Nintendo NX: What Is It and Why Should I Care?

I thought I'd take a little break from making lists and write an actual article for once. As you've probably heard, Nintendo has announced the development of what is most likely their next home console, currently code named the "Nintendo NX". If you haven't heard anything about it yet, then here are a few articles to catch you up to speed:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/25/nintendos-nx-will-surprise-players-and-change-video-gaming-life-iwaya-says

http://kotaku.com/what-to-expect-nintendos-new-hardware-a-surprise-prob-1693052456

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/25/nintendo-nx-expanding-on-existing-hardware-is-dull-5119620/

So, what exactly is the Nintendo NX?

No one knows, honestly. Well, Nintendo knows, but no regular civilian knows unless they have some super secret connection to Nintendo. So really, to 99.9% of the population, Nintendo NX is a mystery. It could be the next Nintendo home game console, the next Nintendo portable gaming system, a bybrid of the two, or even something completely different. My guess is as good as anyone else's. All we know at this point is that the NX will offer "new experiences", as quoted by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. 

What could the Nintendo NX be?

Like I said, it could be almost anything at this point, but I've ventured into a few guesses, ones that I think are pretty likely.

Possibility 1:

Nintendo NX is simply Wii U's successor. 

Easily the most obvious choice and perhaps the least exciting, but makes the most sense. NX will likely only be used as a tentative name (much like Project Reality for N64, Dolphin for GCN, Revolution for Wii, and Project Cafe for Wii U) but there's also the chance that the Nintendo NX will be official title too. Remember how so many thought the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii U were only going to be code names? So if Nintendo NX is, in fact, the next home console that succeeds Wii U, what new experiences will it offer? We already have motion controls and touch screens, so what's next? Virtual reality? Mind control technology? I really have no idea. Let's just hope the new idea isn't so out there that it alienates the masses.

Iwata did mention how they're working on a new rewards program and how data would be shared between platforms, so perhaps their new idea is just to have cross platform saves in the way that the PS3, PS4, and PS Vita have. It's unlikely that that would be the big feature to sell the system since that technology is already out there and is being done right now by the aforementioned Sony platformers, however this is something that would be new to Nintendo, so there's that also.

One more possibility of a new feature is the introduction of streaming games, which is also technology that has already been introduced with PlayStation Now, but it would be new for Nintendo consoles. Whatever the new idea is to sell the NX has to be enough to distinguish itself between PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Wii U, or whatever other consoles exist by then. One thing's for sure, Nintendo is sticking to their guns by continuing to separate themselves from the PS4/XboxOne crowd, which I applaud them for, but I just wish they'd go back to making a more traditional console like the Gamecube and prior consoles. One thing that we do know, however, is that the NX will continue the trend of being a dedicated gaming platform, rather than an all-in-one device like an iPad or SmartPhone.

Possibility 2:

Nintendo NX is the 3DS's successor.

This is the other obvious choice. It's no secret that the 3DS is now 4 years old, which is a little more than middle aged for a gaming console or handheld, so history has shown us that 5 or 6 years is the average lifespan of a console or handheld, so it's to be expected that a new one will be announced at some point in the last year or two of any given console or handheld's life. I personally feel the NX being the next gaming handheld makes more sense since the 3DS is older than the Wii U by nearly two years and will most likely be replaced sooner than the Wii U.

I think the same ideas about what the NX might offer would remain the same here as if it were a console. We currently have no concrete idea what the NX's features will be, so whether it's a home console or a handheld (or something entirely different) we do know that it will give us something that will separate it from the crowd.

Possibility 3:

Nintendo NX will be a console/handheld hybrid.

Though a bit less likely than the other two choices, this might be the smartest move so far. And for those who have followed Nintendo closely throughout the last few years might even remember something called the "Nintendo Fusion" pop up at some point. For the unaware, here are a few articles that make for an interesting read:

http://nintendonews.com/2014/01/nintendo-fusion-could-be-nintendos-next-gen-hardware-name/

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/consoles/nintendo-fusion-domain-rocks-the-internet-with-new-console-rumors-1217821

If you'd rather not read the articles and simply have no idea about the Fusion, basically it comes down to this: There was a rumor about 1 and a half to 2 years ago that Nintendo was working on their next console which people have code named the "Fusion" (I have no idea if that was Nintendo's code name or the name fans gave it.). The rumored "Fusion" was a console/handheld hybrid. Basically a portable Wii U gamepad (or a 3DS that hooks up to a TV, if you prefer). I think this would be both an interesting and smart move if this turns out to be what the NX really is. Also, we would know exactly what the new feature would be - a console that can be played on the go as well as on an HDTV. In sense, we're kind of halfway there already with the Wii U, a console with games that can be played on the separate screen of the gamepad, which is a neat feature, and even useful at times, but unfortunately the gamepad doesn't turn into a true portable since you can't take it with you. In fact it doesn't even work if you go into another room separate from the Wii U itself. But it does give you the option of playing a console game on a smaller, but separate screen while your wife/husband/kids watch TV or play s different game console. If the NX follows this trend, we could be seeing an evolution of the Wii U, where the gamepad is actually portable and can be taken with you on the go.

Possibility 4:

Nintendo NX is something completely different.

There's always the possibility that the NX will introduce something so completely different and new that it can't be compared to any existing console, handheld, or even any idea that we have in our minds, though it is highly unlikely. If the NX is unlike anything we've seen before, what could it possibly be? I can't even conjure up any ideas for this possibility, but let's take a look at one very ill-fated "completely new idea", the Virtual Boy. When the Virtual Boy was introduced in 1995, it was unlike anything we've seen before. It wasn't quite a handheld and not quite a console, though it was still a dedicated gaming platform and did offer something that was new to the gaming scene - 3D images. Now, Nintendo has already re-introduced 3D with the 3DS, so clearly that technology isn't going to be the big feature, but it could be something similar to that. Something that isn't defined simply by the "next handheld", the "next console", or even as a "hybrid of handheld and console". The NX could be something totally new, that we've either never seen before or at least something we haven't seen to any significant extent.

As I've said, this is the least likely scenario, but possibly the most exciting, if they do go this direction. A brand new concept for a gaming platform could go either way: it could completely flop like the poor Virtual Boy, or it could become the best thing since sliced bread like the Nintendo DS, which was also considered a brand new concept at the time of its unveiling. It's all really up in the air right now and we can't do anything about it until Nintendo announces more concrete information.

