Memorable Games

My Most Memorable Games

My preference has tended to be for single player games, although I’ve spent countless hours on a small number of great multiplayer games. For most of my gaming life, single player games have been the way to go, for no other reason than it has been easier to arrange time to play. Like everything else, the less people that you have to organise something with, the easier it is to set up.

In recent years, this has changed somewhat with online gaming. Most of my gaming life has been outside of the internet, so most of my favourite gaming moments came on consoles prior to the PS3.

The games listed below are in no particular order. I enjoyed all of them almost equally, and they all had something about them which makes me remember playing them for the first time. They might not even be the games that I spent the most time on. However, they are the ones that stuck in my memory and I would encourage any newcomers to gaming to check these out. Although the experience might be slightly different to the one that players had when playing these games for the first time.

In some cases, I have included an entire series. I think these games are better enjoyed when playing the entire series rather than one game. For me, the best period for gaming was in the late 90s, just at the time when I was considering giving up gaming, so most of my choices come from sometime around this period. It’s impossible to make a list like this without missing out some fantastic games, these are my favourites, not necessarily the best, and games that I think are easy for players to get into and which offer huge amounts of content to allow the player to get immersed in the world that they are playing in.

1. Resident Evil (PS)

Resident Evil saw the birth of the Survival Horror Genre. At the time, there was really nothing else like it. The incredibly slow graphic that came with opening each door in the mansion was kind of frustrating, but it somehow added to the tension. Safe to say, I couldn’t wait to get back from the pub and switch all the lights off and play this game. There are plenty of updates and remakes of Resident Evil, for people who don’t want to go retro and play the original with the slow loading screens.

Memorable due to the scene with the Dobermanns in that corridor.

2. Metal Gear Solid (PS)

Metal Gear Solid was a sequel to earlier Metal Gear games that were released on Nintendo consoles previously. The move to Sony was a smart one, the extended movies and long chats between characters, meant this game was made for the Playstation.

With a James Bond style cast of villains and a great set of allies, as well as a crazy plot, this stealth game offered something slightly different from other games that were more about charging into a room and shooting the place up.

Incredible battles and a great amount of equipment that could be used in all kinds of innovative ways really was a breath of fresh air at the time. And it still has hardly even been beaten. Apparently, there are remakes in production now.

Memorable due to the battle with Psycho Mantis, which was probably one of the high points in gaming at that time. Honourable mention to the Sniper Wolf battle also. Great stuff. Lots of sequels to enjoy in this series, all great games.

3. Final Fantasy 7 (PS)

I had read a lot about Final Fantasy 7. It seemed like it would be quite an immersive game, just at the time when I was thinking about playing less games. As with Metal Gear, Final Fantasy had begun life on Nintendo consoles and, just like Metal Gear, the move to Sony was a wise move which allowed the developers to really go to town with a wealth of incredible cut scenes and movies. The sheer scope and size of the game was nothing that I had ever seen before. And an incredible cast of heroes and villains kept you captivated for hours on end. There are 16 Final Fantasy chapters now, most of them are worth playing and have a level of detail and hidden bonuses that are not matched in many other games.

There were so many extra quests and achievements, you could easily have a play through that lasted well over 100 hours. This was the first real role playing game (RPG) that I had ever played and it got me hooked. Unforgettable. Lots of predecessors and sequels, none related to this game but all good games. And a remake in 2020, which is fantastic. More remakes/sequels in the pipeline as we speak.

Memorable due to an unexpected tragic scene fairly early in the game.

4. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

Ocarina of Time was a different kind of RPG to Final Fantasy, but it was no less of a great game. More action orientated, with a silent protagonist, another great cast of heroes and villains, and a wonderful set of weapons and equipment. At the time, this was probably the most vibrant and colourful game world that I had ever seen. There are so many great Zelda games, possibly the best series of games ever made.

The Quests were fun and the variety of different terrain and territories that you had to visit meant that the game was always asking new questions of you, while learning new skills. This game was pure magic from start to finish, and one that I will never forget.

Memorable due to the use of the Ocarina to create magical situations and the general beauty of the game world. Probably the best background characters that any game has ever had. Fighting an alternate version of yourself that knows all your favourite moves and tactics.

5. Football Manager (PC)

For a complete change of pace, I started playing Championship Manager on the PC. It eventually evolved into Football Manager. This was a simulation game and the amount of detail involved was just insane. In your job as a manager, you would be responsible for everything from recruiting players, training, dealing with player injuries and enabling tactics during matches.

