Memories

Ok, so I know I said I was going to talk about Splinter Cell Conviction this week, but unfortunately I made the mistake of buying too many games to devote enough time to having a good look any one of them.  So expect to see some reviews in the next few weeks for Fallout New Vegas, DJ Hero 2 and probably Fable 2 after tomorrow.

So this week instead I figured I’d talk about moments in my gaming past in particular, times that I was genuinely awestruck by the game I was playing. I should also prefix this by saying that there may be a spoiler or two in here, but I’ll make sure you know where in advance.

There have been many truly inspiring moments in gaming for me. Just recently in Enslaved during the first level as you’re whizzing above the skies of a post apocalyptic New York on the wing of a crashing plane, I was left thinking “wow. That looks really cool.” Much like when I first played Fallout 3.

You see, back before I found the love of console gaming I was a PC advocate all the way, and one of the staple games for me was the Fallout series. I lost sooo many hours of my life slugging around the wastelands dealing with super mutants, deathclaws and whatever crossed my path.  When I heard that Fallout 3 was being developed, and by the guys who made Morrowind as well, I was in heaven. When I finally got the game, I still recall the sense of awe I got when I completed my training inside the vault and stepped outside into the wasteland. It was truly impressive, and I stood on the cliff top, scanning the horizon in a desperate attempt to soak it all in. 

Another RPG that grabbed me was KOTOR, or Knights of the Old Republic. It’s a Star Wars game set thousands of years before the movies. Spoiler alert coming up. The game itself was an engaging RPG, really filling out the Star Wars universe without destroying cannon law in the process. What set this game apart was the story, with the final revelation that the character you played for the whole game was in fact the current Dark Lord of the Sith, who’s memory had been wiped, giving you a chance to convert to the side of good.  The moment I realized who you were, my jaw dropped and I got goosebumps. More games should give you goosebumps….and maybe bacon, but that’s a different issue altogeather.

Going back further still, I remember when a friend of mine got his hands on a copy of Wing Commander 3. We sat crowded around his monitor (all 16 inches of it), and watched the story unfold. This was back before the concept of interactive movies was birthed and then written off as a waste of time.  The live actors added a depth of realism to the game that I never thought was possible.  I think we watched the introduction to that game several times over, just soaking it in.

Well, tomorrow Fable 3 comes out. Despite the fact that I have a swagger of epic RPG’s to finish (Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Dragon Age Origins, I’m looking at all three of you now) I know I’m going to grab myself a copy, and if it lives up to even ½ of its potential, I may have something new to add next time I write one of these trips down memory lane. 

So now I want to hear from you. What gaming moments have really made you say “Wow!” What ones have left a bitter taste in your mouth?  Where do you stand on the whole bacon issue? Let me know.

Next week: Fable 3. Unless its crap, then Fallout New Vegas. Unless its crap too