by Johnathan Vredeveld

Created on: August 21, 2008   Last Updated: November 28, 2011

Before I begin to list my most highly recommended video game titles, I need to make two things clear.

One, everyone has different opinions and tastes. My favorite games may not be entertaining to some, but they are very enjoyable to me.

And two, I grew up on Nintendo and Sega. Most of the games listed here will be on systems from one of those two, though there may be some that are cross-console.

First up is an entire series rather than a single game. The Super Smash Brothers series.

These games are a favorite for many people, and it's obvious why. I usually dislike fighting games, but Super Smash Brothers takes the genre and completely transforms it into something far beyond mindless combo memorization and button mashing. When a character is hit, it doesn't lose health from a bar at the top of the screen, but instead gains damage which is listed as a percentage. The higher the character's percentage, the further they will fly when hit by an enemy attack. The object of the game is to knock your opponent off the edge of the screen, be it on the bottom, sides or even top.

The series brings many familiar faces into the battles, such as Mario and Yoshi. This only adds to the grandeur, as it brings a familiarity that makes it easier to get into the hang of the game.

Every game in the series has supported 4-player fights, which can get pretty hectic with the large amount of items in each game. From baseballs bats to landmines to ray guns, it's difficult to find a dull moment in the Super Smash Brothers series.

Of course, items and other random aspects of the game can be turned off or modified for a battle of skill rather than luck. The more competitive among us (such as myself) will have no problem getting into the Super Smash Brothers series, either.

There are three games at the time of this writing, one for the N64, one for the Gamecube, and one for the Wii. The first two easily held my interest for 5 years, only getting a break once the next in the series came out. I have absolutely zero doubt that the newest in the series will keep me entertained for years, as well. Until the next one comes out, at least.

This next game can be very difficult to find due to its age, but it has got to be my favorite platforming game of all time. Psycho Fox for the Sega Master System. It was the first game I ever played, and immediately hooked me thanks to its bright, fun graphics and catchy, if simple, music. In Psycho Fox, you play as a fox that has the ability to transform into

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