Thanks Gaming

I have a lot to be thankful for; a roof over my head, a beautiful wife, a loving family, fantastic friends, and food to eat. Aside from the things we take for granted like shelter and food I thought I'd write a little nostalgic piece, here's an ode to the games I'm thankful for. Keep in mind this is more a trip down memory lane for me, but I will try to relate it to reasons why we [the industry] should all be thankful for these games.

Keep in mind these are not micro reviews, but don't be surprised if I do review them sometime down the road. So here it is in no particular order, my list of a few games I'm thankful for.

Deus Ex: The Conspiracy (PC/PS2)

Deus Ex was ported onto the Playstation 2 in 2002 (2 years after its PC release) and it was a game changer. Granted, even at the time the game may have looked dated, but it never felt dated. The open environments and branching paths made this one more than a little special. I hold this game up as the grandfather of modern "Nerd Person Shooters" Like Borderlands and Fallout 3.

The story alone made this one worth the price of admission. Luckily the gameplay was up to the task of matching the engaging narrative. While the voice acting, animation and graphics are somewhat laughable (especially by todays standards) this still stands as a testament to great game design. There is a prequel being developed now that looks to try and capture the same magic Conspiracy had (after one lackluster sequel).

Jak and Daxter (PS2)

I remember seeing the first promotional material for Jak and Daxter in PSM (The unofficial Playstation magazine). From the distinct art style and beautiful environments to the platform driven gameplay I was hooked. When the game eventually came out I was not disappointed at all. Everything was exactly as a I wanted it, as though Naughty Dog read my mind and made my perfect game.

There's just something amazing about the world of Jak and Daxter. The voice acting and animation is spot on, and the interaction between the two heroes is priceless. This is a world that I can visit again and again. While I love the sequels, I must admit that the original will always be held highest in my heart.

Mega Man Legends 1 and 2 (PS1)

The first Mega Man Legends was probably my favorite game for the PS1 (until Mega Man Legends 2). Once again, it was the world that Infaune and Capcom created that drew me in. I've been a fan of Mega Man since the NES days, but this is exactly what I wanted. Legends is a story driven Mega Man game with a fantastic action/RPG feel. With plenty of weapons and equipment to unlock these games held my attention of a long, long time.

It was recently announced that Mega Man Legends 3 is being developed. Unfortunately, shortly after this announcement Keiji Infaune left Capcom. He is the creator of Mega Man and was extremely excited for Legends 3, even saying that he really had to fight for the game to get made because the Legends series isn't really a best seller. So it seems odd for him to leave at the beginning of the project, but Legends 3 is still in development. this game is at the top of my most wanted chart.

Sam and Max Hit the Road (PC)

I remember playing Sam and Max back in the day with my best friend Jake. We couldn't get enough of the irreverent humor and darn near impossible puzzles. Upon playing the game again I have found that it is now even funnier, not quite as hard, and wonderfully nostalgic.

The old Lucas Arts adventure games have certainly aged well, like a fine wine. The graphics might not be a crisp 1080p but it doesn't matter. Games like Sam and Max, Money Island, and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis are relics of a time when game design was more then something esthetic.

Final Fantasy VII (PS1)

This is the game. Final Fantasy VII absorbed my life. Looking back I can't believe how robust and full this game is. Everything in it elicits a memory, and I searched every nook and cranny of that world. The story is absurd (in a good way) and sometimes borders on silly, but it's something that is missing in todays market. FFVII is probably one of the most widely recognized RPGs of all time. Granted, it might not deserve all the praise it gets, but it still holds up as a fun and engaging story, full of melodrama and action. There are mini games and side quests to distract from saving the world (even a theme park!). The JRPG is dying, sadly, but luckily we will always have FFVII to hold onto.

Final Fantasy IX (PS1)

That's right, another Final Fantasy. IX was very different from VII, while VIII adopted VII's futuristic feel and added nothing but new, terrible elements. IX went back to the series roots. Final Fantasy IX was unique, it was a step forward for the series while paying homage to the past. It used a classic fantasy setting with a sweeping and absolutely gorgeous art style. IX was the optimism to VII and VIII's pessimism.

The story was, of course, one of global catastrophe that our heroes must end. Instead of being cliche, however, the effort in the story is primarily focused on developing the characters. It has probably the most credible love story of an Final Fantasy and certainly has the most moving and profound moments. One in particular is when you stumble upon the Black Mage village and your young friend Vivi discovers his heritage… It's… well, you'll just have to play it.

Ico (PS2)

Ico holds a special place in my heart because quite simply it is a game that is also a work of art. you could literally hang a TV in an art gallery and just let someone play it and I know people would begin to recognize that our medium has more then just some significance as art.

Ico is a quite game, there are not vey many enemies, most of the challenge comes through platforming puzzles. All you do is rescue a girl, then guide her by the hand out of an enormous castle. The sweeping vistas are breathtaking, and the close ups show a relationship between a boy and girl that doesn't need to be cluttered with dialogue to evolve. There is an HD remake of both Ico and Shadow of the Collosus (another stunning game that is proof of games as art, it didn't make my list only because it really isn't nostalgic to me). I can't wait for the HD versions of these games.

So there you have it, my short list of games I'm thankful for. This is not nearly all of them, and I tried to stick to older games for nostalgia's sake. There are plenty more like The Bouncer, Sly Cooper, and Ratchet and Clank. Don't worry though, faire reader, these games will get their treatment in time. Reviews are coming after I'm out of my Turkey Coma and finished recovering from Black Friday. The last generation of gaming (PS2, GC, XBOX) was incredible, and I aim to make sure no one misses out on these "oldy but goody" games. They're fun, fantastic, and cheap. So until I get around to that, I'll end by asking: what games are you "thankful for"?