Offense and Revenge: The Two Main Storylines of the 2015 NFL Season

Back in 2014, I had said that the NFC winner would win the Super Bowl, most likely out of the NFC West. I was predicting a bloodbath between the Seahawks and the 49ers, the top rivalry that was brewing in the NFL. They dislike each other almost as badly as the Ravens/Patriots grudge match, and thought that whomever survived would win it all. The Seahawks were a bonehead decision away from becoming back-to-back champs. I am positive that they are just itching to return to finish the job, getting that second Super Bowl ring.



But this will not be their year. Not this time.



We have two major storylines developing this season that creates the two teams we will see in the 2016 Super Bowl. Both tales are boldly different, arguably opposite. On the NFC side, we will see the Seahawks handedly take over the NFC West as the Cardinals will struggle matching last season’s magic, the 49ers will fall in flames, and the Rams will…well, not really contribute. The Panthers will repeat as champs, continuing the momentum from last year’s surprisingly lengthy run. The Packers will also repeat, as a furious Aaron Rodgers (who should have been in the Super Bowl last season) shall be seen hurling bombs all year long to get back to the same spot.

In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of revenge storylines are developing in the NFC: the Cowboys, Lions, Packers, and especially the Seahawks all feel hosed and feel like they should have gone further. The SpyGate controversy engulfs the fact that the Lions got horrifically screwed in their playoff game, the Cowboys got wrecked because of a stupid rule (it WAS the right call, contrary to what you are led to believe), the Packers caused the biggest collapse in recent NFL history, and the Seahawks…we all know what occurred on that fateful night. P.S. It was a terrible call mixed with a ballsy move by Belichick for not calling the timeout we were all expecting. Back to topic. The NFC will not be won by any of these teams though.

The true revenge story belongs to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC. They are pissed, even if they won it all. DeflateGate has ruined all happy feelings experienced in the Northeast as they watch their legendary quarterback have to go to court to defend his reputation and prevent a suspension. We are seeing a furious head coach, constantly accused of cheating, suddenly having his legacy questioned yet again by the NFL, by the fans, and of course by the rival teams. Ravens are still salty at that trick play…

Expect the Patriots to scream through the AFC, taking down everything in its path. The Colts (which will win their division), Ravens (winning in a tight division), Steelers, and Chargers (whom I predict will be neck-in-neck with the reeling Broncos) will fall very quickly and swiftly to the Belichick Machine. It won’t be pretty in the least bit. Reggie Wayne joining the Patriots alongside a mostly-intact staff and a bloodthirsty Brady? I am Dolphins nation all the way, and I think we might even hit 10 wins (despite the nasty scheduling ending of Chargers/Colts/Patriots). But the Patriots will win at LEAST 12 to stick it to Roger, stick it to the NFL, and stick it to the haters. The last thing you need is to give them motivation.



Patriots will march to the Bowl. Want to know who is joining them?






Philadelphia Eagles.





Yes, the Eagles. I am not kidding. Chip Kelly and its sneaky-deep lineup of offensive weapons is going to march in an inconsistent division. Bradford will be healthy, will be well-protected, and is going to run a devastating offense that is going to wear you out. And then there’s the sheer potential of tricks up their sleeve. And of course, we can’t forget the main factor in all this:






TEBOW!

The Eagles will run circles around everyone using the innovative and fast-paced Kelly offense, and Tebow has FINALLY found a team that will adjust well to his style of play. Even if Tebow won’t be front and center, he will remain a vital part with leadership, optimism, and a great aura that will resonate throughout the staff and the season. Similar to the Alex Smith/Colin Kaepernick situation, Sam Bradford is an improved version of Nick Foles and could propel them to go quite far.

Yes, the Eagles is most definitely not the popular choice. But their quarterback staff is actually quite deep, and add all the offensive options and Chip Kelly’s innovative style of play, and this could spell greatness for Philly, and bad news for everyone else. Kelly is 46-7 in college, 20-12 in his first two pro seasons with a lesser lineup in a tough division----without much of a defense too. He is due for a special NFL season, and I predict that this will be it. I am standing by my Eagles/Patriots Super Bowl matchup.

God is now an Eagles fan. Never bet against God.



But that is my pick, posted here for all to see and criticize, especially if I am way off.


Go Dolphins!!!

When I become President

I am running for president. If Donald Trump can run and actually earn some support despite the racism, bigotry, misogamy, and absolute idiotic behavior, then I surely have a chance. I will be running as independent, not republican (because this party has gotten ugly) not democrat (because I fear for what will happen to this party post-Obama). Green Party, Whig, Florida Party, whatever. I’m still running as independent, the party name I will choose later.

In this article announcing my presidency, I will be simple and brief with a variety of topics plaguing me. If you are in agreeance with my stances on things, support me. Send me money. Otherwise, go away.



Vote Malespin.




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Highways
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Make me president, and I assure you that every single major highway in every major state will be 7 lanes. It’s time to eliminate traffic, it’s time for all Netflix/Amazon/UPS deliveries to arrive on time without issue and without excuses. To make things better, the two left lanes will have no speed limit. Let’s be honest, we all break the speed limit, so why even enforce it on all the lanes? Similar to the Autobahn in Germany, we will have lanes designed for you to go whatever speed you desire.

Catch: If you cause an accident, you lose your license for 7 years. If you are DUI in these highways, you will never have your license back. Makes the roads safer, and will allow more jobs involving buses.

P.S. After age 70, we will assign you a driver for the rest of your life. This is to make it safe for EVERYBODY.

Vote Malespin.


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Farmer Life
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If I am president, I will solve the food production issues by offering full tax exemptions to all farmers of America. Become an official farmer, and grow enough crops, and you won’t have to pay taxes throughout the year. We need more incentives for people to work these difficult, difficult jobs in helping feed America. Very simple.

P.S. I want to see Florida grow more types of crops, it has the land. I want Florida to be the top mango-producing state in the nation.


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Healthy Living
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Alright, here’s the biggest problem in trying to eat healthy: it is so freakin’ expensive. Orange juice, especially in Florida, should never be more than $6 a gallon. Seriously. Supermarkets secretly take advantage of the healthy food/organic food movement by charging insane prices. Have you been to a Whole Foods? Doesn’t it make you want to cry sometimes? Whole Foods serves fantastic products, but the prices can never justify it. What I will do as president is tax the supermarkets and stores that charge past what I shall call the Reasonable Price Line. With the RPL, I will list hundreds of products that allows for people and families to eat healthier---and will set what I believe are the proper prices. If Publix, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, or anyone else exceeds the line, then they will pay a special tax at the end of the year.

