[Ted4242]

1) Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)
When it came out it was a game way ahead of it's time. TSB still holds up pretty well, and still has a cult following, because of the individual qualities of the players and some of the quirky bugs in the game.

2) Tecmo Bowl (NES)
There's a play with the Giants, I think it's the second pass play where Mark Bavaro runs a square out pattern. If you throw just when he makes his break, there is no defense for it. Combined with LT's ability to block every kick attempt = pwning. I think I lost twice in probably a hundred HU matches in college, cuz' I'd lose focus and clown my opponent too much.

I'm really dating myself here, but if I spent half as much time studying in high school/college/grad school as I did playing Tecmo Bowl/Tecmo Super Bowl, I'd be...not as dumb.

3) Mortal Kombat (Arcade)
Strangely I was never that good at this one, even though I played it all the time when I was in grad school in Berekeley. I guess I didn't read the cheat book.

4) GTA Vice City (PS2)

5) Pac-Man
Ahhh...how could I forget the game that started me on the path to a totally wasted youth?

Honorable Mention: NFL Blitz 1999 (PS1), NBA Jams (SEGA), NCAA Football 98'(SEGA), Super Mario Bros (NES)

After writing this, I realize how obsessive-compulsive I really can be. Back in the day, I'd play a game for freaking months at a time until I was just crushing the sh*t out of it. For no specific reason, I'd destroy the game over and over and over again, until I found something else, then move on.

The games were fun and all but, what a freaking waste! If I had played poker then or done *anything* else even remotely constructive I'd be much better off today. Meh.