Top Ten NES Games

The NES celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in North America this past Sunday. This means that in ten years, the NES will start dating younger consoles like the PS2 because of its midlife crisis. It also means that SuperPhillip Central is here with a special top ten list, detailing the best games of Nintendo's first home console. There were a lot of games to scan through to compile this list, so no doubt some of your favorites aren't covered. That's just a testament to how great the NES library truly was. Now, without further ado, here's the list.

10) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project

While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game got a lot more hype due to it being a port of the ultra-popular arcade game, The Manhattan Project is preferred due to it being a wholly new game with interesting levels and environments, cooler action sequences such as boarding along the ocean waves, and a host of characters from the cartoon series that would make their only appearance in a TMNT game, such as Dirtbag and Groundchuck. Truth be told, SuperPhillip Central might be a little biased with this first top ten pick considering its love of the heroes in a half shell and beat-em-ups...

9) Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!

The fun of many NES games was continually seeing game over screens, but through doing so you increased your progress each time until you finally got to the end. Endings and credits sequences were earned in the NES generation, and a myriad of games put your finger-fu skills to the test. That first time you beat a game after many days, or maybe even months of practice, blood, sweat, and tears makes up for all the time you put into a game. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! was one of these types of games, offering a charming collection of national stereotypes to learn their attack patterns, when to dodge, when to thrust your fist into them, and how to knock them out.

8) DuckTales

Bless ye bagpipes with this unforgettable licensed gem from Capcom. The first DuckTales game on the NES was an embarrassment of riches so great that even Scrooge McDuck would be envious. With a choice of five levels full of treasure, jewels, and loot, multiple pathways, hidden rooms, and terrifying enemies, DuckTales' secret to success isn't much of a secret anymore. A very good remake of the game arrived a few years ago, but nothing can compare to the original for being an important part of many gamers' childhood.

7) Metroid

Players joined Samus Aran on her first mission on the planet Zebes, earning new abilities and weapons to reach deeper into the maze of rooms the planet possessed. Sure, the prospect of drawing your own maps to remember locations of items and simply how to get around the labyrinthine complex of hallways and chambers may seem archaic nowadays, but at the time it was like you were exploring an alien planet all on your own. That was the point of Metroid, and it succeeded and still does succeed at making you feel all alone and isolated as you journey through planet Zebes.

6) Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

This next game is just in time for Halloween! Playing as an ancestor to Simon Belmont, players assumed the role of Trevor as he entered the dark hallways and sinister chambers of Dracula's castle. With a nonlinear structure, players can choose their route to Dracula through a series of branching paths, consisting of 15 total levels. With refinements over past games like better controls, the aforementioned nonlinear level structure, and help from assist characters, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a marked improvement over its predecessors without a doubt, and it stands as one of the best games the NES has to offer.

5) Kirby's Adventure

The previous Kirby games were very short-lived affairs that provided plenty of replay value and fun to be worth going through more than once. The pink puffball's premiere title on the NES, Kirby's Adventure, provided not only color and a decently sized campaign, but it also was composed of levels with plenty of hidden goodies in them for completionists to enjoy. What it all boils down to is a game where Kirby could inhale enemies, take their powers, and obliterate King Dedede's forces with ease.

4) Mega Man 2

The first Mega Man game to come with the traditional eight Robot Masters, delivering memorable levels and accompanying boss battles, Mega Man 2 is often stated to be the best of the classic series. While SuperPhillip Central disagrees (although just slightly), you can't argue that Mega Man 2 isn't a superb entry in the Blue Bomber's illustrious gaming history, offering tight controls, wonderful environments, top-notch level design, and an ultra-catchy soundtrack.

