| THE 2006 AVGW 500 |
| 500-401 400-301 300-201 200-101 100-1 |
| That's right...Taking influence from Pro Wrestling Illustrated's annual PWI 500, I've decided to make the first annual AVGW 500. It was created almost exclusively by Ape based off of the games that he's played. If you're angry that a game wasn't included, there's probably a good chance that he hasn't played it yet. However, this may become an annual event, so there's always next year. With that being said, the rankings were created based on Ape's review scores for the game. If the game had the same score as another game, tie-breakers were determined by going to other game sites, like ign, and using the reader's average score to break-up the ties. The result is the list you see before you. And for the record, send all hate mail to Ape if you've got a problem with the list. 'Twas all his doing. |
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500. Dragon Spirit (NES)
A lot of folks missed out on this unique shooter on both the Nintendo Entertainment System and the TurboGrafx 16 system. Much like 1942, it's a top-down view involving shooting stuff that appears on the screen. It's an old concept, but it's still fun to this day...Besides, it's fun watching your dragon sprout extra heads to increase the destruction it's causing. |
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499. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 (PS2)
The first Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX was a decent alternative to the Tony Hawk craze that had been sweeping the nation. The second game in the series took what was good about the first game and made it all better. The bail contests are still a blast to play with friends to see who can do the most damage to their respective rider...Especially if that rider is a certain Slim Jim Guy. |
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498. Madden NFL '97 (PSX)
For its time, Madden NFL '97 was a great game. It brought the series into the next generation of consoles, appearing on Sony's Playstation and Sega's Saturn. With over 100 teams to chose from, it had the biggest selection to date and all the gridiron greatness fans had come to expect from the Madden franchise. |
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497. Mario Bros. (2600)
Nobody knew it at the time, but this game starred the fellow who would become the most recognizable character in video game history. For its time, the game was highly addictive, especially when playing along with a friend. More recent gamers have probably played this game packed in with the Super Mario Advance franchise and/or in the Wii Virtual Console. Despite all these years, the game's still got it. |
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496. Gauntlet (7600)
This was multiplayer fun at its finest. Along with three other friends, you could control a warrior, valkyrie, wizard, and an elf as you explore dungeons, kill stuff, and collect gold. You consumed food to restore health, found keys to open locked doors, and collected potions to aid you against the tougher foes. If you've got three friends willing to play, Gauntlet can still help melt hours away. |
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495. Rampage Puzzle Attack (GBA)
Let's face it, while Rampage is still a fun classic, most games in the Rampage series are basically the exact same game with new visuals and characters...Enter Rampage Puzzle Attack. Much like Pokemon Puzzle League on the N64, the game really has nothing to do with Rampage aside from the playable characters in the game. There's no city-wide destruction and carnage, but there is a fantastic puzzle game. A puzzle game that definately deserves to be on this list. |
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494. Adventure Island 3 (NES)
Adventure Island 3 expanded on what made the first two Adventure Islands so fun. You hurl hammers at enemies, glide past them on a skateboard, or even fly or smim around them while riding one of the game's many dinosaur friends. The fact that when you complete a level with one of the power-ups that you can save it for a later level and switch with something else, or just continue with what you've got, brings in some light strategy to this already fine platformer. |
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493. Bio Motor Unitron (NGPC)
It was the Neo Geo Pocket Color's first RPG, and while it wasn't the best, it was still quite memorable. The basic story held the game back a tad, however the gameplay is what makes this game a classic. You take a bare-bones Bio Motor fighting robot, and slowly add onto it, purchasing add-ons to make your Bio Motor an unstoppable juggernaut. Few words can describe how it feels to decimate another robot after adding on a new power-up...But I can think of one; awesome. |
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492. The Chessmaster (GB)
The longest-running chess simulator on consoles is still the best. IT may sound nerdy, but when you're able to defeat a computer in a game of chess, even on easy mode, it makes you feel like a genius...Especially when you imagine punching that wizard-looking guy in the face after winning. The Game Boy version of Chessmaster gets on the list over all the others (it's been on nearly every system) due to its portability. |
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491. Shadowgate (NES)
Shadowgate had virtually no animations during the entire game. However, proving that graphics aren't always everything, the game's puzzles and riddles were more than enough to hook many a gamer. Despite its lack of graphical power, this is still one of the best adventure games around. |
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490. Fatal Fury (NG)
