Top 10 Sports Video Games Of All Time

There have been hundreds of video game games over the years. In less than forty years we have moved from Pong to MLB 2K6 on the Xbox 360. But the advent of games did not always mean better games. Because the game has brighter connections and better graphics, it doesn't make a good game. That’s why so many PS2 and Xbox games are worth sitting in discount barrels at your local game store, while classics like the NHL ’94 and Tecmo Super Bowl continue to be captivated by sports fans. Here are my top ten of all time:

10. Jordan vs. Bird (NES) - Was the one-man game so good? No, it is not. But the game was clever by competing for three points and the slam dunk tournament long before it appeared elsewhere. That alone deserves a place in the Top 10.

9. Madden 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GC) - The jump from '04 to '05 was GREAT. '05 introduced a hit-stick controller and defensive player to bring defensive control according to the case. Franchise mode is very similar to '04, but that is not really a bad thing. The thing I love most is building a team from the beginning. I like to take the worst team in the league and build it into a powerhouse. You can move to a new city and build a new stadium, and list real college players from NCAA ’05. All in all, I loved this game more than any other Madden. 2006 did not develop enough in this game.

8. Punch-Out (NES) - which baby was born in the late 70's or early 80's DOES it spend hours trying to beat Tyson with a Little Mac?

7. Madden '94 (Genesis, SNES) - Based on memory the game was amazing. I remember being able to play with all the NFL teams and the old team teams. It was one of my favorite sports games growing up. Having said that, I just played it and it gets worse. It can’t even get close to its catch against the Tecmo Super Bowl. Passing is not real, and running involves repeatedly tapping the spin button while spinners jump from your runner. This is high simply because of the way I remember enjoying it as a child.

6. NBA Live '95 (Genesis, SNES) - This game may not have been real at all, but it was incredibly fun to run up and down the field shooting with three and throwing high. The fact that it was EA's first NBA game with all the teams and every stadium also earns points. Not to mention, this was the first game with a 3/4 angle camera.

5. NFL Blitz (Arcade) - Football version of NBA Jam. Fast scoring goals, late hits, and cross-cutting rules such as being able to throw multiple passes forward behind the scrimmage line make this game great. The arcade version was much better than the PS or N64 versions.

4. NBA Jam (Arcade) - Between the arcade version and console versions, I played the NBA Jam tone. He is one of the most unique games ever. Who did not enjoy beating people in the air or hitting three after three while they were on fire? The game moved completely. The best part was getting all the code and playing with the mascots with Bill Clinton.

3. Little League Baseball (NES) - I don’t know why this game doesn’t get as much attention as one of the best NES sports games. The game is better than any NES baseball game - throwing, hitting, and throwing on the field are all simple and sounds realistic in comparison. And there is just something fun and different about playing in smaller leagues. To my knowledge this is the end of a small league game, though I may be wrong. To add to the excitement, some teams are much better than others. Want a challenge? Try to win the tournament against Italy, the worst team in the game. LLB playback value is unbelievable; I still play it to this day.

2. NHL ’94 (Genesis, SNES) - I love modern NHL games as the next guy, but this game is the best. I still play it ALL the time. The level of play is amazing. Eliminate scoring goals and the game is incredibly realistic, especially considering how old this game is. Oh, and record, they played NHL '93 to the Swingers but talked about the elimination of the NHL '94. Surprising huh?

1. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) - The game was pre-season - structured playbooks and tracking long season statistics were cool at the time. The game is not far from real but it is equally amazing. As a result, the game is still popular and there are tons of people still playing in online leagues. The advent of emulators allowed for roster arrangements - I played game versions with the latest rosters in 2004. There are also versions with college roster and USFL lists. The strange little game is as bizarre as Bo Jackson can't stop, he jumps and jumps everywhere, choosing defensive games by guessing offensive play, passing 100 yards, etc. makes the game VERY fun. This game will never wear out.