Each Wednesday I'll be counting down my favorite 25 titles from throughout the 30 years I've been playing video games. The rankings are more personal than objective - it's not just how well-made, fun, or groundbreaking they were at the time, but also how much nostalgia they inspire for me personally.
This Nintendo classic was licensed by the MLBPA, meaning it was one of the first team sports games ever to feature actual players - and not just their names but their skills. So Vince Coleman was a red blur, Dwight Gooden was almost unhittable, and Dale Murphy hit towering home runs.
It's one thing to offer a fun and accessible game of baseball - and this is still one of the best I've ever played in that sense. But I was a starry-eyed kid who had just discovered baseball and saw these players at the time as superheroes, and this was the first game that actually let me play with them.
A game that let you play with the 1986 Red Sox and hit a World Series-winning homer with Bill Buckner? That was the stuff 1987 dreams were made of.
19. Star Wars Battlefront (Xbox) - Sept. 2004
When I was eight, I saw Star Wars, bought "action figures," and re-enacted the battle scenes. It was epic.
When I was 33, I played all of those battles on my Xbox and they looked exactly the same way that they did in my head when I was a kid. I flew a snowspeeder and brought down imperial walkers with my tow cable, became a stormtrooper and blasted rebel scum, even had a showdown with Darth Vader. Except that now I could do it all with or against my friends, while rattling off lines from the movies ("Just like shooting womp rats in my T-16 back home." "You are unwise to lower your defenses!")
It was even more epic.
18. B-17 Bomber (Intellivision) - 1982
In the early days of home video games - when "cutting-edge" meant the ability to play a blocky, flickering recreation of Pac-Man on Atari 2600 - none were as groundbreaking or as imaginative as this Intellivision WWII title.
Sold alongside the "Intellivoice" add-on device, it was one of the first home games to feature speech. It came in the form of a computerized co-pilot who would warn you when you needed to man the guns of your flying fortress, or when you were getting close to the bomb target. You could press buttons on the Intellivision's keypad controller to switch between views and man different positions on the aircraft. When you made it to the target, switched to "Bomb Bay" view, and dropped your bombs, the voice would chirp "Bombs awaaaay" in a computerized southern accent.
Now it looks archaic and the aspects of the design that were innovative concepts have long since been rendered obsolete, but at the time the depth and variety of B-17 Bomber gave me a new perspective on what games could be.
17. Star Wars (Arcade/ColecoVision) - 1983
Around the same time that Return of the Jedi was in theaters, this vector graphics game let you fly attack runs in the trenches of the Death Star.
Aside from the fact that it captured the feel of the hottest film franchise of the century at the height of its popularity, the real star here was the sound. The digitized voice clips from the movie ("Red 5 standing by." "I've lost R-2!"), immersive effects, and sound design pulled you into the experience like no other game of its time.
A very good home console port was sold alongside the somewhat obscure ColecoVision, and this game alone made that console worth owning.
16. MVP Baseball 2005 (Xbox) - Feb. 2005
Forget that it's one of the most well-designed sports games ever made. Forget the intuitive and insanely fun gameplay, the dead-on player likenesses and personalities, the accuracy, depth, and immersiveness of the on- and off-field features.
It let you play as the Montgomery Biscuits! (Or any other Double A or Triple A team for that matter.) Controlling the Biscuits - with home games set in my actual hometown - as part of a full online season that pits me against a dozen friends who are each controlling their own minor league teams... that's one of those seminal moments in my gaming life. But the game is on this list because all of that happens as a smaller feature within an MLB game that's incredibly well-made overall.
Coming next Wednesday: The Top 25 - Games 15 through 11
Available as a $10 "Xbox Originals" download through Xbox Live, this 2004 remake of the classic PC game is pure, addictive swashbuckling fun that'll have you sailing your way across the 17th century Carribean while laying siege to towns, swordfighting captains, finding long-lost treasure chests, escorting the governor's daughter to high-society balls, and much more.
It's very easy to learn and play. Even young children could play it if they (and you) are not put off by the light cartoon violence. The trade-off is that, despite the sail-anywhere-at-any-time structure of the game and the variety of stuff to do, the game can get repetitive.
Still, if you're like me and in the mood for a little mindless summer gaming fun, this is the one for you. And you'll love the fact that the action is rated "Argh!"
Let's be honest here: The Wii's new Sports Resort game is going to dwarf everything else released this year in terms of sales. People who don't know, don't care, and don't play games will buy it. I'm still trying to figure out how Nintendo managed to accomplish that.
