50. World Class Track Meet (NES)
What else is there to say? Way beyond the Wii, bitches.
49. Zen Nihon Puroresu: Ouja No Kon (PS1)
Human is probably best known for their Fire Pro-Wrestling series which is basically one massive copyright violation, but Ouja No Kon was their first (and only, I believe) licensed wrestling game. It masterfully captures the atmosphere and style of All Japan Pro-Wrestling in the '90s. Everything, from the ring entrances and intros to the crowd reactions to the wrestling itself, is pitch perfect. Tournaments like Champion Carnival and the Real World Tag League used to come only once a year, but once I got my hands on this game they came several times a day... and so did I!
48. Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (PC)
Brings the craziness of the Dark Sun setting to life with strategic combat and Bioware style conversations... a good 5 years before Baldur's Gate! Someone should really make a new Dark Sun game. Preferably Bioware. I'd pay a pretty penny to watch a half-giant get it on with a giant praying mantis in the obligatory sex scene.
47. Double Dragon (arcade)
Everything about this game rules so hard: the art style (manly!), the music (inspiring!), the way it kind of makes me feel like a bad ass for elbow smashing my way to a 1CC (even though a monkey could do it)... and is that Lance Storm and Chris Jericho on the poster? Come back to me, Technos! You are sorely missed.
46. Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (PS2)
So, wait. I get to play as Peter Stormare? And blowing shit up gets me money? Sold! The bleak North Korean setting (complete with propaganda blaring over seemingly ubiquitous loudspeakers) and different factions to endear yourself to/piss off are the icing on the cake. Fun fact: this marks the last time that the LucasArts logo appeared on anything good.
45. BioShock (X360, Delaystation 3)
I might be in the minority, but I think that between a more varied single player campaign and the addition of multiplayer, BioShock 2 is something of an improvement from a gameplay perspective. But for all it has going for it, it just doesn't have the wow factor of the original. The atmosphere is simply incredible, and the numerous audio diaries perfectly explain much of the craziness that's gone down in an entertaining and engaging way. I don't think I'll ever forget my first descent into Rapture. A man chooses... this game as his 45th favorite of all time!
44. Star Fox (SNES)
One of the games that helped maked the SNES my favorite console for many years, and a fine example of rail shooting done oh so right. Also a rather fine example of furries done right; amazingly, they don't seem seedy or creepy in the least. Throw in some of the best music in video game history, the Super FX chip (for which I had a huge boner), and the awesome uselessness of Slippy Toad, and you've got a real winner.
43. Portal (X360)
This may be the single most brilliant game I've ever played. Everything about it belongs. Nothing seems wasted, and it doesn't wear out its welcome. I always respect that. Unfortunately, Portal also gives me a splitting headache after about 20 minutes. I'm told this is motion sickness, and Half-Life 2 is the only other game that does this to me. Too bad. I would have ranked Portal a lot higher if Valve didn't have it in for me. But they do, so I didn't.
42. Braid (XBLA)
Braid's painterly 2D graphics had me excited for it from the word go, but I was still pretty floored by just how good the whole package turned out to be. With its dreamy soundtrack and devilishly clever time warping puzzle-platform gameplay, It blew away every other XBLA game at the time. Braid also has what is without a doubt my favorite plot twist in video game history, and just the thought of it still drops my jaw. Funny thing is, after I wanked over screenshots but before I actually played the game, I had the misfortune of seeing an interview with the appropriately named Jonathan Blow. He came across as such a twat that I swore off buying his stupid game. Boy, am I glad I have no willpower!
41. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Take a survey to find out which Zelda is the best, and Ocarina of Time is sure to win. There's usually enough deviants in the sample to put Majora's Mask in second place, then Wind Waker, and some slow-in-the-mind will probably even nominate Link's Crossbow Training. But they're all wrong. It's this one.
40. Ultima VI: The False Prophet (PC)
Check out the Avatar's face. If it looks like he's stifling a laugh, that's because he's thinking of all the ridiculous things he can get up to over the course of this game: slaying random villagers and duking it out with the guards, stealing everything that isn't nailed down, trying to talk his way into the pants of everyone he meets, and of course, everyone's all time favorite Ultima activity of trying to kill Lord British. It was GTA long before there was a GTA. Plus there was a story about gargoyles, but I never found out what was up with that, what with all the gypsy prostitutes I had to bang and the hot air balloons that needed riding... it's tough being the savior of Britannia!
