EGM #150 Tenth Anniversary Extravareasonable Tribute Post

Hey everybody. Pedro. Want to talk about a minor gaming anniversary. We've already done the tenth anniversaries of Halo, GTA3, Devil May Cry, GameCube, Xbox, and... Tony Hawk 3, I guess, but, as I mostly talk about game magazines here, I want to mention that ten years ago today Electronic Gaming Monthly #150 hit the newsstands. It's the greatest single issue of a gaming magazine ever published.

If you've perused my blog at all (thank you, by the way, hope you liked it) then you'll know I have a deep affection for the game magazines, and it was picking up EGMs off the bookstore newsstands that got the hooks into me. They were witty and attractively-designed and had all of these oblique references to old games and industry happenings that just enthralled me. I loved the ephemera and history and industry of gaming (and still do, hence all the posts about game mags), and EGM was chock full of that crap.

So here's EGM #150. Y'see, magazines back in those days had some kind of awesome special feature in any issue divisible by 50, and this one was "The 100 Best Games Ever." I read it until the binding fell apart, then taped it up and read it some more. Here was all the gaming history embodied in every issue of EGM printed in one giant, passionate love letter to gaming. It informed my buying decisions at the GameStops and Crazies for years until they stopped dealing in anything more than half a decade old. Wonderful feature.

That Fall of 2001 was kind of the bookend of my gaming childhood. I had just been through that wonderful time from age 12-13 when you finally have access to enough money to buy your own gaming paraphernalia, and you still have summers off and absolutely nothing better to do with your time than play video games all day. Hoo, looking back, that was one sweet set-up. Hanging out with my brother and friends, tying up the phone line browsing the web while we tag-teamed to beat the likes of Shenmue in a single five-day rental period, just gorging on games and internet and movies and anime and television late, late into the night. Perhaps that's just the perfect age to play games. You have some experience and appreciation for the medium, but not so much that you're as clinical as I am today about things like game design philosohpy; it just hits you at the subconcious level it's meant to.

I had done dishes all summer to save up for a Dreamcast, working with the single-minded dedication for video games that only a kid can have. And, if you haven't been able to tell from all the people online who still can't shut up about the thing going on twelve years later, what an amazing little console. I'd gone from Genesis to Nintendo 64, but I felt with Dreamcast that gaming was really transcending the last of its limitations. Here was 3D Sonic, he's zipping around these beautiful 3D environments at something like Mach 2 without breaking a sweat. I'm still of the belief that most of today's games could be done, at least gameplay-wise, nearly as effectively on last generation's hardware. Perhaps that's one of the reasons we're having an extra-long development cycle?

And the games that were coming out around the turn of the century, man. Amazing, original stuff. I got into fighting games something fierce (even though I never got any good at them), bought an arcade stick. Arcade-perfect Marvel vs. Capcom was a huge draw for me, and I had MvC2 on almost constantly just to unlock points for new characters. My brother and I had one-on-one honor system Ryu vs. Dan fights. I made this tiny little map in Tony Hawk 2 filled with gaps that were references to things that nobody else in the universe would get, and we played it for hours cackling our heads off and knocking each other over when we were starting to get really high combos. Quake 3 was my introduction to online deathmatching, and I was playing late into the night and then a little in the morning before school. There was Shenmue, a game where you could just buy a soda and watch Ryo drink it and it did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Crazy Taxi, which had four songs but somehow they never got old. We had House of the Dead 2, Jet Grind Radio. I mean, just listen to its soundtrack. This was IT. This was the Ultrazord of gaming.

Hew. Fun stuff. Plus wonderful stuff, mostly from Rare, coming out around the tail end of the N64, and we had become glacially aware that a 56k connection was good enough to play Half-Life mods online; we had just NEVER TRIED because we thought it was broadband or nothing. Ha!

By the end of November of 2001, I was 14, and gaming was becoming a bit more utilitarian for me. That kind of crazy, experimental phase of 3D was ending. The Dreamcast had been discontinued in March of that year, the N64 too, even the Game Boy had been replaced. Microsoft was moving in, and everything was kind of gelling into profitable, established procedure. I was starting to get jaded and cynical, I had more responsibilities brewing... not that I moved out to the salt mines, but since then, I've never really gamed with the same single-minded enthusiasm that I did then. And that's okay.

But that's one of the reasons I still love this issue and this feature. Y'see, the editors chose their Top 100 based only on titles that came out before the PS2's big Fall rally, thus excluding most pre-Dreamcast titles from the list. By coincidence, that makes this feature "The 100 Best Games of my Golden Age of Childhood Gaming." And that rules.

So, as a little tribute, I'm reprinting the text of "The 100 Best Games Ever" from EGM #150 in its entirety. It's still a really good guide to having an objectively great gaming experience even in our modern age of super-games; only a handful of titles have seen sequels, remakes, or ports that make the originals obsolete. And, since everything is amazing these days, the vast majority of them are available for download through the likes of PSN and Virtual Console, with the exception of the GODDAMNED NON-TREASURE SATURN STUFF. Those'll still cost you an arm and a leg.