That's not to say it's a bad game - quite the contrary: the game itself and the new motion-sensing tech that comes bundled with it have been praised by critics. It includes twice as many sports-themed minigames as the original Wii Sports, and the new game and motion technology will reportedly be bundled with Wii consoles beginning this holiday season, which should provide a nice boost for Nintendo's sales figures without forcing them to resort to the kind of price drop we're likely to see for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Each Wednesday I'll be counting down my favorite 25 titles from throughout the 30 years I've been playing video games. The rankings are more personal than objective - it's not just how well-made, fun, or groundbreaking they were at the time, but also how much nostalgia they inspire for me personally.
Not only did it feature some of the best graphics ever produced for a sports game and an addictive balance of arcade and simulation-style gameplay, this was one of the first games of any kind that allowed you to play online against other people on a home console.
I'll never forget the thrill of going online for the first time... and finding out exactly how much better everyone else was. But I'll also never forget the 3-pointer that I sank as time expired to win me a game online, and then watching the replay - zooming in to see the coach jumping for joy and the player pumping his fist.
24. Tekken 3 (Playstation) - March 1997
Released at the height of the original Playstation's popularity, this well-balanced fighting game was overflowing with personality that made it almost impossible to put down. The roster of playable characters ranged from a giant robot, to a Bruce Lee knock-off, to... a panda. Seriously.
The chaining combo moves and animations looked inventive and felt satisfying, and it was easy to pick up and play but extremely difficult to master. The gameplay sort of unfolded in layers as you got better at it.
It also probably inspired more college drinking games than any other game ever made.
23. Mat Mania (Arcade) - 1985
In the mid-1980s, when the giants of the WWF roamed the Earth, this arcade grappler took the Punch-Out formula and applied it to wrestling with hilarious and very fun results. Your generic wrestler would face off against a roster of colorful characters via TV-style presentation, and if you were good enough you could win the belt and then defend it against a neverending stream of challengers.
I got good enough at it that I could play for hours on one quarter. Which came in handy when I was down to my last quarter.
22. Road Rash (3D0) - 1994
At its heart, this was a racing game in which you'd scream down city streets on a motorcycle while trying to punch and kick opponents off of their bikes, or force them into oncoming traffic. Which was fun.
But the reason it's on this list is because when it was released in the mid 1990s, it was a decade ahead of its time in terms of presentation. Between races you'd buy upgrades for your bike and interact with other racers in a heavily stylized biker bar - all of it while listening to some of the best grunge music from the time, including songs from classic Soundgarden discs Badmotorfinger and Superunknown.
It became a template for the kind of high production quality, licensing, and presentation elements that would carry Electronic Arts to the top of the gaming world.
21. FIFA Soccer (3D0) - 1994
Quite possibly the best-designed soccer game ever made, this 1994 title sadly sank with little fanfare thanks to being exclusive to the ambitious but overpriced 3D0 gaming console. But anyone who played it at the time will remember it for its roster of real international squads, and its beautifully intuitive and downright thrilling gameplay. Playing World Cup-style tournaments with or against other players in 3D0 FIFA remains one of the definitive experiences in gaming for me.
In the 15 years since, none of the soccer games - and few sports games in general - that I've played have approached this level of pure accessibility and excitement on the field.
Coming next Wednesday: The Top 25 - Games 20 through 16
There's more to see and do than ever in this year's edition of EA's NCAA football game, but for the most part it's more of the same thing series veterans have been enjoying for years: Tight, fun on-field gameplay with all the bells and whistles of an ESPN broadcast from a Saturday game day at your favorite school.
Scouting and recruiting new high school players to build your program was once the most addictive part of the series, but it has been buried in layers of stats and micromanaging of late. Even the most hardcore stat lover will have trouble getting a lot of satisfaction out of it. Odds are that most people will just let the computer automate the whole thing, which means it may as well not even exist. Please streamline this next year, EA. I miss it.
On the upside, there are a wealth of types of gameplay with which to tinker.
In one, you create a high school senior at any position, play through the state high school playoffs, sign with a college, then try to make a name for yourself on campus as a player while also attending classes and taking tests. ESPN field reporter Erin Andrews gives updates on your progress, which are presented like a SportsCenter special report, and Kirk Herbstreit offers analysis. Their comments are surprisingly accurate, and it can be a kick to hear them talk about how you're fitting in at your favorite school. Still, you only play one position the entire time and have no control over play calling or any other aspect of the team, which can get pretty dull.
