Where were we?…ah yes….the PS1 Era and Solid Snake.
In February 1999 – I donned my headband, started smoking and sank into the shadows in Metal Gear Solid. I spent my late nights (and early mornings…very early mornings) in a tension sweat, patiently waiting for guards to move out of range, allowing me to make my silent move for the air vent and leave the room like I was never there. I soon became engrossed, learning all the tricks including swapping the controller from port one to port two to stop Psycho Mantis using mind control. Stealth had never felt so exciting and this would later be surpassed by Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty on the ps2. The ability to hide in lockers, shoot in single person mode and hold up guards, making them drop items were a few additions that managed to bring extra depth to an already fantastic brand…I just wish I could have played as Snake.
Where Metal Gear Solid was a lonely experience, it was another game of the PS1 era that would make my gaming journey a far more sociable affair. Command and Conquer ignited my interest in multiplayer games…of course it was not the first, but this one was something special. I would devote days off of my precious school holidays to stay over at Trev’s house, taking my own TV so we could enlist in the war between GDI and NOD on link up (the things we had to do before the Internet really took off). My multiplayer experience would grow as console games became more of a social event. Over the years my friends and I competed to be the top agent in Goldeneye (on the N64), weaved through traffic ridden streets at break-neck speeds in Burnout, punched off zombie heads as Roboduck in Timesplitters and destroyed each other…and the scenery in Red Faction on the PS2. After playing games which were pretty much solo events it was good to be able to let off steam with friends.
By my mid-teens my gaming passion was truly alive. I took to reading magazines, buying walkthrough guides and after many hours of browsing, forming an unlikely friendship with the owner of my local games store. I discovered a way to play import games by plugging an Xploder cartridge into the back of the Playstation. This meant fashioning a blue tack inspired device to place upon the button beneath the lid which would stop the disc from spinning and allow me to swap the PAL disc with the import…Voilà. The main reason I went through this struggle was to get my hands on Chrono Cross….and the juice was definitely worth the squeeze. I loved every minute of it. The Final Fantasy franchise had opened my eyes to the world of RPG’s which led to a quest to find games of a similar style. Chrono Cross ticked that box and I felt like I was playing FF7 for the first time all over again, the simply designed character models, the gripping story and the great music…and then…Tragedy! After roughly 30hrs of game play I reached the end of disc one and it didn’t give me the option to save and with switching off the console the only way of loading the second disc I was screwed.
In an attempt to re-kindle my affection towards Sega I treated myself to a Dreamcast in 1999 but even with the blue hedgehog in their corner, Sega had lost the fight…Sony had won my affection in with a first round knockout. In the coming years the Nintendo would suffer a similar fate with the Gamecube. Though it did have games like the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker which deserves special kudos. However, all Nintendo could do was sit along side my PS2 like a jealous sibling idolizing its stronger big brother.
I dabbled in the PC gaming world on several occasions, but it seemed like I never had a powerful nor reliable enough PC. I do remember getting seriously addicted to Dungeon Keeper…being bad never felt so good…who’d have thought it…me…running my own dungeon, slapping my imps about, keeping my minions happy while trying to conquer the realm…I even managed to get my physics teacher hooked on it.
The PC also gave me the chance to have another crack at Chrono Cross on an emulator… I took great pleasure in finally reaching the end of disc one and with a satisfied smile I observed the “Please insert disc two” screen that had haunted me for years. I swapped the disc and the journey continued with a great amount of relief…and then the Chrono curse struck again…my PC died and as a result I lost my saved game. Maybe one day I will try again as it remains one of the best games I’ve played…just never finished.
Ironically, after many failed experiments in my quest for a new gaming experience, it was the Playstation 2 that took me to the next level and the fantastic variety of games that would come along in its era. One such game was Ico. Never before had I wanted to jump into the screen (except maybe take on Sephiroph in the Forgotten City). The scenery was a work of art that made the real world look dull in comparison to its beautiful finish. On paper, the story of a small boy trying to escape a castle whilst protecting a mysterious girl from demons sounds so simple. However, the enchanting world of the endearing duo brought the game to life and made it linger in the memory.