(Also of note: the Halo review that asks readers why they should give a damn about a first-person shooter. A first-person shooter on a console? RIDICULOUS!)

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100. DecAthlete
Saturn | Sega | 1996
Gamers often dismiss them as "button mashers," but track-and-field-style titles still hold a place in our hearts for their simplicity and multiplayer showdowns. DecAthlete represents the best of this breed. The wide variety of events here demand real skill and timing in addition to quick-fingered endurance.

99. WipeOut XL
PlayStation | Psygnosis | 1996
Throbbing techno beats, future-chic visuals and corkscrewing, suspended tracks are commonplace in its genre today, but no imitators top this crown jewel of the WipeOut series. The courses are extremely challenging to navigate. But factor in the well-balanced arsenal and you have one addicting racer.

98. Quake III Arena
Dreamcast | Sega | 2000
Maybe it doesn't have the involving single-player experience or deep multiplayer options of Perfect Dark (#65), but Quake III has its own ace in the hole: online play. The thrill of killing strangers all over the world, plus great weapons and level design, make up for the four-player limit.

97. Mario Golf
Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 1999
Take Mario Golf to the can and you're in danger of putting your ass to sleep permanently - it's that good. While most GBC titles only mimic the big boys, Mario Golf is even better than its N64 brother. Highly addictive gameplay and challenging RPG elements come together nicely in this ultra-fun-on-the-go golf sim.

96. Phantasy Star
Master System | Sega | 1988
This milestone RPG's 3D dungeon effects - which dropped jaws back in '88 - may look positively prehistoric today, but there's no denying that the planet-spanning quest has withstood the test of time. Just when you think you're at the end, it throws you a new twist. The cart cost $70, but you got your money's worth.

95. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
NES | Nintendo | 1988
Although quite a departure from the original Zelda, this sequel holds its own as an action-RPG, with great side-scrolling combat, awesome dungeons and a long, hard quest. Despite being the oddball of the series (but not nearly as odd as the awful CD-i Zeldas), Zelda II is a must-play for fans.

94. Baseball Stars
NES | SNK | 1989
Next-generation baseball games have been so lackluster that it makes us appreciate this old-but-addicting title which emphasizes the basics of the sport rather than the fluff. But it also has features that rival current games. The most notable: Creating and developing players into... well, baseball stars over time.

93. Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 1999
Classic Nintendo characters kicking the crap out of each other? Hell yeah! We like that the Big N can let their hair down and allow their most treasured franchises to punch, kick, shoot and throw their asses out of the ring in the ultimate multiplayer melee. The GameCube sequel will be even better.

92. Ice Hockey
NES | Nintendo | 1988
Who needs real teams or players when you get to run the skinny guy into the boards with the fat guy? Topnotch simulation it ain't, but this is the most timeless hockey video game out there. Grab an NES, a friend and two controllers to see what we mean. Just remember, the fat guy hits hardest.

91. Final Fantasy VII
PlayStation | Sony CEA | 1997
Revolutionary for its previously unmatched CG cinematics that seamlessly blended with amazing prerendered backgrounds, FFVII marked a new generation of RPGs (and spikey-haired dudes) that not only put Square at the top of its game but also upped the bar on what gamers expect from an RPG these days.

90. Resident Evil
PlayStation | Capcom | 1996
They've improved on the graphics and certainly the dialogue in later editions of the series, but for pure story and genuinely creepy atmosphere, nothing can tough the original RE. Never played it? Just wait for the GameCube remake for an even creepier experience.

89. Dragon Warrior IV
NES | Enix | 1992
This 8-bit epic, with its multi-chapter setup and heavy emphasis on story and character development, was years ahead of its time. Finding out what all the fuss was about is tricky - DWIV is one of the rarest games around, and its two 16-bit follow-ups were never released here. But don't go blowing $100 on eBay just yet. Enix is readying a PlayStation remake of DWIV for early 2002. And this version will be more than a straight port. Enix has reworked the game from the ground up and given it a 3D facelift, using the game engine of the recently released DWVII. Designer and scenario writer Yuji Horii says Enic originally planned to redo part IV for the Super NES. But by the time they got around to it, the 16-bit era was already over. Can you say, "D'oh!"

88. Virtua Tennis
Dreamcast | Sega | 2000
If you think a forehand and a backhand stroke are types of spankings, then this is the tennis game for you. It plays more like Pong than anything else, but has enough smashes and lobs to keep fans of the sport happy. And if not, the zany yet ingenious minigames will win them over. Tennis Bowling, anyone?

87. Sega Rally 2
Dreamcase | Sega | 1999
The original Saturn Sega Rally is still awesome in our book, but this visually stunning sequel edges it out by retaining the arcade flash while tuning the powerslide-rich physics. The four-fold increase in cars and tracks doesn't hurt, either. And if you're up to the challenge, SR2's 10-year championship will keep you busy for days.

