Guitar_bard

Quiet mornings are great for classic games, or games like Picross!

I also enjoy a nice open world game that I can wander in at my leisure (BoTW, Witcher 3, etc.)

I just started Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Wow.... Just wow. So amazing. As a huge Metroid fan and fan of the genre as well, I think I love this even more than Dread. That's really saying something.

Super Metroid took everything I loved about my favorite NES game (Metroid) and ramped it up to 11.

Not only was the atmosphere a beautiful fusion of visuals and sound, but I feel like this is the first game that really sold what the SNES controller could do.

This (to me) was the game that showed why 4 face buttons and at least 2 shoulder buttons was the future of gaming. It just controls perfectly, and everything was needed.

Isn't Grime out today?

I am so excited for this. Blasphemous is one of my favorite Metroid type games I have ever played.

@DrGonzo No worries. I think we have all been there.

@DrGonzo I don't understand why the overall score based on someone else's experience is so important to you?

If you had a totally different experience, right on! Let's hear about it. People have different experiences and opinions with our favorite past time, and I think that is a great thing!

I for one would rather hear a conflicting opinion with legit reasons. Or even a "ya know, I just really dig that game!" It is all supposed to be for fun, after all.

It is just a silly thing to get bent out of shape about.

@ManaOwls Me too! I started off with the Atari 2600 and Intellivision, and out of every system I have played since then (almost all of them) the 3DS is my favorite of them all.

Thanks so much for this article. I needed something light and fun after the last couple of weeks (my Dad is in the hospital with a non-operable form of cancer). This list really hit the happy spot for me. I think the honorable mentions really made it even more apparent how many must play titles are on the Switch.

For some reason, every time I see the blue sky in Super Mario Bros. it puts me in a happier place. Is that just me?

Thanks again.

I love this game, and am looking forward to going back to it!

I predict that Nintendo is still going to have a big Spring or Summer Direct...

Just got my physical copy of Metroid Prime Remastered today, and so I am playing that and the Switcher (started it on PS4 a long time ago, but decided I won't actually beat it unless I play on Switch).

Metroid Prime Remastered is better than the original in every single way. Just amazing.

Just got my copy! I'm very, very excited to play this game again. It's like hanging out with an old friend I haven't seen in a long time.

Logically I should say the Switch because it also includes previous generations through Nintendo Switch Online, but man, my heart says the NES.

Part of it is nostalgia because I grew up with it, but just looking at the impact of seeing Nintendo's first party titles for the time... It was simply magical.

The triple threat of the first 3 Super Mario Bros. games, Zelda 1 and 2, Mike Tyson's Punch out, METROID, Kid Icarus... the Nintendo Seal of Quality really felt like it meant something in my little kid's brain, and my friends and I couldn't wait to see what Nintendo was going to do next.

I've been playing games for a long time, and I have never really felt that awe since.
Well, except maybe with Super Metroid.

@Wheatly Ok, that is really cool. I may have to pick one up. Thanks again!!

@Wheatly No, I will have to check it out! Thanks!!

I love this article!

I alternate a lot between my GBA SP, DS Lite, and New 2DS XL. I really dig my Switch Lite, but nothing beats the clamshell design of Nintendo's previous handhelds. Plus, the combined library of the GBA, DS, and 3DS is unmatched.

@NerdyBoutKirby I really like that Wario game, actually, and I feel like it's pretty unappreciated. The mandatory touch screen gimmicks are a bit annoying, but it is still a pretty great title.

I completely agree with this sentiment. It's funny, I just started replaying Wario Land 4 the other day, and it still holds up. We definitely need a proper sequel.

The entire Ecco the Dolphin 1 and 2 soundtracks (Sega CD versions). I still think that they might be 2 of the best ambient albums EVER WRITTEN.

Also, the title music from Journey to Silius. That song is amazing.

It seemed to me to be a year of "Everything and Anything Goes", and I think that is a great thing. There didn't seem to be just one thing. You had the AAA game companies going in a few directions, consoles each had their distinct flavors of what games represented them, the indie scene is thriving and is as diverse as ever, interesting remakes are appearing, and retro gaming is flourishing even more.

I feel like this was a great year to be a gamer, even if, like me, you are just tackling a huge backlog and just enjoying all of these unique experiences when you get to them.

I really love this game, so I'm pretty excited for this dlc to eventually come out.

I'm really digging the look of both of them, for different reasons. To be honest, they both look like they could be a lot fun.

I'm very excited for this. I really love the mainline DQ games, as well as the DQM games. This seems like a nice mix of the 2. Definitely can't wait to curl up with this one.

I'm feeling nostalgic, so I have been playing a lot of the Contra Anniversary Collection, and Diablo 2 Resurrected.

@IronMan30 Hahaha you win. That was perfect and completely accurate.

@MarioBrickLayer @Rainz Thank you both so much for the info! I think Alien is definitely in my top 5 horror games now, right up there with Silent Hill 2.

I think my wife is never going to get used to being woke up in the middle of the night while I am playing in bed, and jump 10 feet up in the air and screaming.

I definitely want to check out Dying Light though. It looks pretty great as well (for different reasons).

