NGN FAVORITES: VIDEO GAMES

I was a spoiled kid, but parent didn't focus that on video games. Not complaining, just explaining the shortness on some platforms. Plus, I grew up when video stores were in their prime and the sharing with friends option was always there. I've always gotten a console when I asked for one, so that was pretty good considering I had 3 siblings and I had to share nothing (9+yrs older here). Now as an adult, I have my "must haves" and everything else is a wait for a price drop or go on sale. Here are all the games that I have liked since Mario popped my cherry in the 1980's...

Fav NES Games

• Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt
• Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Batman: Return Of The Joker
• Mega Man 3
• RBI Baseball
• The Legend Of Zelda
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
• Mike Tyson's Punch Out

Mario was boss for me in the beginning, as I am sure he was for the majority of the general video game fans back then. Tastes evolve, but you don't forget your first haha Duck Hunt makes it for usage, both being the second game I owned (coming with Super Mario Bros.) and for being the only game I used the gun for haha There were some wrestling games both from WWF (WWE) and NWA (WCW), but they were a bigger part of my later years in terms of time spent. I also had the Power Glove, but could never get the damn thing to work haha

Fav SNES Games

• Super Mario World
• Super Mario All-Stars
• Street Fighter II Turbo
• Super Street Fighter II
• NHL '94
• NBA Jam
• Spider-Man And Venom: Maximum Carnage
• Sim City
• Donkey Kong Country

Mario makes it in again, for the same reasons. Super Mario All-Stars sneaks in for allowing us to play the originals (a lot of NES became hard to use, and didn't know how to clean and that as a kid), and giving the lost levels (which was basically exactly like Super Mario Bros.) was okay if bored. Was slightly obsessed with the Street Fighter games, having a need to see the end stories for all characters (I didn't mind the movie, it was different but loved the game to didn't care too much then haha). NHL '94, on sale at the now defunct Bi-way, and I am Canadian.

Fav N64 Games

• Mario 64
• WWF War Zone
• WWF Wrestlemania 2000
• WWF No Mercy
• Resident Evil 2
• Donkey Kong 64
• The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
• The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
• Spider-Man

The Nintendo 64 holds memories, mainly being that played and completed Mario 64 Christmas Eve while I wrapped every present, including the ones for myself (it was a lot too, 4 of us kids and spoiled). With the N64 began the Wrestling obsession. Constantly in creative mode, making multiple variations of myself and wrestlers not featured in the game. I was one of the rare people who didn't actually enjoy 007, I just don't like first person shooters.

Fav X-Box Games

• WWE RAW
• WWE RAW 2
• Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic
• Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• Batman Begins
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

I didn't play much on my X-Box. I initially got it because I wanted the feature to add music to it (pre-everything can store music, and everyone has something days). I absolutely loved the two Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic games, and still wish that the franchise would come to the Dark Side that is Playstation consoles.

Fav Playstation Games

• Twisted Metal III
• Gran Turismo
• Crash Bandicoot
• Final Fantasy VII
• Final Fantasy VIII
• Final Fantasy IX
• Legend Of Legaia
• Legend Of Dragoon
• Spyro The Dragon

Most of my initial PSone playing came when I would swap my N64 with my little brother for his Playstation. Memory there was finally getting licenses, saving it of course, and him losing the memory card haha The majority came later when my lady and I had one. There came Final Fantasy. Which I enjoyed before, but owned later and got to play the crap out of them. With those came the games she liked with Dragoon and Legaia.

Fav PS2 Games

• Grand Theft Auto III
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Bully
• Spider-Man 2
• WWE Here Comes The Pain
• WWE Shut Your Mouth
• WWE Raw Vs Smackdown!
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Dark Cloud

This is when Wrestling games were at an all time high for me, again lost in creative modes. With the PS2 O was introduced to Grand Theft Auto III. Needless to say, basically I play needs to be similar in terms of game play. Free-mode, huge maps, first person mode is non-existent or optional. The follow-ups were even better. Although the amount of commercial time Vice City had might have forced us, at least up here in Canada where the commercial was airing even a few years after (on The Score/Sportsnet360).

