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)

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (Part 10)

Today's game comes close to my heart, being one of the earliest that I owned and providing the fondest of memories. But first, here is a recap of the other games on my Top Ten:

The Sims (PC)

Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)

Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)

Everything or Nothing (PS2)

Rise to Honor (PS2)

Batman: Arkham Asylum (XBox360)

TimeSplitters 2 (PS2)

Splinter Cell (PS2, XBox360)

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (PS2)

This is not really one game, but two. One of the cool things about the mysterious looking Sonic & Knuckles cartridge was that the top opened up and could be combined with Sonic 2 or Sonic 3, making Knuckles a playable character in either. What's more, it combined the stories of Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, making Sonic 3 & Knuckles, which is today's game. But really, what is there to say? I will say that one hasn't really played Sonic until they've played this (seems like I've been saying similar things the past couple of days). It makes me think of a gentleman that I know who home schools his children. He happens to have a hacked Xbox which contains just about every single NES game. Though probably not officially a part of the curriculum, he has his kids master the classics before moving on to newer games (his explanation for this is his cousin who can play Halo just fine but cannot play the original Super Mario Bros. to save his life). So it is with Sonic. One must start at the beginning to get an appreciation of the character (Sonic Generations realizes this; look for a review coming soon). Again, I will say this is a must-have for Genesis owners and platformer fans, as well as those of the Blue Blur.

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten (Part 9)

Previous Games:

The Sims (PC)

Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)

Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)

Everything or Nothing (PS2)

Rise to Honor (PS2)

Batman: Arkham Asylum (XBox360)

TimeSplitters 2 (PS2)

Splinter Cell (PS2, XBox360)

Once upon a time, before Paul Walkers and Vin Diesels filled people's heads with the garbage that cars need to be modified and souped up to be fast or cool, Need for Speed made games featuring cars that came direct from the factory fast and didn't need to be upgraded. Surely, there is a place and time for that, but Hot Pursuit 2 seemed more pure in that it was about the driving experience, not having that perfectly tuned and balanced car. And it was fun! I'm not sure I have the time or patience to learn how to play Grand Turismo or some hardcore simulator well. When I have tried, I feel so constrained and the need to be cautious, not the need for speed. Some simulators, such as the honorably mentioned Forza 2, offer some driver's aids (such as stability management or suggested brake lines) that reduce the frustration and make the simulation experience more fun. However, newer Need for Speed games fail to do driver's aids well, being like a nanny driver's ed teacher where instead of a suggested brake line, it brakes for you.

What also should be mentioned is the strong soundtrack (audio seems to be an important theme among these Top Tens) that goes well with the game, as shown in the video above. Listening in on the police radio adds to the experience, where they seem to have a personality, unlike later NFS cops. The visuals were especially strong for its release date and still look good. It is a must-have for racing gamers, and still is hot and spicy chicken.

Honorable Mentions:

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix (PS2), Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox360)

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten (Part 8)

Aforementioned Top Ten Games:

The Sims (PC)

Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)

Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)

Everything or Nothing (PS2)

Rise to Honor (PS2)

Batman: Arkham Asylum (XBox360)

TimeSplitters 2 (PS2)

The original Splinter Cell required a larger learning curve than any other game I have chosen to become proficient in playing. For many young'ns, I imagine, it is not easy to resist pulling a piece out and shooting the first enemy he sees. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell punished acting upon this inclination. Therefore this game cannot be called a shooter. Within it, a firearm is a tool such as any other. The real weapon is your mind and your ability to innovate.

I am unable to select a single game from the series and tout it as the best of the bunch. The addition of online play in Pandora Tomorrow, as well as the added feature of co-op in Chaos Theory (which I believe was a nominee for the Co-Op Award) showed that the developer wasn't simply putting out expansion packs, but credible games that could stand on their own feet. Obviously Conviction stands out as the blackest sheep of the bunch for its more action-oriented approach, but I cannot say that it is superior or inferior to the greater orientation towards stealth of the previous games. They are simply different, and both have their place in the series.

I feel that I need not say much about these games, because it's likely you've played them and know what I am talking about. If you have not, I would advise you that I consider your gaming experience incomplete for not having done so. Simply, the entire Splinter Cell series belongs on everyone's video game bucket list.

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (Part Six)

Rehash of Games So Far:
The Sims (PC)
Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)
Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)
Everything or Nothing (PS2)
Rise to Honor (PS2)

The only way I can think of how to improve Arkham Asylum is to have an unlockable, playable Michael Keaton version of Batman. It is so well done. I admire the decision to produce a game with a unique storyline instead of trying to replicate The Dark Knight movie. Even more pleasing is the fact that it makes a great effort to stay consistent with the Batman canon and tradition, such as including many of the voices from Batman: The Animated Series, showing the developer's ability to both pay homage to long-time fans, as well as being totally accessible to those who might not know who Killer Croc is. This is in deep contrast to the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, which I feel does the double task of disappointing Spidey fans as well as insulting its viewers by being consistent with neither the comic series or its own movies (Eddie Brock is mentioned by name in the first movie, but is treated as a new employee to the Daily Bugle in the third)! However, one of today's honorable mentions is Spider-Man 2 game based on the movie, as it included the long dreamed-of feature of the ability to freely roam Manhattan, therefore being, in my view, the first Spider-Man game that let the player actually feel like Spider-Man (in the sense of being a masked vigilante who stops random street crimes). It actually would have my vote for best super hero-themed game prior to the release of Arkham Asylum (which itself is topped by Arkham City, but we'll conveniently ignore that for the sake of this post). But to make this about Batman and not Spider-Man, I would like to finish off by mentioning the things that make Arkham Asylum so great: its ability to capture the overall Batman theme of fear and darkness, faithfulness to the character, a fun and challenging fighting system, and stealth levels that don't suck (I didn't mention that yesterday for Rise to Honor, but it is a prime example of this problem). It sets the bar for what a comic book hero game should be.

