My Top Ten: Games You Want Your Kids to Play

Maybe it's my time of life but I started thinking about what I'd like to impart to my offspring.
Published 03/07/2009 at 10:00 by colossalblue

I don’t have any children, despite my age and my wife’s ever-increasing broodiness. I just like having what little money I do and I know that once there’s a child on the scene I will have to stop buying Grand Theft Auto and start buying Hannah Montana. I have had a quick think though, what games I’d like to pass on to my children, should I ever become a breeder.

Elite (BBC Micro et al.) – This is the most epic game ever. You start as a simple trader with a small space ship and a never-ending expanse of space to explore and build your empire by trading and engaging in combat (for good or evil purposes) or mining asteroids. There was no end to this game, you just got to be the best at the various career paths. Teaches commerce, life-skills and interstellar travel.
ToeJam & Earl (SMD) – Two aliens from the planet Funkotron who just want to rebuild their spaceship and find their way home. Avoid weird earth-folk and collect gifts to power-up (or harm you – it’s like a lottery) whilst listening to the Funky Jazz soundtrack and admiring the SoCal fashion and culture references. Teaches self-depreciation, thoroughness and “The Funk”.
Banjo-Kazooie (N64) – You get an amusing sidekick, there is magic involved and you have to defeat an evil witch using jigsaw pieces and musical notes to save your little sister. This game is like every Disney movie ever but good. Teaches compassion, friendship and shamanic magic.
The Neverhood (PC) – It’s not often that you find a video game where the animation aspect is taken so literally. This game was all stop-motion animated with clay models and speaks of a simpler time in game design. It was a point-and-click adventure with a sense of humour almost as big as its sense of style. Teaches investigation, craft and animation.
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC) – This is probably the funniest video game ever and you’d want your kids to have a sense of humour wouldn’t you? The swordfights aren’t done with swords but by hurling insults at your foe. Brilliant! This is soon to be re-released on XBLA and PC in a special edition. I really hope they put the “stump joke” back in. Teaches humour, honour and the recipe for a potion to destroy ghosts.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) – A timeless tale of resisting oppression with a mixture of intelligence, wit and resilience. This game is the blueprint for a decent citizen. Well, without all the hitting-people-with-swords. Teaches honesty, vigilance and music.
LittleBigPlanet (PS3) – There are no bad men to kill and no evil seductresses trying to get inside your zipper with this game. It’s just good, clean fun dressed in a cute costume. The create side of things is like the technology department of your local high school but with less knives and more education. Teaches creativity, engineering and knitting. Sort of.
Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) – This game taught me how to drive. Seriously, I played it lots while I was learning how to drive. I even had a little steering wheel and whilst it wasn’t exactly the same (my instructor resolutely refused to trade in his dual-peddle Corsa for a Pike’s Peak Escudo) it was enough to teach me the basics of steering and pedal control. Teaches mechanics, driving, physics.
Flower (PS3) – To put it simply: Everyone should play Flower. There is an emotional process throughout the course of this game that I still don’t fully understand but I know it’s what we like to call “A Good Thing”. Teaches aerodynamics, environmentalism and botany.
Braid (Xbox360) – A simple story of one man’s quest to find a princess who has been kidnapped by an evil monster. This has an ending which is both expertly done and unbelievably unexpected but I won’t spoil that for you. The key mechanic is the manipulation of time and the ability to try again if you make a mistake. Teaches forgiveness, perseverance and perspective.

Credit goes to Gastos84 for the idea for this list… and the next…

Comments

Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.

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Jumping Monks | 03/07/2009 12:02
Legend
1102 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009

This is a most excellent list. I think I’ll introduce my kids to Super Mario 64 too, when I have kids anyway that is.
Timesh1993 | 03/07/2009 12:25
Member
1181 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009

LBP FTW!
Tuffcub | 03/07/2009 12:53
Team TSA: Writer
4075 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008

Elite also teaches narcotics trading.. you want your kids to be dealers?

If so can i have their number please?

Kthanxbye
- cc_star | 03/07/2009 12:56
  Team TSA: Writer
  7891 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
  
  Everybody needs to learn a trade, something to fall back on.
  - zb100 | 03/07/2009 13:27
    Member
    545 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
    
    And slavery.
    
    I could do with some fresh meat.
  - Tuffcub | 03/07/2009 14:01
    Team TSA: Writer
    4075 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
    
    Im sure that excuse will hold up well in court
zb100 | 03/07/2009 14:09
Member
545 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008

I was talking about the kebab variety!
Snebjnr | 03/07/2009 14:48
Member
1612 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

A good list there CB, altho I am not familier with all of the games on the list, I would pass some down to me kids if I have any lol
coolgr33k | 03/07/2009 15:34
Member
419 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

what about resident evil so they can learn how to kill zombies. it would come in useful for your kids, you never know what might come out the ground!!!
TctclMvPhase | 03/07/2009 17:35
Member
818 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008

So true about Gran Turismo. My first car was FE-RWD layout and if it werent for learning about the physics involved in that type of setup I may have gotten myself into some tough spots. I still remember reading through that manual over and over again. To this day the circle illustrating tire grip is how I explain the dynamics of gas,steering and braking to people new to racing.
rht992 | 03/07/2009 17:44
Member
2860 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009

the jak and daxter games?
bully1990 | 03/07/2009 22:02
Member
357 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

Slowly introducing my 4 yr old to games. At the moment she loves Singstar (especially Pass the Dutchie(?)), Rag Doll Kung Fu (‘that naughty man game’) and LBP which she thinks is called ’sackboy’. She also thinks she is going to play Uncharted soon – no chance! No idea how she knows but she calls it the pirate game. Will definitely be keeping her away from Dead Space which she calls the broken hand game!!! Can’t wait to give her a pasting on FIFA…
Firewarrior706 | 04/07/2009 00:01
Member
352 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008

You want your children to play Braid?
You yourself mentioned the ending.
[SPOILER]
Isnt the main character actually some sort of perv and he was caught by the princess in her bedroom, and that the game is playing in reverse, so the ‘Evil Kinght’ your chasing who has ‘captured the princess’ is actually trying to rescue her from you, the evil pervert xP
[/SPOILER]
CrazyKrissZ | 04/07/2009 00:55
Member
552 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008

Nice list. I personnaly would have said We love Katamary and Okami. Those are two very joyfull games!
snake44410 | 04/07/2009 17:05
Member
35 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009

my brother dont want to play any of those
arodmell | 04/07/2009 18:09
Member
221 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009

Nice list.

My list would be as follows

In no particular order

1) Final Fantasy 7
2) Frontier Elite 2
3) Wipeout HD
4) Final Fantasy 10
5) Metal Gear Solid 4
6) Gran Turismo 4
7) Heavenly Sword
Final Fantasy 9
9) Final Fantasy 8
10) Final Fantasy 12

To be honest my little boy is 3 months old now and he cries if he can’t see the TV while I am on Wipeout HD

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My Top Ten: Games You Want Your Kids to Play

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