SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - The Top 10 Most Iconic 8-Bit Video Game Characters

Title: Alexz Aficionado Joined: May 21 2008 Posts: 2889

http://www.joystickdivision.com/2011/06/the_top_ten_most_iconic_8-bit.php

I don't think the entrants on this list will surprise anyone.

10. Mike Tyson
9. Mega Man
8. Simon Belmont
7. Donkey Kong
6. Kirby
5. Link
4. Dog
3. Space Invaders
2. Mario
1. Pac-Man

Posted: Jul 02 2011 06:11 pm

I have a hard time seeing Dog as being more iconic than Link, Mega Man or Samus.

Posted: Jul 02 2011 06:26 pm

If we're talking just 8-bit, Mario has to be number one.

Space Invaders as an iconic /8-bit/ icon? No way. Pac-Man really shouldn't be there either if we're just talking 8-bit.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

This list is a bag of fucking shit. Mostly because the order is outta whack.

Posted: Jul 02 2011 07:41 pm

Not really a very good list, I don't feel that Pac-Man belongs on number 1 (if on the list at all) and... Space invaders? No, just no. I can understand the dog though.

As with most online lists, people are bound to disagree, but I really don't like some of the entries in this one.

Posted: Jul 02 2011 08:48 pm

Space Invader definitely isn't 8-bit. Space Invaders, in its purest form, is monochrome. The first colorized Space Invader machines weren't capable of displaying sprites in different colors. Rather, different sections of the screen were designed to display different colors.

Pac-Man is not 8-bit either. In order to be 8-bit, a game must be capable 2^8 colors, or 256 colors. Pac-Man is only capable 16 colors.

Dog and Kirby, I would also dispute. I'd include a Tetris L-Block and I dunno what else. Master Higgins and Bomberman, probably. Maybe Mother Brain and Kid Icarus.

Also, I'd make it Top 20, because Top 10 lists are fucking lame.

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

Fuck Top 20, make it a full fledged Top 100 list.

... Holy fuck, have we found Syd's next great list?!

As long as he hasn't done it already. I may be skipping something.

Posted: Jul 03 2011 01:43 am

Totally! Syd doing a game character list would be awesome. Remember how great that Babes of the NES article was?

Posted: Jul 03 2011 06:25 am

Klimbatize wrote:

If we're talking just 8-bit, Mario has to be number one.

Space Invaders as an iconic /8-bit/ icon? No way. Pac-Man really shouldn't be there either if we're just talking 8-bit.

This. If Mario isn't number 1, it's a retarded list. And yeah, Link should probably be number 2.

Posted: Jul 03 2011 03:31 pm

I think the dog is rated so highly because Duck Hunt was included in new NES systems for a long time.

Speaking of 8-bit, I learned recently that what we call "8-bit music" isn't 8-bit at all, because the chips that produce those sounds are actually 4-bit. Some chiptune artists are retentive about it, especially if they use real hardware as opposed to a tracker. So if you go up to a chiptune artist, make sure not to use the word 8-bit around them unless they use it themselves.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

The-Excel wrote:

So if you go up to a chiptune artist, make sure not to use the word 8-bit around them unless they use it themselves.

Why? I think a chiptune artist is the least likely person to hurt me in the world. I'd be more afraid of breaking their arm as I shove them into a locker.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Pandajuice wrote:

Klimbatize wrote:

If we're talking just 8-bit, Mario has to be number one.

Space Invaders as an iconic /8-bit/ icon? No way. Pac-Man really shouldn't be there either if we're just talking 8-bit.

This. If Mario isn't number 1, it's a retarded list. And yeah, Link should probably be number 2.

This is the problem I have with lists. Whenever you read them, you expect the obvious like your Marios and Zeldas at or near the top (As they deserve it), so then there's no surprise. Then, if someone decides to eschew the norm and throw a bone to other games, then people complain. What's the point of making the list in the first place, if you're either going to bore or annoy readers?

Oh, and I'm also curious as to what he defines as 8-bit.

Posted: Jul 03 2011 04:22 pm

1. Mario
2. Link
3. Mega Man

Done

A top 100 list of this would basically be taking the lead character out of each entry in the top 100 NES game list and relisting with them instead of the game titles. Unless it were an all time list and not just 8-bit.

Posted: Jul 03 2011 04:30 pm

joshwoodzy wrote:

The-Excel wrote:

So if you go up to a chiptune artist, make sure not to use the word 8-bit around them unless they use it themselves.

