So after taking much of 2020 to look at some of the best games for several different home console systems of the 70's, 80's, and 90's, it only seemed natural to kick off 2021 with a list of the best of the best.
The results are based off of 5 participants:
Crabmaster2000 EZ Racer DisposedHero Fokakis79 Wempster
Voters were encouraged to list all their best games if they couldn't get it cut to 20, and a few lists took advantage of that. Games from all systems released as 5th generation consoles (N64, Playstation 1, Sega Saturn) and prior were eligible. Japan exclusives were also eligible, along with PC titles released in 1999 or earlier.
In all, there were 89 games that were considered among the best of the early video game generations, and rather than list the also-rans separately, I thought it woulld be fun to list every game in order. My thought is that all these games are considered exceptional by at least one person, so if your looking for ideas for something to try, it might be for you as well.
Before getting to it, thanks to those who participated this month, and all who made lists in 2020. It's been a lot of fun, and look forward to a lot more in '21! If you're a GameCube fan, check out the link for the next list coming up- http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=19495.0
So here are your Top 20...er top 89 games as voted on by RFGen members!
Posted on Feb 11th 2020 at 01:00:00 PM by (Pam) Posted under video, review, snes
I somehow managed to go through my whole life never playing a Metroid game... until now. Today I'm talking about Super Metroid. It does some things really well, but there are some things I think could be better, or are unfriendly to new players.
As I mentioned in my article last month, we often like to search for hidden gems to add to our collections and eventually play if or when we finally get around to it. Sometimes, as was the case last month with Robotrek, we find a game that we feel is better left hidden and come away disappointed. Other times, as is the case this month with Skyblazer, we feel as if we have struck gold.
[img width=700 height=543]http://i63.tinypic.com/243kh7a.jpg[/img] One of these things is not like the other...
Once upon a time, the most desired trait of any home console gamer was to play arcade ports. In this fashion, one could say that arcades ruled the jungles of electronic video game entertainment. While complete faithfulness to the arcade original was the holy grail, it was certainly not a requirement, though individual interpretation on the quality of the port was certainly in place, especially in the playgrounds and hallways of schools.
Another episode of But I Like Those Ports! follows, and another three games are presented for your reading pleasure. In a way, these were the most ambiguous of the small list I drew up of possible games, but it was still hard. Out of the games left, I might have one more episode left, but who knows. Perhaps I should start branching out a bit into other territories.
In the middle of the 1970s, there were small game development studios popping up all over the world. In Melbourne, Australia; in 1977, one of those companies was Beam Software. Their initial games were developed for the home computers of the early 1980s, and they scored a whopper of an early hit in 1982's The Hobbit. At the tail end of the 80s, they finally made the move into home console development for the NES. A couple early stinkers in the two Back to the Future games did not slow the company down, and they started to get contracts to port arcade games to the console. In the early 1990s, there was a shift in the company's audio staff which saw Gavan Anderson and Tania Smith working on music and audio, but Tania ended up leaving to go on a world tour, and she asked Marshall Parker to be her replacement. Marshall was already 38 years old when he joined Beam Software in 1990, making him one of the older composers even at that time.
I've reviewed games casually on and off for the better part of the past 15 years. It's something I enjoy doing and I feel like I've got a relatively decent handle on objectively looking at the whole package of what a particular game consists of. What I don't have a lot of experience doing is comparing a game directly to another game, as I usually just look at what is in front of me and for the most part ignore any past or future releases. Can games even be, or should they even be, directly compared to one another?
Castlevania is a series I never really got into. I didn't play it any on the NES or SNES when I was a kid, and it wasn't until Symphony of the Night on PS1 that I finally gave it a try. In an attempt to fill this gap in my gaming experience, I played through Super Castlevania IV. My initial impressions weren't great, since Simon felt very heavy to control, but... did it grow on me?
When I was a kid I owned ActRaiser 2 for my SNES. I don't remember buying it or receiving it as a gift, yet somehow it was in my tiny collection. I remember playing it fairly often, but I'm pretty confident I was never able to beat a single stage in the game despite it having multiple stage options available to choose from right off the bat. Last week I decided to finally remedy that!!
This December we took some chumps to the mat during our annual Site Competition. Last month, we competed for fastest KO/TKO times and title belts in the classic Nintendo titles, Punch-Out! and Super Punch-Out!. Listen to our Playcast this month as hosts, Rich (singlebanana) and Shawn (GrayGhost81), are joined once again by special guest, RF Generation playthrough all-star, Doug (douglie007) to discuss both Punch-Out! titles and our Top 5 favorite playthroughs of 2017. In this episode, the guys discuss their earliest memories of the Punch-Out! series, what they believe makes these "sports" titles so beloved by so many gamers, and ponder Shawn's possible abduction by alien lifeforms. Do both Punch-Out!games still hold up today? And which game outside of our playthroughs did the guys enjoy playing the most in 2017? The answer to these questions and many more in this month's episode of the RF Generation Playcast. You won't want to miss it!
