Okay, I've put this off for a while now, and I'm gonna try and get it all done in one shot. I'm sure you all know by now what a big video game fan I am. Aside from just playing them, I actually see them as the next step, or at least another step, in the history of storytelling. They combine mutliple aspects of our art - drawing, writing, music, film - and create one cohesive work, something that affects it's audience at a level the other mediums just cannot. That's the main reason I want to make a carreer out of it, really. I like the storytelling aspect of it, and the ability to immerse a person to that depth in the story.
Anyway, all that's neither here nor there. I've broken the list up by game system because that's the way it makes sense to me. I'll put a star by the ones I'd really like.
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Gamecube - Though it's on the way out, I never got one, so when I heard that Nintendo's new system (the Wii) would play 'cube games, I figured I'd see what all I had missed. Since the system is "last year's model" the games have for the most part been discounted (added to the "Players Choice" collection), and are usually easy to pick out with their different packaging.
*Pokemon Colleseum - Aside from being another adventure in the world of Pokemon this will let me transfer the Pokemon from my Game Boy games and see them battle in 3D graphics, which I think is a good use of a 6' wide projection screen.
Starfox Assault - It's been a while since I had a good space-combat game. I played this with a friend a while ago, and really liked it
*Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door - Super Mario Brothers done as sheets of paper. Looks really cool, with a unique gameplay system to boot.
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Playstation 2 - Though I've managed to get most of the games I want for the home system we already have, there are a few that I decided could wait until the holidays
Disgaea 2 - A strategic game with a light and funny storyline. The genre is called "Turn Based Strategy RPG", and it plays out a lot pieces on a chess board, only the pieces have different abilities. The first was a cult hit, and lots of fun.
Ace Combat 5 - Jet fighter simulator. I loved AC4, and 5 looks to keep the quality coming.
Ace Combat Zero - See above. This is the latest release in the Ace Combat Series.
Shadow of the Colossus - A series of battles with giant bosses. Colossuses? Colossi? Whichever, it's supposed to be simply beautifully crafted, and got great critical reviews.
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Nintendo DS - The DS stands for Dual Screen. Or maybe not, officially it is just DS, so who knows. It does have some of the most unique and fun games out on the market right now, and is considered by many the best portable gaming system available.
*Starfox Command - Portable starfighters! It's in the same series as the Starfox Assault I listed above, but the additional touch-screen controller changes the controls to make it a completely different game.
Final Fantasy III - A classic RPG from the old Super Nintendo that's been updated for use on the DS. I never played the original (actually, this is the first time it's been released in America in any form besides imports), but every review I've seen raves about it.
Contact - A game where the only method you have of controlling the main character is to manipulate the environment around him. Seems interesting.
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PSP - I got this last year, and was pretty bummed that there werent many good games for it. Luckily, it's host of other features (web browsing, Music and Video playback) kept me occupied long enough to hang on to it and now, over a year later, it's finally getting some quality games.
*Loco Roco - Use the shoulder buttons to tilt the world of a little blob, steering the blob from start to finish.
Metal Slug Anthology - A remake of the classic sidescrolling arcade game. Or rather, 6 of them. It's something that I always pop a few quarters into when I see a machine somewhere, so now I'll be able to have it for my very own, and not have to worry about when I have to leave.
Ace Combat X - More Jet-fighter combat. Same as the other Ace Combat titles from what I've read. Flight simulators on the airplane seems appropriate. Plus, I just saw a movie where, when both pilots died, the only person able to fly the plane was a gamer with 2000 hours of simulator experience. Maybe if they see me playing this in coach, I'll get my shot to help out, too. (Seriously, I hope not. I want to land every plane trip I take with as many pilots as we took off with. Maybe more, but I don't see how that's possible.)
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Multisystem - Lego Star Wars II - Lucasfilm is releasing the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD in two disc sets. For each movie, one disc will contain the Super-special edition version, with all the new CG enhancements and extensions, and (the really exciting part) one disc with the movie completely untouched from it's original form. That'll be added to the list when I get around to the movies I'm looking forward to, but in the video game realm, they are also releasing Lego Star Wars II. The first Lego SW game was a trip through the prequel trilogies, and while the concept looked solid (you actually play as Lego toy versions of all the characters, and build ships and vehicles out of lego bricks), I wasn't a big fan of Episodes 1-3. 4-6 though, that I would enjoy. This title is listed as Multisystem, because it is availiable for pretty much every system out there. While I'd rather not have it for DS, I'd accept it for either PSP, PS2, Game Cube, or Wii, if that version exists. Whichever you guys decide will be great.
P.S. - I will edit this later on, as new games come to my attention.
