This post kicks off what will be a series of TrustyGamer trips down memory lane.  Over our lifetimes, we've seen many great games come and go - many of which go forgotten or buried under the legacy of other more popular titles.  We are here to resurrect a few gems that deserve to be in the spotlight, and hopefully, may someday see the light of day again.

5)  Syndicate

Syndicate was one of the best games ever created for the PC.  At the time, it was an entirely unique experience that blended a mix of gaming genres that ranged from resource management to squad tactics.  It required gamers to be smart, frugal, and outright ruthless in order to see their syndicate thrive in the cyberpunk style world filled with other ruthless syndicates out to do the same.  You had to manage your team of assassins to take out other syndicate VIPs, take over territories, and obtain enough money to keep your outfit well stocked with the latest weapons and ammo.  It was such an influential title that countless modern games have borrowed from its design, yet none of them even come close to the perfection of gameplay that was Syndicate.  Hopefully some day Peter Molyneux will stop all this Fable crap and concentrate his efforts on a real game.

4)  Carmageddon

Carmageddon was one of those games that was so wrong, that it wound up being right.  And right in so many ways.  This game is just fun.  You drive around in your car, and you nail the shit out of pedestrians (and other vehicles).    It featured open world racing and stunt driving before the phrase "open world" was even coined, and was light years ahead of its time.  When blood soaks your windshield, the wipers turn on.  Genius.  People who play Carmageddon usually have two things in common:  One, a serious case of road rage, and two, a giant smile on their face as they plaster old ladies with their bumpers.  This game is a classic, and we need a sequel.  (Apologies in advance for the 909 shit-metal that usually accompanies any YouTube video montage.)

3)  Duke Nukem

Ok, this one people will probably roll their eyes and moan over, but still.  Think back to how awesome Duke Nukem 3D was.  Remember the multiple bad-ass weapons, including pipe bombs with remote triggers (the grandfather of the infamous C4 now employed in so many other FPS games today)?  Remember the jet packs you could strap on and fly around with?  Remember walking into the bathroom, and seeing yourself in the mirror?  Flushing toilets?  Playing pool on the billiards tables?  Remember the STRIPPERS???  It even had pigs dressed like cops as enemies!!!  Let's not forget the technical achievements either.  Duke's synthesized voice coming out of  your speakers.  The badass original soundtrack.  Network play!  It was also one of the first FPS games to support higher resolutions, like 800x600 (which at the time was the equivalent of high-def).  It was basically the best FPS ever made.  Period.  Point blank.  Done.  Shake-it, BABY...

2)  ToeJam & Earl

ToeJam & Earl is one of those games that was truly legendary, yet you don't hear it mentioned too often in the annals of gaming history.  It was a 2-D adventure game in which two aliens crash their spaceship, and now must find all of the scattered parts in order to reassemble it and get back home to the planet Funkotron.  Planet Funkotron.  Badass.  The detail and animation of each of the game's characters, coupled with some of the best jokes and gags ever to appear in an adventure game made TJ&E an instant classic.  It also introduced many novel gaming concepts such as the seamless splitting and coalescing of the screen should the two main characters wander apart.  You could play the game with your buddy, with each of you on completely separate levels.  If one of you were down on health, you could high-five each other to equalize each other's health bars.  Badass.  Anybody remember finding Santa for the first time?  What about the Jam Out mode???  Somebody order this game a sequel!

1)  California Games

Sorry, but I played the heck out of this game, and it was awesome.  