The Top Twenty: Favorite Video Games

After talking about reviving my writing (as well as this blog) almost two weeks, I told myself that I'd get working on a brand-new Top Ten list and have it up here within the following two weeks. It's just about now officially that deadline, so I figured I'd get to work on it. And after two six day's two weeks' worth of typing, searching the web for good photos to use for this entry, and getting distracted by clicking fifteen thousand too many links on Wikipedia and TV Tropes, it's finally here! (Seriously this time.)

The last time I threw a Top Ten List on here was back in May of last year - roughly ten months ago. After noting that rather large gap, I told myself that needs to be patched up now. So, what to talk about? While there's plenty of subjects and plenty of lists I have compiled for just the occasion, I decided to go with a rather unique challenge: my favorite video games. I say "challenge" because this was honestly one of the more difficult ones to rate. There were so many games that made some kind of impact on my life, many more that gave me joy in my younger days, and still many that I have played altogether. So what to choose...?

Initially, my plan was to write a list of every game I remember playing to date that I love(d), narrow the selection down to ten games, and introduce a new "honorary mention" section alongside the list. Seemed really simple and easy on paper. When it came down to performing the task, however, I couldn't bring myself to thin the ranks. Many of the games I wrote down were games that I carry soft spots for, because they were the games I played as a child, a teenager, an adult. They brought joy, sadness, fury, understanding, clarity - and to deny the most influential games the right to have their name be heard? I couldn't.

So I decided to try two new tactics:

1. Narrow any video game series present down to ONE game.
2. Expand the buffer to twenty slots.

The end result is today's entry and the very first Top Twenty list featured on this blog. Now, I could pay my respects to all of the important games I've played and love(d).

Of course, one question remains to be asked: What twenty games made their way onto my favorites list? You'll have to read on below if you've any interest in finding out!

Ten Free Gifts for Me

In today's news, the wait that Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors have been enduring is finally over in the form of an early Christmas present. Nintendo has finally released the ten free Game Boy Advance games promised to all those who purchased a 3DS at the original standard price of $249.99 USD.

In alphabetical order, those games are as follows:

• F-Zero Maximum Velocity
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
• Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Mario Kart: Super Circut
• Mario vs Donkey Kong
• Metroid Fusion
• Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
• Wario Land 4
• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$

These games are exclusively for Nintendo Ambassadors only. All you other 3DS owners who bought it at the lower $169.99 USD can suck it. =P

Anyway, when I saw that they updated the 3DS shop so we Ambassadors could download these games (finally), I took a bit of time to look over the titles available to us special people. I was rather surprised with the selection. After getting over the "whoo, free swag" euphoria, I began to garner some thoughts about each of the games.


F-Zero Maximum Velocity
I never really was much of an F-Zero gamer. The only reasons why I knew of the franchise was because of two things:

1. I have a friend who plays the F-Zero games.
2. Captain Fabulous Falcon.

But hey - who am I to refuse a free game? Especially one that I'll play because I absolutely loved my Game Boy Advance? (So much in fact, that my friend "preserved" it with floral tape. It's sitting in my storage unit somewhere, so remind me to fetch you a photo of it when I get the chance - or rather, when I find it.)


Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
I became ecstatic after seeing this pop up. I'll admit: I'm more of a "newer" fan of Fire Emblem - I was introduced to the series during my upperclassman high school years. While Sacred Stones wasn't the first game in the series that I played (Path of Radiance has that honor), it was the first Fire Emblem I actually finished. Now that I have it again, I know I'm going to have so much fun.

For you Fire Emblem fans: if you know this game, I have a few things to say.

1. Natasha/Joshua. I liked their relationship so much that I've already decided on using them for my final party.
2. Amelia. FRAK, YES. When I did a second run-through on my original GBA cartridge, I decided to try the three recruits out. Amelia's stat growths were so insane she became a badass General. With boots.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
I remember this game... it was, like almost ten years ago. It was short, but it was pretty fun. FIGHTER POWERUP FTW.


The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Can't say I've played this before, but hey - that means another thing for me to play through on my eventual "video game vacation" I'll be taking sometime next year. (I should probably also work on Wind Waker and Link's Awakening, too...


Mario Kart: Super Circuit
As much as I adore the Mario Kart games, I've never played Super Circuit. Guess it's time for me to do so now!


Mario vs Donkey Kong
Same goes with the Mario vs Donkey Kong series. New stuffs!


Metroid Fusion
The only Metroid game I've completed is Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo. That should change, and I think Fusion will be key in that.


Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
The Game Boy Advance Port of Super Mario World 2, eh? Awesome. Naval Piranha, you're about to get some payback for freaking me out oh-so-many-years-ago.


Wario Land 4
This was one of the first games I got for my Game Boy Advance. Anyone with a Game Boy of some iteration was likely to possess some game in the Wario Land series. Now I once again have a chance to get the anti-Mario his treasure! *Wario laugh*


WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Ahehehe... I remember this game quite fondly. So many silly games - so little time for all of them. Ahehehe. I'm going to enjoy this a LOT - especially since I want to unlock all the microgames.

Merry frakkin' Christmas, indeed. =D
Now if you'll excuse me, I got games to play. *gleefully starts up Sacred Stones*

My 3DS Can Blog

Today's entry was composed entirely on my Nindendo 3DS.

It's quite interesting to type on here; to be honest, I have no idea what got me to write today's entry on mine. Eh - it doesn't matter. This is awesome nonetheless.

Pokémon Rumble Blast has been surprisingly difficult lately. As mentioned before, I'm at Worl Rank 9, but even with legendaries at 3,000+ power, I'm unable to conquer the last Battle Royale challenge. Then again, that shouldn't be surprising, as all the Pokémon in the fight are legendaries. It's an insane challenge, but despite the losses I've had, I got closer and closer to tasting victory. That, I think, counts for something.

Well, I'm going to go prepare for work. More madness is to be expected, so I must stand ready. Until the 'morrow!

Downloading Diorama

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the first entry of the last trimester of 2011!

Now, as mentioned before, all the entries I post for September (including this one) will contain at least 1,000 words (barring footnotes and all pre-blog things). While that will definitely look like a mouthful of random sputterings and potential dorky-babble, it'll all count in the end.

*rubs hands together* Okay; here we go!

3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS3DS

If the title wasn't any indicator, today's entry will be about... the new Nintendo 3DS.

HOLY. SHIT. That's all I have to say for right now.
It's that fun, it's that amazing, and once the 3-D settings are fully calibrated to the user, wow-spawning (as in people using a 3DS that's been calibrated will utter "wow).

My only complaint so far is the short battery life compared to other DS systems (3-5 hours whereas even the OLD DS had up to nine hours...), but other than that, it's amazing.

I should probably invest in a car charger since I play with this thing a lot.

And the future release of Ocarina of Time and Metal Gear Solid...

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some practice to do.
*goes off to play Super Street Fighter IV 3D*