For Christmas, my roommate Drew got a black-market Nintendo system featuring 100 of the earliest games made, all stored in a single controller. Our television screen has since been a mix of Arkanoid and some tank game.
It got me thinking about my childhood, and well, the present, too. Video games are an inescapable addictive of many males, a statement I'm sure each of those guy's girlfriends would agree with. I was always a sports player. In fact, I think I own every year of Madden since 1999, with copies of Madden 2001 on two systems, and three of the four NCAA games. To put it simply, I'm hooked.
I don't expect that to end either, as I'm sure I will still be recruiting for Virginia in NCAA Football 2030, or playing against my kids on some new system, or having a Madden league in my retirement home, much like I do now.
This desire prompted me to come up with a list of the top 10 sports video games of all time, which was the result of serious and lengthy debate. I relied on three criteria: initial playability, how revolutionary it was, and current playability. Here goes:
Honorable Mention: Double Dribble, Blades of Steel, Ice Hockey, Bad News Baseball, All Madden games.
10: NES Golf Open (NES). Very difficult and addicting, it was quite advanced for its era. It offered three courses, ball spin and a myriad of other features. As you got better, your opponents did too, so it stayed fun.
9: FIFA '95 (Sega). I was never a soccer fan, but the World Cup in 1994 got me into this, and I never stopped playing it. This had advanced AI, international teams and cups and smooth gameplay. Plus, you could actually score, unlike current soccer games.
8: NBA Live '95 (Sega). A huge jump over the Bulls v. Lakers series, this changed basketball games with a diagonal perspective. It had simple control and great playability.
7: NCAA Football 2002 (PS2). The first college game since Bill Walsh, EA Sports used the Madden 2001 engine to help revive the pageantry, intensity and rivalries. You could build dynasties at one school, recruit star players, run the option and more. I like 2005 with better U.Va. teams (and the fact that Miami's stars always get suspended for disciplinary reasons), but this started them all.
6: Baseball Stars (Nintendo). This was revolutionary in that the more you won, the more you could improve your team by buying more skills, thus planting the seed for franchise mode. It also allowed you to rename players, change your logo and team name and had very realistic gameplay. And you could play the Lovely Ladies and make them cry.
5: Madden 2004 (PS2). Tough to make a call here on which Madden, but I took this one based on the franchise mode, which became owner mode. This allowed you to move your team, upgrade or build a new stadium and control concessions. It also created the best video game player of all time in Michael Vick. Gameplay continues to improve and is a major reason why many people buy Madden every 12 months. Plus, who can beat the Maddenisms? Really, almost any Madden game could be on a top-10 list.
4: NHLPA '93 (Sega). Immortalized by Swingers, this was the first to use real NHL players. NHLPA had it all, from trying to make opponents heads bleed in fights or playing one of the most unstoppable video game players, Jeremy Roenick. It was fast-paced and head-to-head offered great opportunities for trash talking.
3: Mike Tyson's Punchout (NES). We tend to associate Mike Tyson with, well, everything bad, but this was by far his greatest gift to society. You trained as Little Mac and fought 13 foes, the final one being an epic battle with Iron Mike. Each opponent has his own strengths and tendencies (I still remember King Hippo and his waddle).
2: NBA Jam (Sega). The best sports arcade game of all time, it made a smooth transition to the console. Even casual sports fans could get into it, as it did not require the complex strategy that today's games do. It was two-on-two hoops, without referees, where players did unrealistic dunks, caught fire and shoved opponents. And who can forget "Boom Shaka Laka!"
1: Tecmo Super Bowl (NES). Without doubt the granddaddy of all sports games. Though its predecessor, Tecmo Bowl, was more of a breakthrough, Tecmo Super Bowl offered season play and more flexibility in changing plays. More importantly, this was the first game to have real players and franchises (except for the infamous QB Eagles) that were ranked based on real ability. It also allowed complete seasons, where stats compiled and saved automatically.
I remember the graphic touchdown celebrations, the great finger battles to make tackles and the joyous sound of music that plays when an injured star returns.
The best part is that it remains playable today. Around my apartment, when Arkanoid's not on, Tecmo is, as we have a full Tecmo league with the original rosters. That league includes the making of point spreads, betting on games and monthly power rankings. For exhibition games, we have a Tecmo drinking game. Tecmo helped me get through my childhood, and it has showed in college that it stood the test of time.
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