Number 10
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut
First Year Played: 2004
Number of Playthroughs: 5
I was first introduced to Sonic Adventure on a preview disc I got with my Gamecube and I remember playing the demo level countless times, memorizing the fastest path and collecting all the rings. I ended up buying the game 1 year after its release and I instantly fell in love with it. There are 6 playable characters that each have a unique playstyle and their stories intertwine into a solid plot. Between missions you are given the freedom to explore any of the 3 hub worlds where you can do side missions, collect character power ups or even raise your own chao. All of these features are perfectly accented by the games amazing soundtrack that contains 2 of my favourite Sonic tracks "It Doesn't Matter" and "Open Your Heart". Sonic Adventure revolutionized the Sonic series and will always be my favorite Sonic game.
Number 9
Pokemon Diamond
First Year Played: 2007
Number of Playthroughs: 2
I had a very abrupt and bitter goodbye with the Pokemon games after my Pokemon Silver file got corrupted a few days after I got my team to level 100. Though I didn't play any of the games between Silver and Diamond, I still kept up to date with the series through the anime and the internet. I asked for a DS lite for my birthday because my brother didn't share his DS with me, and to my surprise I was also given Diamond. I was very reluctant to play at first but I gave it a shot and almost immediately I was swept away by how far the series had come. By skipping Gen III, the additions to the series made more of an impact on me than I predicted. Pokemon Diamond (or Pearl) was the game everyone was playing and It made me feel like I was playing Pokemon for the first time. Diamond brought me back to one of my favorite series and without Diamond I would have never played my favorite Pokemon game.
My Brother had just bought an Xbox 360, which was the first non-Nintendo console that we owned.Though reluctant at first, I softened up to the 360 with games not available on the Wii like Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts and NHL 09. I heard of Halo and played it sometimes at my friends house but neither Halo 1 or 2 impacted me like 3 did. Halo 3 had a huge launch and it was the game everyone was playing. Halo 3 was my first huge exposure to a large online multiplayer community and It is through this game that I became friends with my fellow staff members. Even to this day we still faithfully play Social Slayer or Customs for hours because it is so fun. With excellent online, a fantastic story and a near limitless forge mode, Halo 3 proved to me that other companies outside Nintendo could make fantastic games.
I had a very abrupt and bitter goodbye with the Pokemon games after my Pokemon Silver file got corrupted a few days after I got my team to level 100. Though I didn't play any of the games between Silver and Diamond, I still kept up to date with the series through the anime and the internet. I asked for a DS lite for my birthday because my brother didn't share his DS with me, and to my surprise I was also given Diamond. I was very reluctant to play at first but I gave it a shot and almost immediately I was swept away by how far the series had come. By skipping Gen III, the additions to the series made more of an impact on me than I predicted. Pokemon Diamond (or Pearl) was the game everyone was playing and It made me feel like I was playing Pokemon for the first time. Diamond brought me back to one of my favorite series and without Diamond I would have never played my favorite Pokemon game.
Number 8
Halo 3
First Year Played: 2008
Number of Hours Played: Hundreds
My Brother had just bought an Xbox 360, which was the first non-Nintendo console that we owned.Though reluctant at first, I softened up to the 360 with games not available on the Wii like Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts and NHL 09. I heard of Halo and played it sometimes at my friends house but neither Halo 1 or 2 impacted me like 3 did. Halo 3 had a huge launch and it was the game everyone was playing. Halo 3 was my first huge exposure to a large online multiplayer community and It is through this game that I became friends with my fellow staff members. Even to this day we still faithfully play Social Slayer or Customs for hours because it is so fun. With excellent online, a fantastic story and a near limitless forge mode, Halo 3 proved to me that other companies outside Nintendo could make fantastic games.
