Top 10 Favorite 1st Gen. Pokemon

With the release of Pokemon X and Y, I think it's time I give out my favorite Pokemon.  It's hard to just narrow it down to a simple "Top 10 Favorite Pokemon", since there are so many now.  So I'm going to categorize it down to a "Top 10 Favorite ___ Generation Pokemon" list, starting from 1st generation and working my way up to the 6th.

Before I get into it, each and every list will contain some/all of the following reasons on why said Pokemon will be my favorite:

• Design: Most people's reasons for liking Pokemon.  I can't deny that some Pokemon are awesome by simply their design.
• Usability: When I say this, what I will be referring to is how good they are in their respective games, whether the Video Game or the Trading Card Game (it'll normally come from the former though for my lists).  It sometimes goes to show that some Pokemon with just cool designs are deceiving sometimes...
• Pokedex Entries: What many people overlook is the Pokemon's Pokedex entry.  Some Pokemon have actually pretty awesome Pokedex entries, especially some of the "lame ones".
• Earned their "Gold Star": What this means is what did the Pokemon do for you.  We train hard for them and take care of them, but a good question is if they think the same for us.  With this, I will be talking about if the Pokemon has saved you from tight spots (i.e. you are about to lose against the Pokemon Champion), and they somehow pull it off.  This gets them their "Gold Star" award.
• Memories/Stories: This will set them apart usually.  A strong Pokemon, a cool looking Pokemon, and an interesting Pokemon is cool and all, but a story is what gets people interested normally.  The name speaks for itself: what memories or stories you made with your favorite Pokemon.

With that said, now we can get into my Top 10 Favorite Pokemon... starting with the 1st Generation (Red, Blue, Yellow).  Let's get started!

10. Pidgeot

Pidgeot still holds the title of my most favorite bird Pokemon, even though it is not that good in the competitive field.  Still though, she has helped me in Pokemon Red and Yellow quite a number of times against a few Gym Leaders, especially when we were at the Elite 4 and against the Champion.  Bruno was a difficult adversary to take out, since his Pokemon does leave a dent on my team (Machamp is my worst enemy).  I normally try to keep my Pokemon team balanced, but if it weren't for Pidgeot there, I would have some troubles.  While Pidgeot can't take on Onix in the slightest, what she is able to do is take out the other Fighting Pokemon (Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Machamp).  Thanks to this advantage, she was incredible and a great help to my rise as the Pokemon champion.  Oh, and it's a she because that's what she was once Gold and Silver came out.

Pidgeot's design is pretty wicked too.  But then again, according to the Pokedex entries, it states in the 3rd Gen Pokedex that it has gorgeous glossy feathers.  Many trainers are so captivated by the beautiful feathers on its head that it compells them to choose Pidgeot as their Pokemon.  So we have been DECEIVED!  We were captivated by this Pokemon to choose it, and we never knew it... well, I guess.  Also, Pidgeot can fly at Mach 2 speeds... which, last I checked, is pretty darn fast!  And with the capabilities of seeing great distances while flying at 3,300 feet... I must say, that's a pretty impressive Pokemon there.

I saddens me that Pidgeot isn't useful in competitive, but it holds a spot in my Top 10.

9. Beedrill
While I agree that Scyther is an awesome looking bug Pokemon, I honestly have to say that with the 1st gen bugs, Beedrill is my favorite!  What makes him appear on this list is not because of his power (Scyther easily pushes Beedrill away from that), nor is it based on its ability to support the team members (Butterfree does that better).  What makes Beedrill awesome is that it has one heck of an awesome design.  Not only that, but it brought fear to many trainers (in the anime).  In fact, if a Beedrill were actually real in our world, I bet a lot of us would be terrified to approach it!  It resembles greatly of a wasp, which many people are afraid of, including me.  With those stingers for arms, I bet we would be very cautious when approaching one.  It's rather intimidating.
However, that aside, Beedrill serves little to no purpose in competitive.  It has a decent Attack stat of 90 (formerly 80), and the rest of its stats are low.  However, the upside to Beedrill is that it has Twineedle.  No, it's not that good of an attack, but it was its signature move (until Escavalier came along in 5th gen).  Also, back in Red, Blue, and Yellow, it had the niche of being one of the few Pokemon who can attack a Psychic Pokemon and deal super-effective damage on it with Twineedle or Pin Missle.  Sadly though, even back then, it had a hard life to live.
Beedrill's Pokedex entries are cool, as they fly in fast speeds and fly in swarms.  I like Pokemon that fight together as a team, and it makes sense for Beedrill, as some bugs work as teams.  They can take down any opponent with its powerful poison stingers.  Boy, I really wish that would of worked in the actual battles that Beedrill took part in.
Overall, I love Beedrill's design, and the Pokedex entry is somewhat cool... but I do wish that Beedrill would be great, competitive wise.  I would certainly love to use him.  Oh well, just glad that I own him still in my games (UPDATE: Mega Beedrill confirmed!  That is all!)!

8. Alakazam

Alakazam is pretty awesome looking.  I can never deny that Alakazam has an amazing design.  That mustache is the greatest mustache a Pokemon can own (in my opinion).

Also, Alakazam's usefulness is incredible.  He is still a top contender in today's metagame of competitive battling.  However, he truly shinned in the RBY era.  Why?  Well, to put it bluntly, it was the fact that it was a Psychic Pokemon.

The Psychic type was an OP typing on a Pokemon back in the day.  Not only was it immune to Ghost type attacks at the time (not saying much really, considering the amount of Ghost attacks back then), but the only thing that resisted it was its own Psychic brethren.  Alakazam dominated because of the mix of that, and solid stats to work with.  Also, with the OP of Psychic, it is no wonder why Alakazam was a top contender in the metagame of RBY.  It's sad that it doesn't hold that much presence today than it did back then.  But, he is still a solid Pokemon to use today.

Oh, and I cannot forget the new addition Alakazam has to its awesomeness: Mega Alakazam.  He has earned himself a beard comparable to Gandalf.  Very fast and strong, Mega Alakazam can leave dents the size of... well, big dents.  But, it's a shame that it isn't nearly as useful as the regular Alakazam is (in my opinion).  Magic Guard is just an incredible ability to have on him, and taking that away is somewhat misfortunate.  But still, the design is wicked, and those Base Stats on its Sp. Atk. and Speed is something that cannot be ignored!

Now, if it weren't for the stupid 4 move syndrome, Alakazam would be one of the best Pokemon in history.  The Pokedex entries state that Alakazam is so smart that it never forgets what it learns.  It can memorize anything.  If we took this in competitive, Alakazam could run so many sets alone.  And also... it is so smart that it can outperform a super-computer.  In addition, Alakazam's IQ is 5,000.  There should be no reason to not have this Pokemon in your team at all.  One final note is this: Alakazam holds its head up because its brain continues to grow, and as a result, the neck cannot support it alone.  This should further prove that Alakazam is incredibly smart and powerful.

