| Just because a game has flashier interfaces and | | | | NBA Jam. Fast scoring, late hits, and crazy rules |
| better graphics, it doesn't necessarily make for | | | | like being able to throw multiple forward passes |
| good gameplay. That's the reason that many PS2 | | | | behind the line of scrimmage make this game |
| and Xbox games are doomed to linger in discount | | | | great. The arcade version was waaaay better |
| bins at your local game store, while classics like | | | | than the PS or N64 versions. |
| NHL '94 and Tecmo Super Bowl continued to be | | | | 4. NBA Jam (Arcade) - Between the arcade |
| obsessed over by sports fans. Here's my Top 10 | | | | version and the console versions, I've played a |
| of all time: | | | | ton of NBA Jam. It is one of the most unique |
| 10. Jordan vs. Bird (NES) - Was the one-on-one | | | | games ever. Who didn't enjoy beating the crap |
| gameplay that great? No, not really. But the game | | | | out of people in mid-air or hitting three after three |
| was innovative with the three point competition | | | | when they were on fire? This game totally |
| and slam dunk contest long before it showed up | | | | rocked. The best part was getting all of the |
| anywhere else. For that alone it deserves a spot | | | | codes and playing with mascots and Bill Clinton. |
| in the Top 10. | | | | 3. Little League Baseball (NES) - I don't know why |
| 9. Madden 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GC) - The jump | | | | this game doesn't get more attention as one of |
| from '04 to '05 was HUGE. '05 introduced the | | | | the best NES sports games. The gameplay is the |
| hit-stick control and defensive playmaker to bring | | | | best of any NES baseball game - pitching, hitting, |
| the defensive control on par with the offense. | | | | and fielding all are simple and feel relatively realistic. |
| Franchise mode is pretty much the same as '04, | | | | Plus there's just something fun and unique about |
| but that's not necessarily a bad thing. My favorite | | | | playing with little leaguers. As far as I know this is |
| thing to do is build a team from scratch. I love | | | | the only little league game ever, although I could |
| taking the worst team in the league and building | | | | be wrong. Adding to the excitement, certain |
| them into a powerhouse. You can move them to | | | | teams are significantly better than others. Want a |
| a new city and build a new stadium, then draft | | | | challenge? Try winning a tournament with Italy, |
| real college players from NCAA '05. Overall, I liked | | | | the worst team in the game. The replay value of |
| this game more than any other Madden. 2006 | | | | LLB is unbelievable; I still play it to this day. |
| just didn't improve upon this game enough for | | | | 2. NHL '94 (Genesis, SNES) - I love modern NHL |
| me. | | | | games as much as the next guy, but this game is |
| 8. Punch-Out (NES) - what kid born in the late 70's | | | | the best ever. I still play it ALL THE TIME. The |
| or early 80's DIDN'T spend hours on end trying to | | | | quality of play is amazing. Take away the easy |
| beat Tyson with Little Mac? | | | | wrap-around goals and the gameplay is amazingly |
| 7. Madden '94 (Genesis, SNES) - Based on | | | | real, especially considering how old this game is. |
| memory this game was awesome. I remember | | | | Oh, and for the record, they are playing NHL '93 |
| being able to play with all the NFL teams and a | | | | in Swingers but talking about the removal of |
| bunch of classic teams. It was one of my favorite | | | | fighting in NHL '94. Weird huh? |
| sports games growing up. That said, I played it | | | | 1. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) - This game was far |
| recently and it sucks. It can't even come close to | | | | ahead of it's time - editable playbooks and season |
| holding it's own against Tecmo Super Bowl. The | | | | long stat tracking were so cool back then. The |
| passing is unrealistic, and the running consists of | | | | gameplay is far from realistic but amazingly equal. |
| repeatedly hitting the spin button while tacklers | | | | For that reason, the game is still popular and |
| bounce off your runner. It's this high just because | | | | there are tons of people who still play in online |
| of how much I remember enjoying it as a kid. | | | | leagues. The advent of emulators has allowed for |
| 6. NBA Live '95 (Genesis, SNES) - This game | | | | the editing of rosters - I've played versions of the |
| might not have been realistic at all, but it was | | | | game with rosters from as recent as 2004. |
| insanely fun to run up and down the court firing | | | | There are also versions with college rosters and |
| up threes and throwing up alley-oops. The fact | | | | USFL rosters. The weird little gameplay quirks like |
| that it was the first NBA game by EA with every | | | | Bo Jackson being impossible to stop, fumbles |
| team and every arena also scores it points. Not | | | | bouncing all over the place, choosing defensive |
| to mention, this was the first game with the 3/4 | | | | plays by guessing the offensive play, 100 yard |
| angle camera. | | | | passes, etc make the game MORE fun. This |
| 5. NFL Blitz (Arcade) - The football version of | | | | game will never, ever get old. |