While you only had three fighters to choose from in the original King of Fighters tournament (Joe Higashi, Terry Bogard, or Andy Bogard) the variance in the characters moves made it acceptable. With two different fighting modes, Championship and Street Battle, this game gave players their money's worth...Plus, you got to beat up a guy named Geese. |
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489. Centipede (2600)
Similar to the classic, Space Invaders, Centipede had players shoot towards the upper part of the screen to destroy the enemy above. With a much quicker pace than Space Invaders, Centipede was a thrill to play. Even today, Centipede can put you in a panic as that insect clan inches closer and closer to the bottom of the screen. |
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488. Super Bust-A-Move (GBA)
Basically a 'port' of the PS2 game with the same name, Super Bust-A-Move delivered all of the bubble-busting fun from the console to the handheld. The precise aiming needed can cause objects being thrown across the room when you miss, but it also leaves you with an undeniable feeling of satisfaction when you aimed it perfectly and nearly cleared the board with a single shot. |
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487. WipEout (PSX)
This futuristic racer zoomed onto the scene shortly after the 16-bit era had come to an end. Appearing on both the Playstation and the Saturn, it delivered a unique and fun racing experience. Add weapons and power-ups to the racing, along with a grand sense of speed, and you've got yourself one addicting racing title. |
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486. Pokemon Stadium (N64)
The battles in this game were fun in their own right, but when you add the ability to connect the game to your Game Boy Pokemon games and upload the monsters that you had collected to battle in the arena, it gave the game some extra depth...Enough depth to allow it to place on this magical list. |
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485. Gargoyle's Quest (GB)
Combining RPG and platform elements, a large world to explore, and hours of gameplay, Gargoyle's Quest was a great addition to the Game Boy library. Firebrand the gargoyle, whom many remember from the Ghosts 'N' Goblins series, is easily one of the coolest heroes to play as of all-time. |
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484. Ridge Racer V (PS2)
These days it's almost expected for a Ridge Racer title to accompany a system's launch. That's good for gamers, and it wasn't an acception for Ridge Racer V when the PS2 launched. With its various modes, beautiful visuals, and slick arcade-style gameplay, this game is quite the gem. |
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483. NES Open Tournament Golf (NES)
The original Golf on the Nintendo Entertainment System was fun...But NES Open Tournament Golf expanded on everything Golf did good and fixed most of what it did bad. Easy for new player to pick up, yet fun for even the most experienced gamer, NES Open was much better than a par. |
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482. Paperboy (NES)
While most kids dread getting up in the morning to deliver the morning paper around town, those same kids often adored getting up in the morning to play this fine game. Whether you actually tried to deliver the papers or just had fun destroying things, Paperboy is a classic that is still delivers today. |
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481. Donkey Kong Jr. (2600)
The sequel to the immensely popular Donkey Kong, this game stars Donkey Kong Jr. as he attempts to rescue his dad who was kidnapped and caged by that evil Italian jerk, Mario. While not as great as the original, Donkey Kong Jr. is definately a classic in its own right...Plus, gorillas wearing tank tops are funny. |
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480. NBA Live '96 (SNES)
The second last of the NBA Live series to appear on 16-bit consoles may be the best of the bunch. With its unique slanted, top-down camera point-of view, the game allows players to utilize the entire court as they play. While it's no NBA Jam, as far as 16-bit basketball realism goes, you can't do much better than NBA Live '96. |
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479. NCAA College Football 2K2: Road to the Rose Bowl (DC)
After proving that they could create an amazing NFL football game, Sega Sports decided to give NCAA football a shot. While not as good as its NFL outings, Sega Sports still made a great game with NCAA. The ability to link this game up with NFL 2K2 is a nice touch, too. |
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478. Bomberman II (NES)
Like most sequels, eventhough the original Bomberman was good, Bomberman II made what was good better. More levels, more bombs, more goodness all around. Bomberman II helped further establish Bomberman one of the most beloved characters of the 8-bit era. |
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477. Ultimate Fighting Championship (DC)
Ultimate Fighting Championship didn't have fireballs, it didn't have fatalities, and it didn't have weapons. What it had was exactly what the real-life UFC had, mixed martial arts action at its finest. To this day, there isn't a better mixed-martial arts fighter than this game. |
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476. Donkey Kong Land (GB)
Donkey Kong Country pushed the SNES graphics to the limit, so it's no suprise that when Donkey Kong Land was later made on Game Boy, it was one of the most visually stunning games on the system. Look past the visuals, and you've got yourself a solid platformer and a game deserving of any praise it recieves. |
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475. Splatterhouse II (GEN)
