Chapter 9: 11-01

Chrono Cross
[Square-Enix - PlayStation - 2000]

We had to wait five years for an actual sequel to the Super NES classic Chrono Trigger, but the wait was worth it. Chrono Cross takes place 20 years (I believe) after the first Chrono Trigger. With all new characters and storylines, Chrono Cross throws you into one big "what if" scenario. What if all the decisions you didn't make exisit in another world? That's what's done in Chrono Cross. The main character, Serge, finds himself in an almost alternate reality after passing out on the shore of a beach. No one knows who he is, because in this world, he died in a drowning. From there, many strange things start happening, where things in the alternate world start affecting the real world you were in. It's a very complex, but involving story that takes over 50 hours to complete. On top of that, the battle system gets an upgrade, and a lot of strategy of where you place your attacks and moves could make a difference in your success and failure. Like Chrono Trigger, this is the RPG game for people who don't like RPG's. It's pretty easy to get into, and very hard to put down.

Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
[Nintendo - Super NES - 1992]

A Link To The Past is my favorite game in the Zelda series. It's a very tight, polished and memorable adventure game that I always like going back to. In a way, it goes back to the very first Zelda on the NES, but throws in a lot more items, characters, castles and bosses. And like Ocarina Of Time, there are two different worlds to go through, except here your age doesn't change. Link To The Past is the best Zelda game in the series because it's just fun to play. There doesn't seem to be a lot of complications and skill needed in this game as we saw in OOT.

Mega Man 3
[Capcom - NES - 1990]

It was hard picking the best Mega Man game in the series, and I know that the MM games I would have like to have seen on the list didn't make it on here. Mega Man 3 is pretty much the standout title of the series despite the fact that it seems a little stranger than the other games in the series. For one, the translation wasn't that good, as what dialouge was there were odd sentence fragments. Also, the game didn't seem to know when to end. I think there was one final Wily boss too many in this game. But the game also had it's share of memorable and enduring characters, such as Protoman and Rush. The bosses were pretty good as well, which included Spark Man, Magnet Man, Shadow Man and Gemini Man. And the addition of the Mega Man 2 robot bosses really kept the game going. Plus, personally, this game stands out more than the other games in the series.

Super Mario 64
[Nintendo - Nintendo 64 - 1996]

Super Mario 64 marks as one of the most succesful transitions from 2-D to 3-D in gaming hisotry. Although the game takes place from a new perspective, almost everything about the old platform Mario games still stayed intact. Mario 64 was also a pretty revolutionary title, as it was one of the first 3-D games to give players a great sense of exploration, wether by on foot, in air, or underwater. This was the perfect game to show off a new realm of entertainment, to show what a difference a 3-D environment makes, and yet still be fun and entertaining.

Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
[Sony Computer Entertainment - PlayStation 2 - 2001]

GT3 was pretty much the only reason I wanted a PS2. Originally, GT3 was going to be nothing more than an enhanced version of Gran Turismo 2. But, luckily more time was spent on the title to make it the most engaging and fully-loaded racing game to ever hit the market. I'm not sure how many hours I poured into this game, I would say well over 60 hours, but each time I would play, I would always find some new car to modify, a new championship to take part of or even dare to go for the endurance race. There is so much to do in this game, and the only time I stopped playing is when my fingers started to hurt. The Gran Turismo series is practically the only simulation series that matters.

Metoid Prime
[Nintendo - Nintendo Gamecube - 2002]

Like Super Mario 64, Metroid Prime is another game that successfully jumped from 2-D to 3-D. Metroid Prime also felt very much like Super Metroid, with exploration was mixed in with action. Prime is also a good example of how you can pretty much have one world to explore that isn't bogged down by load times for each new area you want to explore. While Metroid Prime looks like a first person shooter, it would almost be a mistake to call it just that, because it doesn't feel like a traditional first-person shooter at all. Sure, almost everything is viewed from a first-person stance, but the way the world is layed out, as well as the amount of exploration you become involved in really doesn't match what we think of FPS titles. Although it's close to becomming the best in the Metroid series, it does stand as the best game on the Gamecube thus far.

