Metal Gear Solid is an action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation in 1998. It was directed, produced, and written by Hideo Kojima, and follows the MSX2 video games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which Kojima also worked on.
It was unveiled at the 1996 Tokyo Game Show and then demonstrated at trade shows including the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo; its Japanese release was originally planned for late 1997, before being delayed to 1998.
Players control Solid Snake, a soldier who infiltrates a nuclear weapons facility to neutralize the terrorist threat from FOXHOUND, a renegade special forces unit. Snake must liberate hostages and stop the terrorists from launching a nuclear strike.[10] Cinematic cutscenes were rendered using the in-game engine and graphics, and voice acting is used throughout.
Metal Gear Solid sold more than seven million copies worldwide and shipped 12 million demos. It scored an average of 94/100 on the aggregate website Metacritic. It is regarded as one of the greatest and most important video games of all time and helped popularize the stealth genre and in-engine cinematic cutscenes. It was followed by an expanded version for PlayStation and Windows, Metal Gear Solid: Integral (1999), and a GameCube remake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004). It produced numerous sequels, starting with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), and media adaptations including a radio drama, comics, and novels. In May 2023, Konami announced Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, a compilation of games including the original version of Metal Gear Solid, which was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 24, 2023.
Medal of Honor is a 1999 first-person shooter video game, developed by DreamWorks Interactive and published by Electronic Arts for PlayStation. It is the first installment in the Medal of Honor video game series. The gameplay features the combined arms warfare of World War II, as the player completes various missions for the Office of Strategic Services.
Medal of Honor’s concept, production and story were created by American film director and producer Steven Spielberg, who had a deep interest in World War II and found further inspiration from watching his son play GoldenEye 007. While in development, the game experienced controversy due to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, and was criticized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for turning a serious topic into a video game. Game producer Peter Hirschmann convinced Medal of Honor Society president Paul Bucha that the project was made with serious and honorable intentions, saving the project from cancellation, and earning Bucha’s endorsement.
Medal of Honor was released to universal acclaim, and has been credited with popularizing the trend of World War II shooters. The game was followed by Medal of Honor: Underground, leading to a widely successful series.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is an action-adventure video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1999 and for the Dreamcast in 2000.
As the second game in the Legacy of Kain series, Soul Reaver is the sequel to Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. Soul Reaver was followed by three games, one of which, Soul Reaver 2, is a direct sequel.
Taking place 1500 years after the events of Blood Omen, Soul Reaver chronicles the journey of the vampire-turned-wraith Raziel, lieutenant to the vampire lord Kain. Raziel is killed by Kain, but is revived by The Elder God to become his “soul reaver” and to exact revenge. Raziel shares this title with Kain’s sword, the Soul Reaver, which he acquires during the game.
Crystal Dynamics began development of the game in 1997, but a deteriorating relationship with Silicon Knights, who had developed Blood Omen, created legal problems. This and other delays forced material originally planned for Soul Reaver to be instead released with later games of the series. Soul Reaver was generally well received by critics and praised for its intriguing gothic story and high-quality graphics. However, the game was criticized for simple and repetitive gameplay and an unsatisfying climax. By 2001, the game sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.
Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game developed by Nintendo in the year 1990. It was released in North America in 1991. I chose this game for the list because it was one of the first I’ve played only preceded by Mario Bros for the Nintendo.
Super Castlevania IV released in 1991 for the Super Nintendo. Super Castlevania IV is developed and published by Konami and has a number of prequils as well as a continuing story. This is one of the games I’ve always wanted to play and never really got around to it.
Illusion of Gaia also known as Illusion of Time is an action RPG Super Nintendo game developed by Quintet. Illusion of Gaia was first released in Japan by Enix then North America and PAL regions between 1993 and 1995.
Released in 1994 Earthworm Jim is a run and gun console game developed by Shiny Entertainment. The main character, an earthworm named Jim wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil throughout a 2D landscape.
Earthworm Jim gets its spot due to the edgy art style and unique humor that defines the four editions. The franchise consists of four releases :
1. Earthworm Jim
2. Earthworm Jim 2
3. Earthworm Jim 3D
4. Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy
The game on average is three and a half hours long. However; deeper emersion into the Earthworm Jim world could go upwards of five hours. With seven main levels and seven bonus levels along the way the game has its share of secrets as well as an interesting story.
