With #GameStruck4 becoming a popular trend on Twitter, why would I not take the opportunity to write about my childhood which shaped me into a video game loving fanatic. #GameStruck4 is a hashtag which means the 4 most influential games in a person’s life. For me, it is 4 games from my childhood.
My dad used to let me sit in his lap and watch him play the Playstation 1. It was the most exciting part of my day and one of my most vivid memories from when I was younger. The game I remember watching first was Crash Bandicoot.
A marsupial on a mission, I remember watching Crash as my dad made him run, jump and spin his way to defeating the evil Dr. Neo Cortex. I remember him beating the game one day, and the happiness he felt is the happiness I still feel anytime I beat a game. After watching him beat Crash, I decided to start playing games. The first game I chose to play was Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage.
I remember how excited I was to play as a dragon and be able to breathe fire. I spent so many hours of my childhood playing this game, and I honestly do not think I beat it. I just played for fun with no intention of completing the game. Saving Avalar from Ripto was fun, even though I never faced him to actually win the game. The very first game I did beat was a game I played with my parents and my cousins who lived across the street all the time. The game was Crash Team Racing.
I wanted to beat this game. From the moment I started racing, I wanted to beat it. I beat all four bosses leading up to Nitros Oxide, and then I beat him twice to finish the game. I unlocked all of the secret characters, even the one which required a cheat code to unlock. Every weekend I would go to my cousin’s house and play the game with them. My love for this racing game is what shaped my love for the last game in my 4. This last game has been and continues to be a huge part of my life. The game is Mario Kart Wii.
When this game came out in 2008 for the Wii, I was hooked. I beat this game on 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc with three stars on every cup. In 2012, my cousin Matt started a Mario Kart tournament in the summer. The first year I played, I placed 9th out of 16 people. We have had a tournament every year, and every tournament after the first I have placed in the top 4 (except for one year which does not count because certain circumstances made me play much worse). This year will be the year I take 1st place and the trophy will finally have my name on it.
These games are my #GameStruck4. I am so happy to see the remastered Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, and the soon to come Spyro Reignited Trilogy. They bring back some great childhood memories. Let me know what your #GameStruck4 is in the comments!
