Toon's Comfort Gaming Honorable Mentions!
ATTENTION. This is the honorable mentions section of my "COMFORT GAMES" list. If you haven't read that list yet, its best to click here and give it a read.
Click here to check it out: COMFORT GAMES HERE
Otherwise, on with the list!
The last list got too big to fit all the games at once, and admittedly, there were too many games that fought for the list. So, in a moment of weakness and messy scrambling too great to get into detail of, here's a selection of games that reached the HONORABLE MENTIONS category of my Comfort Games list.
Now, there’s a lot of games out there, and certainly ones that I’ve played more than others on and off this list. But to keep it short and sweet, here’s the honorable mentions of games I still go back to, even without going in great detail:
Ms. Pac-Man (1982)
I enjoy the original Pac-Man a lot. But Ms. Pac-Man is better. She’s got more variation in levels, fruit, cutscenes, and speed. The ghosts are faster, the levels are wider and more varied, and it requires more skill. Ms. Pac-Man has quite a couple games under her belt that made her games worthwhile. I was always happy to see the Missus get her own adventures. When Pac-Man was battling ghost knights, Ms. Pac-Man was TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME AND SPACE. When Pac-Man eventually went through time, Ms. Pac-Man was raiding tombs and traversing through dimensions. Ms. Pac-Man was like if Minnie Mouse got her own adventures when Mickey was gone. However, as a game, the arcade original is the best. I love it, and if you asked me to play a Pac-Man arcade machine… you’d best know I’d be playing Ms. Pac-Man. Now, to AtGames. Please, release Ms. Pac-Man from your grasp. I’m tired of Bandai Namco erasing her history from future Pac-Man titles.
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Robots. Robots with guns firing off at one another. I love robots as much as I love cars. And I love both even more when you slap a bunch of guns on them. Metal Arms is a game about a little yellow robot named Glitch as you travel through the planet, Iron Star, to defeat General Corrosive and his Milbots. The game’s basically if Ratchet and Clank were robots and the series was a third-person shooter from the get-go. I don’t know what madmen they had at Swingin’ Ape Studios, but they were geniuses. The guns, the gameplay, the action… it was all amazing! The battles are visceral, but there’s a lot of levity. It also helps that they had voice actors like Rob Paulsen voicing the grunts you mow down. They scream and shout in hilarious ways when you take them down. You wield a variety of guns big and small, and lots and lots of explosives. You’ll need your ears checked when you play this game, because something is exploding every second in this game. Did you know that this was the ONLY game made by Swingin’ Ape Studios? I just found that out. Apparently, they were working on a sequel. But then they were contracted (and later bought out) by Blizzard entertainment to make a game called Starcraft: Ghost. The game… never came out. To make matters worse, Swingin’ Ape was absorbed by Blizzard entirely. I’ve never played a Blizzard game or heard of the company before this game’s release, but having learned that… let’s just say, that was a bad first impression I had of the company. Blizzard, I know you guys own Metal Arms. Do us a favor and either make a sequel or remaster the original game.
Spy Hunter (1983, 2001, 2003, 2012)
Not many know this but growing up, my love for video games started with the arcades. Now, I’m not a child of the ‘80s. Rather, I got this love thanks to a load of arcade ports that came to my PC and PS2. Starting with the PC, I’ve played many of the classics (and remakes of those classics) including Frogger, Centipede, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Bubbles, Marble Madness, Galaxian, you name it. However, there was one game that didn’t come bundled in arcades. Rather, this game was discovered on a strange online gambling site named iwon.com. Now, iWon was your typical online gambling site. You could either bet real money on casino slots or play for fakes just to get your fix. It wasn’t the kind of site I should be on, but I loved using my computer enough to find myself on it. I thought it was a site like Shockwave.com where it just had a host of interactive fun games to play. The site DID have this little arcade section filled with Midway games (my first run-in with the company), and one of them just so happened to be SPY HUNTER.
The original Spy Hunter was a fast-paced endless driving game where you play as a spy car as you gun down an evil corporation and its many henchmen. The game had no ending (as far as I could see), so you had to do your best to gun down as many evil spy cars before they take you down. The enemies were relentless too! You had iron-clad semi-trucks to ram you, bomb chucking helicopters, shotgunning limos, oil drum hurling boats, and so many cars with spiked wheels. The game was an adrenaline rush, and the Peter Gunn theme (originally supposed to be the James Bond theme, but Midway made the better choice in my opinion) really helped solidify the game’s legacy.
So, when the 2000s rolled around, Spy Hunter was rebooted. In 2001, we got SPY HUNTER, a remake/sequel to the original arcade game. Long story short, the game took everything I loved about the original and made it better. The story and villains were more fleshed out, now you’re Alec Sects, international super spy. You’re hired to defeat Nostra before they use their satellites to plunge the world in darkness. The game had a short selection of levels, but that didn’t stop it from being a wild ride from top to bottom. The mission variety keeps you on your toes, your gadgets are powerful, and your remodelled G-6155 Interceptor is THE BOMB. And if it takes too much damage, it turns into a very zippy motorcycle! I only wish you could unlock the original ‘80s Interceptor from the arcade original. Strangely, on the PC version, you can enter a cheat to unlock the original Arcade game. You can’t do that on PS2, sadly. Maybe it’s because the game was available on Midway Arcade Treasures on console (which included Spy Hunter), or the developers never programmed it in the PS2 version.
