The Wonder Years 9.11.08: The Final Edition Blowout Bonanza Part 2/2

Posted by Owain J. Brimfield on 09.11.2008

The Wonder Years goes out with a bang in a two-part finale, counting down the 20 best games of the 16-bit era! Take a look and see which games made it to the top ten in the final column!

Welcome, for the final time, to the column where all gamers of a certain age come to wallow in 16-bit nostalgia. I'm your host, Owain J. Brimfield, and never one to fade quietly into the night I'm using my closing days here at 411 Games to go out with a bang, in an attempt to chronicle the twenty best games of the 16-bit era. Last week's rundown of numbers 20 to 11 seemed to go pretty well and inspired more debate than any column I've written since the Mortal Kombat II debacle, which is surely a good thing. Of course, the most controversial point of order in these sorts of list is the vaunted number one spot, so we'll have to see how things go this time. Stick around after we're done too, as I'll no doubt have some final words.

As I said last week, this isn't going to be a list of my favorite games, nor is it going to be a list of the games with the most substantial reputation. This is a genuine attempt to objectively rank the best games you could play during the Wonder Years. Sure it's not going to please everyone, but hell, that's not going to stop me trying, and I'm all for encouraging debate about my favorite generation of video games. Without further ado, let's get stuck in with part two of two, and continue our countdown of The Best Games of the Wonder Years!

Just for reference, although you should probably read that column first, here's what came last week…

20. NBA Jam Tournament Edition
19. Zombies Ate My Neighbors
18. Contra III: The Alien Wars / Contra Hard Corps
17. F-Zero
16. Sonic the Hedgehog
15. Streets of Rage 2
14. Secret of Mana
13. Mega Man X
12. EarthBound
11. Super Metroid

10. Street Fighter II Turbo

Sure, the Street Fighter series had a fair few iterations on the Genesis and the Super NES that were probably all worthy of inclusion here, but in the end I went with the one that was arguably the most successful, and certainly had the most impact on gamers when it was released. SF2 Turbo takes the template that made its predecessor so superb, adds in four more playable characters and a whole new Turbo setting letting you crank the fights up to some insane speeds, and chucks out one of the best 2D fighters of the 90s. This may be a dubious claim to fame, but Turbo holds the title of the longest game review I've ever seen in a magazine when it was reviewed in old Brit publication ‘NMS', and the stonking 97% they awarded it is a fair indication of how well-received this game was. It's a prime example of the beat ‘em up genre at its most classic, and one of the most important fighters ever to be released.

9. Super Mario Kart

A bit of a no-brainer, this. Back in the day, the idea of chucking Mario and his mates onto a bunch of go-karts must have seemed a tad ridiculous when the concept was first presented to gamers, but lo and behold it went on to produce one of the most beloved racing game franchises of all time, and a large proportion of gamers still regard the original Mario Kart as the best. Although much is often made of the relentlessly cheating AI - Rainbow Road on 150cc remains one of the most effective tests of a gamer's mettle - it's easy to forgive the game this minor flaw when it's so damn fun. The two-player mode in particular is just wonderful in its purity, and the fact that the game is still held as the best point of comparison for Nintendo-based racing games almost two decades down the line speaks for itself. The best racing game of the 16-bit era.

8. Donkey Kong Country

The release of DKC set Rare on their way to claiming the title of the most revered software house in gaming, and even if they did only manage to cling onto that reputation for a few years, we'll forgive them when they have gems like this on their roster. It'd be easy to rate Donkey Kong's platforming outing on the strength of its technical abilities alone – the digitized graphics were a first for the 16-bit consoles and it's still one of the most visually impressive titles to be released prior to the 32-bit generation – but that would be doing the game a disservice, as it's a mighty fine title in its own right. Surely no one could have anticipated Mario's old antagonist joining him in the upper echelons of the platform genre, but it's a leap that DK made, bringing with him a lovely piece of tag-team platforming that remains fresh to this day. Plus, the mine cart stages are just awesome.

7. Final Fantasy VI

As I see it, the gaming experience of Final Fantasy VI / III (I've still never quite worked out the standard nomenclature for this SNES title) is entirely encapsulated within the first hour of gaming, when the opening scenes are complete and Sabin first ventures out into the overworld. The accompanying theme, courtesy of composer extraordinaire Nobuo Uematsu, is just impossibly epic, and all it takes is a few seconds of listening to those deft musical strains to realize that the ensuing 30-hour quest is likely to be one you'll never forget. And thankfully the game lives up to its billing – although surpassed in reputation by several of its subsequent sequels, I'd still argue that it remains the finest game the franchise has to offer, and certainly one of the premier role-playing experiences of the 90s. Archvillain Kefka has gone down in gaming lore as one of THE great nemeses, and the adventure itself does well to live up to the standards that particular giggling madman sets. A genuinely classic RPG.

