Day 5: The 10 Day Video Game Challenge on Facebook

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Now for my recap of day 5 of the ten-day video game challenge on Facebook. As a reminder, this list isn’t a top ten, but is my list of games that influenced me the most as a gamer. Today’s game is Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the SNES.

If my memory is correct, this is my first RPG. This game opened my eyes to other game types. Previously, I played mostly 2D platformers, and thought those were the only games worth my attention (with a few exceptions). With Mario leading the way, I was able to start to grasp the RPG genre, and the graphics helped draw me in too. Thanks to this game, I really understood the importance of a good save system. I also gained a greater appreciation of puzzle solving (and I got better at it too!).

Initially, the leveling system didn’t register, as most other games didn’t have it at the time. The greater emphasis on story and world design helped me understand that games could be so much more than quick things you could play for a bit. It took me a while to figure out the timing of the “timed hits” system to power up attacks and reduce damage taken.

If it weren’t for this game, I may not have played more RPG’s or many other game types, including top down games like The Legend of Zelda. Here’s a list of other games I would recommend in the genre, and from the Mario RPG series.

• Paper Mario
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
• All Mario and Luigi games (I haven’t played Paper Jam, so that one is exempt, for now)
• Final Fantasy (the first one, and its remakes)
• Final Fantasy IV
• Final Fantasy V (Personal preference over VI)
• Final Fantasy VII
• Portions of the Dragon Quest series (I have played 1, 2, part of 3, 4, 7, and 9)

My favorites of this list are the Final Fantasy games mentioned, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, and maybe Dragon Quest 4, and 9. There are other games I love in the RPG genre, but I have a couple more on the challenge to embellish on in the coming articles.

That was my day 5 of the 10 day video game challenge. This game was a great gateway game to other games for me. What would you place on day 5 if you took the challenge? Was there any game that opened your eyes to other game genres other than those you played the most? Do you have a favorite RPG? Let me know in the comments below!