I may have already commented the same before, but this is truly a criminally underrated channel. Your content, quality, presentation, and delivery are always top-notch. Thank you for all of it!
Big fan of this year. As a Nintendo kid, it was finally the year that felt like the SNES overcame the Genesis. Super Metroid, FF3 and a superior port of MK 2 were all huge. By the time DKC rolled around it just felt like Nintendo was showing off. It really was a killer year. Every game on the list rules. Plus there were dozens of great “B” titles like Sunset Riders. Every time I went to the rental store there was a new game that may have made a disappointing purchases but an awesome rental. There was so much going on- I remember taking weeks going through those massive 400 page EGMs... My favorite game not on the list? Super Punch Out probably.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure if this is your first encounter with the Best & Worst series, but we've been chronicling every year of Electronic Gaming Monthly from 1989 on. We're currently up to 1997, with 1998, 1999 and 2000 starting up weekly in April. We also went through the first seven years of Nintendo Power, which is worth checking out if you're into classic magazines.
Today is actually my first experience with your channel.. Subbed immediately.. I found it by searching for a Shikhondo soul eater switch review and then noticed it had other content of great interest to me. I will be spending a LOT of time going through all your vids, believe me! Cheers, Ted.@@DefunctGames
I appreciate the kind words, Max. Glad to know that you're digging the retro stuff, as I've been trying to keep a balance of new and old games in 2018.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles was definitely THE best game of that year and one the best of all time no game could compare whenever it comes to graphics, music, gameplay, replay value and innovation this game was the pure definition of the word "Rad".
I loved EGM back in the day. I actually have an entire run of the magazine. But I always thought they made some weird decisions when they would do the best of list. I thought just like you on a couple of those choices. I can’t explain how sonic 3 beat Super Metroid......
DKC was done with help from Rare, never knew silicon graphics was involved!? I do know the same tech was used for KI which Rare also made with Nintendo.
I;m just shaking my head at how this list turned out. I'm sure the order would be shaken up when you add hindsight. Donkey Kong Country, the highest rated SNES game, is certainly a fun game but time has not been kind to it. If anything Super Metroid and Final Fantasy III are much better games that have held up over the years. And Sonic 3 is the best reviewed game of the year when it feels so incomplete as a stand-alone title, needing Sonic & Knuckles to get the full experience?
tons of great games in 94' but i have to go with FF3 as the best of the bunch. instant classic but then again a lot of 94' games are. FF3 was everything i wanted in a sequel to FF2
I think they would have been able to get a lot of the game on the Super NES, but only after a bunch of cuts and edits. Takara did a pretty good job translating Samurai Shodown to the 16-bit consoles, so it's definitely doable. My guess is that a lot of the detail would have been removed, the characters shrunk, edits to the animation and maybe even a few missing characters.
Absolutely. Feel free to send me an email and we can talk about it. You can find my email and some (outdated) information here: www.defunctgames.com/bonuslevels/111/help-wanted-how-to-work-really-hard-for-no-money
Unfortunately, the Super NES version of Mortal Kombat (the highest rated version of the game) averaged only an 8.25 out of 10, so it's just off of the top 10. It earned the same score as Demon's Crest, Aladdin on the Super NES and Donkey Kong '94, so it's certainly in good company.
Defunct Games - Ugh. It was a blast though! Saved a lot of quarters because I could finally play it at home instead of going to the local arcade to get away from my horrible married life for a while. ;-) I remember checking the mailbox every single day when it released and was on its way!
Yes, you're correct. The first Samurai Shodown averaged a 9 in issue #50 (September 1993) and went on to win the 1993 Game of the Year prize. Samurai Shodown II will certainly make the list when I do Electronic Gaming Monthly's Best Reviewed Games of 1995, since they reviewed it in issue #66 (January 1995). The only Samurai Shodown games they reviewed in 1994 were the Genesis, Super NES and Game Boy ports, which received an average of 8 and 7.4 and 7.4 respectively.
