Jonboy's Top 10 Games of All-Time (Honorable Mentions)

I’ve wanted to compile a comprehensive list of my favorite games for years. Unfortunately, there are numerous challenges in attempting such an endeavor, some of which have prevented me from ever completing a list. Until now, that is.  IGN editors’ recent series on their top games of all-time inspired me to finally develop such a list. And oh, how rewarding it has been.

First, I needed to establish a working framework. Are these the best, most well-made games of all time? The most influential? Do I number the list? These list are personal; thus, I’m focusing on my personal favorite games of all-time.  More specifically, what are the 25 games that sold me on gaming in the first place? What are the games that have made this lifetime hobby worth a lifetime of dedication? Those are the questions I set out to answer with this list.

I also decided on a numbered list. I can’t lie; it’s absolutely agonizing to try and nitpick one game over another. To search for minor flaws in my favorite games ever goes against the very nature of a “top 25” list in the first place. But I continued to return to my purpose and the framework I’ve established. In some alternate universe where I’ve never played a single video game, which 25 would I pick for myself to play? Which five would I pick? Which one would I pick?

It wasn’t easy, but I finally managed to complete the list. Rather than making this one enormous blog post, I’ve elected to split it into separate entries. To get started, I’ve elected to list my 15 honorable mention, which round out my top 25. These are games I truly adore, but they just missed the cut of being in my top 10. They are not in any particular order. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Memorable characters, excellent battle system, and an intriguing story. 

Near perfection in gameplay and excellence in level-design

A roller-coaster epic with top-notch storytelling.

Fantastic world to explore with a truly believable western tale.

My favorite rhythm game ever made, hands-down. Deserves a sequel.

So easy to get lost in the world and its characters. 

The best Batman game ever made. You truly feel like the caped-crusader.

Just plain fun. Pure gameplay in every sense of the word. 

One of the greatest plot twists in all of video games. 

Ground breaking and unlike any game I'd ever played. Emotional and impactful.

One of my favorite multiplayer games ever made. Poured countless hours into this one.

Incredible powers and intriguing story. 

The PS2's swan song was a gorgeous, action-packed epic.

Car combat at its finest. My friends and I had a blast with this one.

 Fantastic puzzles and an unexpectedly funny, well-told story.

I was Featured in a PlayStation Video

Well this is pretty cool. It's not every day you get to appear in a PlayStation video (well, your online user name anyway). I can confirm the rumors are true. I have been featured in one of PlayStation's videos, which focuses on the share functionality of Sony's latest system.

I'm a frequent poster over the popular NeoGAF forum and I came across a new thread. The title had more to do with the new InFamous footage than the sharing videos. I pulled out my phone during my lunch break to check out the video. As it started playing, I didn't even notice the the name. It was my shared video that caught my eye. Take a look below and see if you can spot it. 

NBA 2k14. Mike Conley of the Grizzlies drains a 3 to beat the Clippers. I thought to myself, that looked really familiar. I think I've seen this before. So I immediately re-watched the first part of the video. My jaw dropped when I saw my PSN ID appear across the screen: jonboy_jlf_2004. So cool!

Being in Marketing/Communications myself, the concept of the share button instantly made sense to me back when Sony announced it. Every single time a user hits "share," it's nearly 100% free advertising for Sony. Videos streaming from their system across Facebook and Twitch (hopefully YouTube is added soon enough), plus the screenshot sharing feature through Twitter, are incredibly efficient ways to market a system and a brand. Not only do the videos and screenshots look great, they're almost always events that are going to come across as pure fun (like a game-winning 3-point shot). Others online see the videos and then they too want in. It's brilliant.

I have no idea if this video will be used as a television commercial or if it's just an online video to promote the share button on the dualshock 4. Even though I realize it's all part of the marketing of the sytem, as a huge fan of Sony and the PS4, I think it's pretty awesome. 

2013 Game of the Year

2013 Game of the Year Awards

Although 2013 saw the release of two powerful new consoles in the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, the majority of my favorite games of the year came on the hardware we've grown familiar with over the past generation. 

I've compiled my top 10 games of the year and have listed them below, starting with my 10th favorite game and working up to number 1. There's also a brief explanation for each title. If you've missed any on this list, I highly encourage you to give these a shot.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (Wii U)

Loved the original, but didn't remember it being this good. The art style and cel shading is unmatched even to this day.

9. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

While I didn't find 3D World to be as revolutionary as Mario 64 or Mario Galaxy, it's still an excellent entry to Nintendo's historic franchise.

8. Rayman Legends (PS Vita)

Just pure fun. Gorgeous art, near-perfect controls, and fantastic music. I could have done without the Murphy levels.

