[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRGWQP2Bn3s&feature=related[/youtube]
Back in my day, soccer video games didn’t rely on realistic ball physics or lifelike player models to make the gameplay enjoyable. No, all it took was crazy, over the top super-shots and the ability to knock out your opponent for the rest of the half with a well timed slide tackle. Those were the days.
SNES – Â Super Metroid
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVUYyVfydqY&feature=related[/youtube]
Not much needs to be said about Super Metroid that hasn’t be said a million times over. The game took what was great about the NES original and Super (see what I did there) refined it to the point of perfection. From the atmospheric music to the sense of loneliness brought on by the fantastic visuals, there is a lot to love about this game. This is a series that started a genre, and Super Metroid is solidified as one of the greatest titles in it, period.
N64 – Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzROIaEItjQ&feature=related[/youtube]
The Kirby games more than any other property in Nintendo’s arsenal is geared towards a younger, perhaps less experienced video game audience because of its simplicity and relativily tame art style. That doesn’t mean that games aren’t enjoyable, quite the contrary. I have always felt that Kirby’s ability to copy the qualities of his enemies to be a pretty fantastic gameplay mechanic that adds lots of different possibilities to the gameplay. I sometimes wish Nintendo would be open to adding scalable difficulty levels to their games so more advanced and casual players alike could enjoy their games without alienating either group.
Gamecube – Viewtiful Joe
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq8svBi9z2s&feature=related[/youtube]
Part of the ”˜Capcom Five’ of games unveiled by Capcom to all be Nintendo Gamecube exclusives, Viewtiful Joe is a side-scrolling beat ”˜em up that eventual found its way onto non-Nintendo hardware. In fact, of the five titles, only four of the games were actually released, with only P.N.03 retaining its status as a Gamecube exclusive. Viewtiful Joe has gained something of a cult following and is heralded as one of the better beat ”˜em ups to arrive since the 16-bit era.
Wii – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsVT_-RsONg&feature=related[/youtube]
In preparation for Skyward Sword I have been replaying the Wii launch title to gain perspective on the series. I had quickly forgotten just how good the game is and how far the franchise has come since the initial foray into 3D with Ocarina of Time. In every way the game bests the N64 title, which excites me for what is to come in Skyward Sword. My only problem now is whether or not I will be able to see and do everything in Twilight Princess before Skyward Sword arrives. 14 more days!