The original COD games were quite nice in terms of the story, but it went all downhill once they started to double-down on the multiplayer. I mean, it pays their bills, so it was probably a good move. But for me as a player, I enjoyed single-player experience which is pile of rubbish now.
I'd recommend playing old COD games just for interesting stories.
I have debated picking up some of the old PS2 Call of Duty games, just for kicks (I think there are 2 or 3 of them?), since, as you mentioned, those have really solid single-player campaigns.
Animal crossing - seems cute and something I would’ve liked back in the day. I have a few of the games but never played any of them
The Souls series - I like hack and slash games but the purported difficulty on these is a turn off
Dragon’s Quest - I do like these kinds of action adventure titles and I hear this is a good series to get into, but just haven’t had the chance to try these games yet
Well, it seems you played and reviewed the NES (Dragon Warrior) games!
I still like DW1, because it's basically the simplest possible JRPG that's still reasonably fun. It fills a unique niche, distills the genre to its absolute minimum while still having something to offer. So in my mind it's not really going head-to-head with the all-time greats of the genre, it's kind of its own mini-genre.
Many of the games you listed are also on my list of never-played-before games!
I'd add to that games like World of Warcraft and League of Legends...just never got into those.
Have you tried No Rest for the Wicked? It's a fixed (isometric)-perspective Souls-like game...like you, I never thought I'd be into it (never played a Souls-like before), but I've sunk 60+ hours into the game already!
If you start Pokemon, you have two (in my opinion) best options:
Pokemon Black and White (or Black and White 2…you don’t necessarily have to play the first to enjoy the second) or the brand new ones (which I haven’t played).
The new ones (Scarlet/Violet) are more open world with different stuff to do, but BW/BW2 are, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the series and was the last with pixel art. Beautiful games.
All of these are franchises I haven't engaged in much either, though I have sampled them a little, and some games are still sitting in my library collecting dust.
CoD was the one that interested me the least. Top multiplayer FPS games clearly benefit from a network effect that is only relevant if you're part of the network. I.e., you have a lot of friends who play those games and that's the game everyone is playing, so either play that one and get good, or you're stuck playing something else by yourself. But if that's not your situation, then play what appeals to you!
The number of top franchises I haven't played and probably never will is probably too long to be worth recounting. But let me paint with a really broad brush, and I wonder if you can relate at all as someone who got into gaming in the same era: I'm really not crazy about 3D action games. Aside from 3D Mario and Zelda, which are grandfathered in. So although they're not identical genres, I would place Assassin's Creed in this broad category, but also God of War, Uncharted, etc. My childhood best friend relates to me on this point, but very few others do. The kids definitely don't.
So for example, a game like Dark Souls, I couldn't really get into, but I have enjoyed some 2D "Souls-like" games. I guess for some people, the 3D makes the game more exciting and immersive, but for me, it detracts from the purity of the gameplay. You have much tighter control and awareness of the situation in a 2D game. And to me, good 2D pixel art really is "art", whereas 3D environments are invariably a mere crude facsimile of reality.
Here's a related interesting question: a franchise you took way too long to get around to playing, finally gave it a shot, and ended up loving?
I can think of two: Rayman and Persona. Though in both cases I've only played one game each: Rayman Legends and Persona 5 Royal.
I consider Rayman to be on par with Mario, Sonic, and Donkey Kong. 2D platformer royalty. Great to play with the kids also.
And I was actually beginning to think I would never enjoy another new JRPG again (as opposed to occasionally replaying the old greats, often with fast-forward or no-encounters cheats), when I discovered P5R. The game is still way too long, but great storytelling, character development, and game mechanics. But the truth is I didn't even beat the game, because we had another child, and I got derailed maybe 60-80 hours in. But I'd still consider it a great game.
It's tough for Pokemon to stack up to Persona, as an adult who has already played his share of classic JRPGs. I think in Pokemon's case you had to be there, and you had to be young.
3D action games are a mixed bag for me. I definitely think the genre is currently the best and most immersive it's ever been, but the gameplay hasn't evolved much beyond the PS2/PS3 era. Just shinier, prettier environments, water, hair, etc. Just Cause 2 was one of my favorite PS3 action games, just because it was so bonkers, it took me by surprise.
Out of curiosity, did you ever get into the Metal Gear Solid franchise?
I've never played a Dark Souls game either, although I've been tempted to many times. It seems like a game I'd enjoy, I just haven't gotten there yet.
