Happy Thanksgiving - Top 5 Thanks / Deals in Video Games

For those looking for Throwback Thursday, such will return next week as regularly scheduled while we all succumb to food comas this Thanksgiving.  And soon to follow will be the strange shopping indulgences that are Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where many a deal will be fought over.  While we are all still of civil mind and so as not to leave you empty-handed this Thursday, why don't we take a moment and give thanks for when gaming has selflessly given us all some tremendous value and heartfelt love.  These are my Top 5 Thanks /  Deals in games:

-1- Orange Box

It's hard to find a better value in the history of games than when Valve decided to release what would be known as The Orange Box.  This infamous box contained the esteemed Half Life 2, including its two episodic expansions, the popular online multiplayer shooter that was Team Fortress 2, and a new first-person puzzler that was Portal.  Funnily enough, the small experimental game that is Portal was expected to stand in the shadows of these two other massive games, but instead exploded in notoriety as one of the best games ever made.  All of this tremendous content was enjoyed all for the price of the average single game at the time, which was a mere $50 for PC ($60 for consoles).  Sadly, this is also a reminder of what will never be a conclusion to the Half Life 2 episodic trilogy or a Half Life 3.  But it's hard to stay sad for long when this box contains so many incredible games to play.

-2- SNES Classic

For those unacquainted with the SNES Classic, it's a massive piece of nostalgia that fits adorably in the palm of your hand.  Equipped with two controllers, 21 SNES games, including the never before released Star Fox 2, all for $80, it's a tremendous value for such a convenient and tidy package.  That is of course if you're able to find one, as they fly off store shelves, both physically and digitally, within minutes of being stocked.  But the game selection is exceptional to be found on this system, especially if you are an RPG fan, the best of which most any console to this date has ever seen.  Also included with this nifty system is the ability to create quick saves, which can be incredibly handy for some of those more challenging action games.  If you are on the hunt for such this holiday, I highly recommend signing up for alerts as found here.  It doesn't always work, but it has had varying success.

And for those curious, 9 of the games found on this SNES Classic I personally hold as being some of the Top 100 games ever made (many of which we will cover in upcoming Throwback Thursday segments, so look forward to such and stay tuned).

-3- Animal Crossing (GameCube)

Back before the days that Nintendo's Virtual Console market existed, Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube housed an astounding secret.  Within the game were 19 full NES games which could be obtained as furniture decoration and then played.  Yes, games within a game.  Of course, the means of obtaining these games were notoriously hidden, many of which can no longer be obtained due to timed events or codes from websites no longer in service.  Still, the notion of getting free games in addition to what was an already excellent simulation game that is Animal Crossing; What a fantastic and clever way to celebrate their rich history of games.  Of course, they've since learned what riches can be produced from these nostalgic gems, so it's unlikely we'll see the likes of this again any time soon.

-4- The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition

Back before the release of what would be the next in the Legend of Zelda series, The Wind Waker, Nintendo celebrated the series with The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition for the Nintendo GameCube.  It was a promotional disc that contained the NES versions of Zelda and Zelda II, along with the N64 versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, all on one disc.  In addition, players could play a 20-minute demo of the upcoming Wind Waker as well as watch a Video Retrospective chronicling the series' main installments up to that point.  It was quite a collector's piece for fans, though most fans already owned every game included with the exception of the demo.  But if fans wanted to own such a well packaged ensemble, there were many ways such could be obtained.  It was bundled with GameCube consoles, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Nintendo Power subscriptions and more.  And for players that already owned all that, they could even send in receipts / proof of purchase for a set list of games to receive a copy of this collector's edition.  Nintendo was all too happy to share the love of Zelda in this instance.

-5- Super Smash Bros. Brawl

While everyone will have their particular favorite version of Super Smash Bros, I think Brawl holds a place as being one of the most ambitious entries in the series.  With a roster of 35 characters, 41 stages, 258 tracks of music, 554 trophies, and a single-player / co-op campaign containing nearly 50 minutes of gorgeous cinematics, this game truly was a love letter to all things Nintendo.  Some of the mechanics may have been hit or miss, but it cannot be denied for trying new ideas and pouring an overdose of care and attention into every aspect of its creation.  So many thanks Masahiro Sakurai and the extraneous efforts you put into this game and series.

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I'm sure there are many more great games / deals to be thankful for than what is listed above.  So be sure to share your thanks of your particular favorites in the comments below.  And whether you're spending time with family, stuffing your face, or shopping for the next great deal, share some thanks for the many blessings in your life and have a happy holiday!