My Top 10 Best and Worst Sonic Games (Part 2)

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

- Blog #40: What do you know? My 40th blog! The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Here's where things start to go bad. Many people have a bone to pick with Sega, after making a large lineup of Sonic games that suck miserably. We know it's not Sonic's fault that this was meant to be, but it's a problem that needs no introduction on address. Just like Mario, Sonic had his share of good and bad moments in video-gaming. The only difference is that Sonic has had...a ton of bad games made for him, more than Mario. There's a bunch! Which ones were the worst? Time to slow things down, because I'm about to show you the worst of the worst...

Worst Sonic Games


1. Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3) - Yeah. Every Sonic fan must know the reason as to why this game immediately gets the spot on the "Worst Sonic Games" list. Before I even begin to review this game, I would like to point out that I am not a fan of the Xbox 360...at all. The same goes for the PS3, but not as much so. This game was all a broken promise. First off, the title is confusing enough. If you're trying to do a search on this game, you're not going to get the right results you're looking for unless you added a "360" or "PS3" at the end of your search. The main problem is the gameplay. It's horrific. There are many glitches in the animations and the controls are very loose. The graphics are not bad, but by now we were expecting a lot more improvement. You're not even playing as Sonic for the whole game, when you should be. There are three different stories to chose from. One that stars Sonic, one that stars Shadow, and one that stars a new character. Silver the Hedgehog makes his debut in this game. He's nothing too special. He has telekinetic powers that can pick up and throw items, but he's nowhere near as fast or as interesting as Sonic. Each story has their own set of characters that you'll eventually have to use in the adventure. Aside from the adventures, the "town missions" in between each level are pointless. Action stages aren't that much better. The camera angles are terrible. You have basically no control over the angling of the camera. Another big problem is that this whole game gets delayed by the long amount of loading time that's spent, leaving the players hanging on a limb. The story is not even worth talking about, because it doesn't appeal to the original ideas of Sonic the Hedgehog. Shouldn't a game that's titled, Sonic the Hedgehog, feature Sonic for the majority of the game? Shouldn't we just be running through stages, playing as Sonic? This game was a mess and it did no wonders in reviving the, already on life-support, speedy hedgehog.    

2. Sonic Shuffle - The worst example of copying Nintendo, at the finest point possible. Sonic Shuffle did a failure of a job in creating a Mario Party look-alike for Sonic the Hedgehog. You only have four characters to chose from at the start, whilst most Mario Party games have at least double that amount. You unlock four more, as you progress through the game. I just find that tedious. You go through a few different boards, shuffling cards, while playing a couple of mini-games and collecting Emblems. Whoever has the most Emblems at the end of the game is the winner. The mini-games aren't bad, but you could tell that some of the ideas for them were ripped off. Plus, it's also possible to go through an entire board without playing a single mini-game. Um...aren't playing the mini-games the point of having a party game? If there's a possibility that you don't have to play a mini-game, then you're just playing a board game on TV. You'd be better off playing board games in reality. Get with a group of friends or family! Fortunately, this game was released late on the Sega Dreamcast. So, it wasn't really played by that many people. Once again, the storyline is not worth going into. Besides, there's not much importance in the storyline when you're supposed to be playing mini-games and board games. Nothing special about this game. No fun, no satisfaction, and no speed.

 

3. Sonic's Schoolhouse - Any video game that has any sort of relationship with Nintendo, Sega, or Capcom should not be made into an educational game. End of story. This game failed in providing explanations. I don't even have anything to say about how poor this game is. It's meant for kids, sure. It's not even a good kids game! I'm sorry, but even giving this one the benefit of a doubt for being a PC game won't help. There were better educational games for the PC, at the time, that had no affiliation with any video-game industry. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on this game, but it's just that there's so many things that bugged me about Sonic's Schoolhouse. What's wrong with Sonic's voice? He's not supposed to sound like what they made him out to be! He sounds like a girl. He's sounds like that Justin Bieber kind of person. I will say that this game beats any educational game that starred Mario. That's not saying too much. Besides, it doesn't seem like Sonic is the kind of person (hedgehog) that even attends school. Not to be encouraging anything, but he should be skipping class and running across the railroad tracks! Also, isn't Sonic supposed to be about speed? Where's the fast-motion gameplay? Was it too much for little kids? The gameplay somewhat resembles another game that I've seen, which is called Wolfenstein 3D. It's another pixel disaster. I don't remember how I ended up finding this game, but I regret ever playing Sonic's Schoolhouse. If you're looking for great educational games for the PC, get something from the JumpStart series.

