Top Ten Tuesday: Discontinued Sports Video Games

With news that NBA JAM could be making a comeback this year with the help of Microsoft, this week’s Top Ten Tuesday goes over the top ten discontinued sports video games of all-time. The world would be a better place with these games back in the mix.

 

10. The BIGS

Sort of a successor to MLB Slugfest, The BIGS was an arcade-style baseball game that allowed crazy home runs, home-run robs, and unrealistic pitches well over the fastest MPH ever recorded. Players had realistic stats in various categories, and the story mode allowed you to steal players from opposing teams when you beat them. There were two versions of the game, but there has not been a third.

 

9. MLB Slugfest

One thing The BIGS did not have was the ability to punch people in the face for no apparent reason. In MLB Slugfest players could literally catch fire and charge the mound, and they could even force the ball out of the glove by punching defensive players. This was basically an underground street-style baseball game, but it actually had some solid gameplay too that allowed for really fun games.

 

8. Fight Night

There hasn’t been a Fight Night game since 2011, and since that time UFC has only become more popular. However, there are still many fans of the sweet science, and a lot of mixed martial arts fans would be on board if Connor McGregor was included in the game. A good story mode would be a must for the game, and we’ve certainly seen good boxing stories can work in Hollywood.

 

7. Tecmo Bowl

Released in 1987 before coming to Nintendo in 1989, Tecmo Bowl is still a classic that beat Madden to the punch by creating a professional football video game. Everyone knows Bo Jackson was literally unstoppable in the game, and this clip should be an entertaining couple of minutes in your day:

 

 

6. NFL Blitz

Like MLB Slugfest and NBA JAM, NFL Blitz was created by Midway Games as an arcade-style game that was not intended to be realistic. NFL Blitz delivered crazy catches, did not have penalties (allowing late hits and celebrations), and had some huge hits. If you played it, you’ll probably remember “Da Bomb” play, which is considered the best in the game. In the arcades around the world it happens to be in, there’s a good chance NFL Blitz is among the most popular games.

 

5. SSX

The sequel in the SSX series, SSX Tricky, was probably the best of the bunch. These snowboarding video games from EA Sports BIG received rave reviews from both critics and everyday players of the game for its fun gameplay that allowed for awesome tricks—with the ultimate purpose of winning your race. The various characters in the game were also great.

 

4. NBA Jam

No other game delivers a phrase like “boom shakalaka” the way NBA Jam did starting back in the early 1990s. The overall success of the game, which somehow made $1 billion in quarters in its first year, paved the way for both NFL Blitz and MLB Slugfest from Midway, and it inspired other ideas from other companies. NBA Jam will always be an iconic arcade game.

 

3. NFL Street

The second and third versions of the game were a lot of fun, but most people will go with the original NFL Street with Ricky Williams on the cover as the classic that stands the test of time. Creating your own team in the “NFL Challenge” mode might have been tedious, but you were able to pick off real NFL players from opposing teams after beating them. And finally completing the game and unlocking all players, including legends once you defeat the NFL Legends team, was quite the feat.

 

2. NCAA Football

The game on this list to most recently have a release is NCAA Football, which had NCAA Football 14 released in July 2013—and it might be the game fans clamor for the most (NCAA Football 14 still goes for at least $35 most places). The players were generic, but their likeness was no doubt based on the real-life college players, and you were allowed to edit the rosters—which people did and made available online. Gameplay was great, games modes would allow you to play as a coach or player anywhere from Akron to Alabama, and it was overall just a lot better than the Madden games.

 

1. NBA Street

“Gamebreakers” started with this beloved series from EA Sports BIG. Originals are always great, and the original NBA Street is no exception, but NBA Street Vol. 2. is when the series reached the level of absolute classic. In Vol. 2, there were a ton of legends, including three different versions of the G.O.A.T., Michael Jordan: 1985 rookie MJ, 1996 MJ, and Washington Wizards MJ. From the game’s playlist, to its announcing, to its gameplay, to its game modes, to its characters and venues, NBA Street Vol. 2 is one of the greatest video games of all-time.