SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (80-71)

On June 5, SuperPhillip Central turned five years old. We're celebrating big the only way we know how, with a list of our favorite 100 games of all time. SuperPhillip Central's staff has come together to come up with this list. These don't necessarily have to be the best, but they are indeed our favorites. Coming up with an order for these games has been an immense challenge. We're sure you won't agree with our order-- heck, we don't even agree with our order. That said, we hope you'll at least agree with our picks, and if you don't, at least you can read our rationale for our choices. Regardless, for ten weeks, we will be counting down our favorite games of all time. Please join us for this great undertaking. Let's get to the countdown!

80) Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

Kicking off the Year of Luigi (and part three of our ten-part countdown) in style, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon delivered on the thrills and chills when it released earlier this year. The game did away with playing through and exploring just one mansion, and opted for multiple mansions and a mission-based structure. We couldn't have been happier with this change, as it offered much more depth, much more fun, and much more replay value. The addition of online and local multiplayer only further added to the latter. Dark Moon was a graphical showcase of the 3DS' power, and also a showcase of just how well Next Level Games can create an overly fantastic piece of software with the right guidance. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is an essential purchase for any Nintendo 3DS owner.

79) Advance Wars: Dual Strike (DS)

The third entry in the Advance Wars series and the first to debut on the Nintendo DS, Advance Wars: Dual Strike was a turn-based tactical RPG that put players in the role of one of many colorful and whimsical commanding officers across multiple armies. The goal of Advance Wars was always to eliminate enemy forces with your own swath of units. The strategy came from using the right unit type, as each unit type had its own unit types it was weak and strong against. The Dual Strike in Advance Wars: Dual Strike referred to the capability of using two commanding officers instead of the traditional single commanding officer in battle. The dynamic of battles shifted dramatically because of this. We view Dual Strike as the greatest installment of the Advance Wars series, possessing more maps, more challenge, and more fun than ever before.

78) Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2, XBX, PC)

Taking a part of what makes Star Wars so fascinating-- the epic scale battles-- and making an entire game out of them was a hefty task, but it was pulled off with Star Wars: Battlefront. Playing as a Rebel or Empire soldier, pilot, or Storm Trooper, weaving in and out of laser fire and explosions, and doing your best to capture as many enemy bases and command posts as possible were tasks that Battlefront gave players. There was nothing better than getting a massive kill streak going and feeling like you could take on all comers and blast them down. From fighting on the moon of Endor to gunning down Storm Troopers on the icy surface of planet Hoth, Star Wars: Battlefront was a stellar addition to the Star Wars game universe.

77) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (ARC, SNES)

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles recently reentered pop culture with an all-new Nickolodeon computer-animated cartoon, and soon they will have their own Michael Bay feature film. That last one you can happily ignore, though. Regardless, back in the day, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were, as the kids say, tight. You could not go anywhere without seeing TMNT merchandise, movies, TV shows, action figures, and so forth. That continued into video games, and the best one ever featuring those heroes in a half shell released on the Super Nintendo after debuting in arcades. Turtles in Time was an old-fashioned beat-em-up. While these games tend to be linear and short, Turtles in Time was so much fun that one could not help but play through it again and again, especially if you had your favorite buds around to enjoy the game with.

76) Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (GCN)

A project that would not have been possible without Shigeru Miyamoto and Silicon Knights, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was a GameCube exclusive remake of the original Metal Gear Solid. The remake featured all-new cutscenes, beautifully done upgraded visuals, and gameplay improvements to make the title less clunky as a whole. The latter made for a much grander and less frustrating experience. For instance, players could not fire in first-person mode. In addition to that, enemy AI was updated to balance the inclusion of the first-person viewpoint. Some claim the new perspective made for a game that was easier, perhaps too easy. While we can understand that, we still stand by the opinion that The Twin Snakes is the definitive version of the first Metal Gear Solid game.