4. Sonic R - ScrewAttack.com producers said it best when they reviewed this game: "This game can be filed under 'Absolute Suck!'" Taking the lousy controls from entry #1 on my list and pumping them up 10 times over both make this game even worse. I thought Sonic games were about racing anyway. Why make a game that involves a legitimate race course? Well, it was just an idea. An idea that transcended Sonic into a game that was poorly done. The controls are so bad that even tapping the control pad a tiny bit can send Sonic flying. That's no good, especially when you want to have the ability to control Sonic. There are only five courses in this game, which makes this one really short and it could be finished in a day. The graphics are...eh. It's 3D-ish, but the colors are almost blinding. The character selection is fine, but I barely see much difference with any of them. Knuckles can glide, Sonic is a little faster, Tails can fly for a little while. You know, the usual. Now, everyone's remarks on this game all revolve around one minor detail. The music. What's wrong with it? Nothing, if you're not playing a racing game! I think the music would have been much better received by the audience, if there were no lyrics. The songs were ok, but they were not meant for Sonic R. This game was just a huge disappointment. It wasn't really much of a game. I'll be it that it was a hell of a lot better than the likes of Sonic's Schoolhouse and the final entrant on my list. Which is...  

5. Sonic Labyrinth - Just as Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) was meant for the "Best Sonic Games" list, Sonic Labyrinth should be on everyone's worst. This is the SLOWEST Sonic game in the world! It goes against everything that is Sonic the Hedgehog! At least this game gives an explanation as to why Sonic is so slow. Dr. Robotnik/Eggman has replaced Sonic's speedy shoes with a pair of Slow-Down Boots. These takes away Sonic's ability to run fast or jump. They can't be removed without the collection of all of the Chaos Emeralds. So, you're forced to travel around Eggman's maze, in what feels like monotonous torture. In Sonic Labyrinth, there are a total of four zones. Each zone contains three acts and a boss battle. The goal is to guide Sonic through the maze and locate three keys that are hidden throughout the stages. Plus, THERE'S A TIME LIMIT! Are you kidding!? There's a time limit? That's so unnecessary! Your only attack is the spin-dash move. The controls are a bit clunky. When you move the control pad, you feel like you're not pushing hard enough because you're going so damn slow! The music/sound effects make you want to kill a bunny. Boring, stupid, and so freaking slow. Do not buy or play this game. Avoid it!

- As I've said before, there were a lot of bad Sonic games. So much, in fact, that I had some runner-ups that didn't quite make the cut for one of the worst Sonic games. Consider that a blessing, you "Dishonorable Mentions!" The runner-ups are as follows:

~ Sonic Drift & Sonic Drift 2 (Boring. Led to a great game in Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing)
~ Sonic Spinball (Gameplay was fine. Music/sound effects made you cringe.)
~ Tails Adventure (Didn't do Tails any justice.)
~ Tails' Skypatrol (Not that impressive.)
~ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear version) (It was way too difficult.)

- Done. Keep on reading!

My Top 10 Best and Worst Sonic Games (Part 1)

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

 

- Blog #39: It's that time again! It's time for another "Opposites Attract" list! About a month ago, I made an "Opposites Attract" list for the best and worst Mario games in existence. I figure it would best to do the same thing for one of Nintendo's greatest rivals. Once again, this is not plagiarism. It's one man's opinion over a love of video-gaming phenomenons. Known for being Sega's money-maker, Sonic the Hedgehog has starred in some of the fastest-paced games in the world. Sonic is considered the greatest opposition to that of Super Mario. Let's start this off right with the best of the best games! Here's what I believe to be the greatest Sonic games ever made. They all have to have one thing in common. Speed, speed, and more speed!   

Best Sonic Games


1. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) - At the top of the list, Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis is a game that should be featured on everyone's "Best Sonic Games" list. It goes without saying that this was the first game that started it all for Sonic. Both the gameplay and the music are fantastic. It centers around Sonic's ability to run fast, breezing through the courses at a high velocity. This game was released in 1991, back when video-gaming was fun, simple, and made you pick up the controller to play the game all over again. Of course, this was also when Sonic was at his prime. Before there were Tails and all those other characters in the Sonic series, it was just a fight between a hedgehog and an evil scientist. Dr. Robotnik/Eggman made his debut here and becomes the main enemy of Sonic the Hedgehog. He captures all of Sonic's friends and is on a quest to obtain all the Chaos Emeralds. These emeralds give ultimate power to whomever wields them. Eggman seeks world domination. Sonic seeks to stop Eggman's plot. In this game, there's only six Chaos Emeralds. However, every game following Sonic the Hedgehog has seven Chaos Emeralds. I've never figured out why that was. Collecting all of the emeralds only reveals the true ending of the game. Nothing more. A brilliant game to kick off an amazing series. 

