I had seen the Smash Brothers series before, but I'd never played it. I thought the percentage thing was too weird for me. However, when my library hosted Smash Brothers gatherings and tournaments once a week for a few hours per time, I finally got the chance to play the new Smash Brothers Brawl. I immediately came to love it, but I was pretty bad at it. Luckily, an experienced played showed me the ropes and I slowly got better at the game. After around three months I had gotten pretty good at the game and I started beating my mentor with ease. He stopped coming, and I was generally the best player there. There were no real rules, sometime we would play with items, sometimes not, etc.

     My skills got more and more refined, until it was generally accepted that I was unbeatable. I had bought the game myself and practiced for hours a day, constantly trying to improve. When ever I'd lose, I'd spend hours figuring out why, and how to prevent it from ever happening again. I could play and win as any character. Match types here were almost always a stock battle of five lives. Three more months passed, and I hadn't lost once. I'd reached a new peak of skill, or so I'd thought.

     One day, an incredibly tall, polite guy came in for the first time. He brought his own Gamecube controller, like I did. Most serious Smash players use Gamecube controllers, so I put myself on guard, even though I was sure I'd beat him in seconds. However, the opposite happened. I lost, brutally, and quickly. And again. And again. Every match we were in, the last two players standing would be him and I.

     I began to practice eight hours a day, though every week that passed, I would lose time and time again. This continued for months.... until I felt as though I reached a new peak. I slowly proved I was a greater challenge to him, and even though I still lost, I was making things harder for him. I continued down this road, until...

     He stopped coming. With him gone, I rose to power again, however, the level of skill I had achieved to combat him equally was enough to devastate the rest of the crowd. None could as much as touch me, and a full year passed, and I hadn't lost a single match.

     Just a bit past that year, it was that time of the week again. About ten minutes into the smashing, I saw a familiar figure standing in the doorway. He had returned, apparently finally having his Wednesday open again. The majority of the other Smashers quickly recognized him again and knew shit was about to go down. After the familiar sound of controller ports snapping into the Wii, the battle was on. After about 5 minutes of intensity, after five minutes of tense faces and a work-like full focus, and no one saying a word, the ending of the fight was at hand. I had, for the first time, won against him. After such a feat, we wanted a rematch, again and again. I won repeatedly, my skills reaching the very stars. After the seventh or so fight, I heard a voice behind me.

     "Are you even having fun anymore?"

     The voice had come from a girl named Kristin, someone who was a frequent of the gatherings. I paused for a moment and actually thought about the question. In my self righteous journey to be the very best, and my seriousness towards that journey, was I actually having fun? I didn't say anything for a moment than said, "That's a good question..." A bit later on, I saw that she really had a point. At this point I was almost treating this like a job. This mountain I had spent so long climbing turned out to not to be worth the effort and time. From there onwards, I took a much more light hearted approach to competitive video games. I've fallen off my great height, and if you were to play against me now, you would never guess I was once at the very highest of the pantheon of greats.

     And now, everyone talks about professional gaming. Do I like it, you ask?

     No, I don't. People, in their seriousness and desire to be the best, have forgotten that video games were meant to be fun, not a job that you stress over. I'm not a fan of this MLG, because I just like to play video games to have fun. And that's just the way I like it.

     Everything was going well. I found a $100 bill on the ground earlier, I got a A+ on a math test, and I was heading to a night class I had at my local college. I was in high spirits. I took the underground subway to the class, it was dark and dirty, but every other car had a guard to ensure you felt protected. If you wanted, you could press a red button to call
the guard. After an uneventful trip there, I spent an hour at class learning how to cook the perfect creme-brule, and it was time to return home. I showed my subway ticket to the clerk, and boarded the train. The trip takes about 35 minutes, so I took out my 3DS, playing Ocarina of Time 3D Master Quest. After about 8 minutes, I looked up and noticed no one else was in the car with me. I peaked up through the window and noticed that I couldn't see the guard in the next car. Strange, I thought. I heard a loud and quick thud behind me. I quickly turned around and looked through the car window and quickly saw a figure duck beneath where I could see him.

     My heart rate quickened. I noticed a little splatter of red where the window on the other car was facing me... Where the guard was supposed to be. Then I heard a pounding on my car's sealed door. I quickly turned to face the door. The pounding quickened. I slowly backed up and found the red button used to call the guard. I pressed the button over
and over again in a blind panic. No one came. CRACK. An axe flew through the door.

