CIVIL's Top 10 Favorite Video Games of All Time - Friday Feature #2
I promise that all these features won’t only be pertaining to my nerdom, but even if it was its my blog so I can write about what I want. Back in the days I was a heavy gamer, I wish I had the vision to know how big gaming would become because I would have probably chased that bag instead. When PS5 comes out it is definitely something I’m considering though so stay tuned. I recently started getting back into it heavier because PS4 had so many classics. There were visual masterpieces, amazing storytelling, and my childhood reimagined in ways that I could have never dreamed of. With the release of the masterpiece that is known as Final Fantasy VII Remake, my nostalgia has been in full swing so I decided to look back at my top 10 favorite video games of all time. These aren’t just games to me. They inspire my creativity as an artist as I’ve sampled music from these games and subject matter. Not to mention they also have provided a much needed escape over the years. This list is in no particular order by the way. Let’s get into it. Also one game per franchise or MGS and Final Fantasy would be all over this list.
WWF No Mercy (Nintendo 64)
I got 2 words for ya!
This game was just absolutely incredible man. Still to this day I’ll throw on an emulator on my macbook and play No Mercy. Between Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain and No Mercy, there is no question that they are the two greatest wrestling games of all time. The roster was STACKED for its time. You had all the recent WCW wrestlers that jumped ship, you had Austin, The Rock, All the versions of Taker, HBK (THE GOAT) , Kurt Angle, The Hardy’s and so many others. Each wrestler had a move set that really felt like theirs and it was so gratifying getting your Special up and laying your opponent out with a devastating finisher. That Stone Cold Stunner in this game was just a work of art.
For the time it was released it looked great, and though it may be a little boxy now it still holds up. The creation suite was great and you could customize all of your wrestlers the way you wanted to. It made for some fun and interesting choices. Each arena had its own personality, and you could go backstage! You could fight in a freaking bar. It didn’t change much from its predecessor Wrestlemania 2000 but it didn’t need to. It added the few tweaks we needed to make this one of the best games on the N64.
Speaking of the N64, this game was great because you could easily play with up to 4 people and play so many different match types. You could tag with your friends, play a fatal 4 way, have a tag team ladder match, have a handicap match, the possibilities seemed endless. Also remember, this is when wrestling was at its peak so this game was a must have.
I was a playstation kid so I had to go to my friend’s crib to play it, and I would go as often as possible. That summer I worked with my uncle ( where I was super exploited), to be able to afford a n64. I worked 8 hour days for a few weeks just to get the $100 to buy that used n64 and get my hands on No Mercy. But it was worth it.
Having the game to myself I delved into the storylines, and the replay value was insane! Each championship had its own unique story, with MULTIPLE different outcomes. To this day I still don’t think I got all of the outcomes. You could be a heel (bad guy) and join The Corporation or you could be a Babyface (good guy). You could even start as a bad guy and change into a good guy and vice versa. I love this game. I didn’t even get into the cheesy music!! So good. If you still have your N64, dust that baby off and give this game a spin.
NBA LIVE 2003 (Playstation 2)
IT’S IN THE GAME
in 2020 this might seem unfathomable, but the NBA 2K series didn’t always run the Basketball gaming world. Back in 2002 and prior that distinction belonged to the NBA Live franchise. I could have definitely put NBA2k14 on this list because that was incredible, but nothing made me feel quite how NBA Live 2003 did when it came out.
Everything about this game was amazing when it came out. The soundtrack produced by Just Blaze was so fire and each copy came with the CD (remember those?). The soundtrack had standout records by Fab and Joe Budden that I can recall instantly.
Outside of the soundtrack this game was the first to feature the freestyle control. The freestyle control gave you the ability to perform crossovers and finally start breaking ankles with the likes of Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Baron Davis and all the other ILL guards we had at the time. It featured a prime Shaq and Kobe (RIP), along with cheese teams like the Dallas Mavericks, and Spurs that were loaded. I used to take pleasure absolutely destroying my friends in this game. I was an asshole. I’d do things like let them come back only to beat them at the buzzer. Of course the Knicks were garbage at this time, but that didn’t matter. I still caught wreck with them. Even in 2020 Ya’ll do not want the smoke.
Sonic Adventure (Sega Dreamcast)
Segaaaaaaaaa
The first of two Dreamcast entries on this list, let’s bow our heads for a moment and remember our fallen system that was ridiculously ahead of its time. I’ll save that for another time though. Sonic Adventure was everything. I’m no tech guy but visually it pushed the Dreamcast to it’s limit and 100% still stands up today. This took the bold leap of taking Sonic out of his traditional side-scrolling platforming and brought him full 3D. And it worked. You felt like Sonic and the story was great. You also got to play as a bunch of other characters (some where trash, like the one you had to fish with, but most were great), and see the entire story play out from each of their perspectives. Full disclosure, in the original Sega games I never actually got far enough to obtain Super Sonic, but I finally did in Sonic Adventure. Sonic Adventure was actually the first game I 100% completely and playing as Super Sonic felt like the culmination of a life long journey (even though I was only 11). I actually replayed this game a few more times as an adult and it still holds up today. You can find it in all of the current gen online stores as they have made versions of it on each platform. TO ME, this is the greatest Sonic game of all time.
