top 7 list – Video Game News, Reviews, Walkthroughs And Guides | GamingBolt

Top 7 Mario Games of All Time

Pramath — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:10:20 +0000

Mario equals gaming. This much is clear at this point. A pop cultural phenomenon, Nintendo’s mustachioed portly plumber has starred to date in over two hundred games. Throughout the world, Mario, along with his taller, greener brother, is recognized almost instantly, as are some other elements from the games that he stars in, including his power up mushrooms, the star power up, Bowser, Princess Peach, and of course, the games’ excellent, excellent music.

This incredible popularity is backed by some games of some serious substance. The classic 2D sidescrolling Mario games are all recognized as among the most influential games ever created, and are generally credited with reviving and creating the gaming industry as we know it today. The 3D Mario games have been known to shift paradigms and to lead the way forward through sheer innovation and ingenuity, whether it be Mario 64, which was the first game to demonstrate how 3D movement and camera control should be handled, or the more recent Super Mario Galaxy, which absolutely defied the traditional laws of perspective in video games, and gave some real meaning to the term ‘three dimensional movement.’ Mario is deservedly called the mascot of gaming- this is because he has pretty much been at the forefront of every single stride or advance that gaming has ever made.

And this is what leads to his massive, enduring popularity- put together, the mainline Mario games have sold over 260 million copies, a gargantuan number by any yardstick. While other gaming mascots have come and gone, Mario has survived and thrived. This is because, as enumerated above, he continually reinvents himself. Now nearing his 26th birthday, he shows no sign of stopping at all, with the upcoming Super Mario 3D Land sure to be one of the most influential handheld games ever created.

In this list, we look at some of the best games in the mainline Mario series and attempt to rank them. So, whereas we’d love to see Mario Kart or Super Mario RPG or Mario Golf on here, we can’t include them because they aren’t a part of the core platforming series. With that in mind, let’s have a look at the seven best Mario games ever, in ranked order.

7. Super Mario Bros (NES)

It feels unfair to list Super Mario Bros so low on this list, if only because of its sheer importance and monumental impact at the time of its release. The game that singlehandedly revived the American console industry after the Crash of 1983, and one that really added some meaning to gaming beyond just trying to achieve a high score by having a semblance of purpose or direction for its titular protagonist, there were so many things that this Mario game can be credited with- the first proper platformer in the modern sense of the word. The first game to include permanent power ups. One of the first games to popularize the concept of speedrunning. The first game that demonstrated a modern control scheme for console games, that is in fact still used in its essentials today.

Apart from its contributions, the game still manages to hold its own today against modern titles, in spite of the twenty six year interregnum that separates it from modern games. It has tight platforming, and great (albeit generic- which, to be fair is expected as this was the game that laid the blueprint for generic) level design, pitch perfect controls, and some great music to go with it. In fact, you probably cannot go to any part of the world where the music that plays in World 1-1 is not recognized.

If we were to rank these games solely on the basis of their impact and importance at the time of their release (and probably since then as well), this game would top the list, no questions asked. However, as it stands, we are looking and assessing all these games as, well, games as well. And while Super Mario Bros. is certainly a classic, it was outdone by every single game in the series that followed it. Yet, its importance and prestige, along with the fact that it aged so well, have all ensured that it does find a place on this list, ahead of many other games.

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

In more ways than one, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was a divisive game. While everybody appreciated the devilish challenge that it posed, along with its demanding platforming, and some neat level designs, people felt that, barring its four player local multiplayer mode, the game was too conservative, and that it did not reflect the eighteen year period that separated it from the last mainline sidescrolling Mario game, that it played too close to the originals, and that in many ways, it felt dated. Complaints were made about its mechanics, the levels themselves, regardless of the design, were deemed to be right out of the book, with your typical desert level, and ice level, and so on…

Then there was the fact that the multiplayer mode itself became the focus of some criticism. While there was nothing wrong with the mode itself- and some of the best fun to be had this generation is when you play NSMB Wii with your pals- in this day and age, people expect an online mode as well, and they were appalled at its exclusion, in spite of Nintendo’s repeated assertions that its inclusion would be missing the point, that the game was about having fun and having a laugh with the people you knew best. Moreover, the game’s name, which recalled a DS game that had more or less the same name (just without the ‘Wii’ suffix), the graphics, which were also conservative, the soundtrack, which was deemed to be falling short of series standards, and the fact that many people simply believed it to be a port, all led to the game getting a bit of a bad rep with core series enthusiasts.

Which is all bullshit. The game shone at its heart, with its perfect level design, and the time and tested platforming which had made Mario so enduring in the first place. The game was devilishly hard, and yet it was never unfair, it was taxing and demanding to the ultimate degree, and yet it was always fun, and it was that rare game that could actually accommodate extra players without compromising on any of its fundamentals. For all the things that it purportedly did wrong, there were many more that it got absolutely right. Since it got those right that make Mario Mario, I suppose there is no point in criticizing the game. All such criticism is fully unjustified.

5. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)

Yoshi’s Island is a gem of a game. With eye poppingly great graphics that are yet to be outdone even today, a decade and a half after its release, excellent platforming and level design, the introduction of some great mechanics, especially for the titular dinosaur, and its unusual premise and structure that really broke the mold as far as series conventions are concerned, the game stands out in many player’s minds as one of the finest games ever created, and in their hearts as being representative of some of the fondest memories they have.

In order to keep this list from getting repetitive, I shall refrain from praising the game’s mechanics or controls or level design, since, let’s face it, those things are a given for any Mario game (even the more horrible ones, like Super Mario Sunshine). Instead, let’s focus on the lovely, crayon coloring book style graphics for this game. Or it’s wonderful, lullaby resembling music. Or just the sheer adorability of its titular mascot, the green dinosaur Yoshi. There are actually so many things to consider when we discuss this game, even if we don’t assess it as a Mario game.

Yoshi’s Island was a wonderful game. A lovely experience, that anyone with a soul and half a heart should enjoy. It’s like one of those things that instantly resonates with us, and connects us to our (often forgotten) childhood in a span of a few minutes. If you remain unmoved after playing Yoshi’s Island, then there is clearly something that is wrong with you. That is how great this game is.

Seven Most Influential Speeches In Video Games

Shubhankar Parijat — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:37:47 +0000

Dialogues are a very vital part of any visual media of entertainment, which means video games as well. And the stronger and well-written the dialogues are, the better the story of the game turns out to be. It is believed by many that dialogues are the very backbone of any story, because if the dialogues fall flat, so does the entire narrative, for they are what drive the entire flow forward, lead one thing to the other.

Video games are no different in this aspect, especially the ones these days, what with them having so heavy and complex stories. And with strong speeches showered between regular intervals, a game can truly outshine its competition- if, of course, the speeches are well written and delivered.

Here is out list of the seven best speeches we have come across in games. These, we feel, were delivered and written nigh-perfectly, and provided for a few minutes of sheer awe and joy. Enjoy the list!

Remember, these speeches have been ranked and listed in no particular order.

Solid Snake- War Has Changed (Metal Gear Solid 4)

War has changed. It’s no longer about nations, ideologies, or ethnicity. It’s an endless series of proxy battles fought by mercenaries and machines. War, and its consumption of life, has become a well-oiled machine. War has changed. ID-tagged soldiers carry ID-tagged weapons, use ID-tagged gear. Nanomachines inside their bodies enhance and regulate their abilities. Genetic control. Information control. Emotion control. Battlefield control. Everything is monitored and kept under control. War has changed. The age of deterrence has become the age of control… All in the name of averting catastrophe from weapons of mass destruction. And he who controls the battlefield… controls history. War has changed. When the battlefield is under total control… War becomes routine.

Solid Snake is a great speaker, perhaps one of the best we have seen in any game, and he was probably at his peak in Metal Gear Solid 4. The very opening scene of MGS4 started off with a bang, as Solid Snake went on about how war has become much more complex and deep than it originally was. And with Kojima’s superb direction, the intro scene feels like nothing but a movie.

Visari- Defenders Of The Helghast Dream, Now Is Our Time (Killzone)

My people, sons and daughters of Helghan. For many years we have been a broken nation- shunned, oppressed and conquered by those we sought to escape. Days ago, I asked for time, and that time was granted by you. You, the strength in my arm, the holders of my dreams. Our forefathers embarked on the greatest exodus in the history of all mankind. An exodus for freedom. Helghan became that freedom. Our new world changed our bodies. At first, it weakened us. But in fact, we were growing stronger. In the time you have given me, I have rebuilt our nation. I have rebuilt our strength. And I have rebuilt our pride. Our enemies at home have been re-educated. We have given them new insights into our cause. On this day, we stand united once more. On this day, those driven to divide us will hear our voice. On this day, we shall act as one, and we shall be ignored no more. Defenders of the Helghast dream, now is our time.

The opening, and the best, few minutes of Killzone. Scolar Visari is a genius- that much can be figured out upon hearing his awesome speeches. And like the analogies that are drawn quite a lot of time not just in the game, but even on the forums, he was much like Adolf Hitler- a misguided genius. And yet, upon hearing Visari speak, we almost start believing him, start sympathizing with him. We start believing in the Helghan dream. That is how good a speaker he is- was. May he rest in peace.