@MarioBrickLayer I am, and I LOVE it. I haven't had as much time lately to dig into it, since my kids have had a lot of events. I'm hoping this weekend I will make some time to really play. Brilliant game though.

How is Dying Light in comparison?

These are so amazingly ridiculous. I love it.

@umbreon_sylveon I hear ya. I live in Spokane and it is getting terrible here too. The last 5 years have turned this town into a cesspool. We used to have a shooting or 2 every year, now it's almost every day. Tons of drugs, violence, etc. We really want to move somewhere smaller.

@Belatarr I agree with you there too. We have social media pretty locked down at our house. I can't believe I forgot to mention that!! My daughter's friends are so obsessed with social media and the people on it (and by extension, my daughter to a smaller degree) that it is absolutely frightening.

I think that with all of these elements combined, can we really be surprised that we have kids and adults that are extremely narcissistic and lack basic compassion, without the ability to kindly reason with or discuss issues with others in a respectful way? Instead, we have adults being cruel to each other over differences of politics and opinions, and our kids are watching and emulating all of it.

Thanks for the reminder. You're totally right.

@jcboyer515 you know, I don't think he's totally wrong. I think maybe it's part of a bigger puzzle. As a parent, I've noticed a BIG change with my kids' friends that have unchecked access to violent media.
Don't get me wrong, I consume violent media myself, but I also can self-regulate and lead a balanced life with happier things. I'm beginning to wonder if these "researchers" have kids, because you can't tell me a young kid with a developing brain that watches stuff like Squid Game, listens to aggressive music more often, than goes off to play more violent games isn't somehow affected over time.

If I did that non-stop as an adult I can tell you for a fact that it would affect me.

We consume media more than any other time in history (especially our children), and I think it is worth noting that my kids are limited by what my wife and I think is appropriate, and they seem way happier than those that are unmonitored. But what do I know? I'm probably ignorant too.

@invictus4000 I live in Washington (not Seattle, thank God), but I agree with you.

I think there is one important thing you declined to mention: from what I have heard about Utah, you guys still have a high level of respect for each other. That isn't present in a lot of Washington any more. I have heard nothing but good things about people from Utah, so you are definitely doing something right.

@JayJ I completely agree. I used to live in greater King county (and also Seattle for a while years ago), and it is a scary place now. All of my friends and family that were still living there have all moved.

I also know a lot of businesses that have had to move or closed down because crime is so bad.

@MarioBrickLayer Haha, the same thing happened to me! My wife was sleeping, and I woke her up when I jumped straight up into the air. Amazing game.

@MarioBrickLayer I just started playing Alien Isolation for the first time and am absolutely loving it. I haven't even seen the Alien yet, but the tension is soooo high!

@dew12333 I can't disagree with you there. I have worked with those people as well that always seem to think the customer is nothing but an obstacle to their job, rather than the reason they have a job in the first place. That's a really good point. I can't stand that attitude. Thanks for adding your perspective!

@Ryu_Niiyama Haha you are absolutely right. I remember joining a software company as QA / Customer Support (they had a major RIWF and had combined departments), and during my second week taking a support call from a jerk that said he would blacklist me from the IT world if I didn't personally fix a bug (not QA's job) for a product I hadn't even seen yet. I remember he told me "he was tired of my f*ing excuses".

@dew12333 I understand what you mean, but from being in that world, that isn't necessarily true. From the customer's perspective, sure, but many times Reps have very little power to actually do much.

@Ryu_Niiyama I agree. I think it's a lack of compassion and empathy for anyone outside of their immediate circle. It seems to be in short supply these days.

I'm glad they are including these guidelines. After working for several software companies the last two and a half decades, it is odd how many people think that because they purchased your product, that they also no longer have to treat anyone in that company with respect, like they also own the employees.

I can't tell you how many times I would be onsite for a client, and they had the same crappy attitude of "well, I bought A and it's now exactly how it is supposed to be, so you are also going to do B, C, D and onward until I am satisfied, and I don't give a crap that you are a fellow human being. I want what I want."

@BrazillianCara I think you've been looking in the wrong places, honestly. It is a WONDERFUL game. I absolutely love it.

There are so many games that I have loved that are "hated".

Off the top of my head, on the NES there's Renegade, Predator, Rambo, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Magmax, Zelda 2, and Castlevania 2...

On the Genesis, the 2 that come to mind are Phantasy Star 3 and the Haunting, starring Polterguy.

There are a lot more. I guess I have had taste in games haha!

@LikelySatan I love that game soooo much.

I'm so glad to see this! I can't wait to check it out.

This reminds me that it's time to replay Contra 4. It's been a few years!

@completo88 Thank you for the adult response. I have no idea what the issue is about, as I'm usually too busy living life with my family than reading about the latest controversy online.

NLife has been refreshing for me as it can be a place I can just read about games and enjoy the hobby.

It was nice to hear another calm adult in the room.

@Thoughts Absolutely! Thank you thank you thank you for this comment.

This weekend I have been playing "recovering from my 2nd bout with COVID!" Luckily the rest of my family didn't get hit as hard as I did this time around...

On the bright side, now that I can keep my eyes open for more than a few minutes, I have started playing Golden Sun for the 1st time and really love it.