2. Sonic Rush - Sonic Rush was released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS and it was very enjoyable. It was right near 2005 where Sonic was beginning to make his descent in great gaming. Sonic games were not improving and fans were becoming less attached to the Sonic games. Sega was driving Sonic away from his initial roots. What was great about Sonic Rush was that it stuck to the basics of 2D plat-forming, combining it with some graphic improvements and 3D designed aspects of the game. Being for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Rush also utilizes both screens in the gameplay. That's pretty cool, seeing as how the idea of using two screens was unique at the time. The storyline idea for Sonic Rush is similar to Sonic the Hedgehog, as most Sonic games are. Sonic has to collect all of the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does. However, the story goes even deeper, as two colliding universes cause Sonic to meet a new friend. Blaze the Cat. Dr. Eggman Nega, Eggman's alternate counterpart, and Blaze somehow end up in Sonic's universe. Blaze must collect seven Sol Emeralds, which are the equivalent to the Chaos Emeralds, before Eggman Nega gets to them. This collision of two worlds unites Sonic and Blaze for an epic battle to the finish. Most Sonic games are known for their music. Sonic Rush is one of those games, as it has one of the most memorable soundtracks in the Sonic series. It includes an epic final boss theme for the final level. Speaking of the final boss (Spoiler Alert!), the final battle reminds you of the Sonic & Knuckles level named "Doomsday Zone." The details of the Sonic Rush storyline were made much more clear than that of its sequel, Sonic Rush: Adventure, which was boring and a little bit on the weak side. Plus, this game is handheld. You can play Sonic on the go-go!      

3. Sonic CD - While the Sega CD console was considered one of the biggest flops in the video-gaming industry, Sonic CD was anything but a flop. This may have been called the best video game in the entire Sega CD library. It has all the speed that previous Sonic games had, impressive visual displays, and an incredible soundtrack from the system's CD-ROM usage. Not just a great soundtrack, but an INCREDIBLE soundtrack! I'll even include the video of the opening intro and ending to the game. It's an animated Sonic movie that features the main theme song of the game, which is called "Sonic Boom." It's so awesome! As for the gameplay, it remains ever-so diligent. Instead of collecting Chaos Emeralds, Sonic must collect seven Time Stones, as well as save your new friend. These Time Stones only reveal the true ending to the game, just like most 2D Sonic games. Amy the Hedgehog made her debut in Sonic CD, where she has been captured by Dr. Robotnik/Eggman. Sonic must travel through different levels and different times in order to save her. The time-traveling is great, because it's like having the ability to play four different versions of one zone, all at the same time. Also, making his debut in Sonic CD was Metal Sonic, a metallic version of Sonic the Hedgehog. Gamers are even saying that Sonic CD was the greatest Sonic game ever made. I'm just going to say that Sonic CD was the greatest Sonic game on the Sega CD, which I know doesn't sound like a whole lot. It truly was, and still is, awe-inspiring to any Sonic-lover.      

4. Sonic Adventure - Released in 1999 on the Sega Dreamcast, Sonic Advenure was spectacular when it came to moving Sonic from 2D to 3D. It was the first, real success in 3D Sonic games. Over 2.5 million copies have been sold, which makes Sonic Adventure the best-selling Sega Dreamcast game. This game has six different characters you can chose from. You can play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big the Cat, or E-102 Gamma.  Each character has their own story and their own unique gameplay style. When all stories are complete, a final story is available with Super Sonic. Sonic's stages involve high-speed gameplay, where you have to reach the end of the stage as quickly as possible. Tails' stages require reaching the end of a level before Sonic or Dr. Robotnik/Eggman does. Knuckles' stages involve searching the level for shards of the Master Emerald (the source of the Chaos Emerald power). Amy's stages require her to escape from the E-100 Zero robot that is chasing after her. Big's stages involve fishing for his lost friend, Froggy. Finally, Gamma's stages involve shooting your way through levels to reach a specific target. The debut of the Chaos creature and Tikal the Echidna was also a nice touch to the story. Rehashes of the game have been made for the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, and the Playstation. You're better to stick with the Dreamcast version, if you own one. Nothing has been majorly changed or improved, even with some extra material. 

5. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - It's the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog. What more needed to be said? Since the first game was such a hit, you already knew that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis was going to have a large fan-base in the waiting. The addition of the high-flying Miles "Tails" Prower launched a partnership with Sonic that would last forever in video-gaming history. It's a partnering that rivals Mario and Luigi. There are so many new, colorful levels that the player can play through. Dr. Robotnik/Eggman still seeks the Chaos Emeralds to conquer the world, with the new additional task of using those emeralds as a source of fuel for the "Death Egg" (which is a reference to Star Wars). This game would also allow you to play as Knuckles, if you attached this game through the pass-through cartridge of Sonic & Knuckles. Once again, the soundtrack is great! So many memorable tunes are brought to life through Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Here's another great game that was filled with speed, puzzles, and fun! The perfect sequel to "the one that started it all!"       

