Gaming

1991 - Megadrive

Sonic the Hedgehog

One of the first video games that really got me hooked. I was around 6 years old, playing on the Sega Mega Drive, and the gameplay was already cooler than Tetris.

I still remember the moments when, by getting hit by an enemy, you'd lose all your coins!

And the music!! There was a bonus stage that was way too cool back then, with a beat that could make even the greatest beatmakers of today envious. 😁

1992 - SNES

TMNT: Turtles in time

A friend of mine had the Super Nintendo, and I used to play TMNT on it.

The era of the difficult Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on the Nintendo was over, and this installment offered a lot more fun!

The colors, the style, the four different characters, and the possibility of playing multiplayer made this game a must-have for the Super Nintendo.

1994 - PC

Theme Park

What a pleasure it was to build your own amusement park with all the little details, to try to satisfy the customers, expand the park, and generate more profit!

Believe it or not, this game already required some management and urban planning skills. The little animations of the visitors were nice, and for the time, many of us didn't count the hours spent refining our park, avoiding tourists vomiting, or even adding a little more salt to the fries to increase soda sales.😄

A thought for a cousin of the genre, which was Theme Hospital. 😌👍

1995 - PC, PS1

Worms

I challenge anyone on Worms! That's a promise!

How many games have I played trying to calibrate the right gauge for the bazooka or grenades. I also remember the little animations at the beginning of the game, a delight.

The picture comes from the original Worms, the first of its name, but several versions have been released afterward, improving the graphics and adding some pretty cool weapons (like the super sheep or the holy hand grenade👌)

Anyway, if you want to play a game on Worms Armageddon PS3 for real, hit me up on Discord and show me what you're capable of!😏

1995 - PC

Sim City 2000

So this one is a bit like Theme Park and Theme Hospital. Countless hours spent expanding your city, playing the roles of architects, urban planners, and other civil engineers.

What a pleasure it was to have a large city with everything you needed, power plants, stadiums, and all the other buildings...

But it was also sometimes frustrating to see a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake come and destroy some buildings.

Anyway, good memories with this little PC game. There have been improved versions of SimCity afterwards (which I never tried...).

1995 - PS1

Destruction Derby

One of my earliest memories on the PS1.

Destruction Derby was one of a kind! It wasn't totally a racing game like the others. The uniqueness was that the car would suffer damage indicated at the bottom right of the screen.

But the best part was the arena mode, where you had to crash into each other with one last survivor, like a gladiator battle, but this time with cars.

The graphics may have aged poorly, but the memories remain memorable. 💯💯💯

1996 - PS1

Blood Omen:
Legacy of Kain

A masterpiece in its time, in my opinion. Which was followed by Soul Reaver, being just as good as its predecessor.

Legacy of Kain (Blood Omen) was pure pleasure. There were already FF7-like cinematics before their time, telling the story of this famous vampire.

My best memories were about the map, the gameplay, and the weapon system. Not to mention the way to drink the blood of enemies from a distance... a very complete game for its time, despite graphics that may leave something to be desired today.

1996 - PS1

Tomb Raider

Regarding Tomb Raider, I believe all the critics agree that it was a masterpiece of the 90s.

Who hasn't locked the butler in the freezer?! We've all done it, admit it!

At the time, it was truly a classic ahead of its time. Well, like other old games, the graphics have suffered over time. However, many other Tomb Raider games have been released since then, and most of them were successful. I only included this one because it was the original.

One could say that the Tomb Raider franchise was a success. Now, did Lara's pair of... assets contribute to that? Who knows...😇

1997 - N64

GoldenEye 007

Nintendo 64... I didn't include many games, but I couldn't possibly miss this one...

GoldenEye... both the single-player campaign and the multiplayer mode were awesome. But the multiplayer back then, it was a blast!!! 4 controllers plugged into the console, on a split-screen TV, endless fun...

In the same vein, there was also Perfect Dark. But GoldenEye remains the original that left a mark on many.

My name is Tekk. Péo Tekk (← to be removed)

1997 - PS1

Final Fantasy 7

Now, we're getting to the Holy Grail... If I had to pick just one game, it would be this one: Final Fantasy, the 7th in the series. At your service.

At first glance, the somewhat blocky graphics (okay, very blocky), and the lengthy dialogues might make you think this title is overrated. But the real fans know...

The story, the characters, exploring the world and its different cities, each with its own ambiance, the materia system, the chocobos, the Gold Saucer, ...and I almost forgot; the cutscenes! So many reasons to rank this installment at the top of an All-Time, Pound-for-Pound list of video games!

For a long time, I dreamed of a remake, until...