75) F-Zero X (N64)

F-Zero set the standard for speed on the Super Nintendo. F-Zero X on the Nintendo 64 made futuristic racing on tracks that twisted, turned, and looped very popular. One of the only games on the N64 to run at a fluid 60 frames per second, F-Zero X blew past the competition and is still one of the greatest futuristic racers to date. Having thirty racers dueling it out for first place supremacy, spinning and slamming your vehicle into others, boosting past the competition at manic speeds, and trying not only to win but to simply survive, F-Zero X was a game that made our adrenaline pump and our bodies tingle with excitement. Speaking of F-Zero, stay tuned for a retro review this week regarding the original F-Zero.

74) Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

The latest in the Kirby franchise, Kirby's Return to Dream Land offered four player simultaneous play, something that became something popular on the Wii (and we loved every minute of it). Being able to play as Kirby, Waddle Dee, Metaknight, or King Dedede made for some frantic and fun multiplayer action. The game contained seven worlds, each with multiple creatively-designed levels and a concluding boss battle to top each world off. Energy Spheres were the optional collectibles that players could nab in order to unlock hidden content, and after beating the game, an all-new EX Mode was unlocked, giving players harder enemies to deal with and less health to work with. Kirby's Return to Dream Land was a project that was scrapped and rebuilt time and time again, and we're very happy and satisfied with how the final product finally turned out.

73) Kingdom Hearts (PS2)

Combining the serious world of Final Fantasy with the often happy-go-lucky world of Disney seemed like an odd feat to do. However, Square Enix and Disney proved that they were more than capable of performing such a task. The end result was Kingdom Hearts, the first in a series of action-RPG games featuring a wide array of Final Fantasy characters and Disney all-stars all together in one game. We feel that the original Kingdom Hearts stands head and shoulders above every sequel and spin-off that followed it. It had a much less convoluted story, a less obnoxious and tedious beginning, and the right mix of platforming and action RPG fun. What better time to revisit Kingdom Hearts now that the third installment in the series is due for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One!

72) Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)

Prior to Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman games ranged from awful to good. Seldom, if ever, did a Batman game get deemed as masterful. That all changed with Batman: Arkham Asylum. A team that hadn't done much to distinguish itself (or make a great game), Rocksteady, managed to create one of the best superhero games of all time. The Metroid-like structure, where Batman earned new gadgets to allow him to explore new areas of the Arkham Asylum grounds, was a much welcomed inclusion to the formula of the game. Perhaps the only major gripe to be had with Arkham Asylum was the tacked on final boss battle that did not really serve as something that fit with the style of the game.

71) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, GCN)

We round out part three of our list of 100 favorite games with a Wii launch title, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The game debuted at E3 2004 with thunderous applause and cheering. Tears were literally shed by some people. Go figure, huh. Anyway, the final product featured some of the greatest dungeons in series history, a large expansive world to explore, and some incredible boss battles. The Wii version is a mirrored take on the GameCube iteration. What we mean is that the world of Twilight Princess on Wii is flipped compared to the GameCube version (e.g. a destination that was west is now east, and vice versa). The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess also introduced Wolf Link into the picture, a darker tone and setting, and one of the most enjoyable companions to Link, Midna. Twilight Princess might have its share of problems (like the long-winded opening tutorial sequence), but overall it was a fantastic addition to the historic series.

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That concludes part three of SuperPhillip Central's list of our favorite 100 games. Make sure you are back here next Wednesday for games 70-61 of our countdown!

Best Boss Battles in Gaming History - Part Seven

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

We cannot believe it has been over a year since we last took a look at our favorite boss fights of all time. We're sure you're wanting to catch up, so you can see all six past installments at the end of this article. Some argue that boss battles are too old school for modern games. Something that strives to be akin to a blockbuster like Call of Duty or Killzone probably shouldn't have boss battles in them, but if it's an RPG or a platformer, then sure, why not? For us, it all comes down to what the type of game is. These five boss battles that we've selected are ones that were fun to play, awesome to see, and/or just too damn entertaining to put into words. Regardless, we've gone ahead and done the futile task of putting these fights into words. We hope you enjoy our selections. After we're done, why not mention some of your own?

