MY TOP TEN VIDEO GAMES

I always wanted to do a top list of my favourite games, they don't exactly mean they are the best games out there and others might question my list, but hey, its my blog and I do whatever I want, and this is my list till this date. I might add that maybe some games I just forgot and were left out of the list for the moment being, but if I remember them I will add them later on,in a broader list, at least these are the ones that came into my mind.

TOP TEN

These are games I consider that must be played because of their overall experience, fun gameplay, longevity, and that just give me a nostalgic moments. I consider them the best.

Not in order.

1- Twisted Metal 2 (PSone)

The 2D comic style artwork and animations, the stories, the characters, the simple yet amazing gameplay, the secrets, the 2 player mode, everything. This makes it the best Twisted metal yet. Even thou Black and Head on Extra twisted ec. for PS2 are amazing, Twisted Metal 2 is still on another level.

2- Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)

Maybe it was the timing when it came out, but the music, 16-bit glorious sprites, the characters, the scenenary, and the straight to the point beat em up; makes this game the best on its category.

3- Mortal Kombat 2 (SNES)

Yeah arcade the arcade version is better audiovisuallly, but this 16-bit home console port is the closes as it gets plus extra features and secrets, and yes the infamous glitches, makes this THE Mortal KOmbat; the (how it supposed to be) digitized photo graphics, the characters, the backgrounds and multiple finishing moves makes it unforgettable.

4- Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

With many good Castlevania games like Portrait of Ruin and Aria of Sorrow, this was a hard one, but I needed to make a choice, and this one is the winner by far. This game is a best buy, not only you are playing a remake of one of the best castlevanias, but the original, Dracula X, is unlocked within this game, and the other best castlevania Symphony of the nights is unlockeable too. The different paths, the soundtrack (might be the best on a video game), the hidden elements, the secrets, the character design and artwork is classic Castlevania enhanced at its peak. The only game that could top this is a remake of Castlevania 3 (but it has to include SOTN again, which won't).

5- Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES)

It was almost a tie with Super Mario World, but I had to pick one so this is the winner. Everything in this game was a big hop from its 2 previous games, the level design, power ups, enemies and stories plus it secrets made it the most played super mario when I was a kid. When I was a kid early Saturday mornings were spent playing this game, before eating some hungry jacks pancakes.

6- Gradius V (PS2)

Gradius is a great game and this one is like the ultimate Gradius, borrowing elements from all its previous versions and modernizing the graphics to 3D but yet on a 2D gameplay, remixing the sound this game is a must for Gradius or 2D Side scrolling shoot em ups. The game is hard but yet easy to progress (eventually), I just can't stop playing, very intense. Konami and Treasure one of the best in classic shooting action joined forces for this; extra 1,0000 points for that.


7- Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)

Even though Contra 4 for Nintendo DS and Contra Shattered Solider from PS2 borrow
elements from this game and Hard Corps from Genesis, I still think they it couldn't
surpass this one; Contra III: The Alien Wars. The story was straight to the point, the gameplay simple run and shoot, the graphics one of the best in the SNES days, the intense action, boss and level design makes this game THE Contra at its peak. When I was a teenager I spent many summer days playing this game before going skating.

8- Ikaruga (Gamecube)

I see this game as an arcade at home, simple press start and play, music score,
direction, design, subliminal story, gameplay concept (in which you switch colors to
absorb bullets), everything in this game makes it perfect. I could spend hours just
replaying the first level alone, trying to have a perfect score. Also this has one of the most dramatic endings on a video game. For me, this is the best shoot em up game out there. Treasure did an amazing job.

9- Super Bomberman (SNES)

When the term multiplayer is discussed, this game is the first to pop on my head. I
rented this game so much from Blockbuster years ago that I might have as well bought it.Back on those glory days the 4 player connector that came along with it made it the best game for a sleep over with friends and house parties. The gameplay was simple and fun; blast your opponent away (which meant the computer or your friend). I still prefer this game over the Saturn version still.

10- God of War (PS2)

This is THE game for greek mythology lovers. The audiovisuals might be the best in the PS2 generation, the story direction mixed with animated comic style and amazing rendered 3D movies is just amazing. The puzzles and some in game elements makes this game stand above others, even its sequel. Its one of those games you jsut can't stop playing until its over. And still you will want to play it again because of the challenges and unlockables.

TEN to 20

These are games I consider highly re-playable, with interesting graphics or character designs, simple but innovative concepts (at its time), great gameplay experience or just plain fun.

11- World of Warcraft (PC)
12- Super Gunstar Heroes (GBA)
13- Battlefield 1942 (PC)
14- Tenchu: Stealth Assassin (PSone)
15- LOADED (PSone)
16- Guitar Hero II (PS2)
17- Odin Sphere (PS2)
18- Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube)
19- Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War
20- Road Rash 32bit (PSone)

Contrast nights of total opposites.

This post will vary and not be about video games... at leat for now. It will be about an experience I had and made me see (again) the contrast of 2 different lifestyles, and how they criticize each other. So I will just give my opinion about it and start with this:

WTF?

Seriously, ok this picture (which my girlfriend took) was at the ladies room from a night club, won't same the name because its relevant, its the same as others from around here; big space, big screens, small tables, bars, plenty of birthdays, bad food (for real), and a cliché cover bands included. And of course.... the crowd.

Night Club (friday)

Anyways, I am going to talk about the picture for a second... just look at it, its a fucking iron.. to make the ladies hair straight.. I mean, its like... you pay $2 and you start fixing your hair there.. because of what... because is not straight enough or you might look bad to the sex craving guys outside? I mean I am not against woman fixing their hair... but the point of putting it on the bathroom just completed the superficial essence of that place altogether. The company that did that, they really know how to exploit some situations and trends. I've seen condoms machines in the gentlemen restroom and made me realize the following... in the ladies room the ladies get pretty so they could attract the males that are buying the condoms in the other restroom to fuck their brains out. Genius! Fuck you.