7. Hitmonlee
Between the three "Hitmon" Pokemon, a fair majority of my friends like Hitmonchan.  I can see why, and he almost made it to mine too.  I like boxing, and he is a boxer.  Even so, when I come down and think about it, there's not much else that draws me to like Hitmonchan the most, as compared to Hitmonlee, who is my favorite of them all.
Hitmonlee's Pokedex entries state that he has a great sense of balance, and can kick in succession from any position.  In addition, Hitmonlee's kicks are as strong as a diamond, which is very tough and powerful.  Getting hit with one of those kicks could injure you very badly... or kill you, ya know, something like that.  And, to add on to his kicking prowess, his legs can stretch, giving his opponents a false sense of security when they first judge his kicks based on the length of his legs.  While these are cool and all, my main like for him comes more from how I use him competitively.
He hits hard, and has decent speed, but the way I use him is very risky, but can be very rewarding when used right.  Simply put, use Endure on a powerful attack.  You'll survive with 1 HP left, and then Hitmonlee will consume the Liechi Berry, which raises his Attack stage by 1 stage.  After that, Unburden (a Hidden Ability) will activate, which will double your Speed.  Afterwards, just go to town with Reversal (which has a 200 BP with 1 HP) for heavy hits, Knock Off to get rid of items when needed, as well as a counter against Ghost and Psychic types, and Mach Punch for getting rid of low HP threats (funny thing too that Hitmonlee can learn a punching move.  But this only adds on to how I like Hitmonlee over Hitmonchan).  It's a risk because stuff like Sandstorm, Hail, Extremespeed, and other moves like it will ruin Hitmonlee.  But, if you can pull it off, it can certainly save the game for you!

6. Slowbro
I have a soft spot for some derpy looking Pokemon.  And boy, Slowbro is a very dery looking Pokemon.  And I bet you are thinking to yourself - he is a very dumb Pokemon, right?  Well, let me prove you right!  Simply put, the Pokedex states that Slowbro is usually dimwitted.  So there you have it.  But, when the Shellder bites down on its tail, he becomes inspired.  Now, what that would do for it, I know not.  But, he does have some potential.  Some.  Also, here's a thought: If Shellder let go of Slowbro's tail and left it, would he revert back to Slowpoke?  I find that kinda funny, but who knows?  Also, his Mega looks very silly, and I love it!
My main favorite thing about this derpy pink Pokemon is how he battles.  Whether Mega or not, Slowbro is very useful.  I use them both very similarly, which is just a slow, specially offensive tank with great physical bulk.  In addition, he can patch up that Special Defense with Calm Mind to help tank Special hits better, as well as dealing more damage with Special Attacks (mine is usually Scald and Psyshock).  His last move, which I love the name for, is Slack Off (similar to Recover and Roost).  It suits Slowbro a lot, as he seems like a very chill Pokemon to me.  Regenerator is such a great ability for a tank, combined with Leftovers really helps in keeping Slowbro alive.  However, Mega-Slowbro benefits with an immense amount of physical bulk and Shell Armor, which negates Critical Hits.  Either way, Slowbro runs as a great tank that can handle the opposition, despite of how dimwitted and derpy looking he is!

5. Dragonite

I've always been a big fan of dragons when I was little, and I still am today.  In fact, so many people love dragons, each with their own reason.  Mine is because they are simply powerful, and have a mysterious background.  No one knows about their origins in most of their own worlds.
Dragonite hits this list, being the first of the dragon line in Pokemon history, sharing that along with Dratini and Dragonair (the evolutionary line of Dragonite).
It was not easy to get a Dragonite back in RBY, as the only ways to get one was either in the Game Corner, or in the Safari Zone (fishing with the Super Rod).  And even so, leveling it up to evolve took some time to get to.  Was it worth it?  Eh, to be honest, Dragonite wasn't too incredible.  I mean, it certainly was strong, but I felt like Lance used Dragonite better at the time.  However, come 2nd gen on, and it was better to be used, as Dragonite had a Dragon attack (that being Outrage) to actually use (Dragon Rage is a bad Dragon attack).  I felt like Dragonite truly shined in 5th gen, which is where my Tiki's life started in the competitive field.  Multiscale was a huge boon to Dragonite (reduces damage dealt to Dragonite by 50% when at full health).  That, combined with a good movepool, and you have a Pokemon that can take hits, set up, and sweep.  Dragonite's bane is Ice attacks normally, but Multiscale helps solve this problem a bit.
Now, most people see dragons more as giant, epic, intimidating creatures of unimaginable power!  Dragonite... is not that.  Epic, probably.  But, Dragonite is more "cute" and "innocent", if you ask me.  But, I also see it as a more magical creature too, which is what I see some dragons being.  I grew up with different kinds of dragons, not just one type.  Dragonite fits the more cute, fantasy, and magical type than the daunting and intimidating type.  In so, I really do like her the was she looks.
As for the Pokedex entries, Dragonite is a kind-hearted Pokemon, with intelligence matching that of a human's.  In addition, it makes its home in the sea, and can fly around the entire Earth in 16 hours.  While it isn't the best Pokedex entries out there, it's awesome to see a dragon that isn't focused on destruction, but more on being kind.

4. Chansey

Chansey does look like a cute Pokemon a little, but my reasons for liking her isn't based on design.  It's more on a combination on how good she is and with her Pokedex entries (with the latter being the main reason).
While Chansey's evolution is overall better than her stat-wise, Chansey can boast on having better Defenses than Blissey, once holding the Eviolite item.  This allows Chansey's Defense and Special Defense to increase by 50%.  This allows her to surpass Blissey defensively, easily.  How so, with Chansey's Defense being less durable than paper?  Well, with a Bold Nature on Chansey (+Defense, - Attack), plus 31 IV's on her Defense, as well as 252 Defense EV's added to that, that would bring her Defense to 119 at 100.  Pretty low, right?  Well, add Eviolite, and you have a total Defense of 178, which would eclipse Blissey's Defense (130).  And let's not forget her Special Defense.  With a Neutral Nature, 31 IV's in her Special Defense, and 252 EV's added to it, plus Eviolite, her Sp. Defense would be 463, surpasing Blissey's 369.  And this is not even a beneficial natured Chansey and Blissey.  So, with that, Chansey's Defensive capabilities easily surpass Blissey, thanks to the Eviolite.  It also helps that Chansey also has a very high HP stat, meaning that the EV spread doesn't even have to extend out to her HP stat at all, and you can just pour it all into her Defense (which needs it) and Special Defense.  However, she does lose the advantage in holding Leftovers and only having Seismic Toss as a reliable attack.  Even so, I found that 9 times out of 10 that the trade-in is worth it.  And besides, Chansey's usage in competitive is to wall, heal, and effect other Pokemon with status conditions (i.e. Thunder Wave and Toxic), or even just set up an entry hazard in the move Stealth Rocks.  Chansey's walling capabilities has potential, definitely.
Now, with that said, here's my main reason for liking Chansey - the Pokedex entries!  I like positive thinking, and Chansey comes from a line where that is its top priority.  For those of you who have never read the Pokedex entries for Chansey, do you know what that egg in its pouch is for?  Well, it's used for Chansey's signature move - Softboiled, a move that heals itself in battle, and used to heal allies outside of battle.  Yes, they eat the egg.  And Chansey produces these, daily.  Now, it's interesting to me how she is capable of doing this... but I will not judge, as these eggs are very nutritious, and very delicious.  I would be up for eating at least one of these eggs, providing that the Pokedex entries are true.  In addition, people will eat them, even if they had already lost their appetite.  However, Chansey will not give the eggs to those with evil in their hearts.  Chansey is also kind-natured, as in if they see an injured Pokemon, they will go to it and help it.  And lastly, Chansey are supposed to be very hard to find.  This is true with the Safari Zone back in RBY, but with the popularity of using Chansey and Blissey in competitive battling, I wouldn't be surprised to see a ton of them, with breeding being the only main way of getting perfect IV's for a Pokemon.  In addition, they are fast at running away, which further explains how hard they are to catch in the Safari Zone.
Chansey is definitely a great Pokemon in its own right, and has earned her high spot in my Top 10.