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Kirby's Latest and Greatest (?) Edition

It's the start of another work week (but for me it's Fall Break), so you know what that means! It's time for another installment of SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs! Kirby celebrates his 20th anniversary this year, so I figured it would be an opportune time to dedicate an edition of the VGMs to him. His latest brand-new console release was last year's Kirby's Return to Dream Land on the Wii. I originally gave the game an 8.75, but playing it again I found myself enjoying it a whole lot more. Regardless, we have five tracks to represent that game. Let's begin, shall we?

v216. Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - Cookie Country

The entire soundtrack of Kirby's Return to Dream Land was composed by Hirokazo Ando and Jun Ishikawa, veterans of the franchise. The opening world of the game is Cookie Country, an area full of verdant plains, lush forests, and even a cave or two here and there. The world introduces a majority of the gameplay elements that inhabit Kirby's 2011 adventure. This theme is an uptempo tune with plenty of happy happenstance to go along with it. It is a song fitting for the relaxing stroll through the country.

v217. Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - Beach Area

An updated version of Kine the Fish's theme song, this beach theme from the third world in Return to Dream Land welcomes players to an area of clear blue water, sandy shores, and palm trees. Kine the Fish debuted in Kirby's Dream Land 2, one of the more difficult games in the series if you wished to nab that all-impressive 100% completion percentage.

v218. Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - Key Challenge

I don't know what it is about this bonus stage theme, but it always manages to put a smile on my face. From the opening guitar synth to the quirky melody, there is something special to enjoy with this Key Challenge theme. Many bonus areas of Return to Dream Land possess energy spheres, the collectibles of the game. Gathering as many as possible opens up new challenge stages within the Lor Starcutter ship. These challenge stages give Kirby (and the players that control him) mastery of a given power.

v219. Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - Steel Station

We have a percussive ambiance of factory noises alongside a rocking guitar to drive the theme of Steel Station, one of the level themes of the penultimate world in Kirby's Return to Dream Land. While earlier levels featured cutesy and happy-go-lucky themes, you know you're getting serious when this sixth world level song plays. This is all the while running on conveyor belts and avoiding being crushed by platforms.

v220. Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) - Infinite Power

One thing I did not mention is that the song titles are by no means official. There is no full official soundtrack, so what you have been hearing is a game rip. Why Nintendo cannot come out with full official soundtracks for people who obviously would buy them is beyond me. Nonetheless, we have the theme of one of the final levels in Return to Dream Land, set in an otherworldly volcano. Just like the previous song's serious tone, we have another track that tells the player that they're in it till the end.

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That concludes this edition of my favorite VGMs. Next week we will have a game that is a PlayStation Portable remake of a Super Nintendo game. The remake is considered by many (yours truly) as very much superior to its original. Can you guess what it is? You'll know the answer for sure next week! Until then, check out my VGMs Database for every song I have put in the spotlight since the beginning of this year.

Classics I Can Return To - Part Four

We've had three segments taking a look at games that I constantly come back to despite age. Now we have seven more titles that keep calling my name and I keep answering. That is what Classics I Can Return To is all about -- games that I replay every so often on a consistent basis. After you've taken a look at my picks, why not name some of your games that you can't stop playing regardless of how many new titles start building up on your backlog? 

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

This game was named handheld game of the year in my best of 2011 awards. It is none other than Super Mario 3D Land. Starting off, the game is deceptively easy, while also showing some intelligent level design. However, once you finish the first eight worlds, you are greeted with eight more much more fiendishly crafted worlds. Super Mario 3D Land is a near perfect combination of the traditional 2D Super Mario Bros. gameplay and the 3D movement of games like Super Mario 64 and Sunshine. It's so easy to come back to the game, finding missing Star Coins, doing levels with and without the Tanooki Suit, aiming for top times, reaching the top of each flagpole in each level, and mastering Mario and Luigi's move sets. I would love to see a sequel with ideas that were cut out from the game a la Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Rayman Origins (Multi)

