CJF's 12 Favorite Games of All Time

In this post, I've decided to do something different with this list. Instead of making a countdown, I’m just listing things. I have no number one favorite in this subject since I never took the time to even think about it.

I’ve been a gamer ever since I played Freddi Fish and the Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds on the PC and have grown into console gaming ever since I got my PS2 in third grade. Doing a list of favorite games of all time can be very tricky since they change over time, so, consider this an incomplete list. These are the games that blew me away as a gamer; the ones I have spent hours and hours playing. As a final shout-out to Gexup, who is leaving the Internet, I present to you my Twelve Favorite Games of All Time. 

But first, I'll name two types of honorable mentions. The first type of honorable mentions are the games I've played: Beyond Good & Evil, BioShock Infinite, Heavy Rain, Ico, L.A. Noire, and Syphon Filter. The second type of honorable mentions are the games I've played but haven't yet beaten, but are likely candidates for this list: Batman: Arkham City and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening. If I ever do an updated list, I may include them. Without further ado, let's begin.

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Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)

One series that I have fond memories of was the Jak and Daxter series. Coming out of the Crash Bandicoot series, Naughty Dog developed a game that feels like one whole level, hence why there are no loading times, except when you load the game. The gameplay is reminiscent of Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie where you collect a number of important power-ups called Power Cells in order to progress through the game. Collecting these things just feels so rewarding just to see the titular duo do a victory dance when they receive one.

While the sequels are graphically better due to improved character models and landscapes, it's still beautiful to look at, especially when it has the day-night cycle feature to show life to the game. It feels like I was taken into another world away from reality.

I’ve praised this game enough when I did a written review of it, so be sure to check it out.
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Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (PS2)

The Sly Cooper series has been praised for its style, gameplay and noir-esque storytelling and out of the four games in the series, Sly 3 is my favorite.

Sly 2 definitely took the series in the right direction with an open-world hub and introducing Bentley and Murray as playable characters, and it’s all carried over in this game. I really liked the variety of gameplay features such as disguising yourself and decoding paintings that makes it feel like you're part of the Cooper Gang. The game introduced even more playable characters that are just as loveable and enjoyable (minus Dimitri’s underwater levels) to play as. There is also more replayability with the time trials and local multiplayer. Oh, wait, the multiplayer was lackluster, but also playable.

The story is also great. It covered themes like camaraderie, redemption, individuality, and trust. It also had great character development that made me care for each of the characters.

I may sound biased when I say this, but this was the game that introduced me to the Sly series back in 2005. It wasn’t until five years later when I bought the first three games on the PS2. I felt really nostalgic revisiting Sly 3 and it’s good to know that my opinion on this game hasn’t changed one bit.

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Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3)

I had a hard time choosing between this, Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal, and in the end, A Crack in Time wins. It is practically the peak of the series and at the time when Insomniac Games wanted to end the series on a powerful note, it delivered.

It focuses on trying to reunite the Intergalactic Duo, each having their own gameplay. Ratchet’s gameplay remains the same: upgrading weapons with the Nanotech Leveling System and using gadgets to solve puzzles. A new addition to the game are the hoverboots which adds the excitement. Clank’s gameplay revolved around some of the best puzzles I have seen in a video game, where he can make recordings of himself while his present self can do other things in order to solve it.

Not to mention, you can also fly around in space, doing small side-quests, fighting in gladiator arenas, or exploring small planets to collect power-ups like Zonis and Gold Bolts, all the while listening to the radio. If there was a Ratchet & Clank game that I spent the most hours on, it’s this game. There is just so much replayability that will satisfy completionists like myself. Not to mention, the story was just engaging from beginning to end, being epic, but also still containing the trademark quirky humor it is known for. I can’t wait to see what Into the Nexus will bring for the Future sub-series.

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Red Dead Redemption (PS3/X360)

Being a huge fan of sandbox games, this game blew me away by taking the Wild West setting and putting it in video game form. The story revolves around a former outlaw named John Marston who must work for the government to take down three members of his former gang in order to reunite with his wife and son.

You explore the Wild West, riding various breeds of horses that you tame throughout the game, as well as witness various things that occur in this open-world environment that you can take part of. There are also a bunch of side quests from random people you encounter, as well as collect bounties you can collect by capturing or killing outlaws. There are also times when someone wants to duel you, which you can take part of or not. It also has a morality system in which you can increase or decrease your honor, which can affect the way the townspeople react to Marston. It's pretty obvious that I would always do positive things, hence why I didn't care too much about the morality system. Yep, there are a lot of things to do when you want a break from story missions.

The combat is pretty fun, having various firearms at your disposal (it’s also amusing to hear the Wilhelm Scream when someone is shot). The best thing about the combat is the Dead Eye, in which you can slow down time in order to take a precise shot and shoot at targets quickly.

