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3. Street Fighter II

The name says it all. There will be fighting, and it will take place in the streets. Street Fighter II has withstood the test of time because it marries together the hardcore and casual audience. The hardcore crowd digs Street Fighter because they want to memorize and execute complex battle strategies that always sound like sketchy sex moves (impenetrable corner grapples, anybody?). The casual audience wants to play as E. Honda (or Jumpy McJuggflop, as he’s known on my turf), and slap their enemy in the face. 100 times. And both audiences want to use Chun Li’s thigh as a body pillow.

2. Counter-Strike

The hardest of the hardcore shooters, Counter-Strike holds the distinction of being the one game that gets less fun the more alcohol you consume. No perks, iron sights, or progression, just non-stop crouching behind boxes and crying about the AWP. At least, that’s how I play. The upcoming multiplatform release Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is sure to introduce a whole new generation of gamers to the joys of being knifed in the back 2 seconds before they arm the bomb.

1. Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64 is the greatest racing game of all time. There, I said it. Devoid of the gimmicks that plagued future Mario Kart games, MK 64 has the tight controls required to race well, as well as the random element that will stop you from doing so (If you use lightning against me on Toad’s Turnpike, I’ll punch you in the elbow). The best part is that every avid Mario Kart player has their own supposed “foolproof” strategy for winning at a game that is 70% randomized:

Player 1: “Well, you gotta play as Peach and then just hop. Yeah, the whole damn time, just hop. Hop all the way down Moo Moo Farm. You’re guaranteed a win, bro.”

Player 2: “What you want to do is get a little buzzed, so that the floaty driving seems natural and realistic, and then play as Donkey Kong, and you’re golden.”

My Mario Kart strategy? Purposefully stay in last place until I get a blue shell, and then drive like a banshee. A tiny, toadstool banshee. On a lawnmower. Guaranteed win, yo.

While it’s a scientific fact that these three games are the best multiplayer games ever, I would love to hear your own opinions in the comments (as long as your comments aren’t just stories from your reservoir of Zangief-Cammy romantic fan fiction).

If you enjoyed this article, please check out Killcams in Battlefield 3 – An Unwelcome Feature?

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