***RATE THE GAME: WEEK 150!!!***

[M-A-G]

Woo-hoo! Another milestone reached! Not that long ago, I reached 20,000 posts (and I hope you enjoyed that little celebration) and now we're at the 150th edition of Rate the Game! Remember when this was supposed to be just 50 games? Pepperidge Farm remembers. I also remember that last week we dealt with Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on the Nintendo 64. It's time to see if it falls into the Dark Side of our illustrious leaderboard. How does it stack up?

<select><option selected="">Rate the Game Results

<option>1. Super Mario World (4.81)
<option>2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (4.8)</option>
<option>3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (4.8)</option>
<option>4. Hitman: Codename 47 (4.75)</option>
<option>5. Mass Effect (4.75)</option>
<option>6. Goldeneye 007 (4.72)</option>
<option>7. Super Mario Bros. 3 (4.7)</option>
<option>8. Silent Hill 2 (4.66)</option>
<option>9. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (4.61)</option>
<option>10. Super Mario Bros. 2 (4.5)</option>
<option>11. Portal (4.5)</option>
<option>12. Red Dead Redemption (4.5)</option>
<option>13. Chrono Trigger (4.5)</option>
<option>14. Final Fantasy 3 (4.5)</option>
<option>15. Silent Hill 3 (4.5)</option>
<option>16. Mega Man 2 (4.44)</option>
<option>17. Donkey Kong Country (4.44)</option>
<option>18. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (4.44)</option>
<option>19. Super Mario Bros. (4.41)</option>
<option>20. God of War (4.4)</option>
<option>21. Mega Man X (4.36)</option>
<option>22. Metal Gear Solid (4.33)</option>
<option>23. BioShock (4.33)</option>
<option>24. Ōkami (4.33)</option>
<option>25. Perfect Dark (4.3)</option>
<option>26. Shadow of the Colossus (4.28)</option>
<option>27. The Last of Us (4.28)</option>
<option>28. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (4.16)</option>
<option>29. Super Street Fighter 2 (4.15)</option>
<option>30. Sonic the Hedgehog (4.14)</option>
<option>31. Resident Evil 2 (4.14)</option>
<option>32. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (4.125)</option>
<option>33. Super Mario 64 (4.07)</option>
<option>34. Grand Theft Auto 3 (4.06)</option>
<option>35. The Legend of Zelda (4.06)</option>
<option>36. NBA Jam (4.05)</option>
<option>37. Super Mario Kart (4.0)</option>
<option>38. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (4.0)</option>
<option>39. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (4.0)</option>
<option>40. Super Smash Bros. (4.0)</option>
<option>41. Super Metroid (4.0)</option>
<option>42. Star Fox 64 (4.0)</option>
<option>43. The Simpsons (4.0)</option>
<option>44. Resident Evil 4 (4.0)</option>
<option>45. EarthBound (4.0)</option>
<option>46. Fallout 3 (4.0)</option>
<option>47. Mirror's Edge (4.0)</option>
<option>48. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (4.0)</option>
<option>49. Donkey Kong Country 2 (4.0)</option>
<option>50. X-Men Legends (4.0)</option>
<option>51. Banjo-Kazooie (4.0)</option>
<option>52. Dishonored (4.0)</option>
<option>53. Final Fantasy 7 (3.94)</option>
<option>54. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (3.92)</option>
<option>55. Mega Man (3.89)</option>
<option>56. Castlevania (3.86)</option>
<option>57. Contra (3.86)</option>
<option>58. Devil May Cry (3.86)</option>
<option>59. Half-Life 2 (3.85)</option>
<option>60. Half-Life (3.83)
<option>61. Final Fantasy 8 (3.83)</option>
<option>62. Infamous (3.83)</option>
<option>63. SimCity 2000 (3.8)</option>
<option>64. Final Fight (3.8)</option>
<option>65. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (3.77)</option>
