The Best Video Game Athletes
Oct 02 '03
The Bottom Line n/a
Greatest Video Game Athletes
If any of you read Bill Simmons’ ESPN Page 2 articles, he occasionally talks about famous video game athletes. As someone who has played my share of sports video games, I'm going to give you my list.
First, let me mention what I think a good video game athlete should be. Good stats is a requirement. They don't have to be the best, but they should reflect an inhuman ability. They have to dominate in the game. The best of my list actually "break" the game ... meaning if some chump is controlling this person, they are running on a distinct advantage. Perhaps they are just going to win no matter what they do. There is usually a strategy used by them to create a guaranteed win scenario. That’s what I mean by breaking the game. They should transcend the game. If you run into someone in the street who’s played the game (or sometimes even not) and mention this person, they'll know who you're talking about. So here we go, this is my list:
10. Jerry Rice
He would be higher on my list, however his position as a wide receiver and real life fame detracted from what he did on the digital gridiron. Many games didn't really showcase how excellent his hands were. Rather the QB determined more whether the receiver caught the ball. However, when a game did provide him the ability to use his superior hands, like in the case of Tecmo Super Bowl, watch out. In the case of Tecmo Super Bowl it wasn't uncommon for him to catch 50% of the balls thrown to him while he was triple covered. All games though caught on to his great speed. After he caught the ball, you better be ready to tackle him or else he’ll score a touchdown … and it wasn’t uncommon to see 3 or 4 touchdowns a game from him.
9. Randy Johnson
His pitching was just insane in many games. His stamina was extraordinary. His slider and fastball were unparalleled. He could just strikeout each and every batter for a good 9 innings. He could even stay in as long as 15 innings in some games. Twenty strikeouts a game were common with him and no hitters were not uncommon. Just absolutely dominating.
8. Christian Okoye (a.k.a John Tapp)
This guy is one of my all time favorites, however he loses points since he isn't as well known. In real life this guy was a 260lb behemoth who could run a 4.4 40. This translated to video game greatness. He tore up the digital gridiron in Tecmo Super Bowl. However, I remember him more in Frontpage Sports Football when he was known as "John Tapp" (FPSF didn't have an NFL license in its first release, hence the obscure name change). His power could shrug off any defender who didn't have the strength of a titan. He could outrun anyone except the fastest of the defensive backs. Coupled with a strong Chief offensive line, he frequently ran for 300 yards in games.
7. Ken Griffey Jr.
Imagine a video game baseball player who could hit for a .300+ average, could hit homeruns as frequently as anyone else in the game, could run like the wind on the base paths, and had a golden glove in the field. That's Ken Griffey Junior in the mid-90's. He was the man and no wonder he had many baseball games named after him. He just did everything well. In a sport where it's hard for one player to dominate, he did.
6. Lawrence Taylor
LT baby! That's all you had to say when you tore apart the opposing offense. Like in real life, he was a man to fear. He devastated opposing QBs in games like Tecmo Bowl, Tecmo Super Bowl, and the early Madden games. He was quick, strong and was all over the field in a heartbeat. The weak QBs just didn't stand a chance against him.
5. Barry Sanders
As good as LT was, Barry was even better. Barry ran wild through titles like Tecmo Super Bowl, Madden, and Frontpage Sports Football. He was even the spokes person for the 95 though 97 versions of the Frontpage series. He was quick, agile and in many cases he could shake off tackles. No one could catch him or tackle him. He could rush for 200 yards if these games were video game flag football. His good hands meant he could even catch passes out of the backfield and he never fumbled. Everyone knew he was the best running back out there.
4. Mike Vick
Now we jumped into the higher tier here. He is the prototype for the best of all time. He was almost always the fastest player on the field. He has throw as hard as Brett Favre. He makes good reads and can throw with high accuracy. Bill Simmons claims that Mike Vick has surpassed all video game athletes in his path. Someday he will, but not now. Vick has broken the Madden games, however other games just don't allow for a great scrambling QB. This is one reason why he isn't rated higher. He is talked about a lot in Madden as far as how high his stats are. He is a cover boy. But we're only on the cusp of cult hero here. Perhaps one day he will be higher, but not now.
3. Bo Jackson
Bo is a great video game athlete. He is the fastest player in both Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl. He would do things that are just super human in those games. What puts him so high is beyond what he did on the digital gridiron. Bo Jackson is known more for his Tecmo Bowl prowess than he is as a real football player. People have more memories running circles around their friends with Bo than they do of him running 90+ yards for the touchdown. His real life stats don't speak to the memories he gave to old school gamers everywhere.
2. QB Eagles
QB Eagles, a.k.a. Randall Cunningham broke Tecmo Super Bowl. As good as Bo, Barry and LT were, QB Eagles was better. He was Mike Vick in a game, which exploited his skills. QBs with half as much speed as him, dominated when they should not have. Anyone remember Mike Pagel, the backup to, ironically, QB Browns? He was a scrub who was good because he could run slightly faster than your average QB. Vinny Testaverde and Rodney Peete could carry a team on their legs alone. Now imagine a player with twice their speed. That's QB Eagles. His altered name made for a good cult hero too. He was just amazing.
1. Jeremy Roenick
Many people might dispute this, but I stand by my choice. If anyone has ever played EA's NHL hockey series from the early to mid-90's knows the sheer domination Jeremy Roenick had on the ice. He was fast, agile, accurate, but most importantly he could hit. The digital audience in the rink were required to donate pixilated blood before the start of a game featuring Roenick because the other team was sure to need it. I put more people in the hospital with Roenick than any other player in that game combined. Whoever he touched would be blasted to the ice. Breakaways were common. His smooth touch on the ice made it possible for me to score 30 goals a game using the default 10-minute quarters. I could even press the pass button and sneak the puck through the goalies' legs. The man was more unstoppable than any other player I have ever seen. My friend and I used to play this game all the time and we would have fights as to who could control Roenick. He was that surreal.
So that's my list. Feel free to add your own memories in the comments section, or add your own list to this section.
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