YOUR FAVOURITE GAMES

Ok. Let's talk, then list. Every time I see one of those top 10 or top 100 games lists and see what's on them, I think to myself, "a lot of those games would not stand up to a replay TODAY". There's an important distinction to be made between what games we loved in their day, and the games we still love now. Furthermore, some listmakers enjoy throwing in games like the first Super Mario Bros. because of its "importance".

That's all great. But today's list won't be about games that tugged your heartstrings a decade ago, nor will it be about listing games for posterity. Today's list will be about the games you simply cannot do without. Today. Right now. This is why I call it Your Favourite Games List.

Because as much as I loved Revenge of Shinobi in the nineties, playing it now just doesn't make me happy. I get into arguments with Retro about this topic all the time. His top ten list NEVER CHANGES. Mine is constantly evolving. If you're anything at all like Retro, I challenge you to go back and play some of the games you've had on a pedestal for years without thinking about it -- and feel the pain I've felt when they come toppling down. Conversely, it's a wonderful feeling when a game you've put up there, STAYS up there, after all that time. That's something truly special: that's timelessness.

To be fair to Retro, his situation is a little different than the usual retrogaming booster -- he actually doesn't really play new games. Part of the falling from grace that we see happen with our old games is a supplanting at the hands of newer, better games. Without exposure to anything which might usurp his top ten spots, it's a lot easier for them not to change.

However, delving deeper, games can fade without better games coming along to facilitate their deaths. Sometimes it's just limited replay value at fault. I'd say that certain genres have the advantages here: a puzzle game (Pac-Man) probably has a better chance of staying relevant over the long haul than say an RPG (Final Fantasy I), because one might be more wont to go back to it again and again. (Having said that, I know there are tons of RPGers who play their old, decrepit Phantasy Stars over and over, so what do I know.)

Anyway, let's hear your thoughts.

And your lists. Here's mine:

Unreal Tournament (PC)
The Legendary Axe (TG16)
Gate of Thunder (TGSCD)
Crime City (ARC)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Wonderboy in Monster Land (SMS)
Street Fighter Alpha 3 (PSX)
World Class Baseball (TG16)
Alone in the Dark (PC)
Castlevania III (NES)
R-Type (SMS)

For the hell of it, I'm gonna list my most notable fallen angels:

Super Metroid (After Symphony of the Night, the magic was somehow... reduced.)

A Link to the Past (For some reason, the overhead Zelda formula just doesn't WORK for me anymore.)

Blazing Lazers (Used to be my favourite shooter. I still love it, but now I'd play something like Sapphire before playing this.)