3) Mega Man 3

It was hard to ascertain which Mega Man game out of 2 and 3 SuperPhillip Central would choose as the best, but after some thinking and deep soul-searching, it was concluded that Mega Man 3 was the better of the two most popular entries in the classic series. Keiji Inafune might have said that development for Mega Man 3 was rough, but you can't tell that with how good the game plays and how highly competent the level design is. The length of Mega Man 3 is a bit longer than its predecessors, and it doesn't feature a lame Dr. Wily boss battle like the one requiring the Crush Bomb.

2) The Legend of Zelda

"It's dangerous to go alone. Take this!" ...And thus, a franchise was born as a green-hatted hero picked up a sword from an elderly man. Growing up without the help of a map, The Legend of Zelda was like getting lost in a fantastical world full of danger but also mystery and intrigue as well. Never before had players seen such freedom in a game, and the Zelda series itself would never see such freedom again either. Coming across dungeons, solving puzzles, acquiring new items, and defeating savage beasts of enemies were all memorable experiences for players. The Legend of Zelda remains a sensational entry in the Zelda franchise, and it remains a terrific, timeless title.

1) Super Mario Bros. 3

It might seem blasphemous to not include the game that helped save the video game industry on a list of the best NES games, but there are so many other titles that outshine the original Super Mario Bros. However, its second sequel, Super Mario Bros. 3, lets no other game takes it spotlight. The game was a masterful work of ingenious level design, tight controls that felt just right, and imaginative worlds with a load of creative enemies and obstacles to occupy them. This was one game where I'd feel bad about skipping levels with a trick--in this case, the Warp Whistle-- because that meant I'd miss out on multiple engaging and entertaining ideas Super Mario Bros. 3 would deliver to me as a player. It's for all of these reasons why Super Mario Bros. 3 is SuperPhillip Central's top NES game.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - E3 2015 Edition

Man, this E3 so far has had it all-- "megaton" announcements of games you'd never expect to happen in a million years, cool reveals, great new IP, and glorious console zealot meltdowns, both positive and negative. None of the big three's conferences/showings really disappointed me, so I'd say it has been a terrific E3 thus far!

Let's do a special Tuesday edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs! I didn't want to post it yesterday because it would have been lost under all of the news coming out of E3. I think it's much safer to post my weekly listen to awesome video game music this evening instead.

It's a special occasion because this edition we're hitting the 900th VGM volume! It's unprecedented how much VGM goodness we've had over the years, and I have no inclinations of stopping any time soon!

How can you want to when my VGMs keep delivering awesome themes, whether intense, exciting, uptempo, mellow, sad, emotional, astounding, or whatever else. This week's lineup of games includes music from the iOS-only Rockman X Over, shake things up with an orchestral choir-centric final boss theme from Pandora's Tower, return to the Blue Bomber with Mega Man 3, settle it in battle with Street Fighter IV, and explore space with Mario in Super Mario Galaxy! Before we begin, be sure to check out the VGM Database for all VGM volumes posted thus far. Now, without further ado, let's get to the music, yo!

v896. Rockman X Over (iOS) - Arcade Man

This go around we kick things off with Rockman X Over, an iOS-exclusive and, I believe, Japan-exclusive game. It doesn't play anything like the classic Mega Man X games, and it wasn't too highly received. That said, that won't stop me from including this excellent hard rock theme for Arcade Man. Sure, you'd think of 8-bit sounds permeating from a boss named Arcade Man, but I'm no composer or anything. What do I know?

v897. Pandora's Tower (Wii) - Final Boss

No worries, friends, there are no spoilers to be found here with my Pandora's Tower VGM selection. Well, that is unless hearing the final boss theme of the game is a spoiler to you, then don't click on that link!! Pandora's Tower was a really enjoyable game, harmed by the North American version containing a game-breaking bug. Though avoidable, it was still quite easy to come across and mighty annoying when it happened!

