Favorite Games Podcast

Hey guys! This week Dylan, a friend of mine, and myself discussed our favorite games. Listen to it here.

Ratchet and Clank (PS3 Trilogy)

     Have you played the PS3 Ratchet and Clank games? Known as the future trilogy, these games not only continue the story of the characters, but continues the life of the series from the PS2 days to the newer PS3 system.

     This newer trilogy of Ratchet and Clank games once again follow Ratchet and Clank through three adventures, but these three stories are more intertwined and character-driven than the previous games. This offers a much more engaging and deep story. (Although I have to say the originals possess a certain charm that can never be recaptured.)

     Along with an improved story, the gameplay is also much smoother and tight, allowing quicker and more fluid combat an platforming. The graphics are also heavily upgraded, and the voice acting is superb. Overall, these games are technically better than the older games, and live up to the fun that the series has established, but just falls short on recapturing that original charm.

Ratchet and Clank (PS2 Trilogy)

     Have you played the Ratchet and Clank games? They are a trilogy of classics on the PS2. They have also been remastered for PS3. The games star Ratchet, a dog-cat mix of an alien race called a Lombax, and his minuscule robotic companion known as Clank. Together, these two go on three adventures and save the galaxy each time.

     Each game is pretty much the same, bringing fun, crazy weapons and platforming puzzle solving together for a joy ride. Along with different stories, each game improves on the gameplay formula, integrating new features, such as new weapons and space combat, while improving the base gameplay with mechanics like strafing and quick-select weapon menus. 

     The Ratchet and Clank series is some of the best the Playstation 2 has to offer and are some of the funnest games of all time. The gameplay is exciting and satisfying. The stories are epic and hilarious. Ratchet and Clank is a must-play for everybody.




(Photos belong to Insomniac Games)

Half-Life

     Have you played Half-Life? This game is a blend of a science fiction story and. a horror game, and its topped off with a government cover-up. You are Gordon Freeman, a scientist who shows up late to work one day. And that day is eventful, as you show up to watch a portal open up and bring killer aliens into the deep underground that you are in.

     You are thrust into a first-person adventure where you have to fight your way to the surface, shooting or using your handy crowbar to defeat the vicious aliens and a mysterious military faction along the way. The appeal of this game isn't just the tight combat, but the puzzles you have to solve along the way, including riding conveyor belts and navigating a minefield.

Belongs to Valve

   This game is near perfection, with an interesting plot and fun gameplay. There are a few drawbacks, however. The graphics are a constant reminder of the games age. And there are no cutscenes, with the game relying on in-game dialogue to convey the story. These are negatives, but the positives of the game far outweigh them.

This game can be pretty tricky sometimes, so here is a link to a helpful walkthrough.
http://www.ign.com/wikis/half-life/Walkthrough

DBZ: Budokai 3

     Have you played Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3? Out of dozens of videogames based on the globally popular series, this is easily one of the best Dragon Ball Z games of all time, if not THE best. In this game, you fight with a huge roster of characters from the series in a classic, 2-D style.
   

Belongs to Dimps, Atari, Akira Toriyama

     Reminiscent of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, this game takes the action to another level with the explosive action of DBZ taking front stage. Although it is a DBZ game, it is still one of the most well rounded, technically sound fighting games out there. Whether its shooting a signature Kamehameha blast or delivering a flurry of punches at a blinding speed, this game is a blast. This is a game veryone, DBZ fan or not, should play.

Super Mario Bros. 3

     Have you played Super Mario Bros. 3? If not, how? This game is decades old, and it is a classic that every gamer should play. Just like the other early Mario games, it is a 2-D sidescrolling platformer. You will be moving along and jumping over obstacles and on enemies.

Belongs to Nintendo

     This game is colorful, fun, and addicting. It was released back on the original Nintendo, but can be found very easily online through emulators. If you even slightly enjoy games or just like Mario, you should definitely try this one out.

Devil May Cry 3

     Have you played Devil May Cry 3? If not, what are you doing? Go play it now! Seriously, this game is a classic. It is just like the first one, except better. The controls are smoother, the graphics are better, there are more weapons, and the story is better.

Belongs to Capcom

     This time around, DMC3 drops the seriousness of the first two games for a lighter feel. It is over the top, both with action and bad-assness reminiscent of the 1990's. However, the game still tells a great story of conflict between brothers, as Dante faces off against his tin brother, Virgil. This game is an improvement on the first one in every way and is definitely worth a try. Go get it on PS2, PS3, or 360.

