Contra 3: The Alien Wars Format Super Nintendo Released 1992 Developer Konami Also known as Contra Spirits, Super Probotector

The preceding Gryzor and Contra games were nothing special, but with Contra 3 Konami produced the most exciting, pyrotechnic experience to be had on the SNES. The game pits you (as two macho survivalist types) up against a load of seriously over-the-top robotic/alien adversaries with some of the most spectacular firepower ever seen. If Contra 3 was a film, it would probably be frowned upon as some sort of John Milius-esque right-wing gun fetishism, but as a game it delights with gleeful rapid-fire destruction. The game also possesses the most satisfying flamethrower ever to be committed to silicon. If all this weren't enough, Konami have excelled with the level design. Stages take you across devastated cityscapes, industrial/military complexes, to the Giger inspired conclusion inside the alien lair. Set pieces break up the frantic action - level one sees a huge bomber fly into the screen leaving a mass of fiery destruction. Level four begins on board speeding hover bikes, passes the underbelly of a mammoth robotic alien spacecraft, after which the player finds himself dangling from a missile heading directly for the alien mothership's weak point. In the UK the main characters were inexplicably changed to a pair of very crap-looking robots and the game was renamed Super Probotector, destroying a large part of the game's appeal. See also Metal Slug X (1999), Gradius (1985)

Street Fighter Alpha 3 Format Playstation/Dreamcast/Coin-op Released 1998 Developer Capcom Also known as Street Fighter Zero 3

In my opinion the purest and most satisfying of the Street Fighters, Alpha 3 has a depth of gameplay not found in most other fighting games, 2D or 3D. When Street Fighter 2 first appeared in the arcades in 1991, not only was it an enormous improvement over its predecessor, but it defined a genre. Copycat fighting games sprung up all over the place, but none came close to SF2. The game paved the way for a bewildering number of sequels and spin-offs, which are still being released today (the latest being the excellently-named Capcom vs SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001). SFA3 brings together the entire cast from the original Street Fighter series with the extended family from the Alpha/Zero series, and even includes Cody and Guy from Final Fight. Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma are hidden characters in the PSX version. As a result of Capcom's beat-em-up experience, the characters are remarkably balanced and each is a worthwhile inclusion (with a few possible exceptions, but that's down to personal preference) and with three fighting styles (X-ism, A/Z-ism and V-ism) there is almost limitless potential for varied battles. Gameboy Advance owners everywhere can enjoy a suberb handheld conversion developed by the now sadly defunct Crawfish. See also Final Fight (1989), Street Fighter III: Third Strike (2000)

Virtua Racing Format Coin-op Released 1992 Developer Sega (AM2)

When I first saw Virtua Racing in the arcades, I was truly awestruck. This was the first game I had seen to use 3D polygonal graphics in a way that actually looked good. And the game's visual power still holds today - the stark untextured polygonal environments have a cleanliness and solidity which seems to have been lost with more advanced arcade hardware. The game played extremely nicely as well, fast and smooth, with very satisfying handling and force feedback steering. The simulation of power drift was one of the game's most successful features, lending a complexity to the otherwise simplistic arcade dynamics which Sega manage so well. Virtua Racing set the precedent for 3D racers, particularly later Sega efforts such as Daytona USA and Sega Rally, with its multi-player link-up capability and sit-down cabinets. Home conversions were released on Megadrive (with the aid of the SVP chip), 32X and Saturn, but none could capture the feel of the arcade version. Virtua Racing cabinets are hard to find nowadays, even in dark corners of the local arcade, and without any usable emulators there's a danger VR might be forgotten. Hopefully, someone out there is working on an an emulator or a next-gen conversion. See also Daytona USA (1994)

Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse Format NES Released 1990 Developer Konami Also known as Akumajo Densetsu (Legend Of Demon Castle)
Released near the end of the Nintendo Entertainment System's life, the third instalment of the Castlevania series is regarded by many as the best of the lot. Taking its cue from the first NES Castlevania rather than its sequel Simon's Quest, Castlevania 3 sees Simon Belmont's ancestor Trevor taking on Dracula across an imaginatively realised Transylvania. The game is vast and tough, with multiple routes and the introduction of Trevor's allies providing plenty of gameplay variety. Grant's ability to scale walls, Spiderman fashion, Sypha's magical skills, and Alucard (being the son of Dracula and a vampire) having the ability to transform into a bat at will. Gameplay follows the same basic jump and whip mechanics that are trademarks of the Castlevania series, but done here with a flair that would elude many of the later episodes. Konami also embellished the Castlevania 3 cartridge with some extra hardware, and it shows: the graphics are more colourful and intricate than anything seen on the NES previously. Neither does the soundtrack disappoint, with many of the classic Castlevania themes making themselves heard. The series has gone on to other great things since - Castlevania IV was an early showcase for the power of the SNES, and Symphony of the Night for Playstation took the series into the realms of RPG, only much more assuredly than Simon's Quest ever did. Sadly the 3D versions were weak, but the GBA update Circle of the Moon is a return to form for this long-running and much-loved series. See also Super Castlevania IV (1991), Castlevania: Circle Of The Moon (2001)

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