3. Machamp
Alakazam and Machamp are counterparts, in a sense.  Both reach their final evolution through trade, both have the same gender ratio of 75% male, 25% female.  They both are also opposites, with Machamp being physically powerful and can take hits moderately well, but they are somewhat slow.  While on the other hand, Alakazam is very strong Special Attack wise and very fast, but can't take hits very well.  Now, with that said, let me explain why I like Machamp over Alakazam.
First of all, the Fighting type is my favorite typing of a Pokemon (Psychic is 4th), so that narrows one part down between Machamp and Alakazam.  Also, simply put, I like power.  I am big with smarts and knowledge (hence Alakazam's reason for being on this Top 10), but I like to be more powerful and skilled in the ways of martial arts.  Machamp excels in this.  Thanks to his high Attack stat, a good physical move pool to run with, and an excellent ability in No Guard (which makes the powerful DynamicPunch 100% and always confuse the opponent), Machamp is certainly no slouch and can hold his own.  He's slow, that much is true.  But, he can take most hits rather well, and return in kind with powerful attacks.
Machamp's design is also awesome!  With four arms, and a tough build, his looks are certainly not deceiving.  But what makes me like Machamp even more is the Pokedex entries.  In just 2 seconds, Machamp can throw 1,000 punches.  That's 250 punches per arm.  That's fast!  But, fast hits mean nothing if he doesn't have the power to back it up.  Well, with only one arm, Machamp can move a mountain.  A MOUNTAIN!  You know how much an average mountain weighs?  ... I don't know, but I bet it is a lot!  Imagine how much he can move once he puts all four arms into action!  Now that's pure, raw physical strength right there!  And with those four arms, he can hit at a multitude of angles and even pin all of its foes limbs at once.  And with the amount of physical strength he has, it would be hard for the opponent to get out of that grip.  In addition, since he reacts more before he thinks, this tells me that he has good reflexes and reaction skills - perfect for a martial artist!  Speaking of martial artist, it also states that Machamp has learned and mastered every kind of martial art currently!  Now we have a Pokemon with fast punches, incredible strength, good reaction skills, four arms for coverage, and a master of every martial art!  Now that's incredible!  However, no Pokemon is perfect, as he can't do delicate work, as in he may break something delicate.  In other words, just keep him with fighting and other hard physical work, because that's all he can do.  But that's okay, since he likes to fight anyway.  And he is a very rash Pokemon and rushes in to fight without forethought at all... which while it is risky, it does suit him well... and I do like an aggressive Pokemon.
I currently have a Machamp who is in my main team fairly often.  I run into several Pokemon that needs Fighting type coverage, so my Machamp is my main man when it comes into this field (the others being Hitmonlee and Mega-Lucario).  I normally run a No Guard Machamp with the following moves: Dynamic Punch (which has great synergy with No Guard, giving the powerful attack a 100% hit rate and confusion chance), Stone Edge (once again, great with No Guard), Knock Off (for Psychic types and getting rid of items), and Bullet Punch (for priority when dealing with weaker threats).  The item of choice is normally Assault Vest, so that I have a fairly decent Special Wall out there that can deal massive damage regularly.  He usually does his job well for me in the competitive environment, and I am glad to have him part of my main team!
To finally put this part of my Top 10 to rest, Machamp was the very first Pokemon card I ever owned.  It came with the Pokemon Play It CD, which comes with a Pokemon TCG Deck, along with a CD where you learn the rules and play it (the lady's character model who teaches you the rules is creepy).   Sadly, I lost it years ago and never really found it.  However, I did get another one, and I certainly intend on keeping it.
Although Machamp does not have a Mega Evolution, he is still awesome and is one of my most favorite Fighting Type Pokemon.  He has the awesome design, great Pokedex entries, and is great in competitive battling.  Simple as that, gotta love the Champ!

2. Mewtwo

Here we are, with what is arguably known as the most powerful Pokemon of all time - Mewtwo!  Mewtwo is EASILY my most favorite Legendary Pokemon of all time.  Zapdos was my first Legendary Pokemon that I caught and used, but Mewtwo was harder in his own right.  For one, he hits fast and hard, and as such, was difficult to get down to low HP to catch with the Ultra Ball.  However, that alone wasn't the issue.  Even with getting it down to red and with a status condition, it was still hard to catch him... and it didn't help at all that Mewtwo knew Recover!  With all of these going for it, I would be tempted to catch it with the Master Ball... which I didn't at first.  I do now, when it get to getting its right nature and such, but back then, I took it upon myself on catching it without using the Master Ball.  Difficult, yes.  However, it was well worth it definitely.  It's sad nowadays that the Legendary Pokemon (some) are easier to catch from 4th gen on, but I won't complain about the catch rate being higher.  It was (and still is) a pain to catch Mewtwo and such, but it was well rewarding definitely.
Mewtwo's design is rather interesting.  Instead of many legendary Pokemon out there being some big, bad, and tough monsters, Mewtwo stands as a... I guess an alien of some sort.  He's still pretty tall, standing at 6'07", but not nearly as tall as the likes of Kyogre and Dialga.  However, height and weight does not define Mewtwo.  No, the sheer power Mewtwo holds is incredible!
Holding a Sp. Atk base stat of 154, he has the capability of capping it at a solid 447 (with benefiting nature)!  And this is not including his high base 130 Speed, which can cap at 394 (with benefiting nature).  Want to know what power is, then go face Mewtwo, because that power will destroy nearly everything in the game!  Before generation 5, the only solid counter against Mewtwo was Blissey, due to her high Sp. Defense... however, thanks to Game Freak's gift for Mewtwo in Psystrike (Mewtwo's new signature move), Blissey doesn't stand a chance.  Psystrike is a Psychic Base 100 Attack with 100% accuracy.  Including STAB, that's a solid 150 powered attack, that hits the opponent's Defense stat... which is Blissey's main weak point!  And Psystrike isn't Mewtwo's only option.  No, he has an attacking move pool that other Pokemon wish they had!  Mewtwo's options on what to use is very solid and beneficial for the clone!  In addition, he has a good boosting move in Calm Mind, as well as solid recovery in Recover!  Golly, the times I have faced this thing... nightmarish!  The times I used him... usually relieved!  Even in the current TCG Mewtwo is a top tier threat!
And to further add it on, Mewtwo was further blessed by Game Freak in the form of not one, but two Mega Evolutions!  It's scary enough without them too!  Mega Mewtwo X is strong and capable of dealing harsh, physical damage, whilist Mega Mewtwo Y (my favorite of the two) can deal an incredible amount of damage from its Special Attack stat (in addition, it gains more Speed).  Between the two Mega Mewtwo's and the original... you have a Pokemon with a lot of options, a lot of power, and a lot of presence on the Pokemon battlefield!
And Mewtwo isn't just cool in the video games.  In the anime, Mewtwo was cold, ruthless, and very cunning!  It was cool though how he had a change of heart (not to mention one of Pokemon's most memorable quotes ever... by Mewtwo naturally)!
Within Mewtwo's Pokedex entries gives us the hint that not only is Mewtwo powerful, but that power is put to use!  When created, the scientists that created him forgot to give him a warm, caring heart.  As a result, Mewtwo became the most savage Pokemon ever.  Mewtwo's only thoughts are to defeat his opponents, which makes Mewtwo ruthless, and pretty much the perfect Pokemon in terms of battles.  It does not hold back, unleashing its full powers when battling.  That is why Mewtwo usually remains motionless, conserving its energy until the fight... which, at that point (as I just mentioned earlier), he releases his full power and gives it his all.
Mewtwo not only defines us how truly powerful he is, but how ruthless (and kinda sad too, actually) of a Pokemon he is.  In real life, if you tried to "own" Mewtwo... well then, be prepared to be proven oh so wrong!