Am I against that? No, is just things that give away the idea of those places and how superficial is everything, like the people... "having a good time", how can we have a good time if we can't speak to each other because of the loud total mainstream club music pumping out of the speakers. Its all fake to me, everyone is just standing around, (with beer or drink in hand of course, check), looking all glamorous, talking (if its possible) about who knows what and then dancing to the stupidiest music on my music taste spectrum. Just hate it. Here is a picture of me:

Fuck your bloodline.

Yeah, thats me saying hello to the people overthere, and thats Josue the husband (HUSBAND!) of my girlfriend's 1st best friend (woman always have more than 1 best friend), he didn't wanted to be there either, even thou he likes drinking and party, he told me that place... was just not for him anymore, and I understand, he is married he works hard everyday, and he appreciates rest more than a fantasy room for alcoholics and sex maniacs. This place is not for me, but still I went because of a birthday party of my girlfriends 2nd best friend (told ya), did I have fun? Yeah, because I was looking around and all my points and theories were proving upon my eyes.. all the cliché and predictable situations were coming true, I felt happy because this was never part of my lifestyle, I wont talk about all those things that usualy happen in that kind of palces because I will never end.. but I do want to mention the classic OH YOU MADE IT! HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE, YOU LOOK GOOD MMM...fuck you. Thats the classic then a girl is talking in a group, then they see someone they know arrive, then they put their arms up then start walking faster not lifting their high heel shoes (yeah high heels or platform is a must on those places...fucking stupid) making short fast paces with a whore smile on the face and wiggling the head sideways with the ironed straight hair moving, and then the classic kiss and whore hug, and of course the guy takes adtanvage as a dog. And yes I predicted that weeks before (I told my girl about it) and it happend, rest my case.


That happend on a friday night, in a way it was cool since my girlfriend urged to do something different and go to her kind of places (actually not anymore but still likes it), and we shared with her friends, so wasnt that bad, and I am happy for her friend she turned 25, so good for her. Now, on Saturday is a whole different story.

GRAF fucking ORLOCK

Hardcore show (saturday)
My band was an opening act for Graf Orlock a cinema grind core band from California, and yes they are brutal, fast and heavy, pretty much the music I listen too, nothing too special even thou many people labeled them as the best band ever heard... its like waht? what you listen to? Korn? Atreyu? its fucking grind core, its all the same and good. Anywyas yeah I think they were pretty good, but they aren't the best if such thing really exist.
Well this show took place on a small venue kind of close to where I work, so it was a nice drive overthere, and yes I went alone, I didn't want to exposure my girlfriend to that atmosphere which I love, but I know she woudl freak out... why?
In those shows, you don't stand around like a asshole, you are part of the action when the band is playing, people start to bounce, slam agaisnt each other very hard, throw punches in the air, kicks, getting hurt, jumping from stages etc.. its all good, I mean if you are not into it you will think is crazy and stupid...yeah in a way it is, but people are having real fun and having real adrenaline rush without the excess alcohol or sex tension as a night club. People can really talk between bands, see other bands merchandise, help each other carry the equipment, ets its a good atmosphere of really sharing. The girls in those places, they don't bother using revealing dresses, or stupid high heels or platforms, they are happy as they are and they even look prettier than fake woman on night club, because they look real, not from a THE HILLS Mtv crap. I will not deny that is really a violent place sometimes, there are fights and hitting etc, at least they don't shoot each other. I htink the fights come about, becuase of hte hard dancing I mean, I am against violent dancing because one thing is dancing and bouncing against each other, but hitting directly to another person thats a fucking assault. But if you aren't related to those type of shoes and someone bounces against you really hard and fall, DO NOT get up and assault the person, he didnt did it in purpose or a personal way he was jsut dancing his anger out and happen to stumble against you. So the thing is if you assault someone becuase he accidentally hit you, you might get your ass kick back to a fucking night club. Its a place of adrenaline, you never get bored watching the band and pretecting your nuts at the same time...its really brutal.
And that is my kind of place, thats the type of music I listened to since I was a kid, and I am damn proud about it. In this show like I said my band LA VIRGEN DEL POZO was the opening act, and people danced to us, so its pretty cool, they liked it a lot, I even broke a bass string (yes jolge I can brake bass strings reather easily) and kept palying, they even let me borrow another bass but I kept mine the the last remainig strings re-tuned to fit the missing one, it was crazy here is a pic:

VIRGEN ROCK!

See, 3 strings, and guess what...I was happy, enraged and happy at the same time, crazy right? But yeah, in this palce I can talk to anyone about bands and zines or records, and not about my job, and other nonsense as a night club crowd.
I want to mention that in that show, I jsut saw a guy get his nose busted by a really fat guy. The fat guy just turned and threw a punch in the air, but this kid happen to be on the perimeter of the punch and got hit. Blood started to flow, the other guy didnt even realize about it. I was like, man are you ok? And he was like its all right he is lucky he is my friend. I was like BRUTAL ... that was a friendly assault.

THE VEREDICT:
In the night club which was kind of boring I did felt I did something different with my girlfriend and I know she likes that style, not mine at all. But yeah I think it was allright, even thou I had to spend more than $40 in enrance fee, food and drinks (for her). While in the Hardcore show the entrance fee was free because I was in a band, and only spent like $11.50 in which $8 was from a 10" vinyl record of Graf Orlcok, $2 was from a fanzine that comes with a cd, and $1.50 for a bottle of water. And yes It was the best fun I had in a while, because it was a real experience and not a sueprficial one. Can't wait till this friday were I play again. Rock out with your cock out. PEACE.