1998 - PS1

Medievil

Moving on after FF7 is tough 😅

MediEvil still had its own charm. The character was cool, the gameplay enjoyable, and I remember unlocking weapons as you progressed, offering a variety of toys to fight the enemies.

The different maps, weapons, enemies, and the quirky design made it a pretty cool game overall.

That being said, I'm not sure if I'd find the same enjoyment playing it again as I did back in the day. 🙃

1998 - PS1

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

In a different genre, there was Tony Hawk.

At the time (for those who don't know), there was a lot of skateboarding and rollerblading, before scooters (or at the same time). We spent more time outside than today, and enthusiasts would put 'wax' on the sidewalks to be able to.. grind (?!) what was it called again?? when you skateboarded or rollerbladed on sidewalks?!! Memory lapse.. 😬

Anyway, Tony Hawk was a hit at the time, pulling off crazy combos, big scores, in different maps, good memories 😎

Special mention for CoolBoarders 2, a winter-themed cousin 😉

1999 - PS1

Metal Gear Solid

The first Metal Gear Solid was really something. There were sequels that came after, but the first one was still the foundation.

The story, the characters, the gameplay, the different bosses, the way of infiltrating, hiding, choosing your approach in front of the enemy... A combination of elements that made this game a classic. It wasn't always easy to follow (the storyline), but we got our money's worth with this game. 🙂

They should make it into a movie, the characters are so charismatic. Anyway, Metal Gear back then was a 10/10.

1999 - PC

Age of Empire 2

Age of Empires, 1, 2, 3, and a few expansions...

Perhaps one of the games I played the most when I was a young teenager. For a little backstory, my dad was in IT, and we already had internet when it wasn't so popular. Then we played LAN games with 3 or 4 players, each with their own PC. It was so much fun..

The games were long, but not too long. And the enjoyment of this game is unique; advancing through the ages, building your buildings, your armies, attacking, defending, forming alliances (or not..). A game that's over 20 years old, and still totally playable, while enjoying it.

1999 - Game Boy

Pokemon
Red & Blue

One of the first - if not the first - Pokemon game.

The Game Boy experience was really cool in its early days. Then Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and PSP and the like...

The first Pokemon was a classic for all players of that time. An unmatched experience, Pokemon Red or Blue. Then there were a bunch of others afterwards. And just like Tomb Raider, Metal Gear, PES, and others, the foundation of the Pokemon games was this one.

2000 - Dreamcast

Power Stone 2

Anytime - I replay this game 🥹🥹🥹

Certainly not the most well-known, nor the most popular, and yet a bomb! Especially in multiplayer, up to 4 players (on the Dreamcast).

There was a system where you could create new elements, new weapons, it was so cool! And the gameplay dynamics, no comments.. It was intense!! You grabbed the 3 diamonds and it was on fire!!!

I didn't play much on the Dreamcast, and despite that, I won't hear anything else: Power Stone 2 is the best Dreamcast game 😂

2002 - PS2

GTA Vice City

Alright, now we're getting into the thick of it...

One of my favorite GTAs, despite what fans of San Andreas might say. The vibe of Vice City was just so cool, you felt like you were in a movie with Tony Montana, floral shirt, wreaking havoc all over the city (or in the nightclub 😅).

GTA 3 had already made a big leap forward, and GTA Vice City managed to enhance that advancement in graphics, gameplay, and storytelling.

The characters, the missions, the weapons, the city, pure joy 🤩

2002 - PS2

Time Splitters 2

Less known than GTA, TimeSplitters (the second one in this case) brought back the vibe that GoldenEye had on the Nintendo 64 to the PS2.

The multiplayer was so cool, along with the wacky characters and the array of varied weapons at our disposal.

Plus, there were challenges to unlock that added content to the game and were fun to complete. Those who spent time with the game will almost unanimously say they got their money's worth 🙂

2002 - PS2

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Taken from the movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers delighted us, especially for fans of the trilogy.

You could play as several characters: Aragorn with his sword, Legolas with his bow, and Gimli with his axe.

Just redoing the scene in the cave with the goblins, but this time being in control: a certain pleasure. A very, very good game at the time. I'm not sure how the graphics hold up today, but they were already pretty good over 20 years ago!

2004 - PS2

Def Jam: Fight for NY

I didn't include Tekken, Street Fighter, or Mortal Kombat because I wasn't that good at them, and I didn't play them that much. However, Def Jam, I had a decent level 😛

US rap fans had to be ready! All the big MCs were there, Snoop, Xzibit, Ice-T, 50, Methodman, etc...

And honestly, the gameplay was really cool (in my opinion), along with the soundtrack and the campaign mode. Whether against the computer or in 1v1 against your friend, especially the subway level 😏

Plus, you could use elements of the environment; bats, car doors... the best!

