411 Top 5 Games Edition 12.15.06: Week 21

Posted by Steve McHugh on 12.15.2006

Top 5 Console Launch Games

Well it's Top 5 time again and as 2 consoles launched in the past few weeks we're looking at the Top 5 launch games for any console.


First of all lets turn the floor over to the forum users.

highhighhigh! Merry Christmas!

5. Pong (Atari)
The grandfather of them all.

4. Tetris (GAMEBOY)
Caused the handheld system industry take off. Look where we are now with PSPs and Advanced...

3. Legend of Zelda (NES)
What about this game ISN'T perfect? No "grumble grumble" from me on that.

2. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
The original NES game. Scores of gamers could probably beat level 1-1 with their eyes closed if need be and who CAN'T hum the theme song? Also spawned a ton of future games such as the sequels, Mario World, Paper Mario, etc. and introduced a number of gaming characters (Yoshi, Luigi, Bowser, Koopas, etc.)

1. Halo (XBOX)
Showed us what next-gen had to offer and gaming was never the same afterwards.




Kermit the Santa Frog

5. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
This game defined a system, a generation, and the future of gaming. What else can be said?

4. The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess (Wii)
While I do not like the Wii myself (The Nunchuck controllers just don't suit me), this game looks to be the first jewel in Nintendo's Wii crown. And I must admit, they did do a nice job combining the nunchunks with Legend of Zelda and it adds something new to the game. And the graphics are the best seen on a Nintendo system yet. And despite all that, who won't want to drop the bucks to play Link once again?

3. Soul Calibur (DreamCast)
Ah the Dreamcast, Sega's last hooray. I still cannot understand why this system failed, but that's for another day, and besides, I hear it coming back. On to the point at hand, Soul Caliber. In my mind, the best fighting game on the console market and Dreamcast introduced us not only to the game, but showed what Dreamcast was able to do. Everyone with a Dreamcast in my dorm building at the time, had Soul Caliber. The epic battles we would get into are the stuff of legends.

2. Resistance: The Fall of Man (PS3)
Of the four people I know who purchased a PS3, three did so because of this game. From my experiences with it, I can see why they wanted it. Rich plotline that doesn't become too heavy, and doesn't feel cookie cutter. Engrossing levels, fantastic graphics, wonderful sound and music, this game is simply great. And the game does exactly what it is supposed to do. Blow the previous generation graphics out of the water and show why you dropped a ton of cash on this system. While I still don't think the PS3 is worth $600, more games like this could convince others and me that maybe; just maybe, the PS3 is worth at least $400.

1. Halo (XBOX)
This was the only reason to buy Xbox when it first came out. Granted, Xbox has put out quality games since, but this defined the system. I still think of this game whenever I hear Xbox, and this is after how many years? With Halo, Microsoft not only showed they could compete with Sony and Nintendo, they kicked in the door to the old boys club and said, "I'm here!" I think that if it were not for Halo, the Xbox would not have launched as well as Microsoft would have wanted and it would have taken months for the system to get off the ground.



And now it's the Staff's turn.


Steve McHugh

5. Project Gotham Racing 3 (360)
The 360 launch was a little on the dull side but this game was head and shoulders above all others. I personally think this is one of the best driving games ever and love every single part of it. The multiplayer is also wonderful. If you own a 360 you should own this game it's that simple.

4. Super Mario World (Snes)
Okay so I prefer Yoshi's Island in the ‘what's the best 2D platformer' stakes but when this was released it blew me away. I'd never seen a platform game that was so varied and challenging and had so much stuff to see and find. A fantastic game.

3. Super Mario 64 (N64)
Well it changed the face of platform games forever and it still outshines many that try to emulate it (Vexx I'm looking at you) but first and for most it's just a huge amount of fun. If you've got a Wii then downloading this game isn't even a consideration.

2. Soul Calibur (DC)
This one game helped make the Dreamcast a viable threat and Sega hope that their new machine would propel them back to the top of the gaming industry. It didn't work but that's not the point. This was the finest 3D fighter around at the time and is still one of the finest ever made. In fact many think it's still better then either of it's sequels. And in some ways they have a good point.

1. Halo (Xbox)
Without this game those first few months with this console would have been unbearable. It's also managed to give Microsoft a recognisable franchise with which to base new games around. If this game hadn't come along there may never have been a 360 now and that would be a huge change to the face of gaming. And it's utterly fantastic but you already knew that.