When your girlfriend gets trapped, do you ask nicely for her to become un-trapped or do you don a hockey mask and start a bloodbath? For every puss-oozing zombie you kill in this game, you get one step closer to rescuing your girlfriend...But who cares? You're killing puss-oozing zombies!! |
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474. Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition (SAT)
This game has great arcade-style racing based off of NASCAR, except with generic paintjobs. The racing more than makes up for lack of a NASCAR license, though. Plus, if you got tired of one of the game's tracks, you could flip it over in mirror mode and experience in a whole new way. |
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473. Blue Shadow (NES)
Some may play Blue Shadow and immediately suspect that it's a cheap Ninja Gaiden rip-off. Well, it may be a rip-off, but it's not cheap. Blue Ninja has some of the best action on the NES. It may not be as good as Ninja Gaiden, but it's still a great game in its own right. |
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472. Jumpman Junior (C64)
This game plays somewhat similar to Donkey Kong in the 'climb ladders and avoid stuff' sort of gameplay...But in Jumpman Junior you're not avoiding barrels or fire...You're avoiding bullets. In that sense, Jumpman Junior may have been the first game to ever make you feel like a true gangsta. |
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471. NHL '94 (SCD)
If it weren't for this game, a lot of youngsters wouldn't have known who Wayne Gretsky even was. This was Mr. Gretsky's first appearance in the series, and appearing along with him for the first time was four-player action. It's hard to describe how fun it is to team up with a friend and check your annoying neighbors into next week. The Sega CD version got the nod just because we care. |
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470. Puzzle Link (NGPC)
Puzzle Link is one of the best handheld puzzle games around. It had various game modes to please various players. If you liked fast-paced hectic action, it could deliver. If you liked to take a little more time to execute a well-thought-out tactic, it could deliver with that, too. It even allows you to battle against friends for your gaming pleasure. Definately a superb game. |
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469. Super Turrican 2 (SNES)
Super Turrican was good, but Super Turrican 2 offered more enemies, more weapons, faster action, and one heckuva good time. Power-ups gave the game an almost Contra-like feel...And that's a good thing. |
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468. Double Dragon (NES)
You punch people...You kick people...You throw people...But you do it all with style, dang it. Double Dragon quickly became popular on the Nintendo Entertainment System and helped pave the way for beloved games like Final Fight, Battletoads, and Streets of Rage. |
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467. Duck Hunt (NES)
Using a groovy, orange handgun you shot down innocent ducks or were punished with mocking laughter from a stupid dog with a giant butt. The only real flaw in this game is that you can't shoot that stupid grin of the dog's face when it laughs at you. |
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466. Stuntman (GBA)
Sure, the original Stuntman on Playstation 2 may have been a better game, but this handheld port amazingly captures nearly the entire game in an effective and very fun manner. What makes this game superior to its console big brother is the fact that you can do stuntwork on the toilet with the Game Boy Advance version. |
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465. Battletoads/Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team (SNES)
When you add Battletoads and Double Dragon and get to beat up characters from both games while playing as characters from both games, it gives you a warm feeling inside. Classic brawling action at its finest. |
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464. R.C. Pro-Am (NES)
R.C. Pro-Am is easily one of the greatest racing games of all-time. With your ability to get power-ups and upgrade your car, along side the fantastic racing experience, kept this game on top of the video game racing heap for a long time. |
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463. Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (XB)
To date, this is the best 3-D Castlevania made. It's still not nearly as good as some of it's 2-D siblings, but this game shows that Konami's on the right track to getting there. With all of the leveling-up that re-invented the series after Symphony of the Night and a unique familiar system, Curse of Darkness is still quite the groovy game. |
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462. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64)
The game wasn't quite 3-D and wasn't quite 2-D, so it was labeled as 2 1/2-D by some. Nevertheless, Kirby's Nintendo 64 outing was a good one. It was fun and easy enough for a child to play, yet challenging and deep enough for a hardcore gamer to enjoy. Good stuff. |
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461. Zoda's Revenge: Star Tropics II (NES)
Being one of the last games released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Zoda's Revenge got overlooked by a lot of folks with SNES fever. That's a shame, 'cause much like the original Star Tropics, Zoda's Revenge delivered a unique, Zelda-like gameplay that's still fun today. |
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460. Ooga Booga (DC)
