In 2016, Nintendo proved that there was a strong market for officially released, standalone emulators dedicated to retro gaming, and other companies have followed suit.

This includes Sony with the PlayStation Classic, set for release on December 3.

This morning, the company revealed that their emulator will come with 20 pre-loaded games:

• Battle Arena Toshinden
• Cool Boarders 2
• Destruction Derby
• Final Fantasy VII
• Grand Theft Auto
• Intelligent Qube
• Jumping Flash
• Metal Gear Solid
• Mr. Driller
• Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
• Rayman
• Resident Evil Director's Cut
• Revelations: Persona
• Ridge Racer Type 4
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Syphon Filter
• Tekken 3
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
• Twisted Metal
• Wild Arms

The PlayStation Classic is currently available for pre-order, and will come with two controllers.

How do you feel about the lineup? Are there any omissions you were hoping would be included?

Personally, I would love to have seen Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Final Fantasy Tactics, or Resident Evil 2 make the cut.

Let us know in the comments below.

And thus, the list has come to an end. What video game soundtracks do you enjoy? Is there a particular piece of music that you adore? Comment below and I'll give it a listen!

1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Composers: Jeremy Soule, Julian Soule

Hands up who saw this coming!

While Skyrim had a fantastic soundtrack, I feel that Oblivion takes the sweet roll in almost every way!

The story of Oblivion's soundtrack is an interesting one. Composer Jeremy Soule had been in a car accident, while he escaped unscathed, he has said that it had a profound experience on Oblivion's soundtrack, saying that he wanted 'to comment on the human condition and the beauty of life.'

There's definitely a sense of beauty and wonderment to the game's soundtrack, from the relaxing string compositions that you may hear while exploring a town, talking to the many NPCs you run into, to the eerie and slow compositions heard while exploring a dungeon, waiting for an enemy to jump out at you from a dark corner.

Soule has captured the essence of how an adventure should be, giving us a sense of potential safety when in a city and to be ready for anything once you step out those gates into the open world.

2. Kingdom Hearts II

Composers: Yoko Shimomura, Kaoru Wada

The Kingdom Hearts series has given us some brilliant music over the years, but for me, Kingdom Hearts II is still my favourite in terms of soundtrack, with original music like "The Encounter" and remixes of classic Disney songs such as "He's A Pirate" (Pirates of the Caribbean) and "Under The Sea" (The Little Mermaid) all composed by the legendary Yoko Shimomura.

Since most of the game's worlds are represented by Disney, you can expect many happy and bouncy tunes but when the game calls for a serious moment, the music delivers exceptionally well, a fine example is the track "Sinister Shadows" which plays in a few battles including 'The 1000 Heartless Battle' among others.

Also a wonderful piece of music is the song "Sanctuary/Passion" sung by Utada Hikaru, whom also provided vocals the song "Simple And Clean/Hikari" in Kingdom Hearts.

With more games on their way, it's going to be interesting to see what Shimomura and Hikaru have in the pipeline.

3. Rayman

Composer: Remi Gazel

Here comes that wave of nostalgia again!

Rayman is an absolute gem when it comes to music... there's even a world based around musical instruments!

Composed by Remi Gazel, each track used in the 5 worlds presented in the game, represents them perfectly, such as birds and woodland creatures heard while exploring the Dream Forest to the wind howling while surviving the treacherous Blue Mountains.

Some tunes are bouncy, others peaceful and happy, while some have you taking careful steps to make sure you survive that next jump. Trust me folks, Rayman may look cute and innocent, but deep inside is a game that's going to take no prisoners. Be prepared before you set foot into this game!

But we must learn to appreciate the work of art that is the soundtrack, because when a game is kicking us about, at least the music helps make it that bit sweeter once you beat a level.

4. Silent Hill 2

Composer: Akira Yamaoka

Silent Hill 2 gives you a sense of wonderment in every sense, from gameplay and characters, to story and soundtrack, which have you questioning every moment in the game.

