Shaan Joshi – Reviewer
Journey
It’s a little difficult to try to explain in words why Journey is a truly special game. Simply put, it’s greater than the sum of its many parts, and as spectacular as its soundtrack and visuals are, Journey connected with me on a deeper level than most games do. Normally I would fall back on the old adage “seeing is believing,” but Journey really needs to be experienced in order to fully understand the weight and magnitude of its impact on the gaming landscape.
Braid
From a gameplay perspective, Braid is nothing short of a work of art. Creator Jonathan Blow managed to deconstruct the gameplay mechanics of games like Super Mario Bros., and in turn, constructed a surreal world where time has no rules, or rather, time follows a very different set of rules. But for those who are willing to dig for it, Braid has a lot of hidden meaning. It’s a very personal game, one that touches upon themes of regret and love, and it’s one game that I find myself replaying every year or two.
Metal Gear Solid
Hideo Kojima’s long-running series will (in all likelihood) be bastardized and transformed into something that series fans will cry foul at, and I myself am skeptical of the direction the series seems to be going in without Kojima at the helm. But if we look to the past, there are plenty of entries in the series that are worth celebrating, and Metal Gear Solid stands out the most for me. Its graphics are certainly dated at this point, but it was the first game that managed to merge storytelling and gameplay in a way that appealed to both my love of Hollywood and video games as a whole.
Super Mario World
Like most Nintendo games, Super Mario World isn’t a grand spectacle; it doesn’t feature an amazingly crafted story, and don’t expect things like cutscenes or twist endings. On the other hand, Super Mario World is (for me) the pinnacle of 2D platforming and level design. Everything, from jump heights to acceleration feels absolutely perfect, and with Super Mario World living on through games like Super Mario Maker, I can keep reliving my childhood over and over.
The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Having just touched upon a game that is essentially devoid of a real story, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker marked a big shift for Nintendo in terms of storytelling. Not only did the more powerful GameCube hardware allow for Nintendo to further craft a more story-focused Zelda, but it paved the way for one of the most exciting worlds to explore. While some may herald The Elder Scrolls or Fallout when it comes to open-world exploration, I will always cherish the time spent on the Great Sea, sailing from quadrant to quadrant, slowly mapping out the ocean, and waiting to see what the next discovered island would have in store.
The Secret Of Monkey Island
Let’s be completely honest with each other. Most games in today’s age aren’t that funny, and oftentimes, the ones that strive for comedy often fall short of their mark, in sometimes disastrous ways. The Secret of Monkey Island, on the other hand, represents an era long gone, where developers placed an equal emphasis on humor and writing as well as crafting a world worth exploring, and puzzles that were equally difficult and inventive. A second generation of developers are helping to keep the point-and-click adventure alive, but The Secret of Monkey Island (and most “golden era” LucasArts adventure games) will always have a special place, both in my heart and on the bookcase in my office.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials And Tribulations
Like a few of the other games (and series) on this list, I would be perfectly fine with listing the entire series as opposed to picking out a specific game. The same holds true for the Ace Attorney series as a whole, but instead I have to give credit to the third game in the genre, subtitled Trials and Tribulations. While the minute-to-minute gameplay doesn’t diverge much from the rest of the series, Trials and Tribulations features some of the best characters, mysteries and music that the series has to offer. More importantly, it concludes the events from the preceding games, wrapping up many of the franchise’s unresolved plot lines and mysteries, all while paving the way for future entries in the series.