I do love good 2D pixel art, for sure, but sometimes indie games styles, though 2D, feel like "fake 2D" to me. Not sure how to describe that, only that it feels like a facsimile of the games I grew up with.
Katamari Damacy is a game I always presumed I would love, but just never played until about ten years ago when I bought the PS2 original for a dollar. Best dollar ever! Both the PS4/Switch remake and the We Love Katamari remake are worth picking up, as well.
Rayman is another series I've wanted to get into, particularly Legends and Origins. I have the original on the PS1 and that's one of the hardest platforming games I've ever played!
Persona is an incredibly well-made series, and I put about 140 hours into Persona 3 back in the day, but never again. Summoning demons to fight with your party, is a gameplay mechanic I'm not willing to embrace any more. No judgment on you or anyone else, that's just my stance.
Metal Gear Solid - I rented the original when it was new. I thought it was reasonably fun, but not a game I liked enough to rent again or to buy. At one point I had a PS3 and picked up #4 used for $5 (having skipped 2-3) but couldn't get into it. Maybe you need to get into the plot, which was hard when I skipped most of the series. My favorite stealth games were probably the Hitman series, and I much preferred their gameplay over what I experienced of MGS. Admittedly Hitman is also very violent and maybe not your style. I never really followed the Hitman plot very closely.
Katamari - That's another good one. I played Reroll a few years ago and had never played any game in the franchise before, wasn't really on my radar screen. I wouldn't say I loved it, but I did really like it. It looks like the sequel has multiplayer, so might be a good one to play with the kids.
Persona - It's a valid point, the spiritual elements of those games are very strange and dark, and there's a discussion to be had on what influence that has on a man that's distinct from the questions you also raise about violence. In #5, I'd say the most unsettling scene is when everyone first unlocks their powers and has to sign a contract with what I suppose is a demonic entity. The rest of the time, at least as I chose to understand it, maybe it's not so different from Pokemon -- you capture these monsters and then use their powers.
But then, is a Pokemon a demon? Well I don't really know what it is. They're clearly smarter than an ordinary animal and perhaps even smarter than a typical human (I'm thinking Psychic types). They seem to be in some sense enslaved to the user's will and to be creatures of spirit, insofar as they are trapped in these tiny Pokeballs. But obviously there's a very different vibe to all of this than what you see in Persona.
Yeah, MGS is definitely a series you should play in order. And ironically, I think the best entries are 2 and 3, the ones you didn't play. 3 in particular is a fantastic game with the best story in the series. I understand why Konami's choosing to remake that one. Never could get into Hitman, and yes, the violence is part of it.
We Love Katamari does have multiplayer, although I'm not sure if you can play every level with two people? Definitely some sections, though. I got it for less than ten bucks on the Playstation Store. Worth it!
"Monster" and "demon" often seem interchangeable in the Japanese language, whereas in the West, the demon is definitely more spiritual, while a monster typically has a physical form. As for what the Pocket Monsters are, some of them are completely new creations, while others are based on yokai, which are freaky Japanese spirits based on folklore.
"They seem to be in some sense enslaved to the user's will and to be creatures of spirit, insofar as they are trapped in these tiny Pokeballs. But obviously there's a very different vibe to all of this than what you see in Persona."
Viewed from a slightly different angle, Pokemon feels a lot like glorified cockfighting, but with cute monsters. I agree, there's a definite spiritual angle here, but it's not nearly as dark as Persona, for sure.
personally I love games that aren’t all guns blazing. Assassin’s Creed are one of my favorites, along with splinter cell because of that.
On that note, I was never into Pokémon. I was wrapping up high school when It started getting big. I appreciate them for sure but the games just are not for me. My kids love Pokemon though.
A majority of the games that I have not played, are all on the PlayStation side.
I’ve never played a single Uncharted game, Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet and Clank or Jack and Daxter game. Not because of lack of interest, but more because of time restraints. For the past maybe 15 years I’ve really dug into more retro classic titles because they are short or easy to put down.
Out of all the Playstation games you listed, I think Ratchet and Clank is easily my favorite of those franchises. You're right in assuming that all these series take quite a bit of time, though, particularly if you want to get all the collectibles.
The original COD games were quite nice in terms of the story, but it went all downhill once they started to double-down on the multiplayer. I mean, it pays their bills, so it was probably a good move. But for me as a player, I enjoyed single-player experience which is pile of rubbish now.
I'd recommend playing old COD games just for interesting stories.
I have debated picking up some of the old PS2 Call of Duty games, just for kicks (I think there are 2 or 3 of them?), since, as you mentioned, those have really solid single-player campaigns.
