For PC Games, this may sound crazy, but hit up the local Menards. For a mere 6 bucks, for even 4 bucks when they become on sale, the PC Game selection at Menards is a classic hunt for PC gaming gold. Here are some of the games I have spotted, and many I have bought, from prices from only 4-6 dollars a piece...
- Dirt Track Racing (PC Gamer 82% Rating, MSRP 19.99)
- Rally Trophy (PCG 89% Rating, MSRP 29.99)
- Monopoly Tycoon (Computer Gaming World Editor's Choice)
- Descent 3
- Dark Side of the Moon (Not the Pink Floyd CD, but an Editor's Choice at PCG)
- Grand Prix 3
- Test Drive (The new one made in 2002)
- The expansion pack to Tropico
- Atari Arcade Revival - 4 re-done Atari games
- The Italian Job
There are also a ton out there which cost no more than about 20 dollars a piece...
Here are a few picks for budget PC Games...
- System Shock 2
- Madden 2003
- NBA Live 2003 or any year before that...I know 2000 is good :)
- Dark Forces II Jedi Knight
- Mysteries of the Sith Add on for Jedi Knight
- Rogue Squadron
- Episode I Racer
- X-Wing
- TIE Fighter
- X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
- NASCAR Heat - Try to find the 3rd party add-ons.
- NASCAR Racing 2002 Edition - but don't look for too many servers online for it due to NR2003. (The pic above is from this game!)
- Jeff Gordon XS Racing for some quick arcade fun.
Also, if you want a nice, cheap console, you might consider the original Playstation. Most of its games sell for around 10-15 bucks, and Madden 2004 was even made for it, and is 29.99. Talk about staying power.
Furthermore, the Dreamcast has MUCH better graphics, around the same prices, but it has a thinner game library. To get a more in depth look, check out our Dreamcast Revival site.
And don't forget the Nintendo 64!!! You can pick this resilient old console for 29.99 at your local EB, and even though it doesn't have as thick of a library as the PSone's, it has some of the best games.
These included:
- Mario Tennis
- Mario Party 1-3
- Mario Kart 64
- Goldeneye
- The World is Not Enough (The other Bond shooter, which was newer and totally rocked. :) )
- Perfect Dark
- The Zelda Games
- Super Smash Bros.
- Madden 2002
And...well...back in the day these were awesome...
- Pokemon Stadium
- Pokemon Snap
Let's go further back in time, shall we? THE SEGA GENESIS. Don't count out this little 16-bit masterpiece for HOURS upon HOURS on Sega goodness. Don't forget- this was the original home of Sonic the Hedgehog. Currently, Gamestop has the Genesis listed at 30 bucks actually. Apparently, the system has gone up in price in online stores. I suggest Ebay for purchasing Genesis items, unless you can find 'em at good prices at online stores.
Good games for Genesis:
- Sonic 2, 3, 3D Blast, Spinball, and Knuckles
- A GAME GENIE
- 6-Pack (Includes Sonic 1, Columns, Golden Axe, Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage, and Super Hang-On)
- Madden 98
- NBA Live 98
- NHL 98
- World Series Baseball 98 (although anyone can hit a home run in World Series Baseball 1)
- Mario Andretti Racing
- Virtua Racing (If you have to choose b/w this or Andretti, get Andretti)
- Outrunners
- Vectorman 2
- Mortal Kombat 1 (A classic fighting game - heck it doesn't even have blood)
- NBA Hangtime
- NBA Jam Tournament Edition (Very similar to Hangtime)
- David Robinson's Supreme Court (A hilarious game in which you draft your own fake players before a game...good stuff)
- Triple Play Gold - an ok baseball game which has a create-a-player feature made by EA.
- Super Monaco GP - has an interesting racing career mode.
- Paperboy
Super Nintendo to be added later!