It is time for orange juice to stop costing so much.


===============
RPL
===============

The Reasonable Price Line will also be applied to other things that I consider to be far too expensive:
Cable/internet, sports channels, gasoline, apartment prices, car insurance, health care visits, hospital visits, public parking, American cars (seriously), and much more. When I am president, I will ensure that businesses lower their prices and allow for the price of living to be much smaller----or pay the extra $$$ at the end of the year.


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Guns
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Owning a gun will be like owning a car: you need a great background check, good credit score, insurance, and a bank willing to back you up. Each of these things (usually) creates a decent citizen, so you should be rewarded with the opportunity to defend yourself. But we need stricter checks to prevent the senseless tragedies that have been plaguing the United States in the past several years. I will also ban assault rifles, you don’t need this crap. If you are hunting with an assault rifle or any automatic weapon, you are just being a prick.




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Parenting/Pet Owning
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You need a license to be a parent. And a pet owner. Take the necessary classes, do the necessary research, prove that you are good enough to watch over a loved one/a living creature. If you have a child and don’t have this license, you have a year to take care of that otherwise the child will go to parents looking to adopt. Too many terrible parents in this country. I am going to end this when I’m president.


Vote Malespin.




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NFL
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I will merge the CFL and the NFL so we can improve Canada/America relations, and that way expand the league without a poor team having to go all the way to England. I really don’t want this to happen.



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Warfare
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No more soldiers in the Middle East. You need to remove them, all of them. That area has been fighting since before Jesus. We need to focus strictly on the silent war nobody is talking about: the Drug War happening in North Mexico. We need to send our troops to the border and take care of a situation that has gotten quite out of hand----and its been right under our noses.

Thousands have died, gun companies are secretly arming the drug lords and their followers, contributing to the mess. It will be a terrible day when the war spills over and starts affecting Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. In order to prevent this, our focus should strictly be in fixing, helping, and reviving north Mexico. You want people to stop “crossing the border?” Then try to help fix the country that we helped mess up in the first place…

Mexico is a beautiful country, full of beautiful people, beautiful history, and wonderful culture. They are a proud group, so if they are trying to leave the land they love, you know its for a big reason. The Drug War needs to end; we need to send more troops towards the border to try to calm the situation. There is another solution….




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Marijuana
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Legalize it. Everywhere. Tax it. Everywhere. Marijuana will increase the sales in art, movies, and especially, ESPECIALLY food. You want the economy to improve? Watch what marijuana can do, from the medical benefits to even becoming material used to make clothing. Just watch.

Vote Malespin.





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Gambling
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Legalize it. Everywhere. Tax the bejesus out of it, and watch the money fly. I can see a country that will make billions off of sports gambling, poker tournaments/leagues, fantasy sports and casinos scattered throughout. Now, each state will legalize it, but it will be limited to just a few select cities. That way the vices can be slightly contained…

Vote Malespin.





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Wi-Fi
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600 BILLION was spent in U.S. military. Vote for me, and I will take a quarter of that, and ensure that wi-fi will be fully available and free across all the major cities all over the nation. You’re welcome.





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Puerto Rico
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The United States made this beautiful island a mess after decades of neglect and lack of effort. I will fix this island and make it prosperous again.

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Education
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Standardized testing will be fully eliminated. College will be free the first two years, and will be dropped to affordable prices if you plan on pursing a college career. Universities need to start behaving like educational facilities as opposed to businesses trying to ring people dry. The nation will crumble unless we are better-educated.

Oh, and high schools need to offer classes about managing finances, common sense, and things you’ll have to deal with in the real world.







That’s about it.

Vote Malespin

The 2015 Rays' Missing Keys to Enter the Door of the Postseason

Welcome to the homestrech Tampa Bay Rays.



After being a couple innings shy of being right on the upper edge of the Wild Card standings, the Rays find themselves once again somewhere in the underneath the surprise-surprise Twins, the jaded Los Angeles Angels, the emerging Texas Rangers, and the bipolar Baltimore Orioles. Even though its four ballclubs that are better-built (with the exception of the Twins), the Rays are only 2.5 games back and have comeback history in its blood (They’ve pulled off bigger September miracles before). They also have the Twins, Orioles, and Yankees within the scheduling crosshairs, so they can definitely cover plenty of ground if they can manage to band together and win some games.

Now, the Rays technically should not be in this current position right now. They lost their GM, they lost their awesome manager (Any Joe Maddon doubters must be quiet now after seeing the Cubs’ incredible turnaround on Year One), and did lose a few players along the way. The Rays rank in the upper half on injured players and lost time to injuries. They are in a division with the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Orioles, offensive powerhouses that feed off of inexperienced pitching. The top American League teams have one thing in common: they destroy baseballs. The Rays are running an NL offense with small ball paving the way to their cluster of wins. The fact that they are in this position should make Rays fans proud and satisfied.



However, the Rays could be doing even better.



The close calls we keep losing are what kills us inside. Boxberger alone has cost the Rays 9 wins, and has blown several other games as well. The man has not been the same since the double intentional walk incident in South Side Chicago. The Rays are 2-10 in extra innings, and 21-22 in one-run games. If they would have won just half of their extra innings games and a few of those close matches we would be looking at them battling the Yankees/Blue Jays (depending on the week) in the Wild Card game. If the bullpen would just cling on to the leads that our starters have usually been dishing out, then we would be looking at a far better position right now.

Kevin Cash’s decision early in the season to never allow the opposing team to see the Rays’ starter a third time around was slightly revolutionary, slightly clever, and did help propel Tampa’s good start. But the situation gets complicated when the bullpen gets taxed, and the technique continues far deep into the season. His premature yanking of starters has been my biggest gripe of Cash, he has a rotation more than willing to dig deep, at least 7 innings. Chris Archer is one of the better pitchers this season, yet has been allowed to complete a game just once.

We need more from the starters, we need our backup to rest more often, not be utilized so much. Maybe even play with the cards and throw some starters to the bullpen. Matt Moore is coming back, why not shelf him to provide 3-4 good innings once in a while to allow for Boxberger, Geltz, Gomes and company to relax? Alex Colome is another decent pitcher that can survive more than just an inning. Him and Moore could potentially be a deadly middle-reliever combination. The Rays are 28th in quality starts, which means the bullpen has been utilized far beyond the norm, and really need some breathing space.