I am currently in the middle of a cooperative play-through with my older brother. While I don't believe this total platforming package is better than New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Rayman Origins is still in the upper echelon of run and jump games. It's always fun to make daredevil dives for Lums and medallions, to dash through levels as fast as possible, to slap your co-op partner across the screen, and to assign tasks to a friend or family member for maximum efficiency. From the standard levels which are already challenging to the precision platforming-based chest-chasing levels, Rayman Origins has a lot of platforming peril that it throws in players' ways. On top of the gameplay glory is an art style that is picture perfect. Sure, it's off-putting to many people in an age where the broodier and bloodier the better, but for those who aren't so shallow, Rayman Origins makes for a thumping good time.

Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA) 

When I had my Xbox 360, one of my favorite downloadable titles on it was Banjo-Kazooie, a Nintendo 64 classic. It was great on the Nintendo 64, but it was made even better on Xbox Live Arcade. Not only was the game in glorious high-definition, but one of the annoying elements of the N64 version was remedied in the XBLA game. In the N64 game, you had to collect all 100 musical notes in a given level in one go, and if you died, you had to start from the beginning again. In the XBLA game, you can die as many times as you want, and your musical note total in a level will remain the same. No dying in the engine room of Rusty Bucket Bay and having to restart your note collection. I find Banjo-Kazooie to be a game that is mightily more marvelous than the game it was modeled after, Super Mario 64. There is a better arsenal of moves, I enjoy the presentation (music and aesthetics) more, I like the levels, and I just adore Banjo's first adventure more.

Perfect Dark (N64, XBLA)

I have a bit of a conundrum. I want to play Perfect Dark on Xbox Live Arcade, but my 360 got the dreaded Red Ring of Death (hey, y'know, things break). I don't want to buy a new one because of one game. Regardless, I still play the original Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64, despite knowing that the Xbox Live Arcade remake is Perfect Dark perfected with a steadier framerate and adding online play to an already-superior-to-most-games multiplayer mode. The game took the GoldenEye 007 approach to its missions with multiple objectives that needed to be completed. Failing an objective generally meant failing the mission. But by far the coolest part of Perfect Dark which I already mentioned is the Combat Simulator, offering bots (why most Halo games can't even do that is beyond me), loads of customization, large-scale and greatly designed maps, and much, much more. It is the perfect first-person shooter to me.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

While there is some slowdown in the PSP port of Final Fantasy Tactics, this game is my preferred means to play the classic PlayStation era turn-based RPG because of the added playable characters, portability, and ability to shut the game off and resume it at a later time with a flip of the PSP's On and Off switch. Final Fantasy Tactics is already a brilliant game, and the aforementioned features of The War of the Lions make for an even more brilliant title. I adore nearly everything about the game: the job system, the means to learn abilities, magic, and summons, the story, the plot twists, the music, the fierce battles, and so much more. Perhaps the only thing I don't like about the game is saving in the middle of two battles only to find out that you're severely underleveled for the second battle and are screwed since you already saved and can't go back to the world map. Curse you, Wiegraf!

Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

Perhaps I'm returning to this game to celebrate the pink puffball's 20th anniversary, but Kirby's latest adventure, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, took place on the Nintendo Wii, and like Rayman Origins, it offered up to four players being able to join in with some platforming fun. The normal campaign is relatively easy to complete, sure, but once you reach the Extra campaign, things get much more challenging. Kirby and friends have less health to work with, alternate dimension areas scroll much faster, and bosses become difficult. Kirby's Return to Dream Land sports a colorful and whimsical art style, though it does not compare to that seen in Kirby's Epic Yarn. Despite this, Return to Dream Land is the better game, and honestly one of the better games in the entire series. Playing it alone or with a friend is quite the treat, and because of this, it is a reason I keep coming back to it.

Animal Crossing series (GCN, DS, Wii)

The above pictures came from my old Animal Crossing: City Folk data.

