My Favourite Videogames

I grew up in the 90s, and some might consider that the decade when videogames really took off.

Now I didn’t have a fancy console growing up, we had what we called a TV-Game, it was basically a Chinese knockoff of real consoles. So we had all the best games like the Super Mario Bros, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Contra and a bunch of other 8-bit and 16-bit games.

I got my first real console, the PlayStation 2 when I was grade 7 and that’s where my gaming journey really started. I stayed up all night during the holidays trying to win the next race in Need for Speed: Under ground 2 or trying to be the next WWE Champion. So here are my top 10 favourite video games.

10. Tetris

Tetris is one of those games that everyone has probably played by now. Now I played it long before it became a cellphone game. I used to play it on the TV-Game, but then we got those Chinese knockoff handheld games and that’s when I got to hooked to it. Tetris is a classic, and I still sometimes play it on those small Nokia phones.

9. Contra

Contra is forever stuck in my memories. I think this game might’ve been influenced by Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was all about shooting and upgrading your gun to shoot a bunch of bullets at the same time. It was also co-op, so you and your friend could team up to take out the bad guys. It’s also one of the first games I tried a cheat code on.

8. Mortal Kombat II

This was one of my go-to arcade games. I had it on the TV-Game for awhile, but it somehow got lost. Every time I went to the arcade and I saw they MKII or MKIII, I wasted my money because I was never really good at it. I still suck at the Mortal Kombat games, but they are a lot of fun. I should probably visit an arcade soon.

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops

I know it’s not considered one of the best Call of Duty games, but it’s the first one I fully owned on my PlayStation 3. I played this game day-in and day-out. And I probably finished it 10 times over on different difficulty levels. I was just so happy that I got to play COD. So this one made it’s way onto the list purely out of nostalgia.

6. Rugby 08

Yes, I’m a rugby lover and unfortunately there has never been a rugby game as great as 08. There’s nothing better than crossing the try line with your favourite player. And let’s be honest, the 2007 All Blacks and Springbok teams were goated. I played all kinds of tournament on this game. The career mode was just as awesome.

6. WWE Smackdown vs Raw/ Smackdown vs Raw 05

I know I have number 6 twice, but these two games share the spot. I love WWE and I’m not ashamed of it, but back in 04/05/06, I was the biggest wrestling fan and these games changed my life. My friends and I would binge play these games all weekend, until one of them threw the controller on the floor because I kept winning. These games just remind of a fun, more easier time.

5.  Tekken 3

The best fighting game ever. I don’t think anything will ever top this. This is probably the only game on the list that I never got to own, because I didn’t have a PlayStation One. I remember playing this with my cousin and it felt like I was opening my eyes to videogames for the very first time. Eddy Gordo was and always will be my favourite Tekken character.

4. Grand Theft Auto V

A game so good, that they struggled to put out a sequel. I got this on release day and I haven’t regretted it once. This is the only game I’ve played over multiple console generations. It had a great story and awesome interface. Everything just felt so smooth and beautifully woven together. Here’s to hoping the next one is even better.

3. Marvel’s Ultimate Alliance

This is the best Marvel game and there’s nothing anyone can say to sway me otherwise. This game has my heart and I really wish we get something like this again. I’m a big Marvel fan and this game was doorway into the superhero universe. Yes I love other Marvel games and the Batman Arkham series is awesome, but this is the best.

2. Need for Speed: Underground 2

I’m not much into cars or car games, but this one was perfect. From the races to the customisations, I don’t think any other game has ever been able to replicate that. It is purely awesome and I still hope we get a remastered edition. EA needs to listen to the people, because everyone loves this game. I played it a hundred times over on my PS2 and on my PC. I used to skip study seasons, just to take part in those URL races.

1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

I don’t even have to say much about this, because there are so many arguments to be made that this is the best game ever. Every teenager spent hours trying to get that hot coffee mod. Anyway… this game had the best cheat codes. It was literally a game where you could do anything. I hope we get to CJ again, he’s probably a grandfather by now.