The offense is where we need to really pick up. 43 one-run games, 12 extra-inning games means when we separate, it’s never by too much. 24th in total bases, 29th in runs scored, 24th in batting average. The Rays have only won once when trailing after 8. These numbers are not pretty, no World Series contending team hits numbers this low. Our pitching has definitely kept us in, but now it’s time for the offense to rev up the pressure. The Rays are among the top 10 team in stolen bases---maybe it’s time to aim even higher. What they need to do is draw more walks, run the bases more often, make more sacrifices (19th in sacrifice hits), and quietly and slowly tack on the runs.With more runs will allow a longer leash from our starters, and more space for mistakes when the fatigued bullpen has to get involved.

We also need individual players to step up. Evan Longoria, sorry but you are my target. Longoria’s power numbers has been severely down (Just 13 homers so far in an “injury-free” season is slightly scary), but it’s his batting average I would like to see pick up. 270 is nothing to laugh at (career .271 hitter, .833 OPS), but in order for the offense to step up the leader and team MVP needs to rack up the numbers and get the team going. His home run, OPS, and RBI totals are far down from his early years. Maybe we’ve seen peak Longoria and it won’t come back, but I assure you if he manages to even slightly return to 2009-2011 form we will see more wins.

The 2015 Tampa Bay Rays are much better than we expected, playing in a division that is collectively playing much better than anticipated. Although it is a long way out of the woods, especially consider all that has been lost in the past 9 months, but rest-assured this franchise doesn’t quit, and will still make a deadly push. Even though the lack of free agency movement remains disgusting (I still cry about it from time to time), the Rays are still built and run decent enough to at the very most nab a Wild Card slot.

This organization has charted through rough waters in the past, and this insane Wild Card chase is no different. If the pitching can stop being so bottom-heavy (bullpen is clearly dying) and the offense can pick up the pace a smidgen, then we can see Tampa in playoff contention at this point next month.


P.S. The Rays are the only team yet to draw a million fans--while 11 teams have already hit 2 million. Some support for this team would be nice Tampa Bay....

Children of Men: 9/10

If you are an aspiring director, then this is your film to watch and take notes.

Children of Men is an exercise in precise and flawless filmmaking, from the positioning of the shots to the kinetic movement of the shots. Alfonso Curason takes a high-budget idea with a minimal budget (for its genre anyway) and manages to pierce together an intense relentless experience that pulls no punches, and practically throws you in the exact center of the action. In usual science fiction and action movies you are an observer from a distance; with Children of Men you practically become an unwilling participant. You can smell the chaos, feel the blood (and at some points see it spilled on the camera), and sense the grimness that swallows the decaying environment of England.

In one of the best-directed flicks in the past several decades, we follow an everyman (Clive Owen) get caught up in an extremely dangerous mission to transport an important woman out of the country during a time when children cannot be born—leading to panic and apocalyptic results. The cast is small but very effective, from the reliable Clive Owen to the always-entertaining Michael Caine in a small but poignant role. Not to knock the actors or the writing staff (which also includes Clive Owen), but the biggest strength of this movie are the visuals. We'll get to that soon.

Themes of immigration, faith, motherhood, and fate are mixed together in this hearty soup of a script that raises important questions, parallels important issues that have taken place in modern day society, and also dwells into religious tropes. There is a lot of beauty that looms under the shadows of extreme violence and mayhem that will keep you riveted and afraid for what happens next, even if some of the post-apocalyptic clichés pop up in the final act. Children of Men establishes the issues plaguing the society and the characters in the first act, and the film takes off like a lightning bolt starting from the first cleverly-staged action sequence.

This film belongs to Curason and Emmanuel Lubezki, the directing/cinematography duo that have worked well together before (Y Tu Mama Tambien) and since (the also-visually stimulating Gravity). Here they make beautiful dark music together, as they flawlessly and seamlessly shove the camera in the direct center of all the conflicts, and you watch the action and startling images emerge from all different angles as the scene unfolds and becomes lengthier. Why neither got Oscar wins (let alone nominations) remains a major travesty, and same goes with the editing. This was 2006's most impressive technical cinematic work---and don't anybody mention Pan's Labyrinth.

Children of Men is a dizzying action-packed journey worthy of multiple viewings, worthy of many awards that it inexplicably never won, and worthy of being one of the better science-fiction thrillers this entire generation. It is the complete package of a great soundtrack, slick editing, good script unveiled well by a wonderful cast, and then a directing effort that certifies Curason as among the best in the business. Dim the lights, rev up the sound, and prepare for a hell of a trip.

Straight Outta Compton: 8/10

This movie would not have been greenlit 15 years ago.


And this movie took a decade to finally receive the full backing it needed to fully produce the story behind the rap group that started it all.


Perfect timing too.


Straight Outta Compton a surprisingly powerful and deep film that looks into the trials, tribulations, successes, and failures of the three main men behind N.W.A.; a group that fueled a short-lived but powerful revolutionary run of success with its urban attitude, strong lyrics, and absolutely biting commentary on devastating realities that music had never dealt with up to that point. N.W.A. became notorious for bringing light to living in the deepest parts of California while dealing with a society that constantly makes it difficult for them to branch out. This film doesn't just highlight their beginnings and eventual rise to success, it also deals with the outcome of their decisions and what happens when the wrong people are mixed in.

Some have argued that the aftermath bogs down the movie, that the third act becomes a slight drag. But truth be told, no storm literally or figuratively is at its strongest in the aftermath, but at the point of impact. From the first tense scene on, Straight Outta Compton holds very little back in terms of the lyrical content, the violence, the drugs, and the disturbing environment they have to survive in as they fight for a way out. Gang members pleading for the next generation to stick to their books, cops destroying houses they believe might have drugs, and a systematic cycle of violence and grimness that comes with the impoverished life. The script gives light on the good, the bad, and the ugly part of representing the hood culture that N.W.A. managed to (slightly) escape with their bittersweet poetry.

Movies representing this lifestyle and the people in it hardly get a good budget and good production value to back them up. But thanks to the powerhouse moneymakers that Dr. Dre and Ice Cube have become, it is now a hell of a lot easier for them to tell their story: and they got a great writing cast, great production team, and a superb director (F. Gary Gary has Friday and Italian Job in his resume) to back them up. Back then you couldn't have dreamed of an N.W.A. movie containing great cinematography, wonderful editing, and fantastic musical score (outside the source material) to follow a talented young cast that emulates the men behind the group perfectly. The movie is sleek, crisp, and sounds better than most of your biggest blockbusters.

