Sonic The Hedgehog makes it to the list for its defining place in video game history. It was the biggest threat to Nintendo’s Mario as the definitive platform game because it transformed how exhilarating the genre could be by pushing its limits. Boss battles were stress-inducing, death was at every turn, and it was your job to save animals that were captured in robot bodies. Any millennial that loves the 1990s and video games will recognize the Sonic series. For some, Sonic is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and if you haven’t played it, you should give it a try. There are several Sonic versions available. To find Sonic games for your Xbox One or Xbox 360, visit the Xbox Games Catalog and search for Sonic. Gunstar Heroes, which is suitable for both kids and adults, involves a mercenary family out to stop a shadow dictatorship called the Empire from reviving an ancient weapon. Players collect four different weapon types that can be combined together to create up to 14 different hybrid weapons (seeker bullets with a straight laser, flamethrower machine guns, etc.), allowing for multiple play styles. Together, two players can toss enemies, perform sliding and jumping attacks, and numerous acrobatics as they battle their way through swarms of robot enemies. If you’ve never played this game, you absolutely need to. Though difficult and fast-paced, Contra is one of the most addicting games out there (because it feels rewarding when you earn the wins you’re fighting so hard for). Of course, if it’s too difficult and you want a chance to actually beat the game (and give yourself 30 lives) you can always put in the famous Konami Code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. What could be more fun than playing as an unnamed space marine on Mars fighting off a horde of grotesque monsters from hell? Enter Doom, the game that pioneered the idea of multi-player deathmatches, co-op missions in modern first-person shooters, and helped push legislation for a rating system for the kids. In 1993, Doom was the biggest cause for decreased productivity in IT companies because everyone with a PC was playing it. Doom became so popular that Bill Gates credited it for helping boost the sales of Microsoft Windows 95. Some couldn’t play it, because it was too violent, but now you can get your adult hands on it and experience the gory glory of a yesteryear heavyweight. Bomberman Live is an updated version of the classic, allowing for a therapeutic (or heartbreaking) first-player mode or massive eight-player mayhem. It’s one of the best games on the list for a group. There are several Bomberman titles on the Xbox website. To find Bomberman games for your Xbox One, visit the Xbox Official site and search for Bomberman. Radiant Silver Gun features a unique game style where you can use various combinations of seven weapons at a time to defeat enemies. The weapons gain in strength as you score points with them. Each enemy you face-off with has a weakness to one of these weapons, so it’s a game of constant intense strategy. It’s also incredibly hard. The plot draws influence from 2001: A Space Odyssey and tells of a story of biblical proportions with elements of hard-hitting nihilism to a hopeful future. The soundtrack accompanies the feeling of flying into oblivion. If James Cameron, Nietzsche, and Mozart made a Sega video game, it would be Radiant Silver Gun. The Pac-Man Championship Edition is similar in gameplay to the original Pac-Man but offers many different gameplay elements and modes. Pac-Man CE is a faster-paced game with each maze divided into two halves. It progressively changes as you score more points. Once you eat all the dots on one side, you gain a power-up and continue to play until your time or lives run out. The longer you stay alive, the faster the game gets. Pac-Man Championship Edition is the best-remade game of an old classic on the list. Anyone who loves Pac-Man or doubts him will find enjoyment in this game.
