Metallica69 Blog

Bandwagoning: Top 10 Favorite Games of All Time.

2009-11-25T01:50:00Z

I suppose I'll jump on the gravy train and serve up a blog post about my top ten favorite games of all time. I feel I must warn you, though: I have no idea how to page break in this editor.

Now I'll tell you that despite the title, these entries are mostly a ways off from the bandwagon. But the fact of the matter is that despite whether or not a game is good, a large majority of these have earned a spot solely based on the memories they've given me. Now without further ado, here's my craptacular taste in games.

10. Spyro (2): Ripto's Rage! - PlayStation One

Game Rankings - 86.57%

I can still remember the good old days when I'd get home from school and sit on my dad's lap to play Spyro. Insomniac is my all time favorite game studio, and they caught me at an early age with this friendly purple dragon on the PS1. Not only did it show some of the first signs of Insomniac's ingenious level design, but it's also in my mind the first game to hold their signature sense of humour. Sure Disruptor and the original Spyro were great starting points, but Spyro 2 just knocked things out of the park.

9. Mario Kart DS - Nintendo DS

Game Rankings - 91.19%

Oh, how can I not include a Mario Kart game? Releasing almost a year after the handhled itself, MKDS was one of the system's first mega hit games. Mario Kart DS was everything we wanted in a Mario Kart game and then some. Be it the inclusion of online multiplayer, the amazing original and returning tracks, or the beginning of ROB's comeback, Nintendo fed it right into our gaping mouths. I must admit, however, that this game makes my list solely for DS download and local multiplayer. Eight player races in the morning schoolyard have to be among the most awesome bonding experiences I've ever had with friends.

8. Okami - PlayStation 2/Wii

Game Rankings - 92.42%

Now this is an interesting one. This just happens to be the only game in my top ten that I have yet to finish, and for that very reason I don't have all that much to say about it. But this original twist on the classic Zelda formula is a winner anyway you slice it (except in retail *rimshot*). Absolutely charming for the very beginning and doubtlessly beautiful. You have every reason to care.

7. Pokemon Red/Blue - Game Boy

Game Rankings - 88.93%

I honestly hope I don't have to explain this one. Any gamer worth their salt has picked up a Pokemon game at least once in their life, and most become completely enamored from that point on. The cultural explosion Pokemon caused in the 90's is enough to get it on the list based on influence, but Blue version also happens to be the first game I ever owned. The game still haunts me today with the fact that I was never able to catch 'em all.

6. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - Game Boy Advanced

Game Rankings - 87.64%

Ever wish you could just get away from life? Well that's what Tactics Advance did to me. I sunk countless hours into this game as a wee pre-teen (which as we know, is when the angst starts building anyhow). The incredibly diverse mission structure and addictive turn-based battles kept me coming night after night, and the believable characters and story made me wish I could stay with my new friends forever.

5. Mega Man Battle Network 3 White - Game Boy Advanced

Game Rankings - 77.91%

Now this is the one above all that I expect to get flak for. Why in the world would Capcom choose to remove the Blue Bomber's classic action-platform mechanics in favor of a grinding RPG? Because it's still fun. Gameplay is generally Pokemon-esque with you walking through a HUB world and completing objectives. But when virus busting time comes, things get intense. And this was only made even more so by the thousands of link matches (and countless link cables wasted) between my friends and I year after year.

4. Super Smash Bros Melee - GameCube

Game Rankings - 89.52%

The picture says it all, I think. This is yet another game that made tons of bonding time between my friends and I. The whole series in fact holds a special place in my heart. The original Smash was the first game I ever played, and the months and updates leading up to Brawl's release always gave us something to talk about. But nothing can match the numerous parties and sleepovers had over Melee, even if I do kinda suck at it.

3. Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando - PlayStation 2

Game Rankings - 90.54%

Also known as: not Up Your Arsenal. A year before the much fawned-over UYA hit the PS2, Going Commando was already setting the standard. It improved upon everything wrong with the first game and raised expectations for the next installment in the series. Going Commando placed our heroes in the shoes of typical space-marines, poking fun at even its own premise. Here is where the Ratchet and Clank series hit its peak in humour. Here is were the groundwork was laid for the gravity mechanics that made Super Mario Galaxy great. Here is where you can turn robots into *** sheep.

2. Bioshock - PC/PS3/Xbox 360

Game Rankings - 94.99%

Bioshock had balls. It didn't bother dumbing itself down to cater to the typical FPS crowd. Ken Levine and 2K knew what was important and told everything else to bugger off. Bioshock melded some of the most important aspects of a game; immersion, gameplay, and story; and melded them into one big bundle of awesome. Bioshock didn't need multiplayer to face off against Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4. It had enough substance in twelve hours to effortlessly hold its own against those juggernauts.

