| 80 | Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS) |
| 79 | Bubble Bobble (Arcade) |
| 78 | Wipeout 2097 (PlayStation/Saturn/PC) |
| 77 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation/Xbox 360) |
| 76 | Killer 7 (GameCube/PlayStation 2) |
| 75 | Metal Gear Solid 2 (PlayStation 2/Xbox) |
| 74 | Super Smash Bros Melee (GameCube) |
| 73 | Resident Evil (PlayStation/Saturn/PC/GameCube) |
| 72 | Lylat Wars (Nintendo 64) |
| 71 | Burnout 2: Point of Impact (PlayStation 2/Xbox/GameCube) |
Comments on the games I've played:
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)
While I didn't find it as pant-wettingly hilarious as some, the dialogue and characterisation in this game are superb. One thing I especially liked was the way that, while each case is indeed separate, some themes flow between the cases, and in the fourth case there are references to the first, and so on. The story was frustratingly linear, though, and there were times when I knew what I wanted to show and present but wasn't allowed to at that point, until I'd finished another track of argument. I've just bought the sequel, so we'll see how that pans out.
Bubble Bobble (Arcade)
Until a few years ago, I'd only ever played the CPC version of this, and now I can make the comparison I'm amazed how close they got it to the arcade. Having said that, I've never really enjoyed the game too much, feeling it takes an overly simple concept and over-complicates it with powerups and letter collection and so on.
Wipeout 2097 (PlayStation)
Not as good as Wipeout 3: SE, I feel, mainly because of the analogue control that sequel offered. 2097 is certainly an evolution from the first game in the series, with better tracks, better handling, and better weapons balance. But the best tracks from 2097 were carried forward into 3SE, and the game was further refined by then. I hope 3SE appears higher up.
Metal Gear Solid 2 (Xbox)
Metal Gear SNORElid, more like. The MGS games frustrate me a lot, to the point that I just find them really boring doing the same thing over and over again until I pass a section, then doing something new over and over again. I'm no good at them, obviously. Despite not enjoying the original, I bought the second on the Xbox expecting a different game - and found it was even more frustrating. So, no.
Super Smash Bros Melee (GameCube)
It's an accessible fighting game, so I like it. It's a spiritual sibling to Powerstone, really, but with a lot more depth to the fighting mechanic. As with all fighters, it's best played with other people, and you will progressively evolve your game this way. Your opponent learns Pikachu's thundershock move, you have to learn ways of countering it. You have to learn ways of staying out of the way while attacking, using the items, and the value of a low-power hit when your opponent is close to the edge. Yes, the single-player game is decent, with hundreds of trophies to obtain and the adventure mode to complete, but this game's all about beating your friend and seeing him sliding down the glass of the TV screen.
Resident Evil (GameCube)
Something I wrote a few days ago, which I'll reprint here: I've never really got on with Resident Evil games before - I've played the first on the PlayStation and the remake on the GameCube, and Code: Veronica on the Dreamcast, but never played them for more than a few hours. The main reason for this is the control scheme - it's always seemed too clunky and inhibits me from enjoying the games.
The artificially slow pace, the annoying item management system, the painful save process ... I don't like it.
Lylat Wars (Wii)
I've only played this on the Wii, but have played it quite a few times because it's just huge amounts of fun. And it's arcadey, in that you can get to the end quickly, with multiple routes and goals ... it's the Outrun of the shooter world. I'm still having some difficulties with the controls in that they're not as intuitive as I expect, but at the same time I've never felt it's the game's fault when I die, rather my ineptitude.
Burnout 2: Point of Impact (GameCube)
Amazing, amazing game. I do actually like the sequels, including Revenge with its traffic checking, but Burnout 2 is the high point of the series to me, with a well-designed difficulty curve, the right number of event types and some really well-designed levels. Playing it with the GameCube force feedback wheel is just great as well.
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