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Half-baked gaming [Update 1]

ross miller
Associate Editor
Updated ·2 min read

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is one of the most culturally-accepted illegal substance in the United States. Despite its lack of legality, the wacky weed has been a part of pop culture and the source of a number of movies, songs, television shows (most recently a TV series on Showtime), and has been ingrained in the history of our pop culture. While we do not advocate the use of marijuana (nor are we suggesting that any Joystiq writers actually participate in such illegal activity), Games.net has posted an interesting video highlighting what they consider are the "Top 10 Games to Play When You're Stoned." We have a few beefs with the list, but we will discuss that in a moment.

The list, for those who are too impatient to watch a 4-minute video:

  1. Rez

  2. Katamari Damacy

  3. Super Smash Bros. Melee

  4. Beyond Good & Evil

  5. Lumines

  6. Sly Cooper & the Thievius Raccoonus

  7. Viewtiful Joe

  8. SSX Tricky

  9. Fantavision

  10. Parappa the Rapper



The list is pretty concise, and we definitely agree with its number 1 choice (Rez was featured on our list of the Top 10 Hidden Gems of this generation -- and, in retrospect, probably should have scored higher). In fact, anything by Tetsuya Mizuguchi is worthy of the list. Any game that makes the list should be bright and colorful with simplistic gameplay. It is with that in mind that we nix the colorful -- yet a tad too difficult to pick up and play -- Viewtiful Joe. Beyond Good & Evil is an amazing game, no doubt, but its story is too good to miss out on (and sides, we can think of better games to put in its place). Lumines, although from the mind of Mizuguchi, will probably strain the eyes too much since you cannot play it on a normal television. Thus, we present to you our revised list:

  1. Rez

  2. Katamari Damacy

  3. Super Smash Bros. Melee

  4. Geometry Wars

  5. Psychonauts

  6. Any Mario Party

  7. Sly Cooper & the Thievius Racoonus

  8. Fantavision

  9. Parappa the Rapper

  10. Any Mario Kart

We have to hand it to Nintendo, they really know how to make a game that is anyone -- under most any condition -- can pick up and play. Geometry Wars is pretty challenging, but anyone can comprehend pressing two joysticks, and the game is wickedly beautiful and colorful. Anything we forgot?

[Update: fixed an awkward phrasing]