5 Games I Always Have on Hand

Written by Brock Poulsen, brockst4r Thursday, 19 May 2011 05:00

These are the games (or types of game) that are a near constant part of my collection. I keep them around because each offers something unique to scratch any specific gaming itch.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: This is the quintessential superhero game, for when you want to feel seriously powerful. The Challenge modes are a perfectly condensed pick-up-and-play experience, and clearing a room of thugs when you’re outnumbered by two dozen is immensely satisfying. Clearing said room without taking any damage, and seamlessly transitioning from one thug to the next in a gorgeous ballet of fisticuffs? Well that just makes it all the sweeter.

Skate (any of the 3): Call me crazy, but video games are about having fun, right? I love EA’s Skate series because I can jump into this big world and play. Sure, there are goals to achieve and high scores to set, but more importantly there are ramps and rails and flip-in-flip-out manuals to perfect. I don’t remember ever saying to myself, "I bet I can get a higher score on that line." What I did say was, "I bet I can do that line smoother and more stylish, and maybe with a backside tailslide instead of a 5-0." It is a big kid’s sandbox, and it’s a great place to spend some time.

Uncharted 2: Giant set pieces. Fast-paced gunplay. An excellent online community. Whether I’m looking to play for hours or minutes, Uncharted is my acrobatic third-person shooter of choice.

Something with Local Co-Op: I like to have something on hand that I can play with friends. Some favorites are Army of Two: TFD, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Lost Planet 2, and many others. The key to this category is something that doesn’t require a lot of back story or complicated game mechanics.

A Toilet Game: I could have called this category "Portable Games," but I’ll be honest: my DSLite lives in my bathroom. Occasionally I’ll play it on the couch while watching TV with my wife, but that’s a rarity. I like something I can play in short bouts for my portable gaming; the DSLite is conducive to this type of play because you can just close it, and pick up exactly where you were. I’ve played many hours of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 using this very method.

So there you have them: my indispensable games. What are yours?

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Comments

# Erik Kubik 2011-05-19 06:04

I agree on everything but Skate

# brockst4r 2011-05-19 06:23

I think Skate is kind of divisive, but you could substitute other open-world games there. Basically a video game as a toy was my thought there; no goals, just fun