As always, we are happy to hear your thoughts on this game on our discussion page (linked below). We will respond to your comments and are always happy to discuss the game more. We hope you enjoy our show. Please be sure to rate and write a review of the show on iTunes to help us increase our listenership. Thanks for the listen!
Next to Tetris, Lemmings may have been one of the most ubiquitous puzzle games around in the 1990s. First released for the Amiga in 1991, it was ported almost everywhere - NES, DOS, Genesis, 3DO, Atari ST, and a dozen other systems. This review looks at the Super Nintendo version specifically.
Aside from a looking at the gameplay, I also go into a bit of the dark history about the myth of lemming mass suicide, on which the game mechanics are based, where it came from, and the major corporation that perpetuated it.
While I eagerly anticipate the arrival of October because of my trip down south to meet up with several rfgen members to once again attend the seminal Retro World Expo, I'm making sure I've got my wishlist in order and ready to rock. This trip gives me the opportunity to delve into the stock of dozens of stores and vendors that I'd normally never have access to while at home. My hope is to be able to find some of the more challenging games to obtain in different sets. Since completing my licensed NES and Turbografx 16 collections, I've been focusing on completing a few other full libraries. Some easier than others.....
Final Fantasy IV is one of the most important JRPGs to grace the console market, and would go on to shape the cinematic direction of developer Square's flagship Final Fantasy series for decades. It wasn't my first RPG, but it was the first for me where story primarily drove the game, and was the first to feature a knockout and memorable ending sequence. Despite this, I haven't played the game in nearly a decade (and not completed it in almost twelve years). So, won't you join me, my friends, as I re-experience Final Fantasy IV for the first time in years?
Join RF Generation Playcast hosts, Rich (singlebanana) and Shawn (GrayGhost81) as they discuss one of the most beloved RPGs on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Secret of Mana. Join these playthrough gurus as they review their maiden voyages through the game and try to determine what makes classic gamers dote upon it so. Topics discussed include: the general story, the revolutionary menu system, upgrades, general enemy and boss battles, and of course, the musical score. Having recently played both of Square's "Secret" SNES titles, Rich takes a few minutes to discuss the verbal war that often rages between Secret of Mana and Secret of Evermore fans and whether or not either argument holds water. Which game is better, and would either of our hosts recommend this particular title? Be sure to listen to this episode of the RF Generation Playcast to find out!
As always, we are happy to hear your thoughts on this game on our discussion page (linked below). We will respond to your comments and are always happy to discuss the game more. We hope you enjoy our show. Please be sure to rate and write a review of the show on iTunes to help us increase our listenership. Thanks for the listen!
Join RF Generation Playcast hosts, Rich (singlebanana), Shawn (GrayGhost81), Floyd (Fleach) and Steven (Disposed Hero), as we discuss our June playthrough, Illusion of Gaia, an action RPG originally released for the Super Nintendo. In this episode, we discuss the distinct battle and puzzle mechanics, the leveling system, some frustrating boss battles, the quirky story, the music, and many other features that make this title stand out. If you played Illusion of Gaia with us last month, or if you are interested in picking up this game, you'll want to give us a listen. As always, we are happy to hear your thoughts on this games on our discussion page (linked below). We will respond to your comments and are always happy to discuss the game more.
We hope you enjoy our show. Please be sure to rate and write a review of the show on iTunes to help us increase our listenership. Thanks for the listen!
It's been quite a while since I gave any love to my actual collection, either in real life or on RF Generation. In fact, after recently moving my entire collection for the second time in just under a year, I noted it to be quite burdensome, and I found myself wondering: "Why?" However, in organizing, setting up, and alphabetizing everything after the move, I realized I truly still love the hobby. Holding items in my hands, which I forgot I even had, renewed the sense that I am in fact curating a library of games and items that reflects my personal tastes and curiosities. The room I'm using in our new place is actually smaller than any I've put my games in before, but I actually think this is the best iteration of my game room yet for exactly that reason. The cozy, intimate setting takes me back to huddling around a garbage-picked CRT dinosaur in my parents' basement playing Super Nintendo with my friends and siblings. Let's be honest, the reason we collect is largely to chase that feeling.
As much as we try to organize, there are always odds and ends that fail classification and confound even the most obsessive collectors. Sure enough, after the move I discovered and took a second look at some of the eccentricities in my game library. I imagine we all have odds and ends like this, and they should be celebrated. They make our collections unique. Here's what I have.
