The Best Video Game Ever (GUG Follower Article)

Welcome again to another opinion piece here at the new home for Cross Console Gamers. This week I decided to change the format a bit from the typical opinion piece. Instead of asking the staff of Geeks Under Grace what they thought, I instead asked the community to send us their opinions. Everyone who sent theirs in did a great job and we greatly appreciate the hard work that was put into making this article. Also… there better not be any complaints on the comments as EVERYONE had the opportunity to tell us what their favorite game is and why!

Zach Shearer

Picking my favorite game of all time would be very hard. Do I pick a childhood classic like Spyro the Dragon or Sonic the Hedgehog? Or do I pick a new, dazzling gem like Super Mario Galaxy? Sometimes I just want to play a game to relax, so I play a game like Tetris or Animal Crossing. Sometimes I want to play a game to smile, so I play something like Little Big Planet or Portal. Sometimes I want my wits tested, and I end up playing something like Rollercoaster Tycoon or Age of Empires. While all of these are some of my most favorite games, there is only one game that has all of these characteristics. It’s a game I’ve grown up with, and yet is still new every time I play it. It’s a game that allows me to determine its difficulty based on how I’m feeling–a game that can be goofy enough to make me smile, yet still has the ability to give me tears. Of course, this game is part of a series, and through each evolution of this series, it has become only better. This is why my favorite games of all time are The Sims series.

Jeremiah Johnson

Sonic the Hedgehog. Since 1991 Sonic has run, stumbled, and got back up to run again. From the MEGA HIT Sonic the Hedgehog 2, to the more advanced Sonic CD, to the new Sonic Boom coming soon, Sonic has always found a way into our homes and into our hearts.

Whether you’re a newcomer, or fan from childhood, Sonic’s constant battle for freedom and his willing attitude to save little critters has kept him running from the 8-bit SEGA Game Gear to the current home console, Wii U. But how did he make it here? How can a blue blur fighting an obese, mustachioed maniac prove amusing? Well, lets see why.

Sonic started on SEGA’s 16-Bit Genesis / Mega Drive as a hedgehog with attitude, bent on defeating the evil Doctor Robotnik and collecting the Chaos Emeralds. It’s 2D Platforming style with boss battles at the end of every third act replaced Altered Beast as the Genesis’s pack-in title. A year later, Sonic ran onto the 8-Bit SEGA Game Gear, in his attempt to rescue his best friend Miles “Tails” Prower from the claws of Dr. Robotnik. The game featured an extra zone with another boss and a better ending if Sonic can find the Chaos Emeralds (though beating the Game itself is already a huge enough task).

Later, a title under the same name became an earth-shaking 16-Bit masterpiece: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, selling over 6 Million Cartridges. Now you can find said game almost anywhere SEGA Genesis Games are.

SEGA’s SEGA CD add-on system for the Genesis got Sonic CD in between Sonic 2 and 3. It was the first to feature Metal Sonic, Sonic’s robotic clone, and Amy Rose, Sonic’s fangirl. Sonic can go back in time to destroy Robotnik’s time machines to get a good future, with animals hopping about. Near the end, Sonic confronts and defeats Metal Sonic, going on to also defeat Robotnik while saving Amy.

Later on, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (complete with memory save) had the ability to connect to Sonic & Knuckles to turn into a HUGE Game. It even has a separate memory save for when it connects to Sonic & Knuckles.

Later, the Saturn, and SEGA’s last, the Dreamcast, got 3D Games like Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R and the appropriately-named Sonic Adventure, which explores elements, such as exploration, to find characters and extras.

So how does all this make Sonic the best? Well, Sonic’s simple run-here-and-bust-up-Eggy is not only nostalgic, but proves addicting while also appealing to quick-gamers.

Michael Starkey

Favorite Video Game of all time huh? That’s tough. I mean, I could go down the list of my least favorite games; Superman 64 (rented it from Blockbuster as a kid), RAGE, Dead Island, Fallout: New Vegas… The list goes on, and in no particular order. But favorite? That’s like asking Link: “Which is better; smashing pots, cutting grass, or terrorizing Chickens?”

