the net raiders

I bumped this top list to 11 because 10 just wasn’t loud enough? Spinal Tap, anyone? Ah anyways, this has hands down been the strongest downloadable content season that any of the three consoles has seen to date. Fat Princess on the PlayStation Network, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time for Xbox Live. The list can go on.Microsoft is even releasing the latest summer downloadable games in a giant pack for $55. Needless to say, refurbishing and revamping older games for a new market with such an accessable audience (downloadable with the click of the button, duh) has become an amazing phenomenon which is giving veteran gamers like myself a second crack at some of the best titles of our childhood. Also this has given way to some of the best games for all systems with smaller development teams having a chance to tackle the same market as the larger companies. And come to think of it, I have just about as many downloaded games on my Xbox from the Live network, as I have games I purchased at the store. And what is even more fasinating to me is how Castle Crashers is the most played game on my console, and is an instant party pleaser opposed to stronger titles like Halo and Gears of War.

However, this is less about the later than it is about the games that could be brought back to life by the power of smart licensing purchases, and wise marketing teams. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo… this is for you guys. Read carefully, as I have comprised a list of, what I consider to be, the best games to be resurrected for this next gen market. As for the rest of you, this is MY list, so please don’t take offense if your favorite game doesn’t make it. If you have some that deserve to make it, then by all means leave me a comment. But I promise you that I know what I am talking about. Most of these are obscure games, mostly arcade, that for some reason or another just disappeared into to a puff of illogical dust whiled we were pumping quarter after quarter into their coin slots. But the point is, most of the games I have been downloading have been worth more to me than most of the crap that is being released for $60 dollars a pop!

So that being said, let’s start the list!

11. Diablo – Blizzard Entertianment

Back from the trenches of the mid ninties, comes a franchise very few haven’t heard of. Diablo was the start of an action rpg hybrid that wasted countless hours for kids across the world. The point and click interface, 3 classes, and completely random dungeons was enough to make you want to slice your way to hell and back… literally. So why the hell would this be a good idea on the console? Because it already was. Way back when, it was ported to the playstation, and while it was a game I had played a thousand times, it was actually translated rather nicely with the controls, as my buddy and I would pull all nighters hacking down toward the big D himself. It wasn’t perfect, but for some odd reason, it was fun. And I think that very reason would have to be my buddy sitting there right next to me without being a computer and a modem away. Something like this is VERY possible, and I would love to see a 4 player setup that didn’t involve copious amounts of duping and god mode hacks. Also this gave way to amazing games like Castle Crashers, so it would be great to bring Diablo back, load up my sorcerer and teach these new school kids a thing or two.

10. Sunset Riders – Konami

Call this one a guilty pleasure of mine, but back in the day when you actually rented games from “video stores,” Sunset riders was a constant go to, and worth all 3 bucks. Little did I know that this game was originally in the arcade, and even had two more characters that I was jipped out of when I would rent the Genesis version. They even had DOUBLE SHOTGUNS with rapid fire. While I don’t recall anything so advanced in my history classes, I never knew that a history lesson so distorted could feel so right as I blasted my way though level after level of evil desperado’s just to get a few smooches from recently rescued [hookers] call girls and collect some bounty. A four player button mash fest like Sunset riders is exactly what the doctor ordered, and naturally a great addition to any of these console networks. Sunset riders was more excitement than a snake in your boot.

9. Desert Assault/Thunder Zone – Data East

The obscurity of this one is enough to make people move on to #8, but for those of you who lurked in the arcades eventually sunk a dollar or two in this brutal action shooter. A game based heavily on Operation Desert Storm, Desert Assault follows the mission of 4 commandos as they save “The Ambassador,” just to uncover, and deflect a nuclear and biological disaster in the process. All in a days work just to get chased by a shark at the end of the game. But worth every quarter I had, and a few good laughs with my friends as we blasted generic middle eastern stereo types with completely unrealistic weapons. Unfortunately Data East died only 6 years ago, but hopefully someone can save this game from falling into obscurity. And hey, if that doesn’t work, then MAME is always a good option…

8.WipeOut -Psygnosis

If you ever saw the movie Hackers, then you would know a thing or two about Wipeout for Sega Saturn and Playstation. Not only was this game an amazing futuristic racer, but it also had some of the best techno music for it’s time. It even went on to breed a short series of soundtracks. The game was amazing with it’s futuristic weaponry and race tracks in the not so far off distopeon future. Think of it as a less cheesy version of Mario Kart. My friends and I used to play this religiously, and it would be great to bring this one back from the dead as a downloadable game, just so I can remind all of them I still hold the best record for the first track. (45 second baby!)

