Well, it’s that time of year when we run out to grab those games and toys that are at the top of the kids' Christmas wish list. These days, I know video games and consoles are at the top, right Rob? Today’s video games have, by far, surpassed the days of Pong or Pitfall. Some even have such astonishingly accurate graphics, it looks like you are playing a movie. Certain video games throughout history have paved the way for this generation of great gaming. I wanted to take a minute look at the characters of the greatest games of all time. The premise of the game and graphics are important but it's the characters that are the heart and soul of the game. Here are my top five most important video games characters of all time.

 

5. John Madden (1988 - present) - A character only in voice, he's been commentating video football for over 25 years. The franchise he put his name on has even created a yearly vote to see which NFL player gets to be featured on its cover, and, in turn, talks of a curse that injures that cover player. You cannot say video game football without thinking Madden.

4. Bill and Lance Bean from Contra (1987) - Two Australian guys battling aliens makes up the state of the art (at the time) side scrolling game that I believe started the need to create actual characters in fighting games such as Double Dragon.  I also think it even had a hand in one on one fighting games to follow. I remember when finding out about the endless lives code was an exciting moment for this young gamer.

3. Pac-Man (1980) - He is one, if not the first, named character in video games history. I’ll give him credit in starting the puzzle-turned-story game style of video game. Since his beginning, he has spawned different incarnations of himself, including Super Pac-Man and a Mrs. P. He also has his own actual story games and even a party game. If I remember correctly, he was the first video game character to have his own cartoon.

2. Mario (Mario Bros. 1983, Japan/ Super Mario Bros. 1985 USA) - What would the gaming world be without Mario? Long since days of just jumping on mushrooms and turtles, he has come a long way. He is the star in his own world/universe, spawning more than 20 games such as Story, Racing, Game Board, Tennis, and Golf, and even appears on other titles. Mario is truly responsible for a large part of today's gaming and spans well outside the gaming world into toys, clothes, and you can literally find his image on most anything else. You know who he is,whether you play his games or not...and how could you not?!

1. Donkey Kong (1981) – Do you know where I'm going with this? For as much as Mario is responsible for spawning new games, Donkey Kong is that much more important. On the original Donkey Kong game, do you remember Jumpman? That is Mario! I have to believe that if there were no DK, there stands a good chance there may have been no Mario.  He is that important. Today he is usually treated as a supporting character to Mario, but he has spanned out just as much as Mario. Let’s not forget where he came from. "Mortal Kombat" is a very good game, but I believe Donkey Kong is the best game ever."

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