There is no scaling back the content and the lifestyles during Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Easy-E's rise to the top. Some of what you see is concerning and slightly paints some ugly on their personalities, and that's why the third act albeit not as energetic is required. Consequences are indeed dished out, people are lost, friendships and partnerships are tested, and devils left and right challenge the foundation and wellbeing of our main cast. The story is never pretty, whether they are buying a new house or losing it. This is why Straight Outta Compton succeeds as a film, very little sugarcoating while giving each character their good side as well as their dark side.

The sugarcoating does exist though. With Ice Cube and Dr. Dre producing, I'm sure there were some skeletons in their closet that were not going to be revealed; especially when it involves the N.W.A. tours, the nasty rap beefs that followed (back when rap beefs had some actual meat), and especially during the darkest days of Death Row Records (led by rap music villain Suge Knight). Reputation is key, and I'm sure that Cube and Dre want to avoid any further controversies as their market value remains strong. They are now businessmen far removed from the dirty days of mixing records and avoiding arrest for being black. But hey, it's their money, so it's their story.

Straight Outta Compton is a big budget biography that hits all the right notes, even though it doesn't aim to tell the entire story. But there's a lot that needs to be said, and plenty was unveiled within the 140 minutes of great acting, superb writing, and tight direction. It is a rags-to-riches story, except for the fact that the rags followed them long after the riches came pouring in. If you think it's just a simple movie glamorizing the gangster life then you aren't seeing this with an open mind and both eyes open. The story took a while to be displayed on screen, but thankfully the moment has finally come, and it definitely doesn't disappoint.

The Top 7 Marvel Cinematic Universe Films

Phase 2 of Marvel is finally complete, billions of dollars and several successful movies later. Marvel has come a long way from nearly going bankrupt and ruining everything that they had built. They were on some positive momentum before Disney came in and practically shifted the entire focus of the enterprise. Now it’s become synonymous with the film industry, the gaming industry, and the entertainment industry altogether. Marvel is a powerhouse and in nearly full control of its destiny. Now, we are going to take a look back at all the films in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe and list which ones are the best and most impactful.

Without glossing too much, one has to be amazed at what Disney has pulled off: a purely unthinkable experiment of making yearly films and managing to connect each and every single one of them through plot, characters, cameos, and other details. This has revolutionized the film and even television industry, as now we see IPs and franchises blending together far more often than before. So even if a movie is slightly mediocre (Iron Man 2), it’s still essential viewing because it will provide hints to what is coming up.

Marvel can’t be beat, not for a long time. And even with rising competition (DC) and potential sabotaging of its IPs (Fox’s Fantastic Four) the brand will remain one of the most successful in all of entertainment. And here are Marvel’s 7 best films in the current Universe.





#7: Avengers: Age of Ultron

This movie went through a few obvious issues involving pace, length, content, and overall tone as Disney/Marvel and Joss Whedon were definitely seeing different ideas with the highly-anticipated sequel. Adding to the behind-the-scenes issue is that Marvel is running out of the big popular names to throw into the universe. With Spider-Man and X-Men not available, and even the concept of Mutants not allowed, Age of Ultron is proof that Marvel can really use some of the franchises that have been handed to other film companies way before Disney took over.

Despite all the edits from Disney, we still have a very entertaining film that delivers plenty of humor, plenty of fun, plenty of action, even if it lacks an edge and lacks the tension and suspense that could have gotten the audience’s attention more in the final act. It’s well-directed, well-paced, and really doesn’t make you squirm, but it does slightly leave you empty and asking for more.





#6: Iron Man 3

The silent lesson learned from here is to never give the franchise to someone that doesn’t really care much about it. Shane Black has the experience, has the skill set, but really doesn’t have the required love to give Iron Man the right cohesive story to continue the franchise. Instead he decides to twist and turn some of the Iron Man credentials like the strength of the suits and of course his biggest enemy the Mandarin. Why Marvel let this script slide remains a mystery, they perhaps assumed that all the action and rather dark turn would overcome our absolute rage towards the twist reveal.

This issue aside, Iron Man 3 is still very engaging and quite grounded, as it humanizes Tony Stark and does a great job following up on the events of The Avengers. Plenty of thrills, lots of humor, its pure blockbuster entertainment, with a slight comic book edge. Even in the midst of all the blasphemy, there’s still plenty to watch and enjoy.




#5: Guardians of the Galaxy

The totally unexpected global smash of 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy is a cinematic treat full of heart, soul, humor, action, surprises, and characters to root for. From the emotional beginning to the cheeky finale, Guardians never lets go, and refuses to carry the now-predictable tropes of origin stories in comic book movies. It’s the cool kid in the class of Marvel movies, as it doesn’t follow many rules, doesn’t lay out a predictable path, and has a unique look and feel that separates it from your average blockbuster.

The cast is excellent, even if Vin Diesel probably has the easiest role in the history of film. This made Chris Pratt a star, and Zoe Saldana a sci-fi queen, and ushered in a new era of fans to some 70s/80s classics. Unlike most of our heroes that have been put through the ringer time and time again, I’m actually looking forward to the sequel, to see just what else the Guardians can run into.





#4: The Avengers

Some can argue that the Marvel Cinematic Universe peaks here, and will never hit this plateau again. I went to the midnight premiere, and it was such an immersive experience. I went to the sequel’s premiere, and it didn’t have the same energy. The uniting of our heroes the first time is a unique and spellbinding experience, and luckily for all of us it definitely did not disappoint. Not only were all the heroes entertaining and with their own moments to shine, we had a sinister villain to counter the gang with Loki (always played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston).

A perfect mesh of action and comedy, The Avengers stays very true to the comics that inspired it, and gives us so much content that no Marvel fan will walk away dissatisfied. A film of this caliber and this momentum had not been done before, and the world of cinema will never be the same after it struck gold in terms of money, and in terms of viewership appeal. Trust me, the success, peak starpower, and impact of The Avengers will never happen again. It also has the best scene in the history of Marvel filmmaking (Loki vs. Hulk).





#3: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

There are certain ways to shake up a franchise or a series without losing some of its identity. Iron Man 3’s twists and turns defied the brand quite a bit, which turned off some people. The Winter Soldier however shook the foundation of the Cinematic Universe to its core as the final act would create a ripple effect that touches upon nearly movie from here on out. It would also lay out the foundation for the entire next phase of the Marvel films. If that’s not enough to shove this movie way up the list, then let’s mention the flawless action directing and editing that would focus less on special effects and far more on clever practical effects and excellent stuntwork.

