Game Changers

    Hello everyone. Today I will be starting a new series on this blog called Game Changers. These small blogs will be taking quick looks at some of the games that were what I call game changers to me. They were either my first experiences with a specific genre or they were games that gripped me and to this day have not let me go. As you could probably guess these games will mostly come from the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy libraries, but there will certainly be a good amount of other consoles included as well. These are not going to be full on reviews or anything, but my thoughts on these games and some of the experiences I've had with them. To kick things off I feel that I need to start at the beginning. The first game that I have any real recollection of playing.

    What a way to get into the video game world. I am not lucky enough to have any memories of having an Nintendo Entertainment System, though apparently I did have one when I was young. Whatever the case what I do remember and still have is Super Mario World. My first grey brick Game Boy will always be one of the best gifts I ever got. I remember being taking this game with me pretty much everywhere. Parties, family gathering, long car rides, or wherever else I was going. While I took it everywhere I remember being pretty crappy at it. I was able to get through the first world pretty quick, but I remember world 2-2 giving me all kinds of problems. Then forget it when I finally got to world 3. It felt like I hit a brick wall. I tried and tried, but just couldn't do it. I eventually did beat the game and I remember it being a major highlight of my young gaming career. 

    The funny thing about it is the first time I beat it it was not even on the Game Boy. The first time I beat this game I had a Super Nintendo controller in my hand thanks to the Super Game Boy which was completely mind blowing. Super Mario Land introduced me to platform games, as well as well... Video games in general really. It set off a craze that has continued to this very day with 2-D platformers still being my favorite type of game. 

    It's funny for me to look back at this game now and even play it. When I was little I had no idea who Princess Toadstool was or Bowser. I wouldn't be introduced to them until I played Super Mario All Stars on the Super Nintendo. All I knew was that there was this guy names Mario and he is a pretty cool guy. This first game changer opened my eyes to the world of video games. The next game changer is one that really brought my PC gaming to the next level. This game is also celebrating it's 20th anniversary. Next time on Game Crashers.... Starcraft!