The Retro Gaming Thread

[Avaitor]

I see. I'll have to go back for that, then.

Ah, SMB3 really is a perfect game. Still loving it.

[Eddy]

So I came across this site that compiles lists of the top ten games to play today on retro consoles. They try to not let nostalgia come into play and select the games they feel hold up. For the most part they're pretty good, I think.

NES:

• Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
• Mega Man 2
• River City Ransom
• Kirby's Adventure
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Ninja Gaiden 2
• Bionic Commando
• Startropics
• Metal Storm
• Castlevania

Can't really argue with this list. Though I personally prefer Mega Man 3 over Mega Man 2 but they're both great games. I probably would have found a place for DuckTales as well.

Genesis:

• Pulseman
• Ristar
• Gunstar Heroes
• Aladdin
• Dynamite Headdy
• Phantasy Star IV
• Castlevania Bloodlines
• World of Illusion
• Contra: Hard Corps
• The Lost Vikings

Having not grown up with the Genesis I can't really comment on most of this list but I find it baffling that they left off Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Game Boy:

• Link's Awakening DX
• Gargoyle's Quest
• Tetris
• Wario Land 3
• Donkey Kong
• Mario Golf
• Final Fantasy Legend
• Shantae
• Metroid II: Return of Samus
• Revenge of the Gator

I'll admit I haven't played most of these games. While I did have a Game Boy growing up we didn't get too many games for it. That said I would have included Super Mario Land, because I still think it holds up well today, and Super Mario Bros. DX.

PlayStation:

• Symphony of the Night
• Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
• Parappa the Rapper
• Front Mission 3
• Suikoden 2
• Final Fantasy VII
• Klonoa
• Brave Fencer Musashi
• Street Fighter Alpha 3
• Heart of Darkness

Like I said with the Genesis, I was a Nintendo kid so we never had PlayStation. So I've actually never played any of these games (at least not enough). I have played Um Jammer Lammy and Parappa the Rapper 2 though so I assume Parappa is deserving. I'd say a Resident Evil title is worthy of being on there too.

SNES:

• Kirby Super Star
• Super Metroid
• Yoshi's Island
• Zelda: Link to the Past
• Super Mario World
• Mega Man X
• NBA Jam
• Super Mario RPG
• Cold Shadow
• Chrono Trigger

Now this list I have a hard time finding a problem with. I've never played NBA Jam or Chrono Trigger but I've heard enough about them to make be believe they have a spot here. But I probably would have included Donkey Kong Country 2 over Cold Shadow.

N64:

• Paper Mario
• Majora's Mask
• Sin & Punishment
• Super Smash Bros.
• Kirby 64
• Star Fox 64
• Banjo-Kazooie
• Pokemon Snap

For some reason this list only has eight. Not a bad list though, I have to say. Each of those games are pretty great in their own way (yes, I also like Pokemon Snap). I'm also glad to see Kazooie acknowledged over Tooie. Since it's missing two games to make it ten I'll throw in a couple choices: Harvest Moon 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day.

Dreamcast:

• Chu Chu Rocket
• Soul Calibur
• Space Channel 5
• Skies of Arcadia
• Ikaruga
• Power Stone 2
• Rez
• Armada
• Samba De Amigo
• Street Fighter III: Third Strike

I never had a Dreamcast either so most of these games have never been played by me. I have played Third Strike though and I think I'd say it's my favorite Street Fighter game. So mention of Sonic Adventure, though? I guess some people don't feel it holds up.

GBA:

• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• Astro Boy: Omega Factor
• Advance Wars 2
• Metroid Fusion
• Final Fantasy VI Advance
• Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Riviera: The Promised Land
• Drill Dozer
• Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
• Castlevania: Aria of Shadow

While I haven't played every game on this list (like Astro Boy and Drill Dozer) I have heard good things about them. I wasn't a fan of FF Tactics Advance though so I doubt I would have included that. I probably would have found a spot for Pokemon FireRed and Sonic Advance 2.

[Commode]

Those are pretty good lists, and I actually have quite a few of those games.  I'm kind of glad they left off the Pokemon games, because while they are good, I get kind of annoyed when people focus on them, there's so many more GB games that are also worth playing.