And you have no idea how many hours I spent playing the online multiplayer, unlocking various playable characters and firearms, with so many things to do with online players. I haven’t gotten all the DLC packs, but if you buy the Game of the Year Edition, you are in for several hours of play and bonus content. This game is just so addicting to play that it is worth adding to your library of games. Don't play it just for the story; play it for the world that Rockstar brought to life.

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Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Genesis)

The only 16-bit entry on this list. No doubt, this is my favorite game in the Sonic series. Originally, it was supposed to be one game, but due to cartridge limitations, it was split into two games: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. However, I consider it one whole game since they share the same large-scale levels, have a continuing story-line about stopping Doctor Robotnik from taking over the world [insert M. Bison joke here], and having Knuckles as a central character. Plus, you can put the Sonic 3 cartridge on the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and you have the whole package.

The game introduced new power-ups like the Fire shield and the Bubble shield as well as Knuckles as a playable character, having his own abilities like gliding. Not to mention, you can actually save your progress unlike the previous Sonic games. It also introduced the Super Emeralds, which, when all are collected, transform Sonic into Hyper Sonic, an upgrade from Super Sonic when you collect all Chaos Emeralds.

The game also had a great soundtrack and epic boss fights, especially the true final boss (Sonic’s story) despite being a chase. I do also enjoy playing as Knuckles, but not as much as Sonic, though that’s just me. I rest my case on why I call this my favorite Sonic the Hedgehog game. I may not have grown up with the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive outside in the U.S.), but I did have a lot of fun playing it under Sonic Mega Collection Plus that it makes me proud to be a fan of the series.

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Portal 2 (PC/PS3/X360)

This will come off as a shocker, but I’ve never played the original Portal. However, I did watch a walkthrough in preparation for this game and when I finally got around to playing Portal 2, I was satisfied. The writing and comedy is just spot on and GLaDOS is just as mean and hilarious as ever. But let’s not also forget the new characters, Wheatley and Cave Johnson. Both Stephen Merchant and J.K. Simmons do a great job voicing their respective characters. The puzzles and new gameplay features like the gel paints really added more to the game and by the end, I realized that I had a great experience. And let’s not forget the co-op feature, which was also well-done and it really encouraged teamwork.

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Ōkami (PS2/Wii/PS3)

This game… is breathtakingly beautiful. Everything from the story, characters, visuals, score... you couldn’t ask for a better game than this. You play as a goddess taking the form of a wolf called Amaterasu as you explore Nippon, doing quests and fighting monsters… just like The Legend of Zelda! But, it has its own unique feature: the Celestial Brush.

The Celestial Brush is where you press and hold R1 and move the left analog stick to draw certain symbols or lines to do various things like slashing enemies, make the sun rise, fix things, et cetera.

I've spent about 30 to 40 hours of play on my first two playthroughs, completing many quests and side missions as well as collecting everything (with help from Chuggaaconroy's Let's Play) which makes it feel rewarding in the end.

It’s sad that this game sold poorly back when it was released despite critical acclaim. Thankfully, it’s gotten more attention when it was re-released on the Wii, and then re-released on the PS3. If you’re looking for a big adventure with colorful visuals and great gameplay, look no further than this. You’ll laugh; you’ll cry; and you’ll feel satisfied by the end.

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Infamous 1 and 2 (PS3)

Yeah, I couldn’t pick one because they are both equally good; plus, it follows a story arc about what Cole Macgrath’s role should be as a superpowered being: save humanity or destroy it? It all depends on the player. It does a great job throwing dilemmas at you and giving you various emotional responses like making you feel guilty when you do something evil. Karma can affect Cole’s powers and appearance whenever you do good or evil. What’s also cool are the powers you gain and upgrade as you progress.

Not being too big a comic book reader (I do make my own comics, however), I love the look of this game, especially with the animated cutscenes, especially since superheroes originated from comic books, which is appropriate.

They have their irritating moments, though. First, fighting giant enemies require you to keep mashing the fire button until they're down. And second, finding every blast shard in the open world is tedious and boring. It's the reason why I can't get the Platinum trophy in the first game (as well as those stunts... grrrr...).

I really commend Sucker Punch for adding both style AND substance in the series, which is something they've done before in the Sly Cooper franchise. If you're looking for a good superhero game, then look no further than the Infamous series.

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Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

This is the game that introduced me to the Metal Gear franchise and I have to thank a friend of mine for introducing it to me (you know who you are). Instead of continuing Solid Snake’s story, the game is set in the 1960s and you play as Big Boss, codenamed Naked Snake. His goal is to team up with a spy named EVA and destroy a weapon of mass destruction as well as eliminate his former mentor who defected to the Soviet Union. The story was gripping, engaging, epic, and emotionally-driven, which is one of the strongest aspects of the Metal Gear franchise. Not to mention, it also pays tribute to the James Bond franchise. If you've seen the films and played this game, you're bound to notice them.