1. Charmander
To be honest, in almost every aspect, Mewtwo should be my favorite generation 1 Pokemon... but he isn't.  And no, it's not Charizard either (but he will get some good mention in this #1 spot, since he is the final evolved form).  No, it's Charmander that gets the spot.  Some of you may agree with me because he was the popular starter to choose from, while others may dislike it simply because Charizard is over-hyped... which I do agree.  However, my reasons for having Charmander as #1 is because of our adventures in Red.  Let me explain:
When I played through Red and Yellow for the first time, I decided to play Red all over again... except with a rule to follow by - only use Charmander.  No, not evolving him... keep him as a Charmander, train ONLY Charmander, and use ONLY Charmander!  I went with this rule, and boy... was it a challenge to go through!  With so much effort put into it... safe to say, we did it.  The biggest adversary, naturally, was the Elite 4 and - ESPECIALLY, the Champion (my rival, which was named Joe).  Yes, I had to use items... and good thing too.  Charmander was roughly 88 or so when we won it all.  The biggest challenge was Blastoise.  I can't explain why, but Charmander was able to take those Hydro Pumps, and deal some nice damage with his Seismic Toss attack.  I will never forget the victory we had together.  He is now in retirement, in Pokemon Stadium 2.
With that story aside, Charmander does have some use in competitive.  To be specific, the Little Cup.  Sure, he is outclassed by many Fire type Pokemon, but Charmander can run a Dragon Dance set fairly well.  I normally have him in my teams for the LC, and he has pulled through so far.  The little guy is strong at heart.
Another story, except recent.  In competitive, the only thing I dislike about it all is the breeding system.  It takes so much time, and I would rather just go out and use the Pokemon I got from the wild, trainer, etc... and go from there.  However, to keep up with everyone, I go into it too.  Thank goodness for the Wonder Trade and Global Trade system, as those who didn't make the cut go out to other trainers.  However, here's the thing: While doing this, I miraculously managed to hatch a Charmander with perfect IV's across the board (HP, Atk, Def, Sp Atk, Sp Def, and Speed... ALL OF THEM).  With getting... 3 to 5 perfect IV's being hard enough, I would never has expected this to ever happen.  And of all Pokemon to get it... Charmander pulled through once again.  I evolved him this time around to Charizard, who goes through with the Mega Y version.  I like Megazard X, don't get me wrong... but I find Y to be of more use to me as of now... not to mention that I can work my Sun team with him, once they come over from White 2 to Y.  The weather nerf is a blessing and a curse for me, but weather teams have never been my main selling point in competitive.  However, I am glad to see that Charizard is gaining something good for once (to be honest, he never was that good.  Charizard is overrated.  But, he is also arguably the most popular Pokemon among the fans, so it was nice of Game Freak to give Charizard these two amazing gifts to work with... he really wished to be a Dragon, and FINALLY got it!)!
Also, Charmander is adorable!  He is one of the cutest Pokemon I ever seen, in my opinion.  He is also tied as my favorite starter, where you'll learn about the other in the future ;)
We can also learn how a Charmander feels based on how the flame on its tail burns.  If it wavers, he is enjoying himself.  However, if he is angry, it burns fiercely!  What saddens me though is this: its life ends when the flame on the tip of its tail goes out.  Which means if I poured water on its tail, he dies.  While that would make sense, there is some proof that is not entirely true.  For example, in the anime, Charizard has fallen into water a time or so and has yet to perish.  Also, in Pokemon: The Origin, Red's Charizard fell into the water during his fight with Mewtwo, and still survived.  While this is applying on Charizard, Charizard has the same issue with Charmander, and as a result, should be related as such.  But, Charmander should still not be put near a large body of water... because, you know... Charmander is weak to water...
Anyway, Charmander earns his spot as my favorite because, simply put, nostalgia and the stories I made with him.  This goes to show to you that simply being the strongest Pokemon does not make you the most favorite ;)

So there's my Top 10 favorite 1st Gen... Kanto... Red/Blue/Yellow... Pokemon.  I'll be getting 2nd Gen soon.  So, what's YOUR favorite 1st generation Pokemon?  Leave them in the comments :)

Top 5 Favorite Legend of Zelda Games

With the remake of Wind Waker and a new Legend of Zelda game coming out soon, I thought I ought to do my next top 5 about my favorite LoZ games.  So... here's my top 5 favorite Legend of Zelda games!

5. Link to the Past
There are many who love Link to the Past.  In fact, some may hate this list already for it not being number 1.  Although Link to the Past is an incredible game (like nearly every other Legend of Zelda game), I didn't get "into" this game like others.  The amount of adventuring needed to be done was satisfying, and all of the things you could do was awesome.
The Light and Dark world split was a really nicely added feature into the game, making it much more challenging, and more adventures to be had.  It's a no wonder why so many people enjoyed this game so much, and it was no different to me.
Reason why it is not number 1 in my list MIGHT be because it has been a while since I last played it, but that might be it too.  With the newer Zelda games that came out, I just enjoyed them more, as well as what they had to offer.  However, that does not mean that Link to the Past is a game I would not go back on... just not AS often as others out there.

4. Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time not #1?  What is this madness?  I'm not mad, just... well, maybe I am.  But, that's not the main reason.  Ocarina of Time is an incredible game and step up since Link to the Past.  For one, it's a 3D Zelda game, and beautifully done.  The story?  Incredible!  The graphics?  Great!  The music?  Awesome!  It's a game that many Zelda fans love, and place it so high because of how great it was!  ... obviously, I am not as such.
I love this game for where you all can go to.  Each place felt like an adventure (otherwise, it wouldn't be a Zelda game), and a new challenge to overcome.  From collecting the Spiritual Stones to obtaining the Medallions and awakening the Sages to take out Ganondorf - all felt like a new challenge and... well, felt as if I were part of it.
Ocarina of Time had a lot to offer when it came out, and still does.  I mean, it was rereleased on the Nintendo 3DS, and I personally enjoyed it on that over the Nintendo 64 (mainly because I love Handheld consoles so much).  This goes to show just how popular the game was, and still is.

3. Twilight Princess
Now this might agitate others even further, but there are reasons why I do like Twilight Princess over Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time.  Put simply, I loved Hyrule for how it was, as well as all that you can do.  The items you get were great, and I enjoyed the music in it.
The biggest things I enjoyed in Twilight Princess were riding the Horse, and exploring Hyrule.  With the Horse, the mechanics for it were bigger, and served as an important part in the game.  For one, you have to ride your horse to take on the giant ogre monster thing ("insert name here"), and basically strive to knock him off of the bridge.  Not only that, but prior to that is simply taking out other enemies riding and shooting you with arrows.  And you're not using a bow as a sole weapon (like in Ocarina of Time).  What I hoped for in this game was to use my sword while riding... and that's what I got.  And boy, was I satisfied!
Exploring and adventure have always been a big thing for me!  It seemed like there were new places to go to - to explore!  Ocarina of Time had that, but I felt like Twilight Princess expanded that even further (hence why I love it so much).
Items are big too, and the few I loved were the Bow (especially bomb arrows and zooming like you were sniping), the Claw Shot (especially when you get two - man, that was awesome), and the Ball and Chain.  Traditional Zelda games received a giant hammer, but this took it a step up, and in a good way!  I loved using this item so much!  And you can still use it as a weapon afterwards (not as much as the sword, but it was still fun to bash enemies with).
And finally, you could gain more sword techniques, all of which I thought were unique, and awesome!  Originally, Link's main sword technique was the jump attack and the commonly known Spin Attack, but TP added more unique sword skills into that factor.  My favorites are the shield bash and helm splitter, the jump strike, and the mortal draw.
Overall, I felt like I was improving as the game progressed, and that there was more to be seen.  Like I said, Ocarina of Time had that, but I felt like Twilight Princess stepped up further on it!

2. Skyward Sword
In terms of story, Skyward Sword is my number 1 favorite in a Zelda game.  Obviously, not over all, but still!  The story was well put together, and incredibly interesting!  In addition, this took part before Hyrule came to be, so it was great to see how it all started!
Unlike in previous games, Zelda is best friends with Link, and a lot cooler too.  But my favorite has got to be Groose!  He's pretty much Link's "rival"... except Link doesn't view him as such.  Groose is kinda a bully to Link at first, but in time, they become better friends and Groose ends up becoming a key role in helping Link a few times.
This game was released on the Wii, so it would be obvious it would be motion controlled (like Twilight Princess)... and it was - except better!  With the introduction to the Wii Motion Plus, it made the gameplay feel fluent and "life like".  Swinging the Wiimote around may look a tad silly to others, but not to the gamer (at least me).  I loved it!  I felt like I was actually wielding the Master Sword and taking on evil head on!  Speaking of...
The best parts I thought were the development of the Master Sword and obtaining all of the Triforce!  It became something... more!  The sword you receive is the Goddess Sword, with a spirit residing in it named Fi, who will be your partner along the way (like Navi from Ocarina of Time and Midna from Twilight Princess).  The Goddess Sword will later be forged and become the Sword of Evil's Bane we now know as the Master Sword.  In addition, you will be searching for all three pieces of the Triforce, which was awesome!
Searching for these was one thing, but the story was pretty awesome and epic.  I wish I could traverse more like I could in TP, but the story alone was well worth it.  I especially enjoyed several of the bosses, especially the last boss!
The only thing I wish was added was more adventuring to be had, but the incredible story and controls more than make up for it!

1. Wind Waker
Now, I'm sure I know what some are thinking: "What the heck?  Why Wind Waker as #1?  It wasn't even that good!  All of that sailing, and..." blah blah blah.  Well, this is MY top 5 favorites, and it is my own opinion.
Yes, Wind Waker is my favorite Zelda game.  Some Zelda fans are not too... intrigued with the graphics and the colorful cartooney style of the game, but I am.  In fact, that kinda reflects my personality a bit... maybe that's why I like it so much?  I thought the style was a new and great step up from the former Zelda games, which were more "life like".
The land?  What land?  ... except for the islands, it consists mostly of fast oceans.  And, to be honest, was a new thing to us.  Some didn't like it (mainly because there were A LOT of sailing), but I didn't mind it as much.  In fact, I enjoyed it.  There was always a new place to go to (and treasure to find).  I love to just explore and experience new things, and that is what I got out of Wind Waker.  I like to keep my feet on the ground, but this is one of few games where I actually enjoyed being in the water.
The story and plot, I thought, were nice and awesome!  I enjoyed it, and all of the dungeons you had to go to (and some of the bosses were fun to fight against).  I always did wonder what happened to Hyrule... and you do (eventually).  The characters were pretty cool.  Some were silly, and in a good way (to me).
Speaking of characters, I always wondered if we would ever meet the King of Hyrule... well, we got that too.  And especially, later on in the game, you obtain the Master Sword... in its powerless form... but, you eventually go out and reawaken it, making it the Master Sword again... in it's full power to slay evildoers!
Aside from the Master Sword, the items you obtain are interesting and fun!  I especially like the Deku Leaf, the Skull Hammer, and the Mirror Shield.  The return of the Fire, Ice, Light arrows for the Bow was good too, since I loved using those kind of arrows in Ocarina of Time.
And after beating Ganondorf and all that good stuff, a second play through was to be had, and I liked it.  For 1, instead of playing in the traditional Link costume, you get to play the game in your Blue Crab Shirt and Orange Pants get up, and you obtain the Delux Picto Box when you start, which was awesome!
The only thing I did not like about Wind Waker was the tedious searching for the pieces of the Triforce of Courage.  It became a hassle to deal with, but it did not bump it down from #1 (I hope they fix that in the HD remake for the WiiU).  Speaking of... I am excited for that.  Just thought I throw that out there!

So that's my top 5 favorite Zelda games.  What's your favorite Zelda game?  I hope you leave it in the comments section (if anyone DOES comment... haha!).  So, uh... yeah, later!

999: 9 Hours, 9 Doors, 9 People - Video Game Review (Nintendo DS)

Do you want to know how I got this game?  No?  Well, I'm gonna tell you anyway!  I was watching one of my favorite gaming channels to watch on Youtube (PeanutButterGamer), and on an episode of Minecraft Hardcore: Season 2, I heard the piece called Morphogenetic Sorrow, and I was intrigued.  I am sometimes drawn to video games based on the music, and this was no different.  I looked up the piece, and it directed me to the game we know as 9 Hours, 9 Doors, 9 People (I'll be referring it as 999 in short).

