These aren't the best games of all time, just my favorites, in no particular order.
Showing 1-10 of 27 items
A midway arcade racer/shooter from way back. There was a S.T.U.N. Runner machine at a resort I used to go to every year, and I used to play it all the time. It's fast paced, challenging, and visually slick. The only way to play it today (outside of actually finding one of these machines) is Midway Arcade Treasures 3, which I think was only available on the PS2.
Now this is a true classic. I know a lot of people opt for SMB 3 over 1 as the better game, but I don't think they're right. I know why so many people hold SMB 3 as a classic, but come on. This is goddamned Super Mario Bros.! It doesn't get more classic than this.
Specifically, the NES version. My favorite Beat 'Em Up of all time, for sure. Double Dragon is notable for two things: kicking ass, and having an ass-kicking soundtrack. That's right, you can both kick ass, AND have your ass kicked! What more do you want?
Of course, Tomb Raider. While the series has basically plunged to it's death at this point, the original had quite an impact on me. I can still remember every moment of level three. It opens with a jump down a waterfall, and quickly moves to a huge Jurassic Park-style environment when you fight a blood-thirsty T-Rex. My favorite part of the game was just exploring the tombs.
My first video-game. I still remember my sixth birthday when I un-wrapped the N64 and popped in Super Mario. I was greeted with Mario's huge, polygonal face; two button presses and an "Okey-dokey!" later, I was dropped into a virtual world. Wide-eyed, I messed with the buttons until I realized how to control Mario. I executed my first triple jumped and watched, in growing amazement, Mario gracefully landing with a cheerful "ha-ha!". This is where it all started. No game is more valuable to me than Super Mario 64.
The standard for 3D fighting games. Gon and Dr. Boskonovitch aside, it doesn't get better than Tekken 3.
My favorite Sonic game. I recently bought the Sega Genesis Collection for the PSP, and I now have Sonic 2 everywhere I go. This is something every living person should have, always.
There's only one puzzle game better than Lumines, and it's Tetris. Lumines is the perfect 'modern' puzzle game. Its art, soundtrack, and fast-paced gameplay suit virtually all of my gaming taste-buds. It's also the reason I have a PSP.
My favorite Zelda game. Wind Waker features what could very well be the best art I've ever seen in a game. It's bright, vibrant, and mixed with a powerful orchestral score, and every time I play it I'm almost filled with a desire to explore. It's endlessly creative and engaging; except, of course, for those damn parts of the game where you actually have to travel by boat. Why does that have to take so long?! It's like playing Fallout 3 without getting fast-travel right away. Anyway, for those of you who actually had the gall to complain about Wind Waker, I'd like to extend my fists to your faces. You're the reason why gamers can't have nice things.
I'm always a little puzzled as to why people have the debate about whether a video game could make you cry, because that's something I had no problem doing at the end of MGS3. The end-game salute is one of the most iconic images in any kind of fiction that I've ever seen. The CQC system is needlessly complex, but awesome once you get the hang of it, and the boss fights are some of the best in Metal Gear history. P.S. Big Boss is cooler than Solid Snake.