Akira Yamaoka gives his all in this game, with music that can grip your heart and either tear it from your chest or twist it, making it hard to comprehend what's happening as you solve puzzles and avoid monsters making your way through darkened and rusted corridors solving the mystery of how your dead wife sent you a letter.

As shown above "Magdalene" offers a sense of loss and confusion, making you wonder how you can go on and continue, while the track "Betrayal" uses a clanking sound to go along with the music to deliver a notion that it's time to realise what you've been fighting for and face up to it with no backing down.

An absolute masterpiece of a soundtrack should never go unrecognised and this will stand the test of time for years to come.

5. Spyro 2: Gateway To Glimmer/Ripto's Rage

Composer: Stewart Copeland

Ah... the waves of nostalgia have crashed over me and they're delightful!

The first four Spyro games music scores were composed by Stewart Copeland, ex-drummer of The Police and the man can certainly compose.

Spyro 2 has the most nostalgia music for me as it was the first game in the series that I owned and one I can come back to again and again.

Here Copeland offers excellent scores which he composed by playing through the levels first, to get a feel for how the music should fit into each world.

You can certainly hear the wintery tones in Winter Tundra, the excitement of being in Sunny Beach and the tranquil tones that are perfectly captured in Aquaria Towers.

Each theme offers a sense of adventure that excels in presenting what Spyro should be about; freedom to be able to explore to your heart's content.

6. Fable 2

Composers: Russell Shaw, Danny Elfman

While not the greatest game to grace the Xbox 360 market, Fable 2 still held it's own in the music department, offering beautiful set pieces and choirs to fit in with the era the game is set in. (Colonial for those interested!)

Composed by Russell Shaw with additional help on the main theme by none other than Danny Elfman, each musical piece perfectly fits with each area you explore from the hustle and bustle of Bowerstone Market witnessing NPCs going about their daily business, to the creepy, dark and depressing manner of the swampy, banshee filled Wraithmarsh, which also has elements of Oakvale (From Fable) making the player question what caused the town to become so run down the first time they set foot into this dreary place, before finding out exactly what happened during the main quest later on.

The game also has a touching tribute to a developer whom had worked on Fable: The Lost Chapters, The Movies and Black & White 2. Heard behind a Demon Door in Fairfax Castle is the song "Marcus' Memorial", a peaceful and relaxing song that itself is a re-master of "Avo's Temple" from the original Fable, which can also be heard in Fable II's pause menu. A simple, but lasting tribute, something that can be appreciated by all.

7. Devil May Cry 4

Composers: Tetsuya Shibata, Kento Hasegawa, & Akihiko Narita

While I'm not the biggest Devil May Cry fan, having only played this and DmC, I can definitely appreciate the work put in by primary composer Tetsuya Shibata, as well as Shusaku Uchiyama, Kota Suzuki, Akihiko Narita, Rei Kondoh, Chamy Ishikawa and Shinichiro Satoh whom also contributed.

With hard rock/heavy metal tones for battle scenes giving the perfect scenario to beat down any demon in any way you like to dark and gothic overtones for an incredible atmospheric approach to exploring areas and wondering how to solve a puzzle efficiently to gain that SSS ranking at the end of a section.

The game I feel, has something for a lot of people. The main theme "Out of Darkness" is a beautiful, operatic opening which greatly shows off the vocal talents of Aubrey Ashburn, as well as describe the connection between Nero and Kyrie and the battles they face to be together.

The music definitely suits the atmosphere of the game and delivers on the demon slayer aspect.

Ah music. How it can influence us. From getting us pumped up for the day ahead to making us sit in silence, thinking about what life has brought us and to what lies ahead, music has impacted everyone in more ways than they realise.

Video games can also impact us in different ways, from story and gameplay elements, to that plot twist you never saw coming, and with the right music to accompany each moment, there's always something that makes you feel ready to defeat the next boss or take your time as you explore a newly discovered dungeon to find the wonders within.

Here's the soundtracks that please my ears each and every time I hear them.

At this year's E3 Expo, Ubisoft has been celebrating their 30th birthday. That's a lot of years publishing and making video games! Ubisoft's impressive back catalogue shows how consistent and dedicated they are to distributing great video games for everyone no matter their interests or age.