Batman Arkham City (Playstation 3)
I. AM. BATMAN….Well At least I felt like it playing this game.
FAM. Fam. FAMMMMM. The Batman Arkham series is easily one of the greatest video game franchises of all time. Through my childhood we had so many terrible Batman games, I never thought that we would ever really feel what it would be like to put on the cape and cowl. Then Arkham Asylum came around and changed everything. It perfectly encapsulated every part of what it means to be Batman. He was a master detective, stealthy assassin, and flawless martial artist. Striking fear into a henchmen before dropping down and taking him out remains one of the most gratifying feelings in games ever. There were so many ways to take out your opponents, it was like art once you became good at it. The fighting mechanics were at the time unparalleled. Spider-man definitely took from this and added to it, but at the time there was nothing like it. You really felt like Batman and the combos were brutal. The story was brilliant, the Easter Eggs were Stan-heaven and the Rouges Gallery really showed up. And then Arkham City happened.
The gave us an open world Batman game and improved every single aspect of Arkham City and the Story was EVEN BETTER. You could also play as Catwoman and all the alternate costumes and homages to all the different Batman iterations throughout the game was everything. They stepped it up with the villians too. The Easter Eggs where used in the form of The Riddler’s Riddles and it made it so gratifying finding them all. Batman has to deal with Hugo Strange, Rhas al Ghul, and so many other of his greatest foes. It was perfectully crafted and another game I go back into from time to time. I can’t wait for the next Batman game they are dropping. I hear the announcement is coming soon.
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (Playstation 2)
Shoutout to CJ and the Grove Street Crew
This one was tough because GTA V is just utterly amazing, and the story in Vice City was super fire. Since it is one per franchise I just had to go with the homie CJ and San Andreas. I don’t even know where to begin with this game. The fun that could be had by not even following the missions and creating mayhem is nothing like any other game offered. This was a staple of Grand Theft Auto and GTA San Andreas was where this was most evident (until GTA V).
You could gamble, shoot hoops, buy fly gear, dance, have multiple girlfriends that each had different personalities, workout, pimp, drive a cab, be 12, be a firefighter, or an EMT. Let’s be real though, all we wanted to do is put in that weapons cheat code though and see how fast we could get 5 stars. I remember playing wit the homies and seeing who could create the most mayhem. You had to pass the controller when you died. My homie Mike probably has the best way of playing this game though, as he creates a world within a world. For example when CJ was broke in the game, he refused to steal nice cars for him. He played it like it was a movie. I respect it. I just wanted my infernus though and to make CJ as brolic as possible.
Aside from doing our own thing though the story was actually great (even though it took forever for us to finally decide to get into it). This was another early game that I 100% completed. The characters were on point and CJ is without a doubt the greatest GTA protagonist. You also had Samuel L. Jackson lend his voice talents for this. Also when you 100% the game, you get unlimted ammo, health and armor boosts, weapons at all your hideouts, and a Jet parked on the roof of your crib in Grove Street. WORTH IT.
Shenmue ( Sega Dreamcast)
The 2nd Dreamcast title on this list and this game should be top 5 on everyone’s list. Sure it moves a lot slower than its contemporaries, but the story is suited by the pacing and it makes the wonderful fighting parts so much more gratifying. This game rewards exploring as you unlock different martial arts movies and hidden features by talking to everyone in the town and gathering all your clues. That can definitely feel like a grind if you just want quick moving action, but it worked in this game.
Ryo is trying to avenge his father’s death and has to gather all the clues to get to the person who did it, but along the process you have to do things like work. You’ll literally spend what feels like 2 hours driving a forklift and moving boxes, and spend most of the time talking to the people in the town and asking questions and gathering clues. I might not be doing the best job selling this game, but trust for its time it was brilliant and aesthetically it was unmatched. At the time there was nothing that looked as good as that game.
Supersmash Bros. (Any iteration)
I’m giving people big work with Link
I needed at least one fighter on this list and it had to be Super Smash Bros. This game is just flat out fun. Especially with friends and when you have 4 controllers. Mario Kart might be better and more iconic but I personally just love Smash. I didn’t pick a specific one because they stay tried and true to their formula and its always great fun on whatever platform you play on. If you have this and No Mercy still with your N64, you are poppin my friend.
Marvel’s Spider-Man (Playstation 4)
Spidey and Batman are without a doubt my two favorite superheroes (although the latter could use his wealth to completely eradicate crime in Gotham). Spider-man unlike Batman however has had a lot of really solid games through the years. Even going all the way back to the SNES. Spider-m=Man for the PS4 had big shoes to fill as Spider-man 2 on the ps2 was a brilliant game. I could not have imagined the absolute FLAWLESS Masterpiece that we would get in 2018 though.