7. Final Fantasy Tactics – SquareSoft

Now that Square(Enix) is batting for the Microsoft team, I don’t get why this amazing game couldn’t be boiled down into a download. Anyone who owned a Playstation, eventually came across this game. And I am yet to meet a person who didn’t enjoy it. Building up Ramza’s rag tag crew of customizable soldiers, and then taking them to the battlefield was just to much fun. Summoners For-The-Win. Seeing as how it was re-released for the PSP, it only makes me wonder why this couldn’t be downloaded on one of the major three consoles. All systems have the hardware powerful enough to make this happen. It’s not like this game is sporting any serious 3d action. Add in some multiplayer features like character and item trades, and you have yourself occupied for hours on end with a download worthy of the $12.

6. Panzer Dragoon Saga – Sonic Team (Sega)

Being easily one of the best, rarest, and thus most coveted games in the Saturn arsenal, it makes me wonder why Sega doesn’t dust off this rare amazing classic and allow it for download. I am writing this under the assumption that most people know what the Panzer Dragoon series was all about. For a quick recap, it was a semi-rail shooter in which you ride a dragon who shoots lasers, and you ride said dragon whilst shooting your gun. Dragons, and guns, that’s about all you could really ask for in a game. It was definitely a privlege to own the game for a short time. Now what if this was an RPG? How about one with customizable guns and a mechanic that actually lets you customize the dragons features, powers and color? Well then you got Panzer Dragoon Saga. Again, an amazing game with consoles that could easily handle the graphics. This guy retails around $200 on ebay, making it very hard to attain. But a great excuse to bring it in as a console download.

5. The Simpsons Arcade Game – Konami

Now it gets good. We all love the Simpsons (season 6 ftw) and we all love video games. And for that, we love Konami. Saving Maggie from the trecherous Mr. Burns with a pocket full of quarters was the bee’s-knee’s. And it was a rare treat to get all 4 players involved, making it a family affair as the Simpsons cruised through Springfield themed levels fighting off Power Plant chronies. A beloved side scroller beat-’em-up along the same vein of the first TMNT arcade release (also on Live). But for some god forsaken reason, this was never ported to any console system. So alas, my friends and myself probably blew triple our college funds just trying to take down Smithers and his bombs. Given Konami’s track record with Xbox Live (Castlevania), I can only wonder why this was never considered.

4. Aliens Vs. Predetor The Arcade Game – Capcom

Again… another AMAZING arcade game that slipped through the cracks of obscurity, almost lost to time itself. Clearly AvP the arcade game was a reskin of Final Fight. But very few care about this. If you liked the series, you loved the game. And even if you weren’t fond of a world where Aliens can burst out of your chest, you could still find a place in your heart, next to the chest buster, for this incredibly fun game. Play as ninja blade wielding Marines, play as Predetors with overheating shoulder cannons. Either way grab a smart gun and let’er rip. Button mashing at it’s finest. And once again, never ever considered as a port for any console. Did I mention you could body slam the queen in her hive? Yeah, it’s that good.

3. X-men The Arcade Game – Konami

When I first encountered this game in the arcades, light hath shown us the way. Angels sang. Somewhere a baby laughed. And my jaw dropped. Not only was it X-men. But it was X-men with 6 (six!) simultaneous players. So how do you fit that many people and characters on a cabinet? Easy, extend the screen for epic widescreen pwnage. Since those days of yore, we have upgraded to widescreen displays, and with the advent of the internet, finding 5 other guys to clean up some of Magneto’s goons wouldn’t be that hard. This is totally possible, totally worth $10 bucks and totally sexy despite the fact that the asian translation doesn’t quite make much sense. X-men welcome to DIE!

2. Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom – Capcom

If it’s Capcom, it’s good. And that is something I came to believe when I got my hands on this fine action adaptation. This side scroller beat’em up set in the D&D world would of just been hum drum except for the fact that Capcom quite religiously followed the rules of mythos of the most popular pen and paper game to date. Play as a Warrior, or an Elf, or a Dwarf, or a Cleric. All with their own rulesets and abilities. I lost so many quarters to this 4-player game it’s scary. It was ment to come to the Sega Saturn, but never made it past the japanese port. So I was able to snag this one on Ebay, but it wasn’t the same without the 4 player goodness. Luckilly, MAME took care of that. But I still can’t help but wonder what this game would be like on todays consoles.

1. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara – Capcom

It seems impossible that the top 2 spots would belong to D&D, but you have to believe me. The only thing better than Tower of Doom was it’s sequel. This time adding the double jumping, backstabbing rogue. And the wicked, no holds Magic-User. To make it better they added an alternate variation of each character, making it a total of 6 play styles, and 12 characters! This game was amazing. And properly worth the number 1 spot.  And for some ungodly reason, it never made it to an American port. Such complexity in a side scrolling beat’em up was never heard of, and Capcom’s ability to 1up themselves made for a great time. This is an absolute must for a console download. And perhaps with some 6 player action? A man can dream can’t he? A man can dream…