Mortal Kombat (1992 - Present)

This game is so awesome, they had to spell combat with a 'K'. Being one of the longest withstanding franchises of the fighting game genre, Mortal Kombat has maintained a presence and legacy continuing through to this day. The year 1992 brought upon the arcade release of MK, which eventually made its way to gaming consoles. MK is widely acclaimed for its gore content and the trademark Fatality finishes. The series went on to spawn sequels of the game, spin-off adventure games, an animated series, live-action television series and a live-action movie.

MORTAL KOMBAAAAAA-

What really made this game stand from all the other fighting games were the characters. With each new game release were a selection of new characters with old favourites making a repeat appearance. Classics include ninja assassin Scorpion, Shaolin monk Liu Kang, thunder god Raiden and Lin Kuei warrior Sub-Zero (fun fact: Sub-Zero is the only character to have appeared in every MK game). Without derailing the post too much, Sub-Zero had always been my favourite character to use. His ability to control ice allowed him to unleash maneuvers such as Ice Blast, rendering the opponent temporarily frozen and sliding kick, a cool move where Sub-Zero would slide across the screen and trip the opponent.

Ice Blast > Heat Seeking Missile

Easily the most recognisable aspect of the game that made MK a cultural phenomenon was the ability to perform a Fatality, a finishing move where a player executes the opponent in brutal fashion. This created quite a stir among the parentals back in the day when video game violence was never before seen. To perform a Fatality, the opponent had to have their enemy's health diminished to the final hit bar. Having succeeded in that, a 'Finish Him/Her' text appeared on screen in which the finisher then had to press a series of buttons to perform a Fatality. Various finishing moves introduced into different sequels included Babality, Animality, and the awe inspiring combo finishing Brutality.

Sub-Zero performs his trademark Fatality, the Spine Rip.

Staying true to the nineties, Mortal Kombat Trilogy has to be the greatest and most complete sequel released. Included in the game were every character that have made an appearance in MK up to its release, various finishers players were able to perform and the fast and seamless game play that stylised MK.

If you find yourself playing an older version of Mortal Kombat, without a doubt will you be playing with a grin on your face as you reminisce the goodness of old school violent video games. I now leave you with the techno remix of the Mortal Kombat theme song including lyrics! Enjoy.

Primitave Radio Gods - Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand (1996)

Released by alternative rock band Primitive Radio Gods, the band attained international recognition after this single caught attention of the media. Its use on Jim Carrey's The Cable Guy also helped them gain further mainstream success.

If you've heard and remember this song from the nineties, you'll know what a very good and easy flowing tune it is. It's beautiful and soothing but at the same time evokes a sense of darkness and haunting. I've always loved this song but the older I get, the more it depresses me every time I hear it. There's just something about the melancholy that really brings me back to when I was a child like no other song does.

Treat yourself to an excellent piece of artistry from the nineties.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Fast forward eleven years after the events of the first film, a young juvenile John Connor is out to hit the arcades when he discovers that a cop is looking for him. What he also finds out is that the copper after his tail isn't any ordinary authority figure, but a cyborg, better known as T-1000, sent from the future to terminate John to prevent him from forming and leading a resistance army against the machines.

T-1000, the last person you'd want to meet in a dark alley.

So how does a ten year old defend himself from a machine that's able to manifest its arms into knives and heal itself from any assaults taken upon itself? Enter Arnold Schwarzenegger, the T-800, a less advanced cyborg of the T-1000, initially sent out in the first film to destroy his mother, Sarah Connor. It has been reprogrammed this time around to protect the life of John. Together with his mother and Arnie, they set out on a mission to prevent the occurrence of 'Judgment Day', a future event in which humans are exterminated by the onslaught of the machines.

John Connor mirin' his aesthetics.

No other action movie comes close to hitting the nail on the head than this sci-fi classic. It's an action movie with a storyline and excellent concept. The special effects aren't grossly outdated and the performances are top notch. It's a bit of a shame that the third installment of the film did not meet expectations, however we can only hope that James Cameron one day returns to reboot the franchise that we all grew up to love and watch.

Super Mario Kart (1992)

Forget Forza or Gran Turismo, racing games where you can use projectiles to one up your opponents is where it's at. Racing genres that plays well in 2D is hard to come by, but Super Mario delivers with finesse and precision.

You choose from eight racers, all whom are taken from the Mario series. They include Mario himself, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Koopa and Toad, each of them with different stats. I always went with Koopa. Although weak and very liable to being bumped off track when colliding with other racers, he had the speed. That turtle can race! Expanding from the Mario series concept, various question mark boxes are scattered throughout the courses. Running over one of these allows you to gain an offensive or defensive object which you can utilise to help you win the race. Weapons include bananas, tortoise shells, invincible stars and probably the most annoying of them all, thunderbolts. Using this ability rendered all racers except the caster to become tiny, slowing down their speed and running the risk of being flattened by the non affected racer.

The game play made it easy for players to get into and the multiplayer mode made it a great party game. Super Mario Kart went on to become the best selling game on Super Nintendo and appears in many lists as the best ranking game of all time.

The franchise went on to create a series of successful sequels, improving game play, introducing new characters, maps and weapons and allowing for more players to join in on the fun. I still have my Super Nintendo and Mario Kart cartridge and I must say, there is no greater way to unwind then to sit down and spend a few solid hours overlapping computers on this oh so awesome game.

2 fast 2 furious for y'all man.

Pokémon (1997 - Present)

Yea boi.

If you were a kid during the nineties, you'd no doubt have had a crazy for the Pokémons. That or you were dead inside, all numb, no desire, no expression.

...

Anyway.

The nineties were all about the golden era for Pokémon, the OG, back in the day when there were only 151 known species. The series follow the story of Ash Ketchum, a young Pokémon trainer aspiring to become the Pokémon master. Along with Pikachu, his very first Pokémon, Ash sets out on a journey around the world to collect Pokémon and defeat gym trainers to earn badges. He's hot on the heels of rival Gary Oak, a rival of his since childhood. Then there's Team Rocket, a band of vigilantes on a mission to steal Pikachu. Sounds like a tough racket for the Pokémon master wannabe, however he is in good company to keep him afloat. Brock, a ladiesman, and Misty, a tomboy with a termpermantal attitude, help him throughout Ash's adventures and along the way he learns the value of true friendship and loyalty.

They released a kick-ass soundtrack titled 2BA Master. It came with a string of catchy tunes from the series and included such hits as Viridian City, the Pokérap (I was awesome enough to be able to learn the entire song off by heart) and of course the Pokémon theme song.

The franchise also spawned a very successful card game as well as video game, both of which are still being played and collected to this day.

If you're a fan, there's probably nothing new here you haven't heard of or read. Let us all rejoice for the goodness that is Pokémon. RED AND BLUE VERSION FOREVER.

Me after watching the first episode of Pokémon.