As time went on, you would be involved with dealing with the press and the board. Initially, this game would present text information during matches. This was pretty intense, and only increased when the game progressed to graphic presentation of the matches.

The immersion level of this game was set to 100% and there is probably no game that I have spent more time playing. It is an ideal game for people who like football, like to have total control of what is happening and like to play a game at their own pace. While it is quite tough at times, you can adjust the difficulty level. This game can really take up a lot of your time if you let it. It feels as if you need to put a large amount of time into it to get the best out of the game.

So be warned, this game can take over your life. There is actually a book written about it – ‘Football Manager Stole my Life’, which, pretty much, reflects the experience of millions of people around the world. There are some crazy stories about people who became obsessed with this game. Probably missed more days of work due to this game than any other.

Memorable due to the incredible highs, and lows, that you get out of matches and seasons in general, wanting to put a hole through your monitor after a particularly bad loss.

6. Mass Effect (XBOX/PS3)

Mass Effect is one of the later games in my list. An incredible trilogy making you feel as if you were Captain Kirk, speeding across the galaxy, dealing with all kinds of problems and leading decisions which would affect the game that you were playing, as well as the next one.

This was a first, for me, and some of the decisions are suitably gut wrenching. An action RPG, mean the worlds that you visit are a sight to behold, the variety of allies that you have are impressive, and the fact that you can turn some allies into enemies, based on your decisions and conversations, makes this a game that is both incredibly exciting and enjoyable. And one where you need to tread carefully and think about what you want to achieve.

The second game in the trilogy has one of the most compelling and tension filled scenarios that I have ever seen in a game. Your choices do matter, as you can lose some of your comrades for good here.

Memorable due to one terrible choice that needs to be made in the first game, and the legendary Suicide Run in the second. Buzz Aldrin monologue at the end of Mass Effect 3.

7. Dragon Age (various XBOX/PS3/PS4)

Being from the same makers as Mass Effect, Dragon Age is essentially a Dungeons and Dragons version of Mass Effect’s Space Exploration. Once again filled with a ton of memorable characters, some great missions, and although you sometimes find yourself going back to the same places a little too often, incredible dragons, and epic battles.

This has all the elements contained in Mass Effect, including the ability to become closer to certain allies and more distant to others. Once again, these choices will filter through to your next game, although probably not to the same extent as Mass Effect. As a complete fan of anything fantasy related, I loved this game and played it non stop for weeks on end.

Currently stuck on a cliffhanger, the 4^th instalment of this series is due this year, 2023. The one issue I did have with this, which I have with DLC in general, was that I played my way through this game on PS3 and then could not finish the DLC because a PS4 was required. By the time I had secured a PS4, I was onto something else and wasn’t for turning back. This is one of my main gripes with modern gaming, releasing DLC which is only available on a new console. I will go back to it at some point, just before Dragon Age 4 comes out, but it is still a gripe for me.

However, I wouldn’t want this to put anyone off playing. what is a wonderful game. The conversations between characters are the best that I have seen in gaming and all the party members have wonderful backstories which are expanded on as the game goes along. There are plenty of places to improve your character’s level and the Dragon battles are just epic. And with the various factions involved in the story, the Dragons are not the main problem that the heroes have to contend with. A sequel has been in the mix for some time now but progress has been incredibly slow.

Memorable due to the first Dragon Battle and some incredible cut scenes and tough decisions to make.

8. Super Mario Kart (various Nintendo)

Super Mario Kart, in its various forms, is, for me, the best multiplayer game that has ever been made. The various tracks, all Nintendo themed, are unique, imaginative and full of character, and the wealth of potential armoury in your inventory keeps the game interesting. Regular sequels of this game, all worth playing.

I don’t think that there is a game that has ever been created that manages to present a perfect handicap system. But Super Mario Kart makes a pretty good effort out of it. With the right vehicle and the right traps, a novice can compete alongside more experienced players.

Which is perfect for multiplaying, as you will most likely not have players who are all of the same level. Likewise, the person floundering in last place can pick up items that can change the face of the race in an instant. It makes for pretty exciting stuff and a fun experience for a group of gamers.

Memorable due to getting my first blue shell, when languishing near the back, I took out those in front of me to get the win.

