The games that Darran simply couldn’t live without
01 The Last Of Us (PLAYSTATION 3)
The only game that’s ever made me cry. Brilliant mechanics, wonderful pacing and exceptionally strong writing. It’s quite possibly the greatest game I’ve ever played. I’ve only just completed the sequel as I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my high expectations.
02 Fire Emblem (GAME BOY ADVANCE)
I’m not usually a fan of Japanese RPGs but I’ve sunk so many hours into this game and the series in general. In fact it’s the only series where I own every Western release. The writing is strong enough that you genuinely care when you lose characters in battle.
03 Magic: The Gathering Arena (PC)
I’ve always loved playing this but the physical version has become prohibitively expensive nowadays. I’ve played numerous digital versions over the years and this is easily the best (and it’s free as well). I probably sink anything from thirty minutes to two hours into this every single day.
04 Thunder Force III (MEGA DRIVE)
The Mega Drive has some exceptional shooters, but this will always be the one I reach for first. The boss designs are great, the music is very good for a Mega Drive game and it has a solid range of weapons. Many prefer Thunder Force IV. Those people are wrong.
05 Robotron: 2084 (ARCADE)
Quite possibly the purest shooter I’ve ever played. I’ve always enjoyed Eugene’s games, but few come close to the sheer adrenalin rush that Robotron offers. If I had the space, the money and the energy (playing it is exhausting on the arms) I’d buy a cabinet without a second thought.
06 Strider (ARCADE)
Oh come on, this was always going to make the cut. Strider blew me away when I first experienced it in Quay Amusements because there was nothing else quite like it at the time. Wonderful set pieces, exotic bosses and gorgeous animation made me fall in love with it. Having it on last month’s cover wa
07 Rare Replay (XBOX ONE)
OK, I’m cheating here, but I’m the editor so it’s allowed, right? I can’t think of any compilation that allows you to experience multiple highlights across a company’s entire career like Rare Replay does, as others typically focus on a specific period. It’s filled with amazing extras, too. Only Digital Eclipse’s excellent compilations come close.
08 Dead Space: Extraction (WII)
I love a good lightgun game, but this is one of the few examples that bolts all the shooting onto a genuinely solid story. It dovetails nicely with the original Dead Space (another game that doesn’t get enough love) giving you better insight into the franchise’s lore.