6. Super Mario All-Stars

I don't really need to explain this one do I? A game that comprises two of the greatest platformers in history, a Japan-only rock-hard sequel to one of said platformers, and a surprisingly decent quasi-sequel, Mario All-Stars is the definition of "ultimate collection" (the latterly-released bundle that also contains a certain other game yet to feature on this list is possibly the single greatest cartridge you could ever buy). Taking Mario's 8-bit outings – wonderful games in themselves, natch – and giving them a 16-bit overhaul, the complete package is one of the finest slices of platforming you could hope to own, and a masterclass in the genre. Frankly, I could have included this in the list simply for its treatment of Super Mario Bros. 3 - best NES game ever – but when you add Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2 and The Lost Levels into the equation, you've got a cartridge that has a roughly similar half-life to a slab of plutonium.

Mario All-Stars featured in "The Wonder Years" week 1 (yes, the very first one)

5. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Yoshi's has one single flaw that prevents it from topping this list – it's horrendously easy, even if you're going all-out to score 100% on each of it's 48-odd levels. Aside from that singular criticism, this is essentially gaming perfection. Everything about it just oozes charm, with the hand-drawn graphics remaining years ahead of its time and still providing the most distinctive visual style of any 16-bit game. The gameplay mechanic, too, is unlike any other 2D platformer to see the light of day, with Yoshi burdened with the task of transporting Baby Mario to safety while simultaneously firing eggs, turning into helicopters and avoiding LSD-flavored hypno-fuzzballs (in one of the game's most memorable levels). This is just platforming nirvana, with every new stage bringing something different to the table, whether it's Yoshi taking to the ski slopes or stomping an army of marshmallows into oblivion. Despite the fact the game can be easily completed within a solid evening's play, it remains an unforgettable gaming experience.

Yoshi's Island featured in "The Wonder Years" week 26

4. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Oh, he had to appear again, didn't he. If Mario can get away with having three appearances thus far in the list, his great arch-rival Sonic deserves to appear once more. Of course, with Sonic 2, he doesn't have to rely on supposed requirements – his second eponymous game remains the Genesis' finest title and a lesson to us all that non-Mario platforming can be just as good with nary a hint of plumber. Sonic 2 is the perfect example of a gaming sequel, taking everything that was good about its predecessor and ramping it up several degrees to provide a truly memorable game. From the obscenely rapid gameplay and innovative level design (witness the genius of the Casino Zone stages) to the introduction of Tails, surely one of the most unfairly maligned characters in gaming history, everything about Sonic's second game hits the spot. It's the ideal marriage of character and gameplay, and remains one of gaming's all-time classic platformers.

3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Is it an RPG? No, probably not. But that doesn't stop Zelda 3 from being one of the top action/adventure titles you can find. The game is just an incredible achievement, with Nintendo pulling one of the largest rugs possible from under you at the halfway point at the game – after a hugely enjoyable session of adventuring across Hyrule over the course of a wonderfully designed (and bloody large) world map, it's revealed that, in fact, you're not even halfway through the game as evil sorcerer / primary bad guyAgahnim plummets you into the Dark World. It's a fantastic revelation that the game more than justifies, with Link's adventure never once losing momentum or becoming less than a joy to play through. Just reliving the game in your head is an enjoyable experience, which speaks volumes about the title's quality, and given that it stands on an even footing, even today, with its two 64-bit sequels – two of the officially acclaimed Best Games Ever – it's wise to treat Zelda 3 with the respect it deserves.

2. Chrono Trigger

The best RPG ever made? Arguably the case, and I certainly wouldn't like to defend any other selection against the virtuoso might of Chrono Trigger. It's simply unparalleled as an adventure game, taking the qualities that make other games in its genre merely ‘great' and executing them with such pitch-perfect precision that it's rather difficult to find a single flaw. If I hadn't already used the phrase "impossibly epic" to describe elements of an earlier game on this list, I'd be deploying it here, because this game is just incomparable. Whatever you like about a particular RPG, good money says that Chrono Trigger has already done it, and done it better. A wonderful cast of characters, an epoch-defining time-travel based storyline, the single greatest soundtrack ever committed to MIDI, and a boggling number of different endings are just some of the ingredients that combine to form the definitive RPG, and (only just) the second-best game of the 16-bit era.

Chrono Trigger featured in "The Wonder Years" week 21

1. Super Mario World

Completely peerless, totally without equal, Super Mario World is the absolute zenith of the platforming genre, and given that genre's importance to gaming as a whole, a true contender to the throne of Best Game Ever. There's a reason I nicked its title screen for this column's banner, after all. Although I wouldn't necessarily go quite that far, there's no denying that 17 years after its release the game has not aged one jot, and still remains one of the single most enjoyable gaming experiences anyone can undertake. The game is balanced to perfection, with the possibility of running straight through to Bowser after only completing a certain percentage of the game, while the hidden trials of Star Road and the search for the infamous 96 exits are certain to task even the most capable of gaming veterans. And the gameplay! Oh my. Words can barely do justice to Nintendo's accomplishments here. Frankly, if you haven't played Super Mario World, you can't consider yourself a gamer. It's fucking brilliant.


