I’ve been playing games since they were invented. Pellets have been eaten, barrels have been jumped, cars have been raced. With each generation of video games the purists have declared that graphics do not make a great game, game play does. All the while newer generations are exposed to more and more eye candy while that intangible quality of what makes a good game is getting lost.
I propose a new measurement of rating video games. Not the graphics, not the audio, but the emotional and physical changes that video games can have on a person. Can a game make me laugh? Scared? Cry? Give me an andrenaline rush? If so, then that is a good game! Here are some of the best games to ever be released (and if you know me, then you’ve seen me mention these games before). Listed in chronological order:
- Kaboom! (Atari 2600)
- Robotron 2084 (Arcade)
- Hydro Thunder (Arcade, Playstation One, Dreamcast)
- Conker’s Bad Fur Day (Nintendo 64, Xbox)
- Geomtry Wars (Xbox 360)
Honorable Mention
- Rescue on Fractalus (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)
- Centipede (Arcade)
- Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade)
These are the games that have had an emotional effect on me. They’ve gotten my heart pumping, scared the crap out of me, or made me laugh. The only emotion that I can’t think of feeling from a game is sadness. Has anyone played a game that’s actually made them cry?
What other great games have you played that have had a lasting effect on you (”wow, this looks awesome” does not count!)?
Discussion
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