The Best Games of 1996

[Heroine of the Dragon]

From the following list which games did you play and enjoy the most?
Did I miss any you liked?


Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Civilization II
Crash Bandicoot
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Duke Nukem 3D
King's Field III
Mario Kart 64
Pokémon Red Blue Yellow
Quake
Resident Evil
Super Mario 64
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
The Neverhood
Tomb Raider
Vandal Hearts
Wave Race 64
Wild Arms

[I REALLY HATE POKEMON!]

Of that list, I enjoyed:

Donkey Kong Country 3
Mario Kart 64
Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow (even dabbled in Green)
Resident Evil
Super Mario 64
Super Mario RPG
Wild Arms

The rest I either didn't play or didn't like that much.

Looking at a list here's more I liked from 1996:

Mega Man X3
Kirby Super Star
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension
Metal Slug
NiGHTS into Dreams
Donkey Kong Land 2
Sonic 3D Blast
Mega Man 8

Man, that was a heck of a year for video games... Even the ones I don't care for are objectively good, like Duke Nukem 3D and Dead or Alive. The 90's sure were the peak of gaming.

[CaptHayfever]

Liked: Mario 64, Pokemon RBY
Disliked: Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil
Haven't played the others from that list.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Mario500]

Played (and enjoyed):

Crash Bandicoot
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Mario Kart 64
Super Mario 64
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

(from outside the first list of this topic: Kirby Super Star; Spot Goes to Hollywood (Sony PlayStation version); Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (Sega Genesis version))

[Booyakasha]

Well, off the list, I really like 'Mario Kart 64' and 'Blood Omen'. I never did finish 'Super Mario RPG', but it's super good, too. 'Super Mario 64' isn't as impressive to me now as it used to be, but it's alright----‐-----‐-it walked so that 'Banjo-Kazooie' could fly. That's respectable.

I think I appreciate the first Crash and Tomb Raider games more than I like them (the real gems came later on in the serii).

Outside of that list...well, 'Soul Blade' hit arcades and the Japanese PSX in 1996, so I'd say it counts as a 1996 game, even if it didn't make it to the PSX in North America until January 1997. 'Soul Blade' is one of the favourite things.

(EDIT: Ooh, 'Die Hard Arcade' came out to arcades in 1996, too. And the first 'Metal Slug', and 'Dungeons and Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara'! Holy cow! Arcades were hoppin!)

(EDIT2: 'Pokemon RBY' is good stuff. I can accept that other people view them as kind of a blunt instrument these days, but I've never really been able to get into a new one since.)

[Shane]

The early N64 games were all great, though the lineup was lackluster and would remain that way. Not my favorite games, but the jump to 3D was impressive.

I also got a Sega Saturn that year. Their lineup was even worse, but I vaguely remember Dragon Force (Working Designs localized), Guardian Heroes, Nights, and Sonic 3D Blast.

I don't think I ever made it through Super Mario RPG and still have yet to play Wild Arms. I don't think I ever touched the sequels to DKC either.

[emporornapoleon]

was mario kart 64 really 96? damn i didn't realise it was that old

agree that n64s launch was kind of meh. mario 64 was carrying the whole thing, otherwise you had games like wave race, cruisin usa and that mortal kombat trilogies port.

[CaptHayfever]

I liked Cruisin' USA.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Deku Tree]

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! - I own this and have played it some, but not all the way through

Duke Nukem 3D - Played this on a rental once or twice. I think I remember it had some fun multiplayer features.

Mario Kart 64 - Played a lot of this. Still a big fan.

Pokémon Red Blue Yellow - Lots of hours and fond memories of Red and Blue, but I wouldn't play it now outside of for nostalgia reasons.

Quake - Played this on PC, I think. Kinda liked it.

Resident Evil - Never played this, but I kinda like the GameCube remake.

Super Mario 64 - Timeless game. I'd play it again, but preferably with a better controller.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - Really like this game. One of the first RPGs I played, lots of good humor.

[SkyDragon]

Elder Scrolls 2 I probably put the most time into, but I liked Terranigma (snes) the best. Not sure if it counts, it came out in 1995 in japan but 1996 in US.