The dynasty mode lets you control everything - from recruiting to scheduling to depth charts - and it can now be played online with other real players competing with you for prospects.
There's a Season Showdown mode in which you earn points for your school in an online power struggle with other players; a wealth of minigames which offer the college football version of things like tug of war or bowling; a family mode that simplifies the controls so that anyone can jump in and play; and a lot more.
The meat and potatoes of the game, though, is still on the field, and that's where the series continues to shine brightest. Controls are more accessible and satisfying than ever, particularly for the running game and on defense.
There isn't really anything groundbreaking here, but it's an improvement for a series that was already one of the best sports games on the market.
What we have here is basically Call of Duty: Old West Edition.
The game leads you through a linear spaghetti western story about fugitive cowboys and their quest for gold, love, and redemption. It's a story that's filled with dramatic set pieces, plot twists, and lots of things that go boom in big, pretty ways.
As big as the action is, the story and the immersive world in which it's set is the game's strongest point. You really do get the feeling of playing through an old cowboy movie, one that's well-acted and beautifully visualized.
There's a lot that you get to do along the way, which is both good and bad. The gameplay shifts seamlessly from on-foot shoot outs, to firing a gatling gun or a cannon into waves of soldiers. You'll use a lasso for a quick escape, ride shotgun on a runaway stagecoach, and much more. The tense duels, shown from a cinematic camera angle, are especially compelling.
But there's a good bit of trial and error involved, as the game expects you to know what's coming next and wants you to do it fast. So you'll find yourself dying and restarting at the most recent checkpoint a lot as you learn the script and figure out what you're supposed to be doing when.
I often wish I could "jump the track," get off the linear path I'm being forced down, and explore the world of the game at my own pace. (That's something that's being promised by the upcoming Red Dead Redemption.) And it's mystifying that Bound In Blood focuses on two brothers, allowing you to choose to play as either one, but does not allow two players to go through the story mode together. That's on the same level of wacky as the Fantastic Four game a couple of years ago that didn't allow four players.
Parents should note that the game has some of the most frequent use of profanity I've ever heard, even putting the Grand Theft Auto games to shame. Some might also be put off by the Civil War elements and the way the game handles women and Native Americans, which varies from clumsy to cringe-inducing.
Still, what the game does, it does well. It's a thrilling - if at times frustrating - amusement park ride through a nicely realized old west movie, and if that's what you're after, this is the game for you. It's a sequel to the 2007 title Call of Juarez, but no knowledge of the first game is required to enjoy this one.
Each Wednesday I'll be counting down my favorite 25 titles from throughout the 30 years I've been playing video games. The rankings are more personal than objective - it's not just how well-made, fun, or groundbreaking they were at the time, but also how much nostalgia they inspire for me personally.
Just missing the cut This week's list features games that were each among my favorites, but they didn't quite make it into the top 25. In no particular order...
Football (Atari 2600) Its blocky players and total lack of details look impossibly primitive by today's standards, but at the time the idea of playing football on a TV screen almost felt like science fiction.
Double Dragon (Arcade) This side-scrolling beat'em-up with the trappings of classic 1980s action films is the first that really captured the appeal of working together with a buddy.
Gauntlet (Arcade) Released at the height of the popularity of the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons game, it allowed four players to work together through the fantasy world, each choosing a different Lord of the Rings-type character. All of that was revolutionary at the time.
Tron Deadly Discs (Intellivision) The movie was still fresh in kids' minds when this immersive action adventure game came along. The more popular Tron games paled in comparison.
Super Mario Brothers (NES) I didn't own an NES and didn't like platforming games, and despite that I couldn't help being drawn into the addictive gameplay, sound, and design of this classic when visiting friends who had it.
Punch Out! (Arcade) The original arcade boxing game was colorful, well-designed, and addictive, and ate a ton of my quarters.
Dr. J vs. Larry Bird: One on One (Commodore 64) As one of Electronic Arts' first sports games, it was simplistic but already showed flashes of the direction the company was going: allowing you and a friend to compete against each other while playing as the greatest players of the time. Also? You could break the backboard!
Bop'N Wrestle (Commodore 64) In the glory days of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, this was the best wrestling game around. No real wrestlers appeared in the game, but it had more than enough personality to create its own identity and inspire the imaginations of young wrestling fans.
