Josh Jackson’s Favorite Overlooked Gaming Moments of 2011!
2011 had some crazy gaming moments. Some were unbelievable, some were hilarious and some were a long time coming. With so many releases and events every year, not every great moment gets the attention it deserves, but that’s going to change here. Without further hyperbole spewing, here are the top 10 overlooked moments in gaming this year. And as expected, spoilers are abound. You have been warned.
Fuckin Toad!
Super Mario 3D Land
Nintendo 3DS
“I’m here to kill you!”
Now it’s not like Mario is obscure in the slightest, but the annoying requirements of beating 3D Land twice with two characters that were barely any different from each other to unlock the final stage is sure to put of many a gamer. As usual with a Mario game, this final stage ramped up the difficulty higher than any other stage, but one villian in particular made it harder than it had to be. No, not Bowser or his illegitimate kids, but Toad. That’s right… Toad. That bastard stands right on a block that’s only big enough for one, so the only way to advance is to make a very narrow jump off of his head and onto the platform above. Why is he being such a dick and trying to get you killed? I don’t know, but I know who’s name is on my red shells every time I’m playing Mario Kart. And yes, this is more of a manufactured problem since I refused to use the Tanooki Suit… but it was so much more fun finishing it that way.
Dance Marathon
Dance Central 2
Xbox 360
For some reason, Harmonix decided that Dance Central 2 needed a story, so a story we got. After all of the rival dance crews have been beaten, you’ll come face to face with a mad doctor who plans on ruling the world or something. And he’s going to do it by using dancing robots! The only way to beat them and save the world is what any logical person would think to do… a dance off! This isn’t for the weak of heart however, because serving these machines is the real deal, being forced to dance five of the hardest songs in the game in a row. You might need your inhaler handy before heading into this challenge.
The Big Boner
Shadows of the Damned
Xbox 360/PS3
You know when you get game designers Suda 51 and Shinji Mikami to work on the same game, crazy shit is about to go down. Shadows of the Damned came out during the summer and combined the over the top style of Suda with the action game play that Mikami is known for to provide some of the most out there experiences in gaming this year. But in a game filled with over the top dick jokes and a high level of violence, Big Boner takes it to a completely different level.
Remember when Mr. Mosquito was considered risque for having to suck blood off of a girl in the bathtub? How about fighting demons across the body of a giant woman after jumping through a wormhole that was located right on the back of a poster with a bent over stripper? Yup… the guys who made this game were seriously screwed up. And that’s why their games are so memorable.
The Panic Dance
Ghost Trick
Nintendo DS
Ghost Trick had so many great moments that it’s hard to pick just one. From the many twists and turns the story takes to the amazing cast of characters, I could make an entire list out of the awesome stuff that happens here. But none stands out more than the panic dance.
Like in most video games, the police force is pretty incompetent. Take Bailey the prison guard for example. When a prison break ensues, what does one do to get the situation under control? While most would round up the prisioners while cracking a few skulls in the process, Baily resorts to the panic dance. What’s sure to become an anime convention favorite, this dance passed on to each generation of Bailey’s family is useless, ridiculous, and most of all, hilarious.
After Burned
Shinobi
Nintendo 3DS
Shinobi on the 3DS has plenty of moments that make you feel like a bad ass. There’s also plenty of references to Sega’s other forgotten franchises like Golden Axe. But the greatest moment in the game came about half way through the game that combines both of these elements. Jumping onto a fighter jet leads to a sequence that pays homage to the classic After Burner arcade game while slicing mofos up who think they can stand up to a ninja ass kicker like you. Actually being able to pull this section off leaves you feeling nostalgic, rewarded and like a gaming bad ass all at the same time.
Loosha’s End
Professor Layton and the Last Specter
Nintendo DS
I’m starting to sense a trend here.
After the heartbreaking ending of the last Professor Layton game, The Last Specter did its best to top it. In between solving puzzles about water jugs and flower pots, the Professor and his friends got caught up in another mystery plaguing another small village, this time involving a mysterious specter that was ravaging the town. As more and more questions were answered, the crew met Loosha, a sea monster who protected her sick friend and the town itself from those who were looking to wreck the town for his riches. In a heartbreaking final scene, Loosha uses the last of her strength to provide her friend with a clean environment to heal her sickness and give her a second chance at life.
Luna, Destroyer of Worlds
Mighty Milky Way
Nintendo DSi
A little puzzle/platformer found its way onto the DSi eShop earlier this year by the name of Mighty Milky Way. Players controlled a space alien named Luna who would travel from galaxy to galaxy while avoiding hazards, traps and a giant T-Rex. This heroine’s goal isn’t clear until the very end when she reaches our solar system and destroys Earth!
You see… it turns out the T-Rex was trying to protect the Earth while all along, you helped Luna destroy it. As the game puts it, what have you done!? Good job buddy.
The Morality of Pokemon
Pokemon Black and White
Nintendo DS
A running joke for years amongst grown men who still collect pocket monsters like myself has been how Nintendo tries to dress up Pokemon battles as bonding moments between trainer and creature when in reality it’s nothing more than anime dog fighting. In Pokemon Black and White however, the issue was finally addressed, becoming the main theme of the much more advanced story compared to previous installments. Ironically, it was the bad guys who were trying to stop these cruel acts while the player fights to stop them. Then again, it’s hard to follow a group claiming to liberate Pokemon while fighting off their opponents with Pokemon battles.
Crushing Silver under a pile of crap
Sonic Generations
360/PS3
Oh man, this was a long time coming. After that awful abomination that was Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, Sonic Generations gave us a glimpse on how great that game could have been by giving us two fantastic stages based on the post apocalyptic world that game tried to portray. But the best part came with the boss fight againsty Silver, which not only made the forgetable hedgehog actually seem kinda cool, but gave gamers some retribution after the stain his game left on Sonic fans five years ago when he’s helplessly crushed under his own giant katamari ball of debris. Burying Silver under a pile of crap? Just call it returning the favor.
Herman Cain: Pokemon Master
Not exactly a moment IN a video game, but a memorable one nonetheless. There was a man named Herman Cain who was running for the GOP presidental nomination. He looked to protect the world from devistation. And he strived to unite all people within our nation. It didn’t turn out so well, but during a speech, he did say the following:
“Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It’s never easy when there’s so much on the line. But you and I can make a difference. There’s a mission just for you and me.”
It turns out these words came from a strong influence in Cain. And that influence was Pokemon The Movie 2000, (or at least the theme song from the film.) Chalk this one up to a truth stranger than fiction. And as far as Cain, he may have been inspired by the film, but when it came to votes, he couldn’t catch them all.