Why should I care about the Nintendo NX?

Truth be told, I'm not all that excited about the announcement of the NX but I am curious. I think the days where I would obsessively gather information about the next Nintendo gaming system are over, since I am getting older, have less time for new games, and barely play the new games that I have now. So, chances are pretty high that I won't even be getting the Nintendo NX at all. But that doesn't mean I won't pay attention to it (or any other future Nintendo product for that matter). I'm still a huge Nintendo fan, even if I don't play a lot of their new games, and I'll likely continue to be a Nintendo fan until the day I die. My heart will always belong to the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and GameCube, so no matter what new console or handheld Nintendo puts out, it won't match up to those three in my eyes. But like I said, while I really don't know if I'll invest in the NX when it comes out, regardless of what the final product is, I do plan on keeping myself up to date on the progress. I am certainly curious, if nothing else, about what the NX might be. I think it's the mystery of it that draw me in more than anything. I know that the mystery of the GameCube, Wii, and Wii U prior to their official unveilings kept me interested at the very least. The same could be said about the NX, though I did get each of Nintendo's last 3 consoles within a month of its launch date, something that's close to a 0% chance of happening with the NX. So my current attitude remains curiously optimistic but not obsessed or overly excited.

My Top 100 Games of All Time: The Epilogue

I started my Top 100 Games list back in December from about a list of 300 or so, and eventually whittled it down little by little. Eventually I narrowed it down to 100, but the order kept shifting. Just two weeks ago I got to a point where I was satisfied in the 100 games represented as my absolute favorites. It wasn't easy but it's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. Looking at my list now that it's behind me, I can say I've learned a bit about myself as both a person and a gamer.

I'm happy I got around to doing this project. I've compiled a list of statistics for myself and for others to just to look at the list by the numbers. Some of it was expected while other aspects I found kind of surprising. Let's take a look at each category individually and see what I've learned from each one.

Games by Console

1. Super Nintendo - 23

2. Nintendo 64 - 11

2. Nintendo Gamecube - 11

3. Nintendo Game Boy Advance - 9

4. Nintendo Entertainment System - 8

5. Sony Playstation - 6

6. Sony Playstation 2 - 5

6. Sony Playstation 3 - 5

6. Nintendo 3DS - 5

7. Nintendo DS - 4

8. Sega Genesis - 3

8. Nintendo Wii - 3

8. Nintendo Wii U - 3

9. Nintendo Game Boy - 2

10. Microsoft Xbox - 1

I think it's pretty clear what this list indicates. Super Nintendo is the clear winner here. Looks like I need to reassess my "ranking the consoles" list. Despite having listed Gamecube as my favorite console in that post, I somehow figured Super Nintendo would win in the quantity department, but I had no idea how significant of  a portion it would hold. Super Nintendo took almost a quarter of my entire Top 100 list. Even Nintendo 64 and Gamecube combined doesn't equal the quantity of favorite titles for Super Nintendo. So, as you can see, Super Nintendo dominates the Top 100 list. I'm not surprised that it won, but it wasn't even a close race. Long live Super Nintendo!

Games by Genre

1. Platformers - 33

2. RPGs - 22

3. Action - 19

4. Puzzle - 7

5. Racing - 6

6. FPS - 3

6. Miscellaneous - 3

7. Adventure - 2

7. Strategy - 2

8. Fighting - 1

8. Sports - 1

Yet again I am a bit surprised just how much one genre dominated the rest, but I am not surprised by the winner. I think it's pretty clear to see that platformers and RPGs make up more than half one my entire top 100 list. Some games it was difficult to decipher between platform and action, for instance Metroid and Mega Man are kind of both, but I went with action for those, whereas other things like Mario and Donkey Kong Country are closer to being plaformers. I think the big thing about platformers winning is that it's mostly what I grew up on. As time went on I delve into other genres, beginning with racing games and RPGs, then slowly into action and puzzle as well. I think platformers have that pick up and play appeal as well as just being infinitely replayable. I love RPGs but they're more dedicated and time consuming than platformers which is why the genre is only second to platformers.

Most Popular Years

1. 2001 - 8

2. 2002 - 7

2. 1994 - 7

3. 1995 - 6

3. 1996 - 6

3. 1997 - 6

4. 1998 - 5

4. 2005 - 5

4. 2013 - 5

5. 1990 - 4

5. 2003 - 4

5. 2011 - 4

What I like most about dividing the games by year is that every year since 1987 had at least one game represent a year except 2007. You'll also notice that the years are actually pretty even, only one or two numbers apart for every few years. 2001 was indeed a fantastic year, as not only did we have Nintendo 64's swan songs Conker's Bad Fur Day and Paper Mario, but we had the beginning of Gamecube with Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin, and also Final Fantasy X on PS2. I think on a quality level, though, 1995 is the clear winner here. Nearly every game on the list that came out in 1995 is in the top 20, namely Earthbound, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country 2, and Chrono Trigger. Overall I'd say between the mid-90s and early 2000s was the peak of me as a gamer.

Stats by System

NES

Highest Rank - 28
Highest Ranked Game - Super Mario Bros. 2
Number of Games - 8

I think, overall, I was surprised to see so many NES games on here. NES is a system that I have had limited experience with, despite it being my first console ever. I grew up with the three Super Mario Bros. games, DuckTales, Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers, Bubble Bobble, and Little Nemo but other than that, the vast majority of NES games I didn't get to experience until I discovered emulation around the year 2000. For this reason, the NES is one of my lesser favorite Nintendo systems, but I still fully acknowledge its greatness and the legacy it created. I just wish I had a little more experience with it while growing up.

SNES

Highest Rank - 1

Highest Ranked Game - Earthbound

Number of Games - 23

The crown jewel of my collection, I made the mistake of giving up my SNES once before, but I will never make that mistake again. SNES, like NES, is a system I had limited experience with while growing up. I didn't even get my own console until 1995, which was pretty near the end of its life. That didn't stop me from seeking out all the gems the system had years later. I discovered a large portion of fantastic games through emulation and Wii's virtual console, but even games I didn't get to play until 10+ years after it released, I was able to fully enjoy. In my opinion, SNES has aged remarkably well and every SNES game on the list is every bit as fun today as it was 20 years ago, which is why I am officially branding SNES as my all-time favorite console.

