We all have that one game that holds a special place in our hearts. What game is it for you?
For me, it’s Metal Slug. Growing up, every Monday, my parents would drag me to the laundromat after work. As a kid, it was a pretty boring, but I had my toys, origami books, and coloring books to keep me entertained. However, my favorite thing to do was playing the Metal Slug arcade machine with my dad.
My dad was great at the game, and he taught me how to play. Though I improved, I could never keep up. When I’d inevitably die, he’d let me take over his side to let me have a bit more playtime. My favorite part was when he’d share stories from when he lived in another country and would go to the local arcade.
Those moments are cherished memories, and even today, whenever I visit an arcade, Metal Slug is the first game I play, despite still being terrible at it haha
Honorable mention goes to Mario 64, another game that holds a special place in my heart. I got an N64 from a garage sale, and playing Mario 64 while at home, with my mom’s “chore” music in the background ignited my love for gaming
Need for Speed: Most Wanted. I love arcade racing games, simulators can be annoying sometimes. The graphics were also pretty good at the time. I also really like the customisation options, nothing better than making your car feel really yours.
The OST is very special to me. It helped me form my current music taste. Hell, I still listen to it from time to time. I have also discovered my favourite band, Mastodon, through the soundtrack.
But the best part were the cop pursuits. Oh, the sweet sweet adrenaline from dodging car blocks and SUVs etc. I remember how hard my heart was beating every time I was running away from cops after completing every objective, listening to them communicating on the radio, hoping none of them would be on my way to the nearest shelter.
I’m guessing you mean the original Most Wanted. That game was excellent. I think the ‘special place in my heart’ is probably reserved for NFS 3 (which I played the absolute shit out of and was the first NFS game to include cop chases) or the first one just because it introduced me to the series. Most Wanted though was the last good NFS game in my opinion. I lost interest when Underground came out, but when the demo for MW was released I played it so much I had to buy the game. The soundtrack was good as I recall; I think it was also the last NFS game where I didn’t immediately mute the music.
And yeah, the police pursuits were really good in that. Hard enough to be a challenge, but not so hard that it was punishing.
Midnight Club 3 and Little Big Planet 1 & 2 shaped my taste in music a lot. I love the soundtrack to those games