I'd happily play this game again.

2005 - PS2

PES 2005

I didn't include all the FIFA and PES games, but I had to include at least one. And I think PES5 was already starting to be pretty good, both in terms of graphics and gameplay.

Plus, it was around this time that online multiplayer started to become a thing (if I'm not mistaken).

Not to mention the amazing teams of that time; Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, the Argentina national team, Adriano, etc...

Sure, you had to make some name changes due to licensing issues (for PES), but we did it. Some even played with made-up names like Roberto Larcos and others 😁

2007 - PS3

Kane & Lynch: Dead men

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (the 1st one) was a bomb back in the day...

I'm not sure if the game was widely popular, but it became a classic for me. I wonder if Trevor from GTA 5 was inspired by Lynch...

Anyway, the story was worthy of a great film, the duo of the two characters was a total success, the missions, the graphics, the gameplay, the settings, really cool. And the cherry on top was the "Fragile Alliance" online mode, kind of like Payday before its time, it was awesome.

If there are people eager to replay it, hit me up on Discord! I can't wait!!

2007 - PS3

Uncharted:
Drake's fortune

After Tomb Raider, Uncharted arrived in a similar style, but with more shooting.

The first one was a hit, and so were the sequels. This time the main character was male, and the immersion was guaranteed.

Uncharted managed to find a good balance between adventure, shooting, and storyline, all with quite charismatic characters, beautiful scenery, good gameplay, overall a good game. It even got turned into a movie.

2007 - PS3

Motorstorm

The sensation of speed in Motorstorm was clearly innovative back in 2007.

I always feel like this game remained underrated for a long time. It's one of the best racing games I've ever played, and I've always been quite picky about this genre.

I've played Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer, Dirt, Need for Speed (there were some good ones by the way...), but I decided to include this one because it's the racing game that excited me the most. The tracks, the different types of vehicles, the gameplay, the boost, and the sensation of speed, everything you need to have a blast 😋

2007 - PS3

Resistance :
Fall of Man

Resistance (the first one, then the second, like Motorstorm) was another game that entered the (my) classics, with, again like Motorstorm (!), a feeling of being underrated..

The story was really successful, an alien invasion with aliens taking over, and human resistance fighters trying to fight back as best they can. I haven't seen anything quite like this game. I still remember replaying the campaign several times in co-op mode, totally immersed in the game's atmosphere, like in a movie. I would like to play it again to see how it has aged 😌 Anyway, I have excellent memories of it.

2008 - PS3

Playstation Home

Nostalgia when it holds us... 🥲

Unfortunately, not everyone had the chance to experience PlayStation Home.

It was a metaverse before its time, a "hub," a virtual space where we could meet, walk around, interact via text or audio, buy clothes, invite people to our decorated apartments, play chess, bowling, quizzes. There was a good atmosphere, a nice vibe where we disconnected from a particular game to gather in this shared space where everyone participated, with activities, different maps...

I never understood why they shut it down, and I hope a similar concept will return in the near future, maybe on PS5..

2008 - PS3

GTA 4

Just from the intro, GTA enthusiasts knew it was going to be something big.

GTA 4 was a small revolution even though GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas had already made their mark with their advancements. This time, we had crossed a threshold.

A marvel at the time, the soundtrack (as awesome as ever), the characters, the story, the city of New York, the multiplayer... (my favorite mode was Cops and Crooks 😁)

The enjoyment was complete, Rockstar spoiled us, and players were ecstatic. The expansions that followed added another layer, and we wondered (at the time) how they could top that!

2009 - PS3

DJ Hero

Some people were more into Guitar Hero, but I was on Team DJ Hero.

I had the Renegade pack, where you could use the case as a small table and put the turntables on it.

The game was really well done, with several difficulty modes to progress through the game, whether you were a beginner or an expert. High-quality mixes; most of the time, two songs were remixed together, not always in the same style. The gameplay was a success, handling the turntables wasn't too complicated, and you could increase the difficulty of the mixes for more challenge. In short, a memorable experience for hip-hop/electro music lovers 👌

2010 - PS3

Call of Duty: Black ops

Yo Breitling, where you at?! Al pach! Anti-singe, Nosta, and the others!!

I made friendships through the zombie mode like I never would have guessed. The campaign and multiplayer were interesting; good maps, good weapons, smooth gameplay, not much to complain about.

Then there was the zombie mode on top of that, and there... I'm lost for words. The challenge of surviving waves of increasingly numerous zombies, trying to get good weapons from the box, upgrading them with Pack-a-punch, helping each other out when a teammate falls, indulging in glitch exploits... In short, one of my best gaming experiences to date! Whether it was on the Kino, Five, or Ascension maps, the fun was guaranteed 🥰

2010 - PS3

UFC Undisputed 2010

There had already been a first UFC game a year or two earlier, which was already cool for MMA and fighting game enthusiasts.

