Top 25 Games of All Time (25 - 21)
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.
Previous entries:
Honorable Mention
Top 25 Games Of All Time:
Games 25 through 21
25. NBA 2K1 (Dreamcast) - November 2000
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
Previous entries:
Honorable Mention
Top 25 Games Of All Time:
Games 25 through 21
25. NBA 2K1 (Dreamcast) - November 2000
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
posted by Brad at
7:24 AM
2 Comments:
Not surprised about Road Rash! Heh.
I can vouch for your insane Mat Mania skills. On the other hand, I could never beat the unfortunately named Pirania.
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