Legendary games I’ve never played – part II

If I were my colleague Domagoj Belancic, I too would be feeling pretty sheepish about the titles on his pile of shame. That being said, there are some yawning gaps in my own game library too.

Minecraft: zero enthusiasm for building blocks

Minecraft is undoubtedly the most significant game I’ve never played. I’ve just never felt the urge to get into that graphically modest world, chop up some blocks and build boxy-looking houses. Mind you, I definitely understand the fascination arising from the game’s almost endless possibilities. Nevertheless, getting started with it has always been too much of a stretch for me. By the time I got familiar with it and understood enough of the mechanics and blueprints, I’d lose interest.

I’m grateful for the immense influence that Minecraft has had – and continues to have – on the industry. Without it, Valheim and Enshrouded, games that have kept me enthralled for almost 200 hours, probably wouldn’t exist.

What are the chances I’ll still play the game?

There’s a decent chance I’ll still play it. The game’s always being updated, so if a major graphics patch comes along at some point, I could certainly imagine reaching for a Minecraft pickaxe after all.

Super Smash Bros.: huh?

I’m just not feeling this one. Sure, I’ve played one or two Super Smash Bros. titles. Our livestream was the longest time I’ve ever spent playing the classic beat ’em up. The game’s simply too chaotic, too colourful and too random for me. That being said, there’s no denying it has some consistency: the fact that I always lose.

The game thrives on the huge variety of Nintendo figures dating back to the NES. Given that I grew up with Nintendo games, I should really feel a certain passion for Super Smash Bros. too. Then again, there are plenty of series I’m not a fan of, as the rest of my list will confirm. That’s why the prospect of beating up Samus Aran as Pikachu doesn’t excite me.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

Slim to none. It offers little that appeals to me. Although I like beat ’em ups and Nintendo, I don’t like either enough to enjoy this wild combination. I’m also beyond the age of regularly playing games with my buddies on the sofa – and it’s not the same online.

Metroid Prime? No thanks

The fact I’ve never owned an NES or a Super Nintendo is bound to be one of the reasons why I’ve almost never played the Metroid series. The only exception was Metroid Dread for the Switch. I enjoyed a few hours playing that until the backtracking killed my appetite for it. Besides that, there are at least 14 titles from the series that I’ve never played.

Until Metroid Prime on the Gamecube, the series was unknown territory for me. Despite my best friend’s valiant efforts, I couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm for the game. No matter how many times he showed me how great it was to turn into a ball and dissolve enemies into particles with a laser arm, I was always more interested in playing Turok or Time Splitters 2.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

The remastered version of Metroid Prime, which everyone raved about, was released in 2023. I almost gave it a whirl, but its old-fashioned mechanics held me back. However, if part four is released on the Switch 2 at some point, I’ll give the series another chance.

Donkey Kong Country: none of my monkey business

This game was also tricky to get into, as I always had to go to my friends’ houses to play Super Nintendo. Or do it in shopping centres. The problem there was that I could never get past the first two levels. My mum would drag me away from the console before I could get any further. Or the store staff would give customers who might actually want to buy the game priority – would you believe it?!

Neither these short bursts of Donkey Kong Country, nor eventually getting a Nintendo 64 could warm me to the series. To this day, I’m not the biggest fan of side-scrollers. Being forced to restart a level from the beginning is usually enough for me to throw down the controller in exasperation.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

I won’t so much as touch the old versions of the game. Nostalgia aside, there are plenty of other platformers that are more fun. But if a new version comes out, I’ll be open to it.

Sonic the Hedgehog: uncatchable

Only one of my friends had a Sega Mega Drive back in the day. The rest were jumping around with Super Mario. When my buddy let me borrow his console, I naturally started off with Sonic the Hedgehog. Although the Super Nintendo was the more popular console, everyone was a little envious of the «cooler» Sega Mega Drive.

But even the zippy mascot wasn’t enough to get me excited about this side-scroller. I enjoyed it as long as I was racing through the levels at breakneck speed, but unfortunately it was never long before I crashed into something and Sonic’s golden rings would rain down around me.

The only game in the series I’ve played further than the first level is Sonic Mania. Strictly speaking, it’s not an official instalment of the series. Released for Sonic’s 25th anniversary, it was a tribute to the first two games. It was developed by a team from the ROM hacking community. However, like its counterparts, Sonic Mania was unable to hold my interest for long.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

I’m afraid that ship has sailed. On the other hand, I’m not averse to new projects like Sonic Frontiers. As long as they mix up the formula enough, that is.

Broken Sword: too slow for me

I started playing this game a thousand times and never got past the opening scene. Broken Sword is considered one of the best point-and-click adventures ever. The sequels, which revolve around the adventures of US lawyer George Stobbart and French journalist Nicole Collard, are apparently impressive too. Compared to LucasArts adventure games, the series sounded much more grown-up, promising a fresh setting involving terrorist attacks and Templar conspiracies.