Animal Crossing is an odd franchise. Never before did doing ordinary things and chores seem so much fun. Collecting bugs, catching fish, planting and watering flowers, paying off a debt to a raccoon, upgrading a house, renovating the interior of said house with wallpaper, flooring, and furniture, making friends with the locals, and doing a whole bunch of other tasks might sound menial to the casual observer, but once you get hooked into the world of Animal Crossing, it can be hard to stop. City Folk was slammed by some by being too similar to Wild World. Well, Nintendo took that criticism to heart as their upcoming 3DS game is changing things greatly. As a big fan of Nintendo's life simulation game, I eagerly anticipate the newest entry in the Animal Crossing series.

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There you have seven more games that despite having new games in my collection to review, I still occasionally come back to. If you missed a previous installment, check out one of these past three parts:

Classics I Can Return To - Part One
Classics I Can Return To - Part Two
Classics I Can Return To - Part Three

Top Ten Local Co-op Games

Two new articles in one day? Well, I wasn't planning on writing the first one which regards a certain loathsome article, so consider that a bonus.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is releasing on the Nintendo 3DS this Sunday in North America. It's a big release as it is most likely following Nintendo's philosophy of putting only one New Super Mario Bros. game per platform. One of the features of the game aside from its gold-digging coin-collecting mechanic is the ability for two players with two 3DS systems and a copy of the game (one game for each person) to play cooperatively with one another through all of NSMB2's levels.

Co-op is the subject of this list. Sure, it's fun to play alone, but what about when you're feeling lonely and/or want a companion to play through a game with? There's always online nowadays, but what about old school gaming experiences? Well, I'm no therapist to help with your loneliness issues, but how about this list of ten games which are some of my favorite locally cooperative titles across numerous platforms? Will your favorites be listed?

10) Super Double Dragon (SNES)

This isn't just Double Dragon. No, it's Super Double Dragon. This side-scrolling brawler was a favorite of mine as a Super Nintendo kid. I am quite sure now I would be more of a Streets of Rage kind of kid had I played the game back then. Regardless, the fistfights against the Shadow Warriors gang with Billy and Jimmy were simple enough. Alongside the kicks, punches, and jumps, players could block attacks. With the appropriate timing, enemies could be put into an armbar, leaving them prone to assaults by your partner. However, even playing counter-cooperatively was fun as you instantly killed your teammate by chucking a knife at them. Ah, the glory days...

9) Resident Evil 5 (PS3, 360)

Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar head to an African village to investigate the mysterious occurrences and biological threat going on there. For the first time ever in the series, there was cooperative play. Two players could control Chris and Sheva, mowing down Majini, guarding each other's backs, and resuscitating their fallen comrades. The game could be played online, but the most fun I had came from local play via split screen. There was also an option for system link gameplay. With two players, running, gunning, and taking out B.O.W.s made for a highly entertaining time.

8) Secret of Mana (SNES)

Sort of like The Legend of Zelda if the games had full RPG elements (e.g. leveling up, stat boosts, etc.), Secret of Mana is a top-down action-RPG where swords, shields, and magic clash in epic real-time confrontations in a fantasy world. Co-op play was not available at the beginning of the game as you only had the hero to work with, but when the first party member joined, the option opened up and good times were had. There is nothing like working together to overcome a foreboding foe.

7) LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)

Not just a platform game but a platform for games, LittleBigPlanet 2 stirred the inner game designer in most of its players. Millions of levels from the first game were transferred over to the sequel, fully editable and able to play. Taking a friend through the story mode or just messing about in some of the created levels by players across the world were some of the activities that could be done. Outside of the platforming elements, you could play various mini-games manufactured using the game's exhaustive amount of tools. Not knowing if the next level you'd enter would be astonishing or awful always possessed a great amount of fun. You could spend dozens of hours exploring the uncharted world of LittleBigPlanet 2 locally with up to three other friends (though you could also play online).

