Episode #33 - Racing Competition & Favorite Playthroughs of 2016

Great episode! These year-end episodes are always fun! Even though I haven't participated in a playthrough since July, I still want to throw my top 5 out there for this year:

5. Bully - I tried to play this game back when it first came out, but was immediately put off by it and didn't play very much of it. Revisiting the game nearly 10 years later, I still had the same initial impression, but I stuck with it this time because of the playthrough and came away really enjoying it in the end.

4. Super Mario Bros. 3 & World - I've played both of these games extensively in the past and would contend that they are the two best platformers ever made, but my real reason for picking this playthrough is that I had the great opportunity to play both of these games in co-op with my best friend. As great as these games are by yourself, playing them with a friend makes it so much more fun, and we had a blast playing these games together.

3. Life Is Strange - I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one, but it was a very pleasant surprise that I really enjoyed.

2. Ys Books I & II - Ys has always been one of those prestigious RPG franchises that I had unfortunately never played, so finally getting the chance to play the original was a welcome opportunity for me. I really enjoyed this game and have been chomping at the bit to play more in the series.

1. Illusion of Gaia - This probably isn't much of a surprise, but I feel the same way that this game was my 'swan song' as far as playthrough hosting goes. The fact that I have just as much fun with this game today as I did when I was a kid is pretty cool too. But the main reason this is my #1 is because everybody who participated seemed to have a great time with it, and it had some great representation on your lists, and it was my pleasure to introduce this classic to all of you.

Most disappointing game: Folklore - Don't get me wrong, I liked this game and have a positive lasting impression of it, but I feel that some of the strange design choices of the game really drag it down for me. My disappointment with the game comes from knowing that this game could have been something really great instead of just being a decent game.

Most surprising game: Uncharted - Having just come off of playing Uncharted 4, I wasn't sure how well I would enjoy going back to the first game in the series. I was surprised by just how much fun I had with it, plowing through it in just a couple of days. I really appreciated that it was more 'gamey' than later games in the series, and it was a breath of fresh air after playing through the narrative/cutscene heavy Uncharted 4.