From their humble beginnings in a village in Brittany, France, the Guillemot brother's business has grown into a multinational company with offices in over 15 countries. They are the third largest independent publishers, marginally behind Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts (EA) and have hundreds of game titles under their belt. Ubisoft continues to be a frontrunner in developing new gaming technologies and always striving to bring new gaming experiences to players.

Having published many smaller games through the late 80s and early 90s such as Unreal (1990), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1993), and Street Racer (1994), Ubisoft really hit the big time when they released Rayman. Developed by LudiaMedia (now called Ubisoft Montpellier), Rayman was available on the Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS but had its most popular outing on the PlayStation. The game sold 900,000 copies in two years and was voted as "Best Music in a CD-ROM Game" and "Best Animation" at the 1995 Video Game Awards. It is the best-selling PlayStation game in the UK having sold approximately 2 million copies.

Rayman is now one of the iconic images of Ubisoft, has spawned an entire series of games and is as popular now as it was in the 90s. In 2006, Rayman was joined by the Raving Rabbids, a deranged group of rabbits who enjoy getting up to no good and wreaking havoc.

In 2000, Red Storm Entertainment became a subsidiary of Ubisoft. The studio had already released Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six in 1998 to great acclaim, so when the two released Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, it was no surprise that it was a success. Since then, there have been over 12 other titles in the Rainbow Six series and the franchise is always pushing the limits of first person shooters.

Ubisoft is renowned for picking up big names to publish and in the early 2000's they started to publish games developed by Cyan Inc, the masterminds behind the Myst and Uru series. 2003 saw Ubisoft release the first Uru title, Beyond the Myst. Further titles were published in 2004 and 2005. Since then Cyan Inc has released their own Myst and Uru games.

Sometimes even the big guns find an opportunity to work together and Ubisoft did just that in 2002 when they worked with Bethesda on publishing The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Morrowind is the third installment in The Elder Scrolls series and won a multitude of awards including Game of the Year and sold over 4 million copies.

To jump forward to today, Ubisoft is now heading into a different area of entertainment -- video game-based movies. This year, Assassin's Creed is coming to the big screen headed up with Michael Fassbender in the lead role. The Assassin's Creed series began in 2007 when Ubisoft Montreal released the first in series. The game followed Desmond Miles as he viewed and controlled history through the eyes of his genetic ancestor, an assassin called Altair. The game was set during the time of the Third Crusade in 1191. The other Assassin's Creed games follow the same basic principal but take place across lots of different eras in a fictional history but based on real world events. The motion picture will be set in 15th century Spain and is due to release December 16th.

We would both be here all day if I listed every single hit game that Ubisoft has worked on in their 30 years in the business. From Settlers IV to CSI, Batman to Prince of Persia, there is no genre Ubisoft hasn't been involved in. Keeping up with current gaming trends, they announced two new titles at the E3 conference for the Virtual Reality (VR) crowd - Eagle Flight, which lets players soar through the skies of a barren futuristic Paris through the eyes of Eagles, and Star Trek: Bridge Crew, which allows you and your friends to take the helm of a Starfleet starship to explore and discover new planets and civilizations.

Who knows where else Ubisoft will take us in the realms of VR? Maybe we'll see a VR Rainbow Six or Assassins Creed title in the future? Everyone desires to see more games from their favourite developers, what are you hoping the future will bring from Ubisoft? Will they still be around in another 30 years? Let us know your thoughts below.

For more than two decades, the Rayman series has elevated the art of platforming to new and exciting levels (no pun intended). Sure, there are a couple of exceptions to that rule, but for the most part the entire franchise is solid.

When the series made the jump to mobile a few years back, it could have stagnated and just relied on its recognizable brand to sell units. Thankfully, the folks at Ubisoft weren’t content to rest on their laurels, and the result has been two well-made endless runners in Rayman Jungle Run and Rayman Fiesta Run. The third mobile installment, Rayman Adventures, has seen no dip in quality in spite of the fact that has made the game free to play.

