Games 59-50

It looks like I am going to have another good week with my NFL picks. I hope everyone else has a great week with my list. Here goes.

59. Pokemon Gold/Silver (Nintendo/Gamefreak, Game Boy)

If you claim to have never heard of this game, you are a liar. Everyone knows they gotta catch 'em all, and the gold and silver versions made that even tougher. 100 new monsters join the original 150. The graphics push the Game Boy to its limit, with some of the best graphics the handheld has ever produced. The quest is even bigger and more expansive. After beating the new masters, you must return to the gyms from the first game and conquer them again. Really though, Pokemon is just so addictive.

photo courtesy of consoleclassics.com

58. WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your

Professional wrestling was all the rage in the mid to late 90's. Ted Turner's WCW battled Vince McMahon's WWF for ratings supremacy every Monday night. In addition to putting on some great TV, both companies put out some great games. Smackdown 2 is easy to pick up and play. However, it is incredibly difficult to master. There are tons of different wrestlers and match types, and the season mode allows you to work your way toward any title you please. A create mode lets you put yourself in the game and chase the world heavyweight belt. This game is great fun, even if you never liked wrestling.

photo courtesy of snesorama.com

57. Tetris (Nintendo/Bullet Proof, Various)

Alexi Patinov was just messing around on his computer in the Soviet Union when he created Tetris. The game is simple. Make rows, clear blocks. It is so unbelievably addictive that you can play it for hours. A lot of people don't even see it as a video game anymore. It has graced just about every device with a screen that has ever been created. Tetris is truly a title that transcends gaming. Some people would put it at the top of their list. I really like to see a lot more depth in my games...even if they aren't nearly as wonderfully addictive as Tetris.

photo courtesy of somecontast.com

56. Super Smash Brothers (Nintendo, N64)

I had always wondered what would happen if Yoshi got sick of Mario riding on his back and challenged him to a fight. When Nintendo released Super Smash Bros, I got to see. The game pits some of Nintendo's most memorable characters against each other in combat. Up to four challengers can battle each other at once with items galore dropped into the fray. Combat is streamlined, with special moves coming from single button presses. It's okay alone, but transcendent when playing against buddies. One of the greatest multiplayer games ever.

photo courtesy of gamespot.com

55. Metal Gear Solid 2 (Konami, PS2)

Metal Gear Solid 2 was one of the most highly anticipated sequels of all time. The game brought the series onto the PS2, and had some of the system's most outstanding graphics. However, the game still retained the awesome stealth gameplay of its predecessor. Fans were upset when series mainstay Solid Snake was replaced as the main character. The whiny and obnoxious Raiden may not have been that likable a character, but his presence did not cause the gameplay to suffer. The story tries to over do it at times, but it is still a great game.

photo courtesy of smashgamers.com

54. Heroes of Might and Magic 2 (3DO, PC)

A strategy game for the PC, Heroes 2 was truly awesome. Players take control of a castle and build their army of creatures. A team of Heroes patrols the world map, looking for resources, and battling enemies. Players can tackle a full campaign or just play an individual scenario. Up to 6 players can play at once, and with the right map games can become quite epic. Many a night as a kid was spent trying to out duel my friends in this game.

photo courtesy of juegomania.com

53. Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo, N64)

Yet another great multiplayer title. A huge hit when it came out, Mario Kart 64 improved upon the original in almost every way. It improved the controls and it's 3d graphics finally allowed the player to truly get the sensation of speed that the 1st game lacked. This game took full advantage of the N64's 4 controller slots and quickly became a household name even among non gamers. It is still popular in dorm rooms even today.


photo courtesy of nintendocity.com

52. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami, PS1)

A unique game in a series that has had little innovation, SOTN is often considered to be one of the greatest games of all time. It is easy to see why as the game creates atmosphere like very few others can. No longer can players just Rambo through the castle. The game is set up like Super Metroid, but SOTN is just so far superior. Why so low if it's so great? Two reasons. The 1st has to do with the Super Metroid gameplay mechanics. We will talk about this on the most overrated games list. Second, it's too short. I beat the game in 5 hours. A game as epic as SOTN should have been longer. God I hope they release another castlevania like this.

photo courtesy of destructoid.com

51. Fighters Destiny (Ocean, N64)

Fighters Destiny was one of the most unique fighting games of all time. Instead of trying to deplete the opponents life bar, players must score points to win fights. Knockdowns, ring outs, and specials will all lead to scores, but getting them is easier said than done. The game offered an awesome multiplayer experience. Players could earn moves and risk them against each other. Unfortunately, this aspect never really panned out as not many people bought the game. It's a shame too, because it is one of the best fighting games out there.
photo courtesy of 1up.com

50. Half-Life (Valve, PC)

Half-Life comes in at the halfway point of our list. Players control Gordon Freeman, a scientist trapped in the monster infested Black Mesa compound. Half-Life was hugely revolutionary as a first person shooter. Before it, FPS's gave players one goal...kill everything that moves. Half-Life incorporated some awesome puzzles as well as an excellent story line. This game was so good that even a mod of it became one of the most popular multiplayer games in the world. Counterstrike was not eligible for the list, as I have never played it, but if it is even half as good as Half-Life it would be a serious contender.
photo courtesy of laupert.ws