N64

Highest Rank - 12

Highest Ranked Game - Conker's Bad Fur Day

Number of Games - 11

Unlike NES and SNES, I got to play nearly every N64 game during its relevancy. I only owned about 20 games for it, but I rented a new game at least every other week. Nintendo 64 is the system that turned gaming form a hobby into a passion, and for that I owe it a lot. Nintendo 64 unfortunately has aged very poorly in comparison to most other consoles. A lot of the games are still fun, however, such as Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, which are still every bit as fun today as they were in the 90s. Also unlike the NES and SNES, most of N64's appeal comes solely from nostalgia rather than the quality of its games.

GCN

Highest Rank - 5

Highest Ranked Game - Metroid Prime

Number of Games - 11

The Gamecube is often cited as a failure for Nintendo but I'm never sure why. The system had a ton of fantastic games and the ones I listed only scratch the surface. Gamecube has aged pretty well and most of its games are still fantastic today as they were 10-15 years ago. I still love the look and feel of the Gamecube system and controller, which I believe is the most attractive looking console to date. For a while I thought Gamecube was my favorite console since it absolutely has a very high quality library, but ultimately Super Nintendo beat it out by being a more timeless system.

Wii

Highest Rank - 19

Highest Ranked Game - Kirby's Epic Yarn

Number of Games - 3

I know I've said it dozens of times but Wii really was a huge disappointment to me. Sure it had virtual console, but that was the system's biggest appeal to me - the ability to play old games. I hated motion controls with a passion and few games have really convinced me that they were beneficial to the gameplay and not just a hindrance. Wii games were at their best when they went old school and just used the controller sideways like an NES controller. Kirby's Epic Yarn would've been a system seller for me had I not already owned a Wii years prior. The game is incredibly creative and charming, and Donkey Kong Country Returns was also a must-have. Other big games like Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Punch-Out!!, Super Paper Mario, and the two Mario Galaxies were all good games, but didn't have that lasting appeal that most other Nintendo games had. In the end, Wii will ultimately become a footnote in my book of gaming and will only be remembered as a severely underwhelming and gimmicky piece of hardware.

Wii U

Highest Rank - 48

Highest Ranked Game - Mario Kart 8

Number of Games - 3

It's a bit unfair to really judge Wii U since it's only been out 2+ years and hasn't really reached its peak yet. I feel, without a doubt, by the end of its life there will be at least 2 or 3 more games that would make its way into my top 100. Until then, Wii U is just a great system with a small but decent library. It's kind of unfortunate this system didn't come out in 2006 rather than the original Wii since I'm now at the point where I don't care about new consoles and as such I tend to neglect the Wii U. Chances are extremely high that Wii U will be the last new system I own, and I try to divide time between old and new consoles, but ultimately. the Wii U is too little too late. Like I said, it's a great system, much better than the disappointment that was Wii, but I just think I'm no longer part of its target audience.

GB

Highest Rank - 26

Highest Ranked Game - Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Number of Games - 2

Once again, just like NES and SNES, my experience with this handheld is extremely limited growing up. I'm only getting to play many games for it thanks to 3DS's virtual console. I only had Kirby's Dream Land, Tetris, and Pokemon Red growing up.  I didn't even get Link's Awakening until the Game Boy Color version came out though I did originally play the Game Boy version since it came with my sister's Game Boy. Game Boy was a great handheld if only because it was able to host games that were almost as big and fun as the NES. Sure Super Mario Land was no Super Mario Bros but it was something. I didn't truly get into handheld systems until the Game Boy Advance, and in many ways I never really stuck with handhelds, but the original Game Boy, despite having limited hardware and only being in black and white, had some really great games.

GBA

Highest Rank - 15

Highest Ranked Game - Mother 3

Number of Games - 9

The Game Boy Advance was the first handheld I truly got into and is still my favorite portable. It was almost like having a portable Super Nintendo, though not quite a good replacement as I have recently found out. GBA was full of ports and every port was not as good as the original. Still, it had a lot of original games as well and it was a real quality portable, especially the GBA SP which (finally) introduced a built-in light for a Nintendo handheld. Many of its games are still fun today but the small screen size is sort of a hindrance since I am so used to the large screen of the 3DS XL.

DS

Highest Rank - 62

Highest Ranked Game - Kirby: Mass Attack

Number of Games: 4

The DS is kind of a mixed bag for me. On one hand it had a lot of great games and was absolutely the most successful handheld they've ever produced. On the other hand, the amount of shovelware is atrocious and most games were very gimmicky just like the Wii. Even main franchises like Zelda and Metroid resorted to a focus on the touch screen, which did not help the games but rather made them feel like crappy rip-offs of the franchises they were from. Had the games not felt so gimmicky they could've been really good, but Nintendo shot themselves in the foot with this system as they did with the Wii. Still, when the touch screen was used well, the system pulled off some amazingly fun things like in Kirby Mass Attack and Trauma Center. Still, in the end, the system does not have that long term appeal that many other Nintendo systems do, even if I enjoyed it while it was current.

3DS

Highest Rank - 24

Highest Ranked Game - Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Number of Games - 5

3DS may have only barely edged out the original DS in terms of amount of games on the list but the games feel a lot more classic and have more long term appeal. Some games on the system are instant classics like Zelda: Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land. The 3DS is a fantastic handheld rivals the GBA as the greatest portable of all time. It is thanks to the 3DS that I even pay any attention to current Nintendo stuff. Had I not took the chance on the system back in 2011 I'd probably be sitting out on this generation of gaming altogether. Still, as fantastic as the 3DS is, it doesn't have the amount of quality titles that Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Gamecube have. The 3DS still has a good year or two left in it, and it definitely impressed me but only time will tell whether or not the 3DS retains its fun factor years down the road.

Genesis

Highest Rank - 51

Highest Ranked Game - Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Number of Games - 3

Sad to say, I never owned a Sega Genesis and my experience with it is perhaps more limited than any other system on the list. I was a Nintendo guy growing up and all throughout my life. I know the Genesis has more great games than just the Sonic series, but I can't judge games I never played. I hope to delve into more Genesis games in the future however.

PS1

Highest Rank - 6

Highest Ranked Game - Final Fantasy IX

Number of Games - 6

Like most systems I've owned, my experience with the PS1 was limited. I only got one in 2000, 5 years after it debuted. The games I played on it were limited to Square RPGs and Spyro games. Fortunately, the PS1 was an RPG powerhouse and had some of the best RPGs ever created. Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX were some of the greatest games I've ever played. Unfortunately VIII didn't make it to the list but still enjoyed my first playthrough of it. The system was aged incredibly bad however and I find it nearly impossible to play any game I didn't play back in the day. 2D games like Legend of Mana still look great, though, but 3D games look terrible.

