The bustling days and software droughts of Summer are over, and Fall is in full swing for many members of the Game Informer Community. While some lament at the colder weather and shorter days, this is arguably the best time of the year to be a gamer, as the majority of the year's most highly anticipated titles come out within the next two months. However, even as technology considers to evolve and the industry moves forward, there are times where we all take a break from the hype and hectic antics of new games and consoles, and return to our old favorite games.
For the second edition of "Community Discussion" I reached out to as many Game Informer Online members as I could to ask them yet another question. To explore this theme of reminiscence, I asked them what their favorite "comfort food" game was - in other words, I asked them for the name of a game they often turned to when they were feeling sick, had a rough day, or just wanted to go on a nostalgia trip or return to an old favorite title of theirs. I was delighted to find that I was not only able to reach out to almost everyone who responded last time, but also managed to get quite a few new people involved as well. So without further ado, enjoy some of the fascinating responses to my question from your fellow Game Informer community members.
The start of a new month means another round of Community Discussion.
The Zelda series as a whole is the one I always find myself going back to, but Ocarina of Time is the one game I can identify with the most. I make a habit of playing the game once a year, because I love it so much, and it's the one game that I can play no matter what mood I'm in. The nostalgia certainly plays a huge role, but as somebody who played Ocarina of Time back in 1998 I find it astonishing that I'm still blown away by it today. The game isn't new to me any more, but I still get a buzz from playing it. It can cheer me up when I'm not in a particularly good mood, and even when I'm fine it still fills my face with a huge grin. When my Granddad died when I was a kid it was binges of Ocarina of Time that took my mind off thinking about it too much. I only wish I could experience the sensation of playing the game for the very first time again. It was, and still remains, magical.
Jonny Apple Juice (formerly known as Jonathan Harrison)
For me, a game I would play as "comfort food" would have to be a couple games. The first would have to be Grand Theft Auto 5. The freedom that exists in that game is rather unprecedented when compared to other sandbox games.being able to run around and do as you please (mostly) allows me to live somewhat of a second life, creating my own scenarios ranging from a "job" to steal a fighter jet to a hitman hunting down "innocent" civilians. It's all about possibilities in that crazy world.
A second ons game would be pretty much any variation of Tetris. Tetris is one of those RARE games that does not age and with that it takes a lifetime to master. It can be played on practically any electronic device that has a screen because it's such a simple game. It's my go-to game when I wait for my boss to close up shop for the night. I don't see Tetris ever going away because of it's universal appeal to any generation that enjoys a good puzzle game; not to mention it has become the best-selling game of all time.
There have been many games that fit this category over the years; from the blissful violence of Street Fighter II back in the day, to the theraputic strategy of Nobunaga's Ambition the mitigating factor appeared to be 'a game that I was good enough at that there was no chance of me losing, and in that way a mood improver. But there was one game, a guilty pleasure, that did more than that. One game that really made me just... happy.
Yep, Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. And to make it even better I had a modded version for the original Xbox! From the opening notes of Meja's "How Crazy Are You" DOAX just put a smile on my face. No matter how stressful my night had been (and, as an emergency services dispatcher it can get stressful, let me tell you!) sitting down with this game just... it just took it all away. Say what you will about Fan Service, call me pathetic, lambast DOAX as a crappy game, none of that matters. The fact is that a grown man, in his mid-30s, happily married, with children and a stable job could come home in the foulest, most depressed of moods and pop in this simple, somewhat broken game and just RELAX. My wife, in particular, found it both amusing and refreshing that this game had this effect on me. Not only could she giggle at the palpable delight this brought me but it also 'reset' me. If I came home exhausted and in a bad mood a little DOAX brightened me right up.
The Xbox is still hooked up to my tv, even though it hasn't been turned on in a LONG time. DOAX is still in it's tray. It isn't a game I play when the children are awake but, every once in awhile after a crappy day my wife can still catch the quiet melody of "Bah da ba, Bah da ba, Bah da ba, Bah da da da-daaaaah" coming from the living room and smile picturing me with a wide grin justrevelig in one of the best Fan Service games that has ever been.
Honestly, if I'm having a bad day, video games are not my go-to...I'll leave it to your imagination to fill in the rest.
However, when I'm in a gaming rut, or have run out of things to play, I can always, ALWAYS return to Super Smash Bros. I've sunken more hours into Brawl than I have into any other game (rivaled perhaps by Pokemon Blue and Silver), and it's usually the same thing over and over again; multiplayer. I completed Subspace Emissary and the Challenges years ago, and I rarely go to the Trophy Launcher anymore...but I never get sick of multiplayer matches, against people or the CPU. It's gotten to the point where I'll put myself and the CPU on the Random Character Select and do the same for the Stage Select pretty consistently. I've become comfortable using every character, and am very confident in my capabilities with certain characters.
