It looks like you’re back. You may have survived the deluge of information on EGM #150, but that was only the initial wave. There are still 75 more games to go, so you better get ready to work off that weight you’ll have gained, on Wii Fit (or EA Sports Active) after reading part two. Enjoy.
#74 
Title: Shining Force III
Platform: Saturn
Company: Sega
Year: 1998
What EGM said: "Strategy-RPG fanatics were in tactical heaven when Sega released the first part of SFIII (which actually hit Japan in three parts). Fans subsequently cried bloody murder when Sega failed to bring parts 2 and 3 here, but that doesn’t detract from its fast-paced plot, classic Shining Force gameplay and slick visuals."
What I have to say: Shining Force is a legendary series among strategy-RPG fans. The series is well-liked overall, but two and three are often thought of as the best installments. It’s a shame that episodes two and three never reached our shores, because I’m sure fans would have devoured them. Hopefully, Sega will release the Shining Force games as a compilation someday. Alas, Shining Force III episode one may be the last true strategy game in the series, but at least Sega fans can now play Valkyria Chronicles.
#73 
Title: The Revenge of Shinobi
Platform: Genesis
Company: Sega
Year: 1989
What EGM said: "While the word "classic" rarely pops into your head when you think of early Genesis games, Revenge of Shinobi definitely falls into that category. This top-notch side-scrolling ninja action, complete with magic attacks, showers of shurikens and even a little swordplay. Joe Musashi’s second adventure remains the best one in the series."
What I have to say: The Revenge of Shinobi was a solid early Genesis title that made games like Altered Beast seem like Atari shovelware. It’s full of fast-paced ninja action that never seems to get old. I wouldn’t rank Shinobi up there with the Castlevania series or anything, but it deserves a spot on this list.
#72 
Title: Advance Wars
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Company: Nintendo
Year: 2001
What EGM said: "Topping even the Turbografx-16’s seminal Military Madness, Advance Wars takes classic turn-based strategy and soups it up with a killer four-player mode that can make two hours whiz by in a heartbeat. Even the single-player game got us weepy, though it was probably just from staring at the tiny GBA screen."
What I have to say: I never played the infamous Military Madness, but I have played Advance Wars. I was one of those fools who didn’t purchase the game, but I had quite a bit of fun playing with my brother who is a tactical genius. Despite getting wiped off the map faster than the French surrendered to Germany, I managed to have a good time. I never thought I’d enjoy a strategy game on a handheld, but Advance Wars changed my mind.
#71 
Title: Phantasy Star II
Platform: Genesis
Company: Sega
Year: 1989
What EGM said: "PSII is the crown jewel of this sci-fi-meets-sword-and-sorcery series (unless you count PSO). It has a huge quest, one of the best final bosses ever, and a main character who dies halfway through the game. What more could you want from an RPG? And the neatest part: That awesome final boss isn’t really the final boss."
What I have to say: I’ve never played this "crown jewel," but from what I’ve heard, it sounds like an epic quest that removed many of the problems that plagued the first game. I wasn’t a fan of the 3D dungeons (even though they were innovative for the time), so I’m glad they got axed, and were replaced by standard dungeons. Still, I’m not sure that I’d enjoy this game, since it’s reported to be extremely difficult, and more of a grind fest than anything. This is one of those RPGs on my backburner, but perhaps I’ll get to experience it someday.
#70 
Title: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Platform: NES
Company: Tecmo
Year: 1990
What EGM said: "This ninja-riffic side-scroller out-dices the other two games in the Ninja Gaiden series–and that’s saying a lot. Gaiden II features blazing-fast sword-slashing action and some totally cool bosses, not to mention a great story told through nifty cutscenes, which were still a novelty back when this game hit."
What I have to say: I missed out on the original Ninja Gaiden games, but if they’re anything like their Xbox (and Playstation) successors, I’m in for a living hell. Well, I tend to perform better at 2D games, so maybe I’d stand a chance if it’s not any more difficult than the original Mega Man games. Based on what I’ve heard, Ninja Gaiden sounds like it was fairly innovative due to its cutscenes and speedy gameplay, so it probably deserved its position on this list. Someday, I’ll have to play the original trilogy.
