Nerdstalgic Gaming

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For many the Uncharted Franchise is one of the best modern video game franchises on the market. With 5 installments, and an upcoming feature film it seems Uncharted has resonated with fans for over a decade. But at one point it seemed Uncharted was headed for major disappointment. The third installment, Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception almost sank the entire franchse, but why?

The Last of Us is probably one of the best games to come out in the last 10 years. After several years and many awards, Naughty Dog released the follow up sequel The Last of Us Part 2 to very high praise. Eventually winning Game of the Year, The Last of Us Part 2 brought a new path for story telling and game play. But this one moment truly made this game a Masterpiece.

Spider-Man has consistently been the best superhero to play as in a video game. Even with so many other heroes getting their own game franchise, Batman, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Superman, and so many more don't hold up to the abilities Spider-Man has in the world of gaming. Each new incarnation of our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has been better than the last, but how is he the only hero that can transfer to video games?

James Bond will forever be one of the most popular characters put on screen. Decade after Decade of classic 007 spy adventures has audiences always coming back for more. Due to its success, several variations of video games have come out depicting 007 in one of his many adventures. Goldeneye for the N64 is a timeless classic, but one game specifically came and went like it never existed. From Russia with Love brought back a previous James Bond actor in Sean Connery to voice the role, and several other Bond talent returned as well. How did this game become so forgotten?

World of Warcraft has been one of the most popular games since it's inception. Players around the world dedicating all of their time and energy to advancement within the game. But at one point World of Warcraft was hit with a plague never before seen that had real world impact far beyond the reach of the players in the game. World of Warcraft had unlocked the key to a world it didn't even realize.

For many the Zelda franchise is a beloved video game series that continues to push the boundaries for what we expect from a Nintendo Game. A lot is to do with the heroes within the Zelda games, but they put just as much detail into the villains. The ReDeads throughout Zelda continue to be some of the most terrifying creatures to pop up in video games.

The Elder Scrolls is a franchise beloved by many. There have been several new versions, updates, and expansions to give players a better and more immersive experience in the Elder Scrolls Franchise. But did the series ever get better than Oblivion? The Elder Scrolls Oblivion might go down as the best in the franchise, but why?

When we first heard about what Cyberpunk 2077 had in store, fans everywhere lost their minds at the possibility of what this game could deliver. But when Cyberpunk 2077 was finally released, it was less than impressive to say the least. Users we're met with bugs, missing features, and choppy game play. Cyberpunk 2077 had come out to very little positive reviews. Not even Keanu Reaves could help keep this game from flopping.

When the first iteration of Red Dead Redemption hit stores, fans were excited at the game mechanics, story, and visuals Rockstar Games have given them. When Rockstar announced a sequel to the game, Red Dead Redemption 2, fans wondered if the game would live up to it's predecessor. Luckily, they got exactly what they asked for. But the results came at a price. A price tag so large, it cemented Red Dead Redemption 2 as the most expensive game ever made!

When it was first announced, Star Wars 1313 seemed like the Star Wars video game every fan has dreamt of since they were first introduced to the beloved franchise. Especially when it was said players would be playing as the feared bounty hunter Boba Fett. But when Disney bought out LucasFilm, Star Wars 1313 was put on a shelf, forever.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is by far one of the best stealth adventure games ever made. The series follows Sam Fisher through a series of spy adventures as he attempts to stay hidden in the shadows to achieve his goal. Splinter Cell has wained in popularity in recent years, but with new remasters on the horizon, we may see Sam Fisher back on another Splinter Cell mission before we know it.

Have you ever wanted to see Michael Myers face off against Jason Voorhees? What about Ghostface against Chucky? Well, a couple fans of both horror movies and Mortal Kombat decided to create a fan-made game combining both. Fan games like Terrordrome have been popular for decades. Though most fan made games have an uphill battle when it comes to the franchise they are expanding upon. Through the years Terrordrome has taken on a few different forms, but one thing still remains, Terrordrome is by far the most important fan made game you never played.

For many, when No Man's Sky was initially released, it was a far stretch from the game we were promised leading up to launch. For a game with this much hype behind it, coming out with a less that superior product turned many video game fans against the potential AAA Title. But after listening to players, No Man's Sky started releasing updates slowly adding the features and fixing the bugs so many had complained about. And now, those who stuck around through all the bumps, can finally enjoy No Man's Sky closer to it's full potential.

The gaming industry for years has been becoming more and more influenced by Hollywood cinema. Games have started adding A-List Celebrities into their games, others have showcased scenes and actions from popular films, and some have even come out with Directors Cut, like Ghost of Tsushima did. A contender for Game of the Year in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima gave fans an extra treat in releasing extended hours of game play and updates in it's Directors Cut. Something we seem to be getting used to with AAA titles.

Batman's legacy has spanned for generations. From his original inception in Detective Comics, through countless television and feature films, Batman has remained one of the most beloved characters ever created. A big reason for this is Batman's ability to evolve with each new generation of fans. Though no version of Batman has redefined him more than the Arkham Video Game Series. Batman Arkham Asylum was a major push forward in the way fans can interact with their favorite superhero.

When Rockstar Games "Bully" first came out, fans around the world were amazed at how great the game was. Not without it's controversies, Bully became one of the most popular games Rockstar had come out with at the time. It was so popular that a sequel was green lit, and production started right away. But as time went on, developers were transitioned off of the game to work on other Rockstar properties like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Despite this, Bully 2 has several hours of playable game completed. But why did Bully 2 get shelved with so much potential on the horizon?

Grand Theft Auto has been a cultural staple since it's initial release. Not without controversy, GTA has become one of the most consistently popular game franchises in history. With each new release Rockstar Games have given Grand Theft Auto new functionality to push the boundaries of the game even further. With the massive success of each game, it's hard to see Grand Theft Auto ever disappearing.

Call of Duty is by far one of the most popular video game franchises ever to hit the market. For over a decade, the Call of Duty franchise has given players exactly what they want from a realistic war simulator. But as time goes on, the game itself starts to feel redundant. The same game mechanics, stories, items, and online play have not seen anything new in a long time. Aside from Zombies, COD has pretty much stayed the same. So where exactly does Call of Duty go from here?

Sports games like Madden and 2K have been some of the most popular console games in history. But as the years go on, the innovation behind these sports video games have slowed to a crawl. New versions are nothing more than roster updates, and a few graphic tweaks. What happened to the days of arcade style games like NFL Blitz or NBA Jam? NFL Blitz set a high bar along side NBA Jam for cartoonish depictions of Sports Games. Will we ever see the likes of NFL Blitz again?

Minecraft is by far one of the most popular video games ever produced, especially in the modern era. What started as Notch's small passion project, Minecraft has blown up to world wide praise, and a dedicated fanbase. But behind the scenes, it's a different story. The dark truth behind Minecraft and it's creator Notch is rarely talked about.

When Telltale Games first released The Walking Dead series, both fans of the comics and TV show were ecstatic over the choose your own adventure format. Telltale Games became so popular after The Walking Dead, they started to create games for other beloved properties. Minecraft, Star Trek, Game of Thrones, all of which kept fans attention for a while, but the flame would soon start to go out. Telltale games had a fast and steep climb to success, but had an equally hard fall from grace as their games stopped innovating.

Red Dead Redemption will forever be one. of the most popular game franchises of all time. The complex characters and rich story gave gamers a new outlook on open world gaming. Few video game characters carry the weight of Red Dead Redemptions Arthur Morgan. Arthur Morgan is the perfect Anti-Hero for a franchise like this, and Red Dead Redemption won't be surpassed anytime soon.