Thanks Alex!
Animal crossing - seems cute and something I would’ve liked back in the day. I have a few of the games but never played any of them
The Souls series - I like hack and slash games but the purported difficulty on these is a turn off
Dragon’s Quest - I do like these kinds of action adventure titles and I hear this is a good series to get into, but just haven’t had the chance to try these games yet
Good choices!
The original Animal Crossing for the Gamecube is a gem. The sequels have always felt off to me, for some reason.
I've owned a few Dragon's Quest games over the years, but like you, I have yet to play any of them. Not sure why!
Well, it seems you played and reviewed the NES (Dragon Warrior) games!
I still like DW1, because it's basically the simplest possible JRPG that's still reasonably fun. It fills a unique niche, distills the genre to its absolute minimum while still having something to offer. So in my mind it's not really going head-to-head with the all-time greats of the genre, it's kind of its own mini-genre.
Hah, you're right! I totally spaced the Dragon Warrior games for some reason! That's a total old man move.
When I wrote that, I was thinking of the DS and 3DS remakes and the newer titles like DQXI. Ah man... I feel silly.
Many of the games you listed are also on my list of never-played-before games!
I'd add to that games like World of Warcraft and League of Legends...just never got into those.
Have you tried No Rest for the Wicked? It's a fixed (isometric)-perspective Souls-like game...like you, I never thought I'd be into it (never played a Souls-like before), but I've sunk 60+ hours into the game already!
Ah yes, MMOs, a genre that I will never get into, due to the time-sink involved.
Haven't heard of No Rest for the Wicked, but I'll look into it. Thanks for the recommendation!
If you start Pokemon, you have two (in my opinion) best options:
Pokemon Black and White (or Black and White 2…you don’t necessarily have to play the first to enjoy the second) or the brand new ones (which I haven’t played).
The new ones (Scarlet/Violet) are more open world with different stuff to do, but BW/BW2 are, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the series and was the last with pixel art. Beautiful games.
Cheers for the recommendation, Jacob! If/when the day comes I decide to play a Pokemon game to completion, I'll check out Black and White!
Some say you can emulate it on your phone…but of course I wouldn’t know anything about that…👀😅
All of these are franchises I haven't engaged in much either, though I have sampled them a little, and some games are still sitting in my library collecting dust.
CoD was the one that interested me the least. Top multiplayer FPS games clearly benefit from a network effect that is only relevant if you're part of the network. I.e., you have a lot of friends who play those games and that's the game everyone is playing, so either play that one and get good, or you're stuck playing something else by yourself. But if that's not your situation, then play what appeals to you!
The number of top franchises I haven't played and probably never will is probably too long to be worth recounting. But let me paint with a really broad brush, and I wonder if you can relate at all as someone who got into gaming in the same era: I'm really not crazy about 3D action games. Aside from 3D Mario and Zelda, which are grandfathered in. So although they're not identical genres, I would place Assassin's Creed in this broad category, but also God of War, Uncharted, etc. My childhood best friend relates to me on this point, but very few others do. The kids definitely don't.
So for example, a game like Dark Souls, I couldn't really get into, but I have enjoyed some 2D "Souls-like" games. I guess for some people, the 3D makes the game more exciting and immersive, but for me, it detracts from the purity of the gameplay. You have much tighter control and awareness of the situation in a 2D game. And to me, good 2D pixel art really is "art", whereas 3D environments are invariably a mere crude facsimile of reality.
Here's a related interesting question: a franchise you took way too long to get around to playing, finally gave it a shot, and ended up loving?
I can think of two: Rayman and Persona. Though in both cases I've only played one game each: Rayman Legends and Persona 5 Royal.
I consider Rayman to be on par with Mario, Sonic, and Donkey Kong. 2D platformer royalty. Great to play with the kids also.
And I was actually beginning to think I would never enjoy another new JRPG again (as opposed to occasionally replaying the old greats, often with fast-forward or no-encounters cheats), when I discovered P5R. The game is still way too long, but great storytelling, character development, and game mechanics. But the truth is I didn't even beat the game, because we had another child, and I got derailed maybe 60-80 hours in. But I'd still consider it a great game.
It's tough for Pokemon to stack up to Persona, as an adult who has already played his share of classic JRPGs. I think in Pokemon's case you had to be there, and you had to be young.
3D action games are a mixed bag for me. I definitely think the genre is currently the best and most immersive it's ever been, but the gameplay hasn't evolved much beyond the PS2/PS3 era. Just shinier, prettier environments, water, hair, etc. Just Cause 2 was one of my favorite PS3 action games, just because it was so bonkers, it took me by surprise.