Streets of Rage (Genesis) The Double Dragon formula was honed to console perfection in this series of cooperative beat'em ups on the Genesis. Bring on the Mountain Dew and Cheetos.
NHL 94 (Genesis) The classic 2D hockey gameplay reached its zenith with this detailed, satisfying installment which was among the first to feature details like shattering glass and player fights.
Madden Football 92 (Genesis) At a time when sports gaming was still in its infancy, this massive football series really started to flex its muscle. The 1992 game had tight gameplay, accurate player performance, a wealth of features, and details like ambulances driving out on the field to pick up injured players.
Way of the Warrior (3D0) A Mortal Kombat clone, but with much more style. It featured better graphics, more over-the-top moves, and a massive amount of camp. A digitized version of one developer's ex-girlfriend was in the game, and her finishing move was to blow a kiss that made your head explode. It was also one of the first games to feature licensed music, allowing you to play along to perhaps White Zombie's best CD.
Shenmue (Dreamcast) Maybe it was a bit too ambitious for its time, but it's impossible to deny the influence this had on the gaming world with its real-time weather, free-form exploration, and blending of fighting and puzzle elements.
Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox) The first cel-shaded game was this heavily stylized action adventure series, and the Xbox sequel to the Dreamcast original was more accessible, gorgeous, and allowed you to listen to a terrific licensed soundtrack as you skated around spray-painting graffiti in a near-future Tokyo.
Halo (Xbox) I'm not a shooter fan, but this sci-fi epic was so well-designed and immersive that it pulled me in regardless. The spectacular story mode could be played with a friend, and it featured one of the most robust console multiplayer experiences ever. It was a video game party in a box.
Jade Empire (Xbox) It was a beautiful role-playing romp through a world inspired by Chinese mythology, interspersed with real-time, magic-infused kung fu. As fun as the game was to play, the story was even better - if unrelentingly depressing.
All Star Baseball 2003 (Xbox) The real highlight here is the list of unlockable special features, which include - among other things - an absolutely enthralling video interview with Negro league star Buck O'Neil, who died shortly afterward. The game is worth owning just for that interview.
Deathrow (Xbox) I've played a lot of futuristic sports games, and this is the best of the bunch. It allowed a team of four human players to work their way up in the rankings through brutal matches in which you try to throw a ball through your opponent's goal and/or literally beat them into submission. Few titles I've ever played have offered a more fun four-player experience.
James Bond 007: Nightfire (Xbox) A vastly underrated shooter, this featured a very cool single-player story mode inspired by the Bond movies, and its multiplayer features were on the same level as the Halo series. Just with more gadgets.
NHL 2002 (Xbox) I was a few games into this fun-enough NHL game before I realized that the commentators appeared to be on drugs. "Irreverent" doesn't begin to describe it. They'll leave the booth for minutes at a time to go get nachos, misunderstand each other and go off on wacky tangeants... it's difficult to pay attention to the game because you're laughing so hard. On top of that, it's a great game of hockey.
Quantum Redshift (Xbox) This futuristic racer is about one thing: SPEED. The beautifully rendered textures blur as the landscapes fly past, and heaven help you when you hit turbo. Weapons ranged from colorful lasers to nuclear explosions, and the outdoor environments were sharp and immersive. All of it could be played to your own music, streamed from the console's harddrive. It showed off everything the Xbox could do.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon (Xbox) None of this military shooter's excellent sequels have captured what the Xbox original did so well: The feeling of actually being outside, creeping along through trees and brush while watching for snipers.
Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360) It's the most cinematic shooter of all time, dropping you into the most epic set pieces of World War II. It's impossible not to gawk the first time you land at Normandy or look down on an army pouring across the ice in Eastern Europe.
Mirror's Edge (Xbox 360) This freeform running game is probably the most original, inspiring title I've ever played. Only the frustrating trial-and-error difficulty keeps it out of my top 25.
Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Xbox 360) The open world racing gameplay is extremely well designed on its own, but the impossibly cheesy cutscenes are what make this one truly memorable.
Coming next Wednesday: The Top 25 - Games 25 through 21
Montgomery crowds line up for midnight sale of NCAA Football 10
GameStop stores in Montgomery were open late last night for midnight sales of NCAA Football 10, which is always among the top-selling video games of the year in the area.
The Ann Street and East Boulevard locations both reported strong midnight crowds and were open until 1 a.m. selling copies of the game.
