Attention all my fellow nerdlings, our Christmas has come! It’s national video game day! A day where we as a gaming community can come together and rejoice in our beloved games that have forged our childhood and games we currently are enjoying. Seeing that you are on a sports site now, let’s break down my thoughts on the best sports video games of all time.
#5: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
People fight for money, in competition. That makes this a sport. Don’t argue, children. When Melee came around in 2001 for the trending Nintendo GameCube, people rushed to the stores for its unique fighting styles, creative arenas and massive (for the time) roster of characters. Its whimsical design appealed to children, where the weapon usage and over the top animation appealed to the generation before. I guarantee you, those who still have their GameCube still have their copy of Super Smash Bros. Melee. Any game that is still talked about 18 years after release deserves its spot on an all-time game list.
#4: Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 (2002)
Yes, skateboarding is a sport. Again, let’s not argue. Now, this spot almost went to the skate series as a whole, but I feel like most people my age or so (23) grew up with this. What set the 4th edition in this series apart from the rest was its vast open-world-esqe design, the outlandish commentary and the full ability to customize everything you have. Plus for its time, going from 3 to 4 in the series was a massive jump in graphics. I mean, come on now, who doesn’t love getting off their board to use it to play baseball or smack civilians around.
#3: NBA Street Vol. 2 (2003)
This was my childhood. This is what I was talking about before we got into my list. I have so many memories of my dad and I playing this game for hours on end. If only I still had that memory card that had everything unlocked on it. Remember memory cards? Anyway. NBA Street vol. 2 was by far the biggest success in the series of games. When it came out in April of 2003, there truly was no other game like it on the market. Those who remember playing this remember it’s wild game-breakers, hitting all four triggers and boost to do the skip to my Lou and those certain characters you pick every game of pickup to make the ultimate roster, (Kobe, Shaq, Miller, Jordan and Ben Wallace). The updated graphics and brash commentary, along with a killer soundtrack makes this game an instant classic.
#2: NCAA Football 14 (2013)
I miss college football video games. The reason I chose 13 was this was the birth of the road to glory campaign, where you start as an HS senior and try to impress scouts to earn scholarships. Not only that, the gameplay itself was much more user-friendly. Meaning it wasn’t
#1: Madden 04 (2003)
- isn’t it wild that the greatest games are early to mid-2000’s releases? Madden 2004 earns my top spot for one reason and one reason only: the most OP character in the history of sports video games Michael Vick. Listen to these ratings: Speed 95, Agility 95, Acceleration 94 and Throw Power 94. My mans was an elite running back with a cannon of an arm. Just hot route every receiver one direction and run the other and boom. Touchdown. What else can you ask for? Playing with your friends or family, it was always a race to get to the Atlanta Falcons. Don’t get me wrong, that game hosted a treasure trove of incredible athletes and teams, but Vick makes this game stand out. Mixed with a slept on soundtrack, this game is the best in the Madden series, and in this writers opinion the best sports video game of all time.
Honorable mentions: SSX Tricky, NBA 2K10, Madden 2005, Skate, WWF: No Mercy