#69 
Title: Metroid
Platform: NES
Company: Nintendo
Year: 1987
What EGM said: "Snatching the prestigious 69 slot from its occupant (Snatcher for Sega CD) on the top-100 list we ran four years ago, the 15-year-old Metroid still rocks our VW van. The spooky space score hooks up seamlessly with the dark alien setting to spawn an adventure game way ahead of its acid-washed time."
What I have to say: Metroid is a game that’s aged poorly, but it was a groundbreaking game during the era in which it was released. It was an innovative exploration game that encouraged you to pick up items that’d enable you to reach new areas. These items consisted of missiles, bombs, and a bikini. Who knew that Samus was a chick?
#68 
Title: Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
Platform: Super NES
Company: Capcom
Year: 1991
What EGM said: "Go back and play Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts today and you’ll probably agree that it’s still one of the toughest run-and-jump platform games ever made. But Capcom has sugarcoated this bitter pill with sweet graphics and special effects. Some would argue the Genesis G’NG is better. To that we say: No, it’s just easier."
What I have to say: Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is an incredibly difficult game that mere mortals shouldn’t even attempt to beat. I nearly completed the first arcade Ghosts ‘N Goblins, but I got my ass handed to me on this follow-up to Ghouls’ N Ghosts. I think Capcom should ditch the Ghouls ‘N Ghosts name, and change it to something simple like: "Super Hard Game". Oh well, at least the graphics and music are spot-on.
#67 
Title: Street Fighter Alpha 3
Platform: PS/DC
Company: Capcom
Year: 1999
What EGM said: "Topping SF Alpha 2 was tough, but the complexity and style added by SFA3’s "isms" make it the preferred game of many casual fans and tournament players alike. Frequent players here at EGM and gamers around the world continue to discover new combos and tactics for this fighter. We’re ready to take you on."
What I have to say: I’m no expert when it comes to fighting games, so I like my games flashy and full of pizzazz. Being a button-masher sometimes helps too, but unfortunately, that’s not the case with Street Fighter. Despite only being a mediocre player, I had quite a bit of fun with this game. The character animations are excellent, the moves are plentiful, and the stages look vibrant. If you’re into fighting games, definitely check this out.
#66 
Title: Donkey Kong
Platform: Game Boy
Company: Nintendo
Year: 1994
What EGM said: "Here’s the good news: This handheld hit faithfully reproduces all three levels of the 1981 coin-op. Now here’s the really good news: From level four on, Donkey Kong becomes a clever action-puzzle game that’ll keep you hooked right up to the last level. It’s the perfect ape escape from a long car trip or lame-o class."
What I have to say: I’m no Steve Wiebe, but I definitely like my Donkey Kong. It’s been ages since I played the GB Donkey Kong, but it’s certainly the best iteration. First of all, you get perfect versions of the arcade levels (minus some color of course), but then the game expands significantly with dozens of new levels. Even though DK is part of a rap song that makes Lil’ Wayne look good, his game still deserves this spot.
#65 
Title: Perfect Dark
Platform: Nintendo 64
Company: Nintendo
Year: 2000
What EGM said: "Rare’s Goldeneye was good. This follow-up first-person-shooter is better. It comes locked and loaded with more multiplayer options than any game in history, "simulant" ‘bots, co-op play–everything but the Jimmy Bond license. If it weren’t for its chopperiffic framerate, you can bet PD would’ve placed higher."
What I have to say: Despite all its gameplay enhancements over Goldeneye–bots, innovative weapons, improved graphics, co-op gameplay, etc. it still didn’t manage to impress me as much as its predecessor. First of all, I was turned off by the character, but that wasn’t what made me rank this game below Goldeneye. Rather, it was the fact that Rare tried to do too much with Perfect Dark. The amount of effort they spent on this game was admirable, but it just pushed the N64 too hard. When a game chugs more than a 56k connection, you know you’ve got a problem. Luckily, it looks like the upcoming XBLA port will fix that.