Chairman Prescott- Humans Are No Strangers To War (Gears of War 2)

Humans are no strangers to war. After all, we’ve been fighting for as long as we can remember. War is all we know. In the past, we fought for emulsion. We fought for country. We fought for freedom. But all that changed after E-Day. For fifteen years, we have been fighting for our very survival against inhuman, genocidal monsters. But it is a fight we cannot continue. Humanity faces extinction, unless we end this war now. We had hoped the Lightmass bombing would decimate the Locust Horde, but they survived… and have returned stronger than ever. They’ve brought with them a force that can sink entire cities. Even Jacinto, our last beacon of hope through all these dark days, is now at risk. Soon, we’ll have nothing left to defend. And that means, we have only one option… attack. Gears, what I ask of you now is not an easy thing, but it is necessary. If we are to survive, if we are to live long enough to see the seasons pass, our children grow, and experience a time of peace that we have never known, we must now take this fight to the Locust. We will go to where they live and where they breed, and we will destroy them. This is the day we take the battle to the heart of the enemy. This is the day that we correct the course of human history. This is the day we ensure our survival as a species. Soldiers of the COG, my fellow Gears, go forth and bring back the hope of humanity.

Gears of War 2 is, according to many people, not half of what the original Gears was, but an epic storyline, presented through brilliantly directed cutscenes, make it an awesome game. And with a speech to boot at the very beginning, it becomes completely unforgettable. Chairman Prescott motivates his people to take one final stand against the Locust as their final hope, or all life would diminish, until the human race is completely eradicated, and these “genocidal” aliens take over.

Top 7 Sandbox Games of All Time

Shubhankar Parijat — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:17:42 +0000

Don’t make that face, okay? You’ve come across stranger lists, this is still okay.

Yeah, so where was I? Nowhere, I still have to start. So let’s. Sandbox games have become a major section of the gaming industry. Some of the best known franchises these days, like Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed, Saint’s Row, Mafia, Crackdown and many others are sandbox games, and almost all games these days that strive to strike perfection between replayability and innovation opt for the sandbox style of games. Recently, we have seen this specific section of the games develop.

As an ode to all the great games this sub-genre has given us, GamingBolt presents to you, Top 7 Sandbox Games Of All Time. Remember, this list is the opinion of the author, and does not represent what is the fact. Before getting angry and burning down our HQ if you don’t agree, please realize that this list is a personal opinion. Your feedback will be appreciated though. You can comment in the comments section below.

So without further ado, let’s begin!

7. Fable II

Platform: Xbox 360 | Developer: Lionhead Studios | Publisher: Microsoft | Release Date: October, 2008

Fable- probably one of the most ambitious, grandest, the most passionate names in the industry of ganes, yet probably the one that has given us two of the most flawed games of all time. Building up on the successful yet inperfect formula that was introduced in the original Fable, Fable II added several new mechanics, such as the lovable dog and the very useful golden trail. Fable II allowed players to wander the entire world, and gave us such an immense sense of freedom, that one could completely ditch the main story missions and delve deeper into the world of Albion from the very beginning of the game. From stealing stuff, buying houses and buildings, killing people and guards, marrying the citizens, having children with them, to exploring towns, doing jobs, buying stuff from shops and having- uh, sexual relationships with people, you can do just about everything in Fable II. Oh, of course you can’t sell milk shake, but that’s just one thing.

(Stay Tuned, We Will Have Our Fable III Preview Up Soon)

6. Spider-Man 2

Platform: GCN, Xbox, Mac OS, PC, PS2, PSP, GBA, DS, N-Gage | Developer: Treyarch | Publisher: Activision | Release Date: June, 2004

I’m sure you cringed when you saw that name. But those of you who have played it will realize that the game actually deserves a spot here. The life-like, gargantuan city, the whole of which was open to exploration and sandbox style action to players from the very beginning, along with the spectacular new mechanics, like the 6th Sense, or Wall Running, and the realistic web swinging mechanic, in which we have to swing webs at solid things, like buildings or even airborne choppers, all came together in more ways than one, and made this a complete package, one that would stand out in the genre as a benchmark title for other superhero sandbox games to come.

5. The Godfather: The Game

Platform: PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, Xbox, PC | Developer: EA Redwood Shores | Publisher: EA | Release Date: March, 2006

“Oh wow, another movie tie-in? This list sucks!” is what you must be thinking right now, right? But I just love The Godfather, and anything to do with it. I loved the book, I loved the movie, and when the game was about to be released, I had very high expectations, despite my apprehension. While the game did have a few flaws of its own, it managed to do everything it tried to nearly perfectly. Not only did it keep the story completely true to that of the movie’s without putting us in the shoes of any of the characters seen in The Godfather universe, it also provided us with great missions, and an open, living breathing world, which offered unimaginable freedom- you could bribe cops, take over rackets, extort shokeepers, kill members of other gangs to take over the city and do just about anything one would expect from a mafiaso based free-roaming game. I don’t know about you people, but The Godfather: The Game will always hold a very special place in my heart.