I'm probably going to age myself with this post a bit and that's fine. I have no shame when it comes to my age. I wear it with a badge of honor. I should note that I have not played any new computer games since about 2007. Yes, I know, I've missed quite a bit in the past 14 years! PC gaming has certainly evolved to all new levels. As a youngster, I used to spend hours on the computer playing games. Ah, those were the glory days when I could afford to fritter away hours on end without having to worry that my time was best spent doing something more productive. Surely everyone can relate to that? Anyway, let's get to my list:
#1 - Snood
I can recall my brother being home from college over winter break and discovering this gem newly installed on the family computer. Of course, being the curious lad I was, I had to click on this mysterious blue faced icon labelled "Snood."
The concept was simple enough, match three like "Snoods" to remove them from the board, while new ones appear from the top after a set number of shots from the cannon. The challenge? Getting just the right angle. For me, this game rivaled Tetris as a favorite puzzle game. I would literally spend hours upon hours trying to beat my brother's high scores. For me, Snood proved the concept of "keep it simple" works wonders for video games.
#2 - Command & Conquer Red Alert
My introduction to C&C:RA was through a neighborhood friend. He had a stack of PC games and was the one who always had the latest titles. Unfortunately, he wasn't too generous at sharing the computer so I initially spent a lot of time watching this game being played.
Originally released in 1996, Command & Conquer Red Alert is a real-time strategy game where you command either Soviet or Allied forces in the main missions. As you progress, you unlock more units and buildings. My favorite mode was 'skirmish' where you basically custom set parameters for terrain, enemies, etc. Oh, the hours spent creating levels and finding new and creative ways to eliminate the enemy! A huge time-consumer for myself.
#3 - Oregon Trail
Naturally, originally being intended as an educational game, I first discovered the Oregon Trail in an after school program. I remember the several oversize diskettes required to play the game and having to swap them out when the game would prompt.
This was a very memorable one for me, as it was probably one of the first computer games I ever played. It was simple: get your party to Oregon without dying. I do remember the particularly challenging hunting and the square white bullets fired at the pixelated animals. I think there was a squirrel, deer, and bear. The utter shock when you were informed of a death in your party and the grim tombstone that would subsequently pop up. Actually, looking back on it, this was a pretty dark game for a six year old. Certainly educational though...mission accomplished!
#4 - Rayman
Another one I discovered through a friend, Rayman provided hours of fun and was quite challenging. Being a huge fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario series, Rayman was naturally a big hit for me.
I can remember the frustration of trying to free that last Electoon in order to get the exclamation point (!) unlocked at the end of each stage, in order to progress in the game. What was great about Rayman is how it kept me engaged and it had an excellent "replay factor" -- it was enjoyable to play over and over again.
#5 - Roller Coaster Tycoon
A third game introduced through a friend, this one is my all-time favorite PC game. There were so many different ways to play this game. If you weren't feeling challenged enough, or just gave up on the challenge, you could always turn your park into "murderland" -- I mean who didn't do this?
Personally, once I discovered the "power launch mode" on steel roller coasters, it was game on for trying to find new and creative ways to eliminate guests. A bit sadistic, I know. I did enjoy the missions too and, full disclosure, I would only do unforgiveable things to my guests once I beat the level. As far as sequels go, I'm always the "I prefer the original" kind of guy. That goes without saying for Rollercoaster Tycoon. The sequels simply don't cut it. There's nothing like the original. I estimate that I spent about 15% of my childhood playing this game. What a wonderful time it was!
Honourable mentions: Doom, Midtown Madness, Microsoft Flight Simulator
What are some of your favorite PC games of all-time? Drop a comment with your list.