86. ActRaiser
Super NES | Enix | 1991
Take side-scrolling, sword-swinging action and mix it with some light strategy and you've got ActRaiser, which creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere thanks to its lush graphics and beautiful soundtrack. Besides, how many games let you fly around as a naked cherub, bossing around mortals and blowing stuff up?
Behind The Music: If anyone pushed the Super NES's powerful sound chip to the max, it was Yuzo Koshiro, the maestro behind ActRaiser's orchestral score, as well as the music in Revenge of Shinobi (#73), Shenmue and Streets of Rage. "When I was in grade school, I was hooked on Space Invaders," says Koshiro, the son of a pianist. "And while in high school, I played games from Namco, Sega and Konami. They inspired me to compose music for video games." Koshiro remains an avid gamer who prefers 2D visuals to polygonal graphics - although he has a soft spot for first-person shooters. "I mostly play Team Fortress these days," he says. "Before that, though, I played through every game in the Street Fighter II series."

89. F-Zero X
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 1998
F-Zero X nixes the flat-as-a-sheet-of-paper courses of the Super NES original and adds stomach lurching hills, loops and - most importantly - loads of opponents to race against. Plus, you can turn your racer into a weapon by spinning it while in a crowd of other cars. It's fast. It's furious. It's a helluva lot of fun.

84. Samurai Shodown II
Neo-Geo | SNK | 1994
SamSho's spin on 3D fighting was simple: Give everyone weapons and randomly toss out bombs and health. But it did this with style, damnit, peaking with part 2. You get characters with personality to spare, atmospheric backgrounds and music, and fantastic gameplay (even if Ukyo is a cheap bastard).

83. Daytona USA
Dreamcast | Sega | 2001
"Try to go easy on the car!" If that line doesn't ring a bell, you don't know what you're missing. Daytona USA takes the best of the coin-op's finely tuned racing and pumps it up with several cool new tracks, cars and four-player online play. And it's the hard-driving competition here that makes Daytona a must-have.

82. Kirby's Avalanche/Mean Bean Machine
Super NES, Genesis | Nintendo/Sega | 1995/1993
Gamers love these two puzzle titles for their simplicity (just match up blobs of the same color). Sadists love them because they allow you to set up massive combos that can choke out an opponent in one fell swoop. The formula works well and is still fun today - watch for a Game Boy Advance Edition (Puyo Pop) in March.

81. Ape Escape
PlayStation | Sony CEA | 1999
More than just a great 3D platform game, Ape Escape uses the Dual Shock controller in clever ways that'll drive you bananas. Twiddle those little sticks to paddle a rowboat, drive an RC car, cruise around in a tank - the control scheme changes all the time. And its chimps out-monkey Monkey Ball in pure personality.

80. Skies of Arcadia
Dreamcast | Sega | 2000
Who would have expected a barely hyped RPG called Skies of Arcadia to come out and kick Grandia II's ass with its massive quest, high-flying air battles, beautiful ship designs, and awesome sense of exploration? Now that the game is heading to the PS2 and GameCube, you have no excuse to miss out on this one.

79. Mario Kart 64
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 1997
Despite better graphics, four-player splitscreen play and a reworked power-up system, the N64 version of Mario Kart just doesn't duplicate the ingenious level design of the original, but it's still great. It added more technique to the powerslide (do it right and you can get a mini turbo boost), not to mention rolling hills.

78. Star Fox
Super NES | Nintendo | 1993
Star Fox introduced 3D polygonal graphics in a time when 2D was king. Today, these visuals look like they're made from half-melted Lego blocks, but the game itself is still fun, with a grand, Star Wars-like feel and creative stages that remind you that not all space shooters have to be serious to be enjoyable.

77. Metal Gear Solid
Game Boy Color | Konami | 2000
As a side-story to the Metal Gear mythos, MGS on the GBC is a surprisingly faithful rendition of tactical espionage action - even hardier than old NES installments. What's more amazing is all the extras Konami's thrown into the package: tons (150 plus) or VR Missions and two-player link mode action!

76. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis | Sega | 1992
Gamers weary of Mario's plodding pace flocked to Sonic's speedy ways in a flash. This sequel adds sidekick Tails, nicer graphics, a two-player mode and even a faux-3D halfpipe. And to think, it eventually became a Genesis pack-in. Still, the level design doesn't top the original's.

75. Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
PlayStation | Working Designs | 1999
Classic, hand-drawn animation and wonderful voice acting combine with a great story to make Lunar one of the best RPGs without the words "Final" or "Fantasy" in the title. Guide young Alex as he fulfills his dream of becoming a Dragonmaster and learns how important his girlfriend is to Lunar's future.

74. Shining Force III
Saturn | Sega | 1998
Strategy-RPG fanatics were in tactical heaven when Sega released the first part of SFIII (which actually hit Japan in three parts). Fans subsequently cried bloody murder when Sega failed to bring parts 2 and 3 here, but that doesn't detract from its fast-paced plot, classic Shining Force gameplay and slick visuals.

