

Ahmad Rafiq
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About Ahmad Rafiq
Ahmad is a video game fanatic. He always carries his PSVita with him wherever he goes so he can play Metal Gear Solid on the go, and his socials are filled with gaming news. He also lifts weights regularly, plays different sports, and loves to read classic literature.
Proudest Gaming Achievement
I don't call myself a hardcore gamer (which is ironic since I'm writing for Hardcore Gamer). By saying that, I mean that I mostly play relaxing and casual titles, preferably indie ones, and I'm not a huge fan of games that are too difficult and require mastery of certain game mechanics. So when a friend challenged me to play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and complete it, I took it upon my ego to complete that challenge. And boy, did I love that game and the fact that it was so challenging. I loved it so much that I played it three times, and on the third time, I ended it by doing a full playthrough without using any prosthetics, only one use of the healing gourd, and by keeping one or two "battle memories of an extraordinary foe" in stock, which meant that I would be weaker than what the game would expect me to be. Coming from a casual gamer to ending Sekiro like this has to be my proudest achievement.
Favorite Games
Metal Gear Solid has to be my favorite gaming franchise. The Series is truly on of a kind, and I'm afraid no words can do it justice in describing it well. I started this series from the beginning, Metal Gear 1 (on MSX) to fully experience it in all its glory. If there was a Box Office for video games, this series would sit right at the top. While no game in this series is short of being a masterpiece, MGS 1 holds a special place in my heart. The characters, the chaos, the betrayals, and even the heart-touching moments are phenomenally executed; that game was way ahead of its time and had no reason to be able to run on a PS1 as well as it did.
Favorite Console
The PS Vita is my favorite console without any competition. Even in 2024, the machine is extremely powerful and can render graphics beautifully (Killzone: Mercenery). But even more than that, I love it for it innovative features like a rear touch pad, its portability, and the fact that it can play all of the PS1 and PSP titles. I wish Sony hadn't abandoned it like they did, and I hope that I can live to see a successor to the Vita.
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