Favorite 16 bit game that got'ya hooked?

My gaming experience started with the ATARI on such games as Grand Prix and Maze Craze. My fixation with video games definitely started then and there. Next, came the NES with Mario Bros/Duck Hunt, Megaman, Bubble Bobble (excellent game), Zelda, and Bases Loaded II. Since then, my family has bought as many systems as we can. I can't decide which system is the best though, each has their own unique traits and games.

My parents introduced me to their Atari system when I began to show interest in video games when I was in the first grade. Atari bored the crap out of me, probably because I lost patience waiting for the aliens to shoot and destroy my barriers in "Space Invaders". I enjoyed the NES more(and made my parents buy me one) and I played Super Mario Bros. 3 whenver I got the chance. I think it frustrated my parents that I would sit in front of the TV for hours in order to gain enough Warp Whistles and P-Wings to make it through some of those ubber-tough places in the Koppa Homeland and save the freakin' princess. I couldn't understand why the Princess never saved Mario...how the heck could he fit into those tubes, especially when they have plumber-eatin' plants inside?!

I still enjoy playing videogames, but definetely not the level that I once did. Of course, when there's downtime at work, I don't hesitate to whip out the DS.

ive been gaming since 1982 at age 5 on the intelivision which btw was better then the stupid attari my favoite 16 bit game final fantasy 6 aka 3 honorable metion 2 phasty star 2 i think that one might be my favvoite

The 16 bit video game generation fell within my "I'm pretending I am too old for gaming" phase that swept across the end of the NES days and into the Nintendo 64 final salute to cart-based consoles. After being assigned to twelve page research papers about how Mary Shelley can be considered a literary bridge between European Romanticism and Victorian publications, I found out that, why no, I am not too old to meditate behind a controller.

Thanks to friends, microwaves, and an unhealthy consumption of Mountain Dew in my youth, I didn't completely miss the 16-bit era. The following examples kept the button mashing going:

[B]Super Castlevania.[/B] Ever notice that everything for the SNES was "just super!" Somehow I just knew that Big Gay Al was a huge gamer. "Super Castlevania" may have been a short game, but I loved the twirling of the whip. Something only quaint to today's "Devil May Cry" generation.

[B]Lost Vikings.[/B] It was a game about three not-so-bright Vikings being sucked into a time traveling vortex and problem solving their way through various time periods and cultural locations. It was like Lemmings. With nose picking.

[B]Mario Kart.[/B] Everyone knows this game, don't they? I think it is included on the U.S. citizenship test at this point. I remember the SNES was dusted off and plugged back into the back of the television to settle roommate disputes during my first year of college. I was Toad. Always.

My real stomping ground was the NES years. That system followed my Atari 400. Yes. I am that old, but Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac-Man will always be royalty.

Didn't they make a SF2 16bit version game?

If not then whatever bit it was I enjoyed it!

For 8 bit games, loved R-Type, DoubleDragon, Shinobi, AfterBurner and others to name a few oldies.

Dang I need to get the PS3 when it comes out and hopefully they'll have some of these classic games. I still have my original Atari with the paddles, Pong, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Pac Man and many other old school games! *wheew!*