| 24 January 2010
by: Bryan Brumleve
Yes, I know, this isn’t news, it’s more homage. Thank you title.
Since my fingers first clutched an NES controller back in 1990, I’ve grown up alongside some of video games’ greatest and most memorable characters. While my youth is fleeting, they are evolving.
Here is a nostalgic top 5.
1. Megaman
The Blue Bomber gets the top spot on my list and anyone who has a problem can call the wambulance.
Megaman was an amazing catalyst for Capcom, offering a simple formula. Hero(Megaman) Villain(Dr Wily or Sigma) and Bosses(there’s a lot). The franchise took off with Megaman X which was the same formula, just a hundred times sweeter. I just wish they could adapt the gameplay and release a new game.
Megaman 9, for WiiWare, and Megaman 10 (coming soon) are both very new and awesome; but when I envision Megaman’s future, I dream of a Megaman X9 that has so much potential, the release buzz could rival any game released to date.
Hit the jump to see the rest of the list...
2. Mario
ITSA ME! WHY IMA NUMBER 2? Yeah yeah, wambulance. By the way, say that in a Mario voice for humor effect. I love Mario, I do. I played every game. I even rented Dr. Mario and Mario Is Missing! Which.. ahem, yes.
Yes, I played the great Mario games as I myself transitioned from 8-bit to 16, from 64-bit to what we have now. Mario adapts well, as he had no trouble jumping from the 2D page to the 3D platform.
Now, with Mario Galaxy (2 on the way) and the New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii, Mario doesn’t look like he’s going to back down from any major shift in the way games are played. Stay golden, plumberboy.
3. Link
The first time I ever played the game, I thought his name was Zelda.
Link, the young forest child who is meant to save the Hyrule kingdom and rescue Princess Zelda, is a powerful character. Silent and observant, he is the chosen one.
The games’ plots are very normal; unknown outsider saves the people from the antagonist and gets the girl, but it’s done very well.
The recent adaptation for the Wii, Twilight Princess, was masterful. But can still pick up "A Link to the Past" for the old SNES and feel the same adornment as I do Twilight Princess. Thank you Link.
4. Samus Aran
Samus dons a suit that I never even worried about wondering who was inside of. After finishing Metroid (NES), I like every other gamer, was surprised to see her hair fall out of the helmet.
It was my first encounter with a lady character. No sausage fest on this list. Nintendo used their kung fu to gain our attention.
At the time, all the little boys weren’t likely to buy a video game with a girl on the front. They wouldn’t understand. So you beat the game, it was great, and then they tell you....
Touché Samus Aran
5. Ryu
The new challenger. So many video games, so many characters, it’s hard to choose once you get past Megaman.
I chose Ryu because he was my guy.
With all the street fighters, I could do damage with anyone , but I turned foes to fools with Ryu. I felt like we were both the strong silent types and when my friends and I used our *imaginations, I was Ryu. HADOKEN!
* Imagination – an area of the mind used by children and adults long before technology became the preferred use of leisure time