I looked at some reviews off of Amazon and such, and heard good about it.  I tend to lean towards adventure and fantasy games, but this one was definitely going to be different.  I was interested in it because it was more of a puzzle solving game - where you had to solve the puzzle to move on.  The catch was that your life was on the line in this game.  In addition, you had to make certain choices that would lead to different endings in the game.  And so, I was sold, and went to Gamestop to buy the game itself.

Before I dig into this review, I want to point this out - this game is rated M for Mature for a reason.  I do NOT recommend this game to people younger than 17.  I know that this means little to those today, but nonetheless... well, while I do like the game (spoiler alert), it is a pretty graphic game (the narration does go into great detail about the deaths, psyche of the characters, etc.), and it could affect some people's... mentality?  Dunno what word to really use, but it is quite emotional and effecting... so, just thought I throw that out there.

Now, with that said, I will do my utmost best not to spoil it at all.  You (Junpei) find yourself in a room that you have no recollection of knowing.  You find yourself wearing a watch-like band around your left wrist, with the number 5 on it.  You also discover the same number on the door that you see in the room with you, which won't open.  The window in the room breaks and water starts to poor out (where you figure you are in a ship).  You come to a situation where you have to escape (or else you're gonna drown).  Eventually, you remember what happened - that you were kidnapped by a disguised person (gas mask, hooded cloak).  Once you do figure out the puzzle and escape, you eventually find yourself in a big room, and find 8 other people joining you in the room.  You don't know any of them, except for one, who's name is Akane (a childhood friend you know).

After some time of attempting of opening doors and escaping, the mastermind of what's going on, who goes by the name of Zero, explains that he is the "host" of this game that the 9 will partake in, and will "go over" and explain "why" you are there.  The event is called the Nonary Game, and the objective is to go through the different numbered doors to find the door that will lead you out.  About the doors, there's a thing called the RED (Recognition Device), which you must use to open the doors.  How?  Simply by adding up the people's numbers that they have on their wrists (like the one you have, which is 5).  Only 3 to 5 people can verify their numbers on the RED, and if the number matches the door's number, then you can enter (it goes by digital root, which is the result of finding the sum of several digits until there is only a single digit remaining.  For example, let's say the door number is 9.  If you add the numbers 5 + 6 + 7, then you will get 18.  Then, you will then make 18 to 1 + 8, which will be 9, meaning that the door will open.  5 + 6 + 7 = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9.).  After the door opens, then you have to search for the DEAD (Deactivation Device), which looks just like the RED, except it is blue.  Once you enter (within 9 seconds.  Once 9 seconds pass, then the door shuts), you will hear a beeping noise.  If you do not verify the numbers again to the DEAD in under 81 seconds, the bomb inside of you will detonate, and you will explode.  In short, those who participate (verify their numbers for the RED) must enter, and those who enter must leave (verify their numbers on the DEAD).

The time limit is 9 hours, and if you have not escaped by then, then whoever is left in the ship will drown. 

After Zero's announcement and explanation, then the game begins.  Everyone then shows their numbers, and gives each other code names (except for you, which everyone knows your real name).  They are:
1: Ace

2: Snake

3: Santa

4: Clover

5: Junpei (You)

6: June (Akane)

7: Seven

8: Lotus

9: 9th Guy

What happens afterwards I will leave to you to find out, as I don't want to spoil any more of the game (it's plot and characters).

My thoughts?  Well, it's a lot of narrative and story, but in a GOOD way.  Heck, in a GREAT way.  I'll get to that in a minute though.  But first, let's talk about puzzles.  Each numbered door you go into, you have to solve about 1 to 2 puzzles... maybe more?  And to be honest, some of them are rather difficult to solve (at least to me).  If you do not cheat , then I almost guarantee you that you will feel pretty smart and accomplished on solving said puzzles.  I felt as such, and I don't get that kind of satisfaction much anymore except from a few games (such as the Phoenix Wright and Legend of Zelda series).  If there's one complaint I have about the puzzles is that there is no real time limit, you can take your time with the puzzles.  I was honestly expecting to have a certain time limit for each puzzle I was doing, especially if your life is on the line.  But, even without it, the puzzle's challenge itself is worth it.

Aside from puzzles, it's pretty much the story.  However, you do chose what doors you would like to go through, as well as how to respond on some topics and such.  Depending on your choices will determine the kind of endings you will get.  There's a number of "bad endings", one ending called the "safe ending" (which isn't technically a "bad ending"), and the one "true ending".  After your first complete playthrough, you get to save your "memories", which means that you can remember what choices you made and make different ones.  In addition, you can fast-forward through the dialogue (only ones you already have been through with), and a separate option within the menu to play the puzzles you have already done in the story mode.

The music was fantastic!  It felt like each piece fitted perfectly well on each scene you were in.  When the scene got spooky or creepy, the music fitted that tone.  When it got tense or exciting, the music was in unison with that scene.  I can not think of any better soundtracks to fit the atmosphere for 999 than what the composer created for the game.  He (Shinji Hosoe) did a fantastic job on the composition of the music.

My thoughts on the story overall?  I honestly got into it and LOVED it!  Especially the True Ending, which is well worth the work for.  When I say I got into it, I mean I got INTO it.  It was emotional, heartbreaking, and very well done.  You get to know the characters more in depth (The characters and their development throughout the game were phenomenal.  I really did like them, especially Seven, who was awesome (to me).  I also liked Junpei and Akane, who shared a deep bond towards one another, which will be very important later on in the game, especially for the True Ending.), and how all nine contestants for the Nonery Game connect to Zero.  The story is bind gripping, and interesting and emotional in every aspect of the word.  In fact, this has got to be one of the best stories I have ever played in a video game (if not the best on my list).

Here's my ratings:

Gameplay: 10/10

Music: 10/10

Graphics: 9/10

Story: 10/10

Overall: 9.5/10

In conclusion, if you are someone like me who mostly plays adventure games (or plays one particular that isn't mainly puzzle solving, deciding on a "certain" path, and a lot of story), then I STILL recommend getting (or trying out) this game (people who are 17 or older.  I did mention that I do NOT recommend this game to those younger than the game was intended for... yeah, I still stand by that statement.  Not forcing anyone not to get the game, but just FYI.).  Honestly, I made a "gamble" between getting this one game I have heard little of for $20, and another good game I have heard a lot about for $50, and I went for 999 (obviously).  I have no regrets, and I would play it over and over again... in "healthy" doses naturally.  The puzzles are great, the music's great, the characters (most) are great, and the story is phenomenal!

UPDATE: I just played through all of Virtue's Last Reward.  I will be posting a blog about my thoughts and experiences with the game in the near future.

Top 10 Favorite Nintendo 64 Games

I have played the NES and SNES before playing the Nintendo 64, but that was not only my first home console, but it was where I truly started to become a gamer.  The N64 was a BIG thing in my childhood, with all the great games it held.  So, I'm going to honor that, and do a Top 10 list on my most favorite Nintendo 64 games to date!

