Rate the Game: Week 159

[M-A-G]

Good morning, everyone. Perhaps around this time you're defrosting your turkeys and gathering your canned goods or hopping on a plane in preparation for the big holiday feast this week. Or maybe you're not American and do Thanksgiving some other time. Or you think it's stupid. Either way, you're all welcome here on Rate the Game, now in its 159th edition! I know I'm giddy about this one, especially when you consider how last week went down. Panzer Dragoon on the Sega Saturn got its turn under the microscope, and boy, howdy, did it get put through the ringer. It's going to earn itself a very special place on the leaderboard after all is said and done. Take a gander....


<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. Super Castlevania 4 (4.16)</option>
<option>29. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (4.16)</option>
<option>30. Super Street Fighter 2 (4.15)</option>
<option>31. Sonic the Hedgehog (4.14)</option>
<option>32. Resident Evil 2 (4.14)</option>
<option>33. Mario Party (4.125)</option>
<option>34. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (4.125)</option>
<option>35. Super Mario 64 (4.07)</option>
<option>36. Grand Theft Auto 3 (4.06)</option>
<option>37. The Legend of Zelda (4.06)</option>
<option>38. NBA Jam (4.05)</option>
<option>39. Super Mario Kart (4.0)</option>
<option>40. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (4.0)</option>
<option>41. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (4.0)</option>
<option>42. Super Smash Bros. (4.0)</option>
<option>43. Super Metroid (4.0)</option>
<option>44. Star Fox 64 (4.0)</option>
<option>45. The Simpsons (4.0)</option>
<option>46. Resident Evil 4 (4.0)</option>
<option>47. EarthBound (4.0)</option>
<option>48. Fallout 3 (4.0)</option>
<option>49. Mirror's Edge (4.0)</option>
<option>50. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (4.0)</option>
<option>51. Donkey Kong Country 2 (4.0)</option>
<option>52. X-Men Legends (4.0)</option>
<option>53. Banjo-Kazooie (4.0)</option>
<option>54. Dishonored (4.0)</option>
<option>55. Final Fantasy 7 (3.94)</option>
<option>56. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (3.92)</option>
<option>57. Mega Man (3.89)</option>
<option>58. Castlevania (3.86)</option>
<option>59. Contra (3.86)</option>
<option>60. Devil May Cry (3.86)</option>
<option>61. Half-Life 2 (3.85)</option>
<option>62. Half-Life (3.83)
<option>63. Final Fantasy 8 (3.83)</option>
<option>64. Infamous (3.83)</option>
<option>65. SimCity 2000 (3.8)</option>
<option>66. Final Fight (3.8)</option>
<option>67. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (3.77)</option>
<option>68. Batman: Arkham Asylum (3.76)</option>
<option>69. Double Dragon (3.75)</option>
<option>70. Tomb Raider (2013) (3.75)</option>
<option>71. Max Payne (3.75)</option>
<option>72. Fallout 4 (3.75)</option>
<option>73. Tetris (3.69)</option>
<option>74. Mortal Kombat 2 (3.67)</option>
<option>75. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (3.66)</option>
<option>76. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (3.66)</option>
<option>77. Alan Wake (3.66)</option>
<option>78. Diablo (3.66)</option>
<option>79. Xenoblade Chronicles (3.66)</option>
<option>80. F.E.A.R. (3.66)</option>
<option>81. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (3.66)</option>
<option>82. Mortal Kombat (3.65)</option>
<option>83. Doom (3.625)</option>
<option>84. StarFox (3.61)</option>
<option>85. X-Men (3.6)</option>
<option>86. Resident Evil (3.58)</option>
<option>87. Kirby's Adventure (3.57)</option>
<option>88. Daytona USA (3.5)</option>
<option>89. Ninja Gaiden (3.5)</option>
<option>90. Burnout Paradise (3.5)</option>
<option>91. Thief: The Dark Project (3.5)</option>
<option>92. Dark Souls (3.5)</option>
<option>93. Shinobi (3.5)</option>
<option>94. Unreal Tournament (3.5)</option>
<option>95. Battletoads (3.42)</option>
<option>96. Dead Space (3.4)</option>
<option>97. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (3.39)</option>
<option>98. Resident Evil: Nemesis (3.38)</option>
<option>99. Crash Bandicoot (3.33)</option>
<option>100. Mortal Kombat (2011) (3.33)</option>
<option>101. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (3.33)</option>
<option>102. Wolfenstein 3D (3.33)</option>
<option>103. Dead Island (3.33)</option>
<option>104. Left 4 Dead (3.33)</option>
<option>105. Nights Into Dreams (3.33)</option>
<option>106. Condemned: Criminal Origins (3.33)</option>
<option>107. Gauntlet Legends (3.28)
<option>108. Gears of War (3.27)</option>
<option>109. Tekken Tag Tournament (3.25)</option>
<option>110. Borderlands (3.22)</option>
<option>111. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (3.22)</option>
<option>112. Duke Nukem 3D (3.2)</option>
<option>113. Darkstalkers (3.2)</option>
<option>114. Quake (3.2)</option>
<option>115. Halo 3 (3.16)</option>
<option>116. SoulCalibur (3.16)</option>
<option>117. Pac-Man (3.125)</option>
<option>118. Killer Instinct (3.11)</option>
<option>119. Virtua Fighter (3.09)</option>
<option>120. Rock Band (3.09)</option>
<option>121. Earthworm Jim (3.0)</option>
<option>122. Metroid (3.0)</option>
<option>123. Time Crisis (3.0)</option>
<option>124. Tekken (3.0)</option>
<option>125. Halo 2 (3.0)</option>
<option>126. Syphon Filter (3.0)</option>
<option>127. Gex (3.0)</option>
<option>128. Destiny (3.0)</option>
<option>129. The Secret of Monkey Island (3.0)</option>
<option>130. Army of Two (3.0)</option>
<option>131. Sonic Adventure (3.0)</option>
<option>132. Shenmue (3.0)</option>
<option>133. Guitar Hero (2.875)</option>
<option>134. Ecco the Dolphin (2.85)</option>
<option>135. Streets of Rage (2.84)</option>
<option>136. Altered Beast (2.8)</option>
<option>137. Bayonetta (2.75)</option>
<option>138. Command & Conquer (2.75)</option>
<option>139. ToeJam & Earl (2.75)</option>
<option>140. Jet Set Radio (2.75)</option>
<option>141. Assassin's Creed (2.71)</option>
<option>142. Gauntlet (2.71)</option>
<option>143. Street Fighter Alpha (2.71)</option>
<option>144. Dead Rising (2.71)</option>
<option>145. Bionic Commando (2.66)</option>
<option>146. Saints Row (2.66)</option>
<option>147. The Sims (2.6)</option>
<option>148. Killer Instinct 2 (2.6)</option>
<option>149. Silent Hill (2.6)</option>
<option>150. Tomb Raider (2.55)</option>
<option>151. Halo: Combat Evolved (2.5)</option>
<option>152. Twisted Metal (2.42)</option
<option>153. Crackdown (2.42)</option>
<option>154. Golden Axe (2.33)</option>
<option>155. Gran Turismo (2.3)</option>
<option>156. The Secret of Mana (2.2)</option>
<option>157. Ghosts n' Goblins (2.14)</option>
<option>158. Panzer Dragoon (1.5)</option></select>


I suppose I should be grateful for the fastest editing I've ever had to do for the leaderboard in this entire run. History is once again made here on Rate the Game. A streak is finally broken, and not in a manner that deserves props and celebration. We have a NEW bottom of the barrel on the list as Panzer Dragoon racks up an impressive (?) 1.5 and claims its spot in the furthest you can get from the elite. Ghosts n' Goblins can breathe a side of relief as it's no longer the whipping boy of the bunch. A very surprising turn of events to say the least.

