Chapter 6: 44-34

Silent Hill 2
[Konami - PS2/Xbox - 2001]

While Silent Hill 2 lacks the sense of urgency presented in the first game, it's still a great game, and boasts better and creepier graphics than the first. The plot is also a bit more twisted, as well as the characters that you meet in the deserted town. There's a mystery to why you're in this god-forsaken town, and the secret lies within.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
[Nintendo - Super NES - 1995]

Yoshi's Island is perhaps a stranger departure in the Mario series than Super Mario Bros. 2. In this game, Mario is a baby who is lost, and it's up to the village of Yoshi's to protect him. You'll make your way through puzzle-filled action stages, huge bosses and many secrets to guide Mario home. Oh, if you're not careful, Mario could be dismounted from Yoshi and emit probably one of the most obnoxious cries ever made. Mario World 2 is a much more challenging and cerebral approach to the traditional 2-D games in the series past.

Illusion Of Gaia
[Nintendo - Super NES - 1994]

Illusion Of Gaia is one of those games that people did or didn't like. Sure, the Enix-developed adventure was pretty similar of a Zelda game, and it's an adventure game that seemed more linear than other games. But Gaia had a very tight and involving storyline with some pretty good gameplay, and a variety of loactions to travel through. Perhaps not the most original design or concept, but it's one that was executed very well, and made for one of the more memorable gameplay experiences I've had.

Mega Man 4
[Capcom - NES - 1991]

You may be scratching your head and wondering why Mega Man 4 is on the list again. The Mega Man IV in the #68 spot was on the Game Boy system, this entry applies to the NES version. Mega Man 4 is probably where the series started to start to slouch in terms of creativity, but it's design remains as one of the better ones made. Mega Man 4 is pretty much a very solid Mega Man game, and made up for the slight hectic sloppiness of the final stages pulled off in Mega Man 3.

Galactic Pinball
[Nintendo - Virtual Boy - 1995]

Unless you are like me, and had to have every Nintendo system every made, chances are there is a majority of people who missed out on Galactic Pinball, which is pretty much the best game on the ill-fated Virtual Boy system. Galactic Pinball was a little different from pinball games done in the past, at least in video games. Instead of a ball, you had a "puck". Not sure why that decision was made, but it really doesn't change the concept of the game, it's still very much pinball. What's notable about this game is that the physics were almost dead-on, the puck reacted with a certain weight and force that you would expect with a real pinball table. If there was ever a reason to look for a Virtual Boy, this game would be it.

Super Monkey Ball 2
[Sega - Nintendo Gamecube - 2002]

If you thought the puzzle designs of the first SMB were crazy, wait until you see the insanity of Super Monkey Ball 2. With 150 brand new stages, guarnteed to make you drop your fair share of f-bombs, as well as 12 party games, Super Monkey Ball 2 may not only be one of the most challenging games, but one with unparalled replay value. It also strikes a perfect balance between a single player and multiplayer experience, where one experience is compromised for the other (like many of todays first-person shooters).

Galaga
[Namco - Arcade - 1981]

Even though Galaga is pretty simple compared to today's offerings, Namco's shooter is still a great game in the arcade or on the Namcomuseum compilation to play at home. It's still a lot more challenging to keep yourself alive here than it is in many other games, or even games in this genre.

Kirby's Adventure
[Nintendo - NES - 1993]

Kirby's Adventure is probably the best Kirby game I've played in the series. The graphics really pushed the NES hardware to deliver some sharp visuals, and the number of stages offered is great. Kirby's Adventure also offered a lot of variety when it came to the abillities to would get from your enemies, such as swords, blades, tornadoes, a ball and even a bomb. Another solid platformer in Nintendo's historical lineup of games.

Mega Man X2
[Capcom - Super NES - 1995]

Mega Man X2 pretty much stands out as the best game in the Mega Man X series. It was more challenging than the first MMX game, and had better bosses than future games in the series. Again, it was far from an original effort, but this entries is one of the best in the series lineup.

Tetrisphere
[Nintendo - Nintendo 64 - 1997]

Tetrisphere is just one of those games that you sit there and play longer than you would expect. As a soon-to-be-doomed Atari Jaguar game, Nintendo picked up the game from developer H20, and ended up with probably one of the last great puzzle games made. Tetrisphere wasn't a traditional Tetris game, as you really didn't clear "lines" to win, but line up at least three of the same pieces in a row to eliminate the pieces from the board. It sounds complicated, and even looks complicated, but thanks to a really good tutorial, you'll be hooked to Tetrisphere in minutes. Oh, and I forgot to mention it had a really great techno soundtrack. Another one of the "lost gems" of the N64 era.

San Francisco Rush 2049
[Midway - Dreamcast - 2000]

Although this was on the N64, as well as an arcade release, the Dreamcast version is really the standout in the crowd. The visuals were not only just like the arcade version, but actually better. Plus, unlike the N64 version, you didn't need an expansion pak or memory expansion to get the high-res visuals. But for the game itself, SF Rush 2049 improves the original SF Rush with more secrets, a pretty good (and dedicated) stunt mode, a new battle mode and some really great art direction. The future version of San Francisco is much more colorful and full of interesting new architecture, and yet still looks like the SF of today. If you want to play Rush 2049, the Dreamcast version is the only way to go. It's that good.

Take Me To Chapter 7, #33-23

1999-2003 SPM Creative Publishing