N - Novabug's Desert Island Games, My Top 10 Games Ever

You know this age old question; what would be the 10 songs you would have if you were stranded on a desert island? Or is this case, video games. In a fashion, these should be my 10 favourite games of all time, and that's exactly what they are, mostly. This is a mixture of classic titles and games with a large amount of re-play value, just so getting bored on that island is a far off thing. Obviously the concept is silly and unworkable in reality, but if I had the choice of playing only a handful of games for the rest of my days, this collection would be it. My top 10 desert island video games. If you have read my A to Z challenge up till now, the top 3 will come as no surprise!

Dizzy had never quite got the hang of knock-knock jokes

#10 Fantasy World Dizzy - To pick one of the Dizzy games was a difficult choice, but the third installment would be it. It's the first Dizzy title I really gelled with, it introduced the menu function and had puzzles that were not bordering on impossible to work out. The two previous titles did present a bit of randomness about finding certain items, but FWD merely required a little bit of thought and everything makes sense. The music is also uplifting and jolly, solid bright graphics and with the inclusion of the Yolkfolk and other featured characters,  it's the best game of the series for me. Also, the second game,Treasure Island Dizzy, would just constantly remind me of the predicament I would be in. Depressing.

#9 Metal Gear Solid - Solid Snake's first 3D outing is still the best of the Metal Gear series has to offer, and so repeated plays of practicing sneaky silent neck-breaking, mindlessly picking of the rats with a sniper rifle and finding a new way of pissing off your evil brother Liquid would provide a fair amount of enjoyment. The cut scenes alone would take up a good chunk of time too, as would the wonderful soundtrack. It could have the potential to give me ideas to escape an isolated island too, Snake would bloody manage it!

#8 Super Mario World - Most people would chose at least one of the Mario games to keep senility at bay, so it's the Snes's superb Mario platform caper that gets my vote. It's a big game for starters, so completing all the levels is one thing, but also would give me time to finish bonus levels like Outrageous without flying over it, or trying to beat the game without any of the Switch Palaces activated. Would be a tough challenge, and keep a grin on my face for a long while.

#7 Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting - No best-games list is complete without one of the Street Fighter games, and the fast, multicoloured Hyper Fighting would be perfect for letting out that pent up anger and loneliness. I could master every combo, find new ones, and endlessly insult Ken about his stupid daft eyebrows. It's also a game that has stood the test of time, so would always be a joy to play again and again. Maybe I could teach the local primates to play too for some 2 player action.

#6 Tetris - Even now it's a game many of us fall back on as something just to pass a few minutes by, so it's no surprise this classic Russian puzzler takes a place here. Endlessly addictive in the most basic of ways, Tetris has a half-life of about 5000 years I would assume, so setting your own personal goals is the key to longevity. Be warned though, the music could just drive you utterly insane, losing all communicative skills leaving only the notes of the famous music. You may even start calling yourself Dr Spin...

The budget airline route from Japan to Hawaii was grueling

#5 Pang - The GX4000's crowning title, I would have to have this balloon popping shooter as to remind me of the fabled but flopped Amstrad console. The game is tricky, so beating it over and over would be very satisfying, but hearing those classic 8-bit tones would provide a goose-bumping experience for a passing moment.  It would also bear memory fruit of the real world, with the in-game background images of London, Paris and such like. A great game bursting with fun.

#4 Starfox (Starwing) - If I were to choose a first person space shooter that captures all that makes a great space shooter without hanging off the fame of Star Wars, Starfox would be the one. With it's choice of courses, levels of difficulty, it's excellent polygon enhanced visuals and epic sci-fi soundtrack, it's a title to get the juices flowing and too immerse yourself into some hardcore firefight action. I could also shoot Slippy down just for the pointless thrill of silencing the dumb amphibian!

#3 Rez - Not only would this give me a fix of high quality gaming off the PS2, but it would also fulfill the gap left by the absence of dance music. The tracks included in Rez would be more than sufficient, because you can always play the game poorly and produce a different tune. The unlockables in this are also very long-winding to complete, so that would be something to achieve. There is a way, so I have heard, that you can complete the game and give it's final boss, Eden, the salvation she begs for. That would be an emotional end and something to savor.

