MapleStory

The glory days of gaming can be traced back to the time when you use to skip classes to visit your favorite arcade to play the latest console games on machines that were twice as tall as you, and weighted ten times more. While elitists may consider the typical side-scrolling graphics aged and even ugly by today's "AAA" standards, those of you that are driven by nostalgia can't help to choose a 2D side-scroller over a modern 3D game. One such "nostalgia game" is MapleStory, a 2D side-scroller with anime-inspired graphics and flashy special effects and a neat story.

There is a fine balance between making a game seem simple without making it seem cheap, and MapleStory manages to maintain that balance perfectly. The 2D graphics make it accessible even to those of you that have older PC systems, while the high-quality, chibi-anime art style make it enjoyable, maybe even more than so low-quality 3D games. The cartoonish particles, sound effects and overall feel of the game are just enough to also awaken a latent desire to watch your favorite anime series again.

All things considered, the graphics aren't just aimed towards children, like the music, environmental details and stories will remind you that this game means business. More so, the character customizations you gain access to, both regarding physical appearance, the gear it can equip and the skills it can learn allow you to make a character that seems like an extension of your own personality.

One of the key elements in MapleStory is teamwork, which is compulsory if you need to get past the more difficult encounters out there. You and your teammates along with all the enemies you have to face will eventually lead up to some of the most action-packed fights you've experienced in a long time, with damage numbers flying all over the place. Some players may find this particular feature a bit unappealing, as it can sometimes make encounters seem chaotic, and prone to making you want to simply resort to button mashing.

While killing hordes upon hordes of monsters can be a great way to release some steam, MapleStory advertises itself as more than that.  It showcases a storyline on par with other great titles, graphics that make it accessible to just about any PC, and the promise of endless fun, even now after many years since the original launch.