My first introduction to video games was, of course, the family computer—a classic thing in a somehow privileged household —and growing up with uncles and aunts who were professionals and a parent who was abroad. And then there was PlayStation (PS), the PS1, Game Boy (Classic) the Dreamcast, Nintendo SNES, Wii, PS2, and the PC. My late uncle owned that many—always into something new on the gaming front, but my first-ever owned game console was a Game Boy Color Pikachu edition—exactly like this photo below.
I couldn’t remember if I was 9 or 10 years old when my dad gave us our own Game Boy Color (my kuya got the purple Game Boy Color—he was so kind and understanding as a kid, and more so an adult if I may say, he let me have the Pikachu edition). We used to watch Pokemon every night (there was a time it was shown every night at 7:00 PM, I think on GMA 7, Cyborg Kuro-chan, and Crayon Shin-chan on ABC 5, if my memory serves me correctly).
Usual Game Boy has many games you can choose from—I played Hercules, Smurfs, Mega Man Xtreme, Bomberman Quest, and of course, Pokemon. I have managed to finish Pokemon Gold and Silver, the Crystal Version, the Blue Version, and the Red Version (the Yellow version I am not so sure if I was able to finish). Going back to PS1, since this was one of the consoles we played as kids (and we quarrel the most about with my cousins), we usually played Bust-A-Move, Sonic, Metal Slug, Crash Bandicoot, Pepsiman, Spyro the Dragon, Gran Turismo, Tekken, Need for Speed, and Street Fighter. Looking back, it was fun—of course, unlike most kids today, all these video games are by schedule; most of the time, I read and play with my cousins outdoors (P.S. I had no other playmates growing up except my cousins as I was painfully shy as a kid—and an adult, too, but due to college training and an extroverted career path, I was able to overcome shyness, most of it).
In High School, all the way to college, I became aware of the furthering tech in gaming—PC-based games like Audition, O2Jam, StarCraft, Dota, Counter Strike, and Left 4 Dead, to name a few ones I have tried. Graphics became better, game plays were more precise, innovative controls, and well-thought-out game plots. If we were schoolmates or batchmates in college, I think you’d be able to resonate with how Morayta has changed from having so many computer shops around to random inuman establishments, and now coffee shops. I make it a point to pass by at least once a week to—wala lang, feel the air maybe, and take you back to that nostalgia of when life was so much simpler. Hehe.
Fast forward to the present, one thing that made adulting fun for me is now I can buy games I want with 30% less overthinking. I am used to living alone and, often, since I don’t like going out or traveling much (I have traveled enough to various places in and out of the country to know that I don’t like traveling and that I’d rather stay home hehe), my days were filled with three things: 1) books, 2) video games, and 3) TV series/film. I didn’t own another game console after my Game Boy Color until the pandemic came, I usually play via mobile—simulation games mostly and not so much RPG. Nintendo Switch elevates the experience for me (I like it more than the PS4, as I reflect on it most of the time, probably because of its portability). For a while, like a looooong while, I only played Animal Crossing—there was a good enough reason why it was so hyped, okay?! I usually play the same simulation/farming, and demure games, because they decompress and de-stress me (hindi yata talaga ako pang Final Fantasy kinakabahan ako kapag it’s go time hahaha). PC is also a trusted source of entertainment, I can live without television but not a computer (but I remember I owned an LCD LG TV where I saved movies in a USB flash drive plug it on that TV, and binge-watch TV series and movies).
From Animal Crossing, I also entertained the thought of Asphalt 9 and got hooked. I was quarantined a couple of times during the pandemic (although I didn’t experience being positive for the virus) and Asphalt was a source of joy hehe aside from the other novels I read in isolation. I am not a big gamer myself—big here means the streamer-kind with streamer-rich games like Valorant, Mobile Legends, and the like, but if you just want to be entertained and have an outlet after a stressful day, here are some (mostly demure and cozy) games I currently play that you may want to try too:
- Animal Crossing. There is something to the hype of this game that you may try. It is very cozy and cute! Though it is only available on Switch.
- Asphalt. Any Asphalt version is okay. I played (and still play from time to time) Asphalt 9 for quite a long time lalo nung pandemic. Maganda na ‘yung Chevrolet Camaro ko diyan, upgraded na. Hehe. Available on Steam and Switch (I guess pati sa PS).
- Story of Seasons: Olive Town. I bought this quite recently because I was able to exhaust all things to be upgraded and be done in Animal Crossing. It is a very relaxing game and you’d know more about farming. Hehe. I play this via Switch, I am not just sure if available sa PS4 like Harvest Moon (which is now available via mobile—Android and iOS, it is not free though, around PHP1,000).
- Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu. I bought this one too quite recently, natapos ko na, pero hindi siya madali haha, typical Pokemon game where you battle and collect Pokemons, the graphics are so good and the animations are way better than previous versions. There are so many versions of Pokemon already, ito ‘yung kinuha ko na version kasi I know most, if not all Pokemon here. Doon sa mga bago hindi ko na kabisado, hindi ko na kilala. Parang nung nagpunta rin ako sa Japan this year, most displays bagong Pokemons na. Si Pikachu, Eevee, Squirtle nalang yata ‘yung familiar ako doon sa showcased.
- NBA2K. Available on PS, Switch, and PC. My main advice is if you are to play via your PC or laptop, download Steam as there are many FREE games that you may try or you may get affordable ones that you may enjoy. Challenging ‘yung mga new control combinations nito sa PS, but of course, it’ll take some time to get used to. Practice practice lang. Pili ka nalang muna ng malakas na team with best roster of players hehe parang GSW ganyan.
- Stardew Valley. If you like Animal Crossing, ito yung medyo nauna doon. Available via mobile, PC, and Switch. I’m not sure if this is available on PS. But for me, this is better played via mobile or Switch. It is just slightly harder to navigate via PC, but this is just for me lang naman. So you’ll get rich faster, you may want to concentrate on mining here.
- Metal Slug. Nostalgic. Hehe. Meron nito sa mobile, try mo. The 2D version is much better for me.
- Super Mario Bros. Anything Mario is good. This is a classic. I bought the Super Mario Bros. Wonder and played it via TV—awesome graphics, splendid effects, easy to navigate and control, too! Worth it! Mapupuyat ka lang. Bawi ka nalang sleep after.
- PUBG. Mas okay laruin sa PC hehe ang hirap sa mobile.
- Call of Duty. Mas okay laruin sa PS. If you like to download this via Steam on your PC, make sure that you have enough memory space because there are other assets that it will install to ensure that the game functions rather smoothly.
- Crash Bandicoot 4. Hindi ko pala ito ni-re-recommend, why do I even write it here. Ang hirap nito! Haha. Go for the Crash Bandicoot 3 nalang or the Classic Warped, not this one. Instead na ma-de-stress ka ma-stress ka pa lalo. Kung may PS1 ka pa, this will bring a lot of good childhood memories.
Some other games that I will try or I’m looking forward to:
- Skyrim. I’ve tried this sa PC, okay siya. I think better controls if sa Switch.
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus. I have this but I haven’t started it yet.
- Mario Kart. Because, again, anything Mario is good!
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Coming this September 2024
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Coming next year, 2025.
These are just some demure games (mostly) you can play at your own pace. Like a good book, video games can take you to different adventures where you are in control but with concrete challenges, too. Try and try, because just like in real life, there are villains there, as well. 😉
Shainne Hostalero 