Extra Life is a big deal for us here at 2 Shots of Geek. It’s that time of year when we can show the whole world that gamers care, and we are a giving community that gives to those who need it most. Since we are going to play games for 24 hours, there is a good amount of planning involved. Trust me, I did Extra Life last year, what you don’t want is to be wondering what to play next. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. Remember that if you’re in San Diego, you can join us at the Microsoft Store at the Fashion Valley mall for Extra Life(details here!). For now, I will go over my top 5 for Extra Life 2012.
5. Forza 4
Ah Forza, a racing simulation combined with an RPG. The amount of courses is great, and just like an RPG, you level up, and unlock more courses and cars. You may be wondering how this can stay fresh, but the answer is simple: you don’t begin with the fastest cars, you start low. I mean Scion XA low. In courses that are not longer than a few streets. As you progress, you unlock many more cars, faster ones, and new courses. You can customize your cars, all parts of them. This compels you to keep playing, something that is crucial for a marathon like Extra Life. Random fact: the people behind Forza got their inspiration for the unlockables from Pokemon. Awesome eh?
4. Diablo 3
Do I even have to explain this one? I hit level 60 a month ago, but with all the planning and the busy work schedule, I haven’t played much since. I’m currently in Act 3, in Hell difficulty. That means two more acts, and I reach Inferno, and the really good loot. The REALLY GOOD loot. The stuff that can be used for the biggest challenges, and for the eventual release of PvP. If you aren’t at level 60…do I even need to explain? This is the original loot fest, you’d be hard pressed to find such a good time sink.
3. Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Do you notice a trend here? All the games here have a ton of unlockables, and this one is no different. Honestly, my main purpose here is to get better with my team of Lars & Paul. Every time you have a match, you get cash, and potentially unlock new things, like clothes, accessories, and even new portraits for your characters. The combination of both can lead to a huge amount of time spent. What better way to show I care about the kids than to beat the crap out of people? Well, that and get new stuff for my characters…I am dressing them all in the 2 Shots of Geek colors: blue and white. Represent!
2. Borderlands 2
One of the biggest releases this year, Borderlands 2 is already garnering great praise from all mediums. I can’t wait to get at those claptraps again! I am looking forward to taking my character through Pandora, getting the billions of guns available, and blow everything to smithereens. The game has humor, great first person mechanics, and awesome firefights. I could probably sink the 24 hours into this game alone, but there’s no need. I have the previous four for that, and of course, the following game.
1. Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition 2012
Surprised? This is my favorite fighting game released since the renaissance of the genre. I have dedicated hundreds of hours to it, but I know I need to get better. As always, practice makes perfect. I plan on continuing my time in practice lab with Adon, practicing new combos and technology, so I can be better and continue my quest to be the best Adon player in San Diego. Of course, with the tournaments we have planned, I will have live competition to practice on as well. This game has shown me what real dedication is. I still want to get better, and that pride in competition will continue to drive everything I do.
I know I will play other games on October 20. I plan on playing every single fighting game I own for at least 20 minutes, so I have a lot to look forward to there. Needless to say, I can’t wait until that day. It’s the day I can enjoy my beloved hobby, and make a real difference in the lives of kids. It’s one of the best days of the year, and I hope you all contribute to this fantastic cause.