Maestro

Darn it, the 20 year cut-off at 1995 eliminates a couple of my favourites. But with that being said, let's take a look. Expect this to change a lot as I think of more awesome games. 1. CHRONO TRIGGER (1995, SNES) This is probably one of the best JRPGs ever made. It has a simple-to-understand yet compelling story, with multiple endings and New Game+ both adding a lot of replay value to the game. It has aged quite well since its release in 1995. Seriously, if you haven't played it... play it. And if you have played it... play it again. 2. KIRBY AIR RIDE (2003, Gamecube) Oh the hundreds of hours I've spent playing this game. I'd literally play this and Smash Bros. Melee all summer back when I was a wee lad. Unlike Smash Bros. Melee, I still enjoy playing this game every now and then. It's a racing game that uses the analog stick and the A, L, or R button. If you wanted to, you could play it using only your left hand controlling the analog stick and the L button. 3. DON'T STARVE (2012, PC; 2014, PS4; 2015, Wii U) I've blabbed about this game a lot. Cool art style, dark sense of humour, no mercy, tons of fun (especially with friends), easy controls, relentlessly difficult, highly addictive, and humourous with PC mods. Unfortunately, the bulk of my time spent playing the multiplayer version is tainted with memories of my ex. But, if the interest in a playdate is high enough, then I'll be able to replace those memories with good ones spent with you guys. Heck, I've made it farther on my own than I have playing with her. 4. SUPER SMASH BROS. 4 (2014, 3DS/Wii U) The controls in this Smash Bros. game feel just right. The characters aren't floaty (right, Brawl?), but they don't fall to the ground like stones (looking at you, Melee). It's much more satisfying when you score a hit on someone, and the characters are much more balanced than in previous installments. The game relies less on exploiting glitches (*cough* Melee) and more on skill to succeed. Bulky characters are scarier, since the new "rage" mechanic allows their weight to play to their advantage by boosting their strength and can even the odds when you are Ganondorf at >150% damage. The DLC, while expensive, will add new life to the game for quite some time. 5. SIMCITY 4 (2003, PC) I like building stuff. This game is why I like building stuff. Same with Simcity 2000, but Simcity 4 looks pretty and a thriving custom content community. Simcity 2000 has aged about as well as floppy disks and dial-up internet. 6. HALO 4 (2012, X360) It's about time Halo showed up on this list, eh? This game had shiny graphics for a 360 Halo game, and launched my forge career. If it wasn't for this game, I wouldn't be clad in pink right now. 7. HALO 2 (2004, Xbox) I have fond memories of this game from when I was a wee lad. I remember mashing up Flood with my brother and taking potshots on enemies with Beam Rifles on Delta Halo and Regret. It may not have aged well, but it has serious nostalgia value going for it. 8. MEGA MAN 8 (2000, PSX) Very fun game, and for a Mega Man game, it has aged very well. The variety of upgrades you can get adds quite a bit of replay value, since there are only 40 or so bolts you can spend on them scattered throughout each level. Once you spend them, they're gone for good! But the cutscenes are by far the biggest drawback and some of the worst cutscenes I've seen in a game. Seriously, Mega Man doesn't sound like a man at all and Dr. Light sounds like Elmer Fudd. 9. FINAL FANTASY VII (1997, PSX) The story and the gameplay have withstood the test of time. Its legacy is legendary, and as such is frequently regarded as the best Final Fantasy game ever released (alongside Final Fantasy VI). It is the first Final Fantasy to have pre-rendered cutscenes {and these cutscenes don't have awful voices like Mega Man 8}. However, its graphics have not aged well at all. The 3D models look really clunky and just awful. If bad graphics don't bother you, then give this game a go. 10. LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK (2000, N64) This is the darkest Zelda game made until Twilight Princess came along. It has this sense of dread literally looming over your head at all times with the moon itself giving you the stink-eye whenever you look up to the sky. There are a variety of sidequests which contain the most memorable moments. However, these are tainted with the depressing fact that you have to reset time quite often after you complete these sidequests. You will remember the accomplishments, but the people you helped will revert to their troubled selves. 11. LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD (2011, Wii) Dat story tho. Zelda is not just some princess you have to save this time around; she's your best friend. That incentive alone makes it my favourite Zelda game in the entire series. You have that extra motive to save her. Picture it like this: would you rather save the prime minister, or save your best friend? I'd save my best friend because I share memories with them, whereas the prime minister just makes me lose faith in humanity. And the music is also pretty awesome. It has solid gameplay, and some cool bosses. But I digress... THE STORY IS WORTH IT. 12. SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD (2013, Wii U) It's a 4-player Mario platformer that doesn't stink like New Super Mario Bros. Wii or Wii U with a terrific soundtrack and cool powerups. It addresses many of the problems that the aforementioned games have with their multiplayer modes by making players share a combined pool of lives and giving everyone access to a stockpile of spare items. Also, you don't respawn as a little guy, and can emerge from your respawn bubble when you have some safe ground underneath you regardless of whether or not another player frees you. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, which accent each other nicely in multiplayer sessions. And might I add that it's 3D? No more 2D shenanigans! 13. SUPER MARIO GALAXY (2007, Wii) It took 3D Mario games to the next level: space! And not only did it take Mario to space, but it brought a great soundtrack, solid gameplay, and planetary gravity into the mix! It made battles against Bowser not just a struggle to rescue Peach, but it made them a struggle to save the entire galaxy. The soundtrack really contributes to the atmosphere with its orchestrated sound. What more could you want?! Hm... GOLDEN OLDIES (released before the 20 year cutoff of 1995) 1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988, NES) 2. Final Fantasy VI (1994, SNES) 3. Final Fantasy I (1987, NES) 4. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992, Genesis) 5. Ninja Gaiden (1989, NES) 6. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994, Genesis)

