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!