Banjo Kazooie

Banjo Kazooie. Ah, yet another beloved classic game! I know, I know, most people no longer have access to games like these, but I couldn't help but reminisce about one of the highlights of my childhood. 

Banjo and Kazooie was one of my top favorite games, and I still consider it to be in my top 10. Banjo and Kazooie, a bear and his bird friend, travel across their world in search of Banjo's sister Tootie, who was captured by the evil witch Gruntilda. They also search for alternate side missions such as rescuing all of the Jingos that are scattered across the world. Learning new skills, collecting eggs, feathers, notes, and honey combs, are also motivations for the character.  

Unfortunately, I was fairly disappointed when Rareware Games sold out to Microsoft and Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts came out. I was excited to hear about a new Banjo game, but Nuts and Bolts is nothing more than a driving game. The developers went through three different concepts for Banjo Kazooie 3, originally was going to be called Banjo X, later renamed Banjo Threeie, and finally settling on Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. The game was originally a free-world platformer game, but when the creators realized that the world was to big to travel on foot, they decided to incorporated driving as the primary transportation. Not necessarily a bad concept, but I sincerely missed the original game-play style... but life goes on. 

I missed the Banjo Kazooie series so much that I went as far as to download an emulator on my laptop in order to play it, as I am no longer in possession of the physical game or platform (But I eventually plan on acquiring them).

This is another game that is a must. If you want to download an emulator, you posses a Nintendo 64, or you have money burning a hole in your pocket with access to Amazon or a store that sells classic games, get this game. ASAP. You will not be disappointed. This game is why I had a good childhood. 

Minecraft

Minecraft is an addictive and entertaining computer game, also available on Xbox Live, and even a Pocket Addition for Android and Apple devices. The classic 16-bit style is attractive and keeps creating and hunting simpler, for the most part anyway. The little cubic character, Steve, walks around an uncharted world, discovering ancient weapons, precious metals and jems, magnificent landscapes, and even alternate worlds. In Survival Mode, You start off with nothing but a map, and you are left to find cover before nightfall. Later making your way up from a bed in a hut, to a majestic stronghold. Crafting weapons and tools helps you obtain materials, and fight off opposing enemies. You have a depleting hunger, that you must satisfy by killing and cooking pigs, or growing plants. When your character dies, he loses everything currently in his possession, leaving you to search out the location of your downfall and reacquire your arsenal, it only stays there for a short time! A downside that could drive any sane person to insanity! Ha ha, maybe an exaggeration, it's not that bad, unless you die far from your last checkpoint!

There is also a Creative Mode that lets you build and create anything you desire with no limitations! Except height, you can only barely exceed the height of the clouds, which is a downside if you were planning on constructing a skyscraper that reaches the heavens, but hey, who need buildings that high anyway? Awesome game, available as a digital download on many different platforms. I highly suggest downloading this, but be warned, it is extremely addictive, and has earned the title: time vacuum! (Self given title)

Jak and Daxter

Today I will discuss my opinions toward the classic game: Jak and Daxter, which I believe to be the most intelligently designed career game available to the Sony Playstation 2. It has all the elements required to make the perfect story game; adventure, mystery, intrigue, comedy, the fate of the world, and a hint of romance. Alongside the primary goal of the story, there are smaller, more or less, unimportant missions, that you can complete to gain powercells, precurser orbs, or simply to take a break from a difficult mission that you just can't manage to conquer. Amusing characters like Daxter and The Green Sage, add a humorous element that is much enjoyed by the player. 

Unfortunately, the series ended in a depressing crash and burn. After the three original games in the series and an additional racing game, Jak X-Racing, the developers of NaughtyDog made the heartbreaking mistake of selling the beloved title of Jak and Daxter, to a company called High Impact Games, when a forth game was added to the series. Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, although an amusing game, is an embarrassment to the original trilogy. This game drastically stems off the original theme, and seems to come out of nowhere, with little connection to the previous games whatsoever. When playing the first three games, I couldn't put the controller down. When I bought the newest addition, although initially I was immensely excited for a new Jak game, I barely played it. To this day, I have never even completed the game. It continues to sit on a shelf, and collect dust. 

If you enjoy playing great classic games, I highly suggest adding this game to your arsenal, in fact, if you haven't played this game in the past, or you have and didn't like it, I believe you need to see a doctor, then immediately proceed to acquire the series without hesitation. Jonah out.
  

Image from Jak 3