Krismas’ Good Game Recipe

Hey folks! Krismas here putting his headphones away for just enough time to celebrate two of his favorite gaming aspects. Sit back, relax, and prepare to bask in the awesomeness.
Now we know there are many key elements that make up a great game. It is not the easiest task in the world to masterfully include all those elements into every game that is created, but there are those titles out there that show it is possible. I think it is safe to assume that you folks know that good gameplay is the most essential part, though most developers nowadays seem to have missed that memo. But what are some of the other components that make a game magical in its own right, you ask? I’m here to explain that very answer.
Ever notice something about 90% of all those timeless classics we know and love? Well if you said that they all have an incredible cast of characters or main character, then you are right.
What is the point of having a great game engine when the characters you get to play as are completely boring or unimaginative? (I would cite Gears of War as an example except that game has worse mechanics than a repair shop run by rabid wombats) I look forward to the creation of amazing and interesting characters with an intense anticipation. Character designing has always been the fuel that’s driven to me to play certain games or use certain characters, and I know it drives you too. How else would you explain how giddy people get when they see such iconic characters like Link, Megaman, Samus, Ryu, Sonic, Snake (Solid, Liquid, Naked it doesn’t matter; though I personally like Big Boss) and so on and so forth. The level of likability for these characters allows us to to want to play any and all games that include them, regardless of how good or bad we know it will be. I’ll be very honest and say that I myself have played horrible games because I like the character(s) in them. I mean, who else actually enjoys playing any of the Full Metal Alchemist games? I know I don’t, but that has not stopped me from trying out any of the new ones that pop up from time to time because I love the Elric Brothers and Izumi. Ya can’t have a good game without a decent character.
Now this is a bit of a debatable point, but a large majority of my favorite games possess a certain quality that I almost cannot live without. Game soundtracks vary between earsplittingly horrible to listen-to-it-every-day awesome. A soundtrack can make or break a game in my honest opinion, though it isn’t always the deciding factor. So let’s say you have your great game mechanics and your awesome and likeable characters but the music gives you the meanest headache and the game needs you to have the volume on. How painful is that? I don’t want to have the greatest time of my life listening to garbage can music that even Fat Albert would frown upon therefore turning my game experience into a bittersweet victory. I don’t know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy turning on my iPod and hearing a great video game soundtrack. I find it magical how I can bring any and all fond memories of a gaming experience back into focus by simply hearing the music that went with those moments.

I don’t really ask for much else in a game. Fun to play, great to listen to, and a character that iI can pledge my undying fandom to are all the things i need to consider the game a favorite. Here are some examples as to the good and bad execution of my three basic principles:
The Good
Jet Set Radio/JSRFuture ~ I love this series with all my heart. It is incredibly fun skating everywhere and doing insane tricks while avoiding the police who are after you for tagging graffiti at every turn. Evey single character was bursting with personality, it is hard to have just one favorite character. The soundtrack solidified the game’s greatness (not so much the second game though) with an amazing list of songs you’re guaranteed never to get tired of.
Street Fighter 3 – By far my favorite Street Fighter with my favorite set of fighting mechanics. Ibuki won my heart over in a flash and I dare you to find more than 2 bad songs on the soundtrack.
No More Heroes 1&2 ~ Such a fun game to play, I mean it’s almost unhealthily awesome. Travis is a kick-ass protagonist and almost every boss character has favorite character potential written all over them. The soundtracks to these games are orgasmic and I cannot stop listening to them.
Phoenix Wright series ~ Who woulda thought that playing the role of a defense attorney would be so delightfully entertaining? With an unforgettable cast of characters and a theme song to go with almost every one of them, it is hard not to yell OBJECTION!
Bad
Gears of War ~ This disc, since I refuse to call it a game, is by far the worst excuse for an enjoyable game that I have ever seen. Inconsistent and nonsensical kills and deaths do nothing but enrage me and unless you have a good team, it’s all for naught. Why would you wanna drag someone into such a hellish experience anyway? With only one likeable character in the form of a stereotype, there isn’t much to like about the cast if anything at all. Did I mention that the soundtrack consists of the ambient music synonymous with what it would sound like if your ass could talk.
Mortal Kombat ~ I never imagined that storefront mannequins could ever come to life for the sole purpose of fighting each other. This is by far the stiffest fighting game ever. I mean it. Not even a virgin teen in the middle of the playboy mansion could compare. A dull set of characters who are more often than not pallete swaps of one another really do not help the cause. The music blows. Loud chords every once in a while and a bad imitation of old kung-fu flick sounds are supposed to please your eardrums according to this game.
If you disagree with anything I have said then please feel free to unload the ammo from your cannon of thoughts. Stay tuned folks for more adventures into the unknown and otherwise awesome! This is Krismas tuning back into Professor K.

~Today’s Character and Quote of the day~
Bang Shishigami (Blazblue) ~ “As quick as the wind and as still as the forest!; Hotter than flames and more magnificent than a mountain!” (upon activation of his incredibly manly special move which has it’s own theme song conveniently located below)