My love for video games started early. One of the earliest Christmas gifts I remember receiving was the Nintendo Entertainment System. I was transfixed in the world of Koopas and Goombas to save a Princess.
My love and admiration for video games only grew. I still love playing them, and the satisfaction I get from beating them is why I keep returning.
I present to you my 100 Favorite Video Games of all time. Like my 150 Favorite Movie list, this isn’t about what is a critical or financial success. It’s about what I love.
I don’t know why I love some video games more than others. Just like movies, they are an art form. And one man’s gold is another man’s copper.
I am not a fan of Grand Theft Auto. There are no GTA’s on my list. I am also not a fan of XBOX. So, XBOX games are very underrepresented by my list. I’ve always been a Nintendo guy. A Sega Genesis guy. And then a PlayStation guy. Although it seems the console wars are a thing of the past, I still will always hold (awkwardly) the original XBOX controller against it.
So, boot up your console and let’s play some games!
100. Dig Dug 1982 (Arcade)
Armed with a pump and the love of digging, Taizo Hori must eliminate the enemies on the screen. These enemies are the red, goggle-wearing Pookas and the fire-breathing Fygars!
Early arcade games had enough story for you to figure out what was going on, but nowhere near an actual story arc.
Dig Dug stood out with its charming graphics, catchy music, and tight controls. The game seemed simple enough. Use your pump to inflate your enemies until they burst. Clear the screen of all enemies, and you move on.
Graphics
The beauty of early video games is how the artists were able to make sprites with pixels. Dig Dug isn’t a graphical powerhouse, but Taizo’s design is iconic. So too are his enemies and their ability to shift and float around the stage. Their movements seem stiff now, but they get the job done. Dig Dug sports clean, sharp graphics.
Sound
Dig Dug’s sound seems minimal, but it is extremely clever. The beeps and pops hit the right amount of 80s charm, with the music cued every time Taizo walks. Although sparse, the music is charming and fun.
Gameplay
Dig Dug is hard. All arcade games have a sense of being difficult. What makes Dig Dug great is that it controls like a dream. The joystick is responsive and doesn’t feel like there are too many cheap deaths based on wonky controls.
Fun Factor
Armed with just a pump and the ability to dig tunnels and drop rocks on only two types of enemies might sound like a shallow game, Dig Dug overcomes this with a gradual spike in difficulty. The enemies at first seem like push-overs, but as their speed and placement in the levels change, Dig Dug is a challenging, fun slice of 80s arcade goodness.
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