The time has come to unveil what could perhaps be the most inflammatory piece I have written this entire semester. Well, other than my Windows Vista-bashing — thanks for all the fan mail, guys. Now is the time to reveal the top 10 console games/series ever to grace gaming.
10. "Halo"
Yes, I have expressed my distaste for the "Halo" series and all things Master Chief, but I still can appreciate its value. "Halo 2" in my opinion single-handedly made Xbox Live everything it is today. Without the online multiplayer aspect, it would be a simple first-person shooter that only warrants a single play-through. To me, online play is ruined by fanboys who have nothing better to do than play 24 hours a day and talk trash about "noobs." When will they learn there is life beyond "Halo"?
9. "Sonic the Hedgehog"
Yes, my little blue bundle of joy deserves a place on the countdown for his uncanny ability to scramble Dr. Eggman and keep his spiny hairstyle intact. Sonic has been chasing Chaos Emeralds for me since the Sega Genesis and still warms my heart to this day. The recent Wii installment is said to be frustratingly difficult, but I have hope for the alure of the azure fur ball and just hope his little red shoes don't wear out anytime soon.
8. "Animal Crossing"
While browsing my gaming collection, I came across "Animal Crossing," causing me to start reminiscing about what a guilty pleasure it is. The name of my first city was, narcissistically enough, Vosstown. My neighbors were a couple of cats, a crazy chicken that gave me lots of furniture and a bastard of a wolf who was always grumpy — what's not to love? I owe my alias, "Tanuki," to "Animal Crossing" via the town shopkeeper "Tom Nook," who is in fact the mythical Japanese critter (only much cuter, in cartoon form). The best part about "AC" is that its game clock was set to end in 20 years, so good luck trying to beat this game.
7. "GoldenEye 007"
"GoldenEye 007" for Nintendo 64 single-handedly transformed the world of multiplayer gaming, putting two-player titles to shame by pushing onto four-player mayhem. I remember the days of old, spent assuming the roles of Boris, Natalya or, of course, even 007, to traverse through the Aztec temple with dual Moonraker lasers. Those were the glory days of gaming, when shaken martinis flowed like water, and proudly pixilated graphics made me smile. "GoldenEye" was my first true gaming license to kill, one which will never be revoked.
6. "Metroid"
Who can say they were not surprised, reaching the end of the original NES "Metroid" only to see golden blond locks flow out from under the helmet of Samus Aran? I know I was, and I am not afraid to admit it. Samus, along with hoards of energy-sucking Metroids, have been gracing Nintendo consoles for more than two decades, and our girl has no plans of packing away the morph ball anytime soon. I can't wait for "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption" this fall, when Samus will finally make it to the Wii.
5. "Chrono Trigger"
When it comes to classic RPGs, there is no comparison to "Chrono Trigger." Originally released on the Super NES in August 1995, Crono and friends embarked on a journey that literally takes close to 200 hours of gameplay to complete all the optional side quests and achieve a glorious 100 percent. Granted, nobody has the time to complete such an undertaking these days, but I salute whoever wishes to try (send me some screenshots). "Chrono Trigger" was even re-released in a PlayStation compilation called "Final Fantasy Chronicles" with anime cutscenes and improved graphics. Though I will say, the original grey cartridge has a special place in my heart. Those bad boys still fetch quite a price on eBay, and I should know…
4. "Resident Evil 4"
When it comes to the survival horror genre, you have really two choices: "Silent Hill" or, better yet, "Resident Evil." The fourth installment in the series marks for me an enlightening experience that could make even a zombie smile (before I splatter his grey matter in all directions). Ever since "RE" made the transition to an over-the-shoulder view, my aim has improved significantly, and I feel completely badass wielding my infinite ammo rocket launcher, even though at that point, aim is irrelevant.
I won't even admit how many hours I have logged into the Gamecube version, but I will say I'm pushing five completions. I look forward to experiencing it all over again with a Wii release next month. Did I mention I have all my shots for T-Virus? Bring it on, Umbrella!
3. "The Legend of Zelda"
The land of Hyrule will forever be in debt to that strong speechless hero who nevertheless looks smashing in a green tunic. Link, the hero of time, has been battling the likes of Ganon, swimming with the Zoras and sumo-wrestling the Gorons for as long as I can remember.
As far as individual titles go, my two favorites are clear. Winter 1998 brought us "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," which featured hours of epic boss battles and side-quests that made me drool. "Ocarina of Time" was way ahead of its competition, with spectacular graphics for the hardware, a compelling story and an obscene replay value.
My second pick will come as no surprise. "Twilight Princess," released on Wii launch day 2006, marked the end of my social life for weeks, and still makes me weep with happiness whenever I fire up the Wii. Link's ability to morph into wolf form adds an all-new dimension to the already spectacular gameplay. Also, I am just crazy about my guide, Midna, and her ability to keep Link motivated with snide comments. What future adventures await me in Hyrule is uncertain, but I will be sure to save up my rupees and collect my heart pieces in anticipation.
2. "Final Fantasy"
I can safely say this series has stolen my soul and refuses to give it back. Installment after installment, I keep coming back for what promises to be yet another adventure spanning unspeakable gameplay hours. "Final Fantasy" plays host to several of my all-time favorite heroes, including the Squall Leonhart and the ever-famous Cloud Strife. Of course, on the other side of that we have our fair share of baddies, like my favorite villain of all time, Sephiroth. Later this year "Final Fantasy" will open the 13th chapter of its never-ending saga. I am sure PlayStation 3 owners will never be the same. Just thinking about cutscenes and summons in high definition is making me giddy already.
1. "Super Mario Bros."
This Nintendo series is without question the epitome of what it means to be a timeless classic in the gaming universe. My first video gaming experience involved the dual-game cartridge with the original "Super Mario Bros." and "Duck Hunt," for heaven's sake. Traversing from castle to castle to drop Bowser into another pool of molten doom, only to have Toad send me into another series of stages was nothing shy of exhilarating, both at the age of 5 and today. With each installment only proving to be greater than the last, I wonder what Nintendo truly has in store for us with the release of "Super Mario Galaxy." I can only hope Bowser and his Koopa cronies give me a run for my mushrooms yet again. Mama Mia!
There you have it folks — decades of the greatest games ever created all rolled into one nice package. You may agree with my picks or you may find them totally repulsive and send me hate mail till the end of time, but either way, I will keep on gaming and encourage you to do the same. See you around on my little gaggle of goombas.
Game over.
Justin Voss is a sophomore majoring in Japanese. Is this truly "game over" for Tanuki Voss' gaming advice? We don't know — ask him yourself at [email protected].