v898. Mega Man 3 (NES) - Snake Man

Move over, X, classic Mega Man has returned to SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs! From Mega Man 3 comes Snake Man's catchy theme. There's something totally endearing about the classic 8-bit themes from the Mega Man collection of six games that still resonates with gamers to this day. Speaking of which, the upcoming Mega Man Legacy Collection will contain these six NES classics with some bonus content. While not as fulfilling a compendium as it would be to have all ten Mega Man games, it's still great to see Capcom giving attention to the Blue Bomber.

v899. Street Fighter IV (PS3, 360) - Shop PV

We can't seem to get away from Capcom with this edition of the old VGMs, can we? That's okay, though, as with Capcom you usually are guaranteed some great music. That is at least the case with Street Fighter IV's soundtrack. At Sony's E3 press conference, a new look at Street Fighter V was shared with fans and the media. It looks mighty fantastic, even with my lack of any fighting game skills. That's saying something if the game still appeals to me despite totally blowing at those games!

v900. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - Stardust Road

A magical and mysterious theme comes from our 900th video game music volume. It's Super Mario Galaxy's Stardust Road, played during the Space Junk Galaxy, an early-ish galaxy within the game. With it, it's just a space, a bunch of floating debris, and a plumber with his own thoughts. Thank goodness this theme won't take Mario's attention away from the objective at hand!

Rank Up! - Mega Man

It's been a while since we've last encountered the Rank Up! series, but today's a special occasion. It's the 26th anniversary of the Mega Man franchise today, and while we've already covered Mega Man X (who turns twenty today), we've never listed our order of classic Mega Man games from least favorite to most favorite. Unlike the X series, however, there is no bad game in this bunch of ten titles! After you're done seeing our list, feel free to give us your own order of the games!

Here are the games we'll be ranking:

Mega Man (NES)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Mega Man 4 (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
Mega Man 6 (NES)
Mega Man 7 (SNES)
Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT)
Mega Man 9 (PSN, XBLA, WiiWare)
Mega Man 10 (PSN, XBLA, WiiWare)

===

10) Mega Man 5 (NES)

While there are definitely no stinkers in the classic Mega Man series, there are some that feel like efforts that didn't do much to try to change the formula of the series. Mega Man 5 is one of those. Its much less challenging than previous entries, and there's a lack of real innovation. Of course, if you have something that isn't broken, there's no need to fix it, as that paraphrased saying goes. In MM5, however, there is something very cool in the game. There are several optional and hidden circuit boards that when all have been collected unlocks the robotic avian helper Beat to assist Mega Man on his mission.

9) Mega Man 6 (NES)

Wacky and rather forgettable bosses aside, the final NES installment of Mega Man, Mega Man 6 is a great entry in the series, offering larger mid-bosses, more complicated enemy designs, and branching paths within levels. The addition of Rush Adapters makes it so Mega's canine cohort Rush isn't relegated to be stood on or hopped off of. Instead, Rush fuses with Mega Man to create one heck of a powerful robot, allowing temporarily flight capabilities among other interesting uses.

8) Mega Man 9 (PSN, XBLA, WiiWare)

Now this pick for our number eight spot might get a lot of controversy from passersby reading this list. That isn't our intention with this choice, so please hear us out. Mega Man 9 returned to the classic NES style roots the series was once known for. The game adds different level obstacles and gimmicks that would have been impossible to do on the NES. Our problems with the game are: 1) It's not very original, 2) A lot of the levels use spikes as a crutch for difficulty, as well as unfair placements of traps that unprepared players would easily die at. Still, don't get us wrong, as Mega Man 9 is a terrific game all the same, and we can't thank Inticreates enough for making it.

7) Mega Man 7 (SNES)

Mega Man leaped into the 16-bit era with Mega Man 7 on the Super Nintendo. It features larger sprites for characters, making for a different experience. However, the same incredible level design the series is known for is still pretty prevalent in Mega Man 7. The game is structured a little differently from past games, having an opening level at the beginning of the game and a midpoint level that occurs when half of the Robot Masters have been defeated. Mega Man 7 also introduces the awesome tag team of Bass and Treble, a shop to purchase helpful items at, and a soundtrack that compares favorably to previous entries.

6) Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT)

Only one entry of the Mega Man series hit the Super Nintendo. The next would jump ship from Nintendo to Sony and SEGA's platforms, the PlayStation and the Saturn respectively. The budget is bigger with Mega Man 8, showcasing wonderful anime cinematics (just don't expect quality voice acting), a higher quality soundtrack, more colors, among other lovely content. The addition of bolts as the hidden collectibles within the game, makes the replay value of Mega Man 8 grow considerably. Using said bolts at Dr. Light's house to create new parts for Mega Man meant there is a level of strategy in which parts best suits the player's play style. While some might turn their nose up at the two infamous "Jump, Jump, Slide, Slide" levels, we wholeheartedly enjoy them.

5) Mega Man 10 (PSN, XBLA, WiiWare)

With the success of Mega Man 9 two years earlier, Capcom and Inticreates took the proper steps to capitalize on that game's success by releasing a sequel. Mega Man 10 offers a lot of content for players to sink their teeth into. For one, there's the main story, giving players multiple difficulties to choose from, which allows veterans as well as beginning players to fully enjoy the game. The difference between difficulties is based on different platform placements and level setups (e.g. spikes are covered by platforms), a challenge mode that gives players 88 unique, much more bite-sized stages, and Proto Man and Bass (the latter is DLC) as playable characters. It's a great Mega Man game, and we're deeply depressed that Mega Man 10's respectable sales did not garner more installments in the series.

4) Mega Man (NES)

Despite having two less Robot Masters in the game (unless you play the PSP remake, Powered Up), the original Mega Man is pure, old-fashioned fun with less flourishes and flash than future games. For the only time in the series, players earn points for defeating enemies and bosses. The game introduced the original groundwork for the rest of the series, a rock-paper-scissors-like Robot Master weapon system, where one Robot Master's special weapon would be powerful against another Robot Master. Finding the right order to take on each Robot Master and their stages makes the game much more manageable. However, if you want a challenge, you can always play them out of order. The original Mega Man has stellar design, creative levels, and still stands up today as excellent.

3) Mega Man 4 (NES)

Introducing a new villain for Mega Man to overcome, Mega Man must take on a new scientist named Dr. Cossack. The formula remains unchanged for this fourth installment, having the player choosing which order of Robot Master stages they wish to attempt to beat and gaining each fallen boss' special weapons. The big additions to this entry in the series are the ability to charge up Mega Man's signature weapon, the Mega Buster, as well as the arrival of the flip top robot Eddie. While many consider Mega Man 4 the start of the decline in quality of the series, the game has many clever level elements thrown in, great music, and a lot of end game content to justify its place on our list.

2) Mega Man 2 (NES)

This might be a sin in gaming, but we actually don't find Mega Man 2 as the best in the series. It is definitely the most important game in the entire legacy of the Blue Bomber, as it introduced many concepts and mechanics that subsequent Mega Man games would use. Mega Man 2 has incredible level design, music that is highly memorable and storied by old school gamers like ourselves, and the Robot Masters are some of the most creative and iconic. However, certain things are detrimental to the overall package. For one, there is a boss in Dr. Wily's stages that requires a certain special weapon. When the special weapon's energy has run out, you basically must die on purpose because the boss in that stage is vulnerable only to that weapon. Also, the normal difficulty is a bit too easy, while the difficult difficulty is a bit too hard. There is no middle-of-the-road difficulty. Regardless of these nitpicks, Mega Man 2 has a wonderful reputation for very good reason, it's phenomenal.

