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Great sport

Game on: The 7 best sporting computer games of all time

What are the greatest sporting video games of all time? Check out our pics and let us know if we’ve missed anything.

WITH THE RELEASE of FIFA 12 approaching amid news that controversial commentator Andy Gray has been ditched from the game in favour of Alan Smith, we take a look at the seven best sporting video games and memorable commentating (or lack thereof) that featured in them.

7. Madden NFL series

Who was Madden?

John Madden is an ex-NFL player, a Superbowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and NFL commentator.

How long has the series been going?

Since 1988, appearing on the PlayStation, Xbox and Sega Dreamcast, spawning countless games released on an annual basis with updated features

Why is it special?

It’s one of the biggest-selling games of all time, with more than 85 million copies of the game being bought since 1988. It has been the inspiration for a supposed phenomenon known as the Madden Curse in which NFL players who appeared on the cover subsequently endured terrible fortune in their careers.

The curse became so well-known that a large section of LaDainian Tomlinson’s fans protested his planned decision to appear on the cover of the game, subsequently causing him to turn down the chance as he was busy with ‘contract negotiations’. Moreover, it is one of the few games to spawn a TV show whereby actual NFL players compete against each other for the much-coveted ‘Madden Bowl’, prior to the Super Bowl.

6. The FIFA series

What is FIFA’s link to the game?

At the time EA were creating the game, other soccer games such as Sensible Soccer and Kick Off had already proven successful. However, EA were the first game developers to have the good sense to acquire a FIFA license. Meaning it gained exclusive access to player names, leagues etc.

How long has the series been going?

Since 1993, with at least one version of the game appearing every year from 1995 onwards, including special editions to coincide with the World Cup and European Championships.

Why is it special?

While FIFA is often criticised for failing to sufficiently update its gameplay with each new release, it remains the fifth best-selling games franchise (behind Mario, Pokémon, Tetris and The Sims).

The FIFA license is a major advantage, with over 200 teams to choose from. And despite its somewhat repetitious nature, each edition is consistently enjoyable, with some inspired extra features such as the ability to play games in which free-kicks are disbanded. All that and a consistently excellent soundtrack to boot, featuring the likes of Blur, Fatboy Slim and, erm, Robbie Williams.

5. NBA Jam (1993)

Why is it not a well-known series?

Acclaim eventually won the rights to the NBA Jam name off Midway and the subsequent releases of the game flopped as a consequence. EA Sports also released a version of NBA Jam for the Wii in 2010, with the game’s original creator Mark Turmell at the helm. However, all versions have paled in comparison to the original.

What consoles is the game available on?

SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear and Arcade amongst others.

Why is it special?

It redefined the criteria expected from a sports game. Moreover, its idiosyncratic commentary, featuring phrases such as “boomshakalaka”,  has since become instantly recognisable to a significant amount of sports fans, entering into their everyday vocabulary in the process.

4. The Pro Evolution Soccer series

How long has the series been going?

Since 1996, having originally been known as Goal Storm. It has featured on several consoles including PlayStation 2 and GameCube.

Why is it special?

While FIFA may be more popular, Pro Evolution was always the gaming purists’ choice of soccer game, with fans arguing that its superior graphics and gameplay more than compensate for the absence of real player names that the lack of a FIFA license prevents the game from possessing. In fact, there is a yearly competition to determine the world’s best player, proving the fanatical nature of the game’s followers.

John Madden: The legendary commentator who the influential American football game series was named after – (Mark Duncan/AP/Press Association Images)

3. Gran Turismo

How long has the series been going?

Since 1997, appearing exclusively on PlayStation.

Why is it special?

Its graphics, realistic gameplay and challenging tasks make Gran Turismo arguably the greatest racing game of all time. The painstaking level of detail put into the game meant it took the developers five years to create its original version, going on to sell over 63 million units worldwide. Like FIFA its sequels have not always been drastically different from one another, but as with the soccer game, owning at least one version of the series would be considered essential to all serious gamers and sports fanatics alike.

2. Mario Kart

Can it be truly considered a sports game?

Yes, absolutely. The roots of kart racing can be traced to 1956, when Kurtis Kraft built the first kart and the sport has gone from strength to strength ever since. While Mario Kart may not be the most realistic representation of the sport, the same can be said about some of the very best sports games including FIFA (for example, the setting where fouling is legitimised) or NBA Jam (the net sometimes went on fire when a player registered a slam dunk).

How long has it been going?

It was originally released in August 1992 on the Super NES and has been available exclusively on Nintendo consoles ever since.

What makes it special?

For graphics, realism and a sport that more people can actually relate to, look elsewhere. However, for sheer, unbridled fun (particularly in multi-player mode), Mario Kart is unrivalled.

1. Championship Manager series

Is a game in which you can’t literally control your team playing football really worthwhile?

Yes, in fact, the sense of events being partially out of the player’s control is arguably what makes the game such a successful franchise.

How long has it been going?

The first game was released in 1992 and was only available on PC as a result of the extensive data needed for the game to function.

What makes it special?

While the series took a while to gain popularity, its constant improved versions and incredible level of detail including stats for players from dozens of leagues helped Championship Manager 4 to become the fastest-selling PC game ever.

Moreover, it is also one of the most addictive and time-consuming games out there, with challenges such as attempting to help Shelbourne win the Champions League inevitably taking a considerable amount of time to complete. The game’s original makers signed a deal with Sega soon after the success of Championship Manager 4, having to change the title to Football Manager. However, by that stage the sheer brilliance and innovation of the idea had sadly worn off.

What have we missed?

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