Zane Muzzillo
Staff Writer
Game: Earthbound
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: HAL Laboratory and Ape, Inc
Earthbound is an over head RPG released on June 5, 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System or SNES. The story begins when Ness, the main character, was sleeping and then jerked awake by a loud noise. He adventures outside his house and scales up a nearby mountain where the noise came from and police lights are flashing. At the top Ness encounters his neighbor Pokey, who tells Ness to go home. Later that night, Pokey knocks on Ness’ door and tells Ness that his brother, Picky, is missing and probably went up the mountain. Ness and Pokey head up the mountain to search and find Picky crying near the top. To their surprise they see a large meteor. As they investigate, an alien, which looks like a fly is named Buzz Buzz. Buzz Buzz has something very important to tell Ness, but you must play to find out. Earthbound is a very obscure game in America, but in Japan it was quite popular. Earthbound involves quite a bit of customization and the storyline can change based on your decisions. The customization starts with your character; you can change the name of the special attack you use later in the game. It can be anything from tape to television. The graphics are not much to look at, for today’s standards that is, but the storyline is extensive and at some points mind-blowing.
Game: Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is an action adventure video game released on October 26, 2000 for the Nintendo 64. Link, the main character of the Zelda series, has left Hyrule, his home country, in search of an old friend. The main setting for this game is Termina which is a land similar to Hyrule, Link’s home country. While riding through the Lost Woods, on his horse Epona, Link encounters a boy with a strange mask, named Skull Kid. Link is attacked by Skull Kid; he was taken by surprise and defeated by Skull Kid. Skull Kid scared away Epona and stole the ocarina, Link’s prized instrument. Link, dazed and confused, must now find his horse, ocarina and defeat Skull Kid. In Majora’s Mask Link must defeat an enemy of greater power to protect a country he has no affiliation with. This, like many other Zelda games, is not only based around one main storyline. Link has many more objectives than saving Termina, if you were to play this game then you can explore many side quests, such as saving the farmers that caught Epona from goblins and ghouls. This game offers a lot with very few drawbacks; the graphics aren’t too bad, and the game play is like other games, but with a few twists.
Game: Super Mario Sunshine
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
Super Mario Sunshine is a 3d platformer, which is a game that involves jumping from platform to platform, released in June of the year 2002, which added a new twist to the Mario franchise. Mario finally gets a vacation, and even better it’s with his dream girl Princess Peach. When Mario lands at Isle Delfino, the main setting for the game, he sees a rainbow colored goop on the runway. Near the goop there is a strange device, called F.L.U.D.D, which is a high powered water gun that Mario will use to clean the goop on the runway. Once the goop is cleaned, Mario is arrested by the Delfino police force and is charged with dirtying the island with goop and is sentenced to clean the entire island. As Mario begins to clean the center of town, he is attacked by a monster made of this goop. Once the monster is defeated Princess Peach is captured by a Mario made out of the substance. Mario confused about what happened must go on an adventure through the Delfino Island to save Princess Peach and clean the island in the process. Mario Sunshine has a lot of mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but if that doesn’t the intense game play will. You have to constantly scale walls while dodging enemies or jump from a rotating platform to another. If you like intense game play or a mysterious story, this game is for you. 
