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Top 10 Arcade-Style Sports Games

Let’s talk about sports!

Wait! Come back! I’m sorry!

This week we are talking about sports, but I promise next time I’ll talk about something much nerdier.

It’s pretty common knowledge that we are all nerds. It’s also true that most nerds don’t really enjoy sports. Some do of course, but sports and sports video games are often more associated to gramers. It’s not always the case, but it is a widely held assumption. Nerds don’t care about sports, unless they’re made-up sports.

Nevertheless, I’m here to tell you that not all sports are bad, and you got to give some sports games a chance. What games? Well arcade-style sports games of course, because they’re the most fun!

RULES:

One game per franchise.
Arcade style sports games consist of non-simulation sports games. There are the games you can jump 20 feet in the air, create earthquakes, or shoot people.
I will only be counting ball/puck sports so no fighting, boarding or racing games.
Games order in the list are based on how much I enjoy the game.
If you don’t like the list fine, just don’t be a douche.

10.) Super Baseball Simulator 1.000

Baseball Simulator 1.000 doesn’t sound like a game that should have made this list. First off it’s a simulation game; second off 1.000 is a baseball reference that many gamers may not get.

Baseball Simulator 1.000 and its sequel Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 play just like normal 8 and 16-bit simulation baseball games. The gameplay is similar to the Bases Loaded and RBI Baseball series. However, there is one major difference… Ultra Moves. There are normal leagues in the game, however if you select a team from the Ultra League or create your own Ultra Team from the robust Create-A-Team mode you have access to Ultra Moves. There is Ultra Batting, Ultra Fielding, and Ultra Pitching. These Ultra Moves are basically super powers with a limited number of uses. There is Photon Ball, Ninja Ball, Warp Ball, Missile Hit, Bomb Hit, Shadowless, and even Rocket Jump just to name a few. Not much else to say except without the Ultra Moves, this would be a mediocre baseball game, but their inclusion clinches the number ten spot on this list

9.) Super Baseball 2020

Super Baseball 2020 has a similar title to our last entry, but they are very different from one another. The game was originally made for the Neo Geo in Japan, but was eventually ported to the Super Nintendo and SEGA Genesis.

In the distant future of 2020, baseball is still a popular sport across the world. However, since it’s so far in the future, things have changed. Now baseball is played by robots and scientifically enhanced humans with jetpacks. Because of this the foul zone and the home run zone have been shortened greatly. In addition, much of the outfield has been covered with a protective barrier that bounces the ball back into play.

The big thing that makes Super Baseball 2020 different from other baseball games is the ability to powerup your players. As you play a game you will get money for positive actions such as getting an opposing player out or hitting a home run, and you will lose money. You can spend your money to revive a tired player, or you can upgrade a certain player’s fielding, hitting, or pitching. This turns the game into a baseball simulation with mid-game steroid enhancements, women, and robots.

If we don’t have this in seven years, I’m gonna be pissed.

8.) Ninja Golf

While I love playing golf, I really do not enjoy watching it on TV. The only time I turn on golf, is when I’m ready to take a nap. However, if the PGA Tour added ninjas to the tournament, I’d watch that every single day!

Ninja Golf is a game originally released for the Atari 7200. You play as a ninja who must complete 9 holes of golf. The game begins like any other golf game where you line up a shot, gauge your power meter, and then swing. Then the real challenge begins. As a ninja, you have to run to your ball while killing other ninjas along the way. Ninjas aren’t the only enemy you’ll face though because there are snakes in the sand traps and sharks in the water hazards.

A game this ridiculous has to make it onto this list. I wonder if Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am was inspired by this game.

7.) NFL Blitz

I’m sure you knew this game would be on the list somewhere, but I bet you’re surprise how high it is. NFL Blitz is basically the NBA Jam of football. Also, by football I mean Ahmurrican football, not that sissy soccer where you actually use your feet.

To me, the original NFL Blitz will always be the best. It was originally an arcade game, found in actual arcades! Remember when arcades were a thing, and not just Dave and Busters? Well either way, NFL Blitz saw massive success in the arcade so it was ported to the Nintendo 64 and the original Playstation. The game was supposed to be a simple and fast paced version of football. Therefore, the players could run very fast and throw far. It took 30 yards to get a first down, but this was an easy task. In addition, pass interference, roughing the passer, and late hits are all encouraged. Sack the quarterback, then hit him again for good luck.

NFL Blitz was great because it simplified the sport and added a ton of fun. There were fewer plays to pick from, but there was still plenty of strategy. Anyone could pick it up and play, but also anyone could master it. Also you could enter codes to make the game even more insane, which was always fun.

6.) Base Wars – Cyber Stadium Series

I swear this will be the last baseball game on this list. I don’t even like the sport that much, but there are some really fun baseball games out there. Base Wars has to be my favorite.

In the 24^th century, baseball team owners have grown tired of paying their players so much. Therefore, they replaced the entire league with robots. There are flying robots, bipedal androids, tank robots, and even motorcycle robots.

