1
Contrary to popular belief, a flashy sequel doesn't equal a bad sequel all the time. In a bold move, ContraIII fast-forwarded the action to the distant future and improved not only the aesthetics, but the scope and storyline of the game, all while maintaining the "run and gun" appeal of the original. Though there have been plenty of knockoffs since, none have had a weapon as universally appealing as the Spread Gun.None.
2
Earthbound broke a lot of traditional rules established by previous SNES RPGs with its innovative, unique gameplay. To outsiders, Earthbound seemed like a cutesy kid's game. Any well-informed gamer will tell you otherwise. The characters had names like "Buzz Buzz" and "Poo," but it boasted a layered story with complicated characters and one of the most deeply unsettling final bosses in the history of gaming. While it hit the United States before the heyday of Japanese RPGs, it's held onto an incredibly dedicated cult following.
3
A solid follow-up, marred by terrible ports in years to come, the original version of Earthworm Jim 2provided plenty of new features while adhering to its predecessor's insane pace and humor. While the first installment could comfortably be classified as a platformer, the sequel launched traditional level design out the window like a cow off a catapult. One level had you bouncing puppies off a giant marshmallow, Game & Watch style, and another had you inexplicably playing as a cave salamander named "Blind Sally." All this, and the protagonist is still an earthworm in a super suit. Groovy.
4
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" was probably a motto chanted by the Kirby's Dream Land 3 developers. They didn't so much shatter the mold as much as smooth out the edges. New abilities to absorb and three new companions in the mix meant the player had a whole spectrum of new power combinations to explore. On top of that, it featured co-op gameplay and a gentle pastel art style, making it the perfect comfort game. Plus it had Kirby in it. That's probably why you voted for it.
5
As games have moved away from arcade-style life bars and towards autosaves and regenerating health, it's easy to forget how hard video games used to be. Nowadays, with enough time and patience, most any game can be waded through. F-Zero didn't give half a damn about some namby-pamby, new-agey, all-inclusive philosophy, preferring instead to grind its players' egos down to nubs with impossibly fast racing, unpredictable obstacles, and uncannily skilled AI opponents. If you think you've gotten frustrated playingDemon's Souls, you haven't played F-Zero.
6
Final Fantasy was for shut-ins. Secret of Mana was for kicking ass with buddies. The game offered wider opportunities for tactics and wit during battles, as well as beautiful visuals and a sophisticated player growth system. Setting itself apart from its RPG contemporaries, Secret of Mana featured a real-time combat system, teamwork-oriented co-op play for up to three players, and it streamlined clunky menu pages into intuitive in-game rings. It single-handedly justified the existence of the Super Multi-tap. What else were you using it for? OK, besides Bomberman?
7
Besides having arguably the best name of any video game ever, Super Castlevania IV was a triumph in other respects, too. The new navigation and combat features helped not to make the game easier, but to enhance the entire experience. Graphical improvements over previous installments made exploring Dracula's castle that much more creepy, and the 16-bit score is one of the best on the console. While theCastlevania series is known for its non-linear level design, SCIV stuck to straight platforming. It had a heavy focus on weapons, especially Simon's signature whip, which he could now manipulate like a damn virtuoso. Whip it good, buddy.
8.
It's your classic tale of earthworm finds ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit, earthworm puts on ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit, earthworm uses ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit to defeat evil crow. At the time of its release, Earthworm Jimwas regaled for its impressive animation, refined gameplay, heavy-handed comedic themes, and other things you don't have to be a Professor Monkey-For-A-Head to appreciate. It holds up shockingly well, its art and level design are still distinct and original. Despite occasionally clunky controls, Earthworm Jim is part of the grand tradition of off-the-wall games like Psychonauts and Monkey Island: You either love them or you haven't played them.
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