Gaming off the Beaten Path

Quick pro wrestling history lesson. In 1995, Ted Turner wanted to do something to compete with the WWF (now WWE ). They tried every bizarre gimmick, every weird shtick , and every washed up wrestler. It didn't work. To make matters worse, the company's new million dollar man, Hulk Hogan, was becoming fed up with his role in the company. That's when head booker Eric Bischoff had an idea; turn the beloved hulkster into a bad guy. It worked like a charm. Hogan and the NWO made WCW the main power in pro wrestling. Playing off the success of the angle on TV, WCW worked with THQ to make this awesome game. Wrestling games were a tough sell on the 16 bit systems. The N64's 3d graphics made players feel more like they were in the middle of the ring. WCW and NWO stars, along with other created superstars made for an impressive roster. The grappling system was simple to learn, but difficult to master. Players could pull off their favorite wrestler's moves with ease...

You are Solid Snake. As an elite special forces operative, you have been asked to rescue the president and stop a potential nuclear threat. Standing in your way, thousands of terrorists armed to the teeth, and a stable of warriors with supernatural powers. Even for a badass like snake, the odds are slim. Instead of running and gunning through it all, you must use stealth. The Alaskan base is full of dark corridors and air ducts which snake must use to accomplish his mission. The gameplay is unique, and the control is flawless. Graphics are amazing and the sound (which is critically important in this game) is ultra realistic. To top it all off, the story is full of twists and turns, and is on the same level as plots of top notch RPGs . Whether you play the PS1 original or the Gamecube remake "Twin Snakes," MGS is a must play. Pros: Unique and completely original, awesome story, (almost) technically perfect Cons: Parts of the story don't m...

I said when I began this list a long time ago that a story is the most important part of an RPG . I always say that RPG's are like interactive novles . The story in Final Fantasy VIII is one of the best in history. It follows the story of 18-year-old Squall Leonhart , a student at Balamb Garden. As a mercenaries, he and his friends are sent on missions throughout the world. He meets a young woman named Rinoa , and the two fall in love. The game follows the two in their quest to save the world from a hidden enemy, discover their mysterious past, and make their budding relationship work. The story does focus a lot on teenage angst and frustration, so it does become less relateable (but no less awesome) for older players. All of the other characters are well developed and add a lot to the story. The translation is excellent and the graphics may be the best on the PS1. Overall, this games story sets it aprt. Pros: Ep...

The best of the NES Mega Mans and one of the games that got me into gaming. MM 2 gets most of the praise but I feel that the level design in 3 is just so far superior. The bosses are unique, even if some of them are a little ridiculous. The controls feel as though they have been improved as well. The simple addition of sliding added so many dimensions to the gameplay . The difficulty is the best in the series. It isn't ridiculously difficult, but its not a breeze either. The "skeleton" levels that appear after the initial bosses are defeated are the epitome of perfect "challenge, not cheapness" levels in gaming. It can be difficult to really elaborate on what makes older, simpler games so great. This can be said of any NES game in the Mega Man franchise (or MM9, which was not eligible for the list because it is technically a new generation game) . 3 is simply the cream of an excellent crop. Pros: Good Graphics, balanced challenge, addictive gamepla...