GameCola fans and writers describe their favorite (and sometimes least favorite) games of all time.
Andrew Raub’s Top 10 Favorite Games
10. Goldeneye 007 (N64) and Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES): I couldn’t decide on only 10 games, so for the #10 spot I used Goldeneye and Super Mario Bros. 3. As a youngster I spent too much time grueling through every single level of Mario 3, beating it over and over and over and over and… you get the point. Goldeneye gave me so much fun doing my middle school years. Staying up all night on the weekends playing death matches with my cousins was one of my favorite activities.
9. Mario Kart 64 (N64): I am a closet racing fan. I have played Gran Turismo, I have played Top Gear, I have played a lot of racing games. But none have captured the joy that is Mario Kart 64. The track design is excellent, and the multiplayer mode keeps me entertained for long periods of time.
8. Final Fantasy VII (PSX): I have tried to deny that this wasn’t my favorite FF game, much less my favorite RPG. But after careful consideration, I came to the realization that it most definitely is. The story is amazing, as well as the graphics. There are plenty of mini-games and plot twists to keep you drawn in
7. Mega Man 2 (NES): It’s hard, it’s annoying, it’s frustrating, but I’ll be dammed if it isn’t memorable. The music is the favorite of many gamers today. Getting through the first set of levels becomes a breeze, but once you reach Wily’s Castle you had better take some Prozac.
6. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES): A Link to the Past easily defines what the Zelda series is about. Exploration, adventure, item-collecting; all of these elements are found in A Link to the Past. Graphically, it is great, but not the best found on SNES. It is, however, one of the system’s best games.
5. Super Metroid (SNES): Every part of Super Metroid is spectacular. The graphics are top-notch, the music is ambient and creates mood, and the gameplay is fun. Even the story is great, by 2D platformer standards.
4. NiGHTS into Dreams (SS): NiGHTS is one of those games that I can’t help but love. The premise is simple: fly around a course collecting blue “chips”, destroy the Ideya Capture, and then fight the boss. But that is only the surface. There is a deep scoring system, and getting an “A” on each course is no easy task. It is simply one of those games that pulls you back, if only for a few minutes at a time.
3. Donkey Kong Country (SNES): DKC was the first game I owned for the SNES, and it kept me going for months. I beat the game in a short two weeks, but I spent months replaying the game and figuring out where all the secrets were. I also loves the other two DKC games on SNES, but the first is the most classic.
2. Super Mario World (SNES): It wasn’t until many years after Super Mario World’s release that I actually owned it. But I have many fond memories of playing it at my cousins’ or friends’ houses. Bright graphics, great music, and more of the great Mario gameplay. Yoshi was an amazing addition to the series, as well as the new “feather-cape” power up. There is a lot to this game. Over 100+ levels, with multiple paths through many of them. Super Mario World will have you exploring for hours upon hours.
1. Super Mario 64: The first time I played this game was Christmas of ’96, and on that day I thought that video game graphics had reached their pinnacle. To this day, Mario 64 amazes me with its graphics, music, and most importantly: gameplay. Wonderfully designed levels fill the game with the pure essence of what a Mario game is about. It is a platformer, a 3D platformer, and it is arguably the greatest transition from 2D to 3D to date. There is just something about Super Mario 64 that lightens my heart when I think about it.
