My Top 5 Multiplayer Experiences

3/16/2018

Written by Rick Warren / gfn21

Everyone has their moments with multiplayer games. Whether it’s an Overwatch Play of the Game, an epic win on Fortnite, or a game that you and your friends just can’t stop playing, the nature of multiplayer games allows for some tremendous unscripted fun. This week, I’m sharing my favorite experiences. This isn’t a “best multiplayer games ever” list, or anything along those lines; it’s just me talking about my favorite moments from multiplayer games. Give it a read and share your best multiplayer experiences in the comments below.

5.) Killzone 2 - Friendship

This game gets the first slot on my list simply because it’s how I got to know one of my best friends. I had moved to a new area, and like any kid, I had no idea if I’d make friends. Eventually I got some of their PlayStation Network IDs, and it wasn’t long before we were playing whatever Call of Duty games were out at the time. My friend Ryan, on the other hand, was playing Killzone 2. It wasn’t long before I joined him, and I’ll never forget the hours we spent shooting through the tight corridors of Blood Gracht or rushing the enemy spawn of Radec Academy. Every moment I spent with the game brought pure joy, largely thanks to who I played the game with.

Next up, my time with a forgotten gem...

4.) MAG - Faction Loyalty

MAG. Truly ahead of its time, as today’s landscape of Battle Royale games would have played perfectly into the concept of Zipper Interactive’s ambitious shooter. With a title that literally translates to “Massive Action Gamer”, MAG was a game that dazzled with its smooth gameplay - despite its insane 256 player count. I have no idea how the servers worked, but they did, and for that alone this game deserves credit. The player count made clans an extremely interesting concept, and that was intensified by the existence of the 3 factions. Whether a player pledged loyalty to Raven, Valor, or SVER, they were stuck with that team’s weapons, gear and outfits. This was a move that pit me against PlayStation friends from other factions and strengthened my friendship with my fellow Raven members. It made 3-way fights more interesting and did the same for faction vs. faction wars. If MAG were to come out today, with a system like For Honor that offers rewards to the winning faction every few months, it would be an absolute hit. It’s a shame that everything went down the way it did.

Up next, a game that exudes creativity...

3.) LittleBigPlanet 2 - Dive In!

I’ve mentioned my love for LBP before, usually in relation to the incredible community creations and infinite levels to play through. The rest of my love comes from playing those creations with other people. Using the “Dive In” option paired me up with a random player (or players) in a random level. From there, things often moved to the player’s pod/home or to create mode, and it was here where I made dozens of friends. The community of LittleBigPlanet was so strong and so kind, and it was always possible to find new people to chat with. Even commenting on the creations of other players was enjoyable, as it felt good to support something that another person miles and miles away put huge chunks of time into. LittleBigPlanet was extremely welcoming, and the fact that it made me feel happy so often kept me coming back.

Up next, my favorite game in DICE’s iconic FPS series...

2.) Battlefield 3 - Literally Everything

This was the game I played exclusively for a year, which should make it clear how fond of it I was. Ryan, the friend mentioned in spot #5, was one of the best players to ever touch the game. This made every game with him and other friends absurdly easy, and because of that, absurdly fun. I knew the maps insanely well, mastering every possible sniping spot and getting the hang of bullet drop on every rifle. I maxed out every weapon, but the M1911 became my go-to. I had more kills with that sidearm than all sidearms in every other game combined. The DLCs only brought more fun, with the Close Quarters Expansion being one of my all-time favorites for any game. Rush was perfectly made in the game, with maps like Damavand Peak offering campaign-like moments every match. The vehicles and destruction only added to that feeling, as did the use of the smoothest version of Frostbite 2 that ever existed. Eventually, after 25 days of playtime, I reached Colonel 100. I have nothing but fond memories of my years with Battlefield 3, and that will never change.

In the highest spot, a 300-hour journey in one of my favorite games ever...

1.) Overwatch - The Climb To Master

Pretty much everyone I know knows how much I love this game. Unlike most multiplayer titles, I play it just as often solo as I do with a team. The world and heroes are incredibly engaging, as is the required teamwork to succeed in the game. Learning the strengths and counters to every hero is fun, and the only thing more fun is working with teammates to play off those traits. I grew over time in Overwatch, starting as a one-trick who only excelled with one character (Reaper) to getting a grip on about a dozen. I then became a loose support main by playing Symmetra, before truly falling into the category by maining Mercy. I was solid, but that was all. No matter how hard I tried, I stayed in the platinum-diamond range. I still had fun, but I dreamed of the higher tier play and seeing new things. For a long time, it seemed like that dream would never come true... but then one night, it happened. Thanks to Mike from The Level Up Network and an awesome, random group of people we met during a game, I finally climbed. We went on a ridiculous 10 wins streak, with each win being dominant. I was cheering all the way until 2 AM, when I finally saw that Rank icon flip. I stayed in Master for the rest of the season and the season after. To this day I'm shocked to have met my goal, and I'm extremely thankful to the people who helped me reach it.

That’s all for this week. Check back next Friday for a new top 5 and thank you very much for reading!

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