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Best original launch titles for systems

O

OldJadedGamer

Banned
And by "original" I mean the real launch. Not the US launch that happened a year after the Japanese launch or the European launch that happened 4 months after the US one but the *real* launch. The day that the system was available at retail for the very first time... ever. So the March 2000 PS2 launch, the 1994 PS1, or 1998 Dreamcast launch. I'm not talking just Japanese launches as some systems like the DS have launched first in the US before anywhere else. Just asking for the first time the system appeared at retail anywhere in the world.

Looking back on history, what was #1 the best launch game and #2 the best launch line up. Personally, I have to say Mario 64 even though the N64 only launched with 2 titles, Mario 64 is still held up as one of the best games ever... and it was an original launch title. That is pretty impressive.

So, what is your favorite original launch title and launch line up?







--------------------------------
lunchwithyuzo found a list of all the original launch titles for all the major systems.

lunchwithyuzo said:
For people wondering, here's the launch titles for most major consoles:

NES (Japan)
Donkey Kong (Nintendo)
Donkey Kong Jr. (Nintendo)
Popeye (Nintendo)

TurboGrafx-16 (Japan)
Bukurriman World (Hudson)
Shanghai (Hudson)

Genesis (Japan)
Space Harrier II (Sega)
Super Thunderblade (Sega)

Game Boy (Japan)
Alleyway (Nintendo)
Baseball (Nintendo)
Super Mario Land (Nintendo)
Yakuman (Nintendo)

Game Gear (Japan)
Columns (Sega)
Pengo (Sega)
Super Monaco GP (Sega)

Super NES (Japan)
F-Zero (Nintendo)
Super Mario World (Nintendo)

Saturn (Japan)
Virtua Fighter (Sega)
Wanchai Connection (Sega)
Mahjong Gokuji Tenku (Electronic Arts)
Myst (Sunsoft)
Tama: Adventurous Ball in Labyrinth (Time Warner Interactive)

PlayStation (Japan)
Crime Crackers (Sony Computer Entertainment)
A-Train IV Evolution (Artdink)
Mahjong Gokuji Tenku (Electronic Arts)
Mahjong Station Mazin (Sunsoft)
Nekketsu Oyako (Tecnosoft)
Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack (Konami)
Ridge Racer (Namcot)
Tama: Adventurous Ball in Labyrinth (Time Warner Interactive)

Nintendo 64 (Japan)
Pilotwings 64 (Nintendo)
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo)
Saikyo Habu Shogi 64 (Seta)

Dreamcast (Japan)
Godzilla Generations (Sega)
July (Sega)
Pen Pen Tricelon (Sega)
Virtua Fighter 3tb (Sega)

PlayStation 2 (Japan)
A-Train VI (Artdink)
DrumMania (Konami)
Eternal Ring (From Software)
Kakinogi Shogi IV (ASCII)
Kessen (Koei)
Mahjong Takai (Koei)
Morita Shogi (Yuki Enterprise)
Ridge Racer V (Namco)
Stepping Selection (Jaleco)
Street Fighter EX3 (Capcom)

Game Boy Advance (Japan)
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (Nintendo)
Kurukuru Kururin (Nintendo)
Napoleon (Nintrndo)
Super Mario Advance (Nintendo)
Air Traffic Controller (TAM)
Bomberman Tournament (Hudson)
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Konami)
Chu-Chu Rocket! (Sega)
EZ-Talk Series (Keynet)
Fire Pro Wrestling (Spike)
GT Advance: Championship Racing (MTO)
JGTO Golf Master (Konami)
J-League Pocket (Konami)
Konami Krazy Racers (Konami)
Megaman Battle Network (Capcom)
Monster Guardians (Konami)
Mr. Driller 2 (Namco)
Pinobee: Quest of Heart (Hudson)
Powapuro Kun Pocket 3 (Konami)
Silent Hill Play Novel (Konami)
Super Dodgeball Advance (Atlus)
Top Gear Championship Racing (Kemco)
Tweety and the Magic Jewels (Kemco)
Winning Post Advance (Koei)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeondice Monsters (Konami)

Gamecube (Japan)
Luigi's Mansion (Nintendo)
Waverace Blue Storm (Nintendo)
Super Monkey Ball (Sega)

Xbox (USA)
Fusion Frenzy (Microsoft Game Studios)
Halo: Combat Evolved (Microsoft Game Studios)
NFL Fever 2002 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Project Gotham Racing (Microsoft Game Studios)
Oddworld: Munch's Odyssey (Microsoft Game Studios)
Air Force Delta Storm (Konami)
Arctic Thunder (Midway Games)
Cel Damage (Electronic Arts)
Dead or Alive 3 (Tecmo)
Mad Dash Racing (Eidos Interactive)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X (Activision)
4x4 Evo 2 (T2 Interactive)

Nintendo DS (USA)
Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
Asphalt: Urban GT (Ubisoft)
Feel the Magic: XY-XX (Sega)
Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts)
Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)

PSP (Japan)
Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Armored Core: Formula Front (From Software)
DarkStalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (Capcom)
Lumines (Bandai)
Mahjong Fight Club (Konami)
Ridge Racers (Namco)