In the end, Spy Hunter 2001 is a game worth playing. The game did well enough to have a sequel. Spy Hunter 2 is pretty great. However, I find it to be not as hard hitting as the original. It’s probably because of the change in developers from Paradigm to Angel Studios (aka Rockstar San Diego). The feel of the game isn’t like the original or even Angel Studios’ Midnight Club games. It’s got its own thing. HOWEVER! What saves Spy Hunter 2 for me is the level variety and the fact that the bosses are insane. You fight trains, monster trucks, and a GIANT TANK resembling the ARK. This game may not have the same feeling as the original, but it is wonderful.
There was also another Spy Hunter game that featured “The Rock.” It was supposed to be a movie, but the movie never came out. However, I’ve never owned the game. Maybe one day, I’ll play it.
For years, I thought that was it. After Midway filed for bankruptcy and was bought by Warner Bros., the studio essentially became the MORTAL KOMBAT factory. Netherrealm? Come on, guys. WHERE ARE THE OTHER MIDWAY GAMES? Thankfully, Warner Bros. answered that by publishing a brand-new Spy Hunter title. Developed exclusively for the PS VITA and Nintendo 3DS, Spy Hunter 2012 is a reboot of the reboot of the arcade original. Spy Hunter 2012 asks you to play as an unnamed agent as you test out a brand new fully loaded spy car. The car (which is red for some reason) is the character. You drive it, you shoot baddies, you fight an evil A.I. voice trying to take over the agency. The story is legit non-existent (somehow more than even the basic story of the 2001 game), but the gameplay takes center stage. The game feels wonderful. It’s not as intense, but it feels like someone made a hunkered down version of the 2001 game and made it portable. Who made this? TRAVELLER’s TALES?! OH, MY GOOOOOODDD!!! Well, hey. You guys at TT Games, TT Fusion, Traveller’s Tales? Good job. You found a way to still give me what I’m looking for, even from within the LEGO dungeons. Oh, and thanks for the MIDWAY Arcade Level Pack in LEGO Dimensions.
Spy Hunter is THAT series that took everything I loved about cars, arcade games, and cars with guns, and set my standards for years to come. Thanks to all who contributed to this series. You’re a blast
Earthworm Jim 2 (1995)
Cue that catchy theme song. No, the theme song! Not the Puppy Love song! It’s more Jim, but it goes crazy on the gameplay changes rather than pure run-and-gun platforming like the original. I like it for the sheer fact that it’s one of those games where you HAVE TO expect the unexpected. Sure, I would have preferred more of the same from the original, but the sequel proves that the franchise works best when Jim is placed in unexpected scenarios regardless of if he’s running, shooting… or flopping around as a blind cave salamander. We desperately need a new Earthworm Jim game.
Earthworm Jim HD (2010)*
Now, I know I already have EWJ in the top favorites but hear me out. Back in 2010, Interplay went out of the blue to remake (Yes, remake. Not remaster.) the original Earthworm Jim from top to bottom, as well as include new levels, a remade soundtrack, and a multiplayer feature. Out of the gate it sounded like a good thing, but in all honesty… its ended up with a decent remake. To get my gripes out of the way, the remake takes heavily from the Super Nintendo (SNES) version of Earthworm Jim. Heck, they did the same a couple months earlier with EARTHWORM JIM DSi. Which was another remake of the original game but felt more faithful this time around. Nothing from the Genesis original or the superior SEGA CD/Windows 95 Special Edition was taken. Heck, the remastered music from the game’s original composer isn’t even in the game. The only thing grabbed from those superior versions was the extension to New Junk City. EWJ HD sure has that “some other team made this” feel to it. None of the original creators or developers worked on this HD remake. At least they were credited for making the original experience, so that’s nice (BFBB Rehydrated did the same for Heavy Iron Studios). And for some reason… playing on “ORIGINAL” difficulty is basically just playing the game on the original game’s “NORMAL” mode (or Medium difficulty to be specific). But why do I come back to it so much? One reason… The Computer Levels and the Multiplayer. The computer levels are well-designed, and truly utilize Jim’s moves. The bosses are fun, even if the last one is just Keyboard Cat (wow, this version aged quick). It’s similar to how Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy included the Future Tense bonus level to truly utilize ALL of Crash’s moveset via Crash Bandicoot 3. Both remakes gave us a glimpse on where a new game could go. I don’t know how, but the multiplayer is the best part of this package. All of the levels are well-crafted, while you and your partner have to work together to get through these stages. While the themes are borrowed from the main game, the level design is so well done, it almost tops the original in some cases. You can even play up to FOUR players! Wow! Despite being delisted long ago, if you still have the game downloaded on your Xbox 360, its backwards compatible with your Xbox One and Xbox Series X. I’m not kidding! That’s how I’m still able to replay this version of Jim’s dazzling debut so easily. Thanks, EWJ HD. You may not be perfect, but you get the job done. Man, Earthworm Jim desperately needs a new game… but he has a great duology of graphic novels at least.