The single-player mode was fairly bland...But that can be forgiven. This game was made for multi-player mode. There are few things in life more enjoyable than taking control of a savage tribesman and setting a fellow tribesman on fire just because you can...Especially when it angers the person you're playing the game with. |
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459. Bushido Blade (PSX)
Bushido Blade is still one of the most innovative fighters out there. All it takes is one well-placed blow and you've given your opponent an instant death. The game encourages you to fight with honor (no hitting opponent while they're down) and will reward you if you do so with better endings. Include the option to fight in either third of first person view, and you've got a winner. |
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458. Space Invaders (2600)
When Atari brought Space Invaders to the 2600, they updated the black and white shooter with more intense gameplay than the original and multiple levels to battle those pesky aliens in. They added new weapons and a lovely co-op mode as well. It was a great update to an already great game. |
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457. Saturday Night Slammasters (SNES)
Capcom's attempt to blend Street Fighter with professional wrestling was this gem. The action was fast-paced and fun and Team Battle Royal mode could result in you having a two-on-one advantage against your opponent and vice versa, leading to a different experience with each play through. The Genesis version had a Deathmatch mode in place of the Team Battle Royal, but unless you had a friend to play against you, that mode would rarely be played which is why the SNES version got the nod. |
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456. Arkanoid (NES)
Based heavily on Breakout, Arkanoid is nothing complicated. Simply continue to bounce the ball against your moving platform and the ceiling above until the ceiling is all cleared out. It sounds too simple to be fun, but when obstacles and power-ups are added in, it can get fairly intense. |
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455. Tetris Plus (GB)
Tetris Plus is the basic Tetris action that we all know and love with a few extras. One such extra is a mode where you're trying to help a scientist study some ancient ruins. It's basically the same old Tetris with some new tricks, but those new tricks are enough to place it on this list. |
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454. Super Smash TV (SNES)
It ate a lot of quarters at the arcade in its day, and when it came to consoles, it was just as addicting. Super Smash TV is mindless fun. If you stop too long to think about a strategy, you're dead. To survive, you've gotta rely on guessing and instincts...We wouldn't have it any other way. |
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453. King of Fighters R-1 (NGPC)
To this day, it's hard to believe that a fighting game this good could come in pocket size. Back in a day where a fighting title on a handheld usually meant doom, King of Fighters R-1 helped change that. It's not the best pocket fighting game, but it's definately up there. |
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452. California Games (2600)
California Games was a collection of extreme sports in one little competition of fun. Each game was unique from surfing, to roller skating, to playing hackey sack. It's all good fun. Simply put, this game is radical, dude. |
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451. Tomb Raider II (PSX)
Before the series became a joke, Tomb Raider II followed in the original's footsteps with clever puzzles, interesting weapons, and lovely explorable environments. Plus, this game has Yetis in it...Yetis! |
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450. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (N64)
Eventhough the extinction of dinosaurs put a hamper on the hopes of anyone killing one, Turok brought you the next best thing. Fourteen unique weapons and loads of angry reptiles to kill and obstacles to overcome make this shooter one of the best to ever grace a console. |
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449. Legend of Mana (PSX)
Basically, the world is destroyed and you need to bring it back. How do you do that? Find artifacts, of course! With sixty artifacts to find in all, and sixty levels to find them in, Legend of Mana is a grand game that can keep you playing for quite a while. |
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448. True Swing Golf (DS)
The first golf game for the Nintendo DS was a fun experience. Using the stylus to swing the club gave you a feeling of more control over the ball, and opened up room to completely miss the ball if you weren't paying attention. Include the pretty 3-D courses and you've got a great 18 holes ahead of you. |
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447. Space Channel 5 (DC)
This bizarre music game involves a reporter busting out groovy dance moves in order to kill invading aliens, who have begun to hip-hop citizens into a trance. When it comes to Rhythm games, this oddball stands close to the top of the mountain. |
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446. Kirby's Block Ball (GB)
Similar to Arkanoid, instead of bouncing a ball back and forth to destroy the ceiling above you, you're bouncing Kirby. With innovative power-ups that effect Kirby's destruction of the blocks above and various levels and challenges to complete, this game was a grand addition to the handheld community. |
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445. Kid Chameleon (GEN)
Kid Chameleon was a platformer that some compared to Super Mario Bros. due to its character-changing power-ups. However, instead of flowers and mushrooms, the player puts on masks to give him special powers. With the hundred levels that this game boasts as well, it's hard to deny this game a spot on the list. |