Fav PS3 Games

• Batman: Arham Asylum
• Batman: Arkham City
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Grand Theft Auto IV
• DC Universe Online
• Lego Batman: The Video Game
• Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
• Spider-Man 3

Remember what I said about Grand Theft Auto? Well, Grand Theft Auto IV started my wishing I had a Batman game like that. Envisioning Gotham as I cruised the city. I eventually got that with the Arkham series. I was not disappointed either, given that franchise is now ahead of Grand Theft Auto. PS3 also gave me my first online experience with DC Universe Online. Which I have thoroughly enjoyed, and hoped they gave a new version on PS4. And like many other immature adults, or those with kids to use an excuse, I enjoy the Lego games. Of course, Batman takes the cake there.

Fav PS4 Games

• Batman: Arkham Knight
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Deadpool
• Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
• Lego Marvel Superheroes
• DC Universe Online

Batman: Arkham Knight left me hoping that it isn't the end. Regardless, it is why I wanted to upgrade from a PS3. And although I hadn't played previous installments, which may be why, I really like the Assassin's Creed franchise. That happened through Black Flag and Syndicate, which goes against the grain from what I hear. Deadpool was originally a PS3 game, but I only have it on PS4 so it makes this list. Although not a direct movie rip-off, but an upgrade would be nice for the Merc With A Mouth. Still not a whole lot of PS4 games just yet, and hopefully there will be a ton more, given rumors that PS5 will be purely digital.

THINGS I KIND OF MISS IN GTA

Now before I begin, I should point out that I haven't even cracked the surface of Grand Theft Auto V. One of the last things I did in the game before joining The Darkside of GTAOnline was reintroduce Trevor to Michael haha My original intention was to play and complete the main game, and then, pop my cherry in the online world of Grand Theft Auto. Things changed, I got hooked, and am now planning on returning to regular game mode when I let my Playstation Plus membership run out and take a break from it. I mention this as perhaps some of the things I am about to mention are in the regular game and I just haven't "unlocked" them yet. All I know for sure is that they are absent from at least the online world.

Taxi Cabs

With the online version I kind of get the absence, people could simply target the yellow cabs and people would stop using them . It would be funny to see them replace the taxi's of old with uber drivers and cars. It would poke fun of the "war" between the two, as well as eliminate the targeting mentioned above. I'm lazy at times, I do tend to play solo, and would make doing some daily objectives easier to do in terms of distance traveled for say the Flight School stuff.

Restaurants

I do like how we can go into more places now and do more things. Clothing stores, Ammunation, etc. But, the restaurants should have stuck around in my opinion. Both to recharge/heal our characters, but also more places to rob. The stores simply weren't enough, and it sucks that we can't rob other places. Could have perhaps made them as options when planning jobs. Can visualize the trophy/achievement for one of each in one go as police involvement increases with each passing hold-up.

Working Out

I liked this aspect from GTA: San Andreas. I also like how we have to build up skills and qualities, and build each up in a variety of ways (swimming, running, shooting, etc). I also like how there are a variety of activities like golf, tennis, shooting range, etc. I just miss the ability to bulk and de-bulk our characters. Yes, I like aspects similar to The Sims. I see GTA Online as The Sims for the cooler people haha

Grand Theft Auto III

Weird thing to say, but it is the only game in the franchise that I haven't really noticed. GTA: San Andreas is obviously there (you can even drive up to your old home...pack heat though...not a warm welcome at times haha) given the location of the game. There are some parts that reminded me of GTA: Vice City, there was one area (which of course I can't find again) that reminded me of the area around your initial hideout in the that game. Whether that was intentional or not, I am not sure. GTA IV may not have locations, but I do know that the main character is at least seen on the "internet" within the game. But nothing about GTA III from what I have seen. I know it took place in Liberty City, but still. It was the game that truly launched this franchise. Homage should be paid....again, unless I missed it haha

Again, I simply missed this stuff in the main game having only just begun. In case this is all correct, then I stand by my word haha Perhaps I am just greedy, being a typical hater of change (well, more loss), or a combination of them all. That doesn't matter haha With what we pay to simply play (cost of game, cost of PS Plus, DLC's to stop from getting bored) we deserve it all haha And if the future is a purely digital video game world, I will be demanding the absolute best!....I'll likely just settle and accept things, but I will blog about it dammit! haha