31-Day Mage Challenge: Day Eighteen – “A Game You Always Wanted to Play but Never Got To”
3 min read
If our backlogs and entertainment system shelves are any testament at all, they are proofs of the fact that there are way too many games to play and not enough time in four-dimensional existence to play them. I’m trying to make it through a little more than a dozen games right now, because I can’t commit to one at the moment, and there are still tons of others out there. Whole franchises I’ve never touched. “Time waits for no man” or gamer, apparently.
What about you? Today’s question-challenge is…
“What is a Game You Always Wanted to Play but Never Got To?“
The Timely Mage
There’s actually quite a few, some of which are blasphemous that I haven’t played them yet. Some of them are Metroid, Mega Man, Ni No Kuni, Persona, Civilization, Mass Effect, Fire Emblem, Odin Sphere, Star Ocean, Portal, Xenogears, Ico and Legend of Zelda (Wind Waker and Twilight Princess). Granted I may have played a little Mega Man when I was little but otherwise I haven’t played any games in any of those series (except the Xeno and Ico games). If I were to pick one I’d actually have to say Ico because I loved the aesthetic in Shadow of the Colossus and the overall tone whereas for most of the others I’m generally interested in the experience only so I know what others are talking about.
The Black Humor Mage
I’ve always wanted to play System Shock 1 and 2, but I never got to. I was never much of a PC gamer growing up, and I’m still not now. There’s a few old PC titles from the late 80’s and 90’s such as Half-Life, Snatcher, and System Shock that I never got to play. I would play them now, but I really don’t like playing on my computer screen or keyboard. If I ever do end up playing them I would have to look for a used copy on Ebay or download them off of Steam. I guess I’m too much of a console fanboy to go through that laborious process.
The Rage Mage
I’ve always wanted to play Make My Video feat. Marky Mark and The Funkey Bunch since I heard it was a form of ritual masochism. And it confirms everything I already know about Sega. Yay, confirmation bias!
The Green Screen Mage
Bioshock. I really wanted to play it when it first came out. My dad got it and my brother and him beat it. Then he sold it. I was just like, really?? Alright, that’s cool. Cool, cool, cool. I’m not mad. I can probably just go out and buy it now for myself. Might have to do that.
The White Out Mage
A game I always wanted to play is New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I like that it’s a side-scroller. And my hubby just told me he owns it! I got my wish.
The Well-Red Mage
There are a few entries in my favorite franchises I’ve never gotten to play: The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and even Final Fantasy. I’d really like to play the Bioshock franchise since I never got around to them but particularly, right now, someone green and into special FX lent me a copy of Portal 2 and I’d really like to play the first Portal well… first. Once I get a hold on that one and complete it, then I feel I can tackle Portal 2. My impression of the two Portals is that they’re smart and clever games, and come recommended.
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All Lord C has to say’s this:
*Sobs Uncontrollably*
Waaaaaaah!!!!!
C’mon ye govment sods ye, some people have trillions of pounds!!! That’s not fair!!!
C jus needs *does Math in head*
10 mill to finish all my current (206+) games (& buy Orange Box, Find System Shock 1&2, buy more PS3 & X360 & P.C games… & a PS3 & X360 too really, also Wii-u, 3DS, Switch & a bigger telly again cos scart is fine but HDMI & PC won’t work with CRT telly!!!!)
*Sobbing becomes unbearably Loud, but still Very Manly*
I have a list of games I would like to play, but have never had the chance. I have wanted to play Sonic Spinball and Goldeneye (a shooter on the Playstation 2 which featured a lot of villains from the James Bond films). I have also become interested in older games in well-known series (such as early games of Legend of Zelda, Metal Gear, Metroid, etc.), but have not had the opportunity to play them. The most prominent one though is Metal Gear Solid 4. Metal Gear Solid 2 finished on a cliff hanger, that I did not fully understand, and I was excited to find out how the story finishes. Unfortunately, the Metal Gear Solid 4 was released on a more expensive console, so I still do not know who the Patriots are.
I haven’t played MGS4 yet either!
Zone of the Enders. I had the demo, but for some reason, I could never find a copy. It appealed to me at the time, simply because I’d never seen anime before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK1YBmFTa-8
I’d add that to my list of games I’d like to play but never got to as well.
I think the Green Screen Mage gets me on this one- Bioshock is definitely one of the games my friends all rave about and I hadn’t quite caught up in the consoles at the time that it had come out and been popular. Might have to work on that now… Hm…
Also, seeing one of the conversations above, if you have access to PS3 or the 360 still, the Orange Box is an awesome way to play Portal (another game I just recently knocked off of the ‘I Need to Play Still’ list). It’s usually pretty cheap and it’s on console! 🙂
These have all been great to read so far, though! Awesome hearing all of your answers!
Hey I just discovered the Orange Box today after trying in vain to find Portal for the PS3 or Xbox 360. It’s kind of pricey everywhere I looked and I’m not too interested in the other games, but I may have to get it eventually just for Portal. Steam just isn’t an option for me. Thanks for the info and for reading!