9. Goldeneye 007 (N64

)

Goldeneye 007 is a great single player game. I’ve been pretty underwhelmed with 007 games since, but this was absolutely top tier.

I hadn’t seen the film when I played it, so plot twists in the game were a slight surprise to me. But a lot of the content is game only, so seeing the movie really doesn’t matter. Apart from Doom, first person shooters really aren’t my thing, but Goldeneye executes it so perfectly and has the right balance, between needing to be cautious and gung ho. The variety of weapons keeps the game interesting and choosing when to use them is fun.

Having gone through the single player game, it was a nice surprise when my friend came round and we decided to give the multiplayer a go. After Mario Kart, this was probably the best multiplayer game that I have ever played and I would recommend it to anyone. With various levels, characters and scenarios to choose from, there is plenty to keep players occupied.

Memorable due to a great multiplayer game and the Facility and Train Levels in the single player.

10. Mortal Kombat (played on various Sega/Nintendo/Sony consoles)

I played a bit of Street Fighter 2 but, beat ‘em ups were never really my thing. I did try a few, but apart from Street Fighter, they never really grabbed me that much. I like games like Tekken and Soul Calibur, but I could take them or leave them. Saying that, one fighting game really caught my interest and was one of my favourites gaming memories over the years. MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!!

Mortal Kombat was unique at the time, for one reason only. Fatalities. Mortal Kombat made me abandon Nintendo temporarily, when they made the ill advised decision not to include fatalities in their first game, in case it was just too much for children to handle (perish the thought – because the world outside is so wholesome)

So, with the newly purchased Sega Megadrive, I started playing Mortal Kombat – the way it was meant to be played. A fun single player game, it was the first time that I had properly tried to put together button combinations (apart from Blanka’s electric shock in SF2) and the main reason for this was to learn how to achieve combos that would take me closer to the holy grail of fatalities. Possibly, one of the most satisfying experiences in gaming, for me, was a properly executed fatality. Mortal Kombat was also a great multiplayer game. I soon learned that fatalities weren’t so much fun when your friend was doing it to you…..

Anyway, with a roster of totally psychotic characters, all looking to tear you limb from limb, Mortal Kombat was a great game to play. And, unlike many of the games above, it was an easy one to pick up and put down again, even after a short time, because you didn’t really have to think about what you were doing the last time you played. When you resumed, it was just carnage, carnage and more carnage.

Later versions started to introduce a story mode, which was fun too, as well as guest characters from movies. But the fun that I had with the first couple of Mortal Kombat games will not be beaten for me. But there is always a new Mortal Kombat on the horizon for anyone who is missing being able to perform the spinal cord move.

Memorable due to my first Spine Pull, using my favourite character, Sub Zero.

Honourable Mentions

Suikoden and Suikoden 2 (PS)

A wonderful couple of games that I played once I got the RPG bug. Based on the Chinese novel, Water Margin, featuring the 108 Stars of Destiny, these were wonderful games that had an incredible number of quests, battles and, of course allies; potentially 107 of them.

These games were a joy to play, it was like being in your own movie, and the sequel, which was probably even better, allowed you to even recruit your original protagonist from the first game. Suikoden 2 showcased one of the greatest antagonists that has ever featured in a game. The plot was full of intrigue, suspense, suspicion and betrayal. I came late to this game, as it almost impossible to get a copy in the UK without paying astronomical fees. It was however, available to download from the playstation store, and it would have been near the top of my list if I had played the game closer to when it was released. There are 3 sequels to these two games, with Suikoden 5 being the best of them, in my opinion. Apparently, the makers are working on a new game, but have lost the Suikoden franchise, so I will be looking out for that.

Memorable due to the battle with Luca Blight in Suikoden 2.

Halo (XBOX)

Another First Person Shooter, I just had to play it, as I had heard great things and I didn’t have many Xbox games at the time. This was a huge world, which had a great plot and some great weapons and strategies to come up with. You could play co-op as well; a nice change. Master Chief dominated my living room for quite a while.

Memorable due to the Maw Level, and my co-player at the time, saying she was going to bed just as we were about to cross the final bridge at the end of the game. I was the driver and she was the gunner. Go figure.

Also funny that Microsoft called their AI Assistant Cortana, who went insane at certain points in the Halo Universe and eventually turned evil in Halo 5, she also seems to have a crush on Master Chief.