On the eleventh day of Blogmas

Our choir of gaming Christmas carollers is back again for the second day of Blogmas, where creative conductor Athena from AmbiGaming is leading us in a rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas – but with a video game twist. Check out her blog to see what she’s written for her eleventh answer, and keep your eyes peeled for all of the other bloggers out there taking part.

Yesterday we looked at three things we want gamers to know about games for the new year. With the choir clearing their throats and warming up in the background, let’s see what the subject of today’s verse is:

On the eleventh day of Blogmas, the gamers said to me:
What are your 12 favourite gaming memories?
Tell us 11 games you love!
What are ten reasons you’d play a game?
Give us nine games on your to-play list!
Who are eight characters you love?
Share seven of your favorite posts!
What are your six gaming or blogging resolutions?
What are five games you’ve played more than once?
Share four dramatic or memorable game moments!
What are three things you want gamers to know about games for the new year?
List two games you’d improve!

2009: Tales from Monkey Island

When Tales from Monkey Island was released almost a decade after Escape from Monkey Island, I was both excited and apprehensive. On one hand here was a sequel to my most beloved series but on the other it had been created by Telltale Games, a developer I wasn’t overly fond of (I can imagine many shocked expressions after reading that last statement). I gave the game a go regardless but I have to confess: I didn’t even make it through the first episode.

The control system was awful – and that was when it actually decided to respond. If you were clicking to move in one direction and the camera changed when you went into the next screen, everything would reorientate and you’d find yourself going back in the direction you came from. On top of that, Guybrush looked terrible and Elaine was unrecognisable; it’s like the pirate got himself a new wife between the fourth game and Telltale’s attempt.

I’ve said several times now that I’d like to do a Monkey Island marathon on Twitch and when that day comes, I’ll finally have to deal with Tales from Monkey Island and actually complete it. In the meantime however, I’d like to send a message to Disney: please sell the rights back to Ron Gilbert. Let the original artist have back his proverbial paintbrush and give us the game we deserve, because we all really want to be a pirate.

2010: Fable III

Fable II is one of my favourite games. When it was released in 2008, I took some time off work so I could buy it as soon as possible and spend all day playing it. It turned out to be everything the first game was and way more: silly humour, enjoyable quests, fairytale feelings and excellent characters (including with Theresa, who made it into my list for a previous Blogmas post). Here was a sequel which surpassed the original and I fell in love with it instantly.

You can imagine my excitement when Fable III was released two years later; I couldn’t wait to jump straight back into the land of Albion all over again. But what was this: a plot to overview the King by forming alliances and building support for a revolution? And a Road to Rule to replace the previous levelling-up system, a path in an alternative realm blocked by a number of gates? New features that didn’t feel like previous Fable content but I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and continue.

I’m afraid to say however that it went downhill from there and I was left disappointed. Unlike Fable II which adhered to the previous title while implementing positive changes that redefined the game system, the third instalment took the formula and screwed with it. With the last year’s news that Playground Games are working on a new Fable IV perhaps this new developer will be able to take what made the series so special and recapture the magic of Albion.

It’s time for the choir to take a short break so we’ll be back for the twelfth and final day of Blogmas tomorrow, with two titles we’d like to improve. In the meantime, why not tell us about the games you’d change in the comments below?