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Ten more games: 89-80

Okay ten games down (well, 11) and we have already have quite the list. Well, here we go with ten (well, 9) more.




89. Vigilante 8 (Actvision, PS1)
Twisted Metal essentially created the car combat genre when it was released in with the first wave of PS1 games. Vigilante 8 put a new spin on the genre when it came out towards the end of the systems life cycle. Set in the 70's, V8 ditched the more imaginative vehicles of Twisted Metal for real life rides. It also gave players a more balanced selection of characters. With excellent arenas with plenty of stuff to destroy, it can be hard to put this game down once you pick it up.
Image courtesy of romulation.net



88. Fatal Fury Wild Ambition (SNK, PS1)
SNK made tons of fighting games in its heyday. In fact, its Neo Geo system (which was a miserable failure) was almost entirely populated by fighting games. This PS1 edition of the flagship Fatal Fury series is also the series best. All of the characters are unique and every one has an interesting backstory. The fighting isn't at all complicated...and that is a good thing.



Image courtesy of ign.com


87. Mega Man X7 (Capcom, PS2)
X7 was the Mega Man series' first foray into 3d...sort of. The game switched back and forth from traditional 2d and unique 3d. Were creative and brilliantly designed, even if some of the bosses weren't. Many critics despised the 3d levels, but I felt they were fresh and different (especially in a series the same people criticise for not having originality). The series is a favorite of mine, so I was a huge fan of all the references to old games in the series.

Image courtesy of thunderboltgames.com




86. Duke Nukem 3D (3D Realms, PC)
"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta gum." With those deep and moving words, Duke Nukem begins his quest to save the world from the alien hordes that threaten it. The game boasts impressive graphics and really lets the player feel like they are blasting their way through L.A. The levels are all well designed and the enemy A.I. is much improved over FPS's that proceeded it. Of course, I couldn't talk about DN 3d without mentioning Dukes awesome one liners. "Come Get Some!"

Image courtesy of imagehost.org



85. Legend of the Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (Konami, N64)
Goemon isn't a big name in the states, but he is huge in Japan. It is easy to see why in this game, as the quirky humor may be lost on the American gamer. Goemon and his friends travel through Japan, trying to prevent Spring Breeze Dancin' and his peach mountain shoguns from turning the nation into a European style theater. Yup, that really is the plot. Couldn't have made that up if I wanted to. Still, the 3d platforming action in this game is awesome. The environments are exciting and well designed and the game gives a good level of challenge. Shaky camera angles are the only thing that keeps this game so low.

Image courtesy of nintendolife.com


84. Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance (Midway, PS2)
Mortal Kombat made its first trip onto the PS2 with Deadly Alliance. It was a rousing success and made significant improvements to the series. All of the fighters have three unique fighting styles that chain together seamlessly. The folks at Midway returned to the more serious aspects of MK, ditching the silly finishers and quirky attacks of MK3. To add depth, they added unlockables. Lots of them. Hundreds and hundreds of coffins in "the krypt" contain all sorts of extras. It will keep players coming back for a long time.
Image courtesy of testfreaks.com

83. The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo, NES)
The game that started a legendary series. It was one of the first games to allow players to save to a battery in the cartridge. This was a huge development at the time. Another huge development was the sheer amount of depth Zelda contained. Players guided Link around a huge map filled with 8 massive dungeons to explore. The fact that it is still fun today is a testament to how fun it is.



Image courtesy of bitmob.com




82. Dynasty Warriors 4 (Koei, PS2)
The Dynasty Warriors franchise has always been known for its huge battles. The battles in DW 4 are the biggest and best of the series with hundreds of enemies on the screen at once. Past games in the series have always felt a little repetitive, but this entry offers a little more strategy. Plus, getting 1000 kills a stage is disturbingly rewarding.


Image courtesy of testfreaks.com


81. Kagero: Deception (Tecmo, PS1)
In case you couldn't tell, I love games that are unique. I must say I had never played a game like Kagero before and I've never played one since. Your goal is to kill intruders in one of the multiple locations you have been tasked to defend. Your only weapons are traps which can be set in different rooms. The A.I. is excellent, so enemies won't just walk into your traps. You have to deceive them...I guess that's why the game is subtitled "deception."


Image courtesy of imageshack.com



80. F Zero GX (Nintendo, Gamecube)
This installment of the top 10 will end with one of the most interesting racing games of all time. F Zero is a futuristic racer that moves at a lightening fast speed. Players race hovering vehicles along beautifully designed courses packed with twists, turns, loops, and tons of other obstacles. Unlike in other non-sim racers, there are no weapons. The only way to win, manage your boosts, cut corners tight, and make clean passes. When all is said and done though it is the sheer sensation of speed that puts this game over the top.
Image courtesy of n-europe.com

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