Anson's Random Dumps #12 + #13

I initially thought of writing entry #12 earlier the day, but I’ve decided to just put #12 and #13 together, and make this entry much longer than the usual. Then I can go finish my remaining summer homework and go game.

Gaming. It’s a fundamental part of my life. I have been introduced to the vast world of gaming since I was three. And ever since, my life has been changed forever. I have owned various gaming consoles throughout the years, and they can be regarded as, without hesitation, my companions. Even more important than my family and friends to a certain degree. Let’s talk about them.

Nintendo Wii

I still fondly remember the gaming console and game that introduced me to gaming. It was the Nintendo Wii and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The Wii was a major part of my childhood, and followed me throughout my kindergarten years.

Wii Sports Resort definitely was a fun game. Swordfighting will also be a favorite game. I’m glad I got to experience this game before Nintendo Switch Sports came to be. If you love Nintendo Switch Sports, go try out Resort. It sets the bar so high that you’re gonna forget about Switch Sports, I promise.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii had very fun multiplayer. It was the first Mario game to support 4-player co-op. God had I have so much fun playing this with my cousins.

Mario Galaxy was phenomenal. Putting Mario on the surfaces of various planets proved to work well, and allowed the developers to introduce the concept of gravity, which made the Mario platforming challenges that much more fun. This series has a ton of replay value in it.

Mario Kart Wii also introduced me to Mario Kart. Although falling down Rainbow Road and running last every time wasn’t very fun to say the least.

Xbox 360

Being a hand-me-down, the Xbox 360 was the first “hardcore” console I played, though the Xbox Kinect at that time tried to hitchhike on the Wii’s success. The Wii was simply too good. Especially for a child. To be honest, I don’t have many fond memories of it. Given that I was not your average kid fanboying over Call of Duty. I remember somehow getting access to Sleeping Dogs (a Grand Theft Auto-like game set in Hong Kong) though. Glad that I didn’t become a drug-trafficking dog after that. I couldn’t even understand the English, go figure.

Nintendo 3DS

My parents said I “read the news” and found out the existence of this console, and wanted it. It still fascinates me to this day how I used the internet(?) to find this out at the age of like six. The Nintendo 3DS was a handheld console by Nintendo, boasting similar (yet different) games to the Nintendo Wii.

As the name implies, the 3DS had a 3D screen. You could see 3D images without the need for 3D glasses. It was a cool gimmick for me at the time.

The coolest thing of the 3DS to me, is definitely the ability to play Mario games wherever I went. No longer was I restricted by the boundaries of home, and now I can live in my own circle even when outside.

Super Mario 3D World was one of them. The levels were all 3D and short. These were fun little adventures I could take while I was on the go.

Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS was also where I honed my karting skills. I learnt so much just by randomly racing around, it was so fun.

Nintendo Wii U

The Nintendo Wii U was the successor to the Nintendo Wii, in the form of a whole-new console. It introduced the Gamepad, that allowed one player to basically have their own personal screen.

I got this console when I was seven, yearning to play New Super Mario Bros. U all the time. And god was I happy. And this console was basically my childhood.

New Super Mario Bros. U carried on the legacy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. To me, it basically continued the multiplayer fun with my cousins, and just some pure platforming enjoyment. I didn’t really get bored with the series at that point, as some people did.

Nintendo Land utilized the gamepad, and pitting one player, with an advantage, against four other players. I held various house parties thanks to this little guy. I’ve had a ton of fun with all my friends who decided to have a sleepover.

Speaking of sleepovers, Super Mario 3D World, successor of Super Mario 3D Land, was a time-killer. It was basically New Super Mario Bros. U but a lot more hectic, and now in 3 dimensions. Everything about 3D World was just so good. Some people say it’s still can’t top Mario Galaxy, but I’d the say the two series excelled in two separate aspects, and both were exceptional.

Mario Party 10 was also a fun game, at least for me and my friends. It made boring nights with friends un-boring, standard Mario Party fun right there.

I was addicted to a myriad of Wii U games throughout the years. Hyrule Warriors was a good hack-and-slash game, that allowed me to murder a large amount of pigs when I feel like it.

Pikmin 3 was outstanding. The Wii U was an underpowered console, compared to its competitors. But Pikmin 3 still had some very realistic graphics. It was an experience. I spent too many hours on that game.

And since I am getting a bit tired, I’ll keep on writing about this, and the remaining consoles in a future entry (probably not tomorrow).

A lot of Wii U games were ported to the Nintendo Switch. While you guys enjoy these classics like a novel game, to me, it brought true nostalgia.

Anson