With all the big name AAA title games coming out, there is a large part of me that still owes a sort of respect to the games of old. Without these, how else would I be the gamer I am today? In the next few entries, I will be chronicling the top five games that I remember fondly playing as a youngster. I am also interested in hearing what games you guys remember as a huge influence on what type of gamer you are today.

Let us rewind, shall we?




The first game I always remember when I think of this is the classic id Software shooter, Doom. Doom was the very first game I ever played as a little tyke, and when I was only around 5 years old. I have to admit, that for a first video game ever, the super violent shooter is a sort of...odd choice. But, I do not care.

It was a summer morning where I walked over to the computer and asked my father what he was doing. He looked at me surprised and said to me "Well, I am playing what is called a video game", and I inquired as to what a video game was (oh, childhood ignorance). I was intrigued, and I asked to play and try it out. He showed me the controls, and restarted the level for me. After I walked across the entry room and encountered and killed the first zombie; I was hooked.

There were so many things that kept me coming back to this game for many years after wards. At the time, the graphics were simply amazing and lifelike to me. The realistic lighting and shadows gave a very ominous and horror filled experience, and that fear of charging into a level with 10 pistol shells left was a very frightening experience. For a five year old, this was the equivalent of a really scary movie, but one we had more control of.

There was also the simple pleasure of taking a shotgun and running headfirst into a room crowded with Pinky Demons. Doom offered me that thrill and stress relief of just mindlessly killing hordes of zombies and hellbeasts. I remember fondly coming home after having a bad day at school, and booting up Doom and entering the famous "IDDQD" code for God-mode (as well as IDKFA for all guns and ammo)and just running through levels ending some zombies undead lives.

Now, the stuff I have mentioned is standard stuff for remembering games. The first time, the gameplay, etc. But, what really sticks this game in my mind is that I was able to share this experience with my father. From what I can remember, this was the first truly bonding experience we had. He stood behind me at the computer laughing as I gleefully shot down my first zombie, and poked fun at me for being scared of the imp on the ledge. We had out separate game files, and we would talk for hours about how to beat a level, or best way to take down a Baron of Hell while taking minimal damage. This was just one of those moments as a child that I remember connecting with a parent about something I feel strongly about and have an interest in, and that they themselves actually cared about. This is something, regrettably, that they don't share anymore. At least I had that two years to bond with them about video games, though.

Doom is still a game that I play quite frequently. On quiet moments here on campus, I boot up my old copy of the "Doom: Ultimate Collection" and squeeze out an "Ultra Violence" game, or when I am home I play the Xbox Live Arcade version and do some deathmatch action. Even after 10+, the game is still captivates and keeps me hooked.