7. Guacamelee (PS Vita)

Drinkbox Studios nailed it yet again. Guacamelee was one of the games from 2013 to provide a significant challenge, requiring a familiarity with each of the game's many mechanics.

6. Grand Theft Auto V (PS3)

GTA didn't really reinvent the wheel (pardon the terrible pun), but Rockstar didn't need to. GTA V is pure fun from start to finish. There's a ton to see and do, but the story left me wanting more. The heist missions were great. In fact, I wish there had been more of them.

5. Tearaway (PS Vita)

Wow...not sure I've ever played a game more charming. I smiled more during my playthrough of Tearaway than probably any other game on this list. The art style and graphics are truly unmatched. Love how they used the Vita in so many different ways that never felt forced or inconvenient.

4. Bioshock Infinite (PS3)

The story ended up a in strange place that I didn't expect...but I could not stop playing Infinite. There was a constant urge to see what twist awaited behind the next corner. I found the gameplay somewhat repetitive at times, but never bad. The plot was enough to keep me going and, oh what a story it told.

3. Tomb Raider (PS3)

No doubt that Crystal Dynamics borrowed a number of mechanics from other recent high-profile titles, but Tomb Raider stands as on its own as an amazing title that breathes new life into an age-old franchise. They did a fantastic job making me care about Lara again.

2. Resogun (PS4)

This one took me by surprise and I certainly never expected it to be Game of the Year material. Gorgeous and addicting, I'll likely be playing Resogun throughout the PS4's life cycle.

1. The Last of Us (PS3)

Naughty Dog's latest masterpiece took everything I love about gaming and brought it together in a single, cohesive package. Jaw-dropping graphics, sublime acting, incredible story, fully immersive atmosphere, top-notch stealth gameplay (despite what some may tell you)...The Last of Us has it all. I knew immediately after finishing that I had experienced something very special. At the end of the day, there's really no higher recommendation I can give than to say that every adult who considers him/herself a gamer should play this game. It's uncomfortable and even hard to play at times. You'll laugh. You'll smile. You may even shed a tear. One thing, however, is certain: you will never forget playing The Last of Us.

Greatness Has Arrived; Next-gen is Here

It's hard to believe the PlayStation 4 is now available in North America. It feels like only yesterday I was blogging about the PlayStation meeting (back in February), yet here we are in November. PS4 is out and the Xbox One is right around the corner. Somehow...the PS4 managed to shatter my lofty expectations in my first weekend with the system. I had a great time with a number of different launch titles and was often reminded just why I love this hobby so much.

Here are my impressions after one weekend with the console and a handful of launch games.

Resogun

The visuals are downright stunning.

Resogun is truly the gem of the launch lineup. Upon starting the game, you'll probably be confused and overwhelmed at all that's happening on screen. Enemies attack from all sides, a voice keeps telling you to save humans, and a number of those said humans are "lost" with little explanation. Don't be deterred by the initial confusion. Stick with it and you'll quickly learn the nuance of the game, how you save those humans, and how to dispatch the countless enemies thrown your way. I enjoyed the time I spent with previous Housemarque titles, Super Stardust HD and Superstardust Delta, but neither drew me in as completely as Resogun has in my first weekend with the title. It's an old-school "shoot-em-up" at heart, yet there is enough innovation here to make the whole experience feel fresh. Oh...and there's also the graphics, which are completely mind-blowing.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Yet another visual showcase.

This is the game where I'm most confused by the lower review scores, although I've admittedly spent almost all my time in the multiplayer mode. The graphics are gorgeous (noticing a trend here?), the control are perfect on the new DualShock 4, and I've had an absolute blast with the multiplayer. The early parts of the single player where markedly different from previous Killzone games and I found it entertaining thus far. I've actually never finished a Killzone game so I'm anxious to see if Shadow Fall holds my interest through to the conclusion. I can already say I'm enjoying the multiplayer far more than previous Killzone titles.

NBA 2K14

At times, you'll think it's the real thing.

The NBA 2K series has been the king of basketball games for years so it comes as no surprise they have made the jump to next-gen with ease. The majority of the upgrades come in the graphical department. At times, the game looks more true to life than any video game to come before it. Unfortunately, there are still graphical glitches and technical shortfalls that definitely remind you...yes, you're still playing a video game. Luckily, they aren't enough to break the experience. I came away very impressed by the crowd animations, which finally seem to be unique and diverse enough where you won't find the "tall guy in a blue hat" every other row. The gameplay is as rock solid as ever, but it actually plays slightly different from previous iterations. 2K wasn't bluffing when they hyped their eco-motion engine.

Knack

Looks to be a great "beat-em-up" for the family.

Knack is the title I spent the least amount of time with, although I did watch my young cousin play through the first couple of hours of the game. It controls well and the story seems better than I was expecting. Definitely the weakest in terms of graphics of the game's I've mentioned, but there are certain effects that have the "wow" factor. I'll reserve my full judgment until I've played more, but chances are if you're interested in these types of games, you'll probably like it. If not, it's certainly not going to win you over.

The Sad Realization Of Being An Adult Gamer

As long as I'm living and physically capable, I will be a gamer. Unfortunately, we only have a limited amount of time here on this earth. Many of us choose to spend part of that time with games. They provide us an escape, help to relieve stress, and provide entertainment. The problem today? There are too many good games. As I look back on many of the games I've missed, I came to the sad realization: I will never be able to play every good game available. I may not even be able to play ever great game available. For someone who has a passion for games, this is a sad thought indeed.

Currently, I own PS3, Wii U, 3DS, Vita and a handful of legacy systems including the original NES, SNES, and Gamecube. I also have an iPhone, which of course supports a plethora of new and innovative titles as mobile gaming continues to grow. The PS4 and Xbox One also loom on the horizon. Perhaps I've inadvertently rebelled against my parents and the philosophy they instilled in me growing up: one console, one handheld. They never understood the point of having more than one console and although I can think of plenty of reasons they're wrong, I have to say I'm starting to appreciate the idea that less is more.

I recently started playing the game Demon's Souls for the first time. In case you aren't familiar, it's a game notoriously known for its extreme difficulty and unforgiving checkpoint system. It's a nod to old-school games from a time where save points and checkpoints didn't exist. Demon's Souls is a game you could easily obsess over thanks to its intricate weapon, magic, and faith system. Certain enemies have specific weaknesses you can exploit if you have the right weapon. You can sacrifice armor for a character with more quickness. In short, it's a game I would have spent hours playing whenever I was a kid. Back then, you had to make every game count. Now I'm older and control my own finances so it's easier to plan accordingly so I can purchase the games I want.

If you're a young gamer? Enjoy the heck out of the time you have to play any game you want. Even better if your job allows you to play games for a living. As for the rest of us, we'll have to consider all the factors for our future console purchases, the games we buy, and how much time we spend with a specific title.

Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure

Ahh...Zack and Wiki. I still fondly remember the look my wife gave me when I received this title one Christmas. Sadly, one of the best hardcore Wii games ever made suffered from a terrible name and a deceptively childish cover art. Judging this game by its cover alone would likely lead you to an assumption similar to my wife's reaction.  It looks like a cartoon about pirates. Certainly it's riddled with fetch quests, boring collectables, and snooze-inducing gameplay? This couldn't be further from the truth.

Zack and Wiki is certainly cartoonish in style, yet the core gameplay is designed solely for the thoughtful gamer. As a point-and-click adventure, you control Zack solely with the Wii remote (no nunhuck required). Each level is laid out entirely before you begin and you're tasked with reaching a lone treasure chest, which houses a piece of Barbaros himself.

Former IGN editors Matt Casamassina and Mark Bozon spoke of this title throughout its development. I know many gamers have those two to thank for giving Zack and Wiki the attention it deserved. Casamassina awarded the title with an outstanding score of 9.0/10 and posted the review with a simple tagline: "But it. Now."

Sadly, Zack and Wiki didn't sell well enough to warrant a sequel. Even so, it's never too late to go back and revisit such a classic. Here are just a few reasons IGN, myself, and others loved Zack and Wiki so much.

-Incredible puzzles
-Multiple ways to solve certain puzzles
-Excellent pacing w/ steady increase in difficulty
-Varied level design
-Beautiful cel-shading
-Replay value thanks to the high scores
-Solid controls that work well
-Appropriate gestures that almost always make sense

Not only did Zack and Wiki live up to my expectations, it won my wife over as well. She too was enamored by the clever puzzles. I'll never forget one particular glorious moment of realization when she helped solve a difficult puzzle just by shouting "snakes eat frogs!" If you somehow missed this title and are looking for something to enjoy on your old Wii (or new Wii U), pick it up on the cheap and enjoy an experience you and your whole family can enjoy.

Can The Xbox Event Sway Sony Fanboys?

In case you haven't heard, Microsoft will finally lift the curtain on their next generation system in a matter of hours. A fellow gamer asked me yesterday, "you excited about tomorrow?" Honestly? I'd completely forgotten about the event today. Full disclosure here: I've never owned a Microsoft console, yet I've owned seven between Nintendo and Sony. So as a self-proclaimed Sony Fanboy, is there anything at all Microsoft can show today that will win me over?

It certainly won't be easy as I've enjoyed my PS3 immensely and love what I've seen thus far about the PS4...but I'm entering today with an open mind. I've never been one to shy away from "jumping ship" across generations or even being a multi-console owner. Growing up, I could only purchase one system and it had to be an appropriately priced system. Now as an adult, my chief concern when I purchase a console is all about the games.

Rumors leading up to the Xbox event suggest Microsoft's "Project Durango" will likely focus more on being an entertainment box that happens to play games, rather than a gaming machine that also features useful applications. Such a move may actually propel Microsoft to the front of the pack this generation as they seek to expand the market and draw in more casual gamers.

On the surface (pardon the Microsoft pun), that strategy seems likely to yield enormous profits; however, I'm not so sure. Microsoft could be on the verge of alienating its core base: the gamer. It's crucial they never lose site of who made an Xbox 360 possible. Gamers made it possible, both through their support of the original Xbox and their early support of the 360.

To win over a Sony fanboy, Microsoft must show a focus on the gamer and the games. It's completely understandable to pursue other audiences by offering entertainment options, but the core focus should be about games. Here's a list I've put together on how Microsoft could win me over today and at least pique my interest in purchasing the next-generation Xbox.

1. Quality, New Exclusives- Regardless of which console you own, there's really no doubt that Sony dominated with exclusives this generation. Xbox had mega hits in both Gears of War and Halo, yet Sony offered a more diverse and unique range of titles such as Uncharted, Heavy Rain, Infamous, Journey, and of course, God of War. Gamers need to see a new commitment from Microsoft to focus on quality first-party titles. I'm not talking timed-exclusive Call of Duty DLC; there needs to be more. Now that Bungie has gone multi-platform, what will be the next Xbox's must-have title? A Gears of War game would certainly sell to the Xbox faithful, I don't know that it would do much to sway a dedicated PlayStation gamer. I need to see something refreshing, new, and innovative.
2. Powerful and Affordable- Again, early rumors suggest the Xbox will be underpowered in comparison to the PS4 as Microsoft seeks to create a more affordable console. Sony even surprised developers when they revealed the PS4 would come packed with 8GB of GDDR5 RAM. Many expected only 4GB and while rumors indicate the new Xbox will have 8GB of RAM as well, it seems Microsoft is sticking with the slower, but more common DDR3 RAM. I'm not saying it needs to out-power the PS4 in every aspect, but I do think it needs to be close enough that the difference is negligible.  
3. Free On-line- With the success of Xbox Live and its monthly fee, I find it highly unlikely Microsoft will make this a reality. That still doesn't mean it's the right decision. For years, fanboys argued the premium price resulted in a better experience over Sony's (free) PlayStation Network. Sure, the 360 had a great interface, but I could perform every single feature on the PS3...all for free. I already pay for an internet connection, I pay for the game, and I pay for a console...why should I be forced to pay again just to play that game online? If you're going to charge a monthly fee, there must be something more than just granting permission to play a game online. There must tangible extras that present a significant benefit, such as Sony's PlayStation Plus program, rather than just saying "it runs better."
4. More Open Xbox Live Arcade- Indie developers consistently cite Microsoft as the most difficult to deal with in terms of publishing an indie title. As we shift further toward an all-digital future, it's imperative Microsofts works to repair these relationships. The gap in quality between a digital release and a full-fledged retail release simply doesn't exist any more. Just scroll through a list of last year's Game of the Year announcements where you'll find Journey recognized as the overall game of the year by several outlets. 
5. Don't make it "always online"- Yet another incessant rumor leading up to today's event has been whether or not Microsoft will require an Internet connection for the next Xbox. Look, I have a reliable internet connection...so why do I have a problem with this? First, there are so many parts of the world that don't have access to the type of connection the next Xbox would require. On a more personal level, there are times I take my console away from home to visit with friends or family who don't have as strong a connection as I do at home, or don't even have a connection at all. Would these scenarios literally prevent me from playing a game on the Xbox? I can't imagine Microsoft would go down the route of making a console completely dependent on an internet connection. And let's face it, no matter how reliable your internet connection, it's always going to go down at some point. 

I can't wait to see what Microsoft has in store as it will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the games industry for the next decade. As for whether or not Microsoft can win over this Sony fanboy, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Why We Need A College Basketball Video Game

I ask that you forgive my lack of posting over the past couple of weeks. You see, I've been completely engrossed in the event known simply as March Madness. If you're a sports fan, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's arguably one of the greatest months in all of sports. You have stories of triumph and stories of pain. Cinderella stories and shocking upsets. What you don't have, is a college basketball video game.

After witnessing yet another incredible NCAA tournament, one in which my alma mater, the Louisville Cardinals, took home the trophy, I've realized the resurrection of an NCAA basketball video game is long overdue. There are a number of quality articles and blogs discussing the history of these games and why we no longer have them. 

To summarize, EA released NCAA Basketball '10 in 2009, which is the most recent collegiate basketball title you'll find (Baltimore Sun). Unfortunately, the games never sold all that well and both EA and 2K eventually decided to cancel them altogether. Just last year, 2K Sports even shut down the servers for College Hoops 2K8, which still had a significant number of users and an online community that constantly tweaked rosters to match their real-life counterparts (Kotaku). Publishers were also forced into strict NCAA licensing agreements, which are not only expensive, but also limit what can go into the game. 

Yep...I'm a proud alum.

So why should companies bring back a genre where they struggle to make money? First off, I fully believe the flaw is in the product, not the consumer. The 2013 NCAA Tournament scored its highest ratings in 19 years. The title game between Louisville and Michigan was up 2.5 million compared to 2012 (nydailynews). 

Maybe college fans just aren't into video games? Wrong. EA's NCAA Football '12 set a franchise record with 700,000 copies sold during its first two weeks on store shelves (USA Today). From these numbers, we can conclude America has a significant interest college basketball and that college games have no problem selling when marketed properly and designed with quality. Therefore, the question isn't why. The question is how to make the games better. 

1.) Gameplay- As with any video game, gameplay should be right at the top of the list. To be honest, none of the past NCAA basketball games were all that great. I would argue 2K came closest with their final entry. The game ran well, but paled in comparison to the vastly superior NBA 2K series. 

2.) Atmosphere- Aside from a solid game that runs well, atmosphere is the single most important thing for a college basketball game. Since 1998, EA Tiburon has frequently strived to improve this in their football games. A college basketball game would do the same. When you watch a basketball game, there are certain moments when fans known to cheer. A made basket when you're down 30 shouldn't really warrant the same type of crowd reaction as when you hit a 3-ball to take 1 point lead. The home crowd needs to let the ref know when there's a bad call. Rupp Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Allen Fieldhouse need to be absolutely deafening. Fans need to jeer at opposing players attempting game tying free throws. 

Has any college basketball game even come close?

3.) March Madness- This could almost be included alongside atmosphere, but any NCAA basketball game must have an incredible March Madness experience. Most of the games are competitive with a number being decided on last second shots (see Trey Burke against Kansas). There's heartbreak and defeat. Cinderella stories go on incredible runs (George Mason). Players (Luke Hancock) and coaches (Brad Stevens) become household names during March Madness. Oh and One Shining Moment MUST play at the conclusion of every NCAA tournament. 

4.) Robust Online Features- Unfortunately due to a number of NCAA regulations, it's illegal for video games to use a student athlete's name, and understandably so. Let's face the truth; it really isn't all that fun to play as "Guard #23" instead of your team's favorite player. In recent years, that's all changed thanks to the internet and the ability to customize players. Users can upload roster files after naming all the players on their favorite team. Those files can then be downloaded for use during an offline season. Any quality NCAA basketball game would need to support a number of these features. 

This list could certainly be longer than what I've listed here; however, nailing these four items would lay the groundwork for an incredible college basketball experience. It's a shame that one of our nation's greatest sports isn't captured in a video game. Nearly 3 1/2 years have passed without an NCAA basketball title; it's time to pull a Michael Jordan and come out of retirement. 

What Are The Best Games Of This Generation?

Does it make the cut?

A recent post on Neogaf got me thinking about my favorite games from this generation. I was surprised at how difficult it turned out to be. I struggled to narrow my extensive list of quality titles down to five. I'm still not sure I'm completely happy with my list.

The problem? I left off a number of games I played for days. What is the best way to determine a top 5 list? 

The main problem is this: I can distinguish between games/movies I love and games/movies that are expertly crafted/well-made. They don't always have to be mutually exclusive, yet sometimes they are. Let's look at the original Pirates of the Caribbean. I absolutely love watching that movie. I could watch it many times and still enjoy it. With that being said, I'm fully able to recognize that it's not the greatest movie ever made. It's not even the greatest movie I've ever seen, personally. But how does one weight enjoyment v.s. quality?

Oscar worthy? No. Great popcorn flick? Absolutely.

So we are left to decide how best to rank games. I've come to believe top games should be both fun and well-made. The difficulty arises when you have a game you played far more than any others, but it may not be the most polished game out there. There are two games I spent more hours playing this generation than any other: Skyrim and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.

If reviewing those games though, they would not be at the top of my list. Both have their own set of technical issues and shortcomings; however, the fun factor was enough to keep me playing for hours on end. When it comes time to rank my favorite games, do I go by play time or how I would review each game? I ended up asking myself this question: if you could only have played 5 games from this generation, what would they be?

Couldn't have a top 5 list without it.

With this new qualifier, Skyrim, Journey, and Heavy Rain earn immediate spots. The latter two made me feel certain emotions I never have before while playing a video game. Heavy Rain will stick with me forever because of the choices I made to impact the story, whereas I'll never forget Journey because of the almost-spiritual experience it evokes. Skyrim earns its immediate spot because no game has ever pulled me into its world more. Within a few hours of starting the game, I wanted to go everywhere and explore as much as possible. 

After that, it gets more tricky. I'm still leaving off a number of incredibly fun games and a wide selection of polished games as well. One spot is almost assuredly going to Infamous 2 or Batman Arkham City. I platinumed both titles and enjoyed every minute of each.

The final spot? I'm still left with the entire Uncharted series, Red Dead Redemption, the Mass Effect series, Portal 2, Far Cry 3, Dishonored, the Call of Duty series and Super Mario Galaxy. Wow. That's no easy task. I can't imagine having missed any of those games this past generation. I'm narrowing it down to Uncharted 2, Red Dead Redemption, and Mass Effect 2 because they each had polish, amazing stories, and incredible gameplay. Truth be told, you can't go wrong with any of them, but I will have to say Uncharted 2 by an ever so slight margin. 

Takes the final spot in my top 5.

I'll leave you with my top 10 here (just because I have to give these other games recognition somehow). 

1. Journey
2. Skyrim
3. Batman Arkham City
4. Heavy Rain
5. Uncharted 2
6. Mass Effect 2
7. Red Dead Redemption
8. Infamous 2
9. Portal 2
10. Modern Warfare 2

What are your favorite games from this generation? Is it as hard for you as it was for me? 

Everyone Should Play Far Cry 3

The weekend is finally here and you know what that means...time for some hardcore gaming! I've been progressing through Far Cry 3 and hope to beat it this weekend. The game is fantastic and I regret not playing it sooner.

It's really not important to have played a Far Cry game before. This entry is its own story - and what a story it is. In fact, the game combines an incredible story with an open world not unlike that of Skyrim...with guns instead of swords and sharks, tigers, and komodo dragons instead of - well, regular dragons. Yes, this is is a game with komodo dragons. Yes, they'll attack you. Oh, and the game runs much better than Skyrim in terms of framerate.

I've always had a fascination with sharks and komodo dragons. They are two of nature's most fearsome predators. By fascination, I mean I'm terrified of them. I've yet to be attacked by a shark (in the game) and hope I can avoid it entirely (both in-game and in real life). As far as I have found, there's really no way to attack while underwater, which means you're incredibly vulnerable. At one point in the game, I needed sharkskin to craft a new item. I shot at the sharks from outside the water and then quickly dove in for the pelts. Luckily, no other sharks approached before I could return to the surface. I also had an untimely death at the hands of a crocodile that resulted in me throwing my controller and screaming like a little girl. My dog seemed rather annoyed that I woke her with my shout. My wife was also less than impressed.

In all seriousness, the game does a fantastic job of drawing you into the lush landscape of Bangkok. Each situation feels unique and what I love is how you can go about a mission in entirely different ways. You can be stealth or you can go in aggressively with your guns. But let's be honest, there's really nothing unique or innovative about offering you basic, cookie-cutter stealth and aggressive options. Fortunately, Far Cry 3 offers you hundreds of possibilities.

Get out of the way and watch the ensuing carnage. 

With Far Cry 3, your decisions are multilayered and you have a number of ways to be stealth or aggressive. For example, if you spot a caged animal right in the middle of an outpost, you can shoot off the door and watch from afar as a bear or leopard wreaks havoc on the enemy. Maybe you prefer a more aggressive approach, in which, one of my favorite options relies on the use of a vehicle. Depending on the outpost's layout, you may be able to take out everyone with your vehicle. If you want to be a little more creative, you can race straight for an outpost and allow the enemy to fire at your vehicle and eventually it will start smoking. Once you see the flames, you can bail out of what is now a very large explosion waiting to happen. If you time it just right, the vehicle will explode and take out a number of enemies.

This really just scratches the surface, but hopefully it's enough to whet your appetite. If you haven't already played Far Cry 3, I would highly recommend it. There's a ton to do, the story is engaging, and the gameplay is fantastic. I may also try and squeeze in some time with Link to the Past this weekend as well. How about you? What is everyone else playing this weekend?

Throwback Thursday: Revisiting The NES And SNES

Confession #1: I never owned a Super Nintendo (SNES) growing up. For whatever reason, I owned a Sega Genesis instead. As I've grown older, I realized the number of incredible titles I missed and I've made an effort to play as many as I can. Lucky for me, my high-school girlfriend (and now my wife) owned one of the greatest gaming systems of all-time. She also had a decent collection of games to go with it.

Confession #2: I've never beaten The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. I've played it on a few different occasions, but never all the way through. Coincidentally, I've recently discovered Neogaf's buy/sell/trade thread, which is an excellent place to find old-school games for a respectable price. So whenever I came across a copy of Link to the Past for $20, I had to pull the trigger.

The first thing to strike me is how beautiful the game still looks. It's really amazing how the SNES has aged so well. Original Nintendo titles don't hold up nearly as well as the 16-bit SNES generation. The colors in Link to the Past really pop and the art style is exactly what we've come to expect from the Zelda series. I'm still very early in the game, but I hope to make Throwback Thursdays a recurring segment here on Retro Raconteur. Perhaps I will revisit my experience with Link to the Past in the coming months.

Still looks beautiful today.

I've also unearthed an original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) that belongs to my brother-in-law. Regrettably, I sold my system long ago. His system also came with a wide array of titles and he even had many of the original boxes. Upon finding these two legacy systems, I'm getting an itch to start collecting old systems and games. I'm already off to a good start with the aforementioned SNES and NES.

It really is amazing to look back on the history of gaming to see how the industry has changed. Even still, you can also see how much has stayed the same. Nintendo has taken Mario, Metroid, and Zelda from 2d to 3d, they've added new control schemes, new weapons, and new worlds to explore, yet that core experience of each title is rock solid. It's part of the reason Nintendo's titles still resonate with so many gamers across the globe.

PlayStation 4 Now Official, Releasing This Year

The PlayStation 4 is official and it's coming this year. If you're reading this blog, you undoubtedly knew this already as Sony formally unveiled the console this week. Actually...they didn't unveil it all! Although we saw games, tech demos, and the controller, we never saw the console itself. Earlier in the week, I posted a few recommendations for Sony on how they could have the best showing possible. Let's see if they earned a passing grade.

1.) Save Something For E3

Pass.

Sony definitely kept a number of details under wraps. While we know the console is set to release "Holiday 2013," we don't have a firm date. The company made no mention of price, other than to say it would be "affordable." What company doesn't say this? Still, let's hope they learned from the PS3's launch and manage to release the console for $399 or less.

And of course, we're all itching to know what the system itself actually looks like. It's a little pointless if you think about it. The console's shell serves no other purpose than to house the internals (which are incredible by the way). Even so, there's just something about a nice, sleek design sitting next to your television. We're almost assured to see the system at this year's E3.

2.) Show The Console And Show The Controller

Fail/Pass.

As mentioned above, we didn't get to see the console. Sony President of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida told The Guardian, "Our focus here was to show some games and talk about the key principles - we wanted to save the unveiling of the actual console."

After the fact, I'm actually glad they didn't revel both. It definitely leaves us wanting more as we begin the wait for this summer's E3. After all, can we really complain considering they revealed a near-final version of...

...the dualshock 4! The leaks were mostly accurate; however, this version looks more polished overall. The new controller features a touchpad (similar to the Vita's backtouch), as well as new L1/L2/R1/R2 shoulder buttons, a share button, and semi-concave thumbsticks. The controller also appears more ergonomically pleasing than the dualshock 3. The company proved they care about fan response by making revisions to the thumbsticks and the triggers, two of the more popular criticisms regarding the dualshock 3.

3.) Show Real Gameplay

Pass!

I'm really happy about this one. We have to be at least nine months from release so I had reservations they'd actually show gameplay. We saw live demos of Killzone: Shadow Fall, a new title called Knack, and Watch_Dogs from Ubisoft. As expected, Killzone looks absolutely amazing and Watch_Dogs continues to impress.

4.) So Why Do I Need A New Console?

Incomplete.

I say incomplete not because Sony did a poor job of illustrating the need for a new console, but because the presentation was mostly packed with goals, ideas, and lofty expectations. We've yet to see if they'll actually deliver on cloud gaming for every generation through Gaikai (one of my previous predictions), remote play with the Vita on every PS4 game, how the new social features will work, and more.

Overall Grade? Pass

For this type of event so far in advance, Sony really hit it out of the park. We saw gameplay. We saw the new controller. We saw innovative ideas. We saw concepts. We even got a few surprises with Bungie showing Destiny and Blizzard announcing Diablo III for both PS3 and PS4.

I look forward to the news that will no doubt trickle out over the coming months leading up to E3. I'm also curious to see how Microsoft responds. Sony fired the first shot of the new console war and they definitely made it count.

What Are Your Favorite PlayStation Memories?

A new trend has taken Twitter by storm: #PlayStationMemory. Sony's incredible marketing campaign for today's PlayStation Meeting certainly isn't sputtering at the finish line. In fact, it's been just the opposite. Although I have no idea who started the trend, #PlayStationMemory is officially dominating Twitter. Here are a few memories posted thus far:

@jeffrubenstein: Trading in my SNES, Game Boy, & every game I owned for a PS1, Twisted Metal, & RE in 1996 #PlayStationMemory

@JimSterling: That PSOne demo with the T-Rek and the Whale. Also that puzzle game demo that ranked your IQ at the end. #PlayStationMemory

@GameOverGreggy: Waiting 9 hours in line to buy the @PlayStation 2 #PlayStationMemory

This got me thinking about my fondest PlayStation memories and I quickly realized they are rather unique. First of all, I got a PlayStation because of school. Yep. You read that correctly. School!

A company called lightspan adventures designed a series of educational games around the character known as Mars Moose. My father, a superintendent of schools at the time, realized the potential of this. He actually implemented a program where certain classrooms had a PlayStation to play these educational games. We also had a close friend who worked at lightspan. She gave us the games and voila! My parents bought me a PlayStation.

In terms of "real" games, there are two games I remember most fondly: Twisted Metal 2 (TM2) and Final Fantasy VII (FFVII). My friends and I played TM2 for hours on end. This was the go-to game at all our sleepovers. We'd play multiplayer death match, but we spent most of our time on the co-op campaign mode. Even my younger sister enjoyed playing TM2.

Having FFVII on a list of PlayStation Memories is an absolute must. You probably already know how great the game is so I won't even go there. Instead, I'd like to share a specific story. I was in the 6th grade when I played FFVII for the first time. A certain 8th grade girl wanted to come over to my house to "visit my sister" (man how naive you can be in the 6th grade!). Well, she arrived...and I was playing FFVII. And I continued to play FFVII. She came into my room several times and I literally didn't budge. "Hey. What's up? Oh, my sister is in the other room." And I just kept on playing. Talk about playing "hard to get" long before I'd even heard the phrase "hard to get."

I could go on for quite some time about my favorite PlayStation memories. I remember the first time I saw Madden on PS2 and my jaw hit the floor. The helmets! The grass! You can even see their breath in the cold weather! Buying a PS3 and only planning to use it for a blu-ray player. My first platinum trophy. Aye, such great memories.

As I've blogged on a few different occasions, Sony has an incredible opportunity before them tonight. They've hyped the PlayStation base better than any company I've seen in a long time. None of it will matter if they don't deliver on this evening's event.

So...get your popcorn, pull up a chair, and find one of the 1,348 websites streaming the event (that's an exaggeration) in 9 different languages (that part is actually true) and enjoy hearing about the PS4! I'm confident we're about to have another amazing #PlayStationMemory.

AltEgo Announces New League of Legends App

Actually have a bit of news for you guys with this update and it comes via AltEgo. Today, AltEgo announced a new League of Legends (LoL) application for the Android Operating System (OS). The free application, Champion Select, allows users to share in-game accomplishments via popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

"It's nice to be able to brag about winning a game of LoL to your friends on Facebook and Twitter, especially when you're such a new player," said JP of Electronic Arts.

Champion Select also allows players to create customized posters featuring a user’s team and stats, providing LoL players with a more enriched experience. Further development is expected, which will offer users even more personalization of their posters. The application brings LoL to social media by  giving players not only the ability to brag, but to also show their friends what they've been doing in-game. Users also have the ability to quickly view different skins for all of the champions. 

"We play LoL a lot, and are always posting our victories. We thought that this would be a much more fun way to do it. These posters allow you to get across messages that go further than just a screenshot," said Seth Gerson, CEO of AltEgo.

The application allows players to actually view a champion’s skin, which gives an idea of how it will appear in-game. Although its currently in beta, this app is already showing quite an opportunity for growth. 

Champion Select is currently available only on Android. It can be downloaded for free from Google Play and requires Android OS 2.2 or higher. 

For more information, feel free to contact Morgan J. East, Community Manager of AltEgo, at morgan@altego.com.