Spider-Man PSX (2000)
An Underrated Gem that laid the groundwork for all future Spider-Man games. SPIDER-MAN PSX is a blast! It’s a level-based game, sure, but it hits all the right notes of Spider-Man while also being one of his better representations, even of the time! This was the turn of the millennium after all, yet Spider-Man was still hitting it big even in the ‘90s… despite The Clone Saga. The fact that it hasn’t been re-released in any fashion is a crime and a sin that no videogame company should ever commit. They wouldn’t even let Spidey back in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater remake… what kind of nonsense is that?!
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The Best Movie Licensed Game with Web Swinging that even the modern games can’t match, even if you hated catching balloons. Spider-Man 2 was THE Spider-Man game for a very long time. And I mean, very long. Almost as long as the actual movie itself! But even back then, the only thing that has aged (even during its initial launch) was the mission mechanic. I like the small variety, but it doesn’t change that often. That, and certain optional place blend with other buildings that you’d have to have the mini-map opened between swings. Huh, you really are Spider-Man in New York. But hey, finding those collectibles are nice, the combat is sweet yet simple, and encountering “Raimi Versions” of classic Spider-Man villains during the mainline story is a nice touch.
Spider-Man: The Movie Game (2002)
“Circus in town?” It’s Spider-Man PSX, but during the events of the 2002 movie! Just like the PSP Port of Spider-Man 2, it’s a good Spidey game, and a pretty good movie-licensed game. The game(s) also upgrade Spidey’s moves for more combos and more devastating attacks. Sure, Spider-Man 2 blows things out of the water and helped innovate both Spider-Man and other superhero games, but this (and PSX) are where things really got started. And hey, you got combat that is sweet yet simple, and encountering “Raimi Versions” of classic Spider-Man villains during the mainline story is a nice touch.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)
The Better Game in a lot of ways, Ultimate Spider-Man improves on what Spider-Man 2 created. But this time, we focus on the Ultimate Comics version of the character, including an original story that would later be canonized into the real comic book run. The only issue is that your web-swinging didn’t have a boost option, but… who cares!
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (2008)
Disregarding the bonkers (and not so enthralling story), this game ROCKS! Yeah, we’ve all seen that “Sad Spider-Man Walking” meme, but beyond that, this game has the second-best representation of Spider-Man’s moveset in his line of videogames. No, THE BEST! Forget the SONY EXCLUSIVE PS4/PS5 games, THIS is the Spider-Man I wanted. He jumps, he flies, he can slide on walls. He defuses bombs! Shaba Games went all out with Spider-Man’s combat in all departments (aerial, ground, wall), and man is it a spectacle when you pull off the right combos. The Web Strike is the best innovation to his moveset, and you’re literally going to have to use it a lot. The story… isn’t great (and Venom disappears after the first hour or two until the end), but I do like that you can have choices to be good or let the power of the symbiote take you over. It’s a nice touch. I wish it got a sequel, but this was a Spider-Man game made by Activision. You pretty much know what happened next.
Batman Vengeance (2001)
My personal favorite Batman game, and one that’s based off the New Batman Adventures (aka Season 4 of Batman: The Animated Series). It’s got everything I wanted in a Batman game and was at a time when Ubisoft still made quality titles and franchises. It also helped that the soundtrack was kickass. It’s like a lost episode of the show, but as a video game. And before Batman swept the world away with the Arkham games, Vengeance was both a great Animated Series game and a pretty well-received Batman all around. I’m gonna miss you, Kevin Conroy…
Disney’s Hercules Action Game (1997) and Tarzan Action Game (1999)
Disney’s Hercules is sort of an underrated gem in the line of 90s Disney films AND 90s Disney video games. It, and Tarzan, are 2D side-scrollers (Tarzan is a 3D game but with 2.5D elements) that are quite challenging. Both of these games share the same objectives, quirks, and gameplay styles, include colorful music fitting of both games. And they’re both really easy to pick up and play. The only issue is that only one of them was re-released on modern platforms. Disney needs to step it up and re-release more of their classic library. They have great games, and both Hercules and Tarzan are examples of that.