6) Gears of War (360)

My excitement for the Gears of War series sort of fell off a metaphorical cliff with the second installment. The online was absolutely atrocious at the time, and that put me off completely, as did the forced dramatic elements. Regardless, I still hold high regard for the first game in the series, a title that redefined the third-person shooter experience, and one that other developers have been drawing inspiration from since. Playing the game with a buddy is a fulfilling experience, especially on later difficulties as you inch closer and closer to reaching that once futile-feeling checkpoint. Then the grind to master the next section of the act occurs and the cycle continues. But darn if it isn't a blast even in failure. Though, that vehicle section can burn in hell.

5) Gunstar Heroes (GEN) 

Gunstar Heroes is well-known title within hardcore gaming circles as a side scrolling shooter full of sensational boss battles, fast and frenzied gameplay, and multiple levels of accelerated action. A selection of four starting weapons can be obtained, but they can be combined for over a dozen different combinations. The game is enjoyable alone, of course, but the true fun comes when the Gunstar twin brothers team up to dish out some pain. The fast pace of Gunstar Heroes and the reflex-driven gameplay make the game a great one if you are an adrenaline junkie.

4) Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii)

The most recent game on this list of ten, Kirby's Return to Dream Land is one of my favorite Kirby games in the franchise's history. The ability to play with four players matches well with the wonderful level design, ease of difficulty (but don't be mistaken -- the game does get challenging, especially on EX Mode), and cute, cuddly, and colorful worlds. The four characters that can be controlled play very much differently from one another. You have Kirby who can inhale enemies and take their powers; Waddle Dee who has a spear that can cut ropes holding platforms up and that can attack through walls; Meta Knight who is skillful with his sword; and King Dedede who can wallop foes and pound wooden stakes down with his hammer. Players can ride one another like a moving totem pole of destruction, and Kirby can inhale teammates and blast them out at opponents. Playing with friends makes certain parts of Return to Dream Land much more manageable (particularly secret areas). It's one of the defining local multiplayer titles I have played this generation.

3) Perfect Dark (N64)

Coming from the first-person shooter that I enjoyed the most by far, Rare's Nintendo 64 wonder, Perfect Dark, took the formula that GoldenEye planted and expanded on it exponentially with awesome level design, cooler weapons, a massively greater multiplayer experience, and yes, cooperative play. Moving through the individual levels, splitting up objectives between friends to achieve the best amount of efficiency possible (which required some cunning strategy to pull off effectively), and rescuing each other when firefights get a tad too heated, Perfect Dark's co-op play is as remarkable as the game itself.

2) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES)

The best side scrolling brawler in arcades took things to the home with the Super Nintendo's TMNT IV: Turtles in Time. Konami was on a mission with this game. They fit the experience of the arcade game and they fixed and refined it for home console use. And they made a better game for it (even with the inability to play with four people). The levels like fighting off Foot Soldiers in the Technodrome, a city alley, and a Big Apple skyscraper under construction were absolutely memorable. Chucking your first Foot Soldier into the screen or tossing them left and right like a ragdoll made for some hilarious moments. Turtles in Time is a game that you don't just beat once and shelve it. No, you continue coming back to it as it is a source of endless entertainment.

1) New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

My favorite local cooperative game of all time is without a doubt New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I consider the game to be on par if not better than even the most classic Mario titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. The addition of up to four players in multiplayer allowed friends and family members to move through the worlds of New Super Mario Bros. Wii in ways never seen before. You could be a help (allowing another player to bounce off your head to reach a hard-to-nab Star Coin), or you could be a hindrance (pushing your friend off a platform and into a lava). This is the type of experience that would be impossible and pointless if players couldn't touch one another. Effective speed runs meant all players needed to be firing on all cylinders, rushing through obstacle-laden courses, making perfectly timed jumps, and having stragglers "bubble it up" if they were eaten the leader's dust. A terrific game on its own, but a marvelous multiplayer title, New Super Mario Bros. Wii takes the gold medal for local cooperative experiences.

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There are several other games I wanted to put on this list but decided against such as Gauntlet, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Perfect Dark Zero, Halo 3, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and Rayman Origins. What are some of your favorite co-op titles of all time? Let your voice be heard below.