I don’t really have one particular favorite. I play SSB for the hecticness of it; I play COD for the mindless fun; I play Little Big Planet for the creativity; I play GTA:V for the freedom; I play horror games because I like horror; I play the Arkham games because Batman… But if you are going to make me choose, I’ll have to choose one for the platforms I own/owned.

NES:

Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt

It was the first game I ever played and to this day, I cannot beat it. It remains the only game I play nearly to perfection up to world 8-4. Then I fail miserably. That shear challenge of not being able to beat it is what makes it so appealing to me.

GBA:Pocket/Color/Advance:

Dragon ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors

I didn’t always like DBZ, but when I did, I was playing LSW. It was the first time I ever saw half of the characters from the show and it was so very different from my other portable games. I had Pokemon, Metal Gear Solid and various other gems of the day, but LSW was this weird hybrid of card-game-meets-turn-based-strategy-meets-RPG. And then, after you beat it, you could go back and obliterate all the enemies with SS3 Goku. What’s not to love about that?

Sega Saturn:

Nights Into Dreams

Believe it or not, I may have been the only person in the world to own a Sega console and not have a Sonic game. But I did have Nights. I may not have been able to beat it as a kid (then everything changed when the HD remake was purchased 😉 ), but I remember the fun I had playing it. Racing against the clock, trying to figure out how to defeat bosses… It was an acid trip of color and fun, and I was addicted.

N64

Goldeneye 007

Nuff said.

PS2:

I don’t know if I have a favorite for the PS2. Most played? Probably one of the Kingdom Hearts, Frequenc/Amplitude/Guitar Hero/Rockband or Soul Calibur 3. All for different reasons, but still, fond memories all around.

Wii:

Goldeneye 007 [Wiimake]

When Nintendo announced the Wiimake of Goldeneye, my inner child threw a tantrum. Needless to say, it was my gateway into online shooter. The Wii version had better online connection rates and lobbies than the PS3 version, JSYK. I also found these goldneye 007 cheats.

PS3:

I don’t really have a favorite game this gen either. None of the games that have come out really have that “wow” factor, or that “hold” that older games had. Plenty of great experiences, from LBP to the Arkham games and back. But nothing that begs for replay. Not like the games of yore.

PC:

I’ve put 90 something hours into Garry’s Mod if that counts for anything. But mostly, It’s the same as my PS3. The games are great… but something’s missing.

Mobile [Android]:

Plague Inc.

I loved the old flash game Pandemic II. When I found Plague Inc, I bought it after two minutes of playing. The whole game is one big puzzle/strategey. If you move too fast, they became aware and try to cure you. If you move to slow the game takes forever.

Sorry about the article there, but like I said, choosing a favorite game out of 20-something years of gaming is not something one can easily do.

God Bless,

~Spike

Logan Richter

The greatest game of all time is without a doubt The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This game has meant so much to me since its release in 1998. I remember my grandma purchasing it, and I watched her play it for hours–every heart piece, and Gold Skulltula collected. I wanted to be just like her, so I strived for the same. After she completed it in early 1999, she gave it to me and told me that I could play it. I was so excited. I got home and immediately ran up to my room. I placed the cartridge in my N64, and turned on the system.

When I saw Link riding Epona throughout Hyrule on the start screen, I was in awe. When I started the game, I was enticed by the Great Deku Tree instructing Navi to go and seek the Chosen One, and bring him to his presence. When Navi flew through Kokori and found me, I was happy that I was being graced by the Great Deku Tree’s presence. Now, as an adult, it’s no big deal. But as a child, that meant everything in the world to me. After I got my items and destroyed Gohma, I felt so accomplished. When I stepped out into the land of Hyrule, I was surprised by how massive it was (at least, it was big for games at the time). I spent probably a half hour or so simply roaming around and slashing bushes.