Disney’s Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow
First known in Europe as Disney’s Donald Duck in Maui Mallard. You play as Donald dressed up as Mild Private Eye, Maui Mallard. Donald/Maui explores this hidden island where kooks, creeps, and a hyperactive tribe of natives have discovered a mysterious idol that could lead to the awakening of an ancient deity bent on destroying the world! You play as Donald/Maui as you try to find the idol first and bury it before it causes any more danger! Donald/Maui can even turn into a ninja! The fact that Disney buried this game with a SNES port and a PC title in the USA is a crying shame… because this game ROCKS! Heck, just like Hercules, you can buy this on modern platforms like Steam or GOG right now! I just wish we got a sequel like we were first promised…
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
Now here’s some jank to rock your jimmies. This game, admittedly, is a fractured and disjointed mess that feels less like a Tomb Raider game and more like a Resident Evil game. The story, while awesome, was clearly split apart so heavily that you would have to read companion books to properly piece together the full story. Aside from that, the game is brimming with potential, a defined style, and is the last hurrah of Lara Croft in her original form. And while it’s not a great game, it’s Lara as I knew her before Crystal Dynamics stepped in to give her a complete makeover. Plus, it’s one of my favorites in the mainline series, so that says something, right? If they didn’t make Chronicles, I’m sure Angel of Darkness would’ve reach some of its potential. Now that we have the remaster for the first half of the CORE Tomb Raider saga, I hope ASPYR remasters the rest. I would love to play this in the wonderful graphics seen in the remastered trilogy.
Tomb Raider (1996)
There’re no dark angels here. There’s not even a lost temple as of yet. No, it’s Lara Croft’s first ever adventure and boy did it start out strong. This game is the reason I even enjoy Lara Croft at all. The game hits the perfect blend of being lost in hidden tombs, while trying to survive against their natural elements. It might be dated by today’s standards, but for what it does, it’s one of the greater pioneers of the action-adventure saga. It’s also the one that scared me with the bear under the bridge.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1996)
If Angel of Darkness and the OG Tomb Raiders are great picks, then The Last Revelation is the best of the original era. It may be a bit confusing at times, but it’s a great adventure as you learn a little more about Lara’s past, as well as stopping the ancient god, Set, from being free to destroy the world. It’s my favorite of the entire franchise, and it won’t have to be buried in a tomb. Now that we have the remaster for the first half of the CORE Tomb Raider saga, I hope ASPYR remasters the rest. I would love to play this in the wonderful graphics seen in the remastered trilogy.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
The 2003 Turtles are the best Turtles, No Contest. And while the 3D Konami era wasn’t spectacular, I still find that original entry a great time. It’s basically a 3D version of the original 2D Konami titles, specifically Turtles in Time. You know, before Ubisoft did a remake of Turtles in Time. It’s a shame that it was strictly only two players. This isn’t a SNES game, y’know… the GameCube and PC ports exist.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (1992 for SNES, 1991 for Arcades)
Speaking of Turtles in Time… both the Arcade Game and the SNES game are equally awesome. The SNES game feels less like a port, and more like a slight remake of the game. Most of the levels are the same, but you got new bosses like Pirate Captain Rocksteady & First Mate Bebop. There are bonus rounds in specific levels. The Time Travel Shenanigans makes more sense in the SNES version than it did in the arcade version. And while the SNES version may only be two-players, you still got the same turtle action all around. No matter which way you slice it, this is one Totally Tubular Turtle Trip! (Equal shoutouts to the Genesis game, HYPERSTONE HEIST)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (2003)
What happens when you take the guys who made Scooby-Doo Night of 100 Frights, and have them make a SpongeBob game? You get Battle for Bikini Bottom. And boy they hit it out of the park with this one. The show feels like the best of both Seasons 2 and 3 of SpongeBob. All of the popular locations were available at the time (except Weenie Hut Jr.’s), and the story was just as silly as the show itself. It also helped that the gameplay is a great Mario 64-styled platformer for the PS2 era of games. It doesn’t innovate the genre, but it takes what works and sticks the landing. Heck, that’s why it got a remake right? Or was it for the speedrunning? Have you seen the Speedrunning? It’s WILD.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Game (2004)
So, if the last game was Mario 64-like game, then the next game should be more of that right? WRONG! This one takes the Rayman 2-like linear approach. Straightforward levels with specific goals to complete, whether it be getting through the level or finding/destroying a set number of objects. It’s even got upgradable moves! Some people call it a sequel to BFBB, while others call it a spiritual successor. And then when you add Heavy Iron’s Truth or Square to the mix, then it’s second-best but would’ve worked best in a fully-fledged BFBB sequel. Add the Cosmic Shake to the mix, and you have six great SpongeBob 3-D platformers to play. And yes, Truth or Square. I find you just as good, even if the real TV special isn't all that good. Same to you, Revenge of the Flying Dutchman. I couldn't have gone on this journey without you.
Scooby-Doo Night of 100 Frights
Scooby-Dooby-Doo! What a great game. It’s a mystery how this game has gone under the radar of most that played it. It’s no Unmasked, but it’s a great Scooby adventure. You really are exploring a mystery as you play as Scooby on the search for an evil mastermind who’s unleashing clones of Mystery Inc.’s classic villains. It’s maze-like, its noisy, its got a lot of canned laughs. And yet, it’s the best representation of the original “Where Are You?” than anything Cartoon Network or Warner Bros. has ever done with the property. In the trilogy of surprisingly good PS2 Era Scooby games, I always come back to this one, even when I get lost…
The Simpsons Arcade Game (1991)
Before TMNT’s arcade bliss, I had The Simpsons. The plot is simple (and silly even for the show), Smithers robs a jewelry store, bumps into that strange man that Mr. Burns never remembers exists, steals his kid, and runs. So you play as one of the four mainline Simpsons characters and beat up a bunch of goons in order to save the family baby. Simple right? But the gameplay is awesome! The Simpsons Arcade is the reason I love Beat ‘em Ups. And its one of the best Simpsons games to play. I can’t believe it took so long for it to get a port to Xbox 360 (and later an Arcade1Up machine). Heck, during the time of the Simpsons Movie, it even got a spiritual remake for iOS and Java phones! And that’s the same time when the underrated THE SIMPSONS GAME was released! Cowabunga!