Visually this game is incredible. Manhattan looks and feels like the Manhattan in real life. You can swing all the way from the Freedom Tower to Harlem and get lost along the way in how stunning it all looks. People have posted videos on how their literal apartment building is in the game. The detail in the city is remarkable, and then they add all the Easter Eggs and Marvel references. Avengers Tower is there, the Wakandan Embassy, the Sanctum Sanctorum and so much more is available to discover. There are also about 40 different Spider-Man costumes to choose from, that all look amazing.
The gameplay is also on another level. The swinging mechanics in this game are just amazing. There have been times where I’ve swung through the city for an hour instead of completing missions. Its easy to pick up and really rewarding when you master the controls. The fighting mechanics give you that Batman Arkham feel but with a Spidey twist. You really feel Spider-Man’s speed and Spidey-Sense . Building up your combos while Peter talks his shit is just chef’s kiss. This is a game where its just as fun to beat up random henchmen as it is to actually take on the storyline. There is so much to do and is definitely one of the more fun platinum trophies you can get.
Lastly the story is one of the best Spider-Man stories in recent memory (and there have been some good ones lately) ,and it is so easy to get completely lost in it. I did not want to put this game down. I absolutely cannot wait for the Miles Morales extension coming out soon.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Playstation 3)
This was the hardest entry of the list. Those that know me know my love for Metal Gear Solid as a franchise, as a staff, as a record label. I’ve loved every single iteration of this franchise from Metal Gear Solid 1 to Peace Walker to Metal Gear Solid 5. Metal Gear Solid 1 for the original Playstation was a classic with extraordinary gameplay and an amazing story. The genius that is Hideo Kojima just continued to level up with his games as I’ve loved the followups just as much and in some cases more. Metal Gear Solid 2: Son’s of Liberty is one of my crowing achievements as I beat that game on Extreme Mode with no kills, no continues and no alerts. I loved that game so much I had to master it. Then there was Metal Gear Solid 3. This was a prequel to what we had seen play out in MGS 1 and 2 and it took everything to new heights.
The gameplay was improved and made to feel more realistic. You had to step up your stealth and really make the right choices because the NPCs were a lot more intelligent in this game. You had to hunt in this game and heal yourself. These features were not seen in the previous games. The boss fights were also epic. The reason that this game stands out to me though is the story.
The story is one worth revisiting over and over again. There are so many twists and turns and it all feels so cinematic. There is love, loss, betrayal, defeat, and victory in defeat and defeat in victory. The story is far too convoluted for me to get into here, but if you have never played this game please do yourself a favor and get into it. Metal Gear Solid 5 was a visual masterpiece and the gameplay is one of one, but the story of Metal Gear Solid 3 is what separates it. Oh. and the music. The soundtrack is phenomenal.
FINAL FANTASY VII / FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (Sony Playstation /Playstation 4)
This game. is just. everything to me.
I’m going to cheat a little because this is my list and I can do whatever I want. I’m including both the original and the remake of Final Fantasy VII on this list. Final Fantasy VII the original, was probably my favorite game of all time (and in my opinion THE Best). Final Fantasy VII remake came through and improved that game in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE and we haven’t even gotten the rest of it yet.
The Story is centered around these environmental activists who are trying to stop this evil corporation called Shinra from oppressing people so already you know I would be feeling it. The main character is Cloud and the ensemble cast is one of which you grow to love as you spend the 50+ hours playing this game. You go on this journey with these characters and realize that Shinra isn’t the only thing they have to worry about. As the story goes on, you quickly realize the fate of the world is at stake and its up to Cloud, Tifa, Barret and everyone to save the planet. There are moments in this game that have brought tears to my eyes and moments that I’m still not over as an adult. Like Metal Gear Solid and Shenmue there is no way I can do this story justice, but just know this is the greatest of all time.
The Remake took the story and added to it, but also completely revamped the gameplay to the point that it is so fun and exciting. It makes pulling off that final blow with your character feel so exhilarating. This Remake has brought my childhood back to life, after the retirement of the Undertaker ironically killed it. I could have never imaged seeing my beloved playstation classic become this amazing (considering it was already perfect before). The iconic characters like Cloud, Aerith, and of course Sephiroth shine through and I am a custee right now waiting for part 2. The remake is so expanded from the original (which was already a huge game that spanned 3 discs), that they will need to put it out in multiple parts. Sure that is a money grab, but PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY NOW AND GIVE ME MORE TIFA AND BARRET.
So that was my list. Let me know what you think of it. Also would love to know what are some of your favorite games, because I’m always trying to be put on to something new. Kingdom Hearts is the next series I’m going to find out about, and I also have to get into Red Dead. So if you have any others I should try let me know. See you next Friday. PEACE.