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Jimmy's Top Video Games: 10-6
By Jimmy - 04.03.03
10. Super Mario Brothers 3
1990 - Nintendo Entertainment System
 This is the only reason to see The Wizard. Well, that and the line "Keep your power glove off her, pal." That's gold. I'd like to point out that I've spent two weeks trying to come up with something to say about SMB 3. I honestly can't think of anything that hasn't already been said.
Obviously, the game's a blast. There's something inherently good about Mario, something that makes you feel all warm and cuddly inside, like that part in Top Gun when Maverick listens to "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay." The gameplay is simple, and yet it offers so much depth. Warp whistles, fire-flowers, mushrooms, tanooki suits, flying…these are all elements that transform a simple run-and-jump platformer formula into a work of art. Also, the ability to store power-ups in a sort of inventory rocks my world. Kudos, Nintendo. Kudos.
9. Laser Blast
Atari 2600 - 1981
 The past has countless treasure for those ready to look for them. The wall paintings of Pompeii, the tombs of the pharaohs, the cities of the Maya, Laser Blast. Unlike Missile Command or Space Invaders, Laser Blast casts you in the role of the daring attacker, rather than the pussy defender. It makes orbital bombardment fun for the whole family.
You take your fleet of saucers and attempt to destroy the lethal ground-based defenses. The bastards come at you three at a time, and only a legendary ace can hope to succeed. Like Maverick. Or maybe Ice Man.
 I honestly think you can achieve Nirvana by playing it. Once you get into the swing of things, death and destruction become instinctive. You don't have time to think. All you can do is fire. As the levels progress, sweat streams into your eyes as you gaze at your pixilated struggle, eyes locked in an impenetrable thousand-yard stare. There is no music, no fanfare. Only the pulse of lasers and the pop of fiery explosions signifying victory and defeat. It's intense, to say the least.
8. Final Fantasy VI (III)
1995 - Super Nintendo
If you're reading this, I'm sure you're familiar with both how an RPG works and the Final Fantasy series. So we'll dispense with an overview of the game and chronicle why this particular RPG holds such a special place in my heart.
This is one of the first RPG's I experienced (not counting Zelda). I used to run over to my friend's basement every day after school in fifth grade, content to simply watch him play this masterpiece. Once I actually played it…wow.
I love the characters more than anything else about this game. Designed by Amano, they were vivid, to say the least. One got the impression they were almost real people, people with dreams and motivations. And Kefka is easily one of the most memorable villains of all time. I mean, this is a guy who can poison an entire town, then turn around and accuse someone of being a "son of a submariner" while wearing clown make-up. That's some scary shit, right there.
7. Tetris
 1988 - Nintendo Entertainment System
Yet another game whose simple design masks so much depth that it borders on the zen-like. You know what I mean. Everyone's played it.
I don't have any mysterious reason for putting Tetris so high on the list. I went through my other choices and asked myself, "Would I rather play this or Tetris?" The game is just fun. It's easy to jump into, and one can easily play for five minutes or five hours. The music's great, and the game's entertaining. Nuff said.
6. GoldEneye 007
1997 - Nintendo 64
A revolutionary shooter, indeed. Before GoldenEye, you had shooters like Doom or Wolfenstein. Fun games, true, but simplistic kill-fests. GoldenEye's use of mission objectives was really quite innovative. I think I read that in a magazine, so you know it must be true.
A lot of games based on a movie license suck, so GoldEneye was a pleasant surprise. Three levels of difficulty, secondary objectives, and a system of reward-based challenges lent the game near-endless replay value. Multiplayer was a blast, with enough options to keep everyone happy. Of course, everyone knows that you have to play on "License to Kill" to be truly hardcore. And only pussies select Oddjob. He's just a cheap character.
I got the most fun out of setting my own goals in the game, like getting thorugh a level with 100% accuracy without getting hit once. I don't know why I shared that with you. I guess I was just making conversation.
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