The Winter Soldier’s conflict would be the most realistic and most relatable as it involves a modern world with evolving technology and the ever-growing danger that comes with trying to use it to combat evil. The political and sociological taint that comes with the relentless action and immense tension would make this the best of the Marvel sequels without a doubt. It does what all blockbuster sequels need to learn to do: raise the stakes, improve the villain, don’t be afraid to improve the hero, increase the content and scope, and lastly don’t be afraid to throw in a few surprises that spike the formula of the original. Empire Strikes Back was the first to do this successfully, and one can argue that Winter Soldier is the Empire of the MCU.






#2: Ant-Man

So let's get this out of the way: Ant-Man as a superhero is nowhere near as compelling as Iron Man, Wolverine, or even Black Widow. But thanks to Edgar Wright's original vision, with the assisting humor of Paul Rudd and Adam McKay we have a heavily-character driven film full of humor, soul, and then a great third act to wrap it all up.

Ranking Ant-Man this high might seem controversial and baffling, but consider this: it has the no-rules attitude of Guardians, the likability factor of Iron Man, some deep family themes that seep into your better Disney movies, and combine that with a great blend of thrills, comic book espionage, and comedy that resonates through the entire flick. There is hardly a dull moment as the superb cast delivers quite a gem that emerged from a project with minimal anticipation and lots of production hell. Yes it’s not as serious as your usual Marvel and DC fare, but for sheer movie-watching value this one ranks way up there.









#1: Iron Man

It is hard to dethrone the original that starts it all. Iron Man created the blueprint for all to follow, and it had the absolute least amount of restriction in the MCU since it was the first. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Iron Man was nothing short of perfect and even Oscar-worthy. The origin story here never feels like its dragging in the mud; a lot happens within the two hours and we see a full transformation of Tony Stark and he leaves us practically begging for more long after the surprising final bit of dialogue.

Much like how Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter doesn’t get enough credit for laying the foundation of what the franchise should look like, Iron Man deserves more credit as to how Marvel movies should look and sound. All the tropes are here: strong main characters, villain that’s connected, plenty of one-liners, great special effects, plenty of action, nice easter eggs, strong female characters, a few surprises, and few clues as to where the franchise is heading next. Iron Man remains the best, because it doesn’t have the upcoming lineup to prevent it from going truly off the rails. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between the viewers and the Marvel lineup.

Ant-Man: 9/10

In the midst of all the behind-the-scenes chaos, what we see here is quite possibly Marvel's best film since the original Iron Man. Containing the extremely-loose approach of the Phase 1 Marvel flicks, the delightful quirks and details from Edgar Wright's script, and the carefree fun of Paul Rudd (Role Models) and Adam McKay (Will Ferrell's best work), Ant-Man is comic book brilliance that substitutes style for wonderful characters and plenty of content to chew at. Of course let's not forget the slew of Marvel surprises that we honestly didn't see enough of in Age of Ultron. Thanks to the strict organized approach from Disney, it is safe to say that Marvel is still leagues ahead of the competition in terms of comic book and summer blockbuster films.

The staff is incredible, and must have made the director's job quite easy. Starting with the always-reliable Paul Rudd and the silently-efficient Evangeline Lilly, we have an excellent entourage bringing what is a relatively unknown comic book to life. Rounding out the staff is the very serious and engaging Michael Douglas, an unexpected addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The themes presented in Ant-Man are a bit more personal than your usual blockbuster fare, with plots involving redemption, forgiveness, and father/sibling relationships all blending in together---and this requires better performances from even your villains. From our villain (Corey Stoll bringing some depth to our mad scientist) to our father figure right down to the partner-in-crime (Michael Pena, also excellent) Ant-Man boasts one of the strongest lineups in all of 2015. Honestly though, what's with Disney and fathers?

Usually creative differences from the writing squadron in the midst of filming will result in mixed content throughout the finished product. Disney's very own Brave is one of the better recent examples, with the first and second half of the movie being extremely different in tone, pace, and even character. Quite miraculously, you don't get this sensation in Ant-Man, from the first act origin story right down to the exciting climax that delivers enough action to cover the extensive prologue. It has obvious touches of Edgar Wright's quick-paced humor and character depth, but has Rudd's clever subtle comic timing and McKay's humorous mayhem. A four-team staff complied the script, and what could have been a disaster actually results in a complete screenplay with a little bit of everything: humor, heart, action, and tons of connections to other Marvel properties.

Peyton Reed has a resume that could raise some eyebrows (sneaky-fun Bring it On, could-be-better Yes Man), but doesn't disappoint here. Although he has far less action to work with, he manages to keep Ant-Man fun, grounded, and simple. It has its share of emotion, but it never drags too far or mucks up the blockbuster glee. He treats it like a heist film, with unique circumstances. Under the hook/line/sinker approach, the biggest sequence is saved for last and will keep you on your toes, while also laughing along the way thanks to the sprinkles of humor flung in for good measure.

Similar to the equally-unique Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man is enjoyable because it never feels like its holding back any punches to save for the next (obviously going to happen) installment. Unlike Age of Ultron and Thor: The Dark World, it feels like a complete story, and will keep you asking for more---especially after the post-credits sequences. It fires on all cylinders with the permission of Marvel and the Disney Marketing Machine, and despite not having the previous popularity credentials of a Batman or a Spider-Man, Ant-Man leaves a nice footprint in the cinematic comic book universe. Don't let the slightly campy outlook of Ant-Man fool you, this is a seriously entertaining picture worth a thousand words of praise.

The 20 Greatest Nintendo Games Ever Made (For Now)

Unfortunately, the President of Nintendo has passed away. Satoru Iwata has passed away far too young after a silent battle against his body. And with him disappearing from our lives he leaves behind a delightful legacy with the Nintendo company----a company that has given us a healthy blend of spectacular memories, beautiful games, and unfortunately some frustrating decisions. He wasn’t just a boss, he was a gamer that was in love with the industry and the company that he helped rise to the top. Before becoming the president he was also a producer, a developer, and a major contributor. Lastly, he did all this with a great smile, plenty of optimism, and nothing but love for his fans. He will be sorely missed, and Nintendo will definitely not be the same after his untimely departure.

What Nintendo has to do should be saved for another day, for today and for the next several days we should be honoring his legacy and the legacy of the company he called home for decades. In his honor, I have created my personal list of the 20 greatest Nintendo games ever developed. Third-party games will be exempt from this list as my 20 games will be those graced with the hands of Nintendo (and their partners), and the minds of the creative staff behind it. Take care Iwata, see you someday.



Honorable Mentions:

1) Earthbound
This game was deeper than anybody could have imagined, funnier than expected, and a lot more clever and unique than the average RPG when released back in the 90s. Even though it never resonated with an American audience and the franchise ultimately remained in Japan, the cult following has remained intense, and transformed Ness and his friends from forgotten characters into cult heroes---of course with Smash Brothers helping their legacy.

2) Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow
This game jump-started the second biggest franchise in all of gaming (trailing only Super Mario of course). This RPG was an advanced version of rock/paper/scissors that was easy to learn, easy to pick up, and a task to master. It was unlike anything we had ever seen before, similar to when the original Super Mario Bros. hit the NES. It would unite the handheld gaming community closer than ever, and it would give the Nintendo Game Boy even more years in game stores everywhere. Although the formula has been improved upon there is no denying the power of the original.

3) Donkey Kong Country
1994 was the year that killed the Sega Genesis, as the SNES saw Super Metroid, Mega Man X, Final Fantasy VI, Super Punch Out, and this gem. Donkey Kong Country’s mammoth sales would propel Super Nintendo to new financial heights and would separate itself from the Genesis once and for all. The graphics were the best the 16-bit era had ever seen (and hold up quite well today), the levels were creative, the music was groundbreaking, and you just can’t beat the killer multi-player that would allow a second person to join in on the fun.

4) Perfect Dark
The first major mature title made at least partially by Nintendo, Perfect Dark is a gritty, intense, groundbreaking, and spellbinding gem that would change the FPS genre and would alter the attitude Nintendo had towards mature games in general. Although it was released at a bad time and could never quite reach the success it deserved, Perfect Dark remains more than just a simple memory in the N64 days, it’s one of the best games we’ve seen this millennium and there have been very, very few FPS that has been able to match it. Laptop gun defeats all.

5) New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Although it has the Wii branding in it, which has dipped a bit in reputation in the past few years, this game would revolutionize the 2-D Mario franchise by allowing 4 people to contribute to the mayhem. It would be a great mix of platforming fun and friendship-destroying gameplay. The game was vibrant and colorful, and was mainsteam-appealing enough to sell over 30 million copies—a plateau that has been matched by very few games---and those games needed to be released on multiple systems to hit that number. It won’t be on many all-time greatest lists, but deserves major points for being a game with very, very few flaws.





#20: Goldeneye 007
System: Nintendo 64


One of the best reasons why even though the N64 got handedly defeated by the Playstation it was the superior system, especially on the multi-player front. Under limited marketing exposure, Goldeneye emerged to become a surprise smash hit that went beyond the delays and slipping reputation of Nintendo. The graphics may not have been the best but it was such a massive game with so many levels, surprises, secrets, and multi-player options this Rareware gem would keep you entertained for months. This was the perfect Friday Night game of the 90s, allowing you to engage in tight shootouts with your friends, leading to the mayhem we wouldn’t witness until Halo 2 became online-friendly. The N64’s Z-trigger remains the best button in the history of the FPS genre as it closest resembles the trigger of a gun because of its handle-placement. Throw in the James Bond license, great soundtrack, and great scope and you have yourself one heck of a game.




#19: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
System: Super Nintendo


The best aspect of this game isn’t just the fun and engaging quest, but the hundreds of fun tiny secrets sprinkled throughout. From the very beginning right down to the final boss (well, one of the two “final” bosses) Super Mario RPG takes us on an extremely wild ride through all types of different terrain, different environments, and encounters with all types of characters that we hadn’t seen in the franchise before. In one of the rare partnerships Nintendo agreed to, Square Soft at its peak gave us a beautiful adventure and gave Super Mario and its universe a full personality. Criminally underrated (doesn’t help that Europe didn’t experience this game until a decade after), this is easily one of Square’s finest efforts. And then there’s Geno…




#18: F-Zero GX
System: Nintendo Gamecube


The greatest futuristic racing game of all-time (and the competition is not even close), this was another rare example of a Nintendo partnership that worked, and didn’t result in disaster (unless you want to discuss sales). The game was fast, furious, intense, extremely difficult, and overall just a pure joy in every technical aspect. The Gamecube was secretly more powerful than the Xbox and PS2 and although we didn’t see many examples of it, F-Zero GX was one of those cases in which you weren’t sure if it could survive on other hardware. This game was pushing the franchise in the right direction, and it’s a pure shame that we haven’t seen more from this series in recent years----or a darn remake on the WiiU.





#17: Wario Ware Inc.: Mega Microgames
System: Game Boy Advance


Predating the mobile gaming market, Wario Ware was a fast-paced, addicting game with literally hundreds of tiny games to complete in mere seconds and the farther you progress the tougher it becomes. Picture the endless addiction of Tetris and combine it with the bizarre and hilarious stylings of the Wario franchise (also dormant in recent times). The game was not only fun, it was very innovative and would provide dozens of unique ideas that would be used by other Nintendo games and other games that you see in phones and tablets everywhere. It’s the quintessential pick-up-and-play game of the Game Boy Advance.




#16: Wario Land II
System: Nintendo Game Boy


I’ve always marveled at the creativity of the Nintendo squad as they cranked out incredible games and managed to fit them into the tiny Game Boy cartridges. This is what made the Game Boy survive the better-looking Game Gear, the sheer entourage and quality of games. Wario Land II is one of the defining examples, as it had over 50 levels, dozens of secret passages, secret levels, mini-games, and also had the very innovative technique of providing a challenge even though you couldn’t actually die in the entire game. It was sheer platforming perfection, and a fun game to witness as well.




#15: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
System: Nintendo Game Boy


Continuing the Game Boy tangent, we have what we thought was an impossibility back in the early 90s---a great handheld Zelda adventure that managed to preserve the mystique, character, and absolute fun of the console variations. It’s not a remake or a re-imagining either, it’s a totally new adventure that added to the mystery if the Zelda timeline. The dungeons are here, the arsenal of weapons is here, and best of all Link doesn’t lose an ounce of edge on the Game Boy. Link’s Awakening is one of the best adventure games out there---console or handheld.




#14: Tetris
System: Nintendo Game Boy


There are dozens of different versions of Tetris on all types of platforms, phones, tablets, computers, etc. The Game Boy version is the best one, hands-down. All the Tetris games are addicting, but this one is the most difficult, the least forgiving, and the most rewarding. It only displays one upcoming block as the other one is falling, it wastes no time in picking up speed when you are proven, and best of all it doesn’t complicate the simple recipe in puzzle gaming. There is no flaw in Tetris, it was the perfect launch title to coincide with the Game Boy and prove that gaming can survive when the television is turned off. Very odd that the sheer fun of this Tetris has not been duplicated.