Then came UFC (Undisputed) 2010 with better graphics, more fighters, slightly more sophisticated gameplay, and a Fight Camp mode that added a unique dimension to the game.

In addition to having your own customized fighter, you could create a team and recruit other fighters to climb the online team rankings. I remember being very invested in my created team, selecting top-level fighters to have the best team. Those were the days...

2010 - PS3

Heavy Rain

Not being accustomed to narrative-driven games (where you have choices to make), Heavy Rain really impressed me.

Engrossed in this dramatic story, you alternated between multiple characters to save the main character's son (if I remember correctly 😅).

The pacing of the game was perfect, neither too slow nor too fast, the acting of the characters worthy of the greatest actors, and the gripping storyline.

It's a change from FPS games or other genres, ideal for gamers who want to try their hand at a narrative-driven game and have a cinephile soul.

2013 - PS3, PS4

GTA 5

5 years after GTA 4, the latest installment arrives...

And like many others, I was once again blown away by the latest GTA. I replayed GTA 4, and you can quickly see the difference.

The graphics have been pushed to a level that was surprising for the PS3. Then the game was released shortly after on PS4 (and later on PS5 😅), confirming the quality of the graphical rendering.

Once again, it's a great success with the 3 characters, the storyline, the city of Hollywood (or rather Vinewood), the missions, and especially the multiplayer, which has been continuously enriched with new modes and features. Everyone is wondering what GTA 6 will bring to the table after this title! 😁 (It's been 10 years already since we've been waiting!)

2014 - PS4

Destiny

An MMO Shooter/MMO FPS that delighted many, at least in its early days.. 😅

Destiny had a bright future ahead of it, which was -unfortunately- completely spoiled by endless DLCs.. Really too bad for the small shareholders (cf. Les inconnus).

Despite that, the game was well put together, the ability to gradually increase your gear, the different types of enemies, the maps (planets), the bosses, and above all: the raids! (the dungeons). 6 against one guy! (got that reference? 😆) Raids were the ultimate Destiny experience, where coordination was key to getting through, good memories. 👍

2015 - PS4

Rocket League

A new genre was born with Rocket League, and discovering this game in its early days was so exhilarating!

A soccer game with cars, a bit of turbo, 3v3, and you're off. The basics of the game are easy to understand, and the gameplay - at its core - isn't too difficult to grasp. But let me tell you, it goes deep in mastering the controls and shots!

The pros will surprise you, it's almost discouraging! Fortunately, matchmaking is done by player level, otherwise many players would be frustrated very quickly. Anyway, kudos to the developers who created a game that still runs almost 10 years later 🙌

2019 - PS4

Apex Legends

Just like Rocket League, discovering Apex in its early days was a pleasure of certain enjoyment, for FPS enthusiasts of course.

The dynamics of the game, the different abilities of each character, the maps, the best battle royale in my opinion. No building like Fortnite to protect yourself, you have to use the environment to your advantage, and work as a team to dominate the opponent.

In addition to the game being free - unthinkable 10 years ago - new characters (each with unique abilities) are added every quarter, which adds substance to the game. A full score for Apex, in its genre (aside from the frustration of missing shots when struggling to aim 😬😅)

2020 - PS4

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

And there we go, ending on a high note with the Holy Grail 😌

Although there may be some justified criticisms (in my opinion) regarding the differences from the original storyline, as well as the fact that not all characters from the original FF7 are in the game, the FF7 remake still lives up to the fans' expectations.

The combat system is more enjoyable, the graphics are very well done, the story is quite faithful, and above all, what a pleasure to finally see a remake of one of the greatest video games of all time more than 20 years later, from the PS1 to the PS4, it's delightful.

We eagerly await the sequel in 2024 with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

2024 - PS5

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Alright then... Clearly the most anticipated game of 2024 for me.

Nothing to say, except that it's going to be epic.

I hope to be able to stream it during the year, and I'm excited to play it and discover which other characters will be playable in this installment (compared to the Remake where few characters were playable).

Big shoutout to the developers who took on this masterpiece of the 1997 video game +++

2025 - PS5

GTA 6

Finally, more than 10 years later, GTA 6 has been announced.

The trailer has already stirred up a lot of excitement, and it promises some impressive graphics. Vice City was one of my favorite GTAs, and GTA 6 will apparently be in the same style, which delights me 😚👌

I can't wait to discover the story mode, the online mode, and the unique features that this installment will have (like a cryptocurrency in the game? a social network integrated into your online character?...)

Until then, I hope you all stay healthy, that's what matters most 😉👍