10: Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda series are one of my favorite games of all time, and Majora's Mask was no different.  It was an interesting game, since it was definitely different from any Zelda game.  It was similar to Ocarina of Time, but what separated it from that was the uniqueness of the different Masks you had to use, which would change your shape and form into other cool things, as well as cool powers!  The other unique part about it was that you had a time limit, and there was no time to goof off... usually.
Reason why it isn't as high as other games is simply because... well, I enjoyed other games more.  But, Majora's Mask deserves its spot in my Top 10 for just being unique!

9: Mario Party
A game that destroys friendships... sometimes.  I loved this game, but my goodness, sometimes it can be annoying.  I broke controllers just because on how insane it is.  I usually had the CPU's on the hardest setting, which was a huge challenge for me back then.
Not to mention when playing with friends and - most likely - my younger brother.  We got into fights because of this game - thought not as often as the next on my Top 10 list here (which I am about to get to in a sec)!
Some of my favorite stages are on this game, such as: Mushroom Mix Up, Skateboard Scamper, Key-pa-Way, Hot Rope Jump, Running of the Bulb, Crane Game (I loved the crane machines back when I was a kid), Bobsled Run, and Bumper Balls.
I don't get as angry on this game anymore, but it can happen.  Even so, I still love this game a lot, including Mario Party 2 and 3... but the first one will always reign on top for me.

8: Mario Kart 64
I like some racing games, but Mario Kart 64 was definitely the top of my list, for various reasons.
Each track was new and different.  The first ones were rather easy, but each cup got more difficult, especially the last one.  Arguably, even though Rainbow Road was tough, I thought that the Yoshi track was harder... ironically enough, since the main character I use is Yoshi.  I remember falling off the edge all the time, and running into things from it.
However, in time though, I did "master" them all, and was actually good.  But, more games come out, and I dulled out since then.
And playing against others was a lot of fun... but it did risk friendships being destroyed (like Mario Party).
The other cool part was the items used.  Lots and lots of items there to destroy your enemies... or yourself (stupid Green Koopa Shells).  I mostly got the short end of the stick from items, but it was still fun to use against the person in front of you.

7. Star Fox 64
The Star Fox series has been very kind to me.  I didn't play it much when I was a kid, but I do remember how much fun it was!  Just being on the Arwing and having those cool dog fights (fox fights... *insert animal here* fights...), whether in space or on a planet.
And the story line isn't just one line where you have to complete a mission and onward to the next one.  No, there were different paths you can take, depending on how fast you complete it, what certain requirements you met, or simply taking a different turn to a different area.  These different paths you took would allow you to use other vehicles like the Land Master, go to different planets, meet different characters, and such!
It's unique in what different choices you make, and encourages you to keep on trying harder than before to show Andross and his army just who's top dog in the Lylat System (or top Fox...).

6: Banjo and Tooie
Banjo and Kazooie was incredible!  The puzzles needed to solve to get a Puzzle Piece were challenging, and each stage was unique and fun to go through!  Especially once you get to the final boss - Grunty!  What a challenge!
However, I liked Banjo and Tooie more.  There was more to explore, more power ups to gain, each stage had a boss, more things to transform in to (my personal favorite was the GIANT T-REX!!!).  I especially loved the Fire and Ice stage.  It was basically two stages put into one, and it technically had two bosses - both who were DRAGONS!!!
I especially liked the part where I found a Giant Glowbo... and when I gave it to Humba Wumba near the Carnival Stage, Kazooie transformed into a little bird dragon!  She was able to breathe fire, and had the appearance of a dragon!  Honestly, that was well rewarding for me!
Grunty was tough to beat in the final fight (arguably harder even than her Banjo and Kazooie fight).  What a relief it was when I FINALLY did beat her!

5: Donkey Kong 64

When I first got the game, I couldn't play it because I didn't have the... er, Expansion Pack to play the game (don't know why).  Once I got it though, I was able to play it, and wow, did I love it or what?
Not only DK, but you were able to play as the other Kongs (once saved).  My personal favorite was Lanky, who I kinda was like (personality wise).
I mean, he plays the Trombone (favorite brass instrument), walks on his hands (up steep hills too), can inflate his belly and FLY (for a limited amount of time), he's goofy, and... yeah, I just love the monkey!
The stages were pretty awesome, and some of the boss fights were incredible (my favorite was when you had to fight the giant Dragon Bug again)!
And I can not deny the awesome power ups you get.  Each Kong had a special ability to use, a special barrel, their own instrument, ranged weapon, etc...
The mini games were tough to beat, especially when you had to get the coins, but I loved the challenge it presented...
Collecting EVERYTHING (and I mean EVERY Golden Banana... count them, that's 200) was a pain somewhat, but I wanted to be perfect about it.  Honestly, it was worth it (kinda)!  My childhood was perfect with this game on the N64, and I loved it all the way (almost).

4: Pokemon Stadium
The first and second Pokemon Stadium games were awesome to play!  You were able to play with ALMOST every Pokemon on each system (Mewtwo, Lugia, and Ho-Oh were not available, unless from your GB Pokemon Games).
However, if I had to chose between the two, I would pick the 1st one over the 2nd one.  The first one was where I was able to include my Pokemon from Blue and (later on) Yellow.  It was awesome to use my own team when I took on the Prime Cup!  I even used my Charmander (which there is a story behind that, which I will cover someday).
The 3D graphics were awesome, and the battles were phenomenal!  I would naturally be sold on that, since I am a Pokemon nerd, but it was more than that.  I felt like I was in an actual battle - an actual match.
The Gym Leader road was pretty intense too (especially surfing Raichu from Lt. Surge).  When I faced off against my Rival again (this time on this version), it was intense (arguably more intense than when I faced him on Blue)!
I enjoyed the Mini Games too, but not nearly as much as the battles!
To make things better, the opportunity to play my Pokemon GB games on the TV was truly something I have been wanting too!
So... yeah, I love Pokemon Stadium... YEAH!

3: Super Smash Bros.
If there was any game I spent HOURS on... it was this one!  I am not BIG on fighting games (aside from DBZ), but this one had a special place in my heart.  Maybe it's because I love Nintendo, but when this game first came out, I was excited.
I played a lot, enough to consider myself "good".  When I played it enough, I dared tried playing the 1 Player mode with one life... on the hardest difficulty.  Was it hard?  You bet it was!  Did I succeed?  Yes..... eventually!
But the part I liked about it most was the multi-player.  Unlike Mario Kart and Mario Party, I did not exactly get angry and furious about it, simply because... well, I was actually pretty good at the game.
Even if I did lose, I had fun with it, and I would play it again... and again, and again!
My favorite character to use was not Link or Pikachu... but Yoshi!  I love that green dinosaur!  I don't know why, but I just enjoyed using him more than any other character (until we got to Brawl).
If there was any game I could go back on, it would be this one.

