Most Memorable Gaming Moments

I sometimes shudder to think what percentage of my life I have spent playing games. They isolate you from your friends, stifle your imagination, and generally take up time that could be better spent on other activities, such as reading comics, surfing the net and watching TV. But games are amazing in that they can teach you things and make you experience a whole range of emotions. I have been playing games (mostly on computers) since I was 4 years old and they have impacted on me in ways you cannot comprehend. Maybe. Anyway, I present to you now the moments I've had playing games that have made me say "Whoa!" or otherwise.

Wizball

Collecting paint drops in Wizball.

The first computer I ever owned was a Commodore 64. I was given a collection of games that did not come with any instructions. Wizball was one of them and being the strange game that it is, the object of it was not immediately clear to my 5 year-old mind. I was happy just shooting all the funny little sprites, but I always wondered why I couldn't get very far into the game. One day, purely by accident, I figured out that you have to use the little ball to pick up the drops of paint. Colour returned to the world and the game suddenly had much more meaning.

Doom

Splattering demons in Doom.

This was the first fps (first person shooter) game that I ever played and the most graphic violence I had seen in video game at that point. Not only could you kill these monsters with a variety of different weapons, but you could also splatter them if you hit them just right (like with a rocket launcher or exploding barrel), leaving behind a bloody pile of flesh and guts, and a very satisfying sound effect.

Earthworm Jim

Launching the cow in Earthworm Jim.

This truly is one of the quirkiest games I've played on the SNES. So many weird levels and game play ideas including bungee-jumping fighting, protecting a dog as he walks along a deep space highway, riding a hamster, fighting a mechanical chicken while falling down a shaft, and of all things, launching a cow. Apparently its the most important part of the game (it resurfaces at the end). I couldn't believe it then and I still can't believe it now.

Chrono Trigger

The Death of Crono.

Chrono Trigger had a warmth to it that many other games lacked. This is reflected in the characters, beautiful graphics, and soundtrack (which I ended up buying). I never thought a game could make me cry, but this one brought me pretty damn close. It was a hell of a thing when Crono died.

King's Quest VII

The town of Falderal in King's Quest VII.

Like most of the games in the series, King's Quest VII had its fair share of cartoonish antics and allusions to fairy tales, but never more prominently than in the town of Falderal. Some examples include the manic Chicken Little, the Warner Bros-style sly salesman, the obnoxious guard at the front gate, the even more obnoxious mocking bird, the moon (a giant piece of cheese) falling out of the sky, and of course, the Faux shop. A constant reminder that some things in life must be taken with a grain of salt (hint, hint).