#2  Final Fantasy VII - Need I say more? No? Ok, I won't. Oh alright then, I will. Final Fantasy VII; one of the best games ever to grace a TV's pixels. Anybody that calls himself a gamer will have played or read about this title. It's that good. I could try beating Emerald with just Cloud, or produce a Master Materia for all magic for every member of my party... (I really do sound a bit sad sometimes don't I?) Anyway, it's one of the greatest games ever. Nuff said!

Duck Hunt 2 never came to fruition, so Mana stole ideas

#1 Secret of Mana - Just pipping FF7 to the top spot is another JRPG, and only because I found it the most awe-inspiring game I had played at the time of it's release, and this would stand me in good-stead if I were pottering about on some desolate sandy island. Playing SOM just makes me smile, makes me reminisce, makes me happy and gives me a warm glow of good feelings. The story, the music, the playability; it should be no shock to my regular readers that this IS my all time favourite game. Ever. The most indispensable game for my personal tastes.




A pretty far-fetched list this one I know, but it does show you what I find great and what I look for about video games. There is a wide selection of genres here, so something to keep the boredom to a minimum. Of course, even these games would eventually become unbearable over a long period, but it's the best I can do. What would your picks be? What is your favourite game of all time? Tomorrow we take a different turn on things and look at the most ridiculously hyped games there has been in my opinion. Is GTA3 really that good? We will find out tomorrow as I continue the A to Z challenge of video game top 10's.


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L - Legendary! My Top 10 Most Iconic Game Characters

Oh yes, this old chestnut. An age old discussion in gaming circles. A selection of the most arse-kicking, noble, admirable, influential and heroic characters in all of video gaming. This is a list that people can debate until the end of time, and all will have good arguments for offering their suggestion. Iconic game protagonists for me come from the generation before this one, these are the characters that shaped modern gaming, story-telling and the personalities of the familiar faces of today. These legends transcend the gaming scope, are universally recognised as being vitally important to game development and history, these are the characters who have struck a chord with me, stayed with me, and been my guides through my gaming journey. Here is my ultimate top 10 of gaming legends!

Take two of these and call me in the morning Mr Pac

#10 Pacman - Undoubtedly an important part of the popularisation of video games, this hungry little yellow disc has chomped his way over nearly every platform there has ever been, the original game still proving a favourite today with Flash clones and mobile apps abundant.  The original Mr Man has the navigation skills, the ability to consume vast amounts of yellow balls, and to become a ghost-buster when chewing on a large pill of dubious nature. He is also instantly recognised the world over.

#9 The Belmont Family - Talk about dedication! This family of vampire hunters have been forever thwarting the exploits of the head-honcho of blood suckers, Dracula himself. Generation after generation, the Belmont men and women have been battling the hoards of demons and undead of Transylvania. An  NES classic initially, the Castlevania series is one of the most long-running and popular conceived platform capers. If I were to pick one Belmont, it would be Simon, the original man to face and defeat Drac's, and also to appear in the most titles. Van Helsing has nothing on these guys!

#8 Samus Aran - The first and only queen of girl power in gaming, way before the likes of Lara Croft, Samus was kicking alien behinds and saving the galaxy long before Miss Tomb Raider made an appearance. Donning her bionic armoured suit, she searched and blasted her way over millions of platforms, destroying the Space Pirates in their attempts to gain the powers of the metroids. Best still, the macho-type gamer guys that played the original never had no idea she was a women until the end! Right on Sister!

#7 Sonic the Hedgehog - A prominent figurehead during the 16-bit 'console wars' of the nineties, this sprightly blue mammal burst onto the scene to put Mario in his place. The plucky plumber however was not outdone, but Sonic became a great mascot on his own accord. He was fast, had attitude, and fought an insane inventor that made Bowser look like a child's teddy bear. More importantly, Sonic was personified as cool! He was just that during his 2D heydays, loving his insane dashing around and his insolence for the laws of gravity. Shame his later 3D adventures were a little bit rubbish.