<option>66. Batman: Arkham Asylum (3.76)</option>
<option>67. Double Dragon (3.75)</option>
<option>68. Tomb Raider (2013) (3.75)</option>
<option>69. Max Payne (3.75)</option>
<option>70. Fallout 4 (3.75)</option>
<option>71. Tetris (3.69)</option>
<option>72. Mortal Kombat 2 (3.67)</option>
<option>73. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (3.66)</option>
<option>74. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (3.66)</option>
<option>75. Alan Wake (3.66)</option>
<option>76. Diablo (3.66)</option>
<option>77. Xenoblade Chronicles (3.66)</option>
<option>78. F.E.A.R. (3.66)</option>
<option>79. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (3.66)</option>
<option>80. Mortal Kombat (3.65)</option>
<option>81. Doom (3.625)</option>
<option>82. StarFox (3.61)</option>
<option>83. X-Men (3.6)</option>
<option>84. Resident Evil (3.58)</option>
<option>85. Kirby's Adventure (3.57)</option>
<option>86. Daytona USA (3.5)</option>
<option>87. Ninja Gaiden (3.5)</option>
<option>88. Burnout Paradise (3.5)</option>
<option>89. Thief: The Dark Project (3.5)</option>
<option>90. Dark Souls (3.5)</option>
<option>91. Shinobi (3.5)</option>
<option>92. Dead Space (3.4)</option>
<option>93. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (3.39)</option>
<option>94. Resident Evil: Nemesis (3.38)</option>
<option>95. Crash Bandicoot (3.33)</option>
<option>96. Mortal Kombat (2011) (3.33)</option>
<option>97. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (3.33)</option>
<option>98. Wolfenstein 3D (3.33)</option>
<option>99. Dead Island (3.33)</option>
<option>100. Left 4 Dead (3.33)</option>
<option>101. Nights Into Dreams (3.33)</option>
<option>102. Condemned: Criminal Origins (3.33)</option>
<option>103. Gauntlet Legends (3.28)
<option>104. Gears of War (3.27)</option>
<option>105. Borderlands (3.22)</option>
<option>106. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (3.22)</option>
<option>107. Duke Nukem 3D (3.2)</option>
<option>108. Darkstalkers (3.2)</option>
<option>109. Quake (3.2)</option>
<option>110. SoulCalibur (3.16)</option>
<option>111. Pac-Man (3.125)</option>
<option>112. Killer Instinct (3.11)</option>
<option>113. Virtua Fighter (3.09)</option>
<option>114. Rock Band (3.09)</option>
<option>115. Earthworm Jim (3.0)</option>
<option>116. Metroid (3.0)</option>
<option>117. Time Crisis (3.0)</option>
<option>118. Tekken (3.0)</option>
<option>119. Halo 2 (3.0)</option>
<option>120. Syphon Filter (3.0)</option>
<option>121. Gex (3.0)</option>
<option>122. Destiny (3.0)</option>
<option>123. The Secret of Monkey Island (3.0)</option>
<option>124. Army of Two (3.0)</option>
<option>125. Sonic Adventure (3.0)</option>
<option>126. Shenmue (3.0)</option>
<option>127. Guitar Hero (2.875)</option>
<option>128. Ecco the Dolphin (2.85)</option>
<option>129. Streets of Rage (2.84)</option>
<option>130. Altered Beast (2.8)</option>
<option>131. Bayonetta (2.75)</option>
<option>132. Command & Conquer (2.75)</option>
<option>133. ToeJam & Earl (2.75)</option>
<option>134. Assassin's Creed (2.71)</option>
<option>135. Gauntlet (2.71)</option>
<option>136. Dead Rising (2.71)</option>
<option>137. Bionic Commando (2.66)</option>
<option>138. Saints Row (2.66)</option>
<option>139. The Sims (2.6)</option>
<option>140. Killer Instinct 2 (2.6)</option>
<option>141. Silent Hill (2.6)</option>
<option>142. Tomb Raider (2.55)</option>
<option>143. Halo: Combat Evolved (2.5)</option>
<option>144. Twisted Metal (2.42)</option
<option>145. Crackdown (2.42)</option>
<option>146. Golden Axe (2.33)</option>
<option>147. Gran Turismo (2.3)</option>
<option>148. The Secret of Mana (2.2)</option>
<option>149. Ghosts n' Goblins (2.14)</option></select>


