Perhaps this list best represents games if I do not love to play today, the sheer memories of the fun I had playing the game originally demands I still love the game. Sometimes for obvious reasons, sometimes inexplicably.
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My reasoning for loving this game is probably simple. The first MMO I ever played. Yes, the game was/is shit in a lot of ways. Still, the sheer nostalgia of these first experiences give me waves of pleasure. The simple MIDI soundtrack, the ratty vector lighting, the environmental design, the community! A classic, and all too scorned today!
Perhaps this game would not hold up as well today? It is hard for me to tell through introspection. Yes, the theme is a large part of the appeal. Yes, the graphics were nice for the time - gouraud shading. The complexities of enforcing forward shields or putting energy towards power - understanding the complexities and strengths of enemy ships... Still I believe much of the appeal came from working your ways up the ranks through crushing rebel scum and cracking down on narcotics smugglers.
Simply put, Castle Crashers is the best brawler of all time. Not through fighting mechanics depth, not even through basic control. But in overall depth. Yes, the music is excellent. Yes, the graphics design is appealing. What really makes this the best brawler ever is the length and size of the game. Simply put it's something that was always missing from the genre. Either you had massive repetition or you had short arcade ports such as Double Dragon or Final Fight. I could never feel good about paying full price to own home versions of those games, but were fine in an arcade setting. Anyways, Castle Crashers finally delivers on the promise of a simple, engaging brawler that has enough length and depth to support ownership. A first of its kind, as far as I'm concerned.
This is the most basic level of perfection a game can achieve. Gameplay with perfect simplicity, a pure test of gaming mettle. Extremely appealing sound effects and visuals.
One simple step forward for Robotron 2084. More complex aiming, more complex movement, more complex enemies, without the extra crap which only serves to complicate but not improve, such as in Geo Wars 2. The state of gaming nirvana required to excel at the game cannot be described to a non-gamer. When you do well you are in the zone. Conscious thought is halted, self awareness ends. You have achieved enlightenment, and hopefully 2 million points!
Model 2 arcade hardware. So nice.
Hard to say why I love this game so much. It wasn't the first SHMUP I owned for home systems, it wasn't the first I ever played, it wasn't the first I ever beat. It did take me almost 10 years to beat. Perhaps it is because, unlike any other game, it demonstrates to myself my own increase in gaming skill. At one time I was unable to beat the 3rd level, now the game is easy for me. The music is great, the graphics are nice enough... The gameplay is fairly simple compared to other SHMUPs, but you get no continues, so you must play fairly well. More than anything else it was one of those games I *really* wanted to beat as a child, but couldn't until I played the game much more over the years!