PS2

Highest Rank - 8

Highest Ranked Game - Final Fantasy XII

Number of Games - 5

Just like its predecessor, the PS2 was an RPG powerhouse with some of the greatest games in the genre. There were a few others I really wanted to list - like Kingdom Hearts and Dark Cloud 2, but those just barely fell short of my top 100. Final Fantasy X and XII remain two of my absolute favorite classics on the system, and the system in general has a fantastic library. I feel like I'm repeating myself here, but I did have limited experience with the system while it was current since I didn't get my own until a few years after it came out. I also focused heavily on Nintendo systems whereas PS2 took a back seat. Still, I played a decent amount of PS2 games, most of them were RPGs, and the system represents itself well on my list.

PS3

Highest Rank - 21

Highest Ranked Game - BioShock Infinite

Number of Games - 5

In comparison to PS1 and PS2, PS3 was a little bit of a letdown. It still had a lot of great games, and I'd even say it was the first generation of consoles where I actually preferred a non-Nintendo console. Without the PS3 I'd never have gotten to experience the BioShock games, the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, or Elder Scrolls IV and V. Some of the biggest and best looking games were on this console. Though, I actually hate the system itself since there are sometimes mandatory installs which take up a lot of time and hard drive space, as well as ridiculous loading times on certain games. Still, it was a powerhouse for its time, and what it did for modern gaming, but it also marks the downfall of gaming in general, and as such, I doubt very much I will be playing it years down the road.

Xbox

Highest Rank - 91

Highest Ranked Game - Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Number of Games - 1

Xbox is the only console that I both bought and sold during its lifetime. I shouldn't have ever owned one but Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind convinced me I needed one. It was a fantastic game, though not one I can see myself playing nowadays. I only owned and played a handful of Xbox games included the remake of Conker's Bad Fur Day (which was nowhere near as great as the original since it was censored), Dead or Alive 3, and Fable. Fable might've made it onto this list but since it's been over 10 years since I last played it, I forgot much of it, though I do remember enjoying it a lot. Overall Xbox wasn't a bad system, it just wasn't for me.

Closing Thoughts

This was a really fun experiment, though it was time consuming, and I think I learned a few things about myself. Super Nintendo is more of a clear winner than I thought, there were more NES games on the list than I thought, and there are more newer games on the list than I thought. 15 games from the list were from the last 5 years alone. Considering that I am on the verge of giving up on modern gaming, 15 newer games is not a bad number. This proves to me there are still great games being made to this day.

Other things that didn't surprise me so much are things like Nintendo being the dominate console developer. I knew SNES, N64, and GCN would be my top 3 systems. I just have the most interest and experience with those consoles. It may come as a surprise that a certain game by the name of World of Warcraft didn't make it to the list. This is because while it was a great game in its day, it was more of an addiction than an actual fun game, and one that I have spent a lot of time and money playing. I also hate that the game forces you to interact with other people online as well as the need to stay connected. This shows me that MMORPGs are not for me in the end.

I think, more than anything, this experiment goes to show that gaming is as much "just a hobby" as it is part of my life. I have been gaming for at least 25 years, ever since I got my hands on my first NES during Christmas of 1987. I will continue to game for many years to come, even if I never buy another new console. I will take my SNES, N64, and GCN to the grave with me if I have to. I've made the mistake of trading off and selling many of my games, but I now know which ones are most important to me. It's also quite revealing with the fact that compiling a list of 100 games and ranking them was a very difficult task, as I easily could've listed 300 or even 500 of my favorite games. The amount of games I've played in my life is easily over 1000, possibly even close to 2000, and most of were actually fun to a degree.

So in the end, 100 games doesn't accurately depict how passionate I am about gaming. Video games are a big part of who I am and without them, I really have no idea where I'd be. So much of my creativity and imagination stems from things I saw in video games. My interest in writing started when I wanted to write a sequel to Final Fantasy VII, my interest in art started when I wanted to make my own Super Mario Bros. 3 maps, levels, and characters, and my interest in music started with video game music in general. Video games introduced me to so much in my life and I am forever grateful to those game developers for having given me a fantastic childhood and a hobby I can be passionate about for a lifetime.

My Top 100 Games of All Time: #10-1

After nearly3 months of preparation and 2 weeks of posts, we are finally at my top 10  games of all time. This list was not easy to make, and even as I made the posts, I began to question whether or not I put the right games on there. I think I did a good job and some games will get shifted around in time, but I think, if nothing else, the Top 10 represents the absolute peak of experiences as a gamer. I may be a picky gamer, since I only like to own and play good games, and as such it is extremely difficult for any new game to break the top 10. In fact, my top 10 has pretty much been set in stone for almost a decade. Only a single game in my top 10 is a relatively recent addition, though it is a game I first played 12 years ago. I think a gamer's top 10 games say a lot about them as a person and as a gamer. These games mean more to me than any other on the entire list, each one more significant than the next. This is really the post we've all been waiting for. Finally, for the first time ever in print, here are my all-time top 10 favorite games:

10. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

(SNES, 1996)

Few games in my life have had more impact on me than Super Mario RPG. Prior to this game, I have never even heard of an RPG. I remember seeing commercials of this fantastic game on TV and wanting it only because it had Mario in it. The graphics were also outstanding for the time. I never told anyone I wanted this game before I got it, which is why it completely surprised me when my dad came home with it one day. Easily one of the best surprises I've ever gotten. It took me a while to really understand the whole "RPG" concept and I was pretty frustrated when couldn't beat a boss early on in the game, but I found out at school that a classmate also was playing it, and I asked him how to beat a certain boss, and he gave me some tips. I beat the boss that night. I continued playing through the game, and the more I played it, the more I loved it. It took me several months to finish the game, since I found it to be difficult, but once I finally completed it, it was a fantastic feeling. The concept of an RPG which was once foreign to me, was now my favorite type of game. I immediately sought out other RPGs in Blockbuster. I started with a game called Lufia 2, which I didn't really get into until a few years later, then Final Fantasy 3 (aka FF6) which I also didn't get into until years later, and finally came across Earthbound. Had I never played Super Mario RPG I might never have played Earthbound or any other RPG afterwards. Today, Super Mario RPG is still a fantastic game, though I find it a bit easy and short. But that's not a problem to me. Memories of playing this gem are some of my most vivid memories as a gamer. I can almost feel the warmth of the summer sun that beamed through my windows while I played this, and the smell of freshly cut grass through my open window as I sat on my bed playing this game. Super Mario RPG is a game experience I will never forget and cherish forever, which is why it makes it to my top 10 list.

9. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

(GCN, 2003)

During a time when games were mostly about bigger and better graphics, Wind Waker dared to be different with its colorful, playful, cartoon-like graphics. While most people were turned off by this, I was intrigued. I had almost given up on Zelda, after playing Majora's Mask and Oracle of Seasons, both which I found to be disappointing at the time. I tried Wind Waker at a demo booth in a store and it instantly sold me on the game. The game was amazingly gorgeous. I preordered the game immediately and picked it up on launch day. This was one of the few games my friends and I all played at the same time. We all had the same great experience with it. Playing Wind Waker felt like playing a cartoon, and even today the game looks amazing, with or without HD. This game remains my absolute favorite Zelda game, and it looks like it will never be topped. Wind Waker was an incredibly immersive and expansive experience and was one of the biggest games I played at the time, only bested by Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. I still crave the open ocean in the game, and I can't wait to replay the game again since it's been so long. Wind Waker is a near masterpiece, only hindered by a relatively small number of dungeons and a late-game speed bump searching for items. Other than that, the game is perfect and one that even holds up extremely well by today's standards.

8. Final Fantasy XII

(PS2, 2006)

By the time this game came out I had played every Final Fantasy game that existed except for Final Fantasy III, which came out on DS just a few weeks later. I didn't know all that much about Final Fantasy XII, other than the combat would be different, but I knew I had to have it because it was Final Fantasy, my favorite franchise at the time. I was excited about this one enough that I even went to its midnight launch, a first for me. Upon initially playing the game, I was underwhelmed. I didn't like the drastic changes they made to the game in nearly every way. I hated the Gambit system and the battle system in general, None of the characters appealed to me, the music was bland and forgettable, and the story was boring and political. For the first time in the history of the franchise I was very disappointed. I stopped playing only after a few hours. For a year or two I berated the game, and even told people who never played it to avoid it completely. Then I met a coworker who raved about the game nonstop. He was a big Final Fantasy fan and absolutely loved Final Fantasy XII. I often like to give games a second chance, because you never know.  So I did with Final Fantasy XII. I started a new game because I completely forgot everything that even happened so far, and I got probably about halfway when I just grew bored with the game and stopped again. After my second attempt, I was ready to just put the game behind me and accept that Final Fantasy just wasn't good anymore. I didn't hate the game but it was certainly one of the biggest gaming disappointments of my life. Then just before Final Fantasy XIII released, a spark in me ignited and convinced me to try FInal Fantasy XII one last time. It was the only game in the franchise that I had never made it to the end prior to Final Fantasy XIII. I was extremely pumped for FFXIII but I wanted to finished XII before it came out. So I gave it one final attempt, and I vowed to play through it all the way to the end even if I hated it. So I did. And you know what? I loved it. I don't know why but the third time was a charm. I enjoyed the characters, the story, the world, the music...everything. Maybe I went into it with an open mind the third time, or perhaps I finally understood what made the game tick, but I enjoyed the hell out of Final Fantasy XII. It immediately shot up from being my least favorite game in the franchise to one of my absolute favorites. Even the soundtrack I find to be one of my absolute favorites, probably only beaten by Earthbound's, Chrono Trigger's, and Final Fantasy X's soundtracks. It took a good 4 or 5 years but I finally saw the game in a new light and ever since I have been dying for an HD remake on PS3. Sometimes all it takes to enjoy a new game is an open mind, and thanks to Final Fantasy XII, this is a lesson I won't soon forget.

7. Resident Evil 4

(GCN, 2005)

Where the Resident Evil remake got me into this series, Resident Evil 4 defined it. Since I played the remake, Zero, 2, and 3 on Gamecube, I was all caught up on the franchise (minus Code Veronica), so I was super pumped for Resident Evil. Unlike with Final Fantasy XII, I actually embraced any and all changes this entry brought to its respective series. I had high hopes for this game but this turned out to be one of the few games in my life that actually exceeded my high expectations. Simply put, Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece. It is the greatest 3rd person shooter ever created. And I'm not even just saying that as a Resident Evil fan. RE4 is my favorite in the genre, one of my favorite Gamecube games, my favorite in the series, and one of my all-time favorite games. The story might have been so-so but its the environment and the gameplay that kept me coming back. This game is such a fantastic and immersive experience. It might not be the traditional kind of survival horror you might think of, but it is definitely makes your heart pound and there is a lot of thrill to be had in mobs of enemies chasing you. The game is also pretty difficult. Not to the point where it's impossible but it's definitely challenging, especially during your first playthrough. The environments in this game are some of my favorite in not only the series, but in all of gaming. The graphics are also the best on the Gamecube and even hold up very well today. Resident Evil 4 is a true masterpiece and though this game is the last one in the franchise I can say I truly loved, it remains one of the most iconic experiences in my history as a gamer.

6. Final Fantasy IX

(PS1, 2000)

Finally we come to my absolute favorite Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy IX. it took a while to surpass Final Fantasy VII as my favorite but ever since, it's held onto the spot relatively easily. Final Fantasy IX, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of the franchise and a perfect blend of old and new. It retains the charm of the older games and a more traditional storyline, while exercising some new gameplay elements from the PS1 games. Final Fantasy IX has one of my favorite casts in all of gaming, one of my absolute favorite soundtracks, and one of the more memorable storylines. This is the game that made me buy a PS1. Prior to this game, I had played Final Fantasy VII and VIII on PC, but IX didn't make it to PC, but I was determined to play this, so I ended up getting a PS1 for my birthday in 2000. My friend lent me his Final Fantasy IX after he played it since I had to wait until Christmas to get my own copy, and I loved the game the entire way through. The graphics may have been criticized for going back to a cartoony look rather than more mature, but I liked that change. The story was also more whimsical and lighthearted, something I also loved. By the time I was finished with the game for the first time, it was easily one of my favorite games in the franchise, but it wasn't until a second playthrough several years later that it was solidified as my #1 favorite Final Fantasy. Perhaps the second time around I was reminded just how amazingly perfect the game is. In any event, Final Fantasy IX did just about everything right and even if I never play another new Final Fantasy game again, at least I have played what I consider to be one of the greatest games in gaming history.

