- Video Games
- > Specials
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Tetris
- Platform:
- Nintendo, 1989
- Debut system:
- Game Boy
The history of Tetris reads like a study on Cold War politics, thankfully the game itself is nowhere near as boring. On the contrary, it’s arguably THE greatest game ever.
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Super Mario 64
- Platform:
- Nintendo, 1996
- Debut system:
- Nintendo
Men cried upon seeing Mario 64 for the first time, it was reported. Their childhood hero able to go anywhere and do anything, to an extent that was surely magical.
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Pokémon Red/Green
- Platform:
- Nintendo, 1995
- Debut system:
- Game Boy
Inspired by the creator’s bug-collecting antics as a boy, Pokémon is one of the greatest trading and collecting games. It was perfect for Game Boy, and is famous for Pikachu.
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Pro Evolution Soccer 4
- Platform:
- Konami, 2004
- Debut system:
- PlayStation 2
Members of the England squad and top Premiership players have been gushing about ‘Pro Evo’ during their interviews. You simply cannot doubt the class of this constantly evolving star performer.
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Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Platform:
- Nintendo, 1998
- Debut system:
- Nintendo 64
Thanks to an innovative control system, hero Link solves the mysteries ahead unhindered. The game’s most striking feature is the power to summon magic via tunes played on an Ocarina.
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Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge
- Platform:
- LucasArts, 1991
- Debut system:
- PC
In equal parts famous for its humour as well as quick-witted game play, and memorable because of its free-roaming enhancement over the original, making puzzles much more dastardly to solve
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Super Mario Kart
- Platform:
- Nintendo, 1992
- Debut system:
- Super NES
It seemed like a Worst Idea Ever but quickly proved itself as a Best Thing Ever, capitalising brilliantly on all the characters’ personalities and powers around racetracks and battle arenas.
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Street Fighter II
- Platform:
- Capcom, 1991
- Debut system:
- Arcade
Fire breathing was once the reserve of boss characters. All the ‘World Warriors’ arrived armed with such powers. Their repertoire of moves, counter-moves and tactics were once astonishing, now legend.
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GoldenEye 007
- Platform:
- Rare, 1996
- Debut system:
- Nintendo 64
Despite everyone’s best attempts since, this remains the definitive 007 game – you really did become Bond. Perfectly paced, with impeccable control, the first videogame sniper rifle and endless four-player deathmatches.
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Elite
- Platform:
- AcornSoft, 1984
- Debut system:
- BBC Micro
You fully believed that you were trading goods between galaxies in a Cobra space ship. The universe seemed genuinely huge, and its inhabitants realistic. Just watch out for those Thargoids.