This time around, though, the endless runner plays more like its console and PC counterpart than ever before. Players have an unprecedented level of control over their avatar and more reason than ever to revisit levels and get some exploration done.

Rayman Adventures sees the limbless hero and his buddies trying to collect furry little creatures to rebuild a tree or something like that. To be totally honest, does it really matter what the plot is? You’re most likely playing Rayman on mute while watching TV or waiting for the train, so the plot is inconsequential at best. The gameplay — which is obviously the important part — has you running back and forth across a variety of beautifully crafted levels to destroy some cages while collecting gameplay buffs in the form of fluffy creatures called Incrediballs (I’ll leave it to you to supply your own crude joke … and be sure to share them in the comments for all to enjoy!).

The new additions to the gameplay, however, have made Rayman Adventures the most challenging installment of the mobile series yet. Not to worry, though, simply follow out rules below and you’ll be racking up the Incrediballs and unlocking secrets in no time.

You Can Change Characters At Any Time

For those of you who like to switch it up, here’s a quick tip; you can switch between characters for free at any moment. From the Adventure Map, click on your player character’s face in the lower-right corner of your phone’s screen and you’ll be taken to the player profile page. From here, simply click on the T-shirt button (bottom row, second from the left) and you’ll be redirected to the costume page.

On the costume page, you can either spend real money to switch up your player’s outfits (no judgement here, how you spend your money is your own business), or you can switch between the characters themselves. Right now, only Rayman and Barbara are available to play, but more playable characters will be coming at a later date.

Don’t Be Afraid To Stand Still

In any endless runner, the idea is speed. You should always be moving forward as quickly as humanly possible. But, Rayman Adventures isn’t an endless runner, not really. It’s a platformer masquerading as an endless runner. As such, it’s never a bad idea to take a moment to stand still. When you’re chugging along and you run across a barrier, consider simply stopping at the thing and taking a breather rather than just barreling through it.

There are three solid reasons for chilling out for a bit. First, it allows you to get a close glance at certain sections of the level. Rayman Adventures is an extremely vertical game, and if you don’t stop and look around every so often, you can miss areas with valuable secrets.

Reason number two for stopping: the people at Ubisoft responsible for scattering valuables around each level are total jerk faces. You know that beautiful, layered art style that makes the game so visually appealing? The one that occasionally puts foliage or rock outcroppings in the foreground of your screen? Well, several valuables are hidden in plain sight right behind those seemingly innocuous aesthetic flourishes. If you take the time to stop, then you’ll occasionally see a tell tale sparkle or other indication of a hidden valuable.

And finally, reason number three for stopping every once in a while is so important it gets its own bullet point.

You Should Double Back (And Jump For No Reason)

Every level in Rayman Adventure is incredibly well designed. While each can be completed fairly quickly, each is also home to some secret areas and puzzle-ish (puzzle-esque? puzzle-ensian!) areas. In order to get to every area in all the levels, you’ll need to approach most of the areas from both directions.

As the game advances, each adventure becomes more expansive, requiring that you take more and more time to get the most out of every section. The game experience (and your success as a whole) is made all the easier if you’re simply willing to loop back around and attack the same areas from a fresh angle.

Hey, while you’re opening your mind about your endless running strategy, you should think about jumping randomly, even when it doesn’t seem to be required. This is a good way to catch those aforementioned valuables hidden in plain sight, but it’s also a good way to see more of the level (remember, they’re vertical), which could - in turn - reveal some hidden area you may have otherwise not noticed.

Random jumping is a good practice when you’re tooling along for a second or two uninterrupted. Rayman Adventures loves throwing obstacles, so when the game takes a small break from abusing you, it’s usually because you’re supposed to be noticing something worthwhile.

Replay, Replay, Replay (But Do It Quick Like)

As usual, in Rayman Adventures, your character plays through individual levels (duh). These levels are grouped into “Adventures”. At the end of each adventure, you collect a new egg which eventually hatches into a new Incrediball. Here’s the catch, though: once you complete each Adventure and collect your Incrediball egg, your Adventure is done and you can’t go back and replay levels. Until you collect your grand prize (aka, as soon as you drag your new Incrediball into the Incubator), however, you’re free to play and replay any level in the Adventure. And you totally should.

