Top 5 Most Favourite Video Games Per Category

So now to the "interesting?" bit; what question kept me pondering for roughly week, you might ask.  Essentially, it's just a top-5 list but the kicker is that it's a top-5-per-category list; something I've never really considered.  You always think about stuff like "Yeah, this one is one of my favourites!" and then someone mentions another one and you're like "Oh yeah!  I forgot about that one!  Man, that rocked!"  The real challenge is to be fair, honest and being able to remember all the games you've played over the years.

So here's my Top 5 Most Favourite Video Games Per Category:

Remember: if I didn't play it, I can't list it.

- STRATEGY -

Runner Up: Civilizations V.

5) Warcraft III.

- It's a real shame that this game came out just before widescreens became standard.  A game that focuses on small army play; something I've always preferred over Starcraft 1's "build en masse" gameplay.  I never really found many people to play with, though, but that's mostly because someone at Blizzard thought it'd be a good idea to rewrite battle.net for Warcraft III and have players manage their own firewalls.  I always felt that the camera was zoomed in a little bit too close.  This could easily jump as my #3 if naval combat was implemented like it was in Warcraft 2.

4) Age of Mythology.

- It's the best "Age of" in my book and that's mainly due to the fact that each race plays differently.  It's a solid game that plays REALLY well for a non-B developer (Bungie, Blizzard, Bioware, Bethesda) game.  A nice bonus is how the transition to 3D didn't lose the fidelity of AoE2's sprites.  It plays a little slow but that's what I like about the "Age of" games.

3) Starcraft II.

- I wasn't a fan of the original and I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've enjoyed my competitive experience in Starcraft 2 far more than ANY OTHER RTS.  The computer is interesting to play against and it accomplishes that without cheating too.  It's familiar yet completely different than the original.

2) the Majesty series.

- I hardly ever mention this one; not a lot of people like it.  It doesn't matter which version you play: The Mac, the PC, the mobile version, the first one or the sequel.  If you're looking for a serious challenge, Majesty is the way to go.  Gold is your only resource and you're trying to manage NPCs you can't directly control.  It's a game of smarts over reflexes.  Watch your people grow and equip them by building shops, give your people goals by placing bounties and they'll earn the money to buy items.  The Android version of the game was ported to the iOS and it's by far the best RTS experience on the iOS you could ever have, Starfront lagging far behind in second place.  I love these games so much!

1) the Myth series.

- The absolute best, period.  It's the only RTS that I feel the terrain (and where you position your dudes) has any real impact on the game.  Zombies can be hidden underwater.  Formations matter.  The physics is still top notch.  The game speed is just about right.  Limbs can be picked up and be used to stun people when thrown.  Your units can be named and get better over time (notice that 3 of my favourite strategy games involves character growth) which can be brought into your next game/map.  If it wasn't for the fact that Majesty is "almost" strictly single-player (co-op games are near impossible to complete), I'd say that Myth is the only strategy game where I play the campaign.  It is SO GOOD!

- ROLE PLAYING -

Runner Up: Baldur's Gate.

5) Fallout 3.

I don't play RPGs all that much, despite how the Youtube LPing community sees me.  I play so very little that I can't help but list a game I haven't played long and will most likely never play again.  It's not that it's bad (otherwise it wouldn't be here) it just doesn't have that pull to bring me back.  Maybe it's the desolate environment(s), I don't know.  I love the humour, love the idea of scavenging/surviving but it's on the list mainly to thank it for giving me one of the best RPG moments I ever had…  but it was more like playing Left4Dead against the inhabitants of Megaton… so… it's a shooter?

4) Neverwinter Nights 1.

- I first played the campaign in co-op with a very close friend of mine; lots of fond memories (it's what it's all about, really).  I bought the expansions because I could join persistent servers and it was essentially my first MMO.  With the Dungeon Master client, this has the potential to match a P&P experience.  I'm always keeping my CDs close by.  Looks ugly as sin up close, though, but it was designed to play like Baldur's Gate.  I should install it and play through the expansions… one day.

3) Dragon Age: Origins.

- It's the traditional RPG formula at its best; with a strong focus on character story.  It's super crazy hard without a healer and each victory is gratifying.  I don't like linear corridors, though, and I know it wants me to play nanny.  What I love about it is that I can set up some tactics for the AI so that I don't have to bother with them once they're programmed.  This is one game you can't play with distractions around, put some headphones and enjoy the dialogue.

2) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

- You saw it coming.  The fact that a game I honestly haven't played for long happens to be in 2nd place speaks volumes to how I feel about this game.  If it wasn't for its archaic RPG-style of doing things and the overall unwelcoming inhabitants, I'd easily consider it being #1.

1) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

- I can't put Skyrim on the list yet but from what I've seen, I think it'd be a contender for #1.  Oblivion is the first RPG I've played (and the best of) where I can be immersed and not give a fuck about numbers.  I'd apologize for the foul language but number crunching (or the need to crunch those numbers) is a huge pet-peeve of mine in RPGs and I think swearing appropriately describes what I think is bat-shit wrong with the genre as a whole.  Do whatever I want, whenever I want and have the game adjust itself accordingly.