5. Metroid Prime

(GCN, 2002)

Now introducing the newest member of the top 10 club...Metroid Prime! This was the first game I ever played in the entire Metroid series. I previously had no interest in the games until I read rave reviews about this one. I rented it from Blockbuster, and played a decent portion of it, but was ultimately not blown away. I then read more about Metroid Fusion, which released the same day as Prime, and I picked up a copy of that at Target. Surprisingly, I ended up loving it. This opened me up to the rest of the franchise. I eventually picked up Metroid Prime a year or two later and played it through to nearly the end. I thought the game was great but not enough to break into my top 10. I finally replayed the game last year, and finally finished it for the first time. And maybe it's just been a long time since I last played it but I was actually blown away by how much I loved it this time. Metroid Prime has aged extremely well, and is my all-time favorite Gamecube game. I have become a relatively big Metroid fan in recent years, and this game stands above them all. The game is a masterpiece, pure and simple.This game also opened me up to first person shooters, though this was not my first one. The world and atmosphere in this game in outstanding. It's like nothing else in any other game. Also replaying the game today actually helped me appreciate how groundbreaking this game was in 2002. When franchises made the jump from 2D to 3D, many games were unsuccessful. Mario and Zelda were absolutely successful in that leap but when Metroid made the jump people weren't so sure about it. Luckily, the game evolved tremendously and in the best way possible. Because I wasn't really a Metroid fan when I first played this game, I couldn't truly understand what made this game so amazing. Now that I am into the series, I absolutely see how perfect the game is. It translated the Metroid formula into 3D flawlessly. Metroid Prime is a true archetype in nearly aspect. Its chilling soundtrack is both ambient and memorable, the gameplay is engaging and immersive, and the world is detailed and ripe for exploration. I did hit a few speed bumps along the way since certain areas are quite challenging, least of all the final boss. Like I said earlier, it is extremely difficult or even nearly impossible to penetrate my golden top 10 games of all time, but Metroid Prime has really earned its spot. Prior to my second playthrough, it sat at around #13 or so, which is still great, but the realization of what a true masterpiece looks like brought this game up to #5. I would honestly even go to say that, objectively, this is the single greatest game ever created. It is an absolutely flawless game, if one even exists.

4. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

(SNES, 1995)

Having very limited experience the Super Nintendo during the time of its relevancy, I only played some of the best games. Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country set the bar very, very high. After I completed Donkey Kong Country, I found out there was a sequel, and shortly after I finished the first one for the first time, I ran out to Funcoland and got this masterpiece. Everything Donkey Kong Country did, this game did it better. It was more immersive, more fun, more refined, and just overall a perfect 2D gameplay experience. The soundtrack alone is a masterpiece and compliments the fluid and memorable gameplay perfectly. Every level was different from another, and each one introduced something new for you to explore. This game features some of the greatest levels in any platforming game. The team of Diddy and Dixie was just a match made in Kong heaven. It's hard to even really describe the effect this game had on me since it was so sublime. It was my favorite game at the time I played it and the game is just such so fantastic the entire way through, so much so that I have replayed it dozens of times in my life and still to this day have not grown even a tiny bit tired of it. Donkey Kong Country 2 is one of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time as well as a 2D platforming masterpiece.

3. Donkey Kong Country 3:Dixie Kong's Double Trouble

(SNES, 1996)

Donkey Kong Country 3 was announced at a weird time. It came out several months after the Nintendo 64 came out and I only realized its existence when I saw the Nintendo Power in the store with this game on the cover. I read through it while walking around Walmart with my parents and soon I knew I had to have this game. My parents told me they would get it for me for Christmas. I was impatient and couldn't wait to I rented the game the day it came out. Initially I was a little disappointed and preferred Donkey Kong Country 2, but still enjoyed the game. Over the years I replayed it many times and through each playthrough I loved the game more and more. Only a few years ago I realized I prefer it to Donkey Kong Country 2 only very slightly. Donkey Kong Country 3 really didn't introduce anything new to the series but was more of the same, which was fine by me. The soundtrack was amazing, the gameplay was relatively unchanged, in other words still perfect, and the level designs, though gimmicky, were a blast to go through. Eventually I found myself replaying this game more often than any other game in history. Like the first two Donkey Kong Country games, I got to the point where I knew tbis game like the back of my hand. Now nearly 20 years and nearly two dozen playthroughs later, this game remains one of my absolute favorite and most replayable games of all time. In another 50 years I will still be playing this game, provided my feeble hands allow me to.

2. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

(SNES, 1995)

It was an extremely close race for second place since it could've very easily been Donkey Kong Country 2 or 3 in this spot, but ultimately, Yoshi's Island had the bigger impact on me and provided slightly more memorable moments. I love when something reminds me of a very specific moment in my life, one that takes me back to my childhood or teenage years or even college years. Discovering Yoshi's Island was extremely vivid, almost as vivid as my discovery of my #1 game of all time. I remember specifically standing in the Sears electronics section, looking at the Super Nintendo games in the glass case, and Yoshi's Island was on display to play. That is where I first discovered this masterpiece. I had no idea it even existed before then since I had no internet and didn't subscribe to Nintendo Power or any gaming magazine. I also remember seeing the Virtual Boy sitting on shelves and wanting one of those but never did. I did, however, eventually get to at least rent Yoshi's Island at Blockbuster. I always liked Yoshi but it was Yoshi's Island that made him one of my favorite characters in gaming. Yoshi's Island had a fantastic cartoony look to the graphics, a beautifully composed soundtrack, and most of all, fun and inventive levels. Sure, it may not be as big as Super Mario World or have as many secrets but Yoshi's Island is a masterpiece all the same. Every level is a blast to go through and you're constantly being introduced to new and exciting things in each level you reach. Never does the gameplay ever feel stale or stiff and years later and dozens of playthroughs later, this game still feels as fresh as inventive as it did 20 years. Even its sequels can't match up to its greatness.

1. Earthbound

(SNES, 1995)

Finally we come my absolute favorite game of all time. In my 25+ years as a gamer, no game has ever come close to the magic that Earthbound has shown me. Never have I ever felt completely comfortable and understood in any given medium. Earthbound feels like a game that was tailor made just for me. Obviously, it wasn't, but it's a freaky coincidence. Earthbound is the game that I hold extremely near and dear to my heart, to the point that no other nonliving thing means more to me than Earthbound. Earthbound is more than just a video game to me - it's an experience. I played it at exactly the right time in my life - I was 13, the same age as the kids in the game, and for the first time in a video game, I didn't just play the main character, I was the main character.  Ness is me and I am Ness.

