| There have been hundreds of sports video | | | | The arcade version was waaaay better |
| games throughout the years. In less | | | | than the PS or N64 versions. |
| than forty years we've gone from Pong to | | | | 4. NBA Jam (Arcade) - Between the |
| MLB 2K6 for the Xbox 360. But the | | | | arcade version and the console versions, |
| evolution of games hasn't always meant | | | | I've played a ton of NBA Jam. It is one |
| better games. Just because a game has | | | | of the most unique games ever. Who |
| flashier interfaces and better graphics, | | | | didn't enjoy beating the crap out of |
| it doesn't necessarily make for good | | | | people in mid-air or hitting three after |
| gameplay. That's the reason that many | | | | three when they were on fire? This game |
| PS2 and Xbox games are doomed to linger | | | | totally rocked. The best part was |
| in discount bins at your local game | | | | getting all of the codes and playing |
| store, while classics like NHL '94 and | | | | with mascots and Bill Clinton. |
| Tecmo Super Bowl continued to be | | | | 3. Little League Baseball (NES) - I |
| obsessed over by sports fans. Here's | | | | don't know why this game doesn't get |
| my Top 10 of all time: | | | | more attention as one of the best NES |
| 10. Jordan vs. Bird (NES) - Was the | | | | sports games. The gameplay is the best |
| one-on-one gameplay that great? No, not | | | | of any NES baseball game - pitching, |
| really. But the game was innovative with | | | | hitting, and fielding all are simple and |
| the three point competition and slam | | | | feel relatively realistic. Plus there's |
| dunk contest long before it showed up | | | | just something fun and unique about |
| anywhere else. For that alone it | | | | playing with little leaguers. As far as |
| deserves a spot in the Top 10. | | | | I know this is the only little league |
| 9. Madden 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GC) - The | | | | game ever, although I could be wrong. |
| jump from '04 to '05 was HUGE. '05 | | | | Adding to the excitement, certain teams |
| introduced the hit-stick control and | | | | are significantly better than others. |
| defensive playmaker to bring the | | | | Want a challenge? Try winning a |
| defensive control on par with the | | | | tournament with Italy, the worst team in |
| offense. Franchise mode is pretty much | | | | the game. The replay value of LLB is |
| the same as '04, but that's not | | | | unbelievable; I still play it to this |
| necessarily a bad thing. My favorite | | | | day. |
| thing to do is build a team from | | | | 2. NHL '94 (Genesis, SNES) - I love |
| scratch. I love taking the worst team in | | | | modern NHL games as much as the next |
| the league and building them into a | | | | guy, but this game is the best ever. I |
| powerhouse. You can move them to a new | | | | still play it ALL THE TIME. The quality |
| city and build a new stadium, then draft | | | | of play is amazing. Take away the easy |
| real college players from NCAA '05. | | | | wrap-around goals and the gameplay is |
| Overall, I liked this game more than any | | | | amazingly real, especially considering |
| other Madden. 2006 just didn't improve | | | | how old this game is. Oh, and for the |
| upon this game enough for me. | | | | record, they are playing NHL '93 in |
| 8. Punch-Out (NES) - what kid born in | | | | Swingers but talking about the removal |
| the late 70's or early 80's DIDN'T spend | | | | of fighting in NHL '94. Weird huh? |
| hours on end trying to beat Tyson with | | | | 1. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) - This game |
| Little Mac? | | | | was far ahead of it's time - editable |
| 7. Madden '94 (Genesis, SNES) - Based | | | | playbooks and season long stat tracking |
| on memory this game was awesome. I | | | | were so cool back then. The gameplay is |
| remember being able to play with all the | | | | far from realistic but amazingly equal. |
| NFL teams and a bunch of classic teams. | | | | For that reason, the game is still |
| It was one of my favorite sports games | | | | popular and there are tons of people who |
| growing up. That said, I played it | | | | still play in online leagues. The advent |
| recently and it sucks. It can't even | | | | of emulators has allowed for the editing |
| come close to holding it's own against | | | | of rosters - I've played versions of the |
| Tecmo Super Bowl. The passing is | | | | game with rosters from as recent as |
| unrealistic, and the running consists of | | | | 2004. There are also versions with |
| repeatedly hitting the spin button while | | | | college rosters and USFL rosters. The |
| tacklers bounce off your runner. It's | | | | weird little gameplay quirks like Bo |
| this high just because of how much I | | | | Jackson being impossible to stop, |
| remember enjoying it as a kid. | | | | fumbles bouncing all over the place, |
| 6. NBA Live '95 (Genesis, SNES) - This | | | | choosing defensive plays by guessing the |
| game might not have been realistic at | | | | offensive play, 100 yard passes, etc |
| all, but it was insanely fun to run up | | | | make the game MORE fun. This game will |
| and down the court firing up threes and | | | | never, ever get old. |
| throwing up alley-oops. The fact that it | | | | Disagree? Rate and review sports video |
| was the first NBA game by EA with every | | | | games at |
| team and every arena also scores it | | | | Adam McFarland owns the Network - a |
| points. Not to mention, this was the | | | | network of sports sites including |
| first game with the 3/4 angle camera. | | | | collectibles, movies, books, video |
| 5. NFL Blitz (Arcade) - The football | | | | games, and more. |
| version of NBA Jam. Fast scoring, late | | | | recently won honorable mention in the |
| hits, and crazy rules like being able to | | | | Microsoft Start Something Amazing Awards |
| throw multiple forward passes behind the | | | | and was featured in the February 2006 |
| line of scrimmage make this game great. | | | | issue of Tuff Stuff Magazine. |