The Simpsons Road Rage (2001)
Mmm… Copycats. During my short Simpsons kick, I made sure to snag all of the available Simpsons games out there. And Simpsons Road Rage just came in and was essentially a fast and frantic time. The game is essentially just Crazy Taxi, but faster and less polished. It was so much like Crazy Taxi that SEGA sued Radical Entertainment for ripping them off! Was it worth it? No… but that didn’t stop Radical from doing the same to another popular franchise. Oh, and the GBA port is the best version of the game. It’s got Mario Kart music and is quite fast. If both games had a racing mode… that would be epic. As for Crazy Taxi, its also an honorable mention, but everything I said about Road Rage is the same feeling I have for Crazy Taxi, including the sequels.
The Simpsons Hit & Run (2003)
If Road Rage was Crazy Taxi, then Hit & Run was Grand Theft Auto 3. Forever known as “The Best Simpsons Game Ever!” by Nintendo Power, The Simpson Hit & Run is just radical. It’s the best representation of the show, the driving is very polished, the characterization pure Simpsons bliss. It also helps that the game is a fun GTA clone. Sure, you can’t do everything like in GTA, but much like the original Halo titles, this game does something to people. It’s no wonder people STILL clamor for a remake or remaster or sequel. And you know what… I want a sequel too! The show may be way over its head and should’ve been cancelled long ago, but we should at least get a Hit & Run successor before that happens.
Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove: ACTION GAME (2000)
Nobody talks about this one, and that’s a darn shame. Emperor’s New Groove’s video game adaptation is really good. The platforming is fun, the levels are colorful and reminiscent of the movie. Heck, you can go down the log flume with Kuzco and Pacha tied to that big tree! The small bridge section between the village and the city in the movie has been expanded to a set of levels. Levels with bridges that can break apart as you walk on them. Argonaut really did a good job with this one. And that’s compared to their PS1 Aladdin game, which… not a lot of people liked. What I’m trying to say is… Boo-yah!
Ed, Edd n Eddy – To the Eds-Treme (2000?)
Hey, I never said it had to be only video games, did I? Ed, Edd n Eddy – To the Eds-Treme is (was) a flash game on Cartoon Network’s website back in the day. The Eds are at it again, this time trying to impress the Cul-De-Sac (mainly Nazz), with their sick skateboarding tricks! Tricks? Those guys never really played sports in the show, let alone play tricks. Still, this game rocked. All you had to do was skate on the homemade half-pipe and do tricks as you get sick air. You fly higher the better tricks you do, but since this is ED EDD n EDDY, this can go awry real fast. The half-pipe is made with nothing but cardboard, wood planks, and poorly carpented nails. Tripping will be frequent. Not just that, but if you happen to be in the air, you may just get smacked by a bird or two! That especially sucks for Eddy since he hates birds. If you get the top score with all three Eds, you’ll be the Skateboard King of the Cul-De-Sac… and impress Nazz, of course. This game was one of my favorites on the website. And there’s a lot of high contenders for old Cartoon Network flash games, some of which were even better than their official video game counterparts. Why this game stood out is a question I’ll never answer. But its one of those few flash games I’d continue to play long after the death of Adobe Flash.
Crash Nitro Kart (2003)
Some of you already recognized Nitro Kart because a number of tracks are already available in the NITRO-FUELED remake. Heck, Nitro Kart itself is practically just Crash Team Racing 2 anyway. The driving in this game is great, even if its not as 100% polished as the PS1 classic. I love this game, and I’m glad the CTR remake gave it some representation with the game’s best tracks and characters. But man, I’ll never forgive the remake’s removal of the zero gravity tracks. Everyone plays Mario Kart 8 for its zero gravity… but Mario ripped off Crash Bandicoot. It’s like Static Shock to Miles Morales. Everyone somehow remembers/loves the rip-off more than the original. It’s just sad, man. Give Crash his Zero-G races, plumber boy.
Split/Second (2010)
It’s a TV SHOW-in-a-game from a game about racing cars through dangerous locations. It’s not Burnout, but it’s just as fast. It’s all about causing destruction while being “filmed” on television. And boy, it’s worth a play. A shame that Disney didn’t see it that way, because when we were teased a sequel… Disney cancelled it. It’s Cold Shadow all over again…
Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
My second 3D Mario, it’s the “hot mess” of the 3D Platformer series. I love this game and all its weird jank. Mario moves the best in this game that not even 64, Galaxy, or the recent Odyssey can match. FLUDD can be used as a main jumping ability or as a bonus for quick saves. You move so good as Mario that I almost never wanted to play any other Mario game if they didn’t move like Sunshine Mario. I love this game and all its weird quirks.