Number 7
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
First Year Played: 2008
Number of Hours Played: Hundreds
The Super Smash Bros Series is easily in my top 5 series of all time and Brawl is my favorite game on the Wii. This is hands down my most hyped game of all-time and with every DOJO post my anticipation grew. Brawl was the first game I pre-ordered but unfortunately my Mom picked it up and made me wait a week so she could reward my stellar report card with this game. Though I love Melee, I found it too fast and the fact that there was so many clones diminished it in my eyes. Though the gameplay is much slower and Subspace generally garners negative feedback (I loved it), Brawl more than made up for it in the content department. I spent hours collecting all the trophies, Stickers and CD's and unlocking stages and characters. Brawl added some of my favorite characters like Diddy Kong, Sonic, Pokemon Trainer and Wario. Unfortunately Project M has ruined some of my friends appreciation of Brawl but I will always admire it because of all the memories I had playing and all hard work and dedication put in by the development team.
The Super Smash Bros Series is easily in my top 5 series of all time and Brawl is my favorite game on the Wii. This is hands down my most hyped game of all-time and with every DOJO post my anticipation grew. Brawl was the first game I pre-ordered but unfortunately my Mom picked it up and made me wait a week so she could reward my stellar report card with this game. Though I love Melee, I found it too fast and the fact that there was so many clones diminished it in my eyes. Though the gameplay is much slower and Subspace generally garners negative feedback (I loved it), Brawl more than made up for it in the content department. I spent hours collecting all the trophies, Stickers and CD's and unlocking stages and characters. Brawl added some of my favorite characters like Diddy Kong, Sonic, Pokemon Trainer and Wario. Unfortunately Project M has ruined some of my friends appreciation of Brawl but I will always admire it because of all the memories I had playing and all hard work and dedication put in by the development team.
Number 6
Mario Kart 64
First Year Played: 1997
Number of Hours Played: Hundreds
Mario Kart 64 was the game that spent the most time in my N64 growing up and it is also one of the first games I remember playing. Part of what made this game so appealing to a kid was that it had 4-player multiplayer (Which only Nintendo had). Whenever my cousins or friends came over we would spend hours racing each other bragging about how one of us was the best, only to come last place the next race. Three of my favorite racetracks in the series in Koopa Troopa Beach, Kalimari Desert and DK Jungle Parkway first appeared in Mario Kart 64. The game's competitive gameplay was accented perfectly by an addictive soundtrack that only Nintendo composers can create. Mario Kart 64 is one the of many gems on the N64 and in my opinion it is the greatest kart racer of all-time!
Pokemon Emerald
First Year Played: 2009
First Year Played: 2009
Number of Playthroughs: 2
My peers often call me out whenever I express my opinion about Gen III and I know it is generally seen as the "Worst Pokemon Gen" but I don't see it that way... It is my favorite hands down. Gen III has arguably the best set of starters and legendary Pokemon in the series that include fan favorites like Blaziken, Rayquaza and Deoxys. Hoenn is home to many of my all-time favorite Pokemon such as Sceptile, Swellow, Exploud, Aggron and Metagross. Aside from being my favorite game Pokemon-wise Gen III had some of my favorite songs and themes in the series like Slateport City, Rustboro City and the Rival battle theme. Gen III also introduced notable features in the Pokemon series like Abilities, Natures, a refined EV/IV system as well as double battles and the Battle Frontier. Even to this day Gen III never gets the full credit it deserves even though it set the standard for what a Pokemon game should be. No matter what anybody says I will stand by Gen III and because of Pokemon Diamond I got to explore my favorite Pokemon world!
My peers often call me out whenever I express my opinion about Gen III and I know it is generally seen as the "Worst Pokemon Gen" but I don't see it that way... It is my favorite hands down. Gen III has arguably the best set of starters and legendary Pokemon in the series that include fan favorites like Blaziken, Rayquaza and Deoxys. Hoenn is home to many of my all-time favorite Pokemon such as Sceptile, Swellow, Exploud, Aggron and Metagross. Aside from being my favorite game Pokemon-wise Gen III had some of my favorite songs and themes in the series like Slateport City, Rustboro City and the Rival battle theme. Gen III also introduced notable features in the Pokemon series like Abilities, Natures, a refined EV/IV system as well as double battles and the Battle Frontier. Even to this day Gen III never gets the full credit it deserves even though it set the standard for what a Pokemon game should be. No matter what anybody says I will stand by Gen III and because of Pokemon Diamond I got to explore my favorite Pokemon world!
