Hats list of top video/arcade games: part 5

30. Gunstar heroes: If there is any game that could prove the processing power of the genesis was faster then the Super Nintendo (it’s only advantage), then this would be one of the few that really show it. Soldier and stuff is constantly through at your hero as he navigates through colorful stages with awesome gun upgrades, taking advantage of Sega “blast processing”. Unlike games like Contra in this game you actually had life, this makes it thankfully easier to survive in and, less frustrating. Another great feature in this game is the epic boss battles you most face off against buffer Guile with a bear and Bison look a like boss, for example on top of moving air plane. With two-player action included this game just had to be included.

29. King of Fighters 98: The biggest rival to the Street Fighter series, the King of Fighters series has recently fallen on some hard times (as has SNK). Despite a new version pf the King of Fighters coming out every year, this series really reached it’s peak with King of Fighter 98 and has had a hard time continuing to improve. The sheer amount of characters with personality and, fighting styles in this game is outstanding and, make it a worthy foil for Street Fighter. Though the music and, many of the stages can’t match up the classic Street Fighter arenas, this game has a certain charm about it that makes it still able to stand out. I love the variety play styles that went into the game, and, yet how balanced it’s system is at the same time. The mechanics of the game are more difficult to master then most Street Fighter game (except 3^rd strike), but they are just as rewarding as Street Fighter’s engine and offer more depth then most Street Fighter with the use of three-person teams and more complex engine. If SNK could only create a new game with the depth and elements of this game, they might once again have a shot at winning back a large fan base in the U.S.

28. Soul Caliber 2: Soul Caliber 2 is the only 3D fighter that really has any appeal to me, besides games in the Virtual Fighter series. The second in the series was clearly the best one I have been able to play in comparison to the others which come off as knock offs of the second (I haven’t played the first in the series, but have heard it was similar to two). The elements in this fighter make it the one of the few (perhaps only one) with a 3D feel that actual feel like feels exciting to play. Unlike games other 3D games like Tekan this game doesn’t boringly looking for who can start a juggling combo and, instead focuses on solid game play with a variety weapons and styles. The new Soul Calibers have clearly focused much harder on making the game appeal as a fun game, rather then a game with any sort of depth, which is disappointing. The newer games feature a greater unbalance, more mostly pointless fighters and more superfluous customizations, instead of trying to improve game play or for that matter keeping up with the same quality even of game play. Plus who doesn’t want to play a game where you can fight as Link and actually have him kick ass?

27. Mike Tyson’s Punch out: For all the bad things that Tyson has done in his life, this is the one greatest thing I think he has ever done. This game is the greatest sports game of all time! In this game you play as the small New York boxer Little Mac as you try to fight your way up to the top to defeat the monstrous Mike Tyson. The game tests your ability to memorize patterns and react quickly. What truly makes this game entertaining though is the creativity and variety of comical the boxers Little Mac most defeat as well as his silly looking trainer. It helps that the music has the that catchy 8 bit greatness I love.

26. Mega man 2: The Mega man series alone is proof that Capcom knows how to create amazing games, and create sequels using the same simple concepts done the right way. This series was designed so well that Capcom even went back to create a new Mega man based off the original Nintendo Entertainment versions recently, and it that sold relatively well. The greatest of all the Mega Man games, however has got to be the sequel to the original for a number of reasons. In this game you play as the famous Blue bomber who is sent to hunts new set of robot men, taking their powers as upgrades as he hunts down the evil doctor Willy in his castle. First reason this game one of the best in the series is the creativity of this game is outstanding and, definitely one the greatest and most genuine of it’s type in all of the Mega Man series. Secondly, it’s difficult is just high enough to be a challenge, at the same time it isn’t so hard as to be as to be as frustrating as the first game and, later games would be. Lastly, the music in the Mega man series like that in many Capcom games is top notch, and this game’s music is especially good even for a Mega man game making it stand out.

Hats list of top video/arcade games:part 4

35. Donkey Kong Country: Though I have played very little of the Donkey Kong Country series, every minute of playing it was exciting and it had a profound influence on me. The first Donkey Kong Country showed off for the first time the full capabilities of the Super Nintendo’s processing power. At the same time in it’s own right to this day is it an enjoyable game. This platformer stared Donkey Kong making his comes back along with his new pal Diddy Kong. To this day the graphics are still great to this day (which says a lot), however it is the exciting, and challenging croc stomping action and, music that stands out in this game. If I had played it more (I didn’t own a Super Nintendo when I was a kid) I’d most likely have placed it much higher.

34. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Is a relatively new addition to the Capcom vs. series, Tasunoko vs. Capcom is a worthy addition to the list. TvC barrows the support elements and has the same fast game play found in many of the other games within the versus series. TvC is also unique because its game play core is based on air combos and suppers. The graphics are simply stunning with elaberate 3d textures and, the character-based themes are exciting (though not really revolutionary). My one biggest complaint with this game is why did Capcom choose to do a game with Tasunoko? I have only a vague idea who the characters are on the Tasunoko side and, the Capcom side is pretty small and, lack many of my favorites. I look forward the U.S. release of the game so

33. Super castleveina 4: This is another great classic by Konami (a godly company) I have recently had the pleasure of picking up on the virtual console. Once again this game stars Simon Belmont as he hunts for the legendary vampire Dracula through spooky environments. The Castleviena is full of hits and is known for quality for good reason; however, this game stands out as one of the best. The game clearly builds off of the others in its series: the graphic are slick, the monsters and environments are creepy, the boss’s epic (as they are in all Konami games) and, the music captures the tone of the wonderful game. I’ve heard that Symphony of the Night is the best in series; having not played it though, this is definitely my favorite.

32.  Super Metroid: This game takes on every element game in great Komani game like Super Castleveina 4 and doubles it. This sequel to Metriod is one of the top games for the Super Nintendo of all time. In it you play the brave intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran as you hunt for the last metriod (a powerful jelly fish like creature), which has been captured by a Pterodactyl like creature know as Ridley. This is the type of game that encourages exploration through a vast maze of detailed areas in search of new upgrades and save spots. Sometimes it this vastness can be frustrating, however normally it adds to the excitement of the adventure. My only big complaint beyond sometimes being frustrated is that; although, the music does fit with the sci-fi feel of the game I would have liked for more memorable music from the game.

31. Tetris: This is another classic example an arcade style game (which is easy to pick up and play) done right. In Tetris the objective of the game is to simply fit various shapes of blocks (by flipping them) to create complete lines (which cause the lines to disappear) and, avoiding filling the screen. This is a simple concept and, it seems easy to avoid making mistakes at first; however, as the game speeds up this seems to get harder and harder to pull off. Add in a catchy tune and, you have an arcade classic that is addicting, simple and, easy to spend hours playing without getting bored.

Hats list of top video/arcade games: part 3

40. Golden Eye: I’m normally not a big fan of first person shooters; despite this Goldeneye is a huge exception. One of the first and greatest first person shooters ever Goldeneye is all around fun. The story mode has a variety of cool mission’s, the settings are creative and, best of all it only loosely follows the plot of the film, making it exciting action packed and, challenging. The real reason why Goldeneye ends up on this list; however is the multiplayer aspect of the game is so great. One would wonder why anyone would buy any other shooter after playing the multiplayer within Goldeneye. What allows it to shine is sheer number of well-balanced modes that allow for taking on your friends in a variety of stages. The stages allow for wandering, but at the same time are not so expansive that you’ll have trouble finding a friend for long. It helps that Goldeneye has a great Bond movie style soundtrack and, overtop sound effects that would be at home in James Bond film.

39. Ikaruga: When I think of tough games this is usually the first to come to mind. I wonder how anyone manages to get through this game at all, let alone beat it easily. This shoot em’ up is part of a popular Japanese genera of games that translates roughly to “Bullet Hell.” After playing this game the meaning of this title will quickly become apparent. Bullets come at you from every direction, however what makes this game truly interesting it that there are two forms of colored bullets, one of which a red black and blue white form of bullets. Your ship has the ability to switch between two forms of shield that stop a single color of bullets and absorb them, and is vulnerable to the other color of bullet. This defense might seem to make the game easier, however the sheer amount of bullets on the screen makes and the need to switch is what makes this incredibly hard. I’ve never made it past the second stage, because of the sheer difficulty of this game. Even beating part of the first stage feels like a major accomplishment in Ikaruga. It is this difficulty as well as the slick graphics that makes me come back to play this game again and again.

38. Melty Blood: Melty Blood is a great fighter and, true example of the excellence of independent game developer’s. Melty Blood is really a far reach from the Street Fighter like muscle bound fighting, instead Melty Blood focuses on a more cute anime style of character. The game throws out the special attack and timed based emphasis combat of Street Fighter, replacing it with a for a more aggressive and, chain based system of fighting. Though I have only started to play this game recently it has had profound influence on me as fighting game fan. Melty Blood is a fast paced game with a variety of uses the magic meter, including a variety of special attacks and, healing. If you are new to the fighting game genera this is a good one to start off playing. It is so easy to pick up and, action packed. Though it is only second fighter on this list (I’m a big fighting game fan), it certainly is deserving of being on this list.

37. Mario kart double dash: Having not played Wii version of Mario Kart; this is newest version of Mario Kart I have had the pleasure of playing. Mario Kart is a great game due to number of factors. First off, it is easy to pick up and play, this is important in a racing game so as to avoid excess frustration (like that found in GX). Next, is the crazy game pace with a variety of weapons such as turtle shells, bananas and, fake item blocks just to name a few. It features better stages then the first Mario kart did and the two-player system is an interesting idea. Lastly it retains the great multiplayer of the first game, while adding the team element. I’ve always I enjoyed this game and, can’t wait to get a chance to play the Wii version of Mario Kart. This is the best Mario sports based game title I’ve played beating out some other great games.

