I recently received the Nintendo Power 20th anniversary issue! I think it’s probably the best issue in a while. They have a good interview with Keiji Inafune (the creator of Mega Man) about the epic Mega man 9 and a review for Final Fantasy IV for the DS (of course who in the world reads a console specific magazine for the reviews). The best part of the issue (since I already know about Megaman 9) is the “Best of the Best” section which is a list of the 20 best games for every Nintendo console. Here’s how said lists ended up.

NES Top 20

 20: Kid Icarus

19: Final Fantasy

18: Dragon Warrior IV

17: Bionic Commando

16: Maniac Mansion

15: Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest

14: Castlevania

13: Duck Tales ( woohoo! )

12: Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link

11: Mega Man 3

10: Ninja Gaiden

9: Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

8: Super Mario Bros. 2

7: Contra

6:  Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!

5: Metroid

4: Super Mario Bros.

3: Mega Man 2

2: Super Mario Bros. 3

1: The Legend of Zelda

A good list. There are a lot of great games on there. But Zelda better than Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mega Man 2?! I think not! And Where is Kirby’s Adventure?!

Gameboy Top 20

20: Operation C

19: Shantae

18: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

17: Dr. Mario

16: Mario’s Picross

15: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan

14: Mega Man 5

13: Pokemon Puzzle Challenge

12: Metroid II: Return of Samus

11: Metal Gear Solid

10: Kirby’s Dreamland 2

9: Wario Land 3

8: Donkey Kong

7: Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins

6: Pokemon Gold and Silver versions

5: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

4: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

3: Pokemon Red and Blue versions

2: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX

1: Tetris DX

A good list. Although I think Pokemon Gold/Silver should be a little higher on the list since they were pretty much the entire Red/Blue games with a whole other adventure with it.

SNES Top 20

 20: Pilot Wings

19: Earthworm Jim

18: Axelay

17: F-Zero

16: Final Fantasy II (IV in Japan)

15: Secret of Mana

14: Super Punch-Out!!

13: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

12: Actraiser

11: Mega Man X

10: Super Castlevania IV

9: Super Mario Kart

8: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

7: Contra III: The Alien Wars

6: Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting

5: Chrono Trigger

4: Super Metroid

3: Final Fantasy III (or VI or whatever it is)

2: Super Mario World

1: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

I have mixed feelings about this list. I don’t mind A Link to the Past being number one, since it is my favorite Zelda and one of my favorite games, and there are so many games on the SNES that could be considered the best, but where in the world is Super Mario RPG or Donkey Kong Country?!

N64 Top 20

20: Blast Corps

19: Pokemon Snap

18: Rocket: Robot on Wheels

17: Mario Golf

16: Rayman 2: The Great Escape

15: Super Smash Bros.

14: Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber

13: Paper Mario

12: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

11: F-Zero X

10: Conker’s Bad Fur Day

9: Wave Race 64

8: Jet Force Gemeni

7: WWF No Mercy

6: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

5: Star Fox 64 ( DO A BARREL ROLL! )

4: Goldeneye 007

3: Mario Kart 64

2: Super Mario 64

1: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (surprise!)

A decent list. I think at this point Nintendo Power may as well change their name to Zelda Power, not that Ocarina of Time doesn’t deserve number one (most people think it does), but they really are starting to look a little Zelda biased. Also no Banjo-Kazooie….Thats just wrong.

Game Boy Advance Top 20

20: Wario Land 4

19: Mario vs. Donkey Kong

18: Mario Golf: Advance Tour

17: Golden Sun: The Lost Age

16: Mega Man Zero 2

15: Fire Emblem

14: Mega Man and Bass

13: Golden Sun

12: Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

11: Pokemon Ruby and Saphire versions

10: Advance Wars

9: Metroid Fusion

8: Drill Dozer

7: Gunstar Super Heroes

6: WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgames

5: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

4: Astro Boy: Omega Factor

3: Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga

2: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

1: Metroid: Zero Mission

Very Good list. I don’t have much to say on this one.

Gamecube Top 20

20: Super Monkey Ball

19: Animal Crossing

18: Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat

17: Skies of Arcadia Legends

16: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

15: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

14: Luigi’s Mansion

13: Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

12: Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

11: Beyond Good and Evil

10: Viewtiful Joe

9: Resident Evil

8: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

7: Pikmin

6: Super Mario Sunshine

5: Soul Caliber II

4: Metroid Prime

3: Super Smash Bros. Melee

2: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

1: Resident Evil 4

Pretty good list. Viewtiful Joe and Animal Crossing should be a little higher, and where is Pikmin 2?

Nintendo DS Top 20

20: Cooking Mama

19: Animal Crossing: Wild World

18: Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time

17: WarioWare: Touched!

16: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

15: Pokemon Diamond and Pearl versions

14: Advance Wars: Duel Strike

13: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

12: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

11: Trauma Center: Under the Knife

10: Sonic Rush Adventure

9: Pheomix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All

8: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

7: Contra 4

6: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

5: Tetris DS

4: The World Ends with you

3: Mario Kart DS

2: New Super Mario Bros.

1: Elite Beat Agents

Another very good list. A lot of good games, plenty would be reasonable number one choices.

Wii Top 20

20: Guitar Hero 3

19: Trauma Center: New Blood

18: Wii Fit

17: Okami

16: Bully: Scholarship Edition

15: Boom Blox

14:  Sonic and the Secret Rings

13: Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn

12: WarioWare: Smooth Moves

11: Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles

10: Super Paper Mario

9: No More Heroes

8: Wii Sports

7: Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure

6: Nights: Journey of Dreams

5: Mario Kart Wii

4: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

3: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

2: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

1: Super Mario Galaxy

A good list for a system that hasn’t even been out two years yet. Galaxy deserves the top spot. From what I hear Fire Emblem and Nights should be lower though. I would also put Zack and Wiki higher and bump Brawl ahead of Twilight Princess, but I forgot what magazine I was reading.

There was also a small paragraph on the Virtual Boy, but since only 14 games on the system were released in America they could’t do a top 20, so they just said the single best, which they said was the Virtual Boy version of Wario Land.

 So there you go. Nintendo Power’s best of the best. I would change a few things around and throw a few things in, but this isn’t my list. Anyway congratulations on 20 years Nintendo Power! Mario for the win!