#6 Dizzy -Bouncing his way across 13 games, this strange egg-man that wears boxing gloves proved to be a big hit with the 8-bit home computer users of the eighties. His legacy continues today with re-imaginations of his games on the iOS, as well as fans creating new games based around his original universe. Dizzy was a hero of usual proportions and disposition, but he still had the guile and courage to take on the fantasy beasts and powerful wizards of old. A true classic-underdog video game legend.

Energy bolts came as standard with this belt

#5  Ryu - The most revered and significant face of the Street Fighter franchise, the travelling wanderer searching for the ultimate fight is one of few characters to appear in all of the Street fighter games, his training partner Ken and nemesis Sagat the only others. Since the first edition, Ryu has been the front-man of the series, the embodiment of strength, skill, endurance and honour. He also has the most unrivaled special move in all of the titles, the equally legendary Dragon Punch. Ryu is the man of street fighting!

#4 Solid Snake - The genetically created super-soldier with a heart of steel and gold, the only one not to be slightly insane; Snake fights against terrorism, genocide, corruption and greed, all with little or no reward. He smokes, he's gruff, miserable and pessimistic at the best of times, but he still finds it in himself to singularly beat extensive armies and a giant super-tanks repeatedly. Nails!

#3 Link - The Elf-type boy come good, his life is all about rescuing the Princess Zelda from the tyrrany of Ganon. He's magically blessed, has excellent sword skills and is pretty handy with a bow too. He has even altered the flow of time. Link has graced the Nintendo platforms with honour and distinction, and all this started when he was merely a teenager. Popular and revered by many gamers, and a hero to look up too.

#2 Mario - Many people would choose the former Jump-man as number one, and he does come very close. His endless nemesis Bowser has never got the better of him over 20 different titles, as Mario conquers the landscapes, caves, tunnels and castles frequently, bringing joy to many a gamer. Super powered by things like mushrooms, flowers, leaves and feathers, he is tenacious, adaptable, quick and basically a good old soul. He also pops up in situations that seem out of his comfort zone, like racing, tennis, golf and fighting games. He is and most recognised and loved video game character that there has even been, and the mascot for all that is great about games. Hail this Italian pipe-fixer!

There was always trouble at this nightclub,
so Cloud came tooled up

#1 Cloud Strife - He has been manipulated and controlled, had his mind and body altered and lives a life of someone he is not, but the man with the big sword and spiky hair gets the top spot because of his relentless drive to put things right in the world. He has suffered for this too, losing the love of his life, having fractured relationships with his friends and never really regarded as a hero. But, he wouldn't want it any other way. The most reluctant champion for what is right, he continues on in life, struggling with his own personal issues but always coming out on top, usually adding a quip or two in the process. Oh, and it just so happens he is the star of one of the finest RPG's ever. Yes, you've guess it, Final Fantasy VII. 


That's my legends list all done, and I think a list many will agree with. What would have been your inclusions? Who stands out as a legendary hero for you? I'm going to sit back and relax for the next top 10 and listen to the wonderful original soundtracks that have been accompanying great games for over 3 decades. M is for Music Marvels, so you can once again expect FF7 to feature. 

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A - Arcade Attack! My Top 10 Arcade Games (Coin-Op's)

Right, first up in my A to Z of video game top 10's are the devilish machines that got me into gaming in the first place. Arcade cabinets: AKA Coin-Op's.  For some, the dwellings of said contraptions were a haven of adventure and escapism, endeavoring to reach for the stars and be acclaimed by your peers. For others, a soulless room of money stealing traitorous boxes that break your heart and taunt you with an irresistible continue countdown screen. Personally, I loved the arcade era. I was glad and willing, but maybe not able, to part with my school lunch money just so I could see Death Adder's blood spurt, or attempt the famous 'Handcuffs Glitch' in Street Fighter 2. As you can imagine, I played many of these games back in the day, so here is my top 10 of personal champions  These may not be the titles you expect, it is not a list of the so-called 'Best' games, just the ones that got me to part with the most amount of money, or kept me coming back again and again. And again.

