100 Best Nintendo Games - Part Two

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We've only just begun our countdown of the greatest Nintendo games ever and already it has started some arguments! One forumite said that Jet Force Gemini and Conker's Bad Fur Day should be higher up, another though Rogue Leader was placed too far down while another argued that World Of goo shouldn't be in there at all. See if you agree with this lot...

80. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Format: GameCube, Released: 2004
Metal Gear briefly returned to Nintendo with this brilliant remake of the PlayStation's seminal stealth action game. This is pure Snake heaven before the action was ruined by day-long cut scenes!

79. Diddy Kong Racing
Format: N64, Released: 1997
The game everyone played when they were bored of Mario Kart! Yet with its adventure mode and different vehicles this is much more than a clone.

78. WarioWare, Inc
Format: GBA, Released: 2003
WarioWare introduced us to micro games - short, five second long burst of joy that demand the reactions of David James. The sequels couldn't match the impact of the original.

77. The Legend Of Zelda
Format: NES, Released: 1987
While the first Mario Bros. is our best game ever, the original Zelda isn't held in such high esteem. Still, it introduced us to Link, Hyrule, and Ganon. It's highly influential and still very enjoyable to this day.

76. Super Ghouls 'N' Ghosts
Format: SNES, Released: 1992
Mega Man 9 aside, they don't make platformers as challenging as this any more. It's great fun though!

75. Sonic Advance
Format: GBA, Released: 2001
As the first Sonic title to appear on a Nintendo system after Sega pulled out of the console race, there was a lot riding on this one. Thankfully, it was the finest Sonic game since the Mega Drive golden years and remains a 2D classic.

Punch-Out!!

74. Punch-Out!!
Format: NES, Released: 1987
When you break it down to its basic elements, there's not much to Punch-Out!! except for dodging left and right and punching at the right time. But it's such a well-balanced mix of simplicity and strategy that it's still great fun today.





73. Super Mario Land
Format: Game Boy, Released: 1989
The first handheld Mario title might have been ridiculously short but it was many gamers' first introduction to Nintendo and a true playground classic. On top of that, it's got some of the greatest videogame music ever composed to boot.

72. Advance Wars
Format: Game Boy, Released: 1989
The first game in the Advance Wars series (and a continuation of the Nintendo Wars franchise) remains a stone cold genre classic. An almost faultless blend of fiendish strategy and Nintendo magic, this is essential.

71. Castlevania: Aria Of Sorrow
Format: GBA, Released: 2003
Although all the GBA and DS Castlevania games are brilliant in their own right, Aria Of Sorrow is the stand-out, bringing the franchise into the 21st Century with a bang. Fang-tastic stuff.

70. WWF No Mercy
Format: N64, Released: 2000
By far the best wrestling game ever released and a fantastic fighting game in general, No Mercy had a huge roster of wrestlers and many modes, but the deep and tactical gameplay was what made it a legendary title.

Kirby's Adventure

69. Kirby's Adventure
Format: NES, Released: 1993
Kirby's first home console adventure remains his best to this day. Squeezing every ounce of power out of the humble NES, this is a staggeringly good platformer. Fact fans: this was produced by a young(ish) Satoru Iwata.





68. Super Star Wars
Format: SNES, Released: 1992
Many developers have tried to make a better Star Wars game but none have topped this classic 1992 effort. Taking in most of the best moments from the films this was a cracking platformer. VC release please!

67. Kid Icarus
Format: NES, Released: 1986
A relic from an age when videogames weren't afraid to be absurdly difficult, this early NES platforming hit remains massively playable 20 years on. Just don't come crying to us when you fall off the bottom of the screen for the umpteenth time.

66. F-Zero
Format: SNES, Released: 1990
This antidote to the comparatively light and fluffy Mario Kart is a snarling beast of a racer. Blisteringly fast, seriously challenging and insanely fun, this SNES launch title spawned an entire franchise.

Professor Layton And The Curious Village

65. Professor Layton & The Curious Village
Format: DS, Released: 2008
No game has given us so many headaches as Layton's brilliant digital puzzlebook. Beautiful, innovative and inclusive, this is a modern classic.







64. Sin & Punishment
Format: N64, Released: 2000
Us poor Europeans only got to play this cult shooter recently with its recent VC release but boy was it worth the wait. There are few more intense, exciting experiences on a Nintendo system. Roll on this year's belated sequel.

63. Mario Kart: Double Dash
Format: GameCube, Released: 2003
It's arguably the least successful MK outing but Double Dash!! still has its fans. The new dual character set-up isn't always successful but the multiplayer kart-based mayhem remains as irresistible as ever.

62. Metroid Fusion
Format: GBA, Released: 2002
Still the best handheld Metroid game despite worthy competition from the excellent Hunters and Zero Mission, Fusion pushed the GBA to breaking point. Sleek, slick and perfectly formed, this is one of Samus' finest hours.

61. Pilotwings
Format: SNES, Released: 1990
Still a genre to itself, Nintendo's brilliant flight sim is one of their brightest, breeziest moments. Its laid back, casual air would make it a perfect fit for the Wii. Fingers crossed that something is in the works.

Pilotwings

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