We’re down to the Elite 8 from our original field of 32 traditional games and 32 non-traditional games. Some of the winners make no sense whatsoever (looking at you, Links 386 Pro), while some could’ve been easily predicted (hello, Tony Hawk). Regardless, this is what we’re left with and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Here’s how the bracket looks right now.
Who advances to the Final Four is in your hands. Choose wisely.
The Basketball and Football Region
No. 4 NBA 2K12
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird graced the cover of NBA 2K12, one of the truest love letters to a sport in digital form. It bridged the gap to the next generation with a painstaking attention to detail and endless ways to play.
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No. 10 NCAA Football ’07
Featuring Reggie Bush on the cover and a nearly impossible to stop “momentum” game mechanic, NCAA ’07 offered one of the deepest dynasty experiences up to that point. Its Xbox 360 version was bare-boned, but the PS2 version is up there near Madden ’05 and ’06 as one of the most complete packages in EA’s library.
The Baseball and Hockey Region
No. 4 MLB ’16: The Show
Few games flirt with perfection as often as The Show series. The animations are impeccable, the features are deep, and the graphics have been making a passerby think a real baseball game is on TV for nearly a decade. It’s truly one of the best.
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No. 7 Ken Griffey Jr. Presents: Major League Baseball
If you were growing up as a sports gamer in the ’90s, there was a great chance you owned Ken Griffery Jr. Baseball. The production values and sprite-based characters were second to none in 1994, and were the last hurrah before polygons took over in the N64 and PS1 era.
The Soccer/Racing/Whatnot Region
No. 8 Wii Sports
Even if you skipped the boxing minigame completely, Home Run Derby, Bowling, and Tennis could entertain a household for years. Say what you will about the Wii, Nintendo caught lightning in a bottle with Wii Sports. The fun was probably enhanced if you were living with a bunch of roommates at the time.
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No. 11 Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
One of the first games go to another level of jaw-dropping visuals, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec was everything a car junkie wanted. Its graphics were so good and its controls so difficult, A-Spec made a sizable amount of people be content in just watching someone else play.
It still looks good considering it came out in 2001.
The Extreme Sports/Fighting/Golf Region
No. 1 Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
Improving on the first THPS in every way, THPS2 was more of everything — more control (manuals) more hidden secrets, a bigger and better soundtrack, and one of the most addictive combo-chaining mechanics in gaming. The game would refine itself and add much-needed features in later years, but THPS2 will always be loved forever. The level design is perfection.
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No. 15 Links 386 Pro
Watching the courses load was half the fun, but for many, the stunning graphics and nuanced gameplay couldn’t be touched for a decade. There were so many options. You had such control. The golfer looks so real!