A 3.66 overall score puts Shadows of the Empire in pretty good company at the number 74 spot, but we do not bestow the rank of Master upon it. Maybe it needs a Special Edition with some dressed up effects with Lucas behind the project. Or...or not...

Well, with that idea no doubt making your head spin, let's move on to hopefully bigger and better things. It's time for our 150th game! How about it, bowl? How are we commemorating this milestone?


https://i.imgur.com/nMp89Sg.gif

Alright, that's a good bowl. This week, it's time to go exploring the darkest recesses of gaming one more time as we head back to one of Konami's flagship franchises. The Belmont legacy makes its first foray into the 16-bit arena with this week's game: it's Super Castlevania 4! With the original game and Symphony of the Night already part of our list, how well does this one do in comparison? It's time to crack that whip and get rating as we look forward to the next 50 games. Until next week!

[Lock Jaw]

Never played it.

[Helmsphere]

Same here, only ever played SoTN

[screech]

I have played this, but I don't remember a thing about it.

[Emperor Smeat]

Voted Never Played It but in reality I played a little of via a ROM but think the farthest I ever got to was either to the boss of the first level or part of the second level.

Don't think I ever got to the level where the Mode 7 effects kick in for the game.

[ClockShot]

Ain't played it.

[M-A-G]

It's certainly the best Castlevania I've ever played, and it's regarded as probably the best of the series, but I couldn't say because I haven't played anything past it. Certainly Symphony of the Night is a contender, but not everyone was on board with the format change.

[drave]

This game is incredible. From the soundtrack to the gameplay, honestly. I can still remember the music from the first couple of levels.... being super subtle and then BAM! The gameplay was amazing too. The ability to swing from certain things with the whip, striking diagonally, and being able to hold the whip out and spin it with the d-pad were all very cool.


I distinctly recall my uncle having this game and getting smashed by the Grim Reaper fight over and over. It's the fight right before Dracula. I will always remember his arrogance, when I asked to try.


"You will never beat him. There's a reason they call him "The Wizard" - I dunno, some old hippie shit probably.


Anyway, smashed the fucking Reaper on my 1st go. He was PISSSSSSSSED and immediately made me give him the controller back. He proceeded to get walloped by Dracula 3 times, and was pissed when he had to go through the Reaper again, from his save spot.


I remember beating the game for the 1st time and it was outstanding. When Dracula moves into his final phase, the games main theme kicks up and it makes for an awesome fucking experience. There's so much shit happening on the screen, the game lags and frames drop pretty bad. That was almost a blessing though, as it allowed me to see the attack pattern quicker.


I purchased the Nintendo online sub for this, Super Metroid and other fantastic SNES titles. I still firmly stand today that the SNES is the greatest console ever made.

[M-A-G]

I wonder where Destor is on this matter. I know he didn't like Symphony of the Night, but I think I remember him praising this entry.

[M-A-G]

This game is incredible. From the soundtrack to the gameplay, honestly. I can still remember the music from the first couple of levels.... being super subtle and then BAM! The gameplay was amazing too. The ability to swing from certain things with the whip, striking diagonally, and being able to hold the whip out and spin it with the d-pad were all very cool.



The control is probably the biggest feature that deserves so much praise in this game. Everything feels like a vast improvement over the previous games, and there aren't as many cheap deaths.

[Fignuts]

5

Best of the classic formula castlevania games, imo.

[weather vane]

Great game.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Didn’t play it.