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444. Rygar (NES)
When your weapon is a razor-sharp yo-yo, and you're able to kill just about anything that walks with it, you know you're one tough hombre. Rygar managed to combine action, adventure, and RPG elements all into one tasty little gaming treat...Plus did we mention that you get to kill stuff with a razor-sharp yo-yo? |
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443. Sega Rally 2: Sega Rally Championship (DC)
Seventeen tracks from six different types of locations made this game great. You had to adjust your driving style for each location; the cars handle differently in muddy tracks than in snowy tracks, for example. Add little touches like how it'll rain on a track the first time you race and the second time, it'll be bright and clear, and you've got yourself a winner. |
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442. Kirby's Pinball Land (GB)
There aren't many pinball games out there that are better than this gem starring none other than Kirby. The game did a great job of transfering the music and characters from Kirby's Dream Land and throwing 'em in a pinball environment. Even in pinball form, it's still fun beating the snot out of that tree. |
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441. Strider 2 (PSX)
Almost everyone who played the original Strider fell in love with it. This sequel gives those fans of the original some fan service. Classic action of the original is packed into this sequel along with big boss battles including a dragon, a hydra, and Strider Hien (who can be unlocked as a playable character). Since the original Strider was also packed in as an added bonus, this game is a must for the list. |
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440. NBA Live '99 (PSX)
The great thing about NBA Live '99 was that you could customize it however you wanted. Previous games in the series had similar options, however '99 took it a step further letting you control what fouls get called and how often they get called. Also included is a fairly amusing 3-point shooting contest. On top of all that, the graphics were amazing for its time. I'll say a pun and call this game a slam dunk. |
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439. Diablo (PSX)
It was a hit on PCs, and then it came to Playstation. It's old fashioned dungeon crawling at its finest. Plus you get to stab Diablo with sharp things in the final battle...That should count for something. |
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438. All-Star Baseball 2000 (N64)
All-Star Baseball '99 was just an average baseball game with a lot of irritating parts to it. 2000 fixed just about everything that '99 had done wrong and created the best game in the All-Star Baseball franchise. |
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437. Vigilante 8: Second Offense (DC)
After Sony's success with the Twisted Metal franchise, a ton of copy cats made their way onto consoles. The best of those copy cats is Vigilante 8: Second Offense. It not only stole Twisted Metal's fomula, but in some ways, surpassed it. It was also released on Playstation and Nintendo 64, but the graphical superiority and ability to play with four players puts the Dreamcast version on top. |
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436. Mega Man Legends (PSX)
This was Mega Man's first venture into the world of 3-D. The gameplay strayed from the platform action that the series was known for and instead had players mostly exploring. While the game wasn't the best in the series, it was definately good in its own right. |
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435. F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (GBA)
Much like the original F-Zero on the SNES, Maximum Velocity returned to the 16-bit roots from which it was born. The gameplay was like classic F-Zero with new tracks and vehicles thrown in for good measure. 'Twas excellent. |
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434. Mega Man X5 (PSX)
There's not much to say about Mega Man X5. It's the same old Mega Man X we know and love, and that's not a bad thing. With better level design than Mega Man X4, X5 managed to blast its way onto the list. |
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433. OutRunners (GEN)
This game has classic OutRun gameplay that we all know and love through 36 levels around the world with changing weather and road conditions along the way. There's eight vehicles with their own strengths and weaknesses to chose from. It's a masterpiece. |
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432. The Lost Vikings (SNES)
The game is already cool based on the fact that you play was three vikings that got sucked up into an alien spaceship. The gameplay made it great, though with levels where you had to switch between all three vikings in order to advance by using each vikings' individual skills. It's a unique game that easily deserves recognition on this list. |
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431. Point Blank (PSX)
Not since Duck Hunt had a lightgun-based game been so addicting, but Point Blank managed to surpass Nintendo's classic with its bizarre humor-laced shooting masterpiece. The game was fun alone, but when you got a friend (or three) to play with you, it just elevated it to the next level. |
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430. Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (SCD)
Eternal Champions on Genesis was a beloved fighter and the sequel on Sega CD surpassed it in nearly every way. Each of the twenty characters has their own unique fighting style, adding to variety in gameplay. On top of that, the fifteen game modes kept players busy longer than one would normally expect from a fighting game...Especially one released in '94. |