Hon mentions:

Lumines (PSP) - The PSP launch had a few good games but Lumines was easily the best offering as it's the best puzzle game that I've played in a long time that wasn't Meteos and it will last you ages

Ridge Racer (PS1) – Personally I don't like this game too much but that's not the point. This game put the playstation on the map as it showed the world just how powerful the machine was and just how easy it was for arcade perfect games to be in the home. It's a fantastic achievement and it helped to cement the PS1 as a viable contender, which eventually ruled the gaming word.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) – This is the one main reason to buy a Wii and it's sold in huge numbers. And rightly so.




Sean McCabe.

5.Mario 64
The innovator of 3D gaming and analogue stick controls will always be recognised as arguably the most important game ever besides Pong.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog
This game almost single-handedly made Sega a legitimate competitor in the videogame industry, much like a certain game did so for Nintendo years earlier.

3. Super Mario World
The SNES opened up with a bang, and a Mario game with the same lever of charm and innovation of the three previous games would lead its charge. An important game, very important.

2. Super Mario Bros
But Mario World did not save the videogame industry. Super Mario Bros did. It is the biggest selling game of all time, and with reason.

1. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
All right, this is my bias showing. But I'll always prefer Zelda to, well, just about any other games out there. The Wii had a strong launch, thanks to this game.



Will Scott

5. Twisted Metal (Playstation)
Not as good as the second game, but still superior to most of the series, Twisted Metal introduced a fairly unique concept to gamers at launch.

4. Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
Remember how pretty this looked when it was first shown? An altogether good game, it really touched on all the major selling points of the Dreamcast (good property, good graphics, use of the memory unit, etc).

3. Powerstone (Dreamcast)
Probably not the most memorable game for most, but this was my favourite game on Dreamcast, a game I played until I retired the system for good. A fun, unique fighter that gave birth to an even better sequel.

2. Halo (X-Box)
Like this isn't a given. If it weren't for the game in the number one spot, this would obviously be the best launch game ever. The crazy part is...I don't like Halo. The co-op games are a bit of fun, but first person shooters aren't my thing. But this baby continued to sell X-Boxes until it was overshadowed by the sequel.

1. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
The ultimate launch game came packaged with the NES, and sold many (if not most) on the unit. As a game, it still stands up to modern gameplay. It's the game that started it all for most people



Ramon Aranda

5. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
This game not only gave Mario and company a run for their money, but SEGA almost toppled Nintendo as the industry leader off Sonic the Hedgehog alone. Now that's a launch title.

4. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
No pack-in title has been as renowned as SMB. As the most influential game of all time, to have this as a pack-in with your brand new Nintendo Entertainment System was a gift from the heavens.

3. Halo (Xbox)
Without Halo on launch day, Microsoft would've never made it out of last gen. This game redefined the FPS genre for consoles and became a monster franchise.

2. Legend of Zelda: TP (Wii)
Talk about a launch title. With over a 75% attach rate on Wii purchases, this has got to be one of the biggest launch titles of all time. It's Zelda and possibly one of the greatest games of all time.

1.Super Mario 64(Nintendo 64)
This N64 launch title was the only reason to buy an N64 on day 1. And guess what...it got the job done. This single-handedly ushered in the 3D era and no other platformer can even come close.



Vincent Chiucchi

5. Halo
The only reason why Xbox didn't die so fast. That and Microsoft has money.

4. Soul Calibur
The Dreamcast launched with one of the best fighting games ever made. If only they hadn't burned their fans so many times, people still would've cared for the system.

3. Super Mario [blank]
Just put in whatever Mario title you can think in there, because any launch games with the words "Super Mario" is bound to be great or sell in the millions.

2. Smash Bros. Melee
Released a few weeks after Gamecube came out, it became the number one selling game and is still played a lot for a reason.

1. Tetris
One of the many reasons why Game Boy became the dominant handheld gaming device. With a game that anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, could play, it's definitely the best launch game ever.



I never realised before just how many launch games have actually become complete classics. Nintendo in particular seem to have a knack for putting out one very special and genre defining launch title with each console launched. Well next week we'll be getting a little bit more festive with the Top 5 games we've received as presents. Come back and join us for that but in the mean time feel free to send any feedback about this weeks column or indeed sent your own Top 5 and get your name seen up in print.