1. Psychonauts - PC/PS2/Xbox

Game Rankings - 90.21%

Anyone who has ever spoken to me could've seen this coming from a mile away. That screenshot alone sums up why I love the game. It was different. But not really, it was still familiar. Tim Schafer brought his usual spark of genius to Double Fine's first project and received mounds of critical praise. The level design and variety are among some of the best I've ever seen in a game, and the platforming is as tight as any other game out there. Couple that with an utterly charming teenage love story and you've got yourself my favorite game of all time.

What Matt Helgeson Really Does in His Spare Time

2009-11-22T01:07:00Z

On the latest episode of the Game Informer Podcast, GI's Senior Editor let slip a tidbit of shocking information. In giving us full disclosure, Matt Helgeson revealed to all GI readers and listeners that he is, in fact, the bass player for nu-metal band Korn.

Korn bassist "Fieldy"

I realize that many of you are likely looking at the above photo and exclaiming "That looks nothing like Matt!" I would have to tell you first and foremost to stop thinking aloud, but then I'd proceed to show you this super high-rez photo I found with a bit of digging:

The beautiful truth.

That's right, let it sink in. Now that I've made believers of you all, let us join in a fine chorus of Freak on a Leash in honor of one of GI's finest.

You Are Not Yourself

2009-11-04T05:01:15Z

I have been reading King Lear. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it revolves around the life of King Lear after he splits the kingdom of Albion among two of his three daughters. From that point, many heavy themes are presented, and among them is the relevance of certain ideals, predominantly individualism. In other words, it begs the question "are you still yourself, even without all the things that define you?"

From there, I decided to take this line of thinking further (and into the realm of pretentiousness). How do we know that we ever truly are ourselves? How do you know that that guy at the mall in a tee shirt and jeans is dressed that way because he truly just likes it? It is really amazing how even though some things may be extremely widespread, their impact is extremely minimal. Conversely, teenagers today face traumatizing forced changes in personality, usually for no more than to fulfill wishes of fitting in.

All of that is not to say that popular culture is an unavoidably terrible thing, though. Okay, maybe it is, but that's the point of popular culture; to reach and influence large numbers of people. All it takes to attain true individualism, though, is to work around this seemingly insurmountable roadblock.

Since these phenomena are virtually impossible to avoid, the strong are left to find ways around them. Those willing to go against what has come to be know as the norm are often ridiculed or seen as strange. Those who choose to go against the grain from the inside risk their name in favor of their personalities. I admire this type of pride and investment in one's person. The normal people are the ones who dare to be different.

This is more normal than you.

Think of it like this: would you be the same if you had never heard the music of The Beatles? Do you honestly think that you would be yourself if you couldn't call yourself a gamer? Now realize that none of this is up to you. Other people have been making you who you are since the day you were born and they can take it away almost as easily. There's nothing you can do until then except love it or hate it.

In some desperate effort to tie this jumbled rant together, I'll close with something I'm fairly certain relates lyrically to King Lear, and certainly pertains to the point of this blog:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

P.S. - None of this has anything to do with games.

P.P.S. - Had to cut it short because my entire first draft was wiped.

In Case You Don't Know Me...

2009-10-03T19:51:35Z

I'm making my first blog specifically for the purpose of introducing myself. ^_^

They call me Ethan. That's not my name, but to be honest it really doesn't bother me because I like it more than my actual name. I live down in South Florida in a little town called Miami Lakes (guess where that is). Being that I'm from Florida, naturally I'm of Cuban descent (yet my Spanish is completely broken). Right now I'm 15 years old and a Sophmore in High School, just trying to get by the best way that I can. I tend to be the more comtemplative type and you can usually find me deep in thought.

Sexy, sexy thought.

I've been here on the GI forums since February of '07, and if you've known me that long you know I'm very particular on a lot of subjects and mediums. I'm usually more into 90's alt-rock when it comes to music, though I have dabbled largely in 80's punk and metal. However, above all I like to indulge in anything that easily instigates thought. Be they philosophical writings or movies, I hold a great appreciation for art as a collective whole.

I plan to use this blog occasionally, maybe once or twice a month, to elaborate on my interpretation of some common beliefs and ideals in modern society. In other words, I'm going to give my opinion on several things ranging from the true definition of Love or Individualism to the occasional rant against the games industry. And I promise I'll try not to talk about the sexy looks Kim gives me in History too much. =P

I look forward to getting to know some of the new members here on GI, and I'd greatly appreciate some feedback on the blog posts I will make in the future. Thanks for reading, enjoy the re-design!