I have well over 110 of these,,,
Haha tell me about it… No, really, let’s see the list! 😉
Quite a bit! My backlog’s gotten pretty big. The Timely Mage listed some that I actually have but haven’t gone through yet, such as Ico and Ni no Kuni. I also want to play through The Last Story and Final Fantasy XIII, both long RPGs I have but haven’t played through. I love RPGs, but they’re definitely really long, which is probably why they make up such a huge part of my unplayed backlog…
Hit the nail on the head once again, Mr. Panda. RPGs make for backlog constipation, to put it mildly. We may have had the time for them as children but now I feel myself leaning more toward shorter games.
Same here. When I was younger, gameplay time was everything. It’s still important today, but I also find myself leaning towards shorter games just to get a full, fast experience. I sometimes get into long games if they revolve around building up your character with lots to unlock or collect such as with Pokemon or Monster Hunter. The problem is that I get consumed by those long games and still don’t end up playing the backlogged RPGs, haha.
Thanks to this blog I’ve added even more games to my backlog (like Shadow of the Colossus thanks for that guys!), which was already long enough. I actually have a list, but I won’t bore you with all them. Wait…I have TWO lists. One to play and one to watch.
For play I regret not finishing Chrono Cross and 7th Saga, and I still want to play Bravely Default, FFMQ and Tactics. Another blogger, Cheap Boss Attack clued me into the Tales Series so that’s another I’m sorry I missed, and finally the first Grandia. I’ve played and loved II.
For watch I’m desperately seeking LoZ: Spirit Tracks and I could either watch or play Star Ocean.
I guess the opportunity is always still there though!
Haha you’re welcome, if it comes to Shadow of the Colossus. You’ll thank us later. Lots of good RPG franchises there like Star Ocean and Tales. Chrono Cross is a love/hate game with its beautiful setting but wonky gameplay.
Music too! The Cross music is fantastic but so many characters it’s like you’re catching Pokemon hehe.
The game I always wanted to play was Bioshock, never got around to it for some reason. I Did play Bioshock 2 and enjoyed that. I believe there is a Bioshock collection being released soon, so will probably get that just to play the first game at last!
I’m looking forward to that, too! Maybe now the hype for Bioshock from several years ago will make sense.
Yeah, Bioshock was such a popular game, will be good to finally check it out
Seems stupid but I would say Diablo 2. In the late Nineties and early Noughties when RPG’s were ruling (at least among me and my friends) I played Baldur’s Gate, Iceeind Dale and Planescape Torment but never Diablo 2. I should definitely buy it…
Retrospective RPGs are the best if you still have time for ’em!
The main problem is this, no time!
Red Dead Redemption for me. I’ve started it twice and gotten sidetracked, but now that it’s backwards compatible on Xbox One maybe I can give it a third go (before getting sidetracked again).
Twilight Princess is another one. It starts off so damn slow that I always got sidetracked.
Twilight Princess does start off real slow. I’m happy I finished it but it’s one I don’t think I could play again.
I tried it on Gamecube at launch and couldn’t get in to it. Eventually picked it back up on Wii and the same thing happened. Grabbed the Wii U bundle with the Wolf Link amiibo, hoping I’ll stick with it. Skyward Sword didn’t grab me either. I just really dislike motion control gaming. I’m sincerely hoping they release Skyward Sword HD on NX with standard controller support. Any of those sword swing mechanics can easily be duplicated with the right analog stick.
I’m not a fan of the motion control gimmick. The NX better be great!
In the immortal words of one Danny Glover, “I’m too old for this shit.” Motion controls are unappealing.
Yeah I never played System Shock until very recently. And that was the free playable demo for a remake of the first game, which is up on Steam and Kickstarter. Looks good as well. Though the second game is supposedly the best (no plans for a remake due to someone else owning the rights). I am tempted to buy both the original versions on Steam, but it’s always a question of finding the time to play them!
The first Bioshock is brilliant and definitely worth playing — great story and voice-acting, fantastic environments and one of the most atmospheric games I’ve ever played. It’s also in the process of being remastered. Not that I’m that keen on the last one though (Infinity), the story was good but the gameplay poor.
And you should definitely play Portal 1 before Portal 2. Both are great puzzle games with a brilliant and darkly comic story. And Portal 1 has the besting ending like ever!
I also want to play the first two Fallout games, both of which are supposed to be very good as well as very different to Bethesda’s creations.
I can’t find Portal 1 anywhere! Halp! I really just want to buy it cheap, used. Easier on the wallet.
It often pops up in Steam sales for very little
Thanks for that tidbit but unfortunately I must discipline myself to avoid Steam. I’m not much of a PC gamer but also, I don’t want to open a proverbial Pandora’s box.
I know what you mean. But I’m pretty sure you need to install steam to play it, even a boxed edition. It was Left 4 Dead that first forced me onto Steam. Now i have over 100 games on it 😞
Oh really? I had no idea… This is why I pine for retro gaming. I know Stardew valley is leering at me…
Yeah, most boxed editions do that now. You still have to install and use the relevant distribution platform. For most games it’s Steam, but EA games force you onto Origin, Ubisoft onto Uplay, etc
I just went to GameStop and the clerk didn’t even know what I was talking about, looking for Portal, argued with me about it being on psn. Oh GameStop~
So many good games are mentioned in this post <3
Timely Mage, you reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally should play Ni no Kuni. It's one of the games that is worth playing on PS3 without the dlc and online BS new games seems to have lately.
I really want to play Eternal Darkness on GameCube as i heard so many good comments about it.
Yes, it beckons me every time I see it on sale… Maybe I’ll break down and get it next time. Thanks for the push!