#64 
Title: Mega Man II
Platform: NES
Company: Capcom
Year: 1989
What EGM said: "Jumping from box art disaster to Capcom poster boy, Mega Man can thank this top-seller for making him a household name. Never mind its endearing bosses and crafty power-ups; the genius musical score alone could get Mega Man II ranked. Even today, platform junkies swoon at the mere mention of this guy."
What I have to say: Mega Man 2 is leagues beyond its predecessor in almost every department. It has one of the best 8-bit soundtracks, improved graphics, fewer glitches, and drastically improved gameplay. The game might make you swear like a sailor, but it’s one hell of a ride. Make sure to experience this game even if you missed it during the 8-bit era like I did.
#63 
Title: R-Type
Platform: Playstation
Company: Ascii
Year: 1998
What EGM said: "It’s the side-scrolling shooter, whose awesome bosses (one so huge it spans several screens), methodical pace and unique power-up system changed the genre forever. Most of us have fond memories of the impressive TurboGrafx-16 version, but there’s no denying the PS re-release comes closer to the arcade."
What I have to say: You know you’ve got a truly difficult game when it makes Mega Man 2 seem easy. R-Type goes beyond impossible, as unfathomable as that might be. I only got to play the XBLA version, and I managed to become a high-ranked player, but I still wasn’t able to beat the last two levels. The final boss is the cheapest boss you’ll ever encounter in a video game. R-Type is a classic, but steer clear of this game unless you like your games brutally difficult.
#62 
Title: Resident Evil 2
Platform: Playstation
Company: Capcom
Year: 1998
What EGM said: "This return to Raccoon City doesn’t pack the scare tactics of the original, but what it lacks in frights it more than makes up for in raw action and its nifty two-character dynamic. You need to beat RE2 at least twice–once as rookie cop Leon, once as Chris’ sis Claire Redfield–to squeeze out every last drop of horror."
What I have to say: I’m ashamed to admit it, but I missed out on Resident Evil 2. I still have the N64 version sitting in my backlog, but hopefully I’ll one day make the journey through Raccoon City. I do remember a couple friends back in middle school raving about it however (I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing). It sounded like it was an intense game with great replay value, so I trust EGM’s judgment on this one.
#61 
Title: Nights Into Dreams
Platform: Saturn
Company: Sega
Year: 1996
What EGM said: "Sonic grabs all the headlines, but many folks figure that Nights is the true zenith of Sonic Team’s gameography. More of a flying time attack than a traditional platformer, the game’s rave-y world packs so much solid gameplay that finding the best path to the highest score takes tons of practice. Awesome."
What I have to say: I had a very limited experience with Nights, as I only got to play it at a Toys ‘R Us demo kiosk. What I did play however, was a blast. I wouldn’t quite rank Nights up there with Mario 64, but it seemed like one of the most unique platformers of the 32/64-bit era. This game is definitely worth experiencing if you ever get your hands on a shiny black Saturn.
#60 
Title: Super Mario RPG
Platform: Super NES
Company: Nintendo/Squaresoft
Year:1996
What EGM said: "The result of a dream collaboration between Nintendo and Square, Super Mario RPG is one of the finest RPGs to grace the Super NES. Its clever story and hilarious in-jokes will have you giggling like a schoolgirl, while the involving gameplay and excellent battle system will keep you entertained to the very end."
What I have to say: Mario RPG is one of the first games I actually remember waiting for. I didn’t have access to any video game mags at the time, but my friend had EGM and Nintendo Power, which is where I heard about Mario RPG. I was out of the country during the time of its release, but when I got back, the first thing I did was pop in Mario RPG. I managed to obtain a star on my first night with the game, and I was definitely impressed. Mario RPG had an innovative battle-system that always felt fresh unlike most RPGs. It also featured a marvelous soundtrack, incredible graphics, and a great cast of characters including newbies: Genis, Mallow, the Princess, and your arch-nemesis Bowser. When it comes to RPGs with Mario, only the Mario & Luigi games rival the original.
