As this is my first week as a Hopeful, I figured I should give the weekly blog homework a shot! Oh who am I kidding! I've been waiting to become a hopeful just so that I can actually DO the hopeful homework! @missy @rambo @lyxzen - it's time for a trip down SNES lane.

I'm a collector of all video game consoles. I love Crash Bandicoot for the original Play Station. I'm quite the fan of the original Halo for Xbox. I have every system that Nintendo ever created with fond memories of each system; however, my love for all things video game really stems from the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

This first game I fell in love with was Zelda II - The Adventure of Link. Please, I have a ginormous pixelated LoZ crest on my chest. You had to see this coming. This was the first game I ever played that engulfed me. It took over my entire being. The more I played, the more I wanted to live in the game; I was loving every second of the exploring, fighting and saving of civilizations.

When the credits rolled and the game was over, I realized how empty and sad I felt. I came crashing back to reality - no princesses and kingdoms to save. Though there's always grass to be cut. So I went searching for my next great adventure, and found . . .

Secret of Mana! Another full fledged adventure game with tons of exploring, funny creatures and awesome battles, Secret of Mana was my second love. I've played it in recent years and it's still as wonderful now as it ever was then. Plus, who doesn't love adventuring as a kid with other kids. Kid power! Anyone else here the song at the end of Three Ninjas just then?

And just as I felt when Zelda II was over and done, the end of Mana brought me to similar sadness and the search to find a new game began. So I played Chrono Trigger - another wildly fun adventure game, but with a slightly different game play - followed quickly by Final Fantasy V.

I could go on forever and ever about the countless video games that have influenced my life, but in the interest of not boring you to death, I'll finish with my all-time favorite SNES game. TMNT Turtles in Time.

When I was a kid, my best friend and I would hang out every weekend, bring out our bible, and quite literally pray to God that we would be better children/friends/people if he could just help us get to the boss fight and beat the game. That is not a joke, nor an exaggeration. And every weekend we would fail; until months of trying - give me a break I was young! - we beat the damn thing! There were many victory dances involved.

But that's it guys - my trip down SNES memory lane. Did anyone else enjoy these games? Pray to any Gods? :) I'd love to hear what your favorites were as well!