Sometimes we want a game that's relaxing, but often as gamers we we want to challenge ourselves. Video games are an immersive medium for entertainment - certainly more interactive than the typical television show or song you hear on Spotify. You are met with challenges - and when you overcome those challenges it is incredibly satisfying. Here's the second of our articles in this series as members of the team discuss those challenges we most relished overcoming.
Richard
Spyro the Dragon (original trilogy)
Getting the full completion, more than 100%, in these three games was a big deal for younger me. The first games I ever did everything in, and which kickstarted my completionist mentality in video games, getting the full completion in these Spyro games just felt like I myself was a little more complete.
Valerie
Loderunner - C64
This game and the joystick that I played with were like the water in a river. We flowed. Each level was timed and there was the main goal of getting to the top of the level. According to my daughter, I was a god at this game. To me, I just loved the challenge of getting to the top, dropping the enemies into the floor, hopping over them, and climbing up the ladders. Oh! And I mustn't forget: collecting the gold!
Pierre-Yves
Code Vein
There were a lot of tough boss fights in this but what really made me cheer was Richard and I getting our Platinum trophies which required jolly cooperation. It really was a fun run that took us a while.
Nick
Contra - beating it on one life
Back several gaming generations ago, video games were shorter. They didn’t have many of the conveniences we take for granted nowadays, such as easy saving and loading, unlimited lives and continues, things of that nature. Walkthroughs were generally reserved for things like Nintendo Power. My dad would regularly rent me video games on Friday night when he would grab movies and pizzas for the rest of the family, and I would play the game over the weekend (often beating it in that 2 day span). Contra was one of my favorites, and of course by now the Konami code is known by most gamers, and I used it back in the day myself to get my first few wins over that game. It was punishingly hard, but in reality – somewhat short. Once you learn your way around the patterns and the best weapons for the right moments, Contra actually became somewhat easy. So easy, that like speedrunners and others today who come up with different ways to challenge themselves, I decided I was going to beat Contra in one life. It took numerous tries – often thwarted by a single flickering bullet that I didn’t see coming or some random mistake I made where I beat the game in two or three lives – but eventually I did it, put it down, and don’t believe I’ve picked Contra up again.
Hamza
Just Cause 2
I still maintain that Just Cause 2 is one of the best open-world games ever made. And it still looks damn good.
One of the most addicting things in the game is liberating military bases, towns, and villages from the dictatorship. You do this by blowing up government property, tearing down propaganda billboards, and collecting weapon drops. Every explosion bumps up that completion percentage, and when you finally hit 100% in an area? That victory jingle is pure dopamine.
Susan N.
Victory 2 - Monster Hunter Wilds BETA - Arkveld
Another game that I have very little experience in is Monster Hunter games. My SO is a massive MonHon fan and has played and beaten almost all of them. After playing Dauntless (RIP game) with him a long time ago, I decided to give Monster Hunter World a try because he said it was the easiest and the most accessible. When I finally saw the Palico’s cooking, I was sold! Then, after making it through Monster Hunter World, I found that I mostly enjoyed my experience and the challenge it provided. Unlike other games where I didn’t always feel like I was rewarded for my efforts, this always felt like it did.
Then Monster Hunter Wilds was announced and they had a couple of open Betas we could play. Jet and I immediately signed up for them and eagerly played until the full release. The customization is great, my Palico Midnight is the cutest black Palico you’ve ever seen, and I was actually invested in the morsel of story that we received in the Beta. The most satisfying thing for me was defeating Arkveld in the prohibitively short 20 minute timer and tier one weapons/armor. Let me just say that a friend, Jet, and I went in the a couple times to defeat the creature only to have to zip away which ate at our short timer. When we had another beta weekend, Jet and I tried again and WE DID IT. For a dual blader like me with very limited understanding of Monster Hunter, I’d say I did really well. It helps that I had an awesome teacher too!
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