Again, we can’t repeat this too much, the people who developed Rayman Adventures are jerks. They want to make sure that you don’t get everything out of every level without going through it a few times (sometimes in both directions). It’s as if they wanted to give players the most challenging and lengthy gameplay experience possible, the turds.

At any rate, be sure to go back and play all the levels in an Adventure until you’ve gotten your fill, because once you move on down the line, they’re gone for good.

Incrediballs Are Valuable; Don’t Waste Them

Here’s one that goes without saying: don’t waste your Incrediballs. The whole purpose of the game is to collect these bad boys as they not only fuel the progress of the narrative (what little narrative there is), they also provide serious enhancements to the gameplay. These little guys do everything from seek out secrets for you to shield you against enemies. 

Of course, keeping in the vein of, well, pretty much any video game ever, once you collect these guys you can’t go around using them at will. You get one use per creature. After that, to get repeated uses out of them you have to feed them. Food is a finite resource that replenishes slowly over time. In other words, unless you want to drop some real world cash, you’re going to need to save your Incrediballs for when they’re absolutely necessary.

It’s a good idea to try and get through every single level solo the first few times you’re running through them. Sure, in later levels you absolutely will die (a lot), but a trial and error approach to progressing not only saves you some cash, it lets you scout out each level in order to take full advantage of the layout so you can collect every goody on repeated playthroughs.

Be Patient

Finally, be patient. Rayman Adventures is a Rayman game, so you can expect a challenge. The developers at Ubisoft have crafted a complex game that will tax you, but they’ve also hidden tools in the game that allow you to go at your own pace (sort of). It may not be the classic console experience, but it’s closer then ever before. 

All you need to do is take a few deep breaths, relax, and remember to use your noggin as much as you use your pointer finger and you’ll be just fine.

There are many classic games that have a special place in our hearts. These nostalgic titles will always bring back pleasant memories of our childhood and bring a smile maybe even tears of joy to our faces. Sadly these games have remained in the past, for the most part, but it's about time they make their triumphant return to PlayStation 4. Here are the Top 5 games that Sony should bring back.

5. Rayman

Rayman is a old fan-favorite as it was fun, silly and just down right a blast to play. The fact that Rayman had no arms, neck or legs and was just a being with a head, hands, torso and feet he was by far one of the weirdest characters to be introduced in the 90's Attacking enemies from far away with insane punches and flying with his wacky hair is what makes Rayman memorable. Plus the rabids spin-off games are just as fun but nothing beats the original. Rayman is in need of a next-gen comeback as does the next title on the list..

4: Dance, Dance Revolution

DDR is hands down the most irritating yet most fun game to play. Imagine twister but with music and insane to bust dance moves. Great for Friday nights with friends. Although this game is mainly an arcade game, the copies that were sold for home consoles were just as fun if not better as you didn't feel as highly embarrassed when you get beat by a 4-year-old. Bringing this back for next gen consoles would be a blast as you can incorporate use of the PlayStation camera and a new dance pad that can take the constant abuse of being danced on. This would be an amazingly fun and active game to bring back in full dancing force. Get on it Sony! 

3: Jak & Daxter

Jak and Daxter, one of the greatest tag-teams that Naughty Dog has ever created (The other being Ratchet & Clank but they have seen PS4 and are coming back next year). Jak and Daxter was a great adventure game with stunning worlds, great story and top quality action. These 2 characters could very well be among the greatest duo's in video game history. That's really saying something. Plus the fact that the characters grew with us and vice-versa made the connection to the series all that more meaningful. Bring these 2 back please, they have to return with a brand new journey likes we have never seen before!

