Nintendo at VGXPO!

Some very exciting news, guys. Nintendo has just signed on as a major exhibitor for VGXPO 2009! That's right, the creator of like 90% of my childhood memories (the video game related ones anyway) will be showing off its latest Wii releases and maybe a sneak peek or two at some upcoming games. We're thrilled to have such an innovative and well-loved industry leader at the event!

To commemorate this, here are my Top 5 old school Nintendo Games:

#5: A Boy And His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia (NES)

I spent so much time on this game. WHY DO JELLY BEANS MAKE IT TURN INTO THINGS RELATED BY PUNS? This was never fully explained, though as a 7 year old, I didn't question it. It was a fun yet frustrating puzzle game. There is apparently an update coming out for Wii, so hold onto your jelly beans.

#4: Star Fox (SNES)

One of only a few games to be released containing the Super FX graphics coprocessor, Star Fox was an awesome game. For their time, the graphics were great, and I never turn down the opportunity to kill things in a star fighter, let alone as part of a gang of woodland creatures. I could still probably pull off some sick moves. How can you not love a game with a character named Falco Lombardi? It was hard to choose between Star Fox and the other Super FX game of my childhood, Stunt Race FX.

#3: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

When many people had moved on to Super Mario World for SNES, a strong contender in the ever-evolving Mario franchise, and eventually Super Mario 64, I was content to stick with Super Mario Bros. 3 for NES. The game has few peers, even today, for sheer enjoyment factor. Good times.

#2: Super Mario Kart (SNES)

Yeah I'm a big Mario fan, what of it? :) It says a lot about a game when friends still huddle around functioning SNES systems to do tournament races or battles in square arenas, despite the existence of more recent, graphically enhanced versions. And by friends, I mean my friends. Both modes could get crazy with truly skilled players going up against each other, but the atmosphere is always about the race and not the result. Super Mario Kart Wii definitely holds on to that fun, anyone-can-win spirit, but the SNES version captured it in its purest form.

#1: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)

Why did I choose the sequel to the hugely-successful Donkey Kong Country, and not the original? A while back, I played through both again, and was surprised at the enhancements to the sequel, both in overall graphics, gameplay and controller interaction. The characters are just easier to control, and can do more, in DKC2. This is another game I played for hours on end when I was a kid, and it holds up remarkably well.
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So, what are your top 5?