I even occasionally find myself taking breaks from brand new games to play a few rounds of Brawl. Don't know what it is, but Smash Bros never gets old for me. It was a bummer when they discontinued the online services...the CPU is no substitute for skilled human opponents. Oh well...Smash Bros 3DS is right around the corner...my heart will go on...
After a long of school it's always great to to sit back on the couch and look through the buffet of video games I own. My favorite genre is undoubtedly action-adventure. But after a disappointing day nothing makes me feel more accomplished then playing competitive multiplayer in the latest FPS. Not to toot my own horn but I'm pretty good at first-person shooters, I can play any of them and succeed right of the bat. In fact, I had my best Halo 4 match after getting a bad test score. 24 kills and 2 deaths not to mention the 6 assists. It felt amazing taking out a Banshee with a sniper rifle and using the Mantis for half the match. Overall, the cure to a bad day is accomplishment and I easily find that in first-person shooters.
ναииαнfσx тнє тяιfσяcє ωιєℓ∂єя (where she found the symbols in her name, I'll never know)
It could either be be nostalgic or a game that is unable to to take your life away, such as Journey or Flower. I do not want to feel even more frustrated than I already am on those types of days, and I'm the kind of person who does get frustrated easily on difficult games.
Well… unlike in the last discussion, where I brought up a game a lot of people hadn’t heard of, my answer this time is about as mainstream as it gets. You see, I don’t normally feel “depressed” the way a lot of people do, but I do have trouble with anxiety. Between school, socializing, family stuff, and what have you, dealing with everyday life can sometimes feel… daunting. So when the daily grind starts to weigh on me, sometimes the best way to clear my head is by escaping down the rabbit-hole that is video games. My escapist game of choice is The Sims 3.
Wait a minute, KillerRabbit. If you get stressed out over ordinary life, why would you play a game that simulates ordinary life?
Good question, KillerRabbit. The nice thing about The Sims is that it gives the player complete control over reality… or at least virtual reality. And that is a very comforting feeling. I don’t normally play video games for more than two or three hours at a time, but I have lost entire days of my life by playing The Sims 3. For whatever reason, this game has the ability to make me completely forget about the real world. Eventually though, I reach a point in the game where my Sims are doing very well for themselves. It’s usually when my Sim is jogging or working out at the gym that it dawns on me… I’m just bumming around on my computer in real life. And with that kick in the butt, I know it’s time to come back to reality.
I guess it’s my creative side gets me so invested in The Sims. I’ve sunk a lot of time into creating outlandish characters and creating equally outlandish stories for them. How often can these two Sims get divorced and then remarry? How many times can this teenager get arrested? How many illegitimate children can this bachelor have? It’s important that to stick with original, fictitious characters when doing these things. I stopped trying to create myself in-game a long time ago, because whenever I do, I end up becoming a despicable, womanizing deadbeat father with no friends. I don’t know why, but it happens every time. What does that say about my subconscious? I don’t want to think about it.
My "comfort food" game of choice is typically a grind heavy RPG - something I can play in order to switch my brain off for a while and just be engrossed in that world. Final Fantasy 6 holds the all-time favorite title in that regard. Though not an RPG in the strictest sense, lately, gravitate towards Borderlands 2 due to its enjoy its humor, characters, and world lore.
I'd have to say that it's just the Pokemon series in general. When I boot any of em' up, I feel safe. I know that, no matter what, they love me unconditionally. When things aren't going my way, I feel like I can rely on my Pokemon. I know that they aren't real, but I feel like, if they were, they would genuinely care.
I'll give you two games I've played whenever I needed a pick-me-up. One will be a game I played as a kid and the other is one I play today.
The first one was Banjo-Tooie on the Nintendo 64. No matter how bad a day I had at school or anywhere else, Banjo-Tooie is the game that could put a smile on my face. I could always lose myself in the colorful worlds Rare created, like Jolly Roger's Lagoon and its beautiful underwater sections. Or visit Hailfire Peaks and join the Kickball Tournament. This game would also work my brain in order to figure out its many puzzles. In fact, Grunty Industries still features the toughest puzzles I've ever encountered in a video game. It was frustrating, sure, but it never failed to take my mind off of any troubles I was having in my own life.