But Mum, the invaders eat my sprouts... honest!

#10 Space Invaders - The original arcade sensation. The colour screen table top version we had when my folks ran a Pub (Yes, pubs had arcade machines!). I have many fond memories of this, but strangely not the first arcade I played. Remember, shoot the last git of an invader before he is in your sights!

#9 Datona USA - Early teens, local cinema and we were there, racing frantically in the four player simulator version until dark. It was the first racer I played that felt real, with the vibrations, gear stick, visual damage, pedals and steering wheel. Great and so new for the time.

Times were hard for Donkey's 
Dragon wife before Shrek

#8 Black Tiger - I remember getting embroiled in a freak game of one upmanship with a fellow school pupil; he was just awesome at this fantasy platformer, so I just had to try and better him. Ultimately, I failed but the game stuck with me. Shame most of the home conversions were pants, the ones missing from the games' protagonist I presume.

#7 Kung Fu Master - Ah yes, the very first arcade game I played as a wee boy. I was hooked by this, even though it took me months to work out how to beat the level four boss, but I loved it. I remember searching high and low for the CPC version, which was pretty good as it happens. It even inspired me in later life to learn martial arts. Novabug - 2nd Degree Blackbelt. (I thank you!)

#6 Jailbreak - One single sound effect is the reason why this low-grade police shoot 'em up makes the list. In fairground arcade stalls up and down the country, Jailbreak was always there, the grating echos of a hostage boy's scream calling out to you in the demo rum. You had to save him, the little shit!

#5 Golden Axe - Everybody I knew at the time loved this, SEGA's fantasy slasher normally accompanied with the usual argument of who the best character was; the dwarf or the barbarian. In truth, the amazon was excellent because she had the best magic, but no pre-pubescent boy would admit to this in the pressured testosterone atmosphere of the arcade. It was also a bit of a watershed moment with the spectacularly grim death of the games antagonist.

#4 Chase HQ - Few games make you want to be a policeman, but this hit the mark with aplomb. Chase the criminal at crazy speeds in a Porsche, and run him off the road! What is there not it like? It was fast too, very fast. And if you failed? A women called Nancy on the radio mocked you openly! Shocking.

#3 Time Crisis - If early light gun FPS's had a James Bond style hero, then Richard Miller was it. The Namco G-Con45 was such a brilliant gun controller, bulk and presence and made you feel menacing. Many pound coins were spent on the continue screen with this one. A polygon frenzy of Blam Blams!

#2 Street Fighter 2 - Well, it had to be in this list didn't it? Most best-game charts have it, so this list will be no exception. One of the biggest and most popular games ever, I did not miss the boat during it's arcade heyday. This game made me late for school numerous times, miss the bus home, get into real fights... you name it. It should be at the top of the list you think, but....

#1 Point Blank - On the outside, you may think I am insane for choosing this. A light gun gallery shooter, with cartoon slapstick graphics and with two hosts that look like they are on day release from the Sesame Street asylum. Point Blank and it's sequel scoffed up more of my beer money in my student days then any other machine. While my buds were crying into there empty wallets at the foot of a fruit machine, I was smiling and dancing with joy at completing Point Blank yet again, with a crowd of admiring peers standing around me. It gave be so much fun and pleasure, it is my all time number one arcade game.

Well there you have it. Feel free to add your opinions and your suggestions for your top coin-ops. Double Dragon, Final Fight and Hippodrome were all close to making the list as these were also great games for me. Hope you enjoyed my arcade adventure, next up.... my top ten Beat' em Up's! Funnily enough, some of these classics may be included...

Finally, A big thanks to Arlee Bird for starting this challenge, a great idea and hopefully helpful to all that have accepted. Find him at http://tossingitout.blogspot.co.uk/


Bug...'Out!