The Technograph

Top ‘n’ Begins…

“Top 10” lists seem to come up just about anywhere there are a group of people or songs or products that can be classified as the best at what they are or do. What happens, though, if there are 14 things that deserve this classification? What if there are only 4? That is why Technograph is proud to announce its new feature: Top ‘n’. Each month on our website, a Technograph writer will put together their own list of the top ‘n’ best of whatever they choose. This issue, to continue the retro theme, we have decided to include Technograph’s top ‘n’…

Retro Videogames

5. Super Baseball 2020

Though it might not be truly “retro,” this game makes it on the list solely because it describes a future (now only 10 years away) with robots that play sports. According to IGN, “It's common to see players use a Rocket Pack to shoot 50 feet in the air to take away a home run, and the pitchers throw unbelievable 200 mph curveballs!” While it is doubtful that this will be possible before the actual title year, Super Baseball 2020 was definitely the dream of any child engineer in 1993.

4. Space Invaders

Almost anyone who is familiar with videogames knows the classic, blocky images connected with this 70’s videogame. While few of our generation have played it in an arcade, Space Invaders is found online and in retro gaming packs for most systems. Even though it is so simple, people are still entertained for long periods of time by shooting at the rows and rows of aliens descending on Earth.

3. Tetris

A puzzle game sure to frustrate first-time players and masters alike, Tetris has been a huge part of videogame culture since its release in 1984. These days, while versions are available to purchase and play on portable gaming devices, you can also find versions online for free including one that moves the frame around the piece instead of rotating the piece itself.

2. Pac-Man

How could we possibly do this without that wonderful yellow circle-man? Pac-Man came about in 1980, and ever since, people have been hooked by the simple maze and joystick wonder that is this game. Pac-Man is accompanied by a star cast including Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde who try to catch him on his mission to consume pac-dots and power pellets, and after countless versions of the game have been released, those characters and aims typically remain.

1. Mario Bros.

The first game in which we begin to see Mario, the undoubted star of the Nintendo franchise, as the title character, Mario Bros. debuted in arcades in 1983. This has to be Technograph’s number one on the list for no other reason but that it led to the creation of an icon that is still such a huge part of gaming culture today. Whether you love or hate the little plumber, Mario competes with Pac-Man and many others as the most famous videogame character ever created thanks to his multitude of appearances in games across three decades.

Tagged with: top n, video games