Here's the next 5, but before we get started, I'd just like to address one thing to the readers. This is my list, so if a game isn't on the list or where you'd like it to be, it's because I don't think it belongs there. Okay? Thanks.

Without further adeu..


15. Mario Kart DS



While I was tempted to put Mario Kart Wii here, I eventually gave the nod to the DS version simply because of the selection of tracks, the ability to play it anywhere/anytime, and the single player challenges. I played a great deal of this game when I first got my DS Lite, and even though I would get my ass handed to me whenever an avid snaker entered the fray online, I always had a blast. I think I played it for a solid month, every day. Yoshi Circuit and Delfino Square were my favorite tracks.


14. Goldeneye 007



Hoo boy. This was THE sleep over game. I played this game so much, that I had every spawn point memorized by heart... which made playing proximity mines HILARIOUS. This was mostly due to the fact that I would place a proximity mine at every spawn point trying to get an easy (and cheap) 5-10 kills, but often times get killed and well... die.. OVER AND OVER. I used to always use Arctic Commando, one of the hidden characters that I think just about everyone knows about. I never quite got what was so cheap about Odd Job though, since we used to always play License To Kill and with the auto aim, everyone died pretty much the same. Good, good stuff, although doesn't quite have the same flair it used to with single analog control nowadays. Can we please get this revamped on Xbox Live Arcade? Thanks.


13. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3



While the arcade version of this game sported the best graphics and sound, the console version was actually a bit better with the inclusion Rain and Noob Saibot among others as playable characters. A bit faster and combo based than other Mortal Kombat games was what set this game apart from the others for me. Some say the combos are cheap, but they're definitely more fun to pull off than the standard jump kicks and stuff that you were limited to in 2. Great cast of characters in this as well, and with the ability to play online in the XBLA version, it's a lot of fun.


12. Quake III Arena



I remember playing THE DEMO to this game for months. Yeah, you heard that right. The demo only included I believe three maps from the final game, but I and some friends played this religiously for quite a while. I eventually did pick up the full version, and I was glad I did because it was filled with even more great maps to play around on. This game is incredibly fast paced, but I mastered it back in my prime of enjoyment with this one. I remember one time I was playing with just one friend and a bunch of bots, and I had reached 50 kills before my friend (in second) could even break 10. Yeah, I was a beast, and this game still is a blast to play to this day.


11. Bubble Bobble



It doesn't matter which version of this game you play, you're bound to have a great time if you're playing with a buddy. The game is not so incredibly special when you're playing all alone, but playing this coop is where the magic is at. The game was clearly designed for coop play, as some of the challenges seem pretty hard to tackle on your own. You will help each other make jumps, battle the time, and even take out the hulking (and relatively hard) final boss. The game had plenty of replay value too, as the levels were somewhat randomized every time you played, with different power ups, triggered events, and color schemes. I don't think I ever did get the "happy end", but who cares, I was happy reguardless.


Stay tuned for #10-6 tomorrow.