2: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
I love adventure!  I love a good story.  I like swords.  I love to explore.  Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was just that for me on the Nintendo 64.
The story was pretty epic, and awesome!  Learning about your destiny to save Hyrule, you embark on a quest to save Hyrule from evil.  After discovering Ganondorf's plot, you go out to try and stop him by working with Zelda to collect the remaining stones.  Unfortunately, we do not do so... er, right away.  But we do get the Master Sword (and that's better than saving the world, right?)!
The amount of time I put into this to do just about everything was immense.  From fishing to riding on Epona to just exploring every nick and cranny of every speck of Hyrule... and obtaining the Biggoron's Sword!!!
A game I couldn't have asked more of from any game, this game (as well as others) gave me hope on a bigger gaming world from the likes of Zelda and others (and it holds true to this day).
I was excited when this game was released on the 3DS... and to be honest, I like it more on the 3DS.  Sure, the N64 had it on a big TV, which I loved.  But I love handheld consoles more, and I like to experience my gameplay on the go.  Living that out at different places like you explore on OoT... certainly enjoyable indeed!  However, it isn't my number 1 favorite... speaking of...

1: Super Mario 64
Now, this was my first N64 game, and boy, was it the greatest for me!
I remember playing Mario all the time, from the NES games to Super Mario World on the SNES.  However, when I played Super Mario 64 on the N64, was I impressed!  Not only that, but the stages were INCREDIBLE!  Each stage was unique, and the music was terrific.  I even enjoyed the water levels, and I tend to hate them!
I also loved the power ups.  Being able to walk through things?  Fun.  Turning into metal?  I felt invincible (kinda).  That, and walking in water like nothing was fun too!  Being able to fly though?  Always something I dreamed of doing, and this game let me live that out!  Not to mention being able to ride on the Koopa Shell!  Man, I enjoyed every chance of doing that!
I enjoyed some of the boss fights (mainly Bowser), and Sliding down the slides!  The Penguin Race was a toughie (that Penguin is a cheater, let that be known by all!), but I still beat it.
And to top it all off, once you collected all of the Stars, a surprise awaited you up on top of the Castle (I won't spoil it for those who have yet to reach that far).
Overall, it was a game that I enjoyed as a kid, and still do even now!  It's a game I know I can go back on and enjoy!  It helped define my childhood, and it was where I started my life as a gamer.

So that's my Top 10 Favorite Nintendo 64 Games!  So... yeah, have a good day/evening! :)

Fire Emblem - Character Review: Lucina (FE: Awakening)

Basic Character Description:
Lucina is the actual identity of "Marth" in Fire Emblem: Awakening.  She is the daughter of Chrom, one of the main protagonist of the series.  She is also from the future, who goes back in time to ensure that Grima's resurrection doesn't occur, and that Chrom (and the other units I guess... grr) survives... cause, you know... he dies in her time...  She is a serious (for the most part) and kind princess, who thirsts for a better world than the one she grew up in.

My Thoughts (Character):
Lucina is a pretty cool character, and is one of my favorite Fire Emblem characters in the series, mainly because she somewhat resembles Future Trunks from Dragon Ball Z... in fact, it is one of the MAIN reasons why I like her so much!  They are similar in several areas.  I'll give a brief description on the two, and compare them:

-Future Trunks-
Future Trunks comes from a future where his world is almost destroyed, and he goes back in time to try to ensure that won't occur for a different timeline (the present timeline that we know of in Z).  His father is a prince, and a warrior, and Future Trunks knows how to use a sword.  He is a nice and polite man, who's goal is to save his family, friends, and the innocent from falling into chaos by the Androids (and later, Cell).  He succeeds in aiding a timeline where the world isn't destroyed (at least by the Androids and Cell).

-Lucina-
Lucina comes from a timeline where her world is on the brink of destruction by the resurrected Grima and the Risen.  She (along with a few other units whom are children to varies FE Units) travels back into time to try and ensure that her father, Chrom, isn't killed and to ensure that the world she travels back to won't end up like hers.  Her father is a prince, and a capable warrior and swordsman, and Lucina is a capable swordswoman herself.  She is a kind princess, who strives to prevent the death of her father and mother (as well as countless other innocent lives), and to prevent Grima's resurrection/destruction of the world.  She succeeds in aiding and preventing the timeline she went to from total destruction.

Sounds similar?  They both come from a time where their world is destroyed.  Both want to save the future.  Both have fathers that are princes and are warriors (which in turn, makes them royalty).  Both are capable fighters and good with a sword. Both have somewhat similar personalities and mindsets.  And both succeed in helping preventing a timeline from falling into chaos and destruction similar to their own timeline.  In addition, Lucina's English voice actor, Laura Bailey, also voiced Kid Trunks from Dragon Ball Z.  That's pretty darn awesome, if you ask me!  So in most cases, both are very much alike, and I absolutely think that's pretty awesome, and I love it!

Aside from the whole FE - DBZ talk, as a character, she is pretty straightforward.  Serious (in most cases), kind, and a capable leader.  Sounds somewhat generic (for some), but I do like that kind of quality in some character.  That, and she is also one of the main protagonists in the story, so you hear/see more from her outside of Support Conversations and battle than most of the other characters.

My Thoughts (Unit)
As a unit, she is just as capable of a fighter as her father is.  In fact, she could potentially hold her own better than Chrom himself.  Most (if not all) children units are blessed to become superior than their parents, if work is put into them.  Lucina is no different.  When you recruit her, she starts off lower leveled than most of your units (that you use more often).  She'll start off as a Level 10 Lord, wielding the Parallel Falchion (exclusive to her only) and a Rapier.  Her Skill set will always be Dull Strike+ and Charm.  She will always inherit Aether from her father, which is beneficial when you first get her to help her level up.  She can also inherit the last skill on her mother's skill set (I had Sumia pair up with Chrom, so I got Lucina skills like Galeforce). Her growth rates will almost be identical to Chroms (focusing on strength, skill, speed), but her growth rates will also be affected based on whom her mother is.

She can promote to a Great Lord class, which will net her the Rightful King skill (increases Skill activation by 10%), which is handy for skills like Aether, Pavis, and Aegis.  The Great Lord class will also allow her to wield lances, which helps her with ranged attacks and the such!

She can always reclass into either a Cavalier (thus promoting to either a Paladin or a Great Knight), or an Archer (promotes to either a Sniper or a Bow Knight).  The important Skills for these classes (in my opinion) are the Aegis (Halves bow/tome/dragonstone damage. Trigger = Skill%), Luna (Halves defenses. Trigger = Skill%), and Bowbreaker (Increases Hit/Avoid by 50 when enemy is equipped with a bow.).  Hit +20 and Dual Guard+ are useful as well.  She will also net other classes from her mother, based on who her mother is.  Sumia was the mother for most of my playthroughs, and I liked what I got from her more, to be honest.  The most useful skills that Lucina gets from Sumia is Galeforce (Can make another action/move if you defeat an enemy unit.  Can only be used once per turn.), Pavise (Halves sword/axe/lance/beaststone/blight damage.  Trigger = Skill%), and Renewal (Restores 30% HP at the start of each turn.).  From the other mother units, Astra, Pass, Lethality, Swordfaire, Dual Support+, etc. are great Skills to have.  But the ones I mentioned from Sumia alone are the ones I prefer, personally.

The class I mostly prefer for Lucina would be the Great Lord class (once you get all the skills you want).  I personally think she does better as a Great Lord than her father.

Overall Character Rating: 10/10