Pfft ... it's Super Metroid that was the best game of 1994 for me and it isn't even close. I played it and loved it when I was 12 years old back in 1994, and to this day I still fire it up at least once a year and beat the game in less than 3 hours to get the best ending. Only once have I beaten the game at 100%, though. I'm in the minority when I say Donkey Kong Country was very boring. Once I got over the stunning visuals I quickly lost interest in that one. Mega Man X is a strong 2nd since I'm a HUGE Mega Man fan as well. I remember when that game first came out I thought, "What happened to Mega Mans 7, 8, and 9?"
I don't think you're in the minority, IRE. I feel like the perception of that game has soured over the last two decades. I'm right there with you in the opinion that it's boring, especially when put up against Nintendo's previous 2D platformers (like Super Mario Bros. 3 and World). People were wowed by the graphics and amount of content, and neither of those things held up well in the long run. You see this by EGM snubbing the game in future Top 100 and Top 200 lists, plus giving Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 good to middling scores. I believe this is the last time DKC shows up on an EGM top 10 list.
I may have already commented the same before, but this is truly a criminally underrated channel.
Your content, quality, presentation, and delivery are always top-notch. Thank you for all of it!
New episodes of Electronic Gaming Monthly's Best & Worst are coming November 28 and running twice a week throughout the rest of the year.
Great video, really enjoyed this one. Stellar year for gaming!
Stoked to see this show back.
In answer to the question: Snatcher. Definitely Snatcher.
Big fan of this year. As a Nintendo kid, it was finally the year that felt like the SNES overcame the Genesis. Super Metroid, FF3 and a superior port of MK 2 were all huge. By the time DKC rolled around it just felt like Nintendo was showing off.
It really was a killer year. Every game on the list rules. Plus there were dozens of great “B” titles like Sunset Riders. Every time I went to the rental store there was a new game that may have made a disappointing purchases but an awesome rental. There was so much going on- I remember taking weeks going through those massive 400 page EGMs...
My favorite game not on the list? Super Punch Out probably.
Wait a minute..."You gotta fight for your right to party" made the Beastie Boys a household name back in '86...at least in my house it did.
Rockin Video, thanks.. so many memories. I used to LOVE sitting down every month and reading my hard copy paper video game mags.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure if this is your first encounter with the Best & Worst series, but we've been chronicling every year of Electronic Gaming Monthly from 1989 on. We're currently up to 1997, with 1998, 1999 and 2000 starting up weekly in April. We also went through the first seven years of Nintendo Power, which is worth checking out if you're into classic magazines.
Today is actually my first experience with your channel.. Subbed immediately.. I found it by searching for a Shikhondo soul eater switch review and then noticed it had other content of great interest to me. I will be spending a LOT of time going through all your vids, believe me! Cheers, Ted.@@DefunctGames
Yes!!!! So glad EGM is back! Love your vids
Loving all retro, keep up the great vids, congrats!
I appreciate the kind words, Max. Glad to know that you're digging the retro stuff, as I've been trying to keep a balance of new and old games in 2018.
So many great games this year! Super Metroid, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, and Megaman X. But ultimately ultimately to go with Illusion of Gaia.
Luv the retro. Favorite game is too close with several of those mentioned fitting the criteria.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles was definitely THE best game of that year and one the best of all time no game could compare whenever it comes to graphics, music, gameplay, replay value and innovation this game was the pure definition of the word "Rad".
Finally !!!!!!!!!!!!! yes yes yes ! love when you updates to this Series.
I 100% agree with their #1 choice.
Super Metroid is one of my favorite games of all time, so, in 1994, Its the best game of the year to me. FFVI and Mega Man X as second (cant choose!).
QOTD
This is a toughy. I love the sonics, but I think I'll go Earthworm Jim. I have so many memories with that game.
I loved EGM back in the day. I actually have an entire run of the magazine. But I always thought they made some weird decisions when they would do the best of list. I thought just like you on a couple of those choices. I can’t explain how sonic 3 beat Super Metroid......
