Rate the series - Home consoles

[Gunstar Green]

I've never been a big fan of Double Dragon. I respect what it did for the beat 'em up genre but the genre quickly moved on and left it behind mechanically.

I'll just give my top 3:

Double Dragon Advance is probably the most evolved and polished version of the original arcade style.
Double Dragon 2 was easily my favorite for the NES though the first game was also fun with its RPG-lite stuff.
Double Dragon Neon is very different but a lot of fun with a great 80's atmosphere and music.

[marurun]

Yeah, Double Dragon is a slower and more deliberate. The Final Fight style is definitely breezier and faster. And then there’s Kunio style!

[pook99]

@marurun: you reminded me that I need to play dd 2 on the PC-engine by rating it so high, I just downloaded it and will probably give it a run sometime tomorrow.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I’m trying to run this series; so, I have to get in on this! Here’s my ranking:

Double Dragon Advance (GBA) - This game rules. Great fighting and atmosphere. Just awesome.

Double Dragon Neon (Multi-Platform) - This game also rules. So, so funny.

Double Dragon (Arcade) - So much love for the original.

Double Dragon II (NES) - Best on the NES.

Super Double Dragon (SNES) - Great beat ‘em up mechanics.

Double Dragon (NES) - Solid early NES game. The two-player competitive version is so fun.

Double Dragon II (GB) - A Kunio-kun game!

Double Dragon III (NES) - I respect what Technos tries to do with this, but it never clicked with me. Too hard at the beginning and too easy at the end.

Double Dragon IV (Multi-Platform) - An OK throw back title.

Double Dragon 2 (Arcade) - A major step down from the original.

Double Dragon (GB) - This is where they start to get pretty bad...

Double Dragon V (Multi-Platform) - Absolutely horrid fighting game. If you play it, play as the skeleton.

Double Dragon 3 (Arcade) - A major mid-step.

Double Dragon (2600) - This game is terrible.

This is one of the most ported series of all time, and there is no way I’m going to play all of the ports. I would like to play through all of the “major” games in the series, however, and to that end, I still need to get through: Double Dragon (SMS), Double Dragon: The Revenge of Billy Lee (Game Gear), Double Dragon II (TG16), Revenge of the Double Dragon (SFC), Double Dragon (Neo Geo), Double Dragon (Android), and Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragon (360). (I’m probably never going to be able to play the Zeebo Double Dragon game...). Are there any other ports or versions I should be sure to play?

[pook99]

@prfsnl_gamer: I think you got all the games covered, if you ever play the master system version I would love to hear your thoughts on it, it is a game that garners a lot of positive vibes but I absolutely hated it.

Next Series: 2d Sonic

I am going to personally sit out on this one, truth be told, I do not like Sonic at all, most of his games are mediocre at best, I feel it is hands down the most over rated series of all time, and I roll my eyes everytime he is seriously compared to Mario. For me the game is built on a contradiction, you are supposed to be able to move fast, but everytime you do, you run facefirst into a spike or another enemy. Sure you can memorize the levels but what fun is that?

Having said all that, I recognize that he is iconic and people do tend to love his games, so I am going to let everyone else rate this series and gush over how great sonic is. The games up for rating are (and of course feel free to add games I will inevitably miss)

Sonic 1-3 (genesis)
Sonic CD (sega cd)
Sonic and Knuckles (genesis)
Sonic 1 and 2 (master system)
Sonic Mania
Sonic Generations (I know its half 3d)
Probably a shitty game gear sonic game I am missing

Anything else?

I will say I have played all of the above games except sonic cd and sonic and knuckles. The only games I enjoyed were sonic 2 and sonic generations. Generations is hands down the best sonic game I have ever played, and I definitely did not play Mania enough to make a judgement but I know everyone seems to love that game.

Also in continuing the tradition of including a spiritual successor feel free to add freedom planet into the mix if you have played that. Freedom Planet is amazing and is what sonic should have been in the first place, if it was a sonic game it would defintiely be the best one.

[Gunstar Green]

Not including the GBA games which I haven't really spent significant time with...

1. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
2. Sonic Mania
2. Sonic 2
3. Sonic 1 Master System
4. Sonic 1
5. Sonic 3D Blast
6. Sonic 2 Master System
7. Sonic CD
8. Sonic Triple Trouble
9. Sonic Chaos
1000. Sonic Blast Game Gear/Master System

[samsonlonghair]

This is the series I have spent the most time playing.

1. Sonic & Knuckles - with or without the Lock-on cartridges
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)
3. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3
5. Sonic CD
6. Sonic Rush
7. Sonic Advance 2
8. SegaSonic the Hedgehog (Arcade)
9. Sonic Advance
10. Sonic Chaos
11. Sonic Spinball
12. Sonic Triple Trouble
13. Sonic Colors (DS)
14. Knuckles Chaotix
15. Sonic Advance 3
16. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear)
17. Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear)
18. Tails Adventure
19. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episodes I & II
20. Sonic Blast (Game Gear)
21. Sonic the Hedgehog Gameworld (Pico)

I'm not sure where I would put Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. I actually like the Puyo games a lot, but it has nothing to do with the Sonic series, so there's no way to compare them.

I haven't played Sonic Mania yet, simply because I don't own a machine that I can play it on.

[samsonlonghair]

Sonic Colors' 2D parts

YES!

[pierrot]

This is actually kind of tough. I feel the quality of most of the 2D Sonic games is pretty even between titles, and a number of games (like the Game Gear games) I haven't played in a long time. I consider Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to just be one game, at this point, though. Also, I can't really list the home console versions of Sonic Colors, or Sonic Generations here. It just doesn't seem right.

1. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
2. Sonic CD
3. Sonic Rush
4. Sonic Chaos
5. Freedom Planet
6. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)
7. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
8. Knuckles Chaotix
9. Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear)
10. Sonic Advance 2
11. Sonic Advance
12. Sonic Blast
13. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I

I beat Sonic Advance 1 and 2 in the past, but I barely remember them, so I just put them near the bottom, because they didn't leave much of an impression. Sonic Blast I also barely remember, although I remember really liking it as a kid. I just know that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I is kind of bad.

I have played a bit of Sonic Rush Adventure, and the DS version of Sonic Colors, too, but probably not enough to rank them along with the others. Neither of them did a whole lot for me, from what I played, though.

[prfsnl_gmr]

These are great lists! I don’t have much experience with this series, and have only beaten Sonic 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic. (That’s my ranking, BTW.) Apparently, I need to play Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles.