Video games have been one of the most important things in my life since my first experiences with them. Growing up with three older brothers blessed me with the opportunity to experience many games and many amazing games.
I primarily grew up with two consoles for most of my childhood – the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation 2. I have played many different consoles and handhelds, but these two consoles are what really grew my love for video games. It’s difficult to imagine my life without video games - then again, I really don’t want to because that is a terrifying thought. Video games have taught me to appreciate art and the hard work that goes into the arts of video games, movies, and so on. A top 5 for anything can be difficult, but a top 5 for video games? Come on, that’s not an easy task to undertake. These are my 5 favorite video games of all time.
5. The Last of Us- I understand that this game was released last year, but this is the greatest video game I have ever played. Greatest in quality, though it is not my favorite. Very few games have caused me to feel the emotions that The Last of Us has caused me to feel. I felt accomplishment, sadness, joy and many other emotions while playing this game. The world in The Last of Us was so deep and full of content. The story was gripping and unprecedented, the characters were deep and realistic. I never felt so attached to a game. The scene where Joel and Ellie encountered the giraffes made me cry because it was such a beautiful, subtle scene. I hope there is another game that will make me feel the emotions I felt with The Last of Us.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time- Ocarina of Time was the first game I can remember completing as a child. The world of Hyrule was so unique. This game was the first game to make me feel a sense of adventure. The dungeons were full of mystery, the open fields incentivized me to explore and the towns were full of life. Playing the remake on the Nintendo 3DS brought back so many amazing memories. Ocarina of Time is not only one of my favorite games ever; it’s my favorite game in one of my favorite video game series, The Legend of Zelda.
3. Diablo 2- Diablo 2 is the most addicting game I’ve ever played. I first played this masterpiece in 2002; I stopped playing in 2011. I could talk about Diablo 2 for the rest of my life. I had everything valuable in the game. I did well over 5,000 Baal and Chaos runs, had perfect gear and I still wanted more. The loot system was innovative, the dueling system was great and trading with other players was addicting. I had every possible character and they all were fully geared. Diablo 2, for me, is a masterpiece.
2. Persona 4- Persona 4 is one of the greatest role-playing games I have ever had the pleasure to experience. High school was fun for me, but Persona 4 made high school incredible. The characters were so deep and close to each other. I loved attending after school clubs, hanging out with the characters and experiencing the world of Inaba. The combat in the game was fun, though the story and characters were more important. Persona 4 is one of those games I did not want to stop playing. If I could have one more month of school and social gatherings, Persona 4 would be much better than it already is. A game has never made me feel so connected to a group of characters and a world. Persona 4 is one reason why I want to own a PlayStation Vita.
1. Final Fantasy 10- One short paragraph does not justify how much I love Final Fantasy 10 and how much this game means to me. Like Diablo 2, I have played this game for well over five years. I have gotten max stats, every ultimate weapon and I have beaten every enemy available in the game. I remember trying to defeat a boss with my brothers and this battle was impossible. No matter how many times we tried we could not succeed. One year later I picked up the game again and defeated the boss that I could not defeat with my brothers and never looked back. The HD remaster is the biggest reason why I’m buying a PlayStation Vita again. I have walked into video game stores and did not leave for an hour because I talked about Final Fantasy 10 the whole time. It is simply my favorite game of all time.
These five games have shaped me as a gamer and have taught me to appreciate beauty. Video games are the reason I want to be a journalist – to talk and write about video games. What are your favorite video games? Share your thoughts and we can talk about games!