- SHOOTER --

Runner Up: Left4Dead.

5)  Modern Combat 3.

- Say WHAT?  An iOS game?  Seriously?  Yes.  Not only is it the best shooter on the platform, but its multiplayer is actually pretty fun.  Normally I wouldn't be interested in that kind of multiplayer but it fits really well on a mobile device as opposed to a full fledged console (it controls better too).  I mean, it's comparable to a console shooter but, to me, that kind of gameplay makes more sense on the iOS.

4) Battlefield 1942.

- Sure, entering a vehicle was fun but being a medic was the best.  Possibly one of the only shooter's I've played that made me feel like I was in a war.  The best part?  None of it was scripted.

3) Halo: Combat Evolved.

- The other Halo games would probably be on this list (I play a little bit of Reach at work) but they have one major flaw: They're on the wrong platform.  Halo 1, on the other hand, got a Mac release and it's essentially a Marathon reboot.  Don't know what Marathon is?  It's like Halo with Doom 2 graphics; the biggest difference being that your shields didn't regenerate then… which is Halo's most game-defining features next to the inability to carry around more than two weapons.

2) Rainbow Six Vegas 2:

- It would've been #1 but it falls short on two things: I prefer the feeling of managing different TEAMS at once following a customizable plan instead of just having 2 following NPCs.  Terrorist Hunt mode is ruined by how the terrorist spawns.  They should spawn at random locations at the start of the game instead of "on the fly".

1) Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield.

- A Shooter that gives me the time to think?  For a strategy fan, this one is a no brainer.  It's a game where you really rely on your teammates in order to succeed.  I know that a lot of games focus on team play, but to make me feel for an NPC and plan ahead in such a way so that he doesn't get shot is amazing.  *clears room* "Is everyone okay?"  Sweet!

- ACTION & ARCADE --

Runner Up: Street Fighter 2.

5) Dungeon Siege series.

- That includes the 3rd instalment too.  I think the biggest problem with the series is that its biggest strength (the ability to shape your character dynamically as you fight, as opposed to putting points in stats) was never really incorporated in the design very well.  To the point that even the developer suggested that you focused on a single path.  The series could NEVER come close to Diablo's but they still managed to pull off some amazing things.  The potion system, the pack mule, the party system, the boss fights, they're all very good.  Dungeon Siege III even managed to spice up the combat system in a way that I think is originally pleasing…  a shame they had to screw up multiplayer the way they did.

4) Magicka.

- Filled with bugs and performance issues, it's the only game on Steam (besides Skyrim) that is worth playing if you're one of those people that don't like Steam.  I see Magicka as a party game but it's pretty entertaining in single-player as well.  The way the game allows you to mix elements to create various spells is ingenious.  Fix the bugs and performance issues and this game easily goes up to #3 on my list… maybe even #2.

3) Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

- Everything a sequel should be.  I'd include Sonic 4 in there as well.  It's one of these games that I keep coming too.  Sometimes I try to go as fast as I can, other times I just take the time to roam around.  Good thing Sonic 2 and 4 are on the iOS, because I don't have my Sega Genesis anymore.

2) Diablo II.

- Diablo II falls short to being included with Diablo.  Content wise, the game is amazing but just like they change how Starcraft II plays compared to Starcraft, Diablo II doesn't play the same way as Diablo.  It's still very fun and addicting to play but there was this Resident Evil survival feel to the original that the sequel lacks.  It's more epic, less creepy.  Act 2 alone puts this game in my top 5 favourite games of all time.  Everything about it rocks.

1) Diablo.

- You see a demon, you kill it.  Enough said.  It hasn't aged well, but I still consider it my FAVOURITE GAME.  Every year, I load it up for a play through although with Diablo III coming up soon, I don't know if I'll play through it this year.  I find it completely stupid that you can't play in Nightmare of Hell difficulty mode in single player.

-- PUZZLE & ADVENTURE --

Runner Up: Bejeweled.

5) The Humans.

- What a stupid name for a video game!  It's one of those things that's super hard to find via google search.  Fun game, though.  Most of the puzzles are platforming types.  You have a bunch of humans and you have to use tools such as spears and rope to be able to accomplish the various objectives.  It plays a lot like Blizzard's old Lost Vikings game.

4) Lemmings series.

- Who doesn't know about lemmings?  Who doesn't like lemmings?

3) Back to the Future.

- I'm not a huge fan of the adventure type games.  There's something about trial and error that really turns me off.  This game, however, is just the right amount of puzzle and story for me.  It's a little bit farfetched but it still matches the flow of the movies it's based on.  I love it.

2) Portal 2.

- I've only played through the multiplayer campaign.  That alone deserves its place here.

1) Riven: the sequel to Myst.

- This game is too hard for me to finish… but I love it nonetheless.  Makes me feel stupid, but I don't care.  Maybe one day…