Draft: The Last Games I Loved

The Top 5 Games I Loved

5. Pokémon Light Platinum (Rom Hack)

This game makes its way to the top five list not through any ground breaking new features or genre defining developments, but from how it kept me sane through my freshman year of high school. Most people have not heard of this game, functioning as a modified version of Pokémon Ruby Version playable on the PC. The creator of this game meshed graphics from other Pokémon games and included a large inclusive list of Pokémon from all generations that could not be found in the traditional games. The amount of content packed into the game allowed me to keep playing for weeks, most of which occurred during class. 

The school I attended for my freshman year of high school had this 'fantastic' idea of giving each student a laptop. There were monitoring programs and restrictions, but when during a lecture, the teacher's attention was diverted. Since it was my freshman year, I was stuck in the introductory classes, the content of which I had already learned most of when prepping for the SAT. I had to take it as a requirement for applying to the boarding school I was planning on attending starting my sophomore year. Without my GPA being at risk, my younger self had no interest in paying attention. Playing Light Platinum through class was what kept me awake while the teachers crawled through their presentations.

4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is considered one of the best Call of Duty games of all time. It has a excellent single player campaign, a delicate balance where the story can be understood by new players but still continues the storyline for returning fans. The polished multiplayer maps, profile customization, and rewards created an unique multiplayer experience. However, that is not why it made my list. I've only played two Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops 2, both of which served a very similar role in my life. I experienced Modern Warfare 2 first, only moving to Black Ops 2 with its release. It deserves its spot on this list because it is what connected me to my peers in middle school.

At the time, I was living in a small farming town. Very few people had their sights set any further than the border of the town. While priorities in middle school for other people were on sports, relationships, an parties, my parents wanted me to focus on after school programs and studying. I never could hang out after school or do sleep overs, creating a divide where I couldn't develop lasting friendships. However, every guy in my school picked up a copy of Modern Warfare 2. I found a way to convince my parents to let me get an Xbox 360 for Christmas and get the game too. With a headset and mic, I was finally able to connect with the other kids on my own time. I wasn't the greatest, but I was just good enough to make a name. This game bridged the gap, giving me a way to be accepted by my peers in a way that wasn't possible before.

3. Age of Mythology

My uncle first showed my older brother and I this game when he came to stay with our family after attending university in Australia. I was in late elementary school, and having a cool, young uncle who played video games was amazing. He gave us copies of the game to play a couple months while he stayed. My brother understood the game better than I did, but it was the mythology that tied into the story that sparked my interest over the gameplay. This game took my love for mythology of different cultures and meshed them into a genre that I could easily digest.

However, when my uncle left, he took the game with him. It was on the back of my mind for years, never knowing the name of the game or how to get a copy until I was in middle school. I downloaded the game for both my brother and I, and the rest was history. My brother wasn't a big fan of video games, but this was one that he thoroughly enjoyed. I always wanted to play with him, but none of the games I played at the time held his interest. Age of Mythology, maybe because of it being so relevant in our youth, was one he would spend time playing with me. I could finally spend quality time with my brother in one of my hobbies.

2. League of Legends

Being the most popular games in the world for many years, it was inevitable that I would try League of Legends eventually. The wave of popularity hit my boarding school hard. Every single person played it, and since we lived together, playing together could not have been easier. I have a love hate relationship with this game. I have put almost 3500 hours into this game, ranking in the top 2% of players worldwide. This game is a drug that rots the brain, but it is one hell of a ride. I have played this game since 2012, only taking a break during my senior year of high school into the start college and a break currently. League of Legends brings out my competitive side, a battlefield where I can flex my prowess and can stand out. In high school, I couldn't beat my friends in sports, wasn't the top of my boarding school in academics, but in League, I found my niche.

The constant updates, the new character releases, and the graphic overhauls keep the game fresh. A returning player will always feel a vein of familiarity that welcomes them back open armed despite the changes. This game is easy to learn but hard to master, making it a fun experience for anyone from the casual player to the hardcore gamer. League provides a community, connecting you to your friends and other players even from the isolation of a dorm room. When I explore new games, I always find the League community in the shadows of my thoughts, pulling me back towards it. The team centered playstyle makes every person you play with feel like a friend, fighting for the same goals as you. This feeling of belonging is what puts League of Legends second on my list.

1. Halo: Combat Evolved

This gem is the cherry on top of the list. It's only downside was that its prevalence faded with age. I picked up this game at the same time I was introduced to Age of Mythology. My Australian uncle mentioned it, and I took his word for gold. I played this game almost everyday. When my parents thought I was studying, I was playing. I didn't really need to study as much as they wanted me to. Sure, it would've helped with the after school programs if I spent more time, but I hated them. I was a straight A student (except for P.E.). I spent car rides reading the game manual front to back so many times that I had the lore and statistics of every character, map, and weapon memorized. This game distracted me from the drama of early middle school. I no longer worried about who I would sit next to in class the next day. I worried about what weapon I would practice when I got home. I didn't care that I got made fun of for being bad at sports because I knew I would win all the matches I played at home. While looks were what made people popular in school, skill is what set one Spartan from another in Halo. This game was an escape from the stress of my everyday life.

No other game can give me the same feeling as this one does. It's art style is beautiful, with breathtaking views at every turn. Any time I play through the campaign, there are moments where I feel chills that bring me back to the child-like excitement I felt the first time playing. Even years after I had put the game down, it's influence would still shine through. The first year of my boarding school (sophomore year), my friends found a copy of Halo that they passed around one weekend when we were gaming. I told them that it wouldn't be fair if I played, but they brushed it off as me being cocky. The only game I played with them was me versus three of my friends and my brother, who was a senior at the same school. I won by such a large margin that they never let me play with them again. The muscle memory and knowledge from years of training were still as sharp as they were in my younger days. That one match was enough to send me reminiscing about the years I spent living in the Halo universe. I knew for sure that no other game would trump my love for Halo: Combat Evolved.