1. Double Dragon (NES)The very first video game I had ever played. Who can forget the iconic Mission 1 theme?
While simultaneous, two player co-op was scrapped, the NES conversion of Double Dragon is still considered one of the best ports of the Arcade classic.
I still get a kick out of mode B - a primitive, 1 on 1 versus mode where you or a second player could control the baddies!
2. Tekken Tag Tournament (PS2)While 2D beat em ups and platformers captivated my attention during the early 90's, Tekken was the first video game I fell in love with in 3D.
Memorable cast of characters, amazing CG intros, immersive gameplay, kickass music and home console ports that surpassed their arcade counterparts.
The original Tekken was a staple choice for me in the arcades but I still feel Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag are the pinnacle of the King of Iron Fist's greatness.
Tekken Tag Tournament was the first game created for the Playstation 2, and, upon it's debut, made jaws drop from the graphical capabilities during the
PS2's launch. The two-player tag team feature was a first for the series as well and a great addition on an already amazing title.
3. Battle K-Road (ARC)I stumbled across this obscure, 2D tournament fighter in the late 90's when my parents were working as managers of a hotel. Battle K-Road features a roster
inspired by real-life combatants from the RINGS, K-1, boxing and even Sumo promotions.
While I was never good at the game, Battle K-Road did set the foundation for my interest in Japanese Wrestling/shoot fighting in the years to follow.
4. TMNT Turtles In Time (SNES)When it came to two player beat 'em ups, Turtles In Time is easily the best example on the SNES. My brother and I spent hours playing through this masterpiece.
Colourful stages, impressive graphics, catchy music, addictive gameplay and sheer 90's nostalgia have helped this gem stand the test of time. Turtles in Time was also
the very first SNES game I ever played; making the perfect introduction for the SNES.
5. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)The first pseudo-3D game that I ever owned. From it's amazing graphics, fluent gameplay, humongous bosses and atmospheric soundtrack, Donkey Kong Country
is one of my favourite SNES games of all time.
26 years later, I just played through Donkey Kong Country with a group of friends as was instantly reminded of just how fun this title still is. A SNES must.
6. Soul Calibur IIMy introduction to the Soul series started with the original, localized "Soul Blade" back on the Playstation in the late 1990's. Following in the vein of Tekken,
Soul Blade had great graphics, an intuitive fight engine, memorable characters, gorgeous CG and a groundbreaking story mode tailored to each combatant!
The fact that you could unlock different weapons (each with their own strengths and weaknesses) as well as lose them in battle made tense matchups all the
more fun.
The highlight from the Soul Series in my eyes however is Soul Calibur II. A game that is easy to pickup, tough to master, filled to the brim with unlockable content
and an absolute blast to play with friends.
Many memorable tournaments were held between my High School chums when Soul Calibur II and III dropped.
7. Street Fighter II (SNES)Back in the 90's, just about every Arcade had this title. Street Fighter II was THE game that inspired the fighting game craze of the 1990'; leading to countless
clones and a few lawsuits along the way.
The Street Fighter combatants transcended video game lore and became pop culture icons. You could find Street Fighter action figures paired with G.I. Joes in
your local toy aisle. Street Fighter valentine cards were a thing. Then there was the movie, the saturday morning kids show, the animated films, pinball machine, etc.
Millions OF ports later, the Street Fighter legacy continues and remains one of the most influential video game franchises of all time.
8. Super Mario World (SNES)Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 and 3 are iconic staples in their own right. Super Mario Bros. 1. pretty much saved the video game industry, 2 provided an interesting
detour and 3 is regarded as one of the finest video games ever made.
But, Super Mario World holds a lot of great memories for me and my introduction to the Super Nintendo. Massive bosses, large assortment of enemies, and a treasure
trove of secrets scattered across an extensive world to explore.
Super Mario World is still fun to play to this day; serving as an early testament to the incredible potential of the Super Nintendo.
9. Power Moves (SNES)Living in states in the late 90's, my family used to frequent a discount store named Rose's. Near the checkout, there were shelves dedicated to discounted SNES games.
Some of which, unopened in original packaging.
Star Fox, Street Fighter II, WWF Super Wrestlemania, and Ghosts N Goblins were just a few titles that we picked up at the time.
Being too young to look up anything on the internet, my brother and my only criteria for a good game was simply how cool the cover art looked. One cover that caught my eye
was Power Moves; another obscure 2D fighter from the early 90's that tried to cash in on the success of the Street Fighter craze (spoiler: it didn't).
While Power Moves was a far cry from the polished gameplay, graphics and replay value of other fighters from the era, it had it's own unique charm. Beautiful backdrops, RPG build
up engine, cheesy characters, Fatal Fury-esque multi tiered stages, special moves and one of the best SNES soundtracks.
When it came time to decide whether I should purchase Fire Pro World or not back in 2017, I took a look through the Steam workshop; testing to see just how expansive the workshop's
selection of characters truly was. And, to my surprise, there he was. My favourite Power Moves character already created: Buoh. Fire Pro World was purchased shortly after.
10. Fire Pro Wrestling World Fire Pro Wrestling is more than just a Wrestling simulation to me. It's a culmination of my love of retro gaming, the fighting game/beat em genres and Japanese Wrestling. While games
like Tekken and Battle K-Road served as introductions to the wonderful world of Puroresu, it was the Super Fire Pro Wrestling series on the Super Famicom that converted me into a fan
of Japanese Wrestling.
Fire Pro Wrestling World and the amazing community behind the game continue to inspire me on a daily basis. The ultimate sandbox title with the world's greatest, ever-growing roster.
And, thanks to the mod community, a title that is continuosly pushed beyond the features Spike Chunsoft originally presented.