Xbox 360 (USA)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Amped 3 (2K)
Call of Duty 2 (Activision)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (Sega)
FIFA '06: Road to FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts)
GUN (Activision)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA 2K6 (2K)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
NHL 2K6 (2K)
Peter Jackson's King Kong (Ubisoft)
Quake 4 (Activision)
Ridge Racer 6 (Namco)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 (Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision)

PlayStation 3 (Japan)
Genji: Days of the Blade (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Resistance: Fall of Man (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In Sight (Bandai)
Ridge Racer 7 (Namco)
Sega Golf Club (Sega)

Wii (USA)
Excite Truck (Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo)
Wii Sports ( Nintendo)
Avatar: The Last Airbender (THQ)
Call of Duty 3 (Activision)
Cars (THQ)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (Bandai)
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (Midway Games)
GT Pro Series (Ubisoft)
Happy Feet (Midway Games)
Madden NFL 07 (Electronic Arts)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Activision)
Monster 4x4 World Circuit (Ubisoft)
Need for Speed: Carbon (Electronic Arts)
Rampage: Total Destruction (Midway Games)
Rayman Raving Rabbids (Ubisoft)
Red Steel (Ubisoft)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab (THQ)
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Sega)
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Activision)
Trauma Center: Second Opinion (Atlus)

Nintendo 3DS (Japan)
Nintendogs + Cats (Nintendo)
Bust-a-Move Universe (Square Enix)
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles (Level 5)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
Ridge Racer 3D (Namco)
Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (Koei)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
Click to expand...
 
V

valentine71

Banned
kazandludacris3bw8.jpg



No, im not serious.
 
O

OldJadedGamer

Banned
The reason I said original real launch titles is that it's easy for a developer to work with final hardware that has been on retail shelves for over 6 months and standards are set. That's not as impressive making a great quality game as it is for a developer to work with the unknown and have a crazy drop dead date for release. Developers that can do that deserve special props in my book.
 
D

darkpaladinmfc

Member
Mario 64 and Halo are the only ones I can think of, as I assume you're not counting Twilight Princess.

EDIT: Forgot Super Mario World, for shame.
 
H

HolyCheck

I want a tag give me a tag
Surely you should add a not a sequel clause to the rule

the real answer here is Super Monkey Ball for the Gamecube
 
T

TheJollyCorner

Member
most of my choices would be from the SNES and PS2 US launches, but since those don't count............................


Condemned for the 360.

Awesome launch game.
 
S

scar tissue

Banned
Halo and Super Mario 64
Anyone who claims differently is nuts, those games are among the top 10 best games ever, nevermind launch games
 
T

Tain

Member
Actually, this should be pretty educational for me. I don't know much about Japanese launches.

Skimming Wikipedia and looking at games I'd be interested in:

- SNES is strong with F-Zero and Super Mario World.
- Megadrive is strong with Space Harrier II and kinda weak with Super Thunder Blade
- Saturn had nothing. VF1? Nah, thanks.
- PSX had Nekketsu Oyako? damn. And Parodius Deluxe Pack? damn homie.
- N64 had Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings.
- Dreamcast had VF3tb.
- PS2 had ?
- Gamecube had Super Monkey Ball.
- Xbox had Halo and JSRF.
- 360 had, uh, Condemned.
- PS3 had nothing.
- Wii had nothing.

This was cool to look up. I'm really surprised at some of these, like Space Harrier II and Nekketsu Oyako.

I don't know. Mario 64 is cool. Nekketsu Oyako is okay to good, and Parodius is very strong but an arcade port. F-Zero and Super Mario World are also pretty good.

I might have to give this to the PSX, with Super Nintendo in second.

Nothing shitty about these rules, either. Just your nostalgia!
 
Ryu Hayabusa

Ryu Hayabusa

Member
SEGA 32X (not a console but...)
  • Virtua Racing Deluxe

Sega Saturn
  • Virtua Fighter

Nintendo 64
  • Super Mario 64

Microsoft Xbox
  • Halo: Combat Evolved
 
T

TheJollyCorner

Member
Tain said:
Actually, this should be pretty educational for me. I don't know much about Japanese launches.

- PS2 had SSX, Tekken Tag Tournament, Gungriffon Blaze, Ridge Racer V
Click to expand...


I don't think the Japanese launch had SSX...... ?
 
O

OldJadedGamer

Banned
Some good games mentioned I forgot:

Halo
Ridge Racers
Super Monkey Ball
Super Mario World

All great quality real launch titles. I totally forgot about Super Monkey Ball, what a hidden gem.

Tain said:
Actually, this should be pretty educational for me. I don't know much about Japanese launches.

Skimming Wikipedia and looking at games I'd be interested in:

- SNES is strong with F-Zero and Super Mario World.
- Megadrive is strong with Space Harrier II and kinda weak with Super Thunder Blade
- Saturn had nothing. VF1? Nah, thanks.
- PSX had Nekketsu Oyako? damn. And Parodius Deluxe Pack? damn homie.
- N64 had Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings.
- Dreamcast had VF3tb.
- PS2 had SSX, Tekken Tag Tournament, Gungriffon Blaze, Ridge Racer V
- Gamecube had Super Monkey Ball.
- Xbox had Halo and JSRF.
- 360 had, uh, Condemned.
- PS3 had nothing.
- Wii had nothing.