73. The Revenge of Shinobi
Genesis | Sega | 1989
While the word "classic" rarely pops into your head when you think of early Genesis games, Revenge of Shinobi definitely falls into that category. This is top-notch side-scrolling ninja action, complete with magic attacks, showers of shurikens and even a little swordplay. Joe Musashi's second adventure remains the best one in the series.

72. Advance Wars
Game Boy Advance | Nintendo | 2001
Topping even the TurboGrafx-16's seminal Military Madness, Advance Wars takes classic turn-based strategy and soups it up with a killer four-player mode that can make two hours whiz by in a heartbeat. Even the single-player game to us weepy, though it was probably just from staring at the tiny GBA screen.

71. Phantasy Star II
Genesis | Sega | 1989
PSII is the crown jewel of this sci-fi-meets-sword-and-sorcery series (unless you count PSO). It has a huge quest, one of the best final bosses ever, and a main character who dies halfway through the game. What more could you want from an RPG? And the neatest part: That awesome final boss isn't really the final boos.

70. Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
NES | Tecmo | 1990
This ninjariffic side-scroller out-dices the other two games in the Ninja Gaiden series - and that's saying a lot. Gaiden II features blazing-fast sword-slashing action and some totally cool bosses, not to mention a great story told through nifty cutscenes, which were still a novelty back when this game hit.

69. Metroid
NES | Nintendo | 1987
Snatching the prestigious 69 slot from its occupant (Snatcher for Sega CD) on the top-100 list we ran four years ago, the 15-year-old Metroid still rocks our VW van. The spooky space score hooks up seamlessly with the dark alien setting to spawn an adventure game way ahead of its acid-washed time.

68. Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Super NES | Capcom | 1991
Go back and play Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts today and you'll probably agree that it's still one of the toughest run-and-jump platform games ever made. But Capcom has surgarcoated this bitter pill with sweet graphics and special effects. Some would argue the Genesis G'NG is better. To that we say: No, it's just easier.

67. Street Fighter Alpha 3
PlayStation/Dreamcast | Capcom | 1999
Topping SF Alpha 2 was tough, but the complexity and style added by SFA3's "isms" make it the preferred game of many casual fans and tournament players alike. Frequent players here at EGM and gamers around the world continue to discover new combos and tactics for this fighter. We're ready to take you on.

66. Donkey Kong
Game Boy | Nintendo | 1994
Here's the good news: This handheld hit faithfully reproduces all three levels of the 1981 coin-op. Here's the really good news: From level four on, Donkey Kong becomes a clever action-puzzle game that'll keep you hooked right up to the last level. It's the perfect ape escape from a long car trip or lame-o class.

65. Perfect Dark
Nintendo 64 | Rare | 2000
Rare's GoldenEye was good. This follow-up first-person shooter is better. It comes locked and loaded with more multiplayer options than any game in history, "simulant" bots, co-op play - everything but the Jimmy Bond license. If it weren't for its chopperiffic framerate, you can bet PD would've placed higher.

64. Mega Man II
NES | Capcom | 1989
Jumping from box art disaster to Capcom poster boy, Mega Man can think this top-seller for making him a household name. Never mind its endearing bosses and crafty power-ups; the genius musical score alone could get Mega Man II ranked. Even today, platform junkies swoon at the mere mention of this guy.

63. R-Type (R-Types Version)
PlayStation | ASCII | 1998
It's the side-scrolling shooter, whose awesome bosses (one so huge it spans several screens), methodical pace and unique power-up system changed the genre forever. Most of us have fond memories of the impressive TurboGrafx-16 version, but there's no denying the PS rerelease comes closer to the arcade.

62. Resident Evil 2
PlayStation | Capcom | 1998
This return to Raccoon City doesn't pack the scare tactics of the original, but what it lacks in frights it more than makes up for in raw action and its nifty two-character dynamic. You need to beat RE2 at least twice - once as rookie cop Leon, once as Cris' sis Claire Redfield - to squeeze out every last drop of horror.

61. Nights... Into Dreams
Saturn | Sega | 1996
Sonic grabs all the headlines, but many folks figure that Nights is the true zenith of Sonic Team's gameography. More of a flying time attack than a traditional platformer, the game's rave-y world packs so much solid gameplay that finding the best path to the highest score takes tons of practice. Awesome.

60. Super Mario RPG
Super NES | Nintendo | 1996
The result of a dream collaboration between Nintendo and Square, Super Mario RPG is one of the finest RPGs to grace the Super NES. Its clever story and hilarious in-jokes will have you giggling like a schoolgirl, while the involving gameplay and excellent battle system will keep you entertained to the very end.

59. Virtua Fighter 2
Saturn | Sega | 1995
VF2 packs such deep and complex fighting mechanics that, at the height of its popularity, kids were signing up for VF2 classes in Tokyo, getting the straight dope from certified VF masters. The Saturn version looks sharp, plays timelessly well, and features computer opponents that learn from your techniques.

58. Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis | Sega | 1991
This classic is known for its bitchin' graphics, imaginative levels and nauseating sense of speed. (Remember Sega's "Blast Processing" marketing campaign?) It's also the title that propelled Sega into the mainstream, and gave the Genesis a fighting chance against the Super NES. We still have dreams about that fancy Star Light Zone level.

57. Final Fantasy IX
PlayStation | Square EA | 2000
With its more lighthearted story and cuter characters - including super-lovable Black Mage Vivi - part IX feels like the throwback to the pre-PlayStation era of Final Fantasy most of us were waiting for. We like our Square RPGs chock-full of things like airships, black mages and moogles, and FFIX's got 'em.

56. Landstalker
Genesis | Sega | 1993
Landstalker is about as close to Zelda as Sega ever got. It features loads of hack-'n'-slash action along with some complex puzzles. In fact, they're a little too complex sometimes thanks to the isometric perspective that makes jumping a true nightmare in some scenes. Nevertheless, Landstalker's a classic.

55. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 1998
Link's Awakening took the best elements of two classic Zeldas (the first one and A Link to the Past, both of which are in this top 100) and combined them to make one of the most incredible portable adventures of all time. DX brings the game into the 20th century by adding some color to the pale GB original.

54. Devil's Crush
TurboGrafx-16 | NEC | 1990
Satan-ized with marching demons and spinning pentagrams, Devil's Crush crunches pinball and shooter gameplay into a hell-spawned hybrid any God-fearing gamer will love. It ain't your typical silver-ball sim - your goal is to bean demonic baddies and open tons of bonus tables - but that's exactly why we like it.

53. Super Punch-Out!!
Super NES | Nintendo | 1994
Nintendo's follow-up to Punch-Out!! (#34), this brawler has nearly identical gameplay but adds a super-attack meter for added "punch." And old faces return with some new tricks alongside new boxers. Unless you're looking for realism, the only boxing game with more heavyweight fun than this sequel is the original.

52. Herzog Zwei
Genesis | Sega | 1990
This first-of-its-breed real-time-strat classic puts you behind the stick of a transformable robot that must take over bases by building drones and ordering them to attack. Don't toss out your battle plan if things go awry. Just grab a gun, fly in, and take matters into your own hands.

51. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
NES | Konami | 1990
Released in the NES' twilight days, Castlevania III dishes out some of the best visuals on the system, but it's the gameplay that put the game on this list. True to the original (without the RPG bits of part 2), this classic packs solid platform fun, with alternate routes and multiple characters - including SotN's Alucard.

50. Guardian Heroes
Saturn | Sega | 1996
Throw Final Fight, a big golden zombie, Street Fighter and all the insane 2D effects you can find into a blender and hit puree. Whip until creamy smooth and you'll get Guardian Heroes. And if the multiple characters and branching storylines aren't enough, the six-player Versus mode puts this game over the top.

49. Contra
NES | Konami | 1988
Kids who wanted to be astronauts suddenly wanted to be commandos in '88. Blame it on this side-scroller's never-ending intensity and wicked power-ups (our fave: the spreadgun). More teens knew the cheat code than knew the capital of Iowa, but it's the elite few who can conquer the aliens with three lives.

48. Paper Mario
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 2001
It may look like Mario Babies and lack the pedigree of Square-developed Super NES prequel Mario RPG (see #60), but Paper Mario offers more depth, side quests and charm before 10 a.m. than most RPGs dish out all day. And unlike most battle systems, the game's combo-crazy combat is actually fun.

47. Panzer Dragoon II Zwei
Saturn | Sega | 1996
If the first Panzer Dragoon intrigued the minds of gamers everywhere, Zwei captured them lock, stock and barrel. Featuring branching paths, the ability to affect the growth of your dragon, one of the most beautifully designed game worlds ever, and a box full of secrets, PDZ is a landmark shooter.

46. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 2000
Look past the Poke-hype and you're left with a fun and engrossing adventure game that taps a direct line to your inner child. Capturing and battling those cute lil' bastards is just the beginning. The internal clock, wide array of gadgets and a hundred new monsters make this newest Poke-quest the best.

45. Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2
Dreamcast | Sega | 2001
PSO does for consoles what PCs have been doing for years: bring people together, online. The unwashed gaming masses gather in PSO's lobbies, creating a console watering hole devoid of linguistic barriers. Sure, dungeon exploration gets old after a while, but the quest for rare items keeps you going.

44. Super Mario Kart
Super NES | Nintendo | 1992
If you think we're krazy for listing this old-timer higher than Mario Kart 64 or Super Circuit, then we figure you never spent enough quality time with this originator of the kart-game species. The shortcut-crammed course design here is the best in the series, and we really miss the Feather-hop power-up in later games.

43. Final Fantasy Tactics
PlayStation | Square CEA | 1998
It has one of the most convoluted, poorly written/translated storylines in the history of video games - we still don't know what the plot is about. But FF Tactics took FFV's incredible job system and turned it into a full-fledged strategy game, with amazing depth of play that can steal hours and hours from your life.