     In horror, I stood as far away as I could from the figure now looming above me, as I fell to the floor, scrabbling to get away. He quickly flipped the axe around and knocked me out with the back of it.

     As I came to, I opened my eyes to see I was in a dark, moldy, and mostly wooden basement. I cringed as I felt a pang of sharp pain in my forehead jolt me awake. A heard footsteps, but I was alone in the room. The footsteps faded... I tried to free myself, but my hands were bound to a wooden stump that was part of the floor.

     I noticed a lit lantern near me, and I thought that perhaps I could use the wax in the lantern to lube my hands free. Perhaps. I twisted myself a little and just barely reached it. I swung it behind me to bash it against the stump, and the warm wax flowed over my hands. I quickly began to pull my hands as hard as I could and my bonds began to loosen. The footsteps grew louder. In shock, I pulled all the harder until my hands flew free; but the bonds hit the ground with a sickening thud.

     The footsteps paused, then grow loud and quick. In sheer horror, I began taking chairs and heavy items to bar the door. But my effort of in vain. His axe crashed through the door easily and I was face to face with evil personified.

     With an evil smile, and a quit giggle, he said that he was only a villager...and then he bought the axe down.

But first, some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

     Remember when I said that I would only put two games per series on this list? Sadly, that means The Wind Waker and Metal Gear Solid 3, two fantastic games, got snubbed. Sorry Link and Big Boss! Also, Kingdom Hearts 2 just barely didn't make it on this list. Alright, let's get to number five!

5. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

     Two years after I originally beat Metal Gear Solid 2, on a whim I decided to listen to the credits theme to this game, I can't say goodbye to yesterday. I found my eyes wet once the song finished, and I wondered why. I wasn't sad, nostalgic, or even crying tears of joy. I think I was just very appreciative and grateful beyond words. The Metal Gear series has meant a lot to me over the years, and I've taken a lot of the series' positive messages to heart. I will forever be in Hideo Kojima's debt.

     I wanted to try the Metal Gear series when I was about 14, but my parents still disapproved of me playing M rated games. Not wanting to disobey them, I snuck in a copy instead. I was a little scared at first, after all, I had never played a M rated game before. After popping the game into my PlayStation 2, I thought the enemy would rip and mutilate Snake's body if they found him. I can't even begin the describe how tense the room was when I snuck through that tanker. I remember liking Raiden a lot. After all, we were so similar. We were both scared, confused, and hoping to get out of this in one piece. I realize I haven't actually technically talked about this game a lot, but you already know how legendary it is.

4. Yoshi's Island

     This game ruled my childhood, even more than Super Mario World. My little mind was enchanted as soon as I heard that legendary music box opening. This game is probably my favourite 2D platformer, ever. The music, the beautiful art style, the impeccable level design, the great level of challenge, and fantastic secret levels. I remember the very day I fought the final boss. It was summer, warm, not a cloud in the sky, and I thought my little mind was going to explode. After that witch koopa cast her magic on Baby Bowser and he grew 50 times his size, I thought I was really fighting for the world.

3. Ocarina of Time

     Ocarina of Time. You know it, I know it, everybody knows it. This game was life changing. Industry changing. This game blew my mind in every conceivable way. The music, the story, the fresh, new and exciting gameplay, the vast world, this game gave you everything. This game provides some of the most memorable areas you'll ever find in a video game. The Fire Temple, with that insanely creepy Islamic chanting in the background, the Forest Temple with it's creepy setting, or the Shadow Temple (which still gives me chills)! This game is one of my all time favourites, man. It's too good. Can we get three cheers for for Miyamoto's brilliance?

2. Dark Souls

     How would you react standing on the edge of the abyss? The edge of torture? The edge of hell? The edge of sanity? Dark Souls requires you answer those questions. Dark Souls is a video game so poignant, so difficult, so brutal, so beautiful, so scary, so mysterious. The gameplay is flawless, the combat is heavy, tight, and precise, and the level design is always fair, if incredibly difficult. The atmosphere in Dark Souls is stifling. I recall another gamespot user saying that they had trouble sleeping and woke up in a cold sweat after playing Silent Hill 2. One hot, dark night, I was playing Dark Souls. After the brutal and sinfully evil 'Tomb of the Giants' section, I was emotionally stripped bare. I was drained and my hands shook violently once I held them up.  But I was determined to defeat Gravelord Nito, and I pressed on. After being run so ragged through the previous hours of the night, the First of the Dead rose from his dark sarcophagus and he eyes pierced though my very soul. He held up his hands and my body flew through the air, finally sliding to a stop on the ground. Once I finally beat him, I turned off the PS3 and went to bed. No sleep came, and what fleeting moments of sleep I had were filled with images of the Gravelord, cutting through the black night. 