- Before I get on with the usual "to be continued..." message, I would also like to recommended two other Sonic games. If you own a Nintendo GameCube or a Wii, then you should definitely purchase both Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Gems Collection. Both games feature a wide variety of Sonic games that were both classic and memorable. Sonic Mega Collection features: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Spinball, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, the minigame Blue Sphere, Flicky, Ristar, The Ooze, and Comix Zone. Sonic Gems Collection features: Sonic CD, Sonic Drift 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear version), Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Sonic R, Sonic the Fighters, Sonic Spinball, Tails' Skypatrol, Tails Adventure, and bonus games (VECTORMAN and VECTORMAN 2). Both titles have many unlock-able items, as well.   

 

- Alright! That was nice. All good things must come to an end, though. There is a substantial amount of Sonic games that are not good by any means. There are a BUNCH of horrible games for Sonic and I will reveal what the worst games are on the next part of this "Opposites Attract" list. So, keep on reading!


- Done (for now).

My Top 10 Most Addicting Foods

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

- Blog #38: Addiction isn't always a terrible thing. It's just a matter of knowing when enough is enough and when to stop. When it comes to eating, who doesn't love a good munch? You love to eat, but you must know when to stop after you hear something growling. In the interest of keeping things alive as ever on my blog site, I'm continuing my long stretch of blog-writing and going into more abstract ideas. Time to go abstract into simple ideas. Having there be such a widespread world of delicacies can lead to having just as many food critics. If your favorite treat isn't on here, let it be known again. Right here is only one list out of many. Don't mark out. If this isn't for you, then look elsewhere and don't cause trouble. This list can consist of healthy foods or unhealthy foods, but they all have to have one thing in common. You can't stop eating them! Let the feast of pictures and words begin!   

1. Rice! (with Soy Sauce...) - Originating from Thailand and all across the orient, Rice is one of the healthiest grains in the world and also the second-highest produced crop, after corn. It may be the most important grain to satisfy human nutrition and calorie intakes. Yes, indeed. Rice is healthy. Unfortunately, for the purpose of it being addictive, there has to be something added in order to make this entrant possible. SOY SAUCE! In particular, Kikkoman Soy Sauce! Ok, there's a tiny bit of salt with each drop you put on the rice. So? Does that make it deadly to eat? I've never had a problem. Rice, alone, tastes excellent. Put a little soy product on there and you're got yourself a mouth-watering meal. The only problem? Rice can sometimes take a while to cook, unless you're eating out.

2. Buffalo Wings - I've never been to a place where there were horrible buffalo wings. It's something about the flavorings in these sauces that make the wings extra delicious. Fried, succulent wings that are covered in a vinegar-based pepper sauce with butter. There's often confusion as to whether people should call these "buffalo wings" or "chicken wings." I just call them "mouth-watering goodness." Literally, they can be very mouth-watering. Sometimes, they're so hot that you have to order two drinks in order to cool off the satisfying burns on your tongue. Another question that's been brought up is whether or not buffalo wings are better boneless or with bones. That really depends on how you prefer to eat them. Are you lazy or are you outgoing? Go through the bones or use those utensils? So many preferences, so little time.

3. Shrimp - A common case of an oxymoron, at it's finest. Not really being the smallest thing you'll ever eat, shrimp is one of the most popular seafood items on the market in America. You've heard rumors of how shrimp is unhealthy, right? Let me just throw it out there and say that that is not true. Shrimp may be high in cholesterol, but it is low in saturated fat. In a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the percentage increase of LDL from shrimp consumption was lower than the percentage increase of HDL. Yeah...I looked that up. This means moderate shrimp consumption, not too much or not too little, is no where near dangerous towards your health! It's an ideal source of protein, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium (which is found to decrease cancer incidents). Sure, you can eat these all the time, if you want to shell out a couple of dozen bucks for these expensive small-fries.   

4. French Fries - Speaking of fries, there was once a time in my life where I could go to no restaurant, unless they served some sort of variation of the french fry. Nowadays, there are barely any restaurants that DON'T serve french fries. It doesn't seem to matter to me now, as I've grown less picky. In English mannerisms, they were called "French Fried Potatoes." In Family Guy, they were pronounced "FRENCH FRIED PERTATERS...mhmm." While they are not of French origin, fries have become a popular snack item since it's first appearances in Belgium and Great Britain. Skinny fries, curly fries, chili fries, sweet potato fries, tornado fries (created in South Korea...YES!), and basically every idea possible for french fries have been invented. This shouldn't be taken for granted, though. "Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing" is a saying that best suits this french fry mayhem, especially after watching things like Super Size Me. Ugh...common sense, people.      

5. Pizza - What better way to relieve stress than ordering in some ZA? The Greeks knew that they were making something awesome that was going to become a work of art. I can't even begin to imagine how many possible ways there are to make a pizza. You can use pepperoni, anchovies, peppers, onions, pineapples, buffalo wings, mushrooms, MORE CHEESE! It's insane. It's especially fun to watch people make pizza in a pizzeria. My personal favorite pizza is a pepperoni thin-crust pizza from "Domino's Pizza." It's so hard to stay away from these. While some say pizza can be healthy, it really depends on where you buy it. Pizza can be high in salt, fat, and calories. A high intake in certain ingredients can actually even become a risk-factor for cancer. But, don't let those warnings ruin anything for you. Lots of people eat pizza, but nothing serious always comes from eating them. You'd be hearing a lot more about it, if that were the case.