Nowadays, the game I play to cheer me up is actually one I have started playing very recently: Forza Motorsport 5. Say what you will about racing sim games, but there's just something about getting behind the wheel and driving on famous tracks in places like Germany and Spain that just really relieves me of any stress I may be having from school or work. Not to mention the game has a beautiful soundtrack with its cinematic-like score.
Over the years, I have had a number of games I would consider "comfort food" games, but one in particular always keeps me coming back: Peggle. Whenever I have had a stressful day, or am bedridden for any reason, I can always turn on Peggle or Peggle 2 and relax the time away clearing pegs. Everything from the colorful art style, to the incredibly happy music, to the satisfaction I get whenever I completely dominate a stage, makes everything seem just a little bit better, you know? And hearing Ode to Joy is always the perfect cherry on the awesome dessert that is Peggle.
Since I already wrote a giant blog about one of my favorite comfort games (which you can check out here), I'll tackle another one. For me, a comfort game is a title that doesn't require too much thought or coordination, one I can simply start playing when I'm bored and forget about the world for an hour or two. Recently that game has been Diablo III. I've poured more than 200 hours into the game, more specifically into the game's Reaper of Souls expansion. Because of the randomly generated nature of the game, it is near endlessly replayable, and there is always better loot to find and gear to improve. I can log on, play and chat with friends for a few hours, and then log off. It's a great time because I don't have to stress or worry about my performance due to the cooperative nature of the game, and I can mindlessly click away for a few hours to pass the time or take my mind off things. That to me makes it a great comfort game.
Pedophile Super Smash CPU
Well, usually when I need a video game pick-me-up I'll play a fighting game. It actually doesn't matter the game as long as I'm beating up someone or the computer. Among my favorites are Tekken and Smash Bros. I've invested loads of time into both franchises, so I feel great when I'm kicking of tail! And I'm not terrible at them, so that's a plus! I get so focused when I'm fighting, that I sort of forget about whatever's getting me down. The only downside is that losing sucks... And while I'm not terrible, I'm certainly not great at them. But hey, depleting an opponent's HP to zero or sending them flying off the screen every once in a while totally makes up for that! And the few times I get win streaks I fell even better!
My "comfort food" game varies. It entirely depends on what exactly I need comfort for. For the most part, The Legend of Zelda, especially Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and A Link to the Past are my comfort food games. A Link to the past is purely nostalgic for me. It was my first game. I usually play it when I am sick. It's what I turn to for a good afternoon curl up. Majora's Mask is what I play when I feel isolated or alone. Maybe it has something to do with the themes of abandonment and friendship? Most likely. Majora's Mask got me through my final 2 years of highschool. And Twilight Princess is what I turn to when I need something so romantically heartwrenching. I get some sort of soothing high yet tragically hopeless from *SPOILERS* Midna breaking the mirror at the end.*END SPOILERS*Is it a happy ending? No. And I guess that's why I like it. I dislike things tied in a neat bow and boxed off. I find no comfort or realism in that. I don't search for realism for comfort food. But I don't want to be told everything is gonna be all flowers and sunshine when that's not the truth. In short, the Legend of Zelda is my comfort food. Although, I have been known to bunk down with Final Fantasy XIII because it makes me feel better about my existance...
I got a couple types of 'comfort food' depending on my day. If I have had a long day of non stop stress I like to head into Minecraft to build a lovely castle to live in where the 'problem people' don't exist. Tend to my garden and shear my colored sheep. Plus, the music is soothing as can be! If I have had an irritating day filled with frustration and anger then I always end up heading to Halo 4 multiplayer to shoot my cares away. I don't care much for a good k/d ratio so even just one satisfying take down allows for some frustration to be released.
Thinking back to the many games I've played... I remember when I was younger I used to play Tales of Symphonia for the GameCube all the time. It was my first JRPG that I'd ever played, and I was wholeheartedly invested in the story and characters. The combat was challenging for a 10-year-old; the puzzles left me raging at the screen sometimes. The graphics and whether they were good or not didn't matter to my little mind. After my first playthrough, it even inspired me to hop on my first forums website dedicated to every "Tales of" games. There, I found out about the influence system in the game. A player could have different party members talk with the main character Lloyd, depending on his influence/friendship with them. When I found that out, I just had to see all the variations! Too bad kids don't have such dedication for their homework. :P
No matter the occasion, no matter how I was feeling I could always go back to that game and enjoy myself. I still could now, but a lot of my consoles are in boxes as I said earlier. And seeing how I beat the game 11 or 12 times (with doing sidequests each playthrough), I think it's pretty safe to say that it is one of my comfort games.