My favourite video game of all time: METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS

     Video Games have changed. It's no longer about kids getting of excited to be able to play Pac-man on their own TVs. Not about saving a princess. Not about running to the right. Video games have changed. Video games have evolved throughout the years, they've even become artistic and meaningful. Video games can even be emotional and thought provoking.

     Video Games have changed.

     I bought a PlayStation 3 to play Metal Gear Solid 4. My hopes couldn't be higher. I wanted to know what would happen next to the characters I had grown to love. Metal Gear Solid 4 was depressing. Don't get me wrong, the game is flawless in my eyes, from the gameplay to the story. But it's sad. A person I had respected, admired and bonded to throughout the years was going through hell. It was hard to watch. Even as an old man, Snake had one final mission, to take out Liquid Ocelot. No heroics, just an old killer hired to do some wetworks. The game does everything right, from the depressing music, to the story that ties up all the loose ends, and the incredible attention to detail and find tuned gameplay.

     The ending hours of Metal Gear Solid 4 is hands down the most emotional part of any video game I've ever played. The ending was hear breakingly sad, and I cryed a lot at the end. The part where Otakon explains to Sunny that Snake isn't coming back this time really touched my heart. Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the most artistic, memorable, thought provoking games ever made.

     We salute you Solid Snake, Raiden, Big Boss, Otakon, and prehaps most of all, Hideo Kojima.

     Thank you.

I hope you enjoyed!

     Greetings! I see you're reading my 200th blog! I've been a Gamespotter for around 4 years now, and I thought I would write a blog that has been a long time coming. Even though I've been gaming since I first played my old NES, I don't recall ever writing a list of my top ten favourite games, and there's no time like the present! Let's begin!

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

     Ah, Donkey Kong Country 2. I loved the original Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, so when I was getting the sequel, I thought, how could this game be better? Well, it turns out it could, in nearly every way. The game was bigger, better, and added a host of collectibles too! This game's gameplay is honed to perfection, and it complements the brutal difficulty perfectly. The art style is a bit darker, but the music stands out as being almost emotional and touching, as seen in tracks like Bramble Blast.  Truly an amazing game that has stood the test of time proudly.

9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

     Skyrim. A providence of hope, despair, joy, and sorrow. Home of the Nords, a proud and mighty race, your story begins. A warrior, a mage, a saint, a farmer, or a crazy killer, this game allows a level of freedom I've never seen in a game before. I first thought the upcoming 'Skyrim' was an MMO. Learning more about the game, I wanted it more and more. I faked being sick, got the game, and started it right away. I couldn't stop. This was one of the most perfectly addicting games ever made. It never ended, the stories were so good, the music so beautiful. Playing Skyrim for the first time is one of the most intoxicating experinces I've ever had with a game. A remember waking up, starting the game at 8:00 AM, looking up again, and it was 8:45. PM.

8. Super Mario Galaxy One and Two

     It's a star! It's a fat guy! It's a cop-out! I know some of you are wondering why I choose two games for my number eight spot, but they are both similar, sequels, and I love them equally. I bought my Wii with Super Mario Galaxy and what a great introduction to the Wii it was! These are two of the best 3D platformers ever. The gameplay is tight and flawless, the motion controls are well done, the setting superb, the music bombastic, and in the first game's case, heartfelt. if you're going to watch that video, bring some tissues. In any case, these two games are incredibly creative, fun, and dah... just play the games already!

7. Zelda: Twilight Princess

     My childhood gone badass. Twilight Princess had a distinctly more dark style, and parts of the game were downright tense and disturbing. I remember that creepy skull demon and the closing battles of the game are some of the best flights in gaming history. I remember getting a real Gamecube and Twilight Princess for Christmas! I knew I was going to get it, and I couldn't sleep. This game felt so different than other Zelda games, and characters like Zant really made this game stand out among other Zelda titles. It also took me, like, 50 hours to beat. The music was awesome too. And a little creepy... Oh! I meant to mention this game had a really unique atmosphere too, dark and creepy..