42. Contra III: The Alien Wars
Super NES | Konami | 1992
Back when the Contra series was good, Contra III was the series' greatest installment. It overloads our senses with big bosses, incredible backgrounds and scaling and rotation effects, back when "scaling" and "rotation" were a big deal. And the two-player mode lets you share all the intensity with a bud.

41. Ms. Pac-Man
Multiplatform | Midway | 1981
Ms. Pac-Man is a timeless classic we EGM editors still find ourselves playing today. And did you know two MIT students/hackers in the early '80s reverse-engineered (Mr.) Pac-Man to create the girly version, which Midway bought and distributed? We always knew higher education had a point.

40. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 2001
More action-oriented than Oracle of Ages, Seasons is a phenomenal adventure made even better by its ability to link up with Ages. You take control of the four seasons (no, not them) to solve Zelda-style puzzles and save the land of Holodrum, not to mention the Oracle of Seasons herself.

39. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 2001
With more puzzles than GBC sibling Oracle of Seasons, Ages is a thinking-dude's action-RPG. The game has you fiddling with the flow of time, jumping back and forth between the past and the present, which totally factors into most of the head-scratching puzzles. Can't figure out what to do in the present? Zip back to the past and look for the answer. And true to the series, the dungeon design and bosses here are cunningly designed.

38. R-Type Delta
PlayStation | Ascii | 1999
If any game can be forgiven for slowdown during play, it's R-Type Delta. Wave after wave of enemies and bullets pack the screen so tight that when things bog down, it's actually a relief. Three playable ships, a great power-up system and epic boss fights - a shooter that taxes your brains as well as your thumbs.

37. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
PlayStation 2 | Capcom | 2001
Code: Veronica proved that a demented, cross-dressing villain, assorted twisted bosses and enemies, and disturbing locales on two separate continents make for a damn tasty survival-horror stew. Thanks to its assorted extras, this PS2 port beats out the equally-gorgeous Dreamcast version.

36. Chrono Cross
PlayStation | Square EA | 2000
Chrono Cross blew RPG fans and Chrono Trigger devotees away by nailing all the elements that make an RPG great. You get a memorable story, endearing cast, traditional turn-based gameplay with some innovative twists, and top-notch soundtrack and visuals. It's enough to give this sucker instant-classic status.

35. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Game Boy Advance | Konami | 2001
Just 'cause it's stuck on a handheld doesn't keep Circle of the Moon from being one of the best Castlevania games ever made. It combines classic zombie-spank action with a clever "card" system that lets you mix elements for different power-ups and weapons - it's everything you need for a great action-adventure.

34. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
NES | Nintendo | 1987
Body blow, body blow... knockout! Ah, the sweet sounds of victory. With only a few punches in its arsenal and limited defensive moves, Punch-Out!! still tops modern boxing games in heavyweight fun. It took real skill to topple final boss Tyson. We're just glad he didn't come at us with his ear-nibbling finishing move.

33. Saturn Bomberman
Saturn | Sega | 1997
We've seen several episodes in this popular and always-fun series, but none (not even Dreamcast's Bomberman Online) can out-blast this one, an old-fashioned 2D party game that supports up to to 10 players (yes, 10!). Once you've tried this, you'll never look at four-player (yawn) Bomberman the same way again.

32. NCAA Football 2002
PlayStation 2 | EA | 2001
We never realized how addicting it could be to try to make your favorite college team climb through the rankings to a bowl game until we picked up this fast-paced baller. Whatever it lacks in realism, it makes up for in fun - a fact well demonstrated by the number of work deadlines it caused EGM staffers to miss.

31. Madden NFL 2002
PlayStation 2 | EA | 2001
Football series have come and gone, but the latest in this bellweather franchise continues to impress. A decade of refined computer intelligence make this the most realistic game on the field. Its graphics are stunning enough to make you overlook Madden and Summerall's zombie-like commentary.

30. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Dreamcast | Capcom | 2000
While most people consider Street Fighter II Turbo as their favorite Capcom fighter, SFIII: 3rd Strike is where many pros go to brawl. This amazingly animated, super-technical fighter rewards skilled players with the deepest 2D fighting action around. Forget about the 3D SF EX series. This is where it's at.

29. Super Mario Bros. 2 (All-Stars Edition)
NES/Super NES | Nintendo | '88 (original) / '93 (All-Stars Ed.)
Based on a non-Mario Japanese game, SMB2 is the freak of the series: You pick up enemies instead of bashing them, and this is the first and last time many of these enemies - including boss Wart - were seen. The version in GBA Super Mario Advance may be flashier, but we'd rather play SMB2 on the big screen.

28. Hot Shots Golf 2
PlayStation | Sony CEA | 2000
The perfect game to bust out on a laid-back Sunday afternoon (along with a six-pack), Hot Shots 2 takes all the fun parts of golf - the skills, the gear, the crusty dudes with the bad toupees - and leaves out the country clubs, real-life courses and golf celebs that most gamers don't give a gopher's ass about.