Don't like the amount of Final Fantasy games there though. Something about them drives me away from ever really giving them a chance.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I've got to give them props on their Dreamcast list for including Power Stone 2. I couldn't agree more myself, and I feel that the game doesn't get as much appreciation as it deserves, even among other DC games.

As for Sonic, I can understand them not including either of the Adventure games for the DC list, but I must admit that I'm quite baffled at the exclusion of ANY Sonic titles at all in even the Genesis list. That just doesn't seem right to me. I also would have liked to see Rocket Knight Advenutres on the Genesis list as well. As for their N64 list, I would have included Ocarina of Time and No Mercy, myself, but those are more just my personal tastes I suppose.

Oh, and I couldn't agree more with including NG2 on the NES list. Its easily the best 2D NG game by far.

They also get props from me for including Yoshi's Island in the SNES list. It totally deserves to be there, but for some reason a lot of top 10 lists for SNES games that I've seen leave games like Yoshi's Island completely out of the picture, and IMO its easily one of the best gaming experiences available on that console and should not be missed by anyone who owns an SNES.

[Avaitor]

Yeah, I wanna know why there's no Sonic games on here. Did Vekou make these lists or something?

These are pretty solid lists despite the lack of Sonic. I personally like that Majora's Mask made it on the N64 list over OOT. I also like that FFTA made the GBA list, since it is easily one of the best Final Fantasy games out there.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Cool list. Some nitpicks/omissions.

So I came across this site that compiles lists of the top ten games to play today on retro consoles. They try to not let nostalgia come into play and select the games they feel hold up. For the most part they're pretty good, I think.

NES:

• Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
• Mega Man 2
• River City Ransom
• Kirby's Adventure
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Ninja Gaiden 2
• Bionic Commando
• Startropics
• Metal Storm
• Castlevania

Can't really argue with this list. Though I personally prefer Mega Man 3 over Mega Man 2 but they're both great games. I probably would have found a place for DuckTales as well.

Castlevania? At least they could have picked 3. Rockin' Katz is way better than Bionic Commando with swinging, and even has a jump button on top of it.

Genesis:

• Pulseman
• Ristar
• Gunstar Heroes
• Aladdin
• Dynamite Headdy
• Phantasy Star IV
• Castlevania Bloodlines
• World of Illusion
• Contra: Hard Corps
• The Lost Vikings

Having not grown up with the Genesis I can't really comment on most of this list but I find it baffling that they left off Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Random Sonic bias. You can't own a Genesis without a Sonic game. You also can't purchase Pulseman, it was Sega Channel only back in the day.

Game Boy:

• Link's Awakening DX
• Gargoyle's Quest
• Tetris
• Wario Land 3
• Donkey Kong
• Mario Golf
• Final Fantasy Legend
• Shantae
• Metroid II: Return of Samus
• Revenge of the Gator

I'll admit I haven't played most of these games. While I did have a Game Boy growing up we didn't get too many games for it. That said I would have included Super Mario Land, because I still think it holds up well today, and Super Mario Bros. DX.

Good list! I would replace FFL with Adventure (Secret Of Mana's prequel), Wario Land 3 with 2, and Metroid II (which hasn't aged well at all) with Operation C.

PlayStation:

• Symphony of the Night
• Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
• Parappa the Rapper
• Front Mission 3
• Suikoden 2
• Final Fantasy VII
• Klonoa
• Brave Fencer Musashi
• Street Fighter Alpha 3
• Heart of Darkness

Like I said with the Genesis, I was a Nintendo kid so we never had PlayStation. So I've actually never played any of these games (at least not enough). I have played Um Jammer Lammy and Parappa the Rapper 2 though so I assume Parappa is deserving. I'd say a Resident Evil title is worthy of being on there too.

Heart Of Darkness is SO HARD. As you all know, Brave Fencer Musashi is my all time favorite Square game, so it's well deserving. I'd take out Front Mission 3 for Tomba!, though.

SNES:

• Kirby Super Star
• Super Metroid
• Yoshi's Island
• Zelda: Link to the Past
• Super Mario World
• Mega Man X
• NBA Jam
• Super Mario RPG
• Cold Shadow
• Chrono Trigger

Now this list I have a hard time finding a problem with. I've never played NBA Jam or Chrono Trigger but I've heard enough about them to make be believe they have a spot here. But I probably would have included Donkey Kong Country 2 over Cold Shadow.

