Hidden Gaming Gems

You know the ones. The games that we stumble across by accident that actually turn out to be some of the best experiences we have in gaming. A hidden gaming gem that we will play completely to the end several times (maybe on different platforms) just for the fun of it. Or maybe perhaps we find the multiplayer aspect of a game too good to put down? Whether it be from years ago or maybe more recently, there are games out there that grab us and don't let us go. Some that come to mind are:

- Burnout Revenge: The multiplayer in this game as truly immense and it was the first ever game I went online to play multiplayer. It's a real shame this game is nearly impossible to play now due to how log ago it was released. Bring it back! Burnout Paradise was nothing in comparison to this arcade racer.

- Broken Sword: A childhood memory for me and one that will likely stay with me for the rest of my life. I've re-played this game on the DS, the IPhone, Ipad and PC (originally on the PS). A truly all time classic point and click adventure.

- Call of Duty: I agree with some that this franchise is becoming nothing more than a money grabbing  tyrant where they justify a full retail price for the next reincarnation which may not be so different to the latter. This said, they certainly do get the last laugh as the multiplayer is compellingly addictive and buying the next in the series feels a lot like getting the next Apple product.

- Discworld: I'm not sure how popular this game was, but along similar lines as Broken Sword, this point and click adventure is just as addictive. The difference? This game lends more humour but also in a much more fictitious environment and plot. Worth a download!

This is just a small selection of the games that come to mind first but there are many more. I remember the days of playing 'Zelda: The Ocarina Of Time', 'Super Mario All Stars' and to perhaps a lesser extend 'GTA: San Andreas'. What are yours?

My Top 10 Games..

Ten games is quite hard to come up with. Games that come immediately to mind are:

1. Burnout Revenge (multiplayer was the best I've seen in a game to date, its just too bad it's not a popular game anymore.
2. Broken Sword.
3. Discworld
4. Super Mario: All Stars
5. Tomb Raider (although very much dated now.)
6. Half Life (series)
7. Rift
8. Simcity 4 (yet to play the new one)
9. Far Cry 3
10. Guild Wars 2 (subject to change)

From this, I feel I hold a lot of nostalgia for games gone by. What are yours?

Gaming Sequels.

Sequels seems to be the foundation on which the video gaming industry lies on these days. A game wouldn't be a successful game unless it is franchised into a sequel (or 5).

It's a saddening thought as this means that originality and fresh challenges become less and less as the same game is reprocessed with a few small Addons and enhancements here and there. It's understandable however, as of course in these financial times, it's better to play a safe bet that you know works, rather to be experimenting in new areas. Sequels often work however, and this can be shown in:

- Grand Theft Auto (San Andreas is still the best one made to date)
- Burnout (apart from Burnout Paradise, what were they thinking..)
- Final Fantasy (7 still being the best)
- Super Mario (kind of, did they kill such a classic by reinventing it in new games again, and again)
- Silent Hill
- COD..

Amongst many others. I guess this brings me onto the question; are we running out of ideas? Has most of the possibilities within the gaming genres been covered off in some way or another?

Graphics In Games. Are They The Be All And End All?

Here is testament to graphics and that they are not the be all and end all of gaming..

For instance, after playing Cities XL, it is of no comparison to SimCity 4. SimCity 4 is a better game in almost all aspects, other than graphics  and, due to this, I would play it over Cities XL anyday. This brings me onto Minecraft, Terraria and Doom (amongst others) which are much more enjoyable than the majority of HD, all singing, all dancing games of today.. or is it just me?



Graphics are not what makes a game.. Does this change however, dependent on the genre you are playing? For instance, when it comes to racing games and the likes of Forza and Gran Turismo, it seems graphics are a fundamental part of what would be classed as 'successful' in is genre.

Irrespective of graphic prowess, what games simply blew you away without any need for realism?