Nostalgia: Childhood Games

This is hard to talk about, but I just got the notification about some kind of nostalgia trophy, so LET’S GO PLAYSTATION’S UP FIRST

This is unapologetically my favourite video game. At one time or another, I’ve owned the PS1, PC, and Switch versions (currently missing the PC version, though I’ve heard it kinda sucks).

An EXTREMELY underrated gem that is in my top 5, was a core part of my middle and high school years (like, the wall behind me is covered in notes I wrote about this game), and I plan on introducing my niece and nephew to it when I can get the time. So much love to one of my besties for managing to get me a second copy of all 4 originals.

It’s extremely short, and VERY weird, but I low-key love this game? It’s unfortunately hard to find, and as such I haven’t replaced my copy yet. >

Same bestie as above got me another copy of this; an ex also got me a duplicate copy while we were dating (which was lost along with all the other games I had in 2018; different ex bungled a storage unit and I actively wish them dead : DDD ), so over the years I’ve owned 3 separate copies of this, lol. It kicks ass.

Atlus is my favourite developer, which is unfortunate, as it seems to follow my accidental trend towards expensive taste. This game kicks ass too, and thankfully has had some re-releases (though I have a PS2 copy, from either the bestie or my older sister).

Underrated! There was a Mario Party clone as well from One Piece, and though I never got to play either of them much, I remember them being fun. ^^

I once printed out 19 pages of cheat codes for this on a school printer during a play I was in. Everyone was freaking out, thinking we were gonna get in trouble. We didn’t, and I hung onto that packet for YEARS. -w-

I never managed to beat this, and when I asked my sister for help, she said no lol

IIRC I had printed pages of cheat codes for this and Vice City, too

BIKINI POOOOOOOOL

One of the few games I’ve beaten (and more than once), though I prefer the Steam release (it has the additional content). The ex I hate and I had a running joke about the main character being a 40-something Irishman who just hasn’t hit his growth spurt yet. GIVE HIM TIME C’MON

My sister and I fought over who got to keep this. Idk why. It was REALLY fun for some reason.

When my sis and BIL got me my Switch (they spent too much money on me), they gave me Katamari Reroll. I never owned the original (this was my intro to the series), so that was a hoot, plus they apparently rereleased this one, too! ^^

I remember from college that later versions let you make custom characters, which I need to check out. Ivy and Voldo were my go-tos, though Voldo’s creepy af lol

Never owned, just rented, but I remember this being more fun than I expected. :0

I NEVER EVEN GOT TO PLAY THIS ONE I HOPE MY EX BREAKS THEIR JAW EXTREMELY BADLY.

My friend actually owned this, not me, but it was cool as all fuck.

NINTENDO TIIIIIIIIIME

I bought my N64 off my cousin, but it was the one I grew up playing on, anyway. This was the one that came with it.

Best Mario Party and I will fight people on that

I wrote my first (and honestly, only good) poem based on this game when I was 7. :0

PAPERBOY TO BATTLE ROCKBOY, SCISSORBOY

Another of the very few games I’ve completed!

Finished this one, too, though I mostly played the individual levels. The ending always made me cry (music box music tends to do that to me).

One of those games that wasn’t a standout, but was always there. -w-

I think my first copy was actually my friend’s copy, and she just gave it to me at one point, lol.

The first Pokémon I owned, and first time I beat the Elite 4. Suicune is still a favourite Pokémon of mine.

I had both! (They got stolen. >

Same friend that owned SSX Tricky and gave me Yellow owned this, and I borrowed it a lot. I never really did anything but cut grass and harass the neighbor’s chain chomp. xD;

Was stolen by the same person that stole Ruby and Sapphire, but they’ve given me another copy since to start making amends.

This looks like it would be garbage, but it was actually really fun. :0

This one WAS garbage, but in the absolute best way. It was such a strange ‘game’.

SSX Tricky friend strikes again. I didn’t get to play this one much, but I remember enjoying it quite a bit, and would love to track down a copy. :0

My sister and I both had copies, and loved them. :0

Pretty much my first taste of retro gaming (except for when I played my first video game ever, Pac Man, at 4, in a towel, after hanging with my homies in the hot tub).

Konpyuta desu neeeeeeee

I played this so much I wore the disc out.

I have it on Steam and it still kicks ass.

This lowkey traumatised me as a kid when I played with my cousin, since we were trying to solve something, but messed up and got shot, lol. Still kinda want to see what happened.

Another game my sister and I fought over custody of, but this one was WAY more intense a fight. Two Point Hospital is a bit of a spiritual successor.

IIRC my sister and I fought over this one, too. It’s educational, sure, but it’s fun as hell even if you don’t like educational games.

My sister was more into this, but I have fond memories of building a house without using cheats, which ended with a cheap carpet for the outside walkway and picket fence to divide off the bathroom.

Screw the later versions, gimme that sweet, sweet 16-bit port baybeeeee

It’s not really a video game, but dem flash games tho

beep boop

Like my mum, i’m usually glued to a Skee Ball (or Iceball) machine if I go to an arcade.

I’m afraid of spiders (it was worse as a kid), so this game was absolutely perfect for me. I DID feel a bit bad, though.

I have mixed feelings on this one. Even as a kid, it didn’t feel right to be making a spectacle out of someone’s size. It was fun to throw balls into a mouth, sure, but the general theming always felt icky. If there was a Star Wars version where you feed Jabba the Hutt, that would be fun and guilt-free. :0

And finally, a more recent love, but one still semi-rooted in childhood thanks to the copy of Namco Museum I had. Went to an anime con last month, and spent some time glued to this while I was there, lol. Set a high score!