Great, and I agree with you.

N64:

• Paper Mario
• Majora's Mask
• Sin & Punishment
• Super Smash Bros.
• Kirby 64
• Star Fox 64
• Banjo-Kazooie
• Pokemon Snap

For some reason this list only has eight. Not a bad list though, I have to say. Each of those games are pretty great in their own way (yes, I also like Pokemon Snap). I'm also glad to see Kazooie acknowledged over Tooie. Since it's missing two games to make it ten I'll throw in a couple choices: Harvest Moon 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day.

Solid list. I'd replace Snap with Goemon's Great Adventure, but the rest are the best on the system.

Dreamcast:

• Chu Chu Rocket
• Soul Calibur
• Space Channel 5
• Skies of Arcadia
• Ikaruga
• Power Stone 2
• Rez
• Armada
• Samba De Amigo
• Street Fighter III: Third Strike

I never had a Dreamcast either so most of these games have never been played by me. I have played Third Strike though and I think I'd say it's my favorite Street Fighter game. So mention of Sonic Adventure, though? I guess some people don't feel it holds up.

I can't argue with that. But Sonic Adventure 1 has aged better than Space Channel 5. And Jet Grind Radio needs a spot.

GBA:

• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
• Astro Boy: Omega Factor
• Advance Wars 2
• Metroid Fusion
• Final Fantasy VI Advance
• Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Riviera: The Promised Land
• Drill Dozer
• Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
• Castlevania: Aria of Shadow

While I haven't played every game on this list (like Astro Boy and Drill Dozer) I have heard good things about them. I wasn't a fan of FF Tactics Advance though so I doubt I would have included that. I probably would have found a spot for Pokemon FireRed and Sonic Advance 2.

Take of Tactics and throw in Wario Land 4, and it's well balanced.

Well compiled, but come on, no Sonic games at all?

[Spark Of Spirit]

Don't like the amount of Final Fantasy games there though. Something about them drives me away from ever really giving them a chance.

Have you played Final Fantasy VI? (Which was called 3 back in the day)

If you can't get into that one, the series definitely isn't for you. It's pretty much the only game the highly divisive fan-base can agree is a good game.

[Eddy]

I could never get into Final Fantasy either. I've tried playing a few games in the series too. It's just not my thing.

I can only think there's no Sonic on the list because it was too obvious or something. But, on the other hand, they have other obvious games like Mario World. So who knows? At the very least Sonic 3 & Knuckles should have been on there.

And come to think of it, EarthBound would have been good on the SNES list too. But the list was overall so good I can let it slide. But since they allowed Japan-only games on the lists (what with Pulseman and Sin & Punishment) they should have included Mother 3 on the GBA list. Game is a masterpiece and I don't normally play RPGs.

[gunswordfist]

Ah sweet, Astro Boy and Contra Hard Corps were listed.

[Eddy]

Got one more retro game today adding Mega Man X to my collection.

[Kiddington]

Half of those Genesis games I've never even played. Granted, while I had a Genesis growing up, I was always more of a Nintendo kid, so other than Sonic (and maybe Mutant League Football or other random assortments), we didn't really use it all that often. Even now, my Genesis collection is very sparse.

I guess I should look into some of these if I can. Any recommendations?

[gunswordfist]

I strongly recommend Contra Hard Corps, Castlevania Bloodlines, Phantasy Star IV and Gunstar Heroes. Two of them are actually the favorite of mine in their respective genres.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Rocket Knight Adventures, Ristar, and Shinobi III, for sure.

Also, every Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse game other than Fantasia is excellent.

[Foggle]

Rocket Knight Adventures, Ristar, and Shinobi III, for sure.

Contra Hard Corps, Castlevania Bloodlines, Phantasy Star IV and Gunstar Heroes.

These, Comix Zone, Mega Turrican, and Shadowrun.

[Spark Of Spirit]

DUH. How could I forget Ranger-X? Look into that one and be amazed.

Also, I think you might get a kick out of E-Swat. It's not amazing or anything, but it's a Sega shooter, so you know it's good times.