 

6. Hershey's Kisses - You know what they are. I know what they are. Everyone in America has to know what these are. I'm not talking about those different flavors of Kisses that have been produced throughout our generation. I'm talking about the original, chocolate Kisses. Anything made of chocolate can be addicting, I suppose. It's more like candy than it is food, but nonetheless. I don't know if anyone else out there gets this same feeling where, when you eat one, you have to eat another one because you can't stand without them. Here comes a call for a "That's what she said!" joke. The longer Kisses are in your mouth, the more sweeter they taste...go ahead. Say it! You're thinking it! Anyway, the only problem with Kisses are those little strips of paper in each delicately wrapped candy, which are only there just for show. 

7. Easy-Over/Over-Easy/Sunny Side Up Eggs - Whichever way you prefer to pronounce them, these babies are extremely delectable. Most of the time, these egg-fried creations are only eaten at breakfast. Of course, a large majority of people don't care about that! They want to eat eggs! So, crack the shells open and pour the yolks whites onto a frying pan, sprinkle some pepper and maybe a tad bit of salt on top, and there you go. I mostly eat eggs at breakfast time, with the exception of some dinners. However, when I'm given the opportunity, I will go all out to ask for seconds...or fourths. Depending on how you cook them, the result will always leave you happy. That's no yolk! HAHAHAHAHA...hehhhhhhhh...

8. Samgyeopsal - Korean pork belly/bacon. Here's a shocker! Bacon is bacon, but Korean bacon is just amazing. It's not like regular bacon where most of it is store-bought. This particular Korean meat needs no seasoning to taste great and it's always meant to be grilled to perfection. For the most part, it is served with gireumjang, which is a dipping sauce made from salt and sesame oil. It can also include hints of black pepper. While you have the ability to buy these in stores, you'll actually enjoy them more if you go to a Korean restaurant and learn to cook them by yourself. I've done it many times. It's easy! It's delicious! It's samgyeopsal! I think part of the reason people like this meat so much is because samqyeopsal can be customized to one's liking.

9. Saltines with Peanut Butter - Personal pleasure. That's all I have to say. 

10. Jiaozi (Pot Stickers) - According to some myths and rumors, the invention of the pot sticker was made totally by mistake. Simply, a case of being too clumsy and making these, instead of making regular dumplings. This small package is filled with ground meat and vegetables, just like dumplings are. Pot stickers only difference is that they seem to be cooked more. That's why they taste so good. Call them, "Well-done Dumplings." Oh, why did I do this list? I'm so hungry now...

- Done. Time to eat!

My Top 10 Nintendo 64 Games

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

- Blog #37: The Nintendo 64. It's most often called the N64. This is the third gaming console that Nintendo released to the public and it was one of the most anticipated gaming systems of the 1990's. Since then, there are still a couple of gaming fans who continue to use the N64 system, even with the landslide of new and improved gaming systems. Xbox? Nintendo Wii? PlayStation? No way! There are some who still prefer the N64 out of all of them. For all of those people out there, here's a list of games that dominated the world of video-gaming and made a name for the Nintendo 64. Since the game library for the N64 isn't as large as some may seem to think, there will be no franchise rules for this list. Anything goes. I've gone and purchased some of the best N64 games from the Wii and downloaded some other games on the PC. So, let's dust off the old consoled games and press the power button! Here we go...       

1. Star Fox 64 - How many times has this game been brought up in my blogs? Star Fox 64 is the sequel to Super Nintendo's Star Fox game. It's also the first game to feature a Rumble Pak for the controller. Seriously, this game is a god for the N64. How much of an impact was this game to Nintendo fans? I can sum it up in four words: "DO A BARREL ROLL!" Ok...I said it again. Internet, the joke's getting old. Find a new one! The game control is not only easy to comprehend, but the game itself is just addictive. You know a game is classic, when you can easily remember more than 20 different quotes from the game. The dialog is excellent (except Slippy Toad's constant whining and complaining about us needing to save his ass from danger). When comparing this game to other dog-fighters, Star Fox 64 just comes out on top. From the stages where you're saving a base, or fighting team Star Wolf, dog-fighting has never been more fulfilling than this game. Fox McCloud and his team definitely do their best work in Arwings. Fox has been in some pretty great games, but all you need to make a great Star Fox game is an Arwing (or even the Landmaster/Blue Marine). There's multiple paths you can take, incredible 3D graphics, one of the best soundtracks ever, multi-player modes where you can fight on land or in the skys, climatic boss battles, and the epic final fight against Andross. So, where does this franchise go from here? Uh...make another game! It's been too long! Just make a game with Fox, Falco, Peppy, and Slippy in their Arwings! Nintendo fans will appreciate it.           

