GameCola fans and writers describe their favorite (and sometimes least favorite) games of all time.
Brian Vanek’s Top 10 Favorite Games
10. Evolution Skateboarding (PS2): I’ve heard that Konami cannot make a bad game. I believed it until I ran across this one. It did keep me occupied for a while, with the unique missions and original characters (Snake and Simon), but it doesn’t match up to the Tony Hawk series.
9. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PSX): The worst of the Tony Hawk series. I just couldn’t get in the groove. Marseille, France is a great park however. They should include it in a newer game with better controls.
8. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PSX): Since I had the PSX version, not much changed from 2, but it seemed better. The tricks improved, the skater list grew, and the levels became more in depth.
7. 720 (NES): A great NES game with great music. It was very challenging, but I found myself playing it a lot.
6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (PS2): This one has greatly improved from 3. Skating around levels without a care in the world. A great feel of freedom entered the game at this point. Bam has a shopping cart mission, which should be made into its own video game.
5. Thrasher: Skate and Destroy (PSX): Coming straight from the greatest skating mag, you have to expect a true skateboarding game. It might not be as fun to regular gamers as it is to gamers that skate, but anyone can have a good time with it.
4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (N64): The Originator! I feel this brought the skateboarding into current systems. I remember playing the “warehouse level” demo disc, eagerly waiting for the release. The levels are the best in this game.
3. Skate or Die (NES): You can’t go wrong with five different skating levels in the same 8-bit cartridge. The downhill jam and race are very fun, but my favorite is the Joust. I just wish there was a harder difficulty.
2. Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble (NES): What can be better than Skate or Die? Skate or Die with a storyline. Teamed up with Lester, CJ, Rodney, and great music, you must build a backyard ramp. I love the adventure in this game. Throwing M-80’s from a skateboard is fun, too.
1. Tony Hawk Underground (PS2): This game has it all. With the new walking mode, which i thought of when the first game came out, you can practically go anywhere. You can even put your face on the character, but you need the online hookup. Even without it, it’s still an awesome game.
I seriously do not remember writing this. What was I thinking. THPS2 is great.
…I think it took me eight years to notice that these are all skateboarding games.