My gaming childhood mostly centered around Blockbuster and Nintendo Power. It was before the internet (90's kid), so I never knew the release date of the games covered in Nintendo Power, which was my only source of information. I would frequently have to go to Blockbuster and hope for the best. Frequently, the game I wanted wasn't there. Frequently, if it was popular, the game I wanted was out of stock. Frequently, I didn't ever want to "waste" a rental on a game I was only tangentially interested in. This, understandably, left a lot of games from that era unplayed, including most handheld games.
This ended up creating a list of "legendary games" or "forgotten treasures" that hold an almost mythical place in my heart, to this day. On the off-chance that I have returned and visited these games, it's always been an amazingly cathartic experience, as if it's been a journey decades in the making. Mega Man X3 was one of these - it was the hardest original X game to procure, and by far the most expensive. Finally playing the game I'd pined after for so long was absolutely amazing, especially because my best friend at the time shared my interest and longing for it. It had been the subject of many a lunch table conversation.
The original Harvest Moon was another, and also one of the only ones to disappoint, as it was an object of my distant affection for a very long time, long enough for me to play Harvest Moon 64 before it - which is an all-around superior game.
Some of these legendary, mythical games include:
Perfect Dark - I still fantasize about the couch co-op experience that never was. I refuse to revisit it now, as its multiplayer-centric focus made it a product of its time, and I firmly believe that you had to be there to fully appreciate it.
Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel - A game that seemed like the solid (the adjective, not the title) sequel to the original MGS in every way, shape, and form, this, to me, still seems like the continuation of Snake's adventures everyone always wanted to see, and that everyone who did see it has since forgotten.
Conker's Bad Fur Day - I was, like most kids, a huge fan of platformers at the time. Being somewhat of a prude by nature, and much more so in my childhood than now, I avoided this game for its supposed adult and racy content. The way it was marketed, you'd think it was pornography or something. Turns out it's really just South Park style humor. Still, I've never gotten around to playing it or its remake.
Mario is Missing - I know what you're thinking. What the fuck is this bad game doing on your list of legendary games? Hear me out for a sec. I would always see this at Blockbuster, calling out to me. "I'm a Mario game!" it said. "Luigi is the main character!" it said. But then I would look at the back of the box and see its questionable nature. Why waste my rental on an educational game? I ultimately made what I still think was a rational decision, especially for a gullible 1st grader, and passed on it every time. But its whispers still intrigue me, on a deep and primal level. It IS a Mario game, and it DOES star my favorite Mario brother, after all...
Beyond the Beyond - In the era of JRPGs, this game always looked to me like another Lunar or Wild Arms or Suikoden. But something about it seemed "off." I could never put my finger on what it was, either. The character design and overall art style looked like other games I liked. The genre seemed to fit my tastes. The weird Engrish-y name was a lot like other weird Engrish-y games I played and liked, like Wild Arms. But something in my gut told me I wouldn't enjoy it. Reviews I've read since then have clarified that as true. But, like Mario is Missing, the initial intrigue I felt towards it remains.
What's a story you have? Is there an amazing Christmas you had? A friend who broke a game cartridge? A kid who lied to you about something on the playground? A holy grail of a game you may or may not have ever acquired? A magazine that you loved?
I'd love to hear your story.
This ended up creating a list of "legendary games" or "forgotten treasures" that hold an almost mythical place in my heart, to this day. On the off-chance that I have returned and visited these games, it's always been an amazingly cathartic experience, as if it's been a journey decades in the making. Mega Man X3 was one of these - it was the hardest original X game to procure, and by far the most expensive. Finally playing the game I'd pined after for so long was absolutely amazing, especially because my best friend at the time shared my interest and longing for it. It had been the subject of many a lunch table conversation.
The original Harvest Moon was another, and also one of the only ones to disappoint, as it was an object of my distant affection for a very long time, long enough for me to play Harvest Moon 64 before it - which is an all-around superior game.
Some of these legendary, mythical games include:
Perfect Dark - I still fantasize about the couch co-op experience that never was. I refuse to revisit it now, as its multiplayer-centric focus made it a product of its time, and I firmly believe that you had to be there to fully appreciate it.
Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel - A game that seemed like the solid (the adjective, not the title) sequel to the original MGS in every way, shape, and form, this, to me, still seems like the continuation of Snake's adventures everyone always wanted to see, and that everyone who did see it has since forgotten.
Conker's Bad Fur Day - I was, like most kids, a huge fan of platformers at the time. Being somewhat of a prude by nature, and much more so in my childhood than now, I avoided this game for its supposed adult and racy content. The way it was marketed, you'd think it was pornography or something. Turns out it's really just South Park style humor. Still, I've never gotten around to playing it or its remake.
Mario is Missing - I know what you're thinking. What the fuck is this bad game doing on your list of legendary games? Hear me out for a sec. I would always see this at Blockbuster, calling out to me. "I'm a Mario game!" it said. "Luigi is the main character!" it said. But then I would look at the back of the box and see its questionable nature. Why waste my rental on an educational game? I ultimately made what I still think was a rational decision, especially for a gullible 1st grader, and passed on it every time. But its whispers still intrigue me, on a deep and primal level. It IS a Mario game, and it DOES star my favorite Mario brother, after all...
Beyond the Beyond - In the era of JRPGs, this game always looked to me like another Lunar or Wild Arms or Suikoden. But something about it seemed "off." I could never put my finger on what it was, either. The character design and overall art style looked like other games I liked. The genre seemed to fit my tastes. The weird Engrish-y name was a lot like other weird Engrish-y games I played and liked, like Wild Arms. But something in my gut told me I wouldn't enjoy it. Reviews I've read since then have clarified that as true. But, like Mario is Missing, the initial intrigue I felt towards it remains.
What's a story you have? Is there an amazing Christmas you had? A friend who broke a game cartridge? A kid who lied to you about something on the playground? A holy grail of a game you may or may not have ever acquired? A magazine that you loved?
I'd love to hear your story.