DKC was done with help from Rare, never knew silicon graphics was involved!? I do know the same tech was used for KI which Rare also made with Nintendo.
FF VI just at number 5
Yeah, that sounds like the EGM I remember
I wonder where they ended up putting Chrono Trigger
I wonder where Doom 2 would end up if they did PC games at all
... didn't 'license to ill' make the beasties a household name? ;o)
My favorite game of 1994 is Super Return of the Jedi.
My fav was Donkey Kong Country I think.
I;m just shaking my head at how this list turned out. I'm sure the order would be shaken up when you add hindsight. Donkey Kong Country, the highest rated SNES game, is certainly a fun game but time has not been kind to it. If anything Super Metroid and Final Fantasy III are much better games that have held up over the years. And Sonic 3 is the best reviewed game of the year when it feels so incomplete as a stand-alone title, needing Sonic & Knuckles to get the full experience?
tons of great games in 94' but i have to go with FF3 as the best of the bunch. instant classic but then again a lot of 94' games are. FF3 was everything i wanted in a sequel to FF2
Wow EGM was pretty inconsistent.
Final Fantasy III was the best game that year.
My favorite game of 1994 is mega man 6
Think the SNES could handle a KoF 94 port?
I think they would have been able to get a lot of the game on the Super NES, but only after a bunch of cuts and edits. Takara did a pretty good job translating Samurai Shodown to the 16-bit consoles, so it's definitely doable. My guess is that a lot of the detail would have been removed, the characters shrunk, edits to the animation and maybe even a few missing characters.
thanks for the reply! btw, you guys still looking for help for reviews?
Absolutely. Feel free to send me an email and we can talk about it. You can find my email and some (outdated) information here: www.defunctgames.com/bonuslevels/111/help-wanted-how-to-work-really-hard-for-no-money
No Mortal Kombat II?
Unfortunately, the Super NES version of Mortal Kombat (the highest rated version of the game) averaged only an 8.25 out of 10, so it's just off of the top 10. It earned the same score as Demon's Crest, Aladdin on the Super NES and Donkey Kong '94, so it's certainly in good company.
Defunct Games - Ugh. It was a blast though! Saved a lot of quarters because I could finally play it at home instead of going to the local arcade to get away from my horrible married life for a while. ;-) I remember checking the mailbox every single day when it released and was on its way!
Didn't Samurai Showdown 2 get all 9s
Yes, you're correct. The first Samurai Shodown averaged a 9 in issue #50 (September 1993) and went on to win the 1993 Game of the Year prize. Samurai Shodown II will certainly make the list when I do Electronic Gaming Monthly's Best Reviewed Games of 1995, since they reviewed it in issue #66 (January 1995). The only Samurai Shodown games they reviewed in 1994 were the Genesis, Super NES and Game Boy ports, which received an average of 8 and 7.4 and 7.4 respectively.
So did sega pay these guys for good review scores or what?
Pfft ... it's Super Metroid that was the best game of 1994 for me and it isn't even close. I played it and loved it when I was 12 years old back in 1994, and to this day I still fire it up at least once a year and beat the game in less than 3 hours to get the best ending. Only once have I beaten the game at 100%, though. I'm in the minority when I say Donkey Kong Country was very boring. Once I got over the stunning visuals I quickly lost interest in that one. Mega Man X is a strong 2nd since I'm a HUGE Mega Man fan as well. I remember when that game first came out I thought, "What happened to Mega Mans 7, 8, and 9?"
I don't think you're in the minority, IRE. I feel like the perception of that game has soured over the last two decades. I'm right there with you in the opinion that it's boring, especially when put up against Nintendo's previous 2D platformers (like Super Mario Bros. 3 and World). People were wowed by the graphics and amount of content, and neither of those things held up well in the long run. You see this by EGM snubbing the game in future Top 100 and Top 200 lists, plus giving Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 good to middling scores. I believe this is the last time DKC shows up on an EGM top 10 list.
Give me a time machine.
I'm outta here