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I've been playing games on computers almost as long as I've been using them,
but nowadays I prefer playing games on consoles. I'm painfully aware that the
capabilities of consoles tend to lag behind those of PCs, but then consoles
don't take minutes to boot up either. In other words, I value the convenience
of console gaming over the cutting edge graphics or sound of the PC. This situation
hasn't changed since I bought a Mac, either, since the machine I own is a
laptop which does not do games very well.
I own two consoles: a Sony Playstation 2 (the main console), and a Nintendo
64 (which I bought for those rare games which do not turn up on the
Playstation). I have far fewer games now than I used to, though - I left my
over-extensive collection in Britain, since the machines would not work in the
States and nor would any of the games.
The best place to start if you're looking for information for a particular
game is GameFaqs, but failing that I
tend to go into a search engine such as Google and do a search.
Anyway, these are a few of the games I like, even if I'm not playing them
these days:
Thumping - also known as beat 'em ups. Having played a couple on my
old Amstrad CPC and not enjoyed them much, I was quite surprised to find that
I love them on consoles.
Tekken - all the Tekken games are
superb arcade conversions with an instantly intuitive control
system, excitingly visceral moves, and bone-crunching sound effects
(although the graphics in the first game are a little garish).
Tekken 2 is probably my favourite because it still in a way seems
fresh, but the PS2 games are of course gorgeous.
Soulblade, fighting with swords and a surprisingly small amount of
blood. The sequels go by the original name of Soul Calibur
(something strange going on in the marketing department there).
Bushido Blade is another sword-based game, but its
premise is realism: if your character is struck in the arm by a
sword, then that arm becomes immobile. There's no energy bar, or time
limits, or anything like that.
Sadly, it's also a vaguely disappointing experience - it is a
very, very good game but just lacks the pumping urgency of the
Tekkens of this world.
Bloody Roar, where the combatants are were creatures. No shortage
of blood here, although the were rabbit is surprisingly powerful!
Platform - looked down on rather, but I'm rather fond of this style
of game. Although much of it can be trial and error (like most games)
there is scope for a lot of very skillful timing.
Sonic the Hedgehog - the Megadrive's contribution to world
culture, and what a contribution it is! There are a whole legion of Sonic
games, but the best and most energetic are still the first two. Sonic
Spinball is also quite good, if a little small - technically it's a
pinball game, but there are platform elements in it too.
Of course, there is always Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast, but
since this is the only game on that new console which we have even the
slightest interest in I rather doubt we'll be forking over the wonga
for one any time soon.
Aladdin - the Megadrive game that convinced me it was
time to buy a console. The PC version is very disappointing and
should be avoided.
Crash Bandicoot - the closest thing the Playstation has
to a mascot (with the possible exception of Lara Croft) and a series
of very fine platform games to boot.
I'm speaking here about the three Playstation games, as produced by
Naughty Dog. I cannot recommend the PS2 retreads.
- Mario 64 - a splendid platform game, once you get past
the irritating camera angles. Although it is unremittingly cutesy (a
common fault of Nintendo games) it has a well graded learning curve:
it is almost trivially easy at the beginning, but gets harder in a
controlled way.
Banjo Kazooie - another N64 game, much in the style of
Mario only much, much better. The controls are easier, the graphics
are better, the music is catchier (and less irritating), and the whole game
just wreaks quality. The game was produced by Rare who also wrote
Goldeneye (see below). The sequel, Banjo Tooie, is equally
good.
Alumni of the 80s UK computing fad may be interested to
note that Rare are a later incarnation of Ultimate Play the
Game who so revolutionised Spectrum gaming with games such as
Jet Pac, Atic Atac, and Knightlore.
Jak and Daxter - a PS2 platformer from those splendid folks
at Naughty Dog.
Shooting - probably my favourite genre, rather oddly given my
generally equable nature. Maybe my fondness for blowing things up is how
I maintain my equablility. Anyway...
Time Crisis - a conversion of the arcade machine of the
same name, complete with light gun. Absolutely pumping action, the
computer's cry of "RELOAD!" haunted me in my sleep for weeks
afterwards. Namco's conversion is brilliant - in terms of the
gameplay it is exactly the same as the arcade machine, although the
graphics are not quite as detailed.
Doom - on the PC. The N64 version is cute, but lacks the
immediacy of the PC version. The real bonus with the PC version is,
of course, that you can buy and download extension WADs for it. Two
of my favourites are Osiris (based on the Stargate film) and
A Fistful of Doom (only two levels, but a beautifully
executed Western Doom).
Goldeneye - the best and most accessible game on the N64 by
a large margin. Another first person shooter in the mould of Doom, but
much refined with exacting missions to perform and realistic
locations.
Perfect Dark - very much a sequel to Goldeneye,
having many of the same stealth elements but with more depth to the
gameplay. I hugely enjoyed playing this on my N64 in Britain, but I did
not replace this game when I moved to the States because I didn't want to
hear Joanna Dark talking with an American accent.
Driving - not a genre I like at all usually, but there are
exceptions!
Gran Turismo - what a wonderful series of racing games... I
was completely blown away by the first one, and greatly enjoyed the second
game, but the third one (and the first on the PS2) is the one that I love
most. Just gorgeous.
A final word on games that I do not play...
The games I've talked about here are united by their ability to be picked
up and put down with only a few minutes of play. Oh, I can play any of these
games for hours and days at a time, but I don't have to. There are some games
that I avoid playing because I cannot stop.
So, no computer roleplaying or adventure games. No simulation games. No
trading games, and no strategy games. These are all just too compelling. I
have spent days and nights playing these genres in their more primitive 8 and
16 bit precursors, and I simply don't have time to spend in that way any
more.
Yes, I miss them, but then again I like having time to do all the other
things in my life now rather more.
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