Feature: Top 9 Hidden Gems in the Nintendo Download Market

Nintendo hasn't really been known for its "stellar" list of downloadable titles, and for good reason.  Due to the company's poor quality control (or lack thereof, really), there is an ungodly amount of shovelware clogging the likes of WiiWare, DSiWare, and eShop. 

For every one of these...

...There are about 10 of these.

And that's a shame, because amidst all of the crap, there actually are some games that are worth playing.  The following are worthwhile experiences that you can pick up for less than $10 each.

(Note: I disqualified the BIT. TRIP games from this list, because I've given them numerous tongue baths in the majority of my posts already, and I'm running out of saliva...)

Feature: 5 Ways to Make JRPGs Better

Japanese role playing games have played a huge role in my life as a gamer.  I grew up with classics like Pokemon, and eventually came to discover the wonders of titles like Final Fantasy and The World Ends with You.  Heck, recently I've been playing through Persona 4 for the first time, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. 

I think I'm just a sucker for the whole
"Japanese High School" thing...

JRPGs offer a distinct gaming experience that can't easily be replicated.  As a fan of such games, I've become very familiar with the tropes of the genre.  Unfortunately, that also means that I'm painfully aware of some of the problems that always seem to be cropping up in the games.  The following are some of the more persistent issues that should be fixed.  With a few small tweaks, the JRPG genre can grow into something even more impressive.

Music: Top 10 Video Games Songs to Listen to When You're Depressed

So you're sad, woeful, down in the dumps, disheartened, bitter, gloomy, and all around depressed.  What's the solution?  Listen to silly music of course!

Life's a lot harder to be sad about when it sounds like a cartoon.

The following are 10 goofy, zany, and all-around upbeat tunes that are practically tailor-suited to make you crack a smile.

Feature: Top 9 Video Game Enemies That Make Water Terrifying

Man, screw everything about water.  The dark, murky depths of the open sea never cease to scare the piss out of me, even in the most cartoonish of kids games.  If I'm ever slapped into an "open water" situation in a game, my instincts are immediately thrown into overdrive.

When I see something like this, I picture about
500 different things waiting to kill me down below.

All of the games in this list have played a part in instigating this primal fear of mine.  What's worse, some of them are even responsible for perpetrating it...

Feature: Why Mass Effect 3's Ending Didn't Suck

Like any gamer on the Internet, I've stumbled across countless articles, forum posts, and videos that have ruthlessly bashed the ending of Mass Effect 3.  Fans claimed that Bioware was heartless, cruel, and just plain lazy with their lackluster conclusion. 

As a person who hadn't finished the game during the time that these uproars were starting, I was absolutely terrified by this sudden rush of negativity.  Naturally, I isolated myself from all things gaming related on the Internet for quite some time, as to avoid spoilers and such.

Well, now that I've gotten my ending, and the story of Commander Shepard has been wrapped up, I have to say that I feel pretty damn satisfied.  And here's why...

"Put up the flame shields, I'm going in!"

Music: Top 16 Best Video Game Intro/Title Themes

Man, I love me some good video game music.  In fact, one of the best ways to get me excited about a game is to throw an awesome intro track at me right out of the gate.  Title songs set the mood for the entire game, and they're in charge of giving the player the ever important first impression.

"Yup, this game already kicks ass!"

The following are some of the best title themes that have graced my ears throughout my years of gaming.  Whenever I reached the intro screen, I would find my thumb lingering over the "Start" button, reluctant to let the music stop.

Feature: Top 10 Games I Would Love to See Get Sequels

Sequels can be a double-edged sword in the gaming industry.  On the one hand, they have the ability to make an already awesome game even better with new ideas and creative designs.  On the other hand, they can cause a series to stagnate in a pile of old mechanics and recycled concepts. 

In case you were wondering, this marks
the 8th entry into the series... 

However, there are those few games out there that, despite their quality or success, have not been given the sequels that they deserve.  Sometimes this is due to a lack of popularity for a certain title, which is a shame.  The following games are ones that I would froth at the mouth for if I ever saw an extra number tacked onto the title...

Review: 4 Things I Loved About Super Mario 3D Land (And 4 Things I Hated)

Mario's latest romp on the 3DS has been kind of a mixed bag for me.  I want to believe the masses, and claim that 3D Land is the best game available for the handheld at the moment, but I can't bring myself to do it.  Besides, that honor has already been taken in my eyes.  For every enjoyable quirk I find in the game, I encounter an equally annoying aspect that seems to put a damper on all of the fun.

Imagine the Fire Flower, but with much less practical use.

Mario, I want to love you, but sometimes you just make it too hard for me to admit it.  At the same time, you have a charm that's impossible to ignore.  So, allow me to organize my thoughts in an indecisive, wishy-washy fashion, just for you.

Feature: Top 7 Moments I Hated In Games I Love

I've never really encountered a game that has been absolutely perfect.  More often than not, there's almost always at least one thing I don't like about a certain title as I play it.  These little nitpicks usually become more noticeable whenever they are involved in games that I really enjoy.  As a result, I often remember them with deep-seeded hatred rooted in the memories of hours of frustration.  Sometimes when I think about them, I find myself curling up into a corner as I attempt to cry away my trauma.

...And then everything turns blue, for some reason...

The games on this list are among some of my favorites that I've ever played.  However, each of them has one of those moments that can be deemed "That One Part" by many fellow gamers who can relate to my sorrow (at least I'd like to think so...).

Feature: Top 5 Video Game Characters I've Actually Cared About

Video game characters are kind of a mixed bag for most audiences.  Some of them are lovable, while others are obnoxiously annoying.  Still others are merely blank slates for the player to project onto.  However, in terms of personality, few characters out there have actually made me feel emotionally attached to them.  These select few compel me to sympathize with them during their hardships, and join in during their celebrations.  Sure, Mario's a well-designed mascot and all, but can you really grasp what he's feeling whenever he finds out that Princess Peach has decided to relocate yet again?

Takes it like a champ...

The characters in the list below are the ones that I truly connected with.  Ones that I cared about protecting.  In the end, these are the characters that I will always remember for their actions, not just their style.

***SPOILER WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL GAMES MENTIONED!***

Feature: Top 10 Best Games I Played in 2011

I'm not exactly one who's known for being able to keep up with the times.  Sure, I follow gaming news regularly, and I usually know what's what about the world at large, but when it comes to playing new releases, I always seem to trip and fall on my face while everyone else gets a head start.

That's not to say that there aren't SOME games that I buy day one.  However, if I were to look at my backlog of games, it would become increasingly apparent that the titles I've played this year are...shall we say, dated?

"Hey guys, did you know that they're making a second
Mario Galaxy?  I might want to get that eventually!"

So, amidst all of the Top 10 best of 2011 lists sprouting up all over the Internet, I thought I might as well contribute one of my own.  The following is a countdown of the 10 best games I've played this year, regardless of when they were released.  Because being topical is just sooooo predictable (albeit practical).

Review: 9 Reasons Why I Love 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors

I recently had the extreme pleasure of playing through a nifty little visual novel game that completely blew my freakin' mind.