27. Sonic CD
Sega CD | Sega | 1993
Those new-fangled 3D Sonic games with all their polygons and extra characters still don't beat out Sonic CD as the best game in the series. SCD boasts good level design, a great soundtrack and a super-cool time-travel aspect that directly affects the game's ending. Sonic Team should mine this old gal for some ideas.

26. Chrono Trigger
Super NES | Square | 1995
Time-tripping quest? Check. Unique battle system? Check. Soaring musical score? Check. Sounds like an RPG trifecta to us. And Chrono Trigger - which combos the best aspects of Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana - does deliver nearly everything we want in an RPG (except FF-caliber character development).

25. The Legend of Zelda
NES | Nintendo | 1987
A classic in every sense of the word, the original Zelda is a masterpiece of game design, not to mention the very first game of its kind. Even today, Zelda's perfect mix of action and exploration - complete with two huge quests and loads of secrets - will keep armchair adventurers glued to their TV sets for weeks.

24. Super Castlevania IV
Super NES | Nintendo | 1991
Back before the Super NES was considered super-duper, this sucker put the new system through its paces with big sprites, rotating backgrounds and other nifty effects. Of course, the classic Drac gameplay that's made this series a hardcore fave was as solid as ever. And who can forget Simon's limp whip?

23. Gunstar Heroes
Genesis | Sega | 1993
No game shows off the Genesis' power like Treasure's rookie effort. It's frantic, with combinable power-ups, unique levels and more things to shoot at than you can, well, shoot at. It's a blast as a two-player game - you can actually use your partner as a weapon by throwing him at enemies. Talk about teamwork!

22. Super Mario Bros. (All-Stars Edition)
NES/Super NES | Nintendo | '85 (original)/'93 (All-Stars Ed.)
It's 16 years old and nearly all of its sequels are better games, but the fact that the original Mario is so high on our list should show you how great this series truly is. If you've never experienced it, track down Mario All-Stars for the Super NES of SMB Deluxe for the Game Boy Color. Then thank us by sending cash.

21. Dragon Force
Saturn | Working Designs | 1996
Dragon Force defined epic strategy gaming with Braveheart-caliber wars (with hundred-man armies!), battlefield-clearing magical attacks and nine different playable generals, each with his or her own storyline. Not even the almighty FF Tactics (#43) can top this one as our favorite strategy-RPG of all time.

20. Galaga
Multiplatform | Namco | 1981
Galaga raised the big question: Should you blow away the blue bugs for big points or let 'em capture your craft and then double your firepower? No matter your decision, this ultimate twitch shooter is a prime example of '80s game design at its purest. How many bonus Challenging Stages can you reach?

19. Panzer Dragoon Saga
Saturn | Sega | 1998
Whether or not you agree that PDS is the greatest Saturn game ever, anyone who's played it knows it's one of the most engaging and unique RPGs to hit any console. Sega brings the Panzer Dragoon series to a surprising, climactic end, which always left us wanting more. Now how about that Xbox version...

18. Pokemon Puzzle League
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 2000
Some poo-pooed the Big N's decision to add Pukemons [accent] to this souped-up version of Super NES Tetris Attack, but we appreciate the removal of the slowdown that plagued the 16-bit game. This amazingly addictive puzzle title won over casual and hardcore gamers alike with its simple yet deep combo-crazy gameplay.

17. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
PlayStation | Activision | 2000
Store shelves creak under the weight of wannabes (Tony Hawk-style snowboarding, Tony Hawk-style surfing, Tony Hawk-style lumberjack log tossing, etc.), but don't hold that against this master of the Mountain Dew-sponsored genre. Its easy-to-learn free-form gameplay drops you into a Zen zone the second you pick it up.

16. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super NES | Nintendo | 1995
Never mind the crappy N64 sequel; the original Yoshi's Island is where it's at, man. Beneath the trippy, pastel visuals lies one of the deepest, most enjoyable platform games we've ever played. It's a shame it came out so late in the system's life cycle, but if you missed it the first time, a GBA remake is on the way.

15. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
PlayStation 2 | Sony CEA | 2001
Gran Turismo has shifted gears from a mere racing game series to more of an interactive car museum. But that doesn't keep this latest installment from being loads of fun for gearheads and mainstream gamers alike. And in this third game we even get to drive F1 cars! Now if they'd just add the AMC Gremlin....

14. Metal Gear Solid
PlayStation | Konami | 1998
You're packing heat, but the slightest noise will give you away. So what's a Solid Snake to do? Why, cling to the shadows, ferret through ventilation ducts, toss chaff grenades, liberate keycards, beat the snot out of bad-ass bosses, avoid getting Metal Gear's footprint stamped on your face and save the world!

13. Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
Super NES | Cpcom | 1993
This is traditional old-school Street Fighter at its best. Sure, you'll find technically superior sequels on the market, but SF2 Turbo's simplistic charm makes it very playable, even by today's standards. No super meters, no 13-hit Super Arts, no parrying - just one-on-one competition. Ultimately, that's what counts.