2: Crash Bandicoot

Do I need to say anything? Im pretty sure the title says it all. Crash was the craziest and wackiest game that many gamers have ever played. Spinning around, crushing boxes, wearing masks for powers and just a wild story. This seemingly nonsensical game was one of the fondest memories that i have as far as gaming goes. It was one of the first games i ever played on PlayStation and i think i can safely speak for everyone that he desperately needs a new game for PlayStation 4. Seeing Crash in HD with his silly self would be a childhood dream come true!

Last but not even close to least....

1: Spyro the Dragon

Spyro the Dragon was by far the best game I have ever played as a kid. Running around as a dragon saving the realm from evil villains such as Ripto was awesome! Spyro had vast worlds to travel and explore, a variety of enemies and many dragon abilities to learn and master. Finding all the captured dragons was the ultimate pain in the a** but it was so rewarding when you found them all. This is one series that needs a reboot for PS4 like now! I know that I'm not alone on this, as Spyro has fallen from grace and has become (to my knowledge) a lame Skylander. Spyro needs to regain his place in PlayStation history as the coolest and most bada** little dragon in gaming history. 

This was my list of Top 5 games that Sony should bring back, what are your thoughts on this? Do you have your own list? If so mention it in the comments below, us gamers need to stick together and remember the games that got us into gaming in the first place!

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Well that was not too painful right? So which sequels did I miss or make the mistake of including? Let me know in the comments!  

Bioshock 2

Wait, what? Am I crazy? (Yes.) Have I lost my mind? (Most assuredly). Don’t run away! Hear me out on this one.

Yes, Bioshock is a landmark game and by all means a classic which showed what narratives in gaming could accomplish. However, the gameplay and design had some issues. Bioshock 2 added some welcome improvements over its predecessor. The silly pipe matching minigame you had to do when hacking? Gone and replaced with a real-time mechanic that made sense! Dual wielding plasmids and weapons? You betcha! More weapons? Why not?

Sure, the game was not perfect. The role of the Big Daddy could have been fleshed out more, and there were obvious content cuts for whatever reason: it is still a remarkable game. The multiplayer is not too shabby either! It’s high time we looked back on this game and gave it a fair shake. 

Street Fighter II

When the original Street Fighter was released in 1987, no one could have anticipated what the sequel would do to the gaming world. With the release of Street Fighter II four years later, Capcom cemented the series’ legacy and ushered in an era of popularity for the fighting genre.

Street Fighter II improved upon the original in every way: better graphics and sound, a larger, more varied cast, depth of combat and mechanics, stages. Everything was better. The game was immensely popular and led to many kids losing their lunch money for a chance to play one more time. Capcom is not foolish, and has ported the game to over fifteen systems and consoles. The game has also seen an HD re-release and inclusion in several compilations. If you haven’t played this game by now, please share your secrets with me!

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

Before anyone objects to this not being a direct sequel, allow me to explain. The first game in the series was Star Wars: Dark Forces followed by Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II while Jedi Outcast was the third one in the series. However, since it is named Jedi Knight II, I am considering it a sequel to 1997’s Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. It absolutely makes sense!

Jedi Outcast undoubtedly had a slow start and some strange puzzles, but the payoff was worth it. Once you received your lightsaber and Force powers, the game became an entirely different beast. The combat made players feel like a Jedi slashing through hapless Stormtroopers (don’t forget that dismemberment code!) and using Force powers at will. The duels with Dark Jedi and members of the Sith were among the highlights of this gem. Add in a multiplayer where you could reenact Highlander with your friends, and you have one of the best Star Wars game ever made. The Force is strong with this one. 

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Again, I am cheating here, but Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising was more of a map pack than a true sequel; not so with Dual Strike. By releasing on the then-new Nintendo DS, Dual Strike was able to utilize two screens and advanced hardware for the series. Boy did it!

The addition of a second screen allowed players to absorb tactical info on the fly without having to open any menus. The battles were also massive, with most stretching far beyond your screen. The addition of a tag team mechanic with your commanders (who had powerful abilities that change the tide of battle) allowed for tactics to change on the fly. The addition of multiplayer and some other modes ensured pocket generals had many reasons to return to glorious turn-based warfare. 

