Wow! It's been an incredible year, hasn't it? Nonstop bangers one after the other with barely a moment's rest in-between. Picking out the ten best wasn't easy. I can't imagine that many will agree with this list, and that's fine! There have been so many classics that any two people having even a couple of the same picks is nearly impossible. Ah well... Let's get to the games already!
I know that I could've gone with a "safe" pick like Gradius II, but there's just something about Phalanx that speaks to my soul.
The 16-bit era was home to some really good Batman games. Really, the choice between this and the Super Nintendo TAoB&R could've been decided by a coin-flip. I'm not Two-Face though, I just know what I like. The Sega Genesis game has tons of action and a soundtrack that just won't quit.
I'll admit that I'm one of those cranky games-writers that is just sick to death of hearing about Nintendo. Link's Awakening gets a pass though. There is nothing remotely overrated about this fantastic epic. It's as naturally enjoyable as a summer breeze.
Here's a Super Nintendo action-platformer that never got its due respect. Quintet put out a lovely adventure with satisfyingly dense mechanics, and then Enix buried it under a ridiculous level of difficulty. Give the Super Famicom version a chance. You'll be glad you did. Promise.
If you want to play a 16-bit Ys game - and you absolutely should - then it must be this all-timer for the PC Engine CD. Adol's trek through Celceta is a constant series of solid dungeons and fantastic bosses. The wonderful presentation adds to the experience, etching a permanent place in the memories of any discerning gamer.
Somewhere in the back of your mind, you knew that not only would I put an Igavania on this list, but I'd also put the best one. Granted, almost every other game in the series is as addictive as a bag of Clancy's Pub Style pretzels, but Ecclesia strikes my weakpoints. All-timer for certain.
With its top-tier movement and an inspired usage of verticality, this game keeps getting better every time I revisit it. One of the greatest to ever grace the Sega Saturn.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
I'm sorry, but how are these games real? Capcom drops two of the finest Zelda games ever, both different enough to stand on their own, yet unforgettable when taken together. I can't recommend these games enough.
An RPG so good that Sega knew they couldn't follow it up and didn't bother to try. Seriously though, this does everything right and takes maybe 15 hours to finish. You couldn't dream of a better-paced adventure. There isn't a single wasted moment anywhere to be found.
There's no escaping what I consider to be one of the five greatest games on the Mega Drive. It's a masterpiece.
No comments:
Post a Comment