The rest of the game plays out very similar to a simulation baseball game, but there is another huge difference. Many times during the game you will have to pit your robotic players against the other team in order to determine if you’re safe or out. You can also upgrade your players so they’re stronger, or have better weaponry so that they can win more fights. It’s like BattleBots combined with baseball, and that ain’t bad at all.

5.) Tiny Toons Adventures: ACME All-Stars

Tiny Toons Adventures: ACME All-Stars is an often overlooked sports game for the SEGA Genesis. It doesn’t receive much attention, but it’s a game closely tied to my childhood, and must make an appearance on this list.

This game was similar to Wacky Sports released on the Super Nintendo, but I never played that. In this game you select a team of Tiny Toons and compete in a series of sporting events. The two main events are soccer and basketball however you can also compete in a whack-a-mole game, an obstacle course, or even bowling. You can compete against your friends, or in a story mode against CPU controlled opponents.

When I was a kid, I always enjoyed Tiny Toons. It was one of my favorite shows on television, and I know I’m not alone in this sentiment. The best thing about Tiny Toons Adventures: ACME All-Stars is that it’s faithful to the source material. The character and level design look like they’re straight out of the carton. In addition, each character has a special shot specific to their character. Shirley the Loon can use her telekinetic abilities to take a shot, Dizzy Devil spins around, Calamity Coyote uses an ACME robot, and much more.

This game isn’t widely known, but it should be.

4.) Mario Tennis

There are a lot of Mario sports games, but my favorite by far has to be Mario Tennis. The game was originally made for the Nintendo 64, and since then there have been numerous sequels.

Mario Tennis was a great game to get people into tennis because it was simplistic and fun. In this game, you select a popular character from the Mario universe and compete in a series of cups similar to Mario Kart. The challenges get tougher as you rise through the cups to where you eventually defeat Bowser himself. The difficulty isn’t the only thing that changes during these cups. The court that you play on changes as well to increase the challenge. If you complete the cups in singles or doubles you can unlock a secret character.

In addition to these cups, there is exhibition mode, Bowser stage (where you compete on a tilting court with powerups), Piranha Challenge (where a group of piranha plants shoot out tennis balls), and Ring Shot (where you practice your precision shots).

Mario Tennis’ claim to fame was that it was the first game to introduce Waluigi. Waluigi was created so Wario could have a doubles partner, and he had been loathed ever since.

3.) NBA Jam

BOOMSHAKALAKA!

NBA Jam is the quintessential arcade-style sports game. It was first developed and released by Midway to the arcades in 1993. The game was so popular that it generated over $1 billion in arcade revenue alone. The game was then updated with NBA Jam Tournament Edition that included more modes and an updated roster.

While many people believe NBA Jam is an entirely original idea, it is not. The game is based off of Arch Rivals. Both games play an over-the-top version of basketball with two players on each side. The gameplay is extremely exaggerated. Players can jump twenty feet in the air to perform outlandish dunks, they can shove anyone with ease, and periods only last a few minutes. In addition, there are no fouls except for goaltending or shot clock violations. It’s anything goes basketball.

The game is great for the same reasons NBA Jam is great, but also because it’s iconic. NBA Jam is one of the most widely known sports game ever made and one of the highest grossing. He’s On Fire, Boomshakalaka, and From Downtown will be forever etched into our minds from this game.

2.) Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey

It’s tough for me to explain why I love Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey without sounding redundant.

Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey is another over-exaggerated sports game created by Midway, but it is my absolute favorite one made by them. Why? Well mainly because Hockey is my all-time favorite sport. I love the Pittsburgh Penguins, but I absolutely adore hockey itself.

That’s probably why I enjoy Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey so much. It has all the over-the-top and insane action of NBA Jam or NFL Blitz, but that’s combined with my favorite sport and my favorite athletes of all time. Not much else to day except, I like hockey and this game is hockey cranked to 11.

1.) Mutant League Hockey & Football

I know before I said one game per franchise, but I lied.

Instead the number one spot is a tie between Mutant League Hockey and Mutant League Football, They’re essentially the same game anyway, so who cares?

Mutant League Hockey and Football are two absolutely insane sports games. In these games you can pick from robots, to skeletons, to trolls and so much more. These nasty creatures brimming with radiation make up the teams in these games and they play as foul as they look. In either of these games, there are numerous traps scattered across the playing field/ice. There are mines, holes, debris, and many more hazards that will affect your game. You not only have to defeat your opponent, but you must also stay alive.

To make matters worse, your opponent can bribe the referee to call fake penalties, but luckily you can murder the referee if needed. Death is imminent in this game.

I played the Mutant League Hockey and Football games so much when I was a kid that it is part of my childhood. I love the gameplay, I love the design, I love the humor, and I absolutely love all the bloody death everywhere. It may not be perfect, but it’s my favorite arcade-style sports game.

Okay, that’s enough sports talk for one list. Next time is going to be a very special list because it will be an update of the first list I ever wrote.

Happy Gaming!