6. Super Mario World

     What really needs to be said about this game? I loved my NES and Mario, but when I got a SNES and Super Mario World? My mind was blown! New graphics! A dinosaur! A big world! Great music! Secrets! I remember when I fought Bowser for the time as a little kid, I felt like I was really saving the world. And when I found the mythical Star World? I was on top of the world.

Part Two coming soon!

     So I took a placement test at my local college, to determine how intelligent I was. I only missed one question on English and aced writing/reading, but I failed hard on math. I have to take a remedial math class now in addition to my video game design courses. I've never had a good head for math, I'll try my hardest to change that. I feel like a stick.

     In other news, I do finally plan on writing my extravaganza 'My Top Ten Favourite Video Games' blog. I have some rules in mind, I will only use a series twice. That's so I can't fill up the list with Metal Gear games. I'm looking forward to finally giving a comprehensive list of my favourite games.

     I'm planning on getting a Wii U later this year. Donkey Kong Country + Retro Studios + David Wise is a system seller for me. Also, I finished Arkham Asylum. It's really something else, from the atmosphere to the tight gameplay, great level design and lovely attention to the little details. I also have been playing a lot of Injustice: Gods Among Us and it's a blast.

                                                                                         One summer's night eve,

                                                                                         McShea put on his weaves,

                                                                                         As he begain a-jerking,

                                                                                         His enigma mind a-working,

                                                                                         A plot came into his head.

                                                                                         He remembered his childhood,

                                                                                         Playing Mario in the hood,

                                                                                         A-hating modern games,

                                                                                         He thought he'd one one lame,

                                                                                         A joined up with a goon,

                                                                                         And make up a loon,

                                                                                         His way would be made once more,

                                                                                         Which tickled up down to the core.

                                                                                         While Luigi went a higher,

                                                                                         Naughty Dog was quite dire,

                                                                                         As everyone came to know,

                                                                                         Tom McShea sunk quite low.

 New Super Luigi U 8.5 > The Last of Us 8.0

Please note I wrote this for laughs and I fully repect Tom McShea and his views.

     As I'm sure you guys know from hints and wee bits of my blogs here and there, my childhood was rough. I think that's why I played video games so much as a child, they were a way for me to escape from reality.

                                                                                    My childhood savior

     My first console was the NES and Super Mario Bros. That started my great relationship with Nintendo. I remember being obsessed with playing Super Mario Bros 3, trying to find every secret. I loved the living crap out of the NES, so I naturally loved the SNES, even more than the NES in fact. Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country, the SNES is tied with the PS2 as my favourite console. I'd also bring my gameboy around with me wherever I'd go. However, I got a PS1 instead of a N64 originally, so next up was the Gamecube. It was easy to enjoy the Gamecube with fantastic titles like Super Mario Sunshine, The Wind Waker, and one of my favourites, Twilight Princess.

     Despite hearing many people dislike Nintendo's new Wii system for it's lack of HD graphics and games, I got it and we very pleased. The first game I got for the Wii was the stunning and superb Super Mario Galaxy. The Wii continued to get fantastic first party games, even if for the first time, it got little to no great third party games.... I got a 3DS about a year and a half ago, and Nintendo has done a great job supporting it.

                                                                                          What is that?!

     Now comes the Wii U. I'm probably going to break and get one around December. But Nintendo's continued dislike of creating new IPs and getting little to no third party support because of simply how different their consoles are, things aren't looking too bright for Nintendo. It feels like they are catering less to their old fans and more to new, younger fans. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but my interest in the Wii U has been stymied because of that. At E3, Nintendo announced a ton of fantastic looking games. For me, this is Nintendo's last chance to really impress me before I eventually abandon them. That being said, I find it REALLY hard not to get all nostalgic and excited whenever Nintendo starts tugging at the heartstrings again.

     What do you think of Nintendo now days?

     Well, I'm back. I had a lot of fun plane hopping all over the place, even if I was silently freaking out inside because me and flying don't mix well. Whenever the plane quickly rose or fell I'd feel a little sick. At least I didn't puke. First stop was Atlanta, we had quite the layover! So we walked around town, but stayed near the airport. Who's we, you say? Me and my sister. Another flight took us to the Northwest Arkansas Airport where OO WHEE PIG SOOIE. Our grandparents had quite a nice place, spacious and, of course, right next to a huge golf course, where I learned I was terrible at golf.