Devil May Cry

     Have you played Devil May Cry? Released on the Playstation 2, players take control of Dante, a smooth talking, confident demonslayer that happens to be immortal due to his half devil half angel blood. This game actually originated as the fourth installment to the resident evil series. However, it eventually got way off track from the slow-paced horror gameplay of the series and became a high octane constant slicing and dicing of demons.

Belongs to Capcom

     Speaking of action, this game defines hack n' slash. You fight your way through a mysterious castle haunted by deadly marionettes, left to take them out with your blade or to blast them to smithereens with your dual pistols. he castle is also home to a giant fire-breathing spider, a dark spirited knight, and an all powerful demon who holds a grudge against Dante's father. If you like God of War or Bayonetta or anything like that, definitely give this game a try. The original three games are also available remastered on PS3 and 360.

Alpha Protocol

Have you played Alpha Protocol?

Espionage.

Thrilling hand-to-hand combat.

Strategic, stealthy gunplay. Or boisterous, in-your-face gunplay.

Suave, cool conversations with other spies or mercenaries. Or renegade dialogue that shows others who is in charge.

Exotic locations.

A tense, twisting storyline impacted bu the decisions you make and the words you choose to say.

Belongs to Sega, Obsidian

     In Alpha Protocol, you assume the role of Michael Thornton, a recruit into a secret agency that gets into an adventure filled with global terrorism, underhanded tactics, betrayal, and saving the world. While there is a core story, Alpha Protocol provides one of the best, most immersive choice-based stories I have ever played. Nearly everything you say or do impacts the story, how other characters act and think of you, and even what missions you may partake in. Personally, five playthroughs of this game have netted five unique experiences with new encounters and conversations every time.

     This game is not perfect, as it was met with mixed reviews back at its 2010 release. There are problems, including its average graphics and its skill based, RPG-style gun mechanics. Throughout the game, you gain experience points and can use those to improve Michael's skills as a spy. Some of those skills include the use of guns, and if you are not leveld up in certain guns, they can be a hassle to use. However, that doesn't prove to be such a big problem as you will most likely focus on the one or two types of guns you find you preer the most, and it is easy to spend your points on just those guns.
   
     Issues aside, the fantastic parts of Alpha Protocol, including the choices, the interesting plot lines , and the available customization far outweighs the negatives. It is very easy for me to urge you to go out and play this game, as it is easily one of my all time favorites. Go play it!

Jak and Daxter

     Have you played Jak and Daxter? Starting with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, the series continued on with Jak II and Jak 3, each game taking the gameplay up another level. This culminated into a perfect trilogy of games. The first entry, the Precursor Legacy, established the series as a 3-D platformer where the player took control of Jak and ran, jumped, and punched your way through a journey to find a cure for his friend Daxter, who had been transformed into a weasel-otter fusion known as an ottsel. Along the way, a sinister plot to awaken ancient Precursor technology and take over the world is discovered.

     After foiling that evil plan, Jak and Daxter are thrown into a dystopian future in Jak II and join an underground resistance to restore the rightful heir to the throne into power. Along with a much darker, more mature story, the second game in the series adds multiple new game features. The game takes place in the open and fully accessible Haven City. Also new is the way you travel across the city. In addition to walking around like in the first game, new hover vehicles are available to pilot around the city. These additions pale in comparison to the innovations in the combat. In the original, you could punch or spin kick. Jak II added four unique guns and a transformation into the powerhouse "Dark Jak".

Jak and Daxter Collection
Belongs to Sony, Naughty Dog

     Following the trend of improving a perfect game already, Jak 3 came along and took the formula of Jak II to the next level. Aside from Haven City, Jak 3 also allowed access to another city, Spargus, where you could get around on horse-sized lizards known as Leapers, and the Wasteland, a vast desert crossable by the new cars put into the game. These cars come with extra speed, and guns. The four guns from the second game all make a return, but also gain two new variations of each one, raising the total to twelve. This final entry also added a new "Light Jak" form, to complement "Dark Jak". While "Dark Jak" grants powers of destruction and power, "Light Jak" offers flight, healing, and a time-freezing ability.

     These are some of my favorite games of all time. I even set it as the background of my game review blog. I can not recommend them enough. Do yourself a favor, stop reading this, and go play these games. You can find them on Playstation 2 and HD versions on Playsation 3.

Sid Meier's Pirates

     Have you played Sid Meier's Pirates? I'm sure a lot of you out there have played the popular Sid Meier Civilization games, but this is a different type of game. With this, Meier tried his hand at simulating the life of a pirate, and boy did he do a great job. For those of you that ever played Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and wanted to focus more on the pirate aspects rather than the campaign, or anyone else who has ever wanted to play a game as a pirate, this is definitely worth playing.