Number 4
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
First Year Played: 2003
First Year Played: 2003
Number of Playthroughs: 7
My family had always been a Nintendo family and that tradition continued with my cousin when he bought a Gamecube at launch. Shortly after, my brother won a PSone from school and he never opened it because we were still playing our N64 faithfully to that point. My Dad mentioned to us that we could return the PSone to the store that the school bought it from and put the money towards a Gamecube and we immediately jumped on that proposal. Wind Waker is a special game for me because it was my first Gamecube game and a special game for the series because it was the first Zelda game to have an art style. The cell shaded, cartoon look fit the characters and made the game look fantastic even in today's standards. With the art style characters expressed more emotion and personality. This was achieved due to the games lighthearted tone, which was a risk for Nintendo due to the massive fan request for a "realistic" Zelda. The trademark Zelda gameplay carried over from the N64 entries but added parry and dodge attacks when targeting. Wind Waker's Soundtrack is one of the best in all of Video Games with classics like "Grandma's Song", "Dragon Roost Island" and "The Great Sea" just to name a few. Wind Waker did so many things right for the series and it shouldn't be overlooked for of its appearance because it is a masterpiece.
Number 3
Super Mario 64
First Year Played: 1997
First Year Played: 1997
Number of Playthroughs: 4
Super Mario 64 was such a monumental game for the entire gaming industry and it happens to be my all-time favourite Mario game. Being the first fully 3D game, Mario 64 utilized the revolutionary N64 joystick and in game dynamic camera to set the standard for an entire genre and also what I expect in a game. I remember spending hours at a time running, flying and looking for Luigi in every world admiring its vastness and creativity without even a touch of being bored. Nintendo and Mario 64 were leagues ahead of their competition because they were able to create a consistent and true 64-bit open world experience without being on rails or confusing the player. With 15 worlds and 120 stars to collect, Mario 64 is one of the longest games in the Mario series and collecting all the stars continues to be a challenge for me today. The soundtrack is another A+ on Koji Kondo's report card with the "Title theme", "Main Theme (Bomb-Omb Battlefield)", "Sliding theme" and "Dire Dire Docks" the stand out tunes. I believe Mario 64 is the most influential game of all-time and as I reflect on it today I am very thankful that it was the first video game I ever played.
Number 2
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
First Year Played: 2000
First Year Played: 2000
Number of Playthroughs: 7
Banjo-Kazooie is absolutely everything I want in a video game. Tight 3D platforming, witty humor, a memorable cast of characters, a fantastic soundtrack and amazing level design are all reasons why Banjo is my favorite game. Banjo-Kazooie is the first game I beat by myself and I continue to play it year after year. The geniuses at old Rareware took everything that made Mario 64 great and added a comedic and unique twist. The game does not baby you because within the first 10 minutes you have learned the basics and you have already entered the first of 9 fantastic worlds. Each world has at least one iconic set piece and is completely different from one another with a hub world that is as immersive as the levels it binds. Banjo-Kazooie's stellar soundtrack composed by Grant Kirkhope and borderline, suggestive humor are the game's driving force. I believe it has the greatest soundtrack of all-time and I am not lying when I say absolutely every single song is catchy and fitting, the songs have been stuck in my head for 16 years and they never get old. Some of my favorites include "Spiral Mountain", "Click Clock Wood (Spring)", "Freezeezy Peak", "Bubble Gloop Swamp" and "Treasure Trove Cove". Also the sound effects and character voices are priceless. The game is known for it's humor and characters sometimes break the 4th wall and acknowledge that they are in a game. From Grunty's rhymes and Kazooie's jabs at other characters to simple toilet talk, Banjo Kazooie's humor keeps the game together and continues to amuse me. Banjo Kazooie is a gem and no other game in its series lives up to it in my opinion. It is a shame that this series hasn't had a proper installment since 2003 so hopefully Microsoft can give Banjo a suitable sequel.