12. Final Fantasy V (FF Anthology Edition)
PlayStation | Square EA | 1999
Although the FF series now dresses in fancy 3D graphics and beautifully rendered cutscenes, serious RPG fans still consider the older, simpler-looking games to be the best. FFV may be old-school and ugly, but it introduced the wonderfully addicting job system that is still innovative by today's standards.

11. Super Mario Bros. 3 (All-Stars Edition)
NES/Super NES | Nintendo | '90 (original)/ '93 (All-Stars Ed.)
The first time you saw Mario nab that leaf and sprout a raccoon tail, you know his series just got a lot more interesting. And the visually dated Mushroom Kingdom got a facelift thanks to the cart's MMC3 chip. Thank God Princess Toadstool can't stop getting kidnapped, 'cuz saving her is so much fun.

10. Super Mario World
Super NES | Nintendo | 1991
The biggest and best 2D Mario of them all , this sequel kicked off the Super NES era with a bang. It features more than 70 inventive stages and that legendary Mario gameplay, as well the debut of dino-mighty sidekick Yoshi. Be sure to nab it when it's rereleased as Super Mario Advance 2 for the GBA in February.

9. Final Fantasy III
Super NES | Square | 1994
The last 2D Final Fantasy is also the series' best. Our personal favorite moments: Celes' tear-inducing opera-house performance, Kefka poisoning Doma Castle's water, Gau's backstory and the amazing 20-minute ending. This is Final Fantasy at its most cinematic without relying on actual video cinemas.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 1998
Like Mario 64 before it, Ocarina is living proof that even the finest 2D games can be as captivating in 3D. Its remarkable gameplay is complemented by a massive overworld, exquisitely designed dungeons and some of the best boss battles ever. And the "Z-targeting" feature made it way easier to fight in 3D space.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 2000
Choosing between this and Ocarina of Time wasn't easy, but in the end it was Majora's masks that put the second N64 Zelda on top. The awesome abilities they give our hero Link, plus the completely reworked concept of time, and devious, puzzle-packed dungeons kept this cart in our N64s for weeks.

6. Soul Calibur
Dreamcast | Namco | 1999
To this day, no other 3D fighting game marries graphics and gameplay the way Soul Calibur does. By adding tech-rolls, 8-way run, air control and guard impact, SC rewrote how 3D fighting games are played. The mission mode, plus all the awesome extras, make it worth owning a Dreamcast for this game alone.

5. Super Mario 64
Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | 1996
It may be five years old, but Mario 64 is guru Shigeru Miyamoto's most recent "real" Mario titles (until Mario Sunshine hits GameCube next year) - and it's still the best 3D game around, despite many imitators. The levels pack clever puzzles and give you so much to do, you'll be stuck playing for quite some time.

4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
PlayStation | Konami | 1997
The Belmont family takes a backseat in this decidedly un-Castlevania-like Castlevania game. You explore Dracula's castle Super Metroid-style as Alucard, the evil one's estranged son, armed with a sword instead of a whip. It still draws us in like few other games can. Please, Konami, release another one like this.

3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Super NES | Nintendo | 1992
Link's finest hour? We think so. It's tough to pick a best Zelda when they're all so darn good, but on the whole, A Link to the Past offers the best overall package. Two overworlds, fantastic dungeons, incredible gameplay - this baby has it all. Heck, even the music is wonderful. This one's got "GBA port" written all over it.

2. Tetris
Multiplatform | 1988
Developed in Moscow and then dumped on every machine with a display screen, this puzzle-game grandpapa nabbed the numero-uno spot the last time we picked our 100 favorite games 50 issues ago. And if a few more EGM staffers had their way this time around, we'd be raising the Ruskie flag at the top of our list once again. The seven falling blocks here deliver a pure gaming experience that will last forever.

1. Super Metroid
Super NES | Nintendo | 1994
We knew the game that grabbed our top slot would have to be... well, more than just a video game. To edge out all the other masterpieces on our list, it would have to be something that left and indelible mark on our memories and transcended the medium to deliver a timeless, totally immersive experience. That something is, without a doubt, Super Metroid. It's such a satisfying game that only gets better with age - a trick that few others can pull off. Its expanding map inspired Castlvania: Symphony of the Night's elegant layout, but Super Metroid has its own brilliant flavor that no one could duplicate. Cleverly hidden false floors drop rookies into planet Zebes's baddest neighborhoods. Ominous yet beatable bosses are almost too pretty to pummel. Persistent aliens reward a well-earned kill with just what you're lacking, be it missiles, energy or a power bomb that'll break down a nearby door. A grappling hook and an ice beam that turns enemies into stepping stones give you access to formerly off-limits areas. Factor a haunting score into this flawless design equation, and you've got the greatest game ever. But it's numero uno in our book not just 'cause it reminds us of getting lost in Zebes, playing through dinner, and falling asleep at the controls eight years ago. It's that we'd gladly wake up face-down on the A button again today.

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Video games!