This was cool to look up. I'm really surprised at some of these, like Space Harrier II and Nekketsu Oyako.

I don't know. Mario 64 is cool. Nekketsu Oyako is okay to good, and Parodius is very strong but an arcade port. F-Zero and Super Mario World are also pretty good.

I might have to give this to the PSX, with Super Nintendo in second.

Nothing shitty about these rules, either. Just your nostalgia!
Click to expand...

If memory serves me right, VF3 wasn't a launch title but came later and then at the US release they made VF3TB and released that version in Japan.... I'm pretty sure but could be wrong.

Tekken Tag did not make the Japanese launch and ended up coming out about 10 days to 2 weeks after launch. Some last minute bug I believe. The best PS2 game at launch was Ridge Racer 5 by a mile.
 
T

TheJollyCorner

Member
Tain said:
Yeah, I probably misread that. Wikipedia didn't list the Japanese launch titles.
Click to expand...


regardless, TTT and RRV were awesome launch games. I still remember the spin from all the Dreamcast nutjobs at the time. :p
 
K

Kubisa

Neo Member
Game Cube had Rouge Squadron 2 if I remember right. One of the best Star Wars games I've played. Not 100% sure it was there for the Japanese launch though.
 
R

Rich!

Member
20080625040241!Super_Mario_64_box_cover.jpg


Ushered in a completely new direction for 3D gaming. One of the greatest games ever made. Nothing else comes close.
 
T

TheJollyCorner

Member
MechDX said:
cboxhalo.jpg


Genre defining. Console defining. Awesomeness defining.
Click to expand...


is it a stretch to believe that the whole 'XBOX' experiment dies if HALO didn't succeed?
I mean, I remember the system was basically the 'HaloBox' for the first couple years...


or maybe that's just classic console melodrama (i.e. SQUARE'S BETRAYAL OF NINTENDO CEMENTED THE PLAYSTATION DOMINATION!) :lol
 
M

MechDX

Member
richisawesome said:
20080625040241!Super_Mario_64_box_cover.jpg


Ushered in a completely new direction for 3D gaming. One of the greatest games ever made. Nothing else comes close.
Click to expand...


HALO built a console and a brand. Before HALO it was "LOLZ M$ console!!11!!1 WTF,nowai!?!?"

Nintendo was Nintendo before SM64.
 
O

OldJadedGamer

Banned
Man God said:
I think Rogue Squadron II should count.
Click to expand...

Well, they did have 2 extra months of development that other launch Cube titles like Super Monkey Ball didn't have, but with how secretive Nintendo is about hardware especially with developers outside of Japan... odds are both developers had the same about of dev time.
 
GhaleonQ

GhaleonQ

Member
Since you're doing this properly, it's the Game Boy Advance's launch line-up, no question.
(copied and pasted http://uk.gameboy.ign.com/articles/092/092330p1.html , starred for excellent and very good)
**Super Mario Advance
*F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
**Kuru Kuru Kururin
Napoleon
*Dodgeball Advance
*Pocket GT Advance
*Mega Man EXE
EZ Talk
Top Gear All Japan GT
Tweety and the Magical Jewel
**Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
**Konami Wai Wai Racing
Golf Master
J-League Pocket
*Powerful Pro Kun Baseball
Silent Hill Play Novel
Monster Guardians
Dungeondice Monsters
*Fire Pro Wrestling A
*Chu Chu Rocket
I Am An Air Traffic Controller
**Mr. Driller 2
*Pinobee: Quest Of Heart
*Momotaro Festival
Winning Post

If I had few budget restrictions, I'd have bought all of the starred games, which is more than I'd have bought for many systems' 1st YEAR.

Super Mario World's my 4th favorite video game, so it wins. I did check to see if my favorite PC games came out with a new operating system, but King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow came a few months after Windows 3.1 http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25741820&postcount=366
 
R

Rich!

Member
MechDX said:
HALO built a console and a brand. Before HALO it was "LOLZ M$ console!!11!!1 WTF,nowai!?!?"

Nintendo was Nintendo before SM64.
Click to expand...

IMO, HALO doesn't come even close. Doesn't help by the fact that I despise halo. gah.
 
F

Foffy

Banned
Would King's Field for the PS1 count? It was a pretty innovative game at the time, and eventually laid the formula FromSoftware has mastered with games like Demon's Souls.

I'm pretty sure the game's very unknown to people, despite being a pretty good game. There's barely any footage of this game on Youtube, all that's there is clunky emulator footage.

And before anyone asks, that King's Field title was never localized. The first King's Field we got was actually the second game.
 
R

Rich!

Member
CoffeeJanitor said:
Super_Mario_Bros._box.png
Click to expand...

I'm not sure it was a launch title...let me check.

edit - nope it wasn't. Not in NA at least. SMB launched November 17, 1985. The NES came out October 18th 1985.
 
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