IGN Top 10 Best Launch Games Ever

[Black_Smoke]

10) SSX// Playstation 2
EA changed the direction of high-thrill sports titles with SSX. It took one of the coolest sports around and multiplied its awesome factor by 10. Sounds like a stupid description, sure, but that's precisely what developers managed to do. It also employed a new, addictive trick system that had many gamers playing for days on end perfecting their technique. Plus, SSX was one of the few titles available during the PS2's launch that looked like it made use of next-generation technology. It looked downright fantastic. It's the kind of game you want running in your living room to show off your poppin' fresh system.

9) Virtua Fighter// Sega Saturn
Most people deemed the original Virtua Fighter arcade machine as revolutionary. So when it appeared alongside the Sega Saturn, it quickly jumped into "must own" status for those that purchased the system. It was the first game of its kind, really, that you could actually play at home. Not only that, it's just plain good. Virtua Fighter had a complex fighting system, a roster of cool characters and a slew of different techniques to learn and master. By all accounts a swell title, but the fact that it shipped next to the Saturn made it all the more noticeable. As such, it'll always be one of the most popular, influential games in history. 

8 ) Halo: Combat Evolved// Xbox
Halo redefined first-person shooters on consoles. Sure, it wasn't the first, but it delivered an experience far beyond all previous efforts. It had absolutely wicked artificial intelligence, for starters, for allied troops and enemy aliens. It also had a bunch of vehicles that made storming alien battlefields a visceral delight. For those that wanted multiplayer action, Halo delivered in that arena, too. In fact, the game has a loyal following that still plays religiously to this day. And just to sweeten things, it also happens to be one of the best looking games to ever grace a home console. 

7) Power Stone// Dreamcast
What better game to have with a new system than the kind you can use to humiliate friends? Power Stone let you control an array of funky characters in fully 3D arenas. And basically, all you had to do was beat the living snot out of everything in site. You could pick up tables and chairs and a bunch of other items and use them weapons, too. But the coolest aspect let you collect the titular power stones and morph into a badass version of yourself. It made great party game, one that has been copied time and time again. To this day, it makes an excellent addition to any get together. All that's missing in a house with Power Stone is a few crates of beer and a giant bowl of chips. 

6) Super Mario World// Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Unlike other Mario launch titles on this list, Super Mario World didn't offer anything new. What it did offer was a refined, technically inspiring update to previous titles in the series. And, at the time, it seemed like one of the biggest titles, in terms of content, ever released. It packed more worlds and stages than its predecessors (and its competition) and it refined many of the mechanics that made up the platform genre. It did everything better, in other words, than any game before it. And, of course, it came packaged with the sublime SNES. So how could it not be on the list? 

5) Ridge Racer// Playstation
Ridge Racer is the kind of game you want to launch with a system. Not only does it justify the purchase to yourself, because it plays so damn well, but it also justifies the purchase to others, because it does a great job of showing off the technical aspects of your new system. As such, Ridge Racer is synonymous with the original Playstation for most folk. Throw in the fact that it looked and played just like the original arcade version, and it's no wonder that Ridge Racer became a wildly successful game, both in terms of critical praise and success in the market place. Beyond that, it'll be remembered as one of the best launch titles ever released.
 
4) Combat// 2600 
Sure, it's simple, but Combat offered a mean dish of action back in the day. And just like every other game on this list, you either love it or simply haven't played it yet. The game had you command different vehicles such as tanks and biplanes, and the objective was simply to blast the other player into oblivion. Instead of mountain ranges and crumbling buildings, the only obstacles in the game were simple walls, but that's all anyone needed. Plus, Combat included a number of different game modes -- a bit of an innovation at the time of its release. It also came bundled with the 2600, ensuring mass popularity and it's own slot in the history of videogames. 

3) Super Mario 64// Nintedo 64 
This little gem did everything right. It virtually introduced a new age for 3D games and single-handedly sold the N64. The new-and-improved Mushroom Kingdom was truly a sight to behold. More importantly, it felt like an actual place Mario could freely explore. Quite literally, it opened up a world of possibilities. And it looked absolutely phenomenal doing it. Most 20-something gamers can probably remember the first time they laid eyes on it, running at the local Toys R Us. Or seeing the first screenshots grace the pages of some videogame publication. It was enough to make you cry.

2) Super Mario Bros.// Nintendo Entertainment System
Here's another ludicrously obvious choice. If you owned Nintendo's 8-bit NES, then chances are Super Mario Bros. ranks high on your own top ten list. Even if you didn't own the system at all, it's a safe bet your neighbor did, and he/she probably shared the love. Starring Nintendo's protagonist plumber, Super Mario Bros. introduced gamers to the Mushroom Kingdom, and more importantly, to a slew of well-designed game mechanics that set the standard for platformers. Plus, it looked really damn good at the time of release. To this day, it remains one of the most important titles ever released. 

1) Tetris// Gameboy
In the end, it's all about Tetris. Placing it on any videogame list seems like cheating it's such an obvious choice. While the game appeared on PCs first, Nintendo's decision to include it with the original Game Boy caused both the game and system to gain wild popularity. Plus, it simply made sense. It's easy enough for anyone to play, and it's something you can do for a few minutes just as easily as several hours. It's fast, fun and highly addictive. In terms of popularity and plain old playability, it's clearly the most important launch title ever. 


Pretty nice list, damn # 8,6,3,2,1 bring back lots of memories