2. MarioKart 64 - First released in 1996, MarioKart 64 was the perfect sequel to the SNES game, Super Mario Kart. I say "was" because so many new MarioKart games came out afterwards that are, arguably, better. But, we're talking only about the N64. Just like the previous game, there are 3 different levels of racing. 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. They get harder, the higher you go. You can play as one of eight different characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser. Each racer has slightly different attributes that make them unique from the others. Some are heavier, some are lighter, and some are well-rounded. The size can affect how well you maneuver or how well you drive. Aside from driving, you are able to pick up and use items, just like the past game. The only new item that's been introduced is the dreaded Blue Shell (Oh god...the damn, horrible, cuss-indulgent Blue Shell). It's the one thing that can lose a racer's momentum and break your possible 1st place lead. Just like all MarioKart games that I've played, the one player mode is pretty fun. However, the strength lies in the multi-player modes. It's more thrilling to play with a friend or two, or three. You also have the ability to pursue Time-Trials, where you compete to finish a course in record time. The music? It's very catchy! There are quite a few memorable tunes in here. It's also a nice brownie-point winner when future MarioKart games feature some of the stages from MarioKart 64, music and all. I would like to say that MarioKart 64 is the best Mario game for the Nintendo 64. BUT...I can't say that...and it's all because of this next entrant...  
 

3. Super Mario 64 - About 2 months ago, I created an "Opposites Attract" list that involved the best Mario games and the worst Mario games. I actually received one complaint, which went along the lines of the best Mario games not having one particular entrant. My first thought: "It's my list, dude. Make your own." My second thought: "Does Super Mario 64 deserve a top 5 spot for 'Best Mario Games'? Hmm...I don't think so." My third thought: "Does Super Mario 64 deserve a top 10 spot for 'Best Mario Games'? Eh....maybe." My final thought: "Does Super Mario 64 deserve a top spot for one of the 'Best Nintendo 64 Games'? Definitely!" Just as the counterpart was released alongside the launch of the Nintendo DS, Super Mario 64 was one of the greatest games to be standing alongside the unveiling of the N64 console. This was one of the first, real 3D games to become a major success, with it's revolutionary camera system and new concept of the old Super Mario Bros. game. It also played a major role in the creation of both Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. The concepts for the games are very similar. Bowser takes over someplace, he kidnaps Princess Peach (again...), and Mario must visit an array of worlds to collect Stars or Shine Sprites. Saving the day is implied. Mario gets a new set of power-ups that help him throughout the game, for a short period of time. The "Wing Cap" allows Mario to fly, the "Metal Cap" turns Mario into Metal Mario, and the "Vanish Cap" turns Mario invisible. Controlling Mario couldn't be more easier and more fun. He is even given an energy meter, which can withstand more than one hit. Not only was Super Mario 64 ranked the best-selling N64 game, but it's also currently the second most popular title that has been purchased through the Wii Shop. What more can you say? It's one of the most influential games in the history of Mario games.   

4. Duke Nukem 64 - "It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and I'm all out of gum!" It seems like a lot of games had to have "64" in their title, just to emphasize how the game was for the N64. There have been a lot of remarks saying that the PC version of this game controls better than the N64 version. This is one of those games that I downloaded on the PC, rather than the N64. I've never played the game through a console, but it does seem easier to control on the PC. However, it was intentionally made for the N64. Just for that, this game gets a Top 10 spot. There's not really much of a story to this game. It's very self-explanatory. Macho-man, Duke Nukem, is out to rid the Earth of all sorts of alien invasions, with his awesome theme music. It's side-scrolling action bested that of it's later game, Duke Nukem: Zero Hour, which was also for the N64. Not even the new game, Duke Nukem: Forever, could accomplish what Duke Nukem 64 could. I suppose 15 years of development was just too long for another great Duke Nukem game to be created. Sure, there's sexual references and lots of gore. However, it's just a game! Games now have a rating label for a reason! It says "Rated 'M' for Mature" and it's for those who are "mature" enough to handle the content. Learn to follow the rules! Anyway, this could be considered one of the best first-person shooter games. BUT...once again...I can't say that. There is one other game that deserves the title of "Best FPS Game Ever!", even more than Duke Nukem 64...and that game is...   