The EastChase location reported a good crowd as well, but shoppers went home happy a bit earlier and the store closed at about 12:30.
The Atlanta Highway GameStop only had about 10 people at the midnight sale and closed earlier.
All locations report that they still have copies of the game in stock today.
Troy, Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, ASU Hornets in NCAA Football 10
Watch the video above to see Troy's stadium in EA's new college football game, which is available Tuesday.
This year, a team from EA spent some time at Troy taking aerial photos of Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium and the surrounding campus, and then building it into the game for the first time. Read more about the process of studying and recreating the stadium here.
As a Troy grad, I think the results are pretty impressive. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get the stadium into the game. For years, the game actually said the stadium was in Montgomery.
Alabama State once again appears in the game, but their home field is still generic.
Of course, the Crimson Tide is in the game and looks great, as always.
Below is a video of Auburn playing at home against Arkansas in this year's game.
Montgomery GameStop stores in EastChase, on Ann Street, and on East Boulevard will be open at 10 p.m. tonight to sell the game. Many fans have pre-paid for their copy, but most locations expect to have copies available beyond the preorders.
Or, more specifically, my 5-year-old son is now playing Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and constantly asking me to help him.
The game is primarily a 3D platformer like the Mario games, in which you run a character through through a level inspired by the movie, jumping from place to place while avoiding hazards and fighting off hostile creatures. That's broken up by a few other types of challenges, like cinematic segments in which you're required to very quickly enter a button sequence or command when prompted.
The problem is that the game is far too simple for most adults, but the more complex button sequences and the instant deaths when you miss a jump make it far too demanding on most very young kids who will likely be more frustrated than entertained. But if you've got a 6- to 10-year-old who loved the movie, this could be a hit with them. Xbox Live has a free demo of the game for download.
-A new edition of the weekly video preview show Crosshairs (above) featuring looks at Splinter Cell Conviction, Assassins Creed 2, and Wii Sports Resort.
-A review of the video game version of the tabletop orc and ogre-powered football game Blood Bowl.
Demo of the Day: Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers
In the years since this collectible card battle game ate geeks' brains and wallets in the 1990s, there have been a lot of video games based on Magic the Gathering. The problem has always been that, in an attempt to spice up the presentation, the addictive quality of the card game was mostly lost.
For the most part, the new downloadable Xbox Live Arcade game benefits from addition through subtraction. You won't find any animated monsters hacking away at each other, just the card game itself - presented with a easy-to-learn interface and some very simple but well-designed visual and sound effects during battles.
There's a single-player campaign mode that's fun to play, online duels with real players, and a co-op campaign in which you and a friend take on the computer. The inability to customize the experience by choosing each card you use for each game makes it easier for beginners but will probably disappoint veterans. Yet the gameplay itself is just as tight and addictive here as it is if you're sitting across the table from a friend with a deck of cards.
Bottom line: If you were one of the geeks that had his or her brain eaten at some point by the card game or if words like "Trained Armadon" make you nostalgic, you'll love this download. If you never played the card game, the tutorial in the free demo will show you why many people did.
The dog days of summer are officially here, as you can tell by looking at this week's desolate release schedule.
On the upside, you'll be able to pick up a bundle that includes two games that have each won multiple game of the year awards: atmospheric, undersea survival horror shooter Bioshock and massive role playing masterpiece The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, both of which are still among the best games I've ever played.
On the downside, a bundle of a couple of two- and three-year-old games is the highlight of a release schedule that also features the multiplatform, NBA Jam-style arcade baseball game The Bigs 2 and an episodic Monkey Island adventure game for the PC and Wii.
EA's new boxing game allows you to create and upload boxers through Xbox Live, or to download boxers that other users have created. Some of the ones that have been made by Xbox 360 gamers that are currently available for download:
The downloadable Xbox Live version of Peggle has a lot going for it, most of which you'll be able to see and enjoy - likely many, many times - from the free demo version.
It's family friendly, easy to learn and play regardless of whether or not you're a gamer, and is as insanely addictive as Tetris.
At its heart, it's basically a suped-up version of pachenko. You drop, or in this case shoot, a ball down into a series of pegs. As the ball drops and pings off of each peg, the pegs disappear. The objective is to clear all of the pegs before you run out of balls. Like I said - very simple. But as the boards go on, the layout gets more inventive, the gameplay more exciting, and the whole thing just becomes impossible to put down. Don't be surprised if you find yourself yelling in delight or frustration.