     Our Grandfather is great, but has a few screws loose. He's hilarious though, so no one really minds. Every once in a while he'll randomly blurt out: "THERE IS NOTHING.... more elusive.... than the heart of an indifferent woman. -Teaspoon Hunter" Grampa's daughter lives nearby and she has three kids of her own! Two biological boys, and one adopted Ugandan girl who was about 10. Apparently her life who pretty rough in Uganda. However, she has fit in very well in America during her two years here. The two boys are 14 and 16 and are very funny and great to hang around.

     Here is a bullet list of things I did while there (I may forget some things):

  - Went to a Naturals baseball game, got great seats and free food.

  - After the baseball game, awe inspiring fire works lit up the sky for over three minutes, it felt like forever.

  - Went golfing and failed like a boss, even though I did my best.

  - Missed the new Metal Gear Solid V trailer, but silently shed a tear once I saw it.

  - Drove through a 'Drive Through Safari' where the truck we were in got bounced around by bison, rhinoceros, and camels.

  - Missed the Kingdom Hearts 3 reveal, a game I have been waiting for many years for.

  - Missed the Smash Bros 4 reveal....... WHOO MEGAMAN!

  - Learned how to swim. Who knew that throwing yourself in deep water your natural instincts would kick in and you'd learn how to swim?

  - Went fishing and failed like a boss.... again.

  - And stuff I can't think of right now.

     Writing blogs again feels good. I have a couple of heavy hitters to pen up soon. See you next time!

   I feel kind of gulity writing all these farewell blogs, but I wanted you all to know I'm leaving Gamespot for around a month due to the fact I'm going on a long vacation. I'll be heading to Arkansas, and I'll be staying at a scenic golf course. It sounds very relaxing, and I'm really looking forward to it. For those not so exciting moments, I'm bringing my PSP with a lot of games, including my newly acquired copy of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

   I'll bring plenty of my favourite Jeremy Soul compositions to listen to as well. I will be staying there for anywhere from two weeks to one month. I won't have access to any internet, but I think that's a good thing! It'll be loads of fun. I have a nice blog planned out for when I get back.

   See you guys on the other side! :D

   Skyrim.

     You should have acted. They are already here. The Elder Scrolls told of their return. Their defeat was merely delayed, until the time after Oblivion opened, when the sons of Skyrim would spill their own blood. But no one wanted to believe, believe they even exist. And when the truth finally dawned, it dawned in fire. But there is one they fear in their tongue, he is Dovakiin, Dragonborn!

     It all started here, on Gamespot. An article was published on Gamespot about 'Skyrim'. It told of the first hands on someone had gotten to play, and it also mentioned alchemy, though it didn't even mention the genre. I remember posting: 'Looks cool, but I'm not really into MMOs'. I had never heard of the series, but I assumed it was an MMO, for some reason. I was quickly corrected, and was surprised to hear it was a single player game, which aroused my curiosity. In Gamestop a few days later, an employee said, 'Are you excited for Skyrim?'. I said not really, which made him frown and say, 'I feel sorry for you'. What eventually made me super excited was a incredibly well written 10 page Gameinformer article.

     During February 2012, I finally got a copy of Skyrim. I called in sick(hee-hee....), started right away, and the rest is history. Skyrim drew me in with it's incredibly detailed world, realistic characters, fantastic art style, and it's beautiful soundtrack. Every town felt alive, each quest felt organic and meaningful, and the questlines for the guilds were mindblowing. No other game I've played has so much quality content, it even outshines Oblivion. This game firmly grasped me in place, no other game mattered, this yearning for exploration has never been so fully realized. This game isn't even an RPG. It's a 'Tamrial Life Simulator'. However, for all it's earth shattering positives, it does have something negative.

     This game suffers from a lot of bugs. From horses randomly flying, people randomly flying, heads disappearing, it's all here. The game also suffered from some pretty gnarly framerate drops. However, a lot of these issues have been patched since release. I'm still playing the 1.4 patch, and it solved nearly all my issues, and the game is lag free now.

     Skyrim: Legendary Edition is set for release soon. Don't let the name fool you, this is the GOTY Edition we've all been waiting for. All the DLC for Skyrim is on disc, as well as the latest patch, 1.9. However, after seeing how bad the Fallout 3 GOTY edition was, here's to hoping this release is as solid as Oblivion's GOTY edition. Skyrim: Legendary Edition just might be the greatest complete game ever released.

     If you haven't played Skyrim yet, this is what you've been waiting for. Give the game a chance, it just might suck you into a world you'll never forget.