Earthbound is one of the silliest, trippiest games I ever played and I wouldn't have it any other way. The weird but memorable soundtrack only helps to make me feel lost in its wonderful world. When I play the game it's almost like I'm Alice in Wonderland, after falling down my own rabbit hole. The game is almost dream-like in presentation. It's different from any game I've ever played and perhaps that's partly why I love it so much. Earthbound is a game I've played countless times already and plan on playing it many more times from now. Every single time I play the game, any doubt I have that the game has lost some of its magic is immediately washed away. The game remains just as important, just as memorable, and just as special as it was the first time I played it.

I might not have ever even played this game without the help of Super Mario RPG. It was after I finished that fantastic game that I sought out other RPGs. For whatever reason, I remember so specifically standing in Blockbuster, holding the giant Earthbound box, thinking "This looks like an RPG." and so I took it home that day. Initially, I hated it because I found it excruciatingly difficult. I couldn't even get past the first boss. I kept at it though and eventually progressed to the second town, when I had to stop and return the game to Blockbuster. I rented it a second time a few weeks later and got a bit further despite having to start all over. Eventually, I found a used copy in a store called Microplay, some time in 1997, for $30, which was the biggest bargain I ever got for a game, considering the game sells for $200 with just the cartridge.

Ever since I bought my own copy, played through it, and completed it, the game has been my #1 absolute favorite game of all time. Never has there been any threat whatsoever to dethrone it from this spot. It will forever be my absolute most cherished gaming experience for the rest of my life and beyond.

My Top 100 Games of All Time: #20-11

20. Resident Evil

(GCN, 2002)

This game single-handedly made me a survival horror fan. No, I never played a Resident Evil game until this one. I had heard people talking about the games in school, usually among the "superior" Playstation crowd (gotta love the console wars) but I didn't know how great the series was until I played this. My friend got me this for my birthday the year it came out and all I knew about it was that it was scary and the graphics were amazingly good. Little did I know I'd be playing one of my favorite games of all time. This game is the definition of survival horror. Since I never played the original Resident Evil on PS1, I had no idea what upgrades they made to this game since it was a remake, but my god wow this game was scary the first time I played it. I'll never forget the first time I killed a bunch of zombies in the basement, only to return later, forgetting about them, but they were now the stronger and faster Crimson Heads, which immediately dashed towards me as I ran away in terror. It was exhilarating to play through for the first time. The game doesn't scare me anymore, but I still enjoy the creepy atmosphere and the great story.

19. Kirby's Epic Yarn

(Wii, 2010)

This game really surprised me how much I loved it. I find Kirby games to be hit or miss with me. Either they end up becoming one of my absolute favorite games, or I'd be happy never to play them again. Kirby's Epic is not only my favorite Kirby game of all time, but also my favorite Wii game of all time, and my absolute favorite game of the last 5 years. People hate this game because it's cutesy and very easy, but they don't realize it's not about challenge. I found the game to be extremely charming and creative with a fantastic art style and an amazing soundtrack. I absolutely love the "everything is made of yarn" aspect of it, and even though the story is simple and ridiculously cute, almost in a children's book sort of way, I can't help but love this game every time I play it. It is a truly underrated gem. If it weren't for this game and Donkey Kong Country Returns, I might not have kept my Wii. Seriously. The Wii is a disappointing console but Kirby's Epic Yarn almost singlehandedly redeemed the console. Almost. For a while I'd even thought this game had broken into the top 10 in my list, but I don't see myself replaying this one as much as a few others. But this game still gives me chills of nostalgia when I play it despite it only being 4+ years old.

18. Final Fantasy X

(PS2, 2001)

This game, along with Kingdom Hearts and Xenosaga Episode I, convinced me to buy a Playstation 2. The other two games were good but didn't make the list. Final Fantasy X,  however, is one of the greatest games ever conceived. The battle system returns to turn based but with the ability to switch party members in and out on the fly, which is a very nice addition. The characters were all memorable and engaging, the story was amazing, the world was vivid and detailed, and the soundtrtack...my god the soundtrack...might just be my absolute favorite soundtrack of all time. That's a topic for another day, but the music is just that good. But the music alone doesn't make the game a masterpiece. Every element in the game comes together perfectly. I'll never forget my first playthrough with the game either. I started and finished the game within a week. I blazed through this game so quickly because played it probably about 8 hours a day. I couldn't stop! After a serious reassessment of the series, this game is my third favorite Final Fantasy, and my 18th favorite game of all time.

17. Super Mario World

(SNES, 1991)

The biggest and best 2D Mario game of all time, Super Mario World singlehandedly sold me on the Super Nintendo. This was all I needed to know that I needed a SNES. I remember playing this game with a friend in elementary school. He had just gotten a Super Nintendo with Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Pilotwings, and SimCity. I remember playing those games together and taking turns to beat Super Mario World. It was one of the most epic game completions I've ever experienced. This game was so huge I didn't even finish it 100% until a good 10+ years later. This game was literally secret after secret. And every level was great. I also loved the addition of Yoshi. Super Mario World is so iconic for the Super Nintendo and for the Mario series and I'm so glad I got to play this game during its heyday, unlike most other SNES games. Super Mario World is a true archetype for 2D platformers.

16. Diddy Kong Racing

(N64, 1997)

By now you know I love Mario Kart, but what is Diddy Kong Racing but a bigger and better Mario Kart? No, seriously. This game is my all-time favorite racing game. It takes the item tossing, kart racing element of Mario Kart and adds two vehicles: a hovercraft and an airplane, gives you a simple but effective story, a bunch of new characters, and a big expansive overworld. Diddy Kong Racing was the kart racing game to end all kart racing games. I cannot even tell you how hyped I was for this game either. Leading up to its release, I think I was more hyped for this game than any other game in history. Not to mention I loved Diddy Kong from the Donkey Kong Country games. This game is still fantastically fun to play, still provides a challenge, and is still my absolute favorite racing game of all time.