After fighting off a swarm of Stalchildren, I entered the Marketplace. I was captured by the various activities of the townspeople, and the catchy music. I walked around and saw all of the different things there were to do, and the different shops in the town. I thought the Keaton’s mask was the coolest thing ever because it looked like Pikachu.

Eventually I made my way to Hyrule Castle. I felt like a ninja sneaking around the castle courtyard making my way to Zelda. I loved the sneaking around and suspense of possibly being caught by some of the guards. Finally, I made my way to Zelda, and she told me of the peril that Hyrule was in. When the Sheikah agent, Impa, greeted me after my visit with Zelda, I thought I was in trouble and failed my mission. But when I was told about the secret tribe of Sheikah, I thought it was the coolest thing that a secret agency was protecting the Royal Family.

After venturing though the other two dungeons and defeating several enemies, I ran back to grab the legendary Master Sword. I thought that it was the coolest thing, having an item rumored to be so powerful. Upon my return, I was given the Ocarina of Time by Zelda as she fled the castle. After being struck down by Ganondorf, I was determined to save the land of Hyrule. I ran into the castle and grabbed the Master Sword.

I fought my way through the five temples, saving the sages and vanquishing all evil within the temples, placing them back in a state of rest and peace. When I slew Ganondorf, I frantically escaped his lair. When I thought I had finally won, I was faced by Ganon. When I defeated him, I was so excited that I threw my controller down and ran to call my grandma to tell her the news.

Sixteen years later, I’ve conquered the game at least 20 times, and am about to finish it yet again. My grandmother died 7 years ago, and I relive my memories of her in favorite game of all time. Thank you for your time.

Michael Pyatt Jr.

My favorite game of all-time… So many choices. I mainly play sports game, but my favorite game isn’t a sport game. My favorite game is a game that I have been playing since I was a young, young, young child. This game has taken me through three decades (90’s, 00’s, and 10’s). This game, is legendary. This game was the game that further enhanced Nintendo’s dominance of the gaming industry. This game was the launch game for the Super Nintendo.

You know what game I’m talking about…

The game play was fantastic. The characters, unbelievable. I loved the Bullet Bill on the first lever to the left. I liked to do the spin jump and make it disappear into a cloud of dust. I loved the levels, and all the worlds. I still get mad sometimes in the forest of illusions. The music was top notch too, especially the music in the castles.

The addition of Yoshi was fantastic. Who knew that Mario would be able to control a pet dragon with a long tongue?

The thing that keeps this game number one in my heart is the memories. Whenever I play this game, it takes me back to the innocence I had as a child. Me and my cousin used to play it all night. And as we got older, more of us played it. It was just a good game to play and socialize with.

I don’t play a lot of video games, outside of my sport video games, but Mario is different. I still play Mario Bros. I have Mario World Wii U, and Mario World 3D, but those games don’t have that it factor that the first Mario had…

Joel Watt

My favorite game of all time has to be Super Mario World. It is, by far, the one game that I have spent the most time playing. I have finished it to completion so many times that I have it fully memorized. I could pick it up at any time and get all 96 exits and beat Bowser in one sitting. No practice, no prep, just pick up and play. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I did when I made a “let’s play” of the game. Admittedly, I was a little burned out at the end from talking for almost six hours straight, but it was fun. I love watching people play romhacks of the game, and the genuine reactions people have to first seeing/playing Kaizo Mario is hilarious. So many things that are now staples in the Mario universe were established in Super Mario World: Yoshi, branching pathways, the spin-jump, the star world, the ridiculously hard post-game, hidden exits, ghost houses, the Koopa Clown Car, and probably some more things that I’m forgetting. Everyone remembers Super Mario Bros. 3 as the game that took Mario from simple platforming into a huge adventure with multiple power-ups and memorable fights against the Koopa Kids; but it was Super Mario World that took that formula and made it even bigger, faster, brighter, and funner! [I know that’s not a real word, but it should be!] Suffice it to say, Super Mario World is definitely the best Mario game ever made. I love it and you should too.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!