The best games ever

Zelda 64

Zelda 64 is now regarded as the best RPG of all time and the best game ever. Surveys around the world have come to the same conclusion as the quality of the game can not be doubted.

Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 was the first game release for the powerful Nintendo 64.  The game was to good as the games following Super Mario 64 debut, had to struggle to move out of Super Mario 64 shadow.  I have played Super Mario 64 but was not overall impressed I quickly became bored of it.  Many people think its the best game ever but from the people I've spoken to who have bought it, they quickly became disillusioned, due to some easily fixed gameplay problems.  Many games suffer from these problems but a game being branded the best ever, you would think that these problems would have been ironed out.  Many of my other friends thought the game had the best graphics and playability ever.  I remember when the game first came out every one was promoting it as the best ever.   Are those people still pushing it as the best game ever, I don't think so.   The two-dimensional nature of previous platforms games were made to look prehistoric but Super Mario 64 had wonderful graphics.  Super Mario 64 original concept came from Nintendo's Donkey Kong games where a plumber called Mario had to save the damsal in distress from the evil King Kong.  Later the inspirational Super Mario Brothers was born combining clever gameplay in a 2D platform game, with unforgiving game controls.  Super Mario 64 was the first game of its kind, it now has competition from Sonic Adventures and Banjo Kazooie.   Mario use to just jump but now can sumersault, leap, swim, fly and spin his way around the beautiful 3D worlds.  From the non-linear aspects of the Super Mario Brothers this has been replicated in Super Mario 64 but the areas to go are a little more restricited.  The variety of the puzzles and baddies has made this game undoubtably a classic.  But, I do not think its the best game ever made, but I may be in the minority.  

Tekken 3

Tekken 3 is one of the best arcade games I've ever played and has been voted by davesclassics as the best ever.  The reason being that its the best beat em up of all time, so far.  All the characters are strong not like in Street Fighter or Virtual Fighter, where only a couple of characters can be used.  The moves are varied and are easy to master.  Special Combo moves can produce spectacular sequences that demoralise the opposition.  Characters such as Gun Jack (my favourite) are powerful but clever.  The increased difficulty for each stage is set just right, but experts can destroy all the computer characters without drawing breath.  The challenge comes from challenging players and destroying their egos. 

We have all seen the posers in the arcade whiping every amateur who bothers to step up, until a true player comes down and whips their a**.   The shame is to much for them, so they have to leave with their head held firmly down.  The new player starts boasting until some one comes along and whips him too.   This goes on until there is a player who can not be beaten and has the respect from every body watching the games.  This is the buzz for arcade players, they want to gain respect and be the best there is.  I use to play every Friday in the Namco World Arcade in Piccadilly Circus London until the money ran out.  Japanese and Chinese players, men and women use to be there all the time. 

Tekken 3 and Daytona USA are 2 games I will never get bored of as it is always better to challenge another player than the boring computer players with predictable moves.  Unpredictability or Artificial Intelligence is something which arcade producers have yet to master.  The different combinations possible from a human can not be translated effectively with out months and months of programming.  This is why computer players can never compete with human players, they will always be beaten.  The only way that beat em ups can really improve is by learning from humans.  For example predictable patterns and common mistakes.   This way the computer can counter boring players who use the same dry up moves to beat computer players.  To counter clever computer players players will have to have several plans of actions instead of just one.  Killer Instinct tried and failed but I feel the future of arcade games will be not better graphics or playability but better Artificial Intelligence . 

Half Life has changed the 3rd person generation of shoot em up for ever. Doom was the main 3rd person shoot em up, which gaave gamers a chance to express there agression and skill. Multiplayer action was the key to Dooms success. Now clones like Duke Nukem and Half Life have extended the generation again.

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