Classic Console Games

These true classics keep gamers coming back for more after the decades have passed. All of these can be found cheaply, and most harken back to the basics of what made games worthwhile to begin with, before the days of high-speed processors and slick graphics. Note that these games come on various systems, and you'll need Classic Consoles in order to play them.

Nintendo Entertainment System
Metroid : Blast your way through a hidden passage-laden alien hotzone in this old-school Nintendo title. Followed by many sequels, this masterpiece still stands strong.	The Legend of Zelda : This innovative exploration-based quest title for NES will always be known as one of the finest games ever created. Search out the land of Hyrule as sword-wielding, green-suited hero Link.	Rad Racer : Featuring some of the catchiest music ever made for a video game, this NES street-racer plows through a circuit takes you from coast to coast.	Super Mario Bros. : Good old Mario, always there for you when you feel like shooting fireballs out of your fists, smashing the heads of mean mushroom creatures or bashing blocks with your head. Fire up the old NES for this one.

Super Nintendo
Sim City : The Super Nintendo truly came alive thanks to this addictive city-building game, which was transported from an earlier version on PCs. Build your own metropolis as a mayor/city planner. Raise taxes and pray for re-election.	Super Mario Kart : This is the Mario racing title that started it all. Taking full advantage of the Super Nintendo's "Mode 7" background rotation technology, the original Super Mario Kart provided perhaps the first 3-D racing experience.	Street Fighter II : Mortal Kombat's consummate rival was the Street Fighter series, which recovered from a weak first outing for a masterpiece sequel. The characters were well-balanced and had glaring strengths and weaknesses. Kids would play all night and argue all day at school about which fighter was the best.	Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars : Mario, Luigi, Bowser and the Princess all team up for a sprawling voyage across the mushroom kingdom. You still battle by stomping on the heads of your enemies, but you do so by issuing commands rather than mashing the jump button directly. Experience points and items inventory come into play

Atari 2600
Night Driver : The Atari 2600 hit breakneck speeds with this influential racer. Take the wheel on a dark track and steer to victory.	Pitfall : The Atari 2600 excelled in platformers, and the side-scrolling jungle adventure Pitfall was at the top of the heap. Although sometimes frustrating, this game is a rite of passage for the growing gamer.	Joust : The Atari 2600 predated the arena fighter concept we know today, but at least the system did have a port of the classic arcade game that pitted ostrich-riding warriors against one another.	Breakout : In a variation of Pong, you control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, ricocheting a ball that bounces back and forth between walls. The aim is to aim the ball at shatterable colored bricks. More fun than faking a sick day.

Sega Genesis
Mortal Kombat : In the early 1990s, fighting games were seemingly all anyone ever talked about. That's probably because the gameplay was so darn spectacular. The game's comically disgusting finishing moves were thrilling, and a four-armed boss character called Goro still gives people nightmares.	Sonic the Hedgehog : Sega decided to compete against Mario with raw speed. Sonic streaks across the screen at an wind-whipping rate. Play the frenetic game and it's easy to see why Sonic spawned so many sequels.	Phantasy Star IV : This 1994 Sega Genesis entry is still tagged as one of the great RPGs ever made by genre enthusiasts. Magic takes center stage as the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Look out for the gorgeous storyboard-driven visuals that highlight the story.	Altered Beast : Ever feel like transforming into a wolf? Altered Beast lets you do that, and then some. The Sega Genesis actioner lets you transform into various creatures to fulfill the warrior's noble quest.

External Links

• GameSpot -- One of the top gaming resources on the net.
• IGN -- Covers video games as well as the rest of the entertainment world.
• Game Informer -- An excellent video game magazine's home page.