Luigi’s Mansion (2001)
My FIRST 3D Mario, and back when it came out, it was a surprisingly disliked game. Yeah! Back when the GameCube launched, it didn’t start with the promised sequel to Super Mario 64. It started with a game about Luigi as he toured a mansion from a contest that he supposedly won. And boy, was the reception not taken well. Same for Double Dash. Thankfully, Nintendo found out that people appreciate the original game, thus spawning two sequels in “Dark Moon” and “Luigi’s Mansion 3” (both made by a different developer this time). The sequels are good games, but they don’t seem to fully capture that pure blend of scares and foreboding silence that made the original a great game. It’s got the Super Mario charm, but they feel more like Scooby-Doo games. Thankfully, the 3DS remake was a great upgrade, AND you can carry it on the go! I hope one day it and Dark Moon gets a Switch remake/remaster so the entire trilogy can have a home together.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003)
The third in the “Kind of disliked at the time” trilogy, Double Dash is quite something. It’s a bit slower than the party machine known as Mario Kart 64, but it’s certainly not bad whatsoever. Nowadays, its better appreciated, but boy… people just weren’t entirely sold on the GameCube back then, and this (along with the prior mentioned Mario games) did not help. Regardless, Double Dash is awesome! It’s my preferred Mario Kart to play, and its unique two-player race mechanic has quite the depth. PLUS! You can play online via LAN NETWORK CONNECTIVITY! Double Dash looks silly, but its somehow more chaotic than even Mario Kart 8. Heck! The only games that came close to dethroning it were Mario Kart DS and Wii! I’d love to see Nintendo return to the Double Dash mechanic one day. With Mario Kart 8 getting NEW DLC racing maps, they should consider adding extra features like the Double Dash gimmick.
Sonic Mega Collection (2002)
I played Sonic games before I played Mario. But I never played Sonic on a console until 2002’s Sonic Mega Collection: A compilation of the best Sonic games from the 16-bit days. Beforehand, I played Sonic on computer via a couple of great PC ports. You ever listened to Sonic 3’s MIDI tracks? They’re not half-bad. Anyway, Sonic MEGA Collection has all the games I’m familiar with, a couple of bonus genesis games (Flicky), and three Sonic game I never played… Sonic Spinball, Sonic 3D Blast, and Sonic 1. Yes, it took until 2002 to finally play the very first Sonic game. I’ve played Sonic 2 up to Sonic CD up to Sonic 3&K and later Sonic R. But the original? That eluded me for a long time. Not only did this collection open the door to Sonic’s other great games, but it gave me more reason to invest in the Sonic franchise as a whole. And if you liked Mega Collection, you should not sleep on Sonic Gems Collection. Man, I wish Sonic Origins was more like Sonic Mega or Sonic Gems Collection, that’d be sweet…
Sonic R (1997)
Hey! This came out the year I was born! I mentioned previously that I played Sonic games on PC long before 2002, and Sonic R was one of those titles. I have a weird knack for racing games, but I’ve never seen a racing game play similarly to its mainline counterparts. Sonic R is an odd game because its not your typical racers. It’s a PLATFORM racer. Everyone runs on foot (which is unfair because Sonic), collecting rings, running on a mainline track with occasional shortcuts and jumps, and collecting chaos emeralds. Yeah! You collect chaos emeralds in a Sonic racing game. Sure, its probably been done before, but like Sonic R? I don’t think so. Traveller’s Tales thought out of the park on this game, and it’s a shame it’s never been iterated on or replicated. Could definitely use more than 4 tracks, though.
Sonic CD (1993, 2011)
Now this is one of those Sonic games that used to be “elusive” for a long time since its initial release. You had the SEGA CD original, the PC port, and the Sonic Gems Collection GameCube release… that used the PC port (the same was done for Sonic R). Funnily enough, I didn’t think much of this game back then. It was fun, but I barely remembered what happened. I knew it was big, and somehow more challenging than the other 2D Sonic games (classified as Classic Sonic by much of the community). But ever since the 2011 remake/remaster of Sonic CD, I can safely say that this game… is pretty good. It’s a pretty good Classic Sonic game. It’s more akin to Sonic 1, heck I could say it’s an expansion to Sonic 1. Like, Sonic 2 IS the better game/true sequel, but I always enjoyed Sonic CD, and Sonic 1 for that matter, for its explorative platforming. Plus, going back in time was fun, especially if you’re going for the good ending. Play the 2011 remaster. You won’t be disappointed in how buttery smooth it is. Also, the Japanese soundtrack rocks~!