 

36. High seas Havoc: One of the reasons why the Sega Genesis is one of my favorite systems is the sheer number of platformers it has. Though most are poor, some like High Seas Havoc are truly a lot of fun. The creativity of this game is truly outstanding, as is the difficulty within later stages. The game stars a bandana wearing otter as he attempts to rescue his family from a group of pirates. To do this however he most pass through Pirate Ship’s, under water ruins, a burning city, an icy mountain, a factory, and mysterious spider filled cave and, lastly a flying ship. The enemies are cartoony, colorful and, well designed. The boss battles are likewise exciting and, the music is excellent. This game would be much higher on the list if not for the last couple of stages in the game though. These stages are nearly IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT, High Sear Havock is challenging before these last stages, but the difficulty suddenly ramps up to ridiculous level. If you even some how managed to get through the cave level; then you most face off again a magician wolf who is almost impossible to hit. To make things worse he has a pattern that is almost impossible to survive against. It is truly this level of challenge that it is a turn off for me and, forced me to place it this low instead of near the top.

Hats list of top video/arcade games: part 2

45. Ghouls and Ghost: Man is this game tough and epic at the same time. In this game you play the devoted knight Author, as he goes on a quest through various dark settings in search of your girl friend. Author most face various monsters including, Demon’s, Hellhounds and, even the lord of hell himself. However there is a catch, Author can only take two hits before dieing with checkpoints only appearing when you move to the next area. It is insanely hard to survive long due to the huge mass of constantly re-spawning enemies and traps. To make things worse there is a twist, once you defeat the lord of hell for the first time you most go back and do it all over again! I remember being so frustrated after realizing this the first time I made it this far, and then picked up my controller to once again traverse the world. Besides the difficulty though, it is a great game that reminds me a lot of another game that will come later on the list.

44. Contra: The game play style of Contra is frantic and similar to Ghouls and Ghosts in that you must take on a mass of enemies, only the setting of the game is totally different. In this game you play as shirtless Rambo look alike as you shoot your way through the enemy bases filled with turrets, foot soldiers and, robotic monstrosities. As far as I know this game doesn’t have a plot, but what I do know is that I have a hard time even making it through the first stage. It is excellent game though, despite only being able to be hit once. This is makes the game insanely tough as you are always having to dodge a barrage of bullets, and starting with only three lives. It is definitely one of the most action packed games I have ever played and reminds me of the excellent Metal Slug (which sadly didn’t make the list).

43. Batman: Putting together one of the coolest heroes and Nintendo Entertainment System is a no brainer. Even better is the addition of game play that mimics other great platform adventure games for the NES. Though the game only last five levels, it definitely is a challenge to beat and is one of my favorite NES games. Perhaps the new Arkham Asylum game would have made the list (replacing this game), had I played it. However as of now I have only been able to see clips of it so sadly I haven’t had a chance to experience it’s greatness. Strangely enough game is the best Batman game despite being back on the NES because of its solid simple game play and, great soundtrack.

42. River City Ransom: River city has been over run with gangs that have captured your girl friend (I guess this part is kind of common for beat em’ ups). This concept just screams NES beat em’ fun despite being constantly reused. As with Double Dragon and other great beat em’ ups you fight your way through the cities many gangs. To add to the flavor of the game the villains have some of the best defeated phrases such as, “Barf,” while dropping coins on the ground. With this money you can buy various products for power ups, such as books that teach your character martial arts, magazines and, lots of varieties of food. It is this little extra polish that makes this game so different and innovative even to this day you’re your average beat em’ up(which is especially promising providing it was released on the NES). It’s disappointing and surprising that despite a few remakes of the game there has never been a true sequel to this cult classic. To top things off it was one of the first games to allow free roaming where your character chooses their path. Not much in the way of music or graphics (though they are pretty good for a NES game), but the sound effect of the coins dropping is great.

41. Bubble Bobble: What can I say about Bubble Bobble is that it truly an arcade staple. Despite only playing the NES version of this game even it feels like an arcade game and, boy is it addictingly fun to play. Bubble Bobble is one of those games that just hook’s you in with its simple and entertaining concept. In the game you play as the little dinosaur Bub or Bob as you make you way through colorful mazes defeating enemies with the use of bubbles to trap them. When you pop the bubbles trapping them turn into food. All you have to do is avoid being hit by the enemies or their attacks. Enemies can also turn angry if they are the last ones left on the screen or if they escape your bubble adding to the arcade feel of the game. All I can really say is that it definitely deserves to be considered a classic, and I can’t wait to play the new Bubble Bobble Plus on Wiiware. Though this game has only one real tune, even this tune is addicting and doesn’t ever seen to get old despite being the only music in the game.