For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chicken Man and Thrasher Present: Our Top Ten Video Games, Analysis and More

Now that our lists have concluded, it's time for some perspective.

Thrasher's Top Ten:

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (PS2)
TimeSplitters 2 (PS2)
WCW/NWO Revenge (N64)
Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (PS1)
Thrasher Presents: Skate and Destroy (PS1)
Everything or Nothing (PS2)
Freedom Fighters (PS2)
Crazy Taxi (PS2)
NHLPA '93 (SNES)

Chicken Man's Top Ten:

Sonic 3 and Knuckles (Genesis)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (PS2)
Splinter Cell (PS2, Xbox 360)
TimeSplitters 2 (PS2)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360)
Rise to Honor (PS2)
Everything or Nothing (PS2)
Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)
Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)
The Sims (PC)

Obviously, several patterns emerge when our lists are cross referenced. First is the overwhelming prevalence of the PS2. Five out of the ten games on my list, as well as seven of the ten games on Chicken Man's list, were selected for that system. That's 60% overall. Not at all strange considering the cultural and market prominence of the PS2 during our adolescence. Yet despite such statistical domination by the PS2, we didn't forget about the classics. I picked out games from the Genesis, SNES, PS1, and N64, all of which predate the PS2. Chicken Man, meanwhile, chose titles from the Genesis, PC, and Xbox 360. Interestingly, he was the only one to select something from the current generation of consoles. Two, as a matter of fact. What accounts for this? For one thing, I take to new games very slowly. I own a 360, but the games I play for it are all about three or four years old. I get pretty stubborn about new things sometimes, kind of like an old man. Bad habit, I know, but a few of them have grown on me enough to warrant honorable mentions. More on that in a bit.

As for overlap, both Chicken Man and I picked TimeSplitters 2 and Everything or Nothing. Unsurprising, especially when you understand that these are two games we mutually chose to win awards for Best Multiplayer and Best Co-Op Multiplayer, respectfully. Most of the fondness I feel for these two games is irretrievably mixed up in memories of massive multiplayer and co-op sessions with Chicken Man. Furthermore, the rest of his list is full of games I love, including some that have earned an honorable mention below.

Speaking of honorable mentions, I forgot all about them since my first pick. Allow me to get caught up.

Thrasher's Honorable Mentions:

The World is Not Enough (N64), GoldenEye 007 (N64), Tiny Toons ACME All-Stars (Genesis), NBA Jam T.E. (Genesis), Winback: Covert Operations (PS2), Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Championship (Genesis), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (PS1), Mirror's Edge (Xbox 360), Skate (Xbox 360), Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (Genesis), Rise to Honor (PS2), TimeSplitters (PS2), and Nightfire (PS2)