#13: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
System: Super Nintendo


Donkey Kong Country may have been the one to put Rareware on the map, but this game was the beginning of Peak Rareware taking form. Virtually improving upon every facet of the original, Diddy’s Kong Quest was bigger, badder, more intense, more entertaining, more secret-laden, and just the cooler game from start to finish. The soundtrack was perfect, the graphics were astounding, and the level design was absolutely spellbinding. Whether battling pirates or riding roller coasters, or encountering haunted houses, this game never felt stale, never felt repetitive, and remains a joy long after you beat it.




#12: Mario Kart 64
System: Nintendo 64


The greatest arcade racing game you’ll ever play, bar none. The greatest Mario Kart game ever, bar none. Sure the single-player aspects may have been improved upon in the years following this 1996 masterpiece, but the course design was perfect here. The variety of tracks was in full force here, from the item-friendly Moo Moo Farm to the stamina-testing Wario Stadium. And then, there’s the friendship-destroying multi-player mode which is the greatest example of simplicity equaling perfection. Battle Mode: four levels, full items, three balloons. Friday Night: Complete. Mario Kart 64 may not be tops in quantity (Mario Kart 8 definitely offers a lot), but it doesn’t get much better than this in terms of quality.



#11: Super Mario Galaxy
System: Nintendo Wii


Twilight Princess was a great game overall, but the fans were extremely upset that Nintendo had not done enough to take the franchise to the next level in terms of overall presentation. Nintendo’s reply was sending Super Mario to the next major upgrade. The game literally sent Mario out of this world as it provided a spectacular display of graphics, unparalleled platform gameplay, and a beautiful soundtrack that ranks up there with the best of John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Whatever limitations the Wii provided the production team was able to overcome by stretching the hardware to the absolute limit and gave us an experience that no platformer from the competing systems could come close to providing. Although the sequel was equally as impressive, it didn’t utilize the outer space feel and atmosphere of the original quite as much.






#10: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
System: Nintendo 64


Starting out the top 10 is a game that provides a shade of darkness that shook the gaming industry, especially amongst the Nintendo fans that aren’t used to seeing such mature and gothic content from the company. Despite the shade that hounds this game, Majora’s Mask is by far the most compelling storyline in the Zelda franchise and is one of the most challenging and engaging games you’ll ever play. With an intriguing 3-day premise (that results in the end of the world, of course) that makes every second crucial, this Zelda game has you roaming around on a mission, limiting the time you spend exploring, leading to buzzer-beater boss battles, dozens of secrets and side-quests, and a dreary sense of gloom and doom that you don’t get from the typical game. The eternal helpless feeling you get while playing makes for a jarring yet entertaining experience that remains unmatched by any game out there. Its daring, it’s slightly controversial, and overall beautifully dark.




#9: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
System: Super Nintendo


From the darkness to the light, Yoshi’s Island is a joyous package of cheery graphics that mask over some hardcore platforming gameplay that tests your skills many, many times. Super Mario World 2 is the first of the (actual) Mario games (a.k.a. Mario Bros. 2 US doesn’t qualify) to buck the normal trend of Mario being the hero as he instead has to play second-banana to the hyper, agile, and hungry Yoshi. Taking a page from the forgotten Super Mario Land, Yoshi’s Island doesn’t just have you rely on two feet and jumping; you’ll become a submarine, an airplane, a professional skier among other things. The atmosphere and music is very breezy and easy-going, yet the gameplay is anything but. Very challenging but very rewarding, Yoshi’s Island is hands-down among the best games of the 90s.




#8: Metroid Prime
System: Nintendo Gamecube


Recently I had announced that the last time Nintendo had the biggest and baddest game in the market was in 2002 with the release of this shockingly incredible experience. One of the bright spots in Gamecube’s muddled life, Metroid Prime was a flawless transition for the Metroid saga as it went from 2-D adventure to 3-D action/adventure/horror that maintains the feel, isolation, and exploration habits of the classics that preceded it. From top to bottom the game was perfect: graphics, presentation, challenge, musical score, nods to previous games, and the immersive storyline that dwells deeper depending on how far you personally want to pursue it. This game is how to tell a story without taking your hand and guiding you through it. Very few modern games have yet to match the intensity of Prime.




#7: Super Smash Brothers Melee
System: Nintendo Gamecube


The best Gamecube game of all-time, and also the greatest fighting game of all-time. Melee is the perfect sequel, improving upon the original in literally every single category, and then stepping up the gameplay to the next level by offering a hypersensitive complex physics system within the fighting that hardcore gamers to this day are still mastering (and to an extent manipulating). Unlike any other fighter out there, this game is perfect as a single-player campaign, as a multi-player partyfest, and lastly as a legit serious brawler amongst competitive gamers. And unlike any other fighter, your strategy in winning the fight alters heavily depending on who you fight (character-wise), where you fight, and what items are on the field. The latter sequels are all impressive (the horrifically-titled Smash for WiiU is a step in the right direction) but Melee’s addicting blend of hardcore and casual gameplay remains unmatched.





#6: Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
System: Nintendo Game Boy


Yes, we have seen many installments since this 2000 fireball of RPG mayhem, but none have matched the extensive leap forward that this game took to push the franchise into unbelievable heights. The truth is, you couldn’t fit anything else into this game---it took every ounce of memory imaginable to inhabit the dozens of locales, the 16 badges, the extensive story mode, and the sheer limitless replay value involving gambling, breeding, collecting, and just fighting your way to the top. Gold/Silver is Pokemon Red/Blue on steroids, no other way to accurately describe it. No Pokemon game since has offered 16 badges, which is confusing and rather inexcusable. The presentation and art design of the monsters is at its peak here, as you get all the originals and a new slew of them that aren’t pushovers either. One of the best RPGs you’ll ever play, this is Pokemon at its finest, and despite the continuing success they have yet to make a game as ballsy, as tough, and as gigantic as this one.






#5: Super Mario World
System: Super Nintendo


Super Mario is the star of many, many amazing platform games. They range from fun, to groundbreaking, to just plain perfect. Super Mario World however is the pinnacle of 2-D platforming, and remains the blueprint for which nearly platform game since has followed. Some may prefer the innovative and creative stylings o0f Super Mario Bros. 3, but in my eyes Mario World has the better level-design, much more freedom and space to roam, better secrets, better soundtrack, and a far superior presentation of how the Mario world looks and feels. It has the perfect speed of a platformer, the perfect mix of challenge and accessibility that you need in simple-concept games like this, and Mario World is practically the edited, completed, and improved version of the original Mario Bros. game.