The game further expanded the stealth genre by having two-thirds of the game set in a jungle environment, making the player feel like John Rambo, and introducing camouflage by wearing different colored outfits and face paint to blend in with the environment. You can also collect various types of animals for Snake to eat in order to survive, as well as provide health kits for him when he is injured or poisoned. The last new feature in the game is a new hand-to-hand combat system called close-quarters combat, or CQC for short, which involve grabbing opponents and putting them on chokehold and you can either kill them, knock them out, or interrogate them for information.

The boss fights, while not as great as the boss fights in Metal Gear Solid, they are still fun to play. The fight with The End is arguably one of the greatest boss fights of all time. Some players might get frustrated, but there are many ways you can find him and defeat him.

I highly recommend the updated version, subtitled Subsistence, for the 3D camera and several bonus content. Heck, don’t just stop at there; play all the Metal Gear games (get The Legacy Collection) because they are masterpieces in story-telling and gameplay.

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Gravity Rush (PS Vita)

This is the reason why I got a PS Vita and I do not regret it one bit. You play as a young girl named Kat who wakes up with amnesia and gains the ability to shift gravity from a cat-like being which she names Dusty. She uses her abilities as well as gain new ones to protect the people of Hekseville from the Nevi, the main enemy of the game.

The first thing that really drew me in was the unique art-style, using cel-shaded graphics to make it look like a comic book. Even the cutscenes made me feel like I was reading a comic book, with all the panels, still images and speech bubbles. Keiichiro Tomaya, the game’s director, WAS influenced by the comics of Jean Giraud (alias Mobius), which inspired him to create this beautiful world.

The second thing that made me immediately fall in love with this game was the gameplay. I love being able to explore an open-world environment, doing side quests when I want a break from the story and earn Gems to power up Kat’s abilities. The combat is also pretty satisfying. Some would say the combat is tedious, but I had no problem with it and upgrading her attacks was totally worth it.

And let’s not forget Kat herself, who I still claim as one of my favorite video game protagonists of all time. She is very selfless, caring, and outspoken that it’s impossible to not like her. Add in one of my favorite scores in gaming (composed by Kohei Tanaka) and you have a satisfying experience, and it’s all on a handheld system. I am still eagerly waiting for the sequel since the story was left with a lot of unanswered questions and I would love to see more of this world explored in later installments.

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Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (PS2)

Besides Ace Combat 5, I’ve never played any of the other games in the series, and to be honest, you don’t have to in order to play this game. What’s the main objective of this game? To shoot down enemies. Not to mention, the game is also told in anime-style cutscenes, following the narrative of a man reading a letter addressed to the player of his memories in the Continental War.

While the game IS basically to shoot down air and ground targets in each level, it never feels boring because the scenery in each mission looks great, there is a lot of radio chatter from your allies and enemies, and the musical score is one of the most memorable. You can even unlock more aircraft the more you progress, as well as buy more weapons. There is even a lot of mission variety, such as escorting aircraft, taking down targets while the radar is jammed, and stopping missiles from hitting your base.

I have three downsides with the game, however. First, the machine guns are not great to use against enemy aircraft, hence why using missiles are 100% better. Second, when you run out of ammo, you have to go back and return to base which kind of drags, and when you return to base, you have to make a landing (which is optional, by the way; you can skip it), restock, and return to the mission where you left off. And lastly, the local multiplayer could have been better. It’s playable and it’s nice to compete with friends on who destroyed more targets, but it left more to be desired.

This is also the only game I’ve played in which I beat the campaign under every difficulty setting; that’s how hardcore I am with this game. As I mentioned before, I've also played Ace Combat 5, but I lost my copy before I could even beat it. I’ve wanted to get another copy, but it wasn’t until now that I realized that from what I’ve played, the experience just wasn’t the same as Ace Combat 04. This was one of my favorite games from my childhood, and quite possibly the most nostalgic for me.

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Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

When IGN listed this as the best PS2 game of all time, I was curious to see why and bought a copy of it at my local gaming store. From the beautiful beginning to the vague ending, this was an emotional experience that I will never forget.

Like its spiritual predecessor, Ico, the setting is unusual since there is nothing to interact with, giving a sense of isolation, and all you have is your horse to help you on your quest to revive a dead woman, but at a price.

The main highlight of the game, however, are the boss fights, which is the only focus of the game. They are so massive in size and come in a variety of shapes that finding their weaknesses require strategy. Save from a couple of annoying bosses (the 4^th, 8^th, and 11^th, to be exact) as well as some camera and frame rate problems (PS2 version), fighting them was just so darn epic, though it feels pretty heartbreaking when you finally slay them.

Both this and Ico are prime examples of video games being art. I know they are often brought up in that topic, but I can’t argue against that. If you haven’t played them, you owe it to yourself to experience them. And when is The Last Guardian coming out?!

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And these are my Twelve Favorite Games of All Time. Maybe someday I'll make an updated list when I have played enough games that I want to try out, but for now, just stick with this one. I hope you enjoyed it, and I wish Gexup nothing but the best for him in the real world.