My Favourite Games #13: GreatStriker
Posted by hb on November 30th, 2017 @07:22PM
‘My Favourite Games’ is a regular MossRanking feature which gives us a chance to get to know our fellow Spelunkers a little better. In each edition, we put the spotlight on one member of the community, as they pick three of their most treasured video games ever and give their reasons why. Featured members are allowed to pick whatever games they want... except for Spelunky.
The 13th entry goes to GreatStriker, who had a memorable run in the recent All Shortcuts + Olmec Tournament. GreatStriker pulled off upsets against pre-tournament favourites falafel_raptor and Spef to make the semifinals. Here are his three games...

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (PlayStation 2, 2005)
GreatStriker’s first pick is a game he didn’t actually own -- but he has so many fond memories of playing it at his friend’s place when he was younger.
Stealth platformer Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves wasn’t just the first PlayStation 2 game he experienced, but also the first console game. “Me and my group of friends would play almost every day, be it either free-roaming around the area of the story we were in, the story missions, or the two-player multiplayer,” he said.
So what makes the game so enjoyable? According to GreatStriker, one factor is the superb mesh of stealth, platforming, and action. “The stealth combined with the game’s use of elevation to let you travel through the roofs make it really feel like you're a thief trying to dodge the guards patrolling the streets,” he explained. “The game also lets you climb onto pipes, walk on ropes conveniently placed across roofs, and jump on different points such as poles, antennas, and flags. Since the guards are armed with guns and take a few hits to die, dodging them is always the best option. Alternatively, you can sneak behind them to pickpocket them and steal their money.”
The multiplayer was awesome too, coming with modes such as Cops and Robbers, Bi-Plane Duel, and Galleon Duel.
“In Cops and Robbers, the goal for Sly is to collect loot found across the map and deliver it, while the other player as Inspector Carmelita Fox is trying to take Sly out with her shock pistol,” GreatStriker recalls. This asymmetric multiplayer mode proved to be a hit. “While the combat is greatly favoured towards Carmelita, Sly’s ability to run away from her makes it all-around balanced.”

League of Legends (PC, 2009)
Next up is League of Legends, an insanely popular multiplayer online battle area (MOBA) game which was also GreatStriker’s first proper online multiplayer experience. “I started playing in 2013, and it was so different than any other game I had played before it,” he says. “Improving in every match and having so many playable characters made it really addictive. It also happens to be the game that got me into eSports.”
GreatStriker explains that with matches being five vs. five and there being more than 130 champions to choose from, League of Legends stays fresh due to the “tonne of variance” in the game. “Rarely do you see the same exact line-up on either side,” he says. “You have to adapt to your opponent in order to beat them.”
Although GreatStriker doesn’t have a ‘favourite’ champion to play as, he admits to having a soft spot for Zyra, because she was his first champion. “She’s a mage whose kit revolves around putting down seeds and hitting them with her abilities to produce damage-dealing plants,” he adds.
As a spectator sport, GreatStriker praises how “professional” League of Legends is presented. “It felt really weird watching it at first, but it quickly became standard,” he shares. “Watching League of Legend has always been a learning experience of me. Seeing how good the players are at the game really blows me away.”

ARMA 2: DayZ (PC, 2013)
GreatStriker’s final game is actually as a mod. Though it would eventually branch off into its own standalone title, the ARMA 2 DayZ mod stands as one of GreatStriker’s favourite gaming experiences ever.
The DayZ mod is a post-apocalyptic shooter which challenges players to survive against not only zombies but also fellow survivors on a large 120km2 map, while managing thirst, hunger, and body temperature.
“The options are there for being a friendly survivor, fierce bandit, honourable hero, or everything in between,” GreatStriker says. “Every player interaction feels unique. You never know if they are friendly or if they will unload a magazine into you as soon as they see you. I really like the fragility of your survival, no matter how long you have survived or how many you have killed. A heli might just show up and turn you into Swiss cheese. It makes you feel that you can’t let your guard down for a single moment.”
The mod is smartly designed, down to the finer details which affect gameplay in a positive way. A humanity mechanic influences your character’s base skin -- so if you’re a cold-blooded murderer, other players will soon be able to identify you as a bandit. Meanwhile, thirst and hunger quite often forces you to scavenge at towns -- where survivors are more likely to be. “You need to carry food and drinks with you,” GreatStriker explains. “With inventory space limited, you can’t just wander for ages in the wilderness avoiding all contact.”
Body temperature, too, is cleverly implemented. GreatStriker comments: “Staying still makes you colder, and if you get too cold, you will start shaking and eventually get infected. This makes camping impossible and leads to interesting gameplay. It’s one of the things that makes DayZ unique.”
Bonus: Here is one of GreatStriker’s favourite DayZ memories…
“The first time finding and repairing a vehicle [is a fond memory of mine]. Having just started playing it, I went as you would expect -- so, we found a spawned bus near one the biggest cities. It was missing few wheels, so my friend and I started looking for them. We went looking through industrial buildings trying to find wheels. We couldn’t find any, and to make things worse, we kept dying to other players. After about two hours, we both found ourselves back in the same city and finally found two wheels. Now, we just needed to get to the bus and fix it and leave. Since we were running through the city, we attracted a lot of zombies -- and when we got to the bus, we had to fight them.
“We managed to survive, but we were injured and constantly passing out due to having low blood. Blood is basically hit points -- 12,000 is max, under 3,000 and you start randomly passing out. Our journey along the coastline was slow, since passing out in a vehicle makes you fall out. We managed to get to next village until my friend passed out and fell out in the middle of the village. He got quickly killed by zombies.
“I had to continue further, since stopping next to zombies wasn't an option. I managed to get to a big city before passing out -- and shortly afterwards, I got shot by someone.”
Honourable mentions: FTL: Faster Than Light (2012); Gran Turismo 4 (2005); Civilization V (2010); Hearthstone (2014)
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