The Top 10 Sports Video Games Of All Time

There have been hundreds of sports videoangle camera.
games throughout the years. In less than forty5. NFL Blitz (Arcade) - The football version of
years we've gone from Pong to MLB 2K6 for theNBA Jam. Fast scoring, late hits, and crazy rules
Xbox 360. But the evolution of games hasn'tlike being able to throw multiple forward passes
always meant better games. Just because abehind the line of scrimmage make this game
game has flashier interfaces and better graphics,great. The arcade version was waaaay better
it doesn't necessarily make for good gameplay.than the PS or N64 versions.
That's the reason that many PS2 and Xbox4. NBA Jam (Arcade) - Between the arcade
games are doomed to linger in discount bins atversion and the console versions, I've played a
your local game store, while classics like NHL '94ton of NBA Jam. It is one of the most unique
and Tecmo Super Bowl continued to be obsessedgames ever. Who didn't enjoy beating the crap
over by sports fans. Here's my Top 10 of all time:out of people in mid-air or hitting three after three
10. Jordan vs. Bird (NES) - Was the one-on-onewhen they were on fire? This game totally
gameplay that great? No, not really. But the gamerocked. The best part was getting all of the
was innovative with the three point competitioncodes and playing with mascots and Bill Clinton.
and slam dunk contest long before it showed up3. Little League Baseball (NES) - I don't know why
anywhere else. For that alone it deserves a spotthis game doesn't get more attention as one of
in the Top 10.the best NES sports games. The gameplay is the
9. Madden 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GC) - The jumpbest of any NES baseball game - pitching, hitting,
from '04 to '05 was HUGE. '05 introduced theand fielding all are simple and feel relatively realistic.
hit-stick control and defensive playmaker to bringPlus there's just something fun and unique about
the defensive control on par with the offense.playing with little leaguers. As far as I know this is
Franchise mode is pretty much the same as '04,the only little league game ever, although I could
but that's not necessarily a bad thing. My favoritebe wrong. Adding to the excitement, certain
thing to do is build a team from scratch. I loveteams are significantly better than others. Want a
taking the worst team in the league and buildingchallenge? Try winning a tournament with Italy,
them into a powerhouse. You can move them tothe worst team in the game. The replay value of
a new city and build a new stadium, then draftLLB is unbelievable; I still play it to this day.
real college players from NCAA '05. Overall, I liked2. NHL '94 (Genesis, SNES) - I love modern NHL
this game more than any other Madden. 2006games as much as the next guy, but this game is
just didn't improve upon this game enough forthe best ever. I still play it ALL THE TIME. The
me.quality of play is amazing. Take away the easy
8. Punch-Out (NES) - what kid born in the late 70'swrap-around goals and the gameplay is amazingly
or early 80's DIDN'T spend hours on end trying toreal, especially considering how old this game is.
beat Tyson with Little Mac?Oh, and for the record, they are playing NHL '93
7. Madden '94 (Genesis, SNES) - Based onin Swingers but talking about the removal of
memory this game was awesome. I rememberfighting in NHL '94. Weird huh?
being able to play with all the NFL teams and a1. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) - This game was far
bunch of classic teams. It was one of my favoriteahead of it's time - editable playbooks and season
sports games growing up. That said, I played itlong stat tracking were so cool back then. The
recently and it sucks. It can't even come close togameplay is far from realistic but amazingly equal.
holding it's own against Tecmo Super Bowl. TheFor that reason, the game is still popular and
passing is unrealistic, and the running consists ofthere are tons of people who still play in online
repeatedly hitting the spin button while tacklersleagues. The advent of emulators has allowed for
bounce off your runner. It's this high just becausethe editing of rosters - I've played versions of the
of how much I remember enjoying it as a kid.game with rosters from as recent as 2004.
6. NBA Live '95 (Genesis, SNES) - This gameThere are also versions with college rosters and
might not have been realistic at all, but it wasUSFL rosters. The weird little gameplay quirks like
insanely fun to run up and down the court firingBo Jackson being impossible to stop, fumbles
up threes and throwing up alley-oops. The factbouncing all over the place, choosing defensive
that it was the first NBA game by EA with everyplays by guessing the offensive play, 100 yard
team and every arena also scores it points. Notpasses, etc make the game MORE fun. This
to mention, this was the first game with the 3/4game will never, ever get old.