1) Mega Man 3 (NES)

Mega Man creator Keiji Infaune has stated multiple times that working on Mega Man 3 was much stressful to him. In the art world it is said that a little suffering helps the creative spirit. ...Or something like that. We don't dabble much in the art world. Anyway, Mega Man 3 much more content than its predecessors, giving the player more levels to run, jump, and shoot through than ever before. It's not just quantity either, as there's a substantial amount of quality present as well. Mega Man's trusty canine companion Rush makes his debut, as does a helmet-with-a-visor-wearing brother in the form of Proto Man. Mega Man 3 is also quite challenging, but it's seldom ever unfair. For these reasons we have come to the minority opinion that Mega Man 3 is the best that the classic series has to offer.

Review Round-Up - August 2013

Even Alph and Brittany enjoyed a day at
the beach for the last full month of summer.

It was hot and heavy month for SuperPhillip Central! We reviewed nine games total, and had two special review-specific segments. Let's run through the reviews, shall we? It's a monthly tradition, after all. We began with a mini-game compilation from Wario's wicked mind, Game & Wario (7.0). We then loaded up our Walther PPKs only to be disappointed by 007 Legends (4.25). Then we moved onto a pair of games that both got a score of 6.0, Project X Zone and Smash Bowling 3D. Just remember that even though they got the same score, they don't hold the same weight. You can't really fairly compare a crossover strategy game with a bowling title! Next up, Mega Man came charging in with the classic Mega Man 2 (9.5). The Year of Luigi continued with New Super Luigi U, which leaped its way into an 8.5. Mega Man wasn't done afterwards, as he returned for our review of Mega Man 3 (9.5). Our GotM, Pikmin 3, earned itself a tremendous 9.5. Earlier this evening we saw Luke fon Fabre and the gang's game, Tales of the Abyss, get a 7.0. Lastly, we had the return of both SPC Quickies and One-Sentence Reviews!

Next month is sure to continue our reviewing momentum, with reviews of games like BioShock Infinite, Rayman Legends, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, and many more!

Game & Wario (Wii U) - 7.0
007 Legends (Wii U, PS3, 360, PC) - 4.25
Project X Zone (3DS) - 6.0
Smash Bowling 3D (3DSWare) - 6.0
Mega Man 2 (NES, Wii U VC, 3DS VC) - 9.5
New Super Luigi U (Wii U) - 8.5
Mega Man 3 (NES, Wii U VC, 3DS VC) - 9.5
Pikmin 3 (Wii U) - 9.5
Tales of the Abyss (3DS) - 7.0

SPC Quickies - Volume Twelve
One-Sentence Reviews - Volume Four

And since the weather was so hot,
Luigi and friends went for a swim.

Mega Man 3 (NES, Wii U VC, 3DS VC) Retro Review

There's actually going to be two more reviews for the month of August. The second will be here this evening. For now, the first is a retro review of Mega Man 3. I previously tackled Mega Man 2 and gave it a 9.5. Will Mega Man 3 surpass that score? Find out with this review.

Refined Mega Man Refined

The battle that has raged on for decades... No, I'm not talking about Mega Man versus Dr. Wily, I'm referring to which Mega Man is the best-- Mega Man 2 or Mega Man 3. No doubt Mega Man 2 refined the formula and set the foundation for future games, introducing many concepts that successors of the series would implement. However, I'm of the opinion that Mega Man 3 just edges past Mega Man 2 and is the truly excellent Mega Man game.

This is no shot of The Brady Bunch,
that's certainly for sure!

If you're familiar with Mega Man, then you know the score. Dr. Wily's doing something sinister, and it's up to Mega Man to stop him. The beauty of the Mega Man series is that you start off on a menu of eight Robot Masters, and you get total freedom of choice on which one's level you want to play first. The Robot Master stages are generally longer excursions than what was found in Mega Man 2, but the amount of checkpoints makes it so death doesn't mean repeating a long stretch of level all over again. Most levels rarely follow a trope. There is seldom the token water level, forest level, and so forth. Instead, you get levels like Snake Man's that is some atypical area full of platforms, walls, ceilings and floors that have the texture of snakeskin.