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429. Mr. Driller (DC)
If Dig Dug and Tetris were to exchange bodily fluids with one another, Mr. Driller would be their offspring. The frantic attempt to dig as far as you can into the earth before you run out of oxygen is some of the most fun you can get in games...Plus Mr. Driller is adorable. |
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428. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
A complete departure from the rest of the Zelda series, Zelda II was still a great game in its own right. It combined elements from platforming, RPG's, shooters, and puzzles...And it did it in style. Today it's still debated if this game is good or a stinker. We're gonna say it's good. |
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427. Rygar: The Legendary Adventure (PS2)
When Rygar appeared on the Playstation 2, it allowed folks to realize that Rygar didn't weild a razor-sharp yo-yo in the NES game, but a razor-sharp shield-thingie. We still imagine it as a yo-yo. In Rygar's PS2 debut, you killed a lot of stuff Devil May Cry style...It was all in good fun. |
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426. Kirby's Dream Course (SNES)
Kirby's Dream Course wasn't just golf...It was golf on drugs. In the checkerboard-like golf courses, you attempt to send Kirby into a hole...As you try, obstacles and enemies try to prevent it. Since you're Kirby, though, you can absorb new skills and such to make those enemies pay. If golf was really this interesting, it might be a lot more popular than it is...Especially if we could watch a bad guy attack Tiger Woods as he's ready to tee off. |
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425. Strider (GEN)
This game was a classic in the arcades, and the Genesis version was the best of the attempts to bring the arcade classic home (aside from the version packed in with Strider 2). You get to slash your way through levels making yourself seem all big and bad...Plus, you get to fight a robot gorilla. Gorillas are awesome and so is this game. |
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424. Parasite Eve (PSX)
All great games have an opera scene in it, and Parasite Eve opens up with one. Square had dubbed this game a "cinematic RPG". We prefer to think of it as a survival-horror RPG. Whatever way you look at it, when you play Parasite Eve, you get sucked in...Even when Eve likes to constantly sing...Oh, and that mutant baby sucks. |
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423. Frogger (2600)
For its time, Frogger was one of the best games around. Today, some may question its greatness, but we still think it's neat-o. To quote George Costanza on Seinfeld, "Gettin' that frog across the street was my entire life." |
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422. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PSX)
The second Crash Bandicoot was a fantastic game, improving on what made the first one so popular. It was platforming action at its finest. Also, we never knew how Cortex struck back...'cause he got pummeled just like he did in the first game when we were done. |
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421. Mega Man 6 (NES)
The final Mega Man to appear on the Nintendo Entertainment System didn't disappoint. It introduced a new nemesis, Mr. X, eight new robots named after stuff, and the ability to turn into stuff like Power Mega Man and Jet Mega Man...It's pretty radical, dude. |
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420. Boktai (GBA)
Some shrug this off as a gimmick game, and it is, but it's a dang good gimmick game. The cart made use of sunlight, so the best time to play it was outside during a nice, sunny day. You could play it at night or indoors as well, but without the sunlight to protect you and make the vampires you're hunting weaker, it was near impossible to complete. This game made folks go outside and darken their pasty white skin. |
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419. Kickle Cubicle (NES)
In Kickle Cubicle, you take the role of a chubby snowman-like thing trying to save the Frozen Kingdom from an evil Wizard King. The game plays like the Adventures of Lolo, and that's a good thing. There aren't many action-puzzle games out there better than Kickle Cubicle. |
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418. WCW/NWO Revenge (N64)
WCW vs. NWO World Tour on the N64 showed the world that professional wrestling games didn't have to be garbage. WCW/NWO Revenge improved on every aspect of the previous game with an improved grappling system, more moves, more venues, better graphics, and a ton of options. Some folks consider WWF No Mercy to be the greatest wrestling game of all-time. Well, without this game, No Mercy may have never come to be. |
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417. Silent Hill 4: The Room (PS2)
Silent Hill 4 was slightly different than the previous entries in the series in the fact that you were stuck in a room throughout the entire game. Sure, you would eventually find some holes in your room to allow you to temporarily escape, but you always wound back up in your apartment in the end. It game you a feeling of uncomfort knowing that even when you were home, you weren't safe...Especially when your apartment slowly begins to transform in front of your eyes. |
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416. Arc the Lad: Twlight of the Spirits (PS2)