Out of curiosity, did you ever get into the Metal Gear Solid franchise?
I've never played a Dark Souls game either, although I've been tempted to many times. It seems like a game I'd enjoy, I just haven't gotten there yet.
I do love good 2D pixel art, for sure, but sometimes indie games styles, though 2D, feel like "fake 2D" to me. Not sure how to describe that, only that it feels like a facsimile of the games I grew up with.
Katamari Damacy is a game I always presumed I would love, but just never played until about ten years ago when I bought the PS2 original for a dollar. Best dollar ever! Both the PS4/Switch remake and the We Love Katamari remake are worth picking up, as well.
Rayman is another series I've wanted to get into, particularly Legends and Origins. I have the original on the PS1 and that's one of the hardest platforming games I've ever played!
Persona is an incredibly well-made series, and I put about 140 hours into Persona 3 back in the day, but never again. Summoning demons to fight with your party, is a gameplay mechanic I'm not willing to embrace any more. No judgment on you or anyone else, that's just my stance.
Metal Gear Solid - I rented the original when it was new. I thought it was reasonably fun, but not a game I liked enough to rent again or to buy. At one point I had a PS3 and picked up #4 used for $5 (having skipped 2-3) but couldn't get into it. Maybe you need to get into the plot, which was hard when I skipped most of the series. My favorite stealth games were probably the Hitman series, and I much preferred their gameplay over what I experienced of MGS. Admittedly Hitman is also very violent and maybe not your style. I never really followed the Hitman plot very closely.
Katamari - That's another good one. I played Reroll a few years ago and had never played any game in the franchise before, wasn't really on my radar screen. I wouldn't say I loved it, but I did really like it. It looks like the sequel has multiplayer, so might be a good one to play with the kids.
Persona - It's a valid point, the spiritual elements of those games are very strange and dark, and there's a discussion to be had on what influence that has on a man that's distinct from the questions you also raise about violence. In #5, I'd say the most unsettling scene is when everyone first unlocks their powers and has to sign a contract with what I suppose is a demonic entity. The rest of the time, at least as I chose to understand it, maybe it's not so different from Pokemon -- you capture these monsters and then use their powers.
But then, is a Pokemon a demon? Well I don't really know what it is. They're clearly smarter than an ordinary animal and perhaps even smarter than a typical human (I'm thinking Psychic types). They seem to be in some sense enslaved to the user's will and to be creatures of spirit, insofar as they are trapped in these tiny Pokeballs. But obviously there's a very different vibe to all of this than what you see in Persona.
Yeah, MGS is definitely a series you should play in order. And ironically, I think the best entries are 2 and 3, the ones you didn't play. 3 in particular is a fantastic game with the best story in the series. I understand why Konami's choosing to remake that one. Never could get into Hitman, and yes, the violence is part of it.
We Love Katamari does have multiplayer, although I'm not sure if you can play every level with two people? Definitely some sections, though. I got it for less than ten bucks on the Playstation Store. Worth it!
"Monster" and "demon" often seem interchangeable in the Japanese language, whereas in the West, the demon is definitely more spiritual, while a monster typically has a physical form. As for what the Pocket Monsters are, some of them are completely new creations, while others are based on yokai, which are freaky Japanese spirits based on folklore.
"They seem to be in some sense enslaved to the user's will and to be creatures of spirit, insofar as they are trapped in these tiny Pokeballs. But obviously there's a very different vibe to all of this than what you see in Persona."
Viewed from a slightly different angle, Pokemon feels a lot like glorified cockfighting, but with cute monsters. I agree, there's a definite spiritual angle here, but it's not nearly as dark as Persona, for sure.
personally I love games that aren’t all guns blazing. Assassin’s Creed are one of my favorites, along with splinter cell because of that.
On that note, I was never into Pokémon. I was wrapping up high school when It started getting big. I appreciate them for sure but the games just are not for me. My kids love Pokemon though.
A majority of the games that I have not played, are all on the PlayStation side.
I’ve never played a single Uncharted game, Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet and Clank or Jack and Daxter game. Not because of lack of interest, but more because of time restraints. For the past maybe 15 years I’ve really dug into more retro classic titles because they are short or easy to put down.
Out of all the Playstation games you listed, I think Ratchet and Clank is easily my favorite of those franchises. You're right in assuming that all these series take quite a bit of time, though, particularly if you want to get all the collectibles.