In a moment, this mechanical
menace will be hiss-tory.

When you do reach the Robot Master's quarters, things work just like every other Mega Man game. For the easiest time against the boss (and since their patterns are more complicated, these battles are anything but "easy"), Mega Man needs to use the special weapon that that Robot Master is weak against. As a Robot Master is defeated, Mega Man absorbs their signature weapon, able to use it freely in levels and in boss battles, as long as he has the available energy. If you want a real challenge, you can perform tasks like facing each Robot Master out of their intended order, or battle them with only Mega Man's arm cannon.

Mega Man goes all ninja on Spark Man.

After the initial eight Robot Master stages are completed, one would think that the way to Dr. Wily's castle would be open. That isn't the case. Instead, you get a choice of four levels based off four of the previously defeated Robot Masters in remodeled levels based off of them. Each level has two boss encounters, both being old haunts from Mega Man 2 in a new body. This plus the original eight Robot Master levels and Wily's castle levels make for a lengthy adventure that doesn't outwear its welcome.

You spin me right 'round!

Mega Man 3 included some new additions to the franchise that lived on through subsequent sequels. The most prominent are two new characters, Mega Man's canine counterpart Rush and Mega Man's brother Proto Man. Rush can help Mega Man with three transformations: the Rush Coil, the Rush Jet, and the Rush Marine. The latter is only used one time or so for underwater exploration. Meanwhile, the Rush Coil propels Mega Man into the air, allowing him to reach higher platforms and locations. Lastly, the Rush Jet grants Mega the ability to ride on Rush, safely letting him cross large expanses. However, just like the special weapons, each Rush ability will only work as long as Mega Man has weapon energy.

Thanks for the lift, Rush!

Speaking of weapons, in Mega Man 2 the Metal Blades were seriously overpowered. You could march through the game, taking out enemies with them without breaking much of a sweat. In Mega Man 3 the weapon balance is much improved. No one weapon really is superior than the next. They all serve their purpose for each situation that Mega Man finds himself involved in. That level of balancing continues with the difficult of the game. In Mega Man 2 (are you sick of me comparing that game to this one yet?) there were two choices of difficulty. One was too easy and the other was too hard. There was no middle ground. Mega Man 3 fixes that with one difficulty that has just the right amount of challenge to it to make it a fun, tough, and engaging play.

Mega Man doesn't hate to burst
anyone's bubbles.

There are some quips I have with Mega Man 3, though. Much like with the original NES version of Mega Man 2, in Mega Man 3 there are points in the game where more action than the game can handle happens. In these cases, not only does the Mega Man sprite flicker, but the game can even slow down quite noticeably. This can make the time to dodge a foe's attack all the more aggravating.

So much for showing some brotherly love.

Mega Man 3 is a tremendous entry in the Mega Man franchise. It might not have had the same level of impact that Mega Man 2 had, but as a game it definitely rivals its predecessor in many aspects and comes up short in others. Mega Man 3 possesses better weapon balancing, great additions like the slide ability, Rush and Proto Man, and it has a difficulty that is more even. Despite the technical issues that bring the game down a little bit, Mega Man 3 is still a title that should be recommended playing for any gamer serious about their hobby.

[SPC Says: 9.5/10]

SuperPhillip Central's Top 100 Games of All Time (30-21)

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.

If you missed a previous edition of our countdown, look no further than these links:

Games of All Time (100-91)
Games of All Time (90-81)
Games of All Time (80-71)
Games of All Time (70-61)
Games of All Time (60-51)
Games of All Time (50-41)
Games of All Time (40-31)

Let's return to the countdown!