Without a doubt Ocarina of Time is my favorite Zelda game and in my opinion the epitome of the action-adventure genre. It is a near flawless game that set the benchmark for the Zelda series in level design, gameplay and sound. Ocarina was one of the first games to have a targeting system and other staple Zelda mechanics like animal riding and a larger stress on musical instruments. Ocarina has the best level design in the series because the Forest and Spirit temple and Ganon's Tower are fantastic and more the nullify the dreaded Water Temple (Its level design is confusing but I liked the water puzzles). Ocarina of Time has a legendary soundtrack and contains some of Koji Kondo's best work. Fan favorites and series staples like "Gerudo Valley", "Ganondorf's Theme", "Saria's Song" and "The Song of TIme". My favorites include "Kokiri Forest", "Hyrule Field" and "Zora's Domain". Its story is timeless and contains some of the most important events in the series that effect every Zelda game in one way or another. The games scope and grandness is unmatched even to this day because no game has replicated the feeling I had when I stepped into Hyrule Field or defeated Ganon for the first time. Ocarina is often seen as overrated but as a Zelda fan and as someone who witnessed and experienced its impact I believe it deserves every single honor and award. Ocarina is the most well-rounded game I have played and my second most favorite game of all-time.
Number 1
Banjo-Kazooie
First Year Played: 1998
First Year Played: 1998
Number of Playthroughs: Countless Times
Banjo-Kazooie is absolutely everything I want in a video game. Tight 3D platforming, witty humor, a memorable cast of characters, a fantastic soundtrack and amazing level design are all reasons why Banjo is my favorite game. Banjo-Kazooie is the first game I beat by myself and I continue to play it year after year. The geniuses at old Rareware took everything that made Mario 64 great and added a comedic and unique twist. The game does not baby you because within the first 10 minutes you have learned the basics and you have already entered the first of 9 fantastic worlds. Each world has at least one iconic set piece and is completely different from one another with a hub world that is as immersive as the levels it binds. Banjo-Kazooie's stellar soundtrack composed by Grant Kirkhope and borderline, suggestive humor are the game's driving force. I believe it has the greatest soundtrack of all-time and I am not lying when I say absolutely every single song is catchy and fitting, the songs have been stuck in my head for 16 years and they never get old. Some of my favorites include "Spiral Mountain", "Click Clock Wood (Spring)", "Freezeezy Peak", "Bubble Gloop Swamp" and "Treasure Trove Cove". Also the sound effects and character voices are priceless. The game is known for it's humor and characters sometimes break the 4th wall and acknowledge that they are in a game. From Grunty's rhymes and Kazooie's jabs at other characters to simple toilet talk, Banjo Kazooie's humor keeps the game together and continues to amuse me. Banjo Kazooie is a gem and no other game in its series lives up to it in my opinion. It is a shame that this series hasn't had a proper installment since 2003 so hopefully Microsoft can give Banjo a suitable sequel.
Honorable Mention (Almost #10)
Super Mario Strikers
First Year Played: 2005
Number of Matches Played: Hundreds
My Dad got me Mario Strikers for Christmas in 2005 and I was very disappointed because wanted Mario Superstar Baseball instead. He knew i wanted Baseball but apparently it was sold out so the clerk suggested Strikers. I will be forever grateful to the clerk because today I consider Strikers to be the greatest Mario Sports game! Its a fast paced 5-on-5 Soccer grudge match that has players tackle, hit and even electrocute their opponents. It doesn't feel anything like your typical soccer game because there are so many awesome gimmicks like Super Strikes, Bowser Attacks and the games famous celebrations...cough Waluigi cough. I still invite the guys over for a Strikers tourney because there is no party experience like Strikers!
My Dad got me Mario Strikers for Christmas in 2005 and I was very disappointed because wanted Mario Superstar Baseball instead. He knew i wanted Baseball but apparently it was sold out so the clerk suggested Strikers. I will be forever grateful to the clerk because today I consider Strikers to be the greatest Mario Sports game! Its a fast paced 5-on-5 Soccer grudge match that has players tackle, hit and even electrocute their opponents. It doesn't feel anything like your typical soccer game because there are so many awesome gimmicks like Super Strikes, Bowser Attacks and the games famous celebrations...cough Waluigi cough. I still invite the guys over for a Strikers tourney because there is no party experience like Strikers!
Other Honourable Mentions:
Kirby Air Ride
Super Metroid
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Fire Emblem Awakening
Pokemon Silver
Batman Arkham City
Star Wars: Battlefront ll
Article By:
Matteo C.
