Classic Obsessions: Vol. 2

Sequel to this article. ENJOY THEM BOTH!



Some games never get old, no matter how many times you play them and no matter how long ago they were released. Very few games can stand this harsh test of time, but those that do become some of the greatest pieces of software in history. Here are a few games I just can't get enough of.

Tetris

Originally created by Alexey Pajitnov back in 1985, Tetris has since evolved to be the most widespread of all puzzle games. Having been released on almost every game console ever made, you'd be hard pressed to find even one person who has not played this gem of a puzzler.

Tetris is one of those games that's simple to understand, but incredibly difficult to master. The premise is basic: Simply place blocks (Or "Tetriminoes") in a solid horizontal row to destroy the line, earning points. Every tenth line destroyed gets you to the next level of the game, causing the pieces to fall even faster than before. If the stack of Tetriminoes reaches the top of the screen, rendering you unable to proceed, the game ends. Again, simple to understand, incredibly difficult to master!

Recently I've been playing Tetris on one of my two original Game Boys, and I just can't get enough of it! Left, right, rotate, drop, rotate, rotate, drop, right, right, drop... It's all so hypnotically engrossing! If I were better at it, I could play for hours on end. As it stands now, I still have yet to pass level 4... Oh well, guess I'd better practice some more!

Super Mario Bros.

What can be said about this game that hasn't already been said many times before? It's simply a brilliant piece of gaming history, and undoubtedly the greatest cartridge ever released for the NES.

The simplicity of it all only adds to it's charm. Jump, run, duck, power-up, run, fire! I love it all so much! It's definitely worth the two and a half hours of smacking, blowing and praying needed to get the ol' NES up and running! The Virtual Console works, too, but it can't beat the feeling of firing up that grand old 8-bit console of yore!

No more words are needed here.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Really, is there any question? This is undoubtedly one of the best games I have ever played. Heck, it very well might be THE best game I have ever played!

Ocarina of Time successfully brought the Zelda franchise into the three-dimensional realm. It completely enhanced all that made the previous Zelda games great by such a large degree, it's widely considered to be the greatest game of all time. Not only does it hold that honour, I truly believe this game to be one of the most timeless adventures ever created. I've played it so many times, much of the game has been etched into my mind permanently! I still remember how to get through the Lost Woods, how to avoid the Hyrule guards, and how to play nearly every song on the ocarina!

Starting off as an unpopular, unloved village child and becoming the greatest hero in history is the greatest success story ever written! The Hero of Time's exploits echo throughout the ages, and have been referenced in nearly every Zelda game since. Wind Waker, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, all of them make reference in at least one way to the greatness of the Hero of Time.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time is a game that I could literally play over and over, end to end, uninterrupted, for hours upon hours!

So those are three more games I just can't ever play enough times! What games do you find yourself constantly revisiting, no matter how many times you've played it?

The Duck Has Spoken.

Classic obsessions

The Mario Strikers Charged review will most likely be up tomorrow. I may push it back to Friday if I don't get enough play time by tomorrow night, but you guys will have the review by the end of the week for sure. For now, here's a totally different article!



Some games just never get old, no matter how many times you play them or how many years they've been available for. Like a good book, some games just draw you back in again and again, to re-experience gripping tales, epic adventures or zany antics. Here are a few games that have had such an effect on me. (NOTE: For it to be considered a "classic", it must have been released on a system prior to the PS2/GCN/XBox/DC generation)

Dr. Mario

One of the first games I've ever played in my whole life, Dr. Mario sticks in my mind for many reasons. Beyond nostalgia, the greatest factor in this game's staying power is how amazingly fun it is! Many people look down on Dr. Mario as it's simpler and easier than, say, Tetris or Puzzle League. While I appreciate all of these franchises, there's just some sort of hidden charm in Dr. Mario that draws me to it. Whether it's the excitement at barely passing a stage or the frustration of messing up a game-winning combo, there's just some sort of unknown feeling that overcomes me when working with the good doctor. I often work for upwards of half an hour trying to fire up my old NES, just to cram in a few scant minutes of germ-busting mayhem! However, since it seems my Dr. Mario cartridge is no longer functional, I'll have to wait for some other alternative to come along *Cough* Virtual Console *Cough*.

Pokémon Snap

Of all the spin-off Pokémon games released so far, I must say that Snap is my favorite. While it sounds like a really stupid premise on the surface (Taking pictures of Pokémon? WTF, mate?), when you really get into it you find there's a lot more then simply aiming and snapping. You have to take into account what the Pokémon's doing, how much of the frame it takes up, which ways it's facing, and more. Getting the perfect pic is nearly impossible, and it's that lofty goal that keeps me coming back for more! Also, the game's just plain fun, with puzzles and secrets around nearly every bend. If you ever see this sitting in a flea market, buy it. It rocks, and I'm almost sure you'd agree, too.

Roller Coaster Tycoon

"Oh noes, a NON-Nintendo game on a top ten classics list written by PsychoDuck? It can't be!" Oh, but it is. Roller Coaster Tycoon is possibly the greatest PC game I've ever played, and is definitely in my top 50 overall. Building things and watching people move through it has always been a fascination of mine, from The Sims to Sim City to plain old ant farms. Add in the creativity-pushing roller coaster building modes, and you pretty much have everything I love all in one game! I think the only thing debatable here is whether it's Roller Coaster Tycoon or RollerCoaster Tycoon...

What are some classic games you just can't seem to put down?

The Duck Has Spoken.