Honorable Mentions:
Spider-Man 2 (PS2), Spider-Man (DC), Comix Zone (Genesis)

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (Part 5)

Top Ten List in Review:
The Sims (PC)
Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2)
Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)
Everything or Nothing (PS2)

All he wanted was some Wushu

Rise to Honor is the best fighting game that I have ever played. I find it more appealing than having to memorize complex, button-masher combos and just let my sticks do my talking. Jet Li's Wushu is beautifully captured and very fun to experience. Also what is great about the game is how similar it is to a DVD of a Hong Kong martial arts film. You open up the menu and you have Chapters and Language Options (with or without subtitles). The story is also like a typical martial arts movie; I'm just here for the fight scenes. What is also pleasing is that it does not feel repetitive. One encounters multiple fighting styles presenting different challenges throughout the entire game. Simply, this is a must-have for martial arts fans.

Honorable Mentions:
Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Arcade)

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (Part 3)

This list was started with the PC classic The Sims, followed by the fantasy/science fiction (we can debate the exact genre later) classic Star Wars: Battlefront, which is to be followed today by another classic (I hope I am not thought unoriginal by picking such games).

Pardon the picture; it is meant to represent the Hitman: 47 games (and possibly a better casting choice for the role than Timothy Olyphant, who played Agent 47 in the feature film). The games have many things going for them. One of the best qualities is simply having an enigmatic and bald playable character who is meticulously professional and sports twin custom-made M1911 pistols with the extremely cool name of Silverballers (with the even cooler name Hardballers in the Hitman 2 demo). He is scary and has a bar-code on his head. Pretty cool. Secondly, the gameplay allows for variety in how to skin the cat, and one can choose (most of the time) a myriad of ways to complete their contract, such as using different disguises, setting traps, or finding places from which to snipe. Thirdly, I like the soundtracks by Jesper Kyd and have purchased various tracks from them.

If I had to pick the best of the series, the obvious choice is Blood Money. It involves features like weapon customization, face recognition if one is not a silent assassin, and much needed assassin skill of hand-to-hand combat (something that was in the Hitman 2 demo, but mysteriously not in the final version). However, the entire trilogy (which includes Hitman 2, Contracts, and Blood Money but sadly neglects the original PC game) can be obtained for under $20 (and should be obtained). They each offer unique challenges and are just plain fun.

Honorable Mentions:
Shinobi's Revenge (Genesis), Mirror's Edge (XBox 360), Mr. Clean

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (Part 2)

Yesterday, I started out with the original The Sims (my preferred format being the PC, if that wasn't clear) to kick off my list. Today, I wanted to take it in a slightly different direction.

If I may, I'd like to clarify this as the collective Star Wars: Battlefront as well as Battlefront II, since they are so similar. And yet they are distinct with each having unique maps, as well as the latter having playable Jedi characters and space battles.

One does not need to be a big Star Wars fan to enjoy these titles; the gameplay offers fine third-person shooting, hands-on battle strategy (it often seems that strategy games offer no ground level tactics, as these do), and vehicular combat. But if one is a fan of the series, these are must-own and the best games based on it that I know of. If you really want to impress a small kid who thinks his Lego Star Wars is the bomb, have him play this.

Honorable mentions (in this category):

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (N64), Star Wars: Battle for Naboo (N64), Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (PS2)

For Your Viewing Pleasure, Chickenman's Top Ten Video Games (in no particular order)

It's difficult to make a list such as this, as it is subject to change (but not especially frequently). Video games are heterogenous, being different things to different people (or even to the same person at different times). The question is: What ends are one trying to achieve? Most players probably have an easier time playing World of Warcraft for hours on end, but cannot easily do the same thing with Tetris, yet no one will deny that Tetris remains a very fun game. A game that stands the test of time is a friend indeed. Games can also be social, and should be whenever they can. And by this I don't mean only what one experiences online, but with individuals in the same room. A lasting bond can be formed between those who cooperatively topple dictators electronically, and greater rivalries are formed with people that you know and play against. But video games are also there when it's raining and your friends are busy.

Point is that video games accomplish different goals. Therefore, choosing top tens are difficult. And that's what I have to say about that.

One of the best qualities a game can have is allowing players to create and be innovative. I believe that The Sims did this well and that is why the franchise has been so successful. What is also impressive is how wide of an appeal it has, thus being able to be different things to different people. The HGTV crowd can spend hours designing what they wish they could afford and the sadists can live out certain fantasies. No achievements were necessary back then. You made your own goals (such as having an entire lot full of tombstones or trying to start the pizza guy on fire), did them, and took a picture to prove it. To me, it provoked the need for more autonomy in what we play and set the bar for open ended sandbox-like games.

Honorable Mentions:

Vectorman 2 (Genesis), Jet Moto (PS1), Rayman 2: Revolution (PS2)