The story was great in this game, as you controlled two brothers who are half human/half monster. One looks more human, the other looks more monsterish. Seeing how each brother is treated differently and how they live their lives is one of the most interesting experiences we've seen in a video game. Add a unique strategy-laced battle system and you've got yourself a grand game. |
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415. Brain Age (DS)
Who knew that doing math could be fun? Brain Age made a lot of people aware of how smart or dumb they were. With a ton of brain excersises included, as well as a load of Sudoku puzzles, it's a nice game for those who like to use your brain. |
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414. Samurai Shodown 2 (NGPC)
While not as good as the console fighter with the same name, the Neo Geo Pocket Color version of Samurai Shodown 2 is a great fighter in its own right. Plus, you can take this one to the can with you. |
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413. Gradius III (SNES)
Although the plot of preventing Bacterion from spreading disease to your fellow Gradians is pretty terrible, the gameplay in Gradius III more than makes up for it. With loads of power ups and ten levels of trigger-happy action, it's fun showing Bacterion who's boss. |
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412. Excitebike (NES)
It was dubbed as being part of Nintendo's 'programmer series' because you could create your own tracks whenever you got bored with the ones already in the game. More often than not, those player-created tracks were loaded with power-ups and jumps. Good times. |
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411. Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (PS2)
A lot of people whined that this game was too difficult, but look past the difficulty and you'll find an amazing game. Maybe the difficulty could have eased off a bit, but if it had, it wouldn't be as satisfying when you beat it, now would it? |
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410. Mortal Kombat II (GEN)
Mortal Kombat II is considered by many to be the greatest game in the Mortal Kombat series. The fatalities return from the original along with a few new antics; new characters, new stages, and new forms of violence. |
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409. Metal Slug Advance (GBA)
Metal Slug Advance brought the Metal Slug series to a Nintendo handheld...And it was one of the best in the series. Playing as one of two characters, you collected health items and cards as you destroyed pretty much everything in sight. The cards could be used to power up your characters, which gave a new element to the series and a new reason for players not to put this one down. |
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408. Dragon Warrior VII (PSX)
It was the first Dragon Warrior/Quest game to hit the 'States since IV, and this one didn't disappoint. After discovering that the world once was much more than the island you call home, much of the game is spent restoring the world back to what it once was. The graphics aren't great for when it came out, but the gameplay more than made up for that. |
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407. Earthworm Jim (GEN)
Earthworm Jim was incredible, blending comedy and action together in such a way that many wondered how the two had avoided each other for so long. With good gameplay and personality to spare, this game is a definate classic. |
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406. Soldier of Fortune (DC)
When it appeared on PCs, Soldier of Fortune was known for its incredible amount of blood and gore...It wasn't toned down at all when it made its console debut with the Dreamcast. Peel away the violence, though, and you've got yourself a nifty first-person shooter hiding behind all the severed limbs. |
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405. Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 4 wasn't the best Mega Man game by far, but it's still a great game. New bosses, new levels, new weapons, and the same classic gameplay we all have grown to love. This game would have placed higher if only it had varied the formula a bit. |
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404. Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
K. Rool returned and kidnapped the Kong family, making you go and save them in DK's first 3-D adventure. And for the record, K. Rool should be renamed D. Ummb. |
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403. Super Monkey Ball Jr. (GBA)
It was all the fun and enjoyment of Super Monkey Ball on the Gamecube, but it could fit in your pocket. It also allowed you to ask people, "Is that a monkey in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" |
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402. Monster Rancher (PSX)
The game claimed that you could make monsters out of any CD that you owned...And you could. That feature alone had many folks searching for CDs that might have potential championship calibur monsters hiding in 'em. The game itself was good, but testing out every CD you owned made playing it obsessive. |
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401. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (PS2)
After it seemed as if Mortal Kombat had died, Deadly Alliance burst onto the scene and quickly informed the world that Mortal Kombat was far from gone. The new entry introduced an innovate new fighting system, allowing the player to switch between three different fighting styles during a battle. The Krypt mode was a nice touch to motivate players to keep playing, as well. Plus, there's nothing like stabbing your opponent in the legs with your weapon, then letting go and watching them walk around with it hanging out of their legs. It's fun for the family. |
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