5. Goldeneye 007 - Finally! A break from the "64" titles! Goldeneye 007 is amazing. ScrewAttack.com producers even awarded this game the #1 rank in three different Top 10 lists. To this day, Goldeneye 007 is said to be the greatest first-person shooter ever. MarioKart 64 and a select few number of games for the N64 are some of the only ones that stand with Goldeneye 007 as games that are still played in modern-day gaming era. Based off the movie, you play the role of James Bond, as he fights off a syndicate from using a satellite weapon to cause global chaos. Both the single player and multi-player modes are addicting as hell. You get to find a variety of weapons, from handguns to paint-guns to time-bombs. There are 31 characters you can play as in multi-player mode, 25 of them needing to be unlocked first. For the time it was created, the graphics were fantastic and the controls for both the PC and the N64 games were phenomenal. This game won so many awards for it's designs and it's controls that I can't even list them all. Look them up. I argue that this game is even better than the likes of Halo or Call of Duty. It's not even easy to describe it any further, unless you actually go out of your way to buy this game. Just like Duke Nukem 64, just go out and blow stuff up. Winning the game, killing people one shot at a time (Yay!). The...best...FPS game...in the world!    

6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - If you go outside and talk to someone who plays video games, I guarantee you that a large majority of them have played this one. Do I really even need to talk about why I like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? I feel like I don't need to. So many people have heard about and played this game. Tell you what. How about this? If you comment on this particular blog entrant, saying that you want me to talk more in depth about this game, I will edit this blog at a later time.  However, in all sincere honesty, you are not a gamer if you haven't at least tried this game. I don't think I even need to discuss the sheer awesomeness that this cartridge possesses. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask was great for the N64 too, but not many fans seem to receive that same nostalgia value. It's more-so replaced with fear...

7. Rayman 2: The Great Escape - Here's a prime example of an excellent 3D platforming game! It may have actually raised the standards of 3D leveling and game play. Evolution did not weaken the original Rayman, by any means! This one takes place in a land called the Glade of Dreams. Rayman must save the land from, not an alien invasion, but a robot-pirate invasion! This invasion is led by their leader, Admiral Razorbeard. This takes the whole "Pirate v.s. Ninja" battle to a new extreme. In order to stop the invaders, Rayman has to travel through a map of different worlds to collect 1000 pieces of the world's core, called the Lums. These Lums will also lead Rayman to collect four masks. The masks will awaken the world's spirit, Polokus, who has been in hiding. Along the way, Rayman must regain all of his lost powers and rescue his friend, Globox. His punching power has been vastly improved, his helicopter-hair power is given to you at the start of the game, and puzzling challenges give players a good run for their money. SPOILER ALERT! If you reach the final boss battle against Razorbeard and his giant robot, you are greeted with a rocking battle theme. After you win the fight, you'll notice that Razorbeard escapes in a small pod. The big question that still floats around is if we'll see another spinoff game featuring Admiral Razorbeard. I mean, we're all awaiting a similar response to the "Mr. Dark Revival" question. As a personal remark to the game developers, Ubisoft, I'd like to make it known. FANS WANT THIS! Remakes of the Rayman series have been made for other systems, like the Nintendo DS. Other games have been produced that are not even memorable (Raving Rabbits...ugh). However, we want a new game that features Mr. Dark or Razorbeard! Give us what we desire! We're the ones who are buying your games! We're waiting, Ubisoft...   

8.  Paper Mario - Once again, here is your favorite mustached plumber! But, wait! What's this? He's...flat? Everything's flat!? Are we playing Super Mario or are we playing with a colorized Mr. Game and Watch? There's no way that a flat Mario could make a good game! Well...surprise, surprise. It worked! Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach (again...) and Mario sets off to rescue her (again...), like some remote sensor with no other purpose in life. To do this, he is forced to locate seven "Star Spirits" to counteract the effects of the "also-stolen" Star Rod, which has given Bowser invincibility and any other desired wishes. This is the second Mario installment that involves the uses of partners and turn-based battles, the first game being Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. This game was SUPPOSED to be the sequel for Super Mario RPG, but that wish was never fulfilled. Many dreams were crushed. For the most part, you're going to be playing from world to world in RPG style. It's like playing Final Fantasy! The uniqueness of Paper Mario made the game a best-seller. The puzzles are not as challenging as The Legend of Zelda or Rayman 2: The Great Escape, but fans are still stuck in nostalgia-land. The soundtrack? Awesome! Paper Mario would become the predecessor to two more future games.   

9. Super Smash Bros. - This one has some ups and downs. A vast majority of the game play is best featured in the multi-player modes. I've already talked about the Smash Bros. series and how it's awesome, but the best work is done while playing with friends. What's better than taking your favorite Nintendo characters and beating the living daylights out of each other? This game started a legacy of Smash Bros. games and it will always be remembered as "The Game that Started it All!" Not surprisingly, Super Smash Bros. was given the "Player's Choice" title, since the commercial release of the game. The only problem is the single player mode. It's not bad. It's just too short and the novelty gets very boring, very quickly. However, I'm willing to let that slide because it was fantastic for it's time. The blending of games was a totally new concept for Nintendo. It worked fluently in later versions of Smash, for the GameCube and the Wii. This was only the beginning for one of the greatest selling games in the world.         