Mega Man 2

While it may come as a surprise, the original Mega Man was not a huge hit with players or critics. Nevertheless, Capcom trudged on with a sequel and released Mega Man 2 in 1988. The gaming world has never been the same since.

With Mega Man 2, Capcom unknowingly unleashed a classic onto an unsuspecting populace. Critics and players worldwide were enamored with the Blue Bomber and made the game a critical and commercial success. To this day, the game is regarded as the best in the series, as well as one of the best games ever made, as well as having one of the best soundtracks in gaming! Not too shabby, eh?

Super Metroid

Note: Awesome fanart by Elemental79.

I am cheating a little bit here. Technically, Metroid’s sequel was Metroid II: The Return of Samus for the original Gameboy, which was by no means a bad game. However, Super Metroid is a more worthy and fitting sequel. Released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo eight years after the original Metroid, Super Metroid showed the time away did wonders for Samus.

Despite releasing at the same time at the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, Super Metroid showed what the SNES could do. With great art design, a terrific soundtrack, tons of new weapons, and a vast world to explore, players were eager to once again step into the power suit of the badass bounty hunter. Who can forget the awesome fight with Mother Brain at the end? Super Metroid is the stuff legends are made of. Now how about an HD remake or a new entry in the series, Nintendo?

Assassin’s Creed 2

As much as I have my issues with the series, I cannot deny the impact Assassin’s Creed 2 has had on the series and gaming as a whole. The first Assassin’s Creed was a love-it or hate-it affair. While some gamers loved exploring the world and assassinating targets, many players were annoyed by the lack of mission diversity and wonky controls and combat. Assassin’s Creed 2 changed the naysayer’s tune.

With improved controls and combat, more mission diversity, and a better-designed world to explore, Assassin’s Creed 2 was everything the first game should have been. However, Assassin’s Creed 2 also started the yearly release cycle Ubisoft continues to foolishly follow. Opposite and equal reactions indeed. 

Rayman 2

The first Rayman is a challenging and legendary platformer and just so happens to be the top selling game for the original Playstation in the United Kingdom. The game was by no means a slouch.

Rayman 2 took the limbless hero into the realms of 3D and the results were one of the best platformers one can play. The transition to the third dimension allowed for more imaginative worlds and levels for our hero to explore. Add great level design, fun abilities, and a hopping soundtrack, and you have a recipe for success! 

Heroes of Might and Magic 2

While Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is considered the crowning achievement of the series, you can’t overlook the second entry in the series. The first Heroes of Might and Magic was met with a fairly middling upon response back in 1995. The sequel is what the thrust the series into the limelight and into gamer’s memories and long, long nights of “Just one more turn” syndrome.

By refining the gameplay, fleshing out the story, and creating the video game equivalent of cocaine, New World Computing ensured players would not be forgetting about this series anytime soon. You can purchase these classics for only $10 apiece; so you get the addictive nature of narcotics without the terrible effects on your health for a bargain! 

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect was an ambitious and terrific game which really showed what the 360 and PS3 could do with its massive scope and gorgeous landscapes. However, the game had issues. Performance issues, technical hiccups, awful inventory management, and clunky combat weighed on the experience, but not enough to ruin it. Mass Effect 2 rectified those issues and then some.

By streamlining and redesigning the game, the final product played smoother and was a more enjoyable experience. Add in a gripping tale where death is a real possibility and a great cast of characters, and you could forgive BioWare for eliminating a lot of the RPG mechanics from the first game. Mass Effect 2 is a terrific game with one of the best narratives in gaming. And the MAKO no longer handles like a drunken gnome riding a wild boar! A win for all!

Who doesn't love a good sequel? Since you awesome readers responded so well to my last post on sequels, I proudly present a sequel to my sequel post!  (The irony is thick with this one.)

As with the last one, the sequels here made improvements over the originals, and in some cases, blow the original completely out of the water. I have also tried to limit the games to direct sequels or else this would go on forever. So shall we begin the sequel to the sequel? (Seriously, I’m making my head hurt with this).