Why? I think a chiptune artist is the least likely person to hurt me in the world. I'd be more afraid of breaking their arm as I shove them into a locker.

Lol

Posted: Jul 03 2011 07:04 pm

Greg the White wrote:

This is the problem I have with lists. Whenever you read them, you expect the obvious like your Marios and Zeldas at or near the top (As they deserve it), so then there's no surprise. Then, if someone decides to eschew the norm and throw a bone to other games, then people complain. What's the point of making the list in the first place, if you're either going to bore or annoy readers?

That's what makes Top 50/100 lists fun. You put the obvious stuff at the top, and then you can do pretty much whatever you want with the other 30/80 slots and you're good. Unless you're in North America and you do a top SNES list, in which case Europeans and Australians will complain that you didn't include Terranigma.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Syd Lexia wrote:

Greg the White wrote:

This is the problem I have with lists. Whenever you read them, you expect the obvious like your Marios and Zeldas at or near the top (As they deserve it), so then there's no surprise. Then, if someone decides to eschew the norm and throw a bone to other games, then people complain. What's the point of making the list in the first place, if you're either going to bore or annoy readers?

That's what makes Top 50/100 lists fun. You put the obvious stuff at the top, and then you can do pretty much whatever you want with the other 30/80 slots and you're good. Unless you're in North America and you do a top SNES list, in which case Europeans and Australians will complain that you didn't include Terranigma.

That, and your lists had a pretty nice system of people putting in votes and their own comments about the game underneath agreeing or disagreeing with choices, and pointing out omitted games. As much as I like the series, I never got into Zelda 1, and getting ready to groan as I looked at the usual comments, it was cool to see Vald speak up over having the same problems that I did with it. That's just an example though, and I think the reasons mentioned are why everyone begs you for more lists.

Posted: Jul 03 2011 07:33 pm

joshwoodzy wrote:

The-Excel wrote:

So if you go up to a chiptune artist, make sure not to use the word 8-bit around them unless they use it themselves.

Why? I think a chiptune artist is the least likely person to hurt me in the world. I'd be more afraid of breaking their arm as I shove them into a locker.

If you break their arm, how are they supposed to keep making music? Don't be so unreasonable.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Surprised no one has complained about Mike Tyson being on the list. Not that I have a problem with it, but to see him at #10 is a little high. I agree with Syd on top 20 lists being better than top 10 lists because you can add a little more detail.

I don't mind Pac Man on here, or him being #1 considering that he was never really able to transcend those minimalist graphics whereas Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong certainly have.

I'd say the biggest omission is the lack of "naked Samus" or whatever you want to call what she looks like when you enter that password that gives all that shit and puts her in a leotard. When I think of 8 bit, I think of that character moreso than Link!

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

Rydog wrote:

A top 100 list of this would basically be taking the lead character out of each entry in the top 100 NES game list and relisting with them instead of the game titles. Unless it were an all time list and not just 8-bit.

Not so. A video game can have a non-memorable lead and still be a good video game.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 10:31 am

Drew Linky wrote:

Rydog wrote:

A top 100 list of this would basically be taking the lead character out of each entry in the top 100 NES game list and relisting with them instead of the game titles. Unless it were an all time list and not just 8-bit.

Not so. A video game can have a non-memorable lead and still be a good video game.

Yeah, for sure. I didn't mean it would be a carbon copy, but I'm sure it would have a similar run down of the characters from the games.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 10:44 am

It also depends on how many generations we allowed characters from. We wouldn't have to strictly pick from 8 bit games. We could even pick from memorable charactersinstead of just iconic ones. I'm not sure I'd call the eggplant wizard iconic, but if you've ever lost half your health stumbling back to the nurse, then it's pretty fucking memorable.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 12:23 pm

Honestly, I wouldn't rank Mike Tyson as the most iconic Punch-Out character. There are so many better characters. He's better than Mr. Dream and maybe Glass Joe.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 12:38 pm

Little Mac is more iconic than Tyson from that game. Hell, Doc Louis on a bike is, too.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 01:05 pm

King Hippo is arguably the most famous. Even before they put him on Captain N, you know you loved him. His pants fall down! That was fucking hilarious when you were ten.

Posted: Jul 05 2011 02:52 pm

Yeah, King Hippo is probably the most iconic opponent in the original, followed closely by Super Macho Man's breasts.