Now...

- This was an extremely difficult choice. Pokémon Stadium or Pokémon Stadium 2? Both games are very similar in their game play. Who needs a storyline when you have turn-based battles, outstanding graphics, mini games that are addictive, and lots of Pokémon? Both of them are beloved by many critics and many gamers. It's surprising that this little competition isn't as big as others, like Super Smash Bros. Melee v.s. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. There are positive qualities for each game that counter out in a way that makes a verdict nearly impossible. Pokémon Stadium has the nostalgia factor and Pokémon Stadium 2 has more Pokémon. That being said, I've made the ultimate choice. The winner is...   


10. Pokémon Stadium 2 - Why? Not only does the sequel have more Pokémon, but there's so much more. The graphics have been improved, but not to a point where the series is barely recognizable. The mini games are more fun, in my opinion. While the first installment allowed players to transfer Pokémon from the RBY games, Pokémon Stadium 2 allows players to transfer Pokémon from the GSC/RBY games. You might have to be a fan to understand what that last statement meant. Believe me, though. I highly recommend both games! But, in my case for making a list, there can only be one winner. A sequel beating down an original in a battle of "Which was better?" I guess it CAN happen.      

- I do have a short list of Honorable Mentions. Here they are:

~ Banjo-Kazooie
~ Donkey Kong 64
~ Doom 64
~ The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
~ Mario Party Series (1-3)

- Done.

My Top 10 Dog Breeds

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

- Blog #36: I love summer, not as much as winter, but I love summer. Why? Everyone can get their free opportunity to relax, travel, or play! There's nothing better than playing, especially if you have a lovable dog by your side. I've done a cat blog in the past. Why not do one about dogs? Dog breeds stick out more in my mind than cat breeds. I don't know why. Maybe it's just because we hear more about them. Plus, Nintendo's famous game series, Nintendogs, featured a large variety of dog breeds. Which ones do I think are the greatest? I'm going to be fair here. So, just like the cat blog, this is only going to be a picture-list. You want to know why I like a certain breed? Go ahead and ask. Anyways, on with the list.      

1. Boston Terriers

2. Pugs

3. Shih Tzus

4. Dachshunds

5. Golden Retrievers

6. Border Collies

7. Chihuahuas

8. Shetland Sheepdogs

9. Dalmatians

10. Scottish Terriers

- I remember when I had a Scottish Terrier. Her name was Bonnie. I used to play with her, way back when I was really young and was still in elementary school. Unfortunately, I was forced to give her away because of a doctor's theory stating I was allergic to dogs. This proved to be untrue, as it was just a reaction from me not having my tonsils and adenoids removed. The dog my family loved was given away because of a false theory. Nonetheless, I digress. She lived a very happy life with her new owners, but sadly passed away from cancer about a year ago. R.I.P. Bonnie. I'll always remember you. This one's most specially dedicated to you! <3

- Done.

My Top 10 Reasons Why Michael Bay Should NOT Make Another Transformers Movie

This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :) 

- Blog #35: Man, have I become popular or what? I never anticipated that my blog site would receive so much attention. I have all of you to thank, as this next selection was suggested to me by an up-and-coming college graduate of North Park University (That's right, brother)! It's a slight variation of what was presented, but it was his idea. We're nearing the Forth of July holiday and this one has got lots of explosions! Now, know this. I have not seen the 3rd installment of Transformers, yet. The advertisement for it, and a suggestion, led me to the creation of this list. So, don't freak out! I'm not bashing on the new movie. I actually heard it was pretty decent. BUT, that doesn't change anything here. So, here it comes. A short and simple list of reasons why Michael Bay should stop making Transformers movies.

1. Michael got a hot actress fired (*coughs* Megan Fox *coughs*), two movies into the series! You have to replace her, when she was actually an asset and a main importance to Shia's character! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

2. Michael actually CONSIDERED Megan Fox to play a part! Fail!

3. Too many references to 9/11, Pearl Harbor, and any other global terror.

4. Ending movies will end every and all internet/public arguments over which Transformers Autobot/Decepticon should or should not be included in future movies. That's always a nice thing not to hear.

5. We've already got a crap-ton of movies that involve robots, destruction, and Shia LaBeouf. The novelty is drinking the desert oasis dry, dude. It's like those Halo games. They just keep coming. 

6. Let's face it...Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was not a good sequel or a very good movie, at all. It was long and it was just not funny, when it was trying to be.

7. Michael Bay killed Jazz (the Autobot). In internet slang, WTF! WHY? Why do that, when it could cause racial controversy, if you understand what I mean? JAZZ WAS AWESOME! HE KILLED JAZZ!

8. Someone's going to get killed on set. 

9. Transformers should have been a stand-alone movie, with no sequels.

10. Michael should stick to making ads about awesome barbecues and awesome pools.  

- Done. Have a very happy and very safe Forth of July holiday!