Story By: James Stafford
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Gaming is a foundational part of many people’s lives and that couldn’t be any truer than for the members of Montevallo esports, devoting a part of their life solely to improving at a single game for thousands of hours. To become this committed to gaming, however, all these players had a gateway game that opened their eyes to this pixelated world. These games are all recommended by different members of the esports team and are in no particular order.
The Sims 4
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release date: Sept. 2, 2014
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, Mac
IGN Review: 8/10
Following the success of The Sims 3, The Sims 4 is a social simulation game in which the player creates a character and simulates their life, interacting with other characters within the game. The characters, or sims, must work, interact, and take care of their needs as the primary gameplay loop.
Overwatch Captain Em Rivas says this is their favorite game. “The coolest thing about The Sims 4 isn’t any one feature. It’s the sheer freedom. It’s a digital dollhouse, a life simulator, and a storytelling engine all in one. When I get burnt out of playing competitive video games, Sims is just an easy and quiet escape.” Rivas says.
It’s a digital dollhouse, a life simulator, and a storytelling engine all in one.
Em Rivas
Stray
Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Release date: July 19, 2022
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mac
IGN Review: 8/10
Stray is an adventure game which puts you in the shoes of a cat as you navigate a cyberpunk world on the verge of collapse. The cat’s sole goal is to escape, all the while encountering different challenges and encountering new friends and foes.
Overwatch player Mars Brunk absolutely fell in love with this game, saying, “I’ve always been a huge fan of cyberpunk-esque games, but this steampunk/cyberpunk mix is so pretty. It’s such a well-developed game and the storyline isn’t that long, but so beautiful.”
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Release date: Oct. 24, 2006
Platforms: PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2/3/4, Xbox, Xbox 360/One, Wii, Gameboy Advance, Windows
IGN Review: 8.2/10
Using the expansive Marvel universe, Ultimate Alliance is an action beat-em-up game in which the player, or a group of players, go from level to level beating various villians within the same universe. The primary draw to this game is its vast roster of characters. With 23 playable Marvel superheroes, this game brings the inner geek out of any player.
Overwatch Player Caleb Taylor has very fond memories playing this game. The gameplay, at the time, was new to me, and it really helped that the game was based around Marvel heroes,” he said. “Playing either by myself or with friends was always fun since we were able to play as our favorite heroes. Everything from gameplay, storyline, character design, artwork, and music was top notch.”
Splatoon 3
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release date: Sept. 9, 2022
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
IGN Review: 8/10 (singleplayer) 9/10 (multiplayer)
Splatoon 3 is an online third person shooter in which two groups of three battle each other through a variety of game modes. The primary appeal of the game is the ink mechanic. With the player’s ammo acting like ink as it marks up nearby terrain, the player’s character is able to transform into a squid and swim in the ink to glide across the map quicker.
Splatoon 3’s fast and in depth gameplay has kept Super Smash Bros Ultimate player Ben Campbell playing for over 3,000 hours. Ben Campbell says the “huge variety of weapons, and a ton of customizability of the player character, along with a story that could be frighteningly close to our future” has kept him entertained since he’s started playing.
Jak 3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: November 9, 2004
Platforms: PlayStation 2/3/4/Vita
IGN Review: 9.6/10
Concluding the series’ trilogy of games, Jak 3 is an open world adventure game developed by Naughty Dog, creator of classics such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and recently The Last of Us. Taking inspiration from the rise of Grand Theft Auto, Jak 3 takes a different approach from its past two level-based games, instead dropping you into a city as you explore, drive vehicles, and unlock upgrades. This sandbox approach allows the player to explore freely as they complete the story at their own pace.
Head coach Aryn Mosley describes Jak 3 as his “comfort game,” saying, “Jak 3 just hits different. It’s got everything I love about gaming; deep world-building, real character growth, and that perfect mix of action, exploration and storytelling. The post-apocalyptic desert setting still blows me away, and the balance between driving, shooting and platforming is spot on. It took everything great about Jak 2 and refined it, with smoother gameplay and a darker tone that still finds room for humor and heart.”
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