15. Mother 3

(GBA, 2006)

This was the long-awaited sequel to Earthbound on Super Nintendo and despite being originally conceived as Earthbound 64, which never came out, then put into development hell, then a surprise announcement not long before its release, it was a real rollercoaster getting to the point of this game coming out at all. I was upset, as were many fans, when they announced it as a Japan exclusive. But this would mark the first time I ever imported a game from Japan and played a game completely in Japanese. Yes, I played Mother 3 in full Japanese despite not knowing a single word of it. Luckily they made it pretty easy to follow the story and menu items since most things were represented by pictures. For a game I hold in such high regard as Earthbound, this game had a lot to live up to in my opinion, but I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. It is a truly amazing game, and one I was proud to have as a sequel to Earthbound. Mother 3 was eventually translated by a super fan and dumped onto the internet in ROM form so I was eventually able to fill in the gaps of the story I didn't understand. Mother 3's story was ridiculously strong and surprisingly emotional, and the fact that I knew pretty much everything that was going on even though I couldn't read any text - that's good story telling. Just by actions I was able to figure out the story on my own. Aside from an amazing story, this game features an amazing soundtrack, a battle system that's similar to Earthbound's but more fluid and faster paced, and graphics similar to Earthbound's but a bit better. Overall, Mother 3 succeeded in pleasing myself and the rest of the Earthbound fan community, which could've easily gone either way, but thankfully it came out great. Now all we need is an official North American release.

14. Chrono Trigger

(SNES, 1995)

Often hailed as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger is an epic time-traveling story - one so great that whenever time traveling is featured in games, it is almost always compared to Chrono Trigger. The game is such a masterpiece of a game with its fantastic story, endearing characters, great graphics, and its masterpiece of a soundtrack, which I feel is easily one of the best soundtracks of all time. I didn't get to play this game until at least 5 years after its release when I played it on emulator. I remember it taking me two days to download (dial up connection was slow as hell) and then finally I got to play it and it was well worth the wait. I knew the game was highly regarded before I played it but the actual game was nearly impossible to find at the time so I had to wait until a viable option came along. The characters are all distinct and fun to play as, and I love how each character's "Tech" (kind of like magic) can combine with other party members' Techs to create bigger and better attacks. Chrono Trigger really set itself apart in many ways back then and still remains one of the greatest RPGs of all time.

13. Super Mario 64

(N64, 1996)

If there ever was a single game that would sell me on any console, this was it. Super Mario 64 was the system seller to end all system sellers. Prior to seeing and playing Super Mario 64, I had zero interest in the Nintendo 64. I only just got a Super Nintendo around 1994/95 and N64 was only a year or two away so I felt I wasn't given enough time with the SNES to really justify diving into the N64. Also, 3D graphics didn't interest me. I strongly preferred 2D pixelated art as opposed to blocky 3D models. My neighbor had a PS1 and the graphics really turned me off, so I was more than content to just play my SNES. However that all changed when I played a demo of Super Mario 64 in Blockbuster. My interest went from 0 to 60 in mere seconds. I couldn't believe how amazing the gameplay was and what I almost missed out on for fear of change. Shortly after, I rented an N64 with Super Mario 64 and played it all week, nearly completing the game in the time that I had it. Not long after that, I bought an N64 with my birthday money in 1997 but didn't have enough for a game. I resorted to renting games from March through September in 1997 and eventually got Super Mario 64 6 months after buying the system. Even though I rented it twice at this point, I still couldn't get enough of the time. And after finally owning it and completing it, Super Mario 64 became the first game I ever completed to 100%. Years go by and in my mind I feel Super Mario 64 is old and outdated, but I just played the game last year, and sure the graphics are blocky and dated, but the gameplay is just as fun as it was in 1996. This is why Super Mario 64 is my all-time favorite Mario game and one of my favorite games of all time.

12. Conker's Bad Fur Day

(N64, 2001)

Since this game's initial announcement, I followed it like a hawk. Conker 64 was the pending title then it changed to Twelve Tales: Conker 64, then finally Conker's Bad Fur Day. It was the final iteration that transformed Conker from a cutesy 3D platforming hero to a foul-mouthed and drunken squirrel and honestly I feel the changes only made the game better. The platforming is still there and it's very solid. Not quite as fluid as Super Mario 64 but it's still well done. What really sets Conker's Bad Fur Day apart from the rest is the humor and the story. Conker's girlfriend Berri goes missing and the game opens with Conker stumbling out of a bar with a massive hangover. Things soon snowball out of control as Conker searches for his missing girlfriend and each new character is more memorable and funnier than the next. Even the villain of the game, the Panther King, is funny, and his motivation for capturing Conker is only so he can replace the leg of his 3 legged table since Conker is just the right height to keep the table stable so he doesn't spill his milk. Seriously - that's the story. The comedy is very South Park-esque in style, which appeals to me greatly. Every element in the game comes together perfectly for the most enjoyable experience on the N64, but most of all is its humor. This is easily the funniest game I ever played, by far, and it's the biggest reason I kept coming back to the game over the last decade and a half. It's just a shame we'll never see Conker reappear on another Nintendo console again.

11. Donkey Kong Country

(SNES, 1994)

It's hard to believe this now, but the first time I played this game, I hated it. It was lent to me by a classmate who insisted I play it. I didn't have my SNES for that long and my experience with the system was extremely limited so Donkey Kong Country was one of the first games I played on the SNES. Although the graphics were fantastic, I found the gameplay to be ridiculously hard and frustrating. I struggled to get to world 3 and at that point I just ended it and handed the game back to my classmate. About a year later, I found myself in Funcoland and I needed more SNES games since all I had was Super Mario All-Stars + World. I primarily rented games to experience them at the time, but looking at the wall of games in Funcoland, I was ready to buy Super Mario Kart when an employee convinced me to get Donkey Kong Country instead. He convinced me and I took home Donkey Kong Country that day. It took me a while to really get into it but the more I played it the more I liked it. Eventually I found myself finishing it, and at that point I loved it. At that moment, Donkey Kong Country was my favorite game of all time. It was also one of the first games I ever beat. The only games I ever finished prior to it were Super Mario Bros 2, Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World. It would be a good decade or so later that I would finally get 100% but even beating the game without 100% completion made me feel accomplished. This was a game that was my Achilles' heel for a good year or two, which looking back isn't that long, but I found the game to be so difficult back then that actually finishing it felt amazing. And ever since I have really come to appreciate it. Nowadays I can play the game almost blindfolded and in one sitting. There's something very comforting about running through a game you've played so many times that you know like the back of your hand. This is also the game that made Donkey Kong my favorite video game character of all time.