After reading about Charlie Brooker’s all time favourite videogames, I’ve been inspired to put together my own list. Same as with Charlie’s list, here are my own choices in order of chronology rather than rank.
Head Over Heels, ZX Spectrum (Ocean)
This was an inspired game for the ZX Spectrum that combined great graphics, challenging gameplay and quirky characters in a way that defied the limitations of an 8-bit game world. I’m sure there was a bug in it though, in common with loads of games of the time, as I just couldn’t get past some of the levels. I still enjoy playing this today on an emulator and it’s lost none of it’s appeal.
Gauntlet, Arcade (Atari)
I used to play this all the time when I was at University, usually on a Wednesday afternoon when I should have been in a Politics lecture along with my fellow skivers as the arcade machine had space for up to 4 players. The game itself was a never-ending Moebius strip of 2D dungeon destruction that gradually wore you down and exposed the idea that ultimately, there was no point in your character’s ceaseless struggle against overwhelming odds. I wouldn’t be surprised if it accounted for a few suicide attempts amongst regular players.
Super Mario Bros 3, NES (Nintendo)
All Mario games are good but this one stands out for me mostly cos Mario could fly if you got hold of the racoon suit. This was the sort of leap in gameplay that was equivalent to something like Portal nowadays as it meant that Mario’s platform world suddenly grew exponentially (at least that was the illusion created and further enhanced by a copious drug intake at the time).
Street Fighter II, SNES (Konami)
This was the ultimate “back-to-mine” game and the starting point of most Saturday nights as everyone piled round my flat with their carryout for some prolonged beat ‘em up action. It was the first time I remember feeling real physical aggression from playing a videogame – I would punch the armchair repeatedly every time my friend Elfie’s Dhalsim beat my Blanka.
Goldeneye 007, Nintendo 64 (Rare)
I never owned a Gamecube but spent enough time playing this to agree with those who regard this as one of the best head to head shoot ‘em ups ever. Better than the movie as well in my opinion.
Wipeout, Playstation (Psygnosis)
Still the future of racing. A combination of insanely fast antigravity grand prix, amazing graphics from the Designer’s Republic and a soundtrack of the best electronic music of the time including Chemical Brothers and Orbital. I was working in a Sony Centre when this came out and we had it hooked up to a 40″ projection TV and home cinema system at the back of the store. I can remember the first time I tried racing the final ice track and thinking there is no fucking way any human being could react quickly enough to win this race. But win it I did, eventually.
Metal Gear Solid Playstation, PS2 (Konami)
Possibly the coolest game ever, carrying it off with unapproachable style even in it’s daftest moments. Who can possibly forget the sort of head-fuck moments when your game console starts addressing you directly telling you to unplug your controller in order to defeat a telepathic baddie (MSG) or that you should just wake up and stop playing (MSG2), like you were plugged into the Matrix or something.
Half-Life, PC (Valve)
A fantastic plot, written by a genuine scifi author, which combined with some amazing game physics to make this one of the most immersive games ever and one that you had to keep playing till the sweaty, sleep-deprived end. Also responsible for a sequel that was as good as if not better than the original.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, PS2 (Rockstar)
It’s amazing to think that no one was able to create something that had so much fun with an amoral fantasy world until the GTA series came along. Learning the lessons of Wipeout before it, they also added a killer soundtrack of well chosen classic 80′s cuts that had everyone rushing to buy the soundtrack of the game thus proving that a videogame could be as big a franchise opportunity as any Hollywood movie. I was at college with the guy who did the graphic design for the game, Stuart Petri, and can remember seeing his name as the end credits rolled, thinking – “you lucky bastard”.
Ico, PS2 (SCE)
From a beast to a game of such mysterious beauty and elegance that you had to put down your controller every so often just to wipe away a tear of joy.