Greetings, everyone, this is your friendly neighbourhood USF Emperor President Maestro. That there's a fancy flag if I do say so myself. As you all know, the greatest nations of the world and the finest forums of the internet were not built in a day. And as members of one of the finest forums the internet has to offer, I would like to offer you the chance to have your names forever inscribed in 343iCF history books and assist in the construction of an empire awesome nation that shall withstand the test of time! Who will join me in this glorious quest?! Basically, this is just a poll to see who would be interested in playing Don't Starve Together every once in awhile and if people would want to play the vanilla game with Reign of Giants DLC or with mods (not talking about the moderators, but they're welcome to join in on the fun). If enough interest is shown, then this idea will go to the next step and seek event staff approval. This poll will end on July 13 at 11pm PST. Now, if you're wondering what Don't Starve Together is, it is the multiplayer version of Don't Starve, a survival game with a dark sense of humour, lots of vanilla characters (the roster's at 10 so far), a distinct lack of mercy, and a Tim Burton-esque art style. Simply put, it spits you out into a foreign world and expects you to survive; but you'll have a lot of fun regardless of how well (or poorly) you survive. If you have any questions or ideas, say 'em loud and proud, because freedom is a staple in the Empire the United States of the Forum. This message was brought to you by the Empire of the USF, a subsidiary of Drizzy Inc., Twam's Legion, and the Illuminati.

Master Lenny says congratulations! So do I.

It would be nice to see more UNSC vehicles be put to use in-game, as it would make sense for a futuristic military to have a wide array of aircraft at their disposal. However, we also have Forerunner vehicles entering the fray now. The idea of brand new vehicles to use is much more appealing than rehashing a vehicle such as the Falcon, which was useless in multiplayer unless you had two allies with you or had some enemies jump into the rotors.

Here ya go.

Welcome back, Mayh3m. Just remember, blue suits never go out of style.

how do you get that backwards b?

Avoid Being in a State of Severe Hunger (Don't Starve)

I highly recommend Don't Starve Together. It's a very fun game with an extremely high replay value, thanks to its randomly generated worlds. It runs quite well on most computers. If it can run on my potato laptop at 60fps with few problems, then it should work on yours! The amount of vanilla characters and custom characters spice up the gameplay with different strengths and weaknesses (and sometimes hilarious designs). Aaaaaand some members may have it. Its appealing artwork and dark sense of humour are also wildly entertaining. I would also recommend the solo version of Don't Starve. What it lacks in multiplayer capability it makes up for it with multiple world maps, more exploration, and some goals. You have to find a way to get home by finding items around the world or go on an adventure to stop the main villain. Also it has great music. For example, listen to that plays during the spring while you chop down trees or mine boulders. It's just fantastic.

Seems like whenever I'm not at work for a few days, new people are hired. Whenever I'm not here for a day, new people are hired. What's with that? Congratulations, you two! Welcome aboard!

I don't think a lot of people got rid of their 360s, since the One lacks backwards compatibility. One thing is certain: games on the 360 worked for players around the world. If you aren't in North America or Europe, you're out of luck with MCC. Right now, it's a choice between tried and true gameplay with outdated graphics, or shiny new graphics that not everyone can play based on their geographic location. I'd choose functionality over graphics any day. When Halo 5 comes out, hopefully there won't be any problems. But that's not for another few months yet. From what I heard, the beta looked promising and worked well for everyone. But again, the final product won't be available for the next few months.

MCC is riddled with glitches, and only works for people in North America and parts of Europe. If you want to alienate some of our most active users, then play Halo on Xbox One. Otherwise, play it on 360.

It's worth noting that I hosted many events in 2013 and 2014. Where was Fishy during this time? I can tell you where he wasn't: here. Also, before I moved for university, I saw this: Yoshi threw democracy out the window. As his successor, and considering his military title, Fishy will most likely do the same. Do you want a dictatorship? Do you want a traitor to democracy at the helm of the USF? I know I don't.