanks to the PSOne classics section on the PS3, but far and away it is one of my favourite experiences I’ve had with gaming. The map is robust, the RPG elements allow for unique experiences each time I’ve played, and overall it’s just complex and challenging enough to keep you engaged, but not frustrating to the point of distress and apathy towards it. Highly recommended as a starting point for the PSOne.

    • Super Metroid. Similar to what I loved about SoTN, but more obtuse in nature for sure (it came out earlier after all for the SNES). The gameplay and atmosphere of course are great focusing on exploration and a gradual increase in ability lending itself to pursuing more exploration, but even the story is compelling enough to keep you engaged throughout.

    • Portal. Great puzzle game I’ve always loved. Challenged the medium when it first came out by taking what the source engine was best at (FPS’) and placing it in an environment with little to no combat and the player thinking of ways to overcome each challenge with the tools at their disposal. (Fun story: my cousin was allowed to let me play this when I was younger because it was the only game rated “T” on the Orange box. It’s also one of the few games I was able to beat in the hour or two periods we would visit my aunt and uncles’ home.). It’s short, sweet, and always a good time.

    • Kirby Air Ride. Last one I can think of but probably the game I’ve returned to the most. (Including Smash Bros Melee for the same system, also a great game made by the same director and studio.). Overall the “rides” for Kirby are a unique concept, but the game really shines with City Trial, a frantic 5 (or 7 for most people who love the game) minute period of collecting buffs and changing vehicles in order to beat opponents in a randomly selected minigame (race, battle, beat King DeDeDe, etc) at the end. Such a novel concept and one I always love to come back to for a quick game now and then.