GoldenEye 007
[Nintendo - Nintendo 64 - 1997]

GoldenEye 007 is the first-person shooter that has pretty much set the gold standard of how a first-person shooter should be. GoldenEye is far from just being a run and gun game like Doom. GoldenEye was pretty much the first console FPS to throw in some strategy and stealth elements. The best way the succeeed is not to go with all guns blazing, but being as quiet and discrete as possible, like Bond himself. On top of that, GoldenEye also broght the concept of having multiple goals to achieve during a stage. It wasn't just find the "red key" anymore. You had to avoid killing or protect certain people, destroy certain objects or transmit data from a computer. It added a lot of complexity to what was starting to become a generic genre. Even today, some shooters are still compared to GoldenEye, and that's a comparison that money just can't buy. It also proved that games based upon movie licenses don't have to suck, and can actually be great experiences. Oh, and let's not forget about the multiplayer mode, which is also something we have really never seen in a console shooter before. GoldenEye didn't invent the FPS genre, but it sure did improve it.

Chrono Trigger
[Square-Enix - Super NES - 1995]

Chrono Trigger is the RPG game for people who don't like RPG's. I was never into the genre. There was so much time spent on needless and random battles, and they always seem to lack action. But after buying this from a pawn shop years ago for $15, I figure I would try it, since I've heard from some people on how good it was. Pretty much the best $15 I ever spent, because Chrono Trigger really changed my mind on how I look at RPG's. The design was different, and friendlier than other games. Battles didn't seem to happen at random, as you could see most of the enemies you come across. The battle system was user friendly as well, where your choices and menus seemed less cryptic than other games in the genre. Then there's the story, which was very involving. I was suprised that I actually completed this game from start to finish, which is something I never imagined myself doing in an RPG. If there was one RPG series that could bring the genre to the masses, the Chrono series would be it.

Super Mario Bros.
[Nintendo - NES - 1985]

Super Mario Bros. is the game that pretty much put Nintendo on the map and revitalized the gaming industry after the crash a couple of years prior. After nearly 20 years of it's U.S. debut, Super Mario Bros. is still one of those games that can stand the test of time. It's as fun as it was in 1985 as it is in 2004. The game design is simple, yet almost brilliant. Unlike the games of the Atari 2600, Super Mario Bros. action was not just stuck to one screen, but rather these stages would have a start and a beginning. And each stage was different as well. SMB was the birth of a huge and successful franchsie, one that Nintendo can't do without.

Super Mario Bros. 3
[Nintendo - NES - 1990]

What could be better than the Super Mario Bros. ? Super Mario Bros. 3, of course. This is pretty much the only game in videogame history that had a movie built around it ("The Wizard"). It's release was so anticipated, we just couldn't stand it. When it debuted, it was pretty much everything we wanted. Well, battery back-up would have been nice. But it was a whole new experience. All new levels, all new enemies, all new items and all new strategies. This is what we expected after being somewhat disappointed by the design change of SMB2. You can now fly in the air, find new secrets, and use new "suit" to give you the upper hand in certain stages. Not only that, but you can also store items you get and use them for certain stages. This is pretty much the best and most memorable Mario game in the series.

Super Metroid
[Nintendo - Super NES - 1994]

The #1 game on the list is in fact, Super Metroid. Perhaps some of you were expecting that. But what better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Super Metroid than to declare it the #1 game in the 9x99? This game had everything, better graphics than previous versions, better gameplay, more exploration, a great atmosphere, great sound and so much more. Super Metroid is pretty much the ideal videogame, since it covers every area very well. It's one that's fun and exciting to play. One that encourages some exploration, and find every secret it has to offer. Although Metroid Prime is a very impressive entry in the series, Super Metroid still remains the standout games in the series. It was a game that you would play through more than once to see how much faster you can complete the game, or to see how many of the items you found. It was just the right amount of length, and the right amount of difficulty. There really hasn't been another game that is as well balanced as Super Metroid, and that's why it's #1.

Well slap my face and call me sugar! We've reached the end of the 9x99! I hope you've enjoyed this special, and if you didn't, well that's your problem. If you still have a craving for lists (damn, 99 wasn't enough for you?), head on over to the Top 11 section. If you want to get out of here, well, grab a shovel and start diggin'! Or, well, you can click on the link below:

I've fallen and I can't get up!

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