Sonic The Fighters (1996)
Sonic Gems Collection had three mainline games… and the best game that isn’t Sonic CD is a dumb fighting game. And I don’t mean dumb in terms of fighting games, I mean dumb in terms of this fighting game. You just mash the A-Button and you win every match! Ok, I’m joking, there’s a whole layered combo system underneath that is VERY satisfying to pull off. In fact, the game goes from fun to super fun when you master the combos. Sonic The Fighters is the easiest of Sega’s polygonal 3-D arcade fighters, but that doesn’t mean its bad. In fact, just like Sonic CD, the game was re-released Xbox 360 (and PS3), and includes online matchups, a more balanced fighting system, and a brand new character called Honey the Cat. She was supposed to debut in the original version, acting as a homage to Honey from SEGA’s Fighting Vipers, but was likely cut for time. Here, she’s been saved, is surprisingly great for a fighter. I love the game’s aesthetic and music, and it’s the one fighting game (that isn’t Smash Bros.) anyone can play with ease!
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
Wave-Dashing. If you know what I’m talking about, you already know the greatness of this game. But for those that don’t, lemme break it down. Wave-Dashing is a secret mechanic that spawned as a glitch due to the rushed development of a videogame known as Super Smash Bros. Melee. Super Smash Bros. Melee is the sequel to Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64. You play as a collection of characters from Nintendo’s best properties as they punch and kick each other until they get knocked off the platforms they fight on. It’s a great party fighter… but its also a really deep tournament fighter too. There are a lot of people TO THIS DAY that still prefer this game over any other Smash game or Smash clone. I was lucky to grab this game during this time, because Melee really racks up in price. Melee IS the best Smash game. The only Smash game that comes close is the fan-project, Project M, a mod for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I would go into more detail about this game, but… it’s Super Smash Bros. Melee. No words can ever top the greatness of this game. It’s the reason why the GameCube controller is STILL the best controller Nintendo has ever created. The fake “New Fighter” rumors still rattle my brain to this day…
Sonic Adventure 2/Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2001)
We’re back with the Blue Rat, and what a way to come back. After being amazed with Sonic Mega Collection on the GameCube, I was ready to move up to the next new Sonic adventure, and that new adventure… would technically be a remake of an old adventure. For those that don’t know, Sonic Adventure 2 is a Dreamcast classic. Being a sequel to Sonic Adventure, it follows Sonic and crew as they stop Robotnik (now known as Eggman) from collecting the chaos emeralds and harnessing its power to create a superweapon on the moon. The game is fast, frantic, and stylish. Gone is the open-world, and is back to a traditional level-based format (now with three gameplay styles and two story arcs in Hero and Dark). You can blast through as Sonic and Shadow, hunt for treasure with Knuckles and Rouge, or destroy everything with Tails and Eggman. There’s a reason why Sonic Adventure 2 is still regarded as one of the best Sonic games of all time. A lot of reasons, if I might add. In fact, it went so well that it was the first in the Adventure series to be remade. 2001’s SA2: Battle is an enhanced port/remake of the Dreamcast original with updated graphics, remastered sound, a multiplayer mode, and improvements to the Chao Garden (a staple of the Adventure series). The remake went so well that in 2003, SEGA gave Sonic Adventure 1 the same treatment. Huh… they went from making an open-world game to a level-based game to making a level-based remake to an open-world port. Interesting.
Mercury Meltdown Revolution (2007)
What happens when you take a puzzle game and make it about guiding a puddle of mercury? Then you get MERCURY MELTDOWN. A sequel to a game called Archer Maclean’s Mercury, Mercury Meltdown carries over what made that original game great and expands on it in every way. While I’ve never played that original game, I have played a lot of Mercury Meltdown. But for those that are wondering about the “Revolution” part of the name. That’s because Revolution is a version of the game specifically made for the Wii. I love the Wii and adding the Revolution name as a side-joke towards the Wii’s development name was a nice touch. The game itself, however, is top-notch and more people should know about it. The game is a puzzle platformer where you guide a blob of mercury from one end of the level to the other. Along the way, you’ll be solving puzzles, activating switches, and sliding through doors in an overhead laboratory of smooth madness. I always enjoyed this game. It and Super Monkey Ball test my skills/reflexes, and it really hits the dopamine when I 100% the levels.
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (2003)
READY FOR ACTION! Rayman is back again, this time to put up his dukes against some dark lums that’s morphed into the mysterious (and incompetent) Hoodlums. This is certainly the oddest off the Rayman platforming franchise. While it wasn’t fully developed/directed by Michel Ancel, it certainly had charm that matched up with the rest of the Rayman games. It’s also the steppingstone that led us back to the humor found in Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. Yet, it’s also the game that stepped us into the humor present in the Rayman Raving Rabbids franchises (specifically the first Rabbids game). The emphasis on combat worked to this game’s favor since Rayman’s combat is just him throwing his fists. All they had to do was take the lock-on combat from Rayman 2 and make it better! This game may be a smaller, more comedic experience than the prior Rayman entries (including Rayman M/Arena), but it’s a Rayman game worth playing. There’s a reason the game’s got at least ONE HD remaster, it's that good. Rayman games never disappoint. Play the entire platforming series. We need more Rayman, Ubisoft!