However, the mountain of dialogue, plethora of inventory items and cumbersome controls were too much for the then 14-year-old me. Now that I’m older, I’m put off by the old-fashioned game design. What’s more, since it’s a series that builds on itself, I’ve only ever tried the sequel half-heartedly.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

A revised version of the first instalment was recently released and I’m tempted to give it another go. I just need to find a couple of quiet gaming weeks. I should manage in the just over 20 years I have left until retirement, right?

Super Mario Galaxy: this galaxy’s far, far away from capturing my interest

I’ve played most of the Super Mario games in some form or another. The Galaxy series, however, is unchartered territory. The concept of Mario scurrying around on little round planets always appealed to me. When I was living in a flatshare, one of my flatmates was always waxing lyrical about the games. I, on the other hand, couldn’t bring myself to hop around on a planet more than a few times. I didn’t like the Wii’s control scheme for that type of game. That being said, I’m sure the unique world design has inspired Nintendo to come up with a number of creative ideas.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

I’m not enough of a Super Mario fan to ever revisit the series. I’d rather wait for the next 3D Mario.

Crash Bandicoot and Banjo-Kazooie: I’d sooner do a sack race

Since I always confuse these two platformers, I’ll tackle them together. They date back to the same era. Crash, the game’s marauding marsupial, became the face of PlayStation for a while. It was also the game that gave Naughty Dog its breakthrough.

Banjo-Kazooie was Crash Bandicoot’s Rare-developed, Nintendo 64 equivalent. My brother was an avid Crash Bandicoot player and my best friend used to bang on about Banjo-Kazooie every day at school. But endlessly collecting fruit, eggs, musical notes and whatever else soon wrecked the game for me.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

Pretty much zero. Even with mid-level enthusiasm for platformers, I doubt the games have aged well enough for me to enjoy them.

Shadow of the Colossus and its ilk: unconquerable

Team ICO’s games are unrelated in terms of content, but they do share a unique blend of melancholy and connection between the player and another character. In Ico, the studio’s first creation, that character’s a helpless girl you have to protect from mysterious shadow creatures. In Shadow of the Colossus, on the other hand, the colossi are the ones peacefully stomping around – only to be brutally killed by you. Finally, in The Last Guardian, it’s Trico, a cross between a griffin and a cat who forms a close friendship with the boy you play.

The first two games were released on PS2 – a console I never had. Back then, none of my friends ever talked about the Japanese studio’s games. Probably because they were all too busy playing Tekken Tournament and GTA.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

Shadow of the Colossus would be the most likely title to draw me in. I already know the story. Since I can’t stand escort missions, I’ll probably never try Ico. Though I have a lot of respect for The Last Guardian, I’ll have to say «no thanks» to that one too. With the studio now dissolved, it’s unlikely I’ll have the chance to play any new games from this series.

Indiana Jones: Fate of Atlantis and other LucasArts titles: there’s just no spark

For me, adventure games are primarily stories. All I want to do is experience or hear them. I don’t necessarily need to play them. Especially when it comes to old point-and-click games like Indiana Jones Fate of Atlantis, which isn’t as fun as it was in 1992 anyway. Even so, I’m kicking myself for missing LucasArts’ legendary adventure game.

It’s been in the back of my mind since I was a child, when I’d see older friends playing it. I just remember the scene when Indy has to try to get past a Nazi tank without getting shot. It was totally different to any NES or arcade game I was used to.

Still, even after all these years, I’ve never managed to make up for missing out on the game. The story’s often referred to as the official fourth part of the film franchise. It’ll definitely be better than Crystal Skull and The Dial of Destiny.

What are the chances I’ll still play the game?

Indiana Jones is installed and ready to play, but I haven’t got any further than the intro yet. I’m holding on to hope for a general overhaul in the style of Monkey Island or Grim Fandango. That’s what gave me the kick I needed to play those games. Other LucasArts classics I need to go back to include The Dig, Maniac Mansion and Zack McKracken.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: please revamp it

When I tried this game’s demo before it launched in 2003, I couldn’t get to grips with its awkward controls and slow, turn-based gameplay. I’d been spoiled by the earth-shattering battles in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, which was released the year before.

In the years that followed, I gave «Kotor» (the abbreviated name for Bioware’s game) multiple chances. Any time it appeared on a new platform or a re-release was published, I reinstalled it. The game didn’t get any prettier with age, nor did the gameplay get any less tired. I couldn’t stand more than a few hours of it.

It was a different story with Obsidian’s sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. I played that all the way through and loved it. The first instalment, on the other hand, is still an ugly blot on my gaming CV.

What are the chances I’ll still play the series?

The planned remake of the game reportedly isn’t dead after all. If it really does come out, I’ll definitely play it. Even if I unfortunately already know the big twist.

Which legendary game or game series should I revisit?

Help me decide which game series I should most urgently revisit

Minecraft

Super Smash Bros.

Metroid Prime

Donkey Kong Country

Sonic the Hedgehog

Broken Sword

Super Mario Galaxy

Banjo-Kazooie

Crash Bandicoot

Indiana Jones: Fate of Atlantis

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

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