Console Games I Have Loved
by Carla Walker
The Communicopian
Vol. 1, No. 7, December 2001
So you think that home video games started with Pong. Well, you're wrong. According to The History of Video Games, the first console game was the Magnavox Odyssey which came out in 1972. The beloved Pong came home in 1975. (Yes, I do realise that some of us weren't even born yet. Damn punk kids!)
Anyway, I first played Pong in 1979. I was lousy at it. Then I had an Atari 2600. No, I didn't play Tron but did you ever play Snoopy vs. the Red Baron? It's so good, it's been ported to other platforms.
My true console gaming history started with the 16-bit Nintendo gaming system. I bought the system for my brother for Christmas. Two of my favourite games on it were Tetris and Bubble Bobble. I've never been a great fan of Mario. I just kept getting killed in Zelda. Never got very far in Punchout. Played Castlevania half-heartedly. Loved Final Fantasy. *Loved* Final Fantasy.
Then there was Super Nintendo. Final Fantasy II. Street Fighter ll. Killer Instinct. Mortal Kombat. (If you know this game. I'm sure it's echoing in your head right now.) And, of course, family favourites Bomberman and Super Bomberman. People travelled miles to come to our house and blow someone up.
Then there was the Nintendo 64. The N64 really didn't interest me. There was Golden Eye, which my brother loved but for me I'd already moved on to the Sony Playstation.
Sony Playstation. I absolutely love this system. After seeing the graphics for Final Fantasy VII, I ran out and bought the system. Then I also discovered Tekken and crazy games like Parappa the Rapper (Kick. Punch. It's all in the mind.) Yes, it's a rapping game. Smirk if you will. If you're gonna rap, you may as well dance: enter Bust-a-Groove.
A recent addition to my console collection is the Sega Dreamcast. Thanks to Joe's roommate I'm the new owner of a Sega Dreamcast with mucho games and memory cards. I still haven't played much on it though. But so far I like the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, Shemmue and Sword of the Berserk. It's a must play for the holidays…as soon as I finish Final Fantasy IX on PS1.
Which brings us to the present. Is there an Xbox, Gamecube, or PS2 in my future? You betcha. Just when exactly is a bit cloudy but soon...real soon.
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© carla walker 2004. all rights reserved.