My other comfort game is, of course, on the PC--the second phase in my gaming life. I browsed through my Steam library, looking at the hours I've put in each game. I've put around 90 hours in Dragon Age: Origins. DA:O is a game that I can revisit without getting bored. Although the over-arching story is pretty one-shot, I love sitting down, customizing my character, and playing through each origin path. I have a soft spot for good dialogue in games, and I have a lot of fun with choosing what to say in games. I usually go back to DA:O when I feel like I don't know what to play, when I feel like there's a gaming drought. It fills the time, and I genuinely enjoy it each playthrough. The combat can be frustrating sometimes, but I've never had too much trouble with it. I may drop it when a new game comes out or I find something else to play in my library. However, the whole process eventually repeats. Get bored, gaming drought feeling, play DA:O. Most times I pick up the character I left off with but occasionally start a whole new one again. I like the characters, love the lore, and I never get tired of it for some reason. I've seen the story and sidequests many times, but they don't feel repetitive for me. It's the same feeling as I have with Tales of Symphonia. It's a toss between gaming bliss and comfortable satisfaction. I know what to expect while I'm playing. Both of my comfort food games are something I can relax to and remain laid-back with. For ToS, it's more out of nostalgia because of my remembrance of my 10-year-old self being blown away by the twist and turns of the plot. For DA:O, it's the lore, the romance options, and the dialogue choices. It's a little bit for the time sink, too. Something to pass the time. Either way, it's good to have a game to go back to no matter where you're at and how you feel. :)
I have two comfort games that are so equal in comfort value that I have to share both of them: LittleBigPlanet 2 and Super Mario Galaxy. Both provide a strong dose of nostalgia and challenge even to this day. LittleBigPlanet has so many levels that I love playing over and over again, most notably the Tower of Whoop and Into the Heart of the Negativitron, the latter of which I enjoy for the end-game cutscene it provides, a beautiful peace of work with one of my favorite quotes in video games ever. It's also fun to check in on the online community, to see what amazing levels, cutscenes, and minigames the community has come up with.
Super Mario Galaxy is a comfort game mainly because of how simply fun it is. It's a blast to return to the different observatories on my slow quest to 100% all of the game. No matter where I am in the game, whenever I start playing, a giant smile spreads across my face. From Buoy Base, to BattleRock, to Gusty Garden, to the Toy Room Galaxy, it's the perfect game to lift any negative mood. It also helps that I'm pretty good at Galaxy, so frustration that results from dying in most other games doesn't occur.
I've played an innumerable amount of games over the past decade or so of my life, and while I enjoyed many of them, there are only a handful that I truly love. Probably my all time favorite of these is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; every time I pop this classic back into my Gamecube I get sucked back to a simpler time of my life. A time where I didn't have to put up with bosses or superiors. A time when I didn't even know what a research paper was. A time when I was more concerned with memorizing the layout and islands on the Great Sea than trying to learn a textbook's worth of psychology definitions by heart. The Legend of Zelda games have a childish nature - they take you back to a time in your life where you weren't afraid of risk and yearned to explore and experience the world around you firsthand.
Wind Waker capitalizes on that sentiment more so than any other game in the revered series. It plops players into an expansive ocean littered with secrets, sidequests, and colorful characters, and it takes the training wheels off early. It's the closest thing we've ever gotten to open-world Zelda (so far), and I love it for that. To this day, my fading grey Gamecube still sees regular use thanks to it. Though I've played the game to completion more times than I care to admit (let's just say seven or so), I oftentimes just boot it up to simply leisurely sail on the ocean. To watch the silhouette of a faraway island approach me from the distance, and remember the year of my life where I wondered what secrets such a location would hold.
I now know the game like the back of my hand, but I say that with a touch of sadness rather than pride. I'll never again know what it's like to genuinely wonder what secrets the Great Sea holds. Later Zelda titles held my attention for a bit and kept me interested, but none had me as engrossed and truly captivated as Wind Waker; I still play it to this day trying to recapture the magic of my first playthrough, though I know in my heart such an endeavor will never truly be possible...
And there you have it. Close to twenty vastly different and downright interesting responses from a colorful and vibrant community. I hope you had as much fun reviewing our responses as I did gathering them together. Enjoy the rest of your Fall folks. And if you'd like to partake in next month's installment of Community Discussion, by all means contact me.
P.S. For more on comfort food games, check out Saint's blog on the subject, which was written at the same time I was compiled these responses.