30) God of War II (PS2)

God of War was featured last week on SPC's list of 100 games. This week we have its sequel, which took the combo-based combat, spectacular set pieces and brutal ultraviolence to new heights to create a bigger, better and bolder game. Betrayed by Zeus, stripped of his title as the God of War and ruthlessly murdered, Kratos seeked the Sisters of Fate to go back in time and thwart his betrayal. God of War II showcased the power of the PlayStation 2 and just how tough that little black box was. The game contained more challenging puzzles, as well as a healthy helping of bosses-- easily multiple times more bosses than the original game. All of this was coated in a fantastic fighting system that towed the line between casual and hardcore players beautifully. Case in point, God of War II is one of finest action games ever devised, and it's without a doubt one of the best offerings in the PlayStation 2's robust library of intriguing games.

29) Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

While this is a game that probably wouldn't make it on most lists this far into a top 100 list, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a title that gives us great flashbacks of our days with the old PlayStation. However, it's not just nostalgia, as we recently played the PSP port Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and the combat was just as refined and hectic, the presentation (especially that music by Motoi Sakuraba) was brilliant and beautiful, and the dozens upon dozens of hours that could be lost to this game, regardless of which version, made for many sleepless nights. The Second Story already provided excellent replay value, but when you consider there's two main characters that can be chosen, as well as a wide cast of party members that can be recruited, you have a game that is one of the highest RPGs listed on our top 100 countdown.

28) Mega Man X4 (PS1, SAT)

The second Mega Man game to be released on a PlayStation platform, and the first Mega Man X game to enter the 32-bit era, Mega Man X4 took the series to new heights with two protagonists, each with their own characteristics, stories and cutscenes. X specialized in long range attacks and was the easier of the two playable characters to complete, while Zero focused on short range assaults with his sword. Though many classic series that moved into the PlayStation era jumped into 3D or used some kind of 3D visuals, Mega Man X4 stayed tried and true to its roots, and it looked absolutely glorious in 3D. The game contained flashy visuals, had plenty of replay value thanks to the aforementioned two heroes, and it was a game that was challenging for all the right reasons. Mega Man X4 is a shining example of a terrific 2D platformer in the 32-bit era.

27) Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)

The first Ratchet & Clank was a fun, albeit forgetful and flawed game. However, Insomniac Games' second try with the franchise blew minds, including our own. Right away through viewing the game, you could see how incredibly improved the visuals of Going Commando were to its predecessor. Not only that, but the gameplay was much more refined, and the developers even included some role-playing elements in the mix. This came in the form of weapons that could be upgraded through repeated use. A small cluster bomb could turn into one that sent out dozens of bombs once the initial one exploded. By far the most fascinating aspect of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was its terrific level design. Each planet generally had two ways to go, each leading to a different destination, adding to the longevity of the game. Also adding to that was the challenge mode after completing the game. This mode delivered more bolts (the currency of the series) to players. Without a doubt our favorite in the Ratchet & Clank series, Going Commando still hasn't been beaten by any other PlayStation platformer yet.

26) Mario Kart DS (DS)

This might be a controversial choice for this list because of a little thing called snaking. However, if you found a like-minded friends who promised not to snake, you'd find much enjoyment in the online. Sure, the emblem creator made it so you could see the glorious, glorious drawings of crudely done wangs, but you could always stand to appreciate art as you see it. Regardless, Mario Kart DS was one of Nintendo's first attempts at an online game, and while the online part isn't even why we considered the game to be on our list, it was a nice feature to have. Mario Kart DS' most exciting part was its offline play, featuring something that needs to return desperately to the series, a mission mode. The game also featured some stunning and well designed tracks, including Airship Fortress, Luigi's Mansion and Delfino Square. Mario Kart DS really felt like the most complete Mario Kart that had been released as of yet, and in many regards it still does.

25) Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, 3DS)

Recently released on the Nintendo 3DS with eight new levels and the removal of waggle to perform actions, Donkey Kong Country Returns saw the revival of Rare's classic Super Nintendo series. This time the game was developed by a different Western developer, Austin, Texas' Retro Studios. Despite the long hiatus between games, Donkey Kong Country Returns really felt like the series had just picked up where it left off. Levels constantly introduced new concepts and gimmicks to make it so you never knew what was coming next. Puzzle pieces and bonus areas were hidden well to make players explore every crack and crevasse of a given level. Then you had the Kongs' interactions with each level. Sometimes being shot from the foreground to the background and vice versa. (This looked particularly impressive on the Nintendo 3DS.) It is for these reasons that we cannot wait to see what Retro Studios delivers next with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Wii U this holiday season.

24) Mega Man X2 (SNES)

The second Mega Man X game to hit our list in the same week (and the second Mega Man X game overall) is Mega Man X2. The game introduced a trio of baddies known as the X-Hunters, looking to take down the reploid that brought down the leader of the Mavericks, Sigma. Each member of the X-Hunters had a piece of Zero that players could go after optionally to rebuild the pony-tailed Maverick Hunter and get the good ending of the game. Mega Man X2 had all of the features of its predecessor, such as eight initial levels to complete, Mavericks to defeat, special weapons to obtain, capsules to find, Energy and Heart Tanks to uncover, and all the shooting, wall climbing and dashing fans of the original Mega Man grew to love. Mega Man X2 might not have reinvented the wheel, but it didn't have to. It simply took what made Mega Man X great and attempted to improve upon it. Depending who you are, it might have been the better game.

23) Super Metroid (SNES)

The best in 2D Metroid-vania games, Super Metroid brought with it some of the greatest atmosphere in a 16-bit title. The game followed bounty hunter Samus Aran as she followed her nemesis Ridley to a new planet, after Ridley had murdered the scientists studying the Metroid infant Samus uncovered at the end of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The game was structured in a way that had Samus venturing around the many areas of the planet, uncovering new abilities from Chozo statues and left behind from bosses to reach new, previously inaccessible portions of the game world. At the start of the game, Samus' repertoire of moves wasn't that stellar. By the end of the game, however, Samus had the ability to freeze foes, spin attack right through them and unleash holy heck on any enemy that got in her way. The final battle with Mother Brain still stands as one of the most defining boss battles in Metroid history, as Super Metroid itself is one of the most defining, if not THE most defining, game in Metroid history.

22) Mega Man 3 (NES)

It's bizarre that we find Mega Man 3 to be the best game in the classic Mega Man series. We say so because series creator Keiji Inafune believed the development of the game was one of the most stressful times in his career. All artists much suffer, we guess, and Mr. Inafune's suffering gave gamers this delightful title. We find Mega Man 3 better than its much loved (we love it too) predecessor for several reasons. We enjoyed the levels, challenge, storytelling, and length better than Mega Man 2. There was also no Crash Bomb boss, which meant if you ran out of Crash Bombs during that boss, you had to commit robo-cide and refill your weapon energy in a boring grind-like fashion. The additions of Rush, Proto Man and Mega Man's sliding ability added even more charm to the series. Despite Capcom's best efforts to make Keiji Inafune's creation down and out, we'll always love you, Mega Man.

21) Super Mario 64 (N64)

One of the most influential and groundbreaking video games of all time, Super Mario 64 wasn't the first fully 3D game, but it was the first to show how a proper 3D game with proper 3D models should be done. Worlds were open-ended, offering immense amounts of exploration-- just mind-blowing at the time. Super Mario 64 shifted gameplay focus from completing linear platforming levels to completing multiple unique missions within each world of the game. In doing so, the developers still had mechanics from past Mario games so Super Mario 64 had a bit of familiarity in its brand-new bold package. The game worlds were fun to explore. Heck, even messing around in Peach's castle, the hub world of the game, was an absolute blast. Revolutionary is a not word to be used lightly, but Super Mario 64 represents that word sensationally well. Other 3D Mario titles would be evolutionary, including several that are higher on this list.

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There are only two weeks left for our Top 100 Games of All Time countdown. The next games are even better than the ones listed here! Is that even possible? Find out next Wednesday!