In contrast when the first God of War was released in 2005 I discovered a whole new set of feelings with its mixture of sheer violence, mythological plot and orchestral soundtrack it was truly beyond epic. From the fight with the Hydra at the beginning I knew I was in for a hell of a ride with Kratos. I was in awe as he entered Pandora’s temple on the back of a giant Titan or climbed out of the underworld with the sole aim to kill Ares the god of war…Kratos knows how to enter a room, and has a talent for clearing one.
So ends chapter 2 of my gaming experience…the journey continues soon…or should I say the next part is currently ‘Uncharted’…
I’m sorry to hear that Chrono Cross hasn’t been kind to you. I do hope that you get the chance to play it again soon.
Thanks, it has kinda become my nemesis. I’m just glad that because it doesn’t get any coverage in the UK I have managed to avoid any spoilers all this time. I still have it so one day I will attempt to finish it again. they say third time lucky right?
now that definatly brings back alot of memorys. Memorys of me accepting alot of defeats during our multiplayer games. 1 game i do remember enjoying watching u play was the famous Discword.
Yeah I the one that stands out was on red alert with the small island in the bottom left corner.. U didnt have a clue where the planes & boats were coming from! I didn’t comment on discworld but I do remember playing it without a memory card seems a bit daft now really
yeah its all coming back to me now that damn island haunted me for ages. silly question but are u buying the new ff13
i totally agree with you on that one but i just get completly sucked in with the amazing story lines the throw at us. i just cant wait for it. the last good rpg i played was lost oddysey on 360 really good story
Me too but with ff12 I Couldnt seem to stick with the story and kept running around doing the monster hunting etc. I enjoyed lost odyssey but got part way through disc 4 and stopped playing for some reason. Am currently playing star ocean. It figures that there’s no jrpg’s that interest me for ages then star ocean,White knight chronicles and ff13 come out in the space of a month!
im in the same boat on that one but i have promised myself no matter how far i get on them all gaming stops for ff13
Totally agree all though if I don’t finish ff13 by march 19th (which I doubt!) I may need to take a break for god of war 3!
know what you mean about ffXII GS found myself doing the same [and still am doing] but still a brilliant game and all eyes have to be on god of war 3 looks amazing and i was lucky enough [thanks to a friend] to have only just finished playing the first two games [or not so lucky depending on how you look at it lol]
Its a series of games everyone should play (unless your under 18 of course) I’m happy to have guided you down the path of chaos!
maybe i will get a surprise for my 30th from my wife [ps3]
wow! great stories! so in the next part are you going to talk about uncharted? i know from the last sentence. i was actualy pretty interested with Ico so i searched it up and i like what im seeing.
Uncharted will make an appearance in the next installment because it more than deserves a place in my gaming journey. I think I will wait until further into this generation before the next installment though. If you like Ico you should definitely check out Shadow of the Colossus on Ps2 and look out for the upcoming Last Guardian on the Ps3.
I also cant wait to get final fantasy XIII. you can go to my website theinsidegamer.webs.com. there iv’e posted some awesome photos for games like assassins creed II, Bayonetta, Darksiders and final fantasy. i cant wait for part 3 of your gaming journey.
I just checked out your website buddy. You have some pretty cool pictures on there.
thanks. im planning on posting some reviews but i just dont have the time and my brain isnt working that good. i got final fantasy a few days ago but im stuck at the summon battle with the odin! any strategies?
Dont bother attacking them just keep activating Snows steel guard ability before one of the sisters attack you. Keep a close eye on your Gestalt bar and as soon as its full quickly activate it.
thats snows summon battle with the shiva sisters! im talking about the one you fight with hope on cocoon. if you dont remember thats fine.
Sorry I dont know why I got that mixed up! If I remember correctly his bar fills quicker when you heal yourself and increase his chain gauge. Use SYN/MED to boost your buffs then swap to COM/MED. When Odin uses his shield ability swap to RAV/RAV to increase his his chain gauge. Hope this helps.