Hello!

1

My first console was the original PlayStation, which I got from my grandpa on my birthday in 1998. It came with a demo disc that had Spyro, Metal Gear Solid, and many others. I got a PS2 from my mom for Hanukkah in 2003. I had a PS1, so I was confused when the gift I unwrapped was HyperSonic.Xtreme for the PS2. I remember telling her that the PS1 couldn’t play it and being met with a much bigger box to unwrap, the PS2. Truly a core memory for me. I have later consoles as well, but those first two have specific memories attached to them.

2

My favorite series that started on the Playstation is Devil May Cry.

My favorite exclusive alternates between Ratchet and Clank, and Rachet and Clank: Going Commando. Going Commando was my first Ratchet and Clank game. I was excited to get it after seeing some of the crazy commercials Insomniac made. Being a sequel, it has a lot of improvements over the first game - tighter controls, strafing, an upgrade system, a larger quantity of more varied weapons, and so on. But as I’ve replayed the original trilogy more, I’ve learned to love the original for what it is, which is a much more measured, almost puzzle-like shooter-platformer. The limited arsenal and movement means you have to be particular about how you engage enemies rather than trying to run and gun. Also, the music is at its most unique, with funky beats and orchestral strings throughout. Not to take away from Going Commando, which also has an amazing soundtrack. It’s in stereo (the first’s is not) and really shines when listened to with headphones. Silver City - Boldan has an effect I would never hear on my mono CRT.

On the whole, I’m a fan of Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, and recently the original Metal Gear Solid. I had never played it despite it being on that demo disc. Another series I have a soft spot for is Dynasty Warriors. I have all of the PS2 mainline games. Lots of core memories attached to it because of co-op with my friend. God of War 2018 was great, and I kind of regret not getting Ragnarok when it was on sale.

3

I recommend the platformer trilogies I mentioned above. I think Sly 2 is the best game of the 9. A good story, varied locations, great mechanics, a unique spin on an open-world style game. I recommend Going Commando as a first Ratchet and Clank game, because of the tighter controls and better features, without some of the rushed-development pitfalls that Up Your Arsenal has. I like Jak 2 more than Jak 3, but I think Jak 3 is the easiest to recommend - again, features, QOL stuff, much more forgiving checkpoints, etc.

4

The gifting memory above is one. Staying up all night playing the platformer trilogies (and other games) with my friend. Waking up to hearing him still farming crystals on Grelbin. Launching endless Sentinel remote rockets at AI bots on Skyrail in 007 Nightfire with another friend (RIP). A lot of Dynasty Warriors co-op.

5

I played God of War 2018 a few months ago, but I recently built a portable gaming PC for longer vacations and have been using it to emulate Dynasty Warriors 3. My brain is mush after work + family, so the button mashing and bad voice acting works nicely. Plus it’s got all kinds of progression (stats, items, weapon, musou mode clears), so it’s real nice for feeling like I’m doing something while I’m doing nothing. Gan Ning is broken.

I could ramble more, but I’ve already went on way longer than anyone else. Oops!

1. PS1, first generation (I remember being able to swap disc to play backup games with a cufflink)
2. Shadow of Colossus
3. Jumping Flash
4. A good friend introducing me to Metal Gear Solid 1. Shopping in Hong Kong for a modded PS2.
5. Child of Light on Vita

1. PS1. I grew up with a Sega Genesis until about 1998, when my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas and I chose a PS1 over a Saturn.

2. Favorite PS game ever? As in made and published by Sony or any game on a PS console? My favorite game published by Sony is The Last of Us Part II. No further explanation needed.

3)Tricky question. I can think of many over the multitude of consoles. Jade Cocoon was a hidden PS1 RPG, so was Phantom Brave for PS2. Red Ninja for PS2 is a hidden gem too. Clock Tower 3 on PS2 was great as well. Shit, I played so many great games nobody else played, I could keep going on.

4. When I first got my PS1, which was Christmas 1998 (or 1999? I can’t remember exactly), I got Speed Punks, Lilo and Stitch, and Dino Crisis with it. Child me was NOT prepared for what Dino Crisis had in store for me but I LOVED dinosaurs so I trudged through despite the childhood nightmares.

5. I had just platinum’d Wild Arms 2 on the PS5 probably 2 weeks ago. Other than that, I occasionally maybe twice a week check out Riders Republic. Do a race or 2, usually with my son. I also recently started a new playthrough of Borderlands 3 with my wife. Other than Wild Arms 2, I mostly play with my family on PS5. I do want to check out multiple games, like Diablo 4, Armored Core, and the upcoming Silent Hill 2 Remake, but it’s just hard to make time with a family of gamers with their own things, and work on top of it.