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Since it is Thanksgiving, the team and I decided we would each write about three games we are thankful for. These could be for a variety of reasons. So, let’s get started.
Andrew
Pokemon Silver
This was my first Pokemon game when I was 6. It launched my into the Pokemon universe as a kid and allowed me ro grow up with the series. So why exactly am I thankful for it? It shaped who I am today, in a way. Pokemon has always been one of my favorite series for a good reason and it will continue to be.
This was the first game to get me in though snd holds a lot of sentimental value from growing up. I still remember the first time I beat the Elite Four and how amazing it felt. Talking about this game makes me want to go amd play it again.
Dead Space
Dead Space as a series has really been a major part of my life since my teen years. I even just recently played through them all and did reviews for Dead Space, Dead Space 2 & Dead Space 3 via the Steam Deck. Well, as a teenager, I loved these titles just as much as I do now. My friends and I would talk about them at school and I have good memories tied into them in multiple ways.
Deracine
This was my very first VR game played on the original (paid link) Playstation VR (PSVR) headset, which I absolutely loved. The story was interesting and kept my interest, but do did the journey that I experienced and was enhanced by a virtual reality environment. My first time in, I nearly cried at the starting screen because of how amazing it was. Okay but why am I thankful? This was a huge draw for me to even get a VR headset to begin with, for this game. I kept watching trailers and I wanted to experience it first hand. Want more details about the game? I did a review, so look into that. Also, the game still runs fairly cheap, between $10-20 like this (paid link) one right here.
Downs
Games I’m Thankful For
It feels a little unusual to write a blog like this, because the games themselves aren’t always what I’m thankful for, it’s the moments, the people, and the connections formed around them. Still, a few titles stand out for the role they played in my life.
Mickey Speedway
First up is Mickey Speedway USA for the N64. It’s basically “baby’s first racing game,” a Disney themed reskin of Diddy Kong Racing, but it was a genuinely fun and well made title. I’m grateful for it because it was the game that brought my family together. Life has only gotten busier as the years have passed, and we’ll probably never have those kinds of game nights again, but I can still vividly remember playing (paid link) Mickey Speedway with my parents and sister. Back then, it was something we could all enjoy together, and that memory is something I’ve held onto.
Halo: Reach
Another game I’m thankful for is Halo: Reach. It isn’t my favorite entry in the series, but during a difficult period of my life, it was a constant, something I played every day. More importantly, it connected me with friends I still talk to fifteen years later. We may never squad up again like we used to, but Reach was the foundation for friendships that lasted well beyond the game.
Mega Man Battle Network 5
The last game on my list is Mega Man Battle Network 5. Flawed as it may be, it was the game that pulled me into the world of gaming in the first place. It opened the door to a hobby that has stayed with me ever since. Without it, I might not have become interested in games at all. It was my entry point, my spark, and it will always have a place in my memories.
Charle
Top 3 games I’m thankful for
Introduction:
Video games have been a big part of my life. To pick only a handful of games to honor on this list was a challenge. I went with the first three games that left the biggest impact on me as a kid, and what I use as a gold standard of modern games or indie gems I keep an eye on.
1. Pokemon (Red, Yellow, and Silver)
Pokemon perfected the monster catching mechanic in video games. Sure, Monster Hunter games has this as a focus in their games, but Pokemon took the idea and polished it to near perfection. It started off as a simple monster catching game, but each path you found and walked on added another layer of depth. There was catching, gym battles, exploring, and ultimately bettering yourself to learn what worked best and what didn’t. Failure wasn’t final, and you could always do better next time.
Why am I thankful for this game:
Pokemon came into my life at a pivotal turn of the video game genre. Gen 1 was the last of the original Game Boy games to land before changing to Game Boy color and onward. I am thankful I was able to play this game because it gave me something to build towards, even when life was rapidly changing. And the community Pokemon built is incredible. Even in today’s era, thousands of fans could be interviewed and they’d all give you a different answer on what their favorite Pokemon game was. My favorite games were Red, Yellow, and Silver. Silver was especially revolutionary for what it added to the Pokemon world. It was the final mainstream game I followed, until years later, I would start a quest to collect all the Pokemon games of the DS to 3DS era. This is fascinating because I skipped over these games and I’ll bring in a fresh perspective.
2. Mega Man X (Mega Man series)
Why am I thankful for this series?
Mega Man is a classic hero, with a solid story anyone can get onboard with. It takes the rock-paper-scissors formula, but transforms it in a clever way that is mastered through making mistakes, but learning exactly what to do next time through pattern recognition. I am glad I played Mega Man X when I did because it was in the last generation of Nintendo consoles before we jumped to 3D with the N64, PlayStation, and others. Future games in the metroidvania genre look to Mega Man as a solid foundation of what works great, and what I can evolve into. I think the overall concept of getting upgrades to go back against a boss fight, is rewarding the second time, especially if they have defeated you by a small margin of health left on your part. The game has a timeless design, music, and storyline are what pulled me in and what also make it so memorable after all these years. And for any fan that wanted a modern upgrade from the older Mega Man games, Mega Man X was the best one to hop on.
3. Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is one of the best RPG games of all time. It had the all star creators from Final Fantasy, teaming up with the creator and designer of Dragon Ball Z. Not only did they manage to put these legendary creators together, but they made an instantly classic story of heroism, trial, tragedy, and hope. And the characters were instantly lovable. Each of them felt unique and got their moment to shine, even if they were all from different time eras.
Why am I thankful for this game?
I hold RPGs, modern and past ones, to this exact standard of storytelling and gameplay. Chrono trigger had me hooked from the instant I booted it up, to the final battle against Lavos, fighting for your future and the fate of the world. I am thankful for this game because without it, it wouldn’t have influenced the future era of modern indie game developers and storytellers to lean into their story, instead of intense and shiny graphics. The best example of this is Sea of Stars by Sabotage Studios. It was a direct inspiration from Chrono Trigger and that wave of niche JRPG games that kept pushing the envelope forward in storytelling and iconic gameplay.
Future game studios need to look at Chrono Trigger as an example of some of the best storytelling in the industry. There needs to be more risky ideas like this developed if we ever want to put a firm foothold on the lines between immersion and storytelling. We need more Chrono Triggers in video games.
Conclusion
What games are you thankful for this holiday season? Let us know over on our Facebook and as always, happy gaming!
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