A (not so) momentary diversion

I'm sure there may well be a few of you who are wondering, after all this time, what my personal favorite games are. It's not something I've ever more than hinted at, and I'm sure there won't be more than a tiny handful of people who could tell you what my favorite game of all time is, but since I'm heading off now, what the hell. I'll make it public, and if a few of these choices seem at odds with the list I've spent the past fortnight compiling, you'll have to forgive me.

Brimfield's Personal All-Time Top Ten Games in the History of the World, Ever

10. Mario Kart 64
9. Banjo-Kazooie
8. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
7. Chrono Trigger
6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
5. Super Mario 64
4. The Curse of Monkey Island
3. The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
1. Little Big Adventure 2: Twinsen's Odyssey

Hands up who could have placed that at number one? Thought not. Seriously, if there's anyone out there who has never tried LBA2 - and I imagine that's a fair few of you – you should do your best to track it down. It's probably available on eBay through the EA Classics line, and you'll have to find a number of patches online to make it compatible with Windows XP (although it should run perfectly on '98), but it's well worth the effort. An action/adventure game developed by French software team Adeline, it's the most charming and consistently enjoyable game I've ever played. The main quest clocks in at around 30 hours of game time, and I love it so much I've completed it from scratch no fewer than seven times – I can't think of any other game I've done more than four. So there you have it, a little insight into my psyche. And, since this is my final column and I'm sure we can make allowances for some serious self-indulgence, here are a few more fun gaming facts for you:

The first game I ever played… was an old DOS version of Solitaire called Klondike. The first proper game I ever played was Apogee's Commander Keen. Hands up who remembers that one? I never really got past the first few levels, though, being young and unproven in the gaming arena.

The worst game I ever played… was Superman 64. Solve my maze!

The only games I can remember nearly making me cry… are Chrono Trigger (when Chrono and Marle float off on the balloons) and Final Fantasy VI (I can't remember the specific part, but I'm sure I welled up). Incidentally, Superman 64 brought tears to my eyes, too, but they were tears of anguish and incredulity.

My proudest gaming achievement… was setting a world record for discus in International Track & Field on the PS1. You have to understand, I was shit at this game. It made a part of my regular multiplayer gaming sessions with good friends AJ and Kell (as well as occasional participants Bud and Gary Nadal), and I was constantly getting creamed at the button-mashing masterpiece. However, the discus record stood me proud for over two years… until it was smashed by Kell, who trumped it by a good five meters. Bastard.

The most anticipated game I can remember… was Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which now that I realize came out around a decade ago makes me feel sad and old. This title was pretty much the Phantom Menace of the gaming world, and younger gamers probably can't remember the tidal wave of hype that surrounded the first 3D Zelda game, but suffice to say it was worth the three-year wait, and I still believe it stands up as one of the legitimate Best Games Ever.

My most-played game, as far as I can work out… is probably International Superstar Soccer ‘98 on the N64. I spent months perfecting my game, until I was completing Master Leagues with Kazakhstan on the hardest difficulty setting, with only two defeats in over a hundred games. Glorious.

The game I'm best at… is either F-Zero X - completed on Master difficulty with five different craft, and haven't lost a four-player race in years – or Tekken 5 - twenty victories in the last twenty-one multiplayer battles, with only six rounds dropped in all. I've never really understood that, as I'm generally pretty bad at beat ‘em ups.

The hardest boss I ever fought… was Lavos in Chrono Trigger. Took me six months to beat the git.

The longest continuous time I ever spent gaming… was 13 hours, the first time I installed Master of Orion II. Never before has a game grabbed me so instantly, and I just had to finish the game I'd started. Little did I anticipate it would take quite this long, and cause quite so much annoyance to my girlfriend.

The most important title in the history of video games… is, for my money, a three-way tie between Super Mario Bros., Doom and Super Mario 64.


And finally…

Thanks for reading folks, it's been an absolute blast. I'll still be doing the rounds here at 411, albeit in a limited capacity and primarily in the Movies zone, so you haven't quite escaped my clutches yet. Who knows, it may be in the future that I'll return, but for now the time is right to take a break, with a few things in my life I want to focus on outside of 411. What does the world of gaming hold for me now? Well, after spending the best part of the last year and a half focusing on the old-school, I'm planning to devote some time to some newer releases - Spore and Galactic Civilizations II are at the top of the list, and I might finally take the time to get a hold of Super Mario Galaxy, too. One thing's for sure though, gaming's Wonder Years will always hold a special place in my heart. Until the next time - keep it real, keep it retro.