Rabbids Go Home (2009)
I’ve already stated this, but I love the Rabbids. When the first game released, I was immediately sucked into the series. Both the Rayman and Rabbids franchises wouldn’t be inspirations of mine if it wasn’t for the original Wii title. So, what happens when you give the RABBIDS their own platforming experience? You get Rabbids Go Home. The ONLY platforming experience the Rabbids ever had, and the only Rabbids game from the Wii that I feel is worth a remaster/re-release on modern hardware. The game is a comedic satire on consumerism whilst being a fun platformer about the bunnies trying to go home… if their home was on the Moon. I mean, its not… but the Rabbids don’t know that. Most of the bunnies that travelled from Rayman’s world to Earth pretty much call that their real home now. In a way, the Rabbids won in the end… huh. What makes this game better is the fact that you can customize your pair of bunnies in very creative ways. The bunny customization is so good that it even got a separate game JUST for character creation. I sure used the time to create both Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin. They look hideous… but its fitting considering how long both shows are STILL going at this point. Rabbids Go Home is an underrated experience that had the potential to bring the crazy bunnies into more than just party fodder or being called “the minions of videogames.” Maybe this was the game that inspired the Mario + Rabbids crossovers after all.
Interstate ’76 (1997)
This game is what happens when a group of developers of mech games buy a classic muscle car and decide to make a game where someone strapped firearms on its hood. And if you find that sentence stupid, it was an actual scenario that the developers of the MechWarrior 2 found themselves in after the completion of that game. They also decided to expand on that idea and set the game in the 1970s where the oil crisis spiraled out of control. Now, everyone’s fighting to preserve (or destroy) what’s remaining of gasolines throughout the southwestern deserts of America. The game’s got two things that make it special, GROOVE and STRATEGY. Every piece you shoot down causes the car to react in different ways. Your goal is to discover who’s responsible for the oil crisis as well as the death of Jade Champion, sister of protagonist Groove Champion. With the help of mysterious poet, Taurus, and the narcoleptic enigma named Skeeter, Groove reluctantly becomes a vigilante seeking vengeance and answers to a major conspiracy. The game’s got style, all the characters are something special, and the multiplayer is just… MWAH! And if you’ve beaten the game and can’t get enough, there’s a mission mode that fills in the gaps of the story with scenarios you won’t see in the campaign. You can even play the NITRO RIDERS expansion pack that includes more scenario missions, including ones that let you play as Jade before her untimely demise. This game was something special and was only recaptured somewhat in the spin-off franchise Vigilante 8. The sequel, Interstate ’82, is a good game on its own, but it simplified and removed a lot of stuff that made the original special, resulting in a somewhat hollow experience. Still, both I’82 and I’76 + Nitro Riders, are available to purchase in stores like Good Ol’ Games (GOG) and are well worth your time. If the groove doesn’t take you down, I will. I drive a mean Piranha.
The Burnout Franchise [including spiritual successors, Dangerous Driving/Danger Zone] (2001-2019)
Do… Do I need to elaborate? It’s BURNOUT! The series about driving ordinary cars dangerously through traffic and trying not to crash along the way. It’s ARCADE RACING in its purest form. If you’re like me, you’ve played every entry and can agree that once BURNOUT 3: TAKEDOWN released, the franchise went from a slightly-niche series of arcade racers to an all-out smashfest that EVERYONE knows. Burnout 3 MADE people like the franchise, and it kept getting higher with REVENGE, DOMINATOR and PARADISE. Sadly, with Paradise being the final game of the franchise, its only reason that Electronic Arts shelved it and had its original developer drop everything to work on Need for Speed titles or random vehicle sections of shooter games like how Ubisoft treated Reflections Interactive (The creators of DRIVER). Thankfully, most of the original devs of Burnout left to create Three Fields Entertainment. There, they created a series of small indie projects to recapture and rekindle that comedic sense of destruction and whimsy that gave the old franchise its name. From Dangerous Golf to Danger Zone to Dangerous Driving, and the upcoming WRECKFEST, these games have the essence of the classic Burnout titles... But they don’t have the polish. I’ve admittedly come to enjoy these titles the more I play them, but on their own, they’re only fractions of what made the franchise special. The team CAN make great games if they can figure out the polish… and maybe not be so reliant on the UNREAL ENGINE because clearly that thing’s only worth it for graphical beauty, not destructibility. I’ll still look forward to WRECKFEST, but only because you can create your own custom racetracks. I’m hoping the gameplay is at least more destructive with better handling this time… and its own musical tracks too rather than relying on Spotify or your own music (I still won’t get over that, Dangerous Driving. Why did you do that?) In the meantime, all these games are well-worth a play. Heck, Burnout Paradise was recently remastered, so if you haven’t played that one yet… now’s your chance. Get racing, get crashing, and get even with DJ Stryker from CRASH FM.
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Other than that, thanks for reading. There’s a lot of fun games out there and way too many to nail down as TRUE favorites. If you love to play a game, play it. There’s too many games out there, so you’ll never know which game ends up sticking with you. Oh, and don’t forget to…
BE TOONTASTIC~!
~Mr. Toontastic
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