#59 
Title: Virtua Fighter 2
Platform: Saturn
Company: Sega
Year: 1995
What EGM said: "VF2 packs such deep and complex fighting mechanics that, at the height of its popularity, kids were signing up for VF2 classes in Tokyo, getting the straight dope from certified VF masters. The Saturn version looks sharp, plays timelessly well, and features computer opponents that learn from your techniques."
What I have to say: Due to not having a Saturn, I missed out on the home console port, but the arcade version was one of my favorite 3D fighting games of the era. VF2 had a diverse group of fighting styles, it was easy to get into, and it was difficult to master. Despite not being as fluid as 2D fighters, Virtua Fighter 2 was a pioneer, and deserves its position on this list.
#58 
Title: Sonic The Hedgehog
Platform: Genesis
Company: Sega
Year: 1991
What EGM said: "This classic is known for its bitchin’ graphics, imaginative levels and nauseating sense of speed. (Remember Sega’s "Blast Processing" marketing campaign?) It’s also the title that propelled Sega into the mainstream, and gave the Genesis a fighting chance against the Super NES. We still have dreams about that fancy Star Light Zone level."
What I have to say: Sonic 2 was my first Sonic, so when I finally got to play the original, I was surprised to learn that he had no spin dash. I realized that the lack of this move was no big deal however, because the level designs were the best of the series (with the exception of Sonic CD). Sonic the Hedgehog was over in a flash, but it’s a game that’s worth breezing through again, someday.
#57 
Title: Final Fantasy IX
Platform: Playstation
Company: Squaresoft
Year: 2000
What EGM said: "With its more light-hearted story and cuter characters–including super-loveable Black Mage Vivi–part IX feels like the throwback to the pre-Playstation era of Final Fantasy most of us were waiting for. We like our Square RPGs chock full of things like airships, black mages and moogles, and FFIX’s got ’em."
What I have to say: Final Fantasy IX is one of my favorite games, and definitely my favorite Final Fantasy, so I’m glad that EGM included it on this list (and above FFVII no less). This game combined the excellent gameplay and characters of the old Final Fantasies with the cinematic flair of the new. I’m thankful that Hironobu Sakaguchi (the FF series producer) blessed us with one last traditional Final Fantasy before moving on to a different setting.
#56 
Title: Landstalker
Platform: Genesis
Company: Sega
Year: 1993
What EGM said: "Landstalker is about as close to Zelda as Sega ever got. It features loads of hack-‘n’-slash action along with some complex puzzles. In fact, they’re a little too complex sometimes thanks to the isometric perspective that makes jumping a true nightmare in some scenes. Nevertheless, Landstalker’s a classic."
What I have to say: Despite hearing about Landstalker’s notoriously difficult platforming segments, I’ve always wanted to check it out. Mario RPG’s isometric perspective didn’t kill the experience, so perhaps this game’s viewpoint isn’t as bad as its made out to be. It sounds like it has aged poorly, so I probably wouldn’t have placed it so high on this list, but it was certainly a unique Genesis title.
#55 
Title: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
Platform: Game Boy Color
Company: Nintendo
Year: 1998
What EGM said: "Link’s Awakening took the best elements of two classic Zeldas (the first one and A Link to the Past, both of which are in this top 100) and combined them to make one of the most incredible portable adventures of all time. DX brings the game into the 20th century by adding some color to the pale GB original."
What I have to say: I was one of those kids who had a Game Gear instead of a Game Boy. At first I laughed at those pathetic Game Boy owners–until I saw Link’s Awakening. I was a huge Zelda fan, so once I heard about this game from a friend, I had to try it. I wasn’t expecting much from a game on a yellow-tinted Game Boy, but once I witnessed it, I was blown away. Link’s Awakening somehow managed to be just as epic as A Link to the Past. Not only did we receive a huge adventure, but the game was filled with many unique touches. You were able to jump (in a Zelda game!), rob shopkeepers, trade goods, and save the world from a new baddie. Link’s Awakening DX is the definitive version, because it includes color and an extra dungeon. If you’re any kind of Zelda fan and haven’t played Link’s Awakening, stop worrying about the upcoming Zelda and go play this.