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

     I actually missed this game n the first go around. It came out in 2004 for Windows and X-Box, and can now also be found on the X-Box 360 and Apple devices. To avoid confusion, the game I am talking about is the 2004 version, but there is a version that came out way back in 1987. In this game, you can sail on the high seas, engage in both ship and foot combat, and visit ports and towns to trade and interact with locals. All of this adds up to building up your reputation as the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. The ship combat is smooth to control as you guide your ship into position to fire at the enemy and land combat is a well-paced, rock-paper-scissors type match between different strikes and dodges. Everything while anchored is ineracted with through a very friendly and easy to use interface. If you have any interest in pirates, or just good games, definitely check this one out.

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

Psychonauts

     Have you played Psychonauts? This gem, released a little over ten years ago in 2005, is a prime example of pure entertainment. This game has everything, from fun, unique gameplay to an interseting story and characters. Psychonauts follows the young psychonaut-in-training as he uncovers a plot to steal the brains of his fellow psychic campers. Already, the premise should clue you in on the heights of wierdness this game reaches. But what really makes this game a success is its charm.

     This game had me chuckling along as one camper argued with squirrels and another screamed for home as he explained how the camp was a deathtrap. As you explore the inner workings of other people's minds, you will come across several unlockables and bonuses, including figments of their imagination, literal emotional baggage, and vaults containing their innermost secrets. This game receives an incredibly enthusiastic recommendation from me, as anyone can find enjoyment in this game, from the most casual to the most hardcore of gamers. Definitely play it if you have not already.

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

                       

Metal Gear

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

     Have you played Metal Gear? I am sure some of you out there have played the Metal Gear Solid series, or at least have heard of it and its impact on the stealth genre. However, the series does not begin with the first Metal Gear Solid on Playstation, it actually started back on the original Nintendo Entertainment System with the aforementioned game, Metal Gear. In this game, you play as protagonist Solid Snake, a US operative on an infiltration mission to uncover a secret plot to utilize a mobile nuclear warhead, also known as Metal Gear.

     Before I say anything about his game, take in to account that it is a classic. That being said, it is a game on the NES. With that comes the pixel graphics, the beeping sound effects, and the very simplistic gameplay. You can move up, down, left, and right. Along with these commands, you can also strike or shoot if you have a gun equipped.

     The goal of this game is to proceed through the levels, preferably through means of sneaking, which is almost necessary because like most stealth-based games it is almost impossible to survive in a big battle. I would recommend checking this title out if you are a fan of the series, but if you're not then there is not much to check out here. This is more for those previously addressed fans or for people who enjoy old school gaming. If you are not too much into older games from the Nintendo era, I would recommend Metal Gear Solid on the original Playstation.

Star Wars Battlefront II

    Have you played Star Wars Battlefront II? It was released in 2005, and still holds up as easily one of the best Star Wars games ever, and even one of the best games ever. Battlefront II is a shooter that places you in control of one of several types of soldiers from the expansive Star Wars universe, ranging from droids to clones and stormtroopers. Throughout play, you can be rewarded with the opportunity to play as a hero or villain, depending upon which faction you play as. For example, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker headlines the Rebels, the foreboding Darth Vader commands the Empire, the menacing Darth Maul battles with the Separists, and the wise master Yoda assists the Republic.

     There are several modes available for play, including Conquest, where the focus is on capturing command points and fighting a position battle, Capture the Flag, and all out team deathmatch, among others. There is also an excellent campaign that follows the story of the 501st, Anakin Skywalker's and sequentially Darth Vader's personal legion, through almost the entire saga. It provides a ground level view of all the battles that take place in the movies.

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

Source: Bryan Grabauskas

  The shooting mechanics are smooth and accurate. The graphics are top-notch for the time, and are still acceptable today. The story is intriguing and fun to play. I mean, of course it is, it's Star Wars. However, none of these are the best thing this game has to offer. That would be its replay value. In fact, this is a game that I still play to this day.

     Between the story mode and the other game modes, Battlefront II is just a fun experience that somehow never manages to get old. I highly recommend this game to anyone an everyone, even those who for some unknown reason do not enjoy Star Wars. Oh, and by the way, this would be a much cheaper option than the more recent Battlefront, besides just being a better game. Go get it!

(Source: MetaGoblin on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UMuNpMbBLI)