Big M's Videogame Picks of 98'

Hey gang, and although this is a bit late I'm going to tell you my recomendations for 98'. Please don't gather an angry mob if your favorite game isn't on my list. I haven't played everything this year sadly and what is hear is just opinion. These aren't in any particular order.

Metal Gear Solid

There's not much that I need to say here, this game kicks @$$ and then immediately afterwards kicks some more. It is well thought out and cinematic. The gameplay is suberb. A definate keeper.

Zelda: The Ocarina of Time

This is another well thought out game. This is the best game that is free roaming 3d that feels just right. The camera is perfect and the game preserves the 2d feel of the original. Those who say this is the best ever may be right. A must have.

Pokemon

This is my favorite RPG this year. Although it is simple, it is addictive and it brings back fond memories of Earthbound. The battle system is cool with all the Pokemon there to use and it isn't the usual lone ranger RPG fare because you can trade with others and battle thier Pokemon too. This is all great and the game is portible too. Gotta catch em all.

1080 Snowboarding

This game does seem a bit rushed, but this does not affect the gameplay, it could just use a few more courses. What is there is really well designed and the multiple routes filled with great places to get air and do tricks. There is a tremendous feeling of speed. Multiplayer is fun too and is my favorite two player multiplayer contest. It is the best extreme sports console game so far

Dead or Alive

Some may prefer the Tekken series, but this is more my cup of tea. I'm more a fan of the Virtua fighter combat system and this is as close as it gets on the good old Playstation. The control is responsive, the graphics are sharp, the frame rates are fast, the moves are abundant, and the chicks are... you know, just look in the options menu.

F-Zero X

Ah, another game to quench my addiction of fast frame rates. This baby even screeches in four player mode and is second only to Goldeneye multiplayer. The control is good and has to be for the insane winding tracks and this is a worthy sequel to the original. There is an infinite number of tracks due to the random track generator that can be opened up. Vrroooooooooom!

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

When this was first released I could not believe it was a Gameboy game. It has so much depth. The graphics were good, but they are great now with the color makeover. It also has an extra dungeon.

Gameboy color

The little system that just won't die has just gotten better. This system, unlike others, evolves. I won't die like many, more powerful systems. It has gone from to the original, to the Color Gameboy (you know, the one with the color casing),to the Super Gameboy, to the Gameboy Pocket, to the backlit Gameboy (in Japan anyway), to this marvel. This makes all of those old side scrolling games that were plagued with screen blur very playable. It has more powerful for that the other versions and it will soon show with upcoming games made specifically for it. It amazingly does all of this with only two AA batteries for twelve hours. Simply amazing.

Other stuff:

Like I said earlier I haven't had a lot of playtime on everything, but I still recommend everyone checking out Turok 2, Xenogears, Tomba, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Castilvania, Warioland 2, and Crash Bandicoot: WARPED. If you don't have Goldeneye, find it and deathmatch like crazy. Don't forget to scower the bargain bins for games like Wipeout XL and Ball Blazer Champions.

-Big Miguel Sanchez