#54 
Title: Devil’s Crush
Platform: TurboGrafx-16
Company: NEC
Year: 1990
What EGM said: "Satan-ized with marching demons and spinning pentagrams, Devil’s Crush crunches pinball and shooter gameplay into a hell-spawned hybrid any God-fearing gamer will love. It ain’t your typical silver-ball sim–your goal is to bean demonic buddies and open tons of bonus tables–but that’s exactly why we like it."
What I have to say: I like pinball as much as the next guy, but I’ve never understood the appeal of video pinball. It must have been here for a reason though, so sometime I may have to check out this renowned pinball game that is now on Wii Virtual Console. My Turbografx-16 library is rather sparse, so it wouldn’t hurt to have another game to accompany Ys.
#53 
Title: Super Punch-out!!
Platform: Super NES
Company: Nintendo
Year: 1994
What EGM said: "Nintendo’s follow-up to Punch-Out!! (#34), this brawler has nearly identical gameplay but adds a super-attack meter for added "punch." And old faces return with some new tricks alongside new boxers. Unless you’re looking for realism, the only boxing game with more heavyweight fun than this sequel is the original."
What I have to say: Sadly, I missed Super Punch-Out!! and the original Punch-Out!! upon their release. I recently downloaded the original and loved it, and Super Punch-Out!! looks even better. It’s a game on my most-wanted list for a reason. The game features huge, vibrant character models, you can use more techniques such as kicking, and the roster has been beefed up. Punch-Out!! may have some ridiculous racial stereotypes, but its sense of humor and gameplay are timeless. Both Super Punch-Out!! and the original earned their place on this list.
#52 
Title: Herzog Zwei
Platform: Genesis
Company: Sega
Year: 1990
What EGM said: "This first-of-its-breed real-time-strat classic puts you behind the stick of a transformable robot that must take over bases by building drones and ordering them to attack. Don’t toss out your battle plan if things go awry. Just grab a gun, fly in, and take matters into your own hands."
What I have to say: This obscure Genesis game went under my radar, but I can understand how a two-player RTS on a console would have been an amazing thing back in 1990, even if it was bad. I’m still waiting for this to come to Virtual Console; otherwise, I may have to purchase a Genesis to experience this classic.
#51 
Title: Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Platform: NES
Company: Konami
Year:1990
What EGM said: "Released in NES’ twilight days, Castlevania III dishes out some of the best visuals on the system, but it’s the gameplay that put the game on this list. True to the original (without the RPG bits of part 2), this classic packs solid platform fun, with alternate routes and multiple characters–including SoTN’s Alucard."
What I have to say: Super Castlevania IV was my first Castlevania, so I missed out on this game that reportedly had phenomenal music (for the NES) and excellent vampire-slaying gameplay. The NES trilogy is now available on Wii Virtual Console, so I may have to dust off my whip and pony up the cash.
I doubt that it’ll leave me with the same impression as Symphony of the Night, but it sounds like Castlevania III is the best of the NES games.
#50 
Title: Guardian Heroes
Platform: Saturn
Company: Treasure
Year: 1996
What EGM said: "Throw Final Fight, a big golden zombie, Street Fighter and all the insane 2D effects you can find into a blender and hit puree. Whip until creamy smooth and you’ll get Guardian Heroes. And if the multiple characters and branching storylines aren’t enough, the six-player Versus mode puts this game over the top."
What I have to say: Guardian Heroes is another one of those expensive Saturn classics that I missed out on. I had a great time with Final Fight and Dungeons & Dragons Arcade and its ilk, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this side-scrolling brawler that features a variety of characters with unique quests. I’ve also heard about the legendary versus mode that featured 6-player brawling long before Super Smash Bros.’ measly four-player battle royale.
Once again, that was a lot of games, but I hope you enjoyed the second installment. Stay tuned for part three!