But that does raise a new question. Is it possible to get lower than that? Do we have something in the pile that raise the ire of the good people of TPWW enough to land even lower? What does the bowl have to say about this?


<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/HEH4rxNnubSMyD2gvB" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/HEH4rxNnubSMyD2gvB">via GIPHY</a></p>


It's moment of truth time. This week we go back to the fighting game arena with SNK making its first appearance here. SNK has a reputation, but how well is it going to fly here with this week's entry? It's the sword swinging slicefest known as Samurai Shodown! We've got a lot of strong contenders on the list as far as fighting games go and it'll be interesting to see how well this one stacks up. Does it have enough of a fight or is Panzer Dragoon destined to enjoy its spot for only one week? As always, it's all up to you and your thoughts. Let's put Samurai Shodown through the paces and see what comes of it. Until next week!

[Lock Jaw]

Never played it.

Never heard of it.

[drave]

99% of my memories are from the old school Pizza Hut. The ones with the big ass red cups, cool arcade games and a juke box, usually.

This game was always the loudest and best looking out of whatever games would be in there at any given time. I spent a TON of quarters on this game. Never mastered it at all. I recall playing as the dude with the claw glove because he reminded me of Freddy Krueger.

At some point, I had the SNES version of this, and maybe a later version, but I can't remember which. The home versions never matched the intensity and sound of the arcade, but it was still fun to play. Didn't purchase the most recent release because it was a ton of money for a fighting game.

4/5 easy. I would give it a 5, but don't feel like I know enough about it overall.

[drave]

Never played it.

Never heard of it.

You are hereby banned, sir.

[M-A-G]

This was also a staple of our local Pizza Hut back when I was a kid. I haven't been inside a Pizza Hut in 15 years, but the last time I was in one it was soul crushing to see how little joy there was. I imagine it's even worse now and it wouldn't surprise me if they went full McDonald's in their design and layout.

[drave]

My wife and I were discussing something like that. How all the buildings all look so boring and corporate anymore. No colors, no cool looking designs inside, nothing. Just boring, bland buildings.

[Big Vic]

Never played it.

Never heard of it.

[M-A-G]

This game was always the loudest and best looking out of whatever games would be in there at any given time. I spent a TON of quarters on this game. Never mastered it at all. I recall playing as the dude with the claw glove because he reminded me of Freddy Krueger.


Genan was that little fucker's name. He definitely stood out, not just because of the claw, but his appearance. Earthquake would probably be the only other real visual standout.

[Emperor Smeat]

Voted Never Played It but in reality, played a little bit of it via ROM & emulator.

Most of my playing exposure to the Samurai Showdown series comes from Capcom vs. SNK 2 instead.

[drave]

RAINE emulator for the fucking WIN!

Made sooooo may coin-op games available to play on PC. That was and still IS epic.

[M-A-G]

Never heard of RAINE. I know MAME was the big one with my friend.

[drave]

https://raine.1emulation.com/

Best arcade emulator ever.


library

https://github.com/zelurker/raine/tree/master/source/games

[ClockShot]

Clarification needed before I make a vote. Is this for the Neo-Geo original version ONLY? Or do console ports count?

I had this for Genesis and the only major difference was there was no Earthquake character. Music was a bit different too.

[M-A-G]

I would say rate whichever version with which you have the most experience.

[Fignuts]

3

Good start, but the sequels reaaly improved on it, all the way down to the sprite art.

[ClockShot]

I would say rate whichever version with which you have the most experience.

4.

I'd give it a 4.5 if I could. Had the Sega Genesis version so all the characters were fun to play with aside from Earthquake who wasn't in the game. And Charlotte. Couldn't stand her. Galford and Nakaruru with the pets were pretty sweet.

I could never figure out how to win a match by knocking out the opponent's weapon and making them bleed out. Only pulled that off once or twice. All other times I just cut them in two and got the bonus points.