The art of Mario World is what has allowed this game to age quite gracefully, even looking fine when compared to the crisper-yet-blander New Super Mario Bros. franchise. It would take 3 years before we saw a game look as good as Mario World, it would take even longer before we see a platformer outperform this game. Super Mario World is perfect, and will remain the perfect introduction for anyone that wants to experience the magic and majestic wonder of video games.



#4: Super Metroid
System: Super Nintendo


The best way to enjoy this game is with all the lights off, and the sound turned to the maximum. Super Metroid is more than just a superb action/adventure/exploration hybrid, its more than just a gritty sequel to a forgotten Game Boy game, it is an experience that gamers just had not faced from any title up to that point. The game has a thin story, an unforgiving scheme which forces you to maneuver around to progress further, and basically a gigantic level that gets larger and larger as you become more and more powerful. Super Metroid is a perfectly executed exercise in telling a great story through a different technique—and one of the purest forms of the gamer receiving full control as to how the game is going to pace and play out.

No Genesis game came even close to matching the quality of this dark masterpiece. From the action-packed introduction to the subtle horror that resonates throughout, right down to the shocking finale, Super Metroid is just as engaging and heart-pounding as your best of science fiction movies. Sadly though it fell underneath an avalanche of beloved 1994 games like Donkey Kong Country and it wasn’t able to reach the success it deserves. Although there aren’t as many gamers that got to experience this first-hand, it’s nearly an impossibility to find someone that wasn’t blown away by Samus’ best adventure.




#3: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
System: Super Nintendo


Zelda has an incredible appeal that has gamers and even non-gamers hooked to the storyline and the myths that are associated with the legacy. However the franchise really didn’t go off the rails in success, mystery, intrigue, and lasting impact until Link to the Past arrived in stores and changed absolutely everything. Link to the Past catapulted the Zelda franchise into the heights of Nintendo fandom as it delivered the best experience you could find in early 90s gaming.

Boasting a memorable soundtrack, incredible art design, tons of action, even more exploration and secrets, and finally a storyline that started to intertwine all the previous games together (which back in 1990 was something you really didn’t see often in gaming), Link to the Past is one of those games that could not be improved upon at all, they fired on all cylinders and succeeded in all fronts. You can spend hours just roaming the overworld without actually accomplishing anything. And then when you think the game is about over, there is an entire second half of the game to go through. The dark/light world concept might be a cliché now, but Link to the Past was the first major game to pull this off, especially impressive considering the limited memory space. Link to the Past would be the biggest game in the gaming world, and this honor would remain until Chrono Trigger years later.

Just like Super Metroid, it’s impossible to find someone that is against this cartridge of pure joy. And just like Super Metroid, this game is considered to be the best ever made by a nice legion of gamers. Although it’s not #1 in my book, I am more than willing to accept its placement as the absolute best in other lists. I will not oppose it at all. If you are a lover of video games and have not played this, then you really haven’t truly lived yet. The Zelda franchise has survived years of inactivity, curious decisions, and ho-hum recent games (Skyward Sword, I’m looking at you. Link Between Worlds, why couldn’t you be a WiiU game??!!?) because when the franchise hits the high notes, everybody wins.




#2: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
System: Nintendo 64


My list changes constantly, switching between Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. Today, Ocarina gets the nod because of its seismic impact on the gaming industry, the massive impact on the way we view Zelda, and because it would alter Nintendo, Zelda, and the way games are released for generations to come. Ocarina of Time was THE game back in 1998, you remember where you were when you bought the game, first read about the game in Nintendo Power, and the first time you stepped into Hyrule. Even though its delays hampered the N64 and prevented it from overcoming the Playstation, for several months Nintendo had THE game to buy, THE game to play, and THE game that would shape the rest of the 90s.

Few games create such an impression immediately upon release. The transition from 2-D to 3-D was absolutely perfect, as they managed to re-create the art style and unique look of Zelda without sacrificing anything. Besides Navi, I really have no reason to criticize this game. While the industry has indeed progressed much further from Ocarina, there is no denying that without this game we wouldn’t have most of the tropes and gamplay elements we see today. The game gives you so much: dungeons, secrets, dozens of characters to interact with, dozens of bosses to fight, a great story, a menacing villain, an overworld that takes an eternity to fully explore, several surprises, and just so much to do.

7 million copies were sold back in the N64 days, which doesn’t even make it the best-selling game of the fifth generation. However, nearly every person that was a gamer around the time period can claim they owned or played this game in its entirety. It shows the strength of Ocarina, it brought gamers together, it was passed on from person to person thanks to sheer word-of-mouth. Like baseball’s 27 Yankees, football’s 85 Bears, or basketball’s Michael Jordan Bulls, Ocarina of Time is synonymous with excellence in its field. Say what you will about how dated it might be today, back then this game was something truly magical. The franchise owes its current success because of Ocarina.









#1: Super Mario 64
System: Nintendo 64


I still have a glaring soft spot for this game. Super Mario 64 is the pinnacle, the peak, the ultimate example of Nintendo magic. It was revolutionary and extremely fun at the same time. It has dozens of gameplay elements still being used today. It manages to take the platform genre and intertwine elements of action, adventure, and even some exploration (100 coins son!) and childish horror (That haunted house delivered some chills) to create a wholesome experience that we had never seen before 1996 and haven’t seen often since.

Super Mario 64 is perfection in every category out there. The graphics were top-notch, with a colorful art design to compliment the vast array of worlds. There is still no better-controlling game than Mario 64, as Super Mario himself had over 30 different moves that you can perform from the very beginning----no Mario game since has been able to diversify his moveset so nicely. The soundtrack is flawless and very diverse; from the upbeat opening level theme to the soothing sounds of the ocean levels. Although Super Mario 64 isn’t extremely challenging, there is plenty to explore and find, including entire levels you might skip if you don’t look hard enough.

Overall, Super Mario 64 shaped gaming, improved it, and set the bar very high for others to try to match. Up to this day, in 2015, I can only name a handful of games as wholesome as Mario 64. Even the current 3-D Mario games don’t quite have the exploration and amount of space contained in this N64 masterpiece. Whether the controls became more restrictive (Sunshine, Galaxy) or the amount of room to search was condensed (Galaxy 2, New Mario Bros. series), no platformer can quite match the agility of this game. Even later N64 games like Goldeneye, Mario Kart, and Ocarina of Time are influenced by the freedom of Mario’s first 3-D adventure.

I still stand by the fact that this is Mario’s best adventure, and Nintendo’s all-time greatest game. Not saying this can’t be topped, but what I am saying is that it hasn’t happened yet, for whatever reason. No list is complete without Mario 64, and I am more than happy to make it #1.

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R.I.P. Iwata. You will be missed.