Round 1: A is for A lot of games!

[This Old Neon]

Round 1: A is for A lot of games!

You can vote for 0-8 games in this poll. Pick as many or as few as you like, but vote carefully—you can't change your votes after submitting them. The #1 ranked game at the end of the week will move on to Round 2.

1983 - Gyruss - NES
1985 - The Bard's Tale - PC
1989 - Super Mario Land - GB
1994 - Snatcher - SCD
2004 - Peasant’s Quest - PC
2011 - Beat Hazard - PC
2012 - Double Dragon Neon - PS3
2013 - Papers, Please - PC
2015 - Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number - PC

You are encouraged to discuss your choices and your reasons for selecting the games you did.

[Kong Wen]

I cast two votes in this one, after some deliberation.

My first was for The Bard's Tale. It was one of my earlier "dungeon crawl" RPGs and I had a good time with it. I liked the party system. I don't know if I ever managed to beat it.

My second vote (honestly, this is the one I'm feeling more strongly about) is Papers, Please. It's an interesting, oppressive experience, and a creative idea. Essentially a puzzle/point & click "adventure" simulation, they way they have created a "play" experience around this subject matter is neat. Plus the scenario is just interesting in and of itself. The social/political ramifications didn't really sway me a whole lot, although they may resonate with some people. I just think it's a good idea for a game, and executed well.

[Humphries90]

Just one for me, Super Mario Land. Just as fun as the console Mario games and actually quite unique.

[Trapster]

Only played Super Mario Land out of those.

[Claytone]

Snatcher and Papers, Please will receive my votes. The mediocre-at-best Super Mario Land will not.

[Spore]

The mediocre-at-best Super Mario Land will not.

That one's surprising me a bit. Nintendo didn't have a really good Mario platformer on Game Boy until the sequel which I imagine is already up a bracket.

[Humphries90]

I actually prefer the original. I could play Super Mario Land any time. I didn't even play it back in the day so it's not nostalgia. The physics, the music and the simplicity make it a much more enjoyable experience than the handheld sequels, for me at least.

[VictorViper]

While I've never played the NES version (arcade-only), Gyruss is a seminal classic and outshines even Tempest as tunnel shooters go. I could have also gone with SMW, but I'm of the opinion that SMB3 (and even SMB2) are superior. World was an excellent addition to the franchise and a wonderful showcase for the SNES, but on the aforementioned points, I cannot split my vote.

[Kong Wen]

While I've never played the NES version (arcade-only), Gyruss is a seminal classic and outshines even Tempest as tunnel shooters go. I could have also gone with SMW, but I'm of the opinion that SMB3 (and even SMB2) are superior. World was an excellent addition to the franchise and a wonderful showcase for the SNES, but on the aforementioned points, I cannot split my vote.

SMW is not here! This is Super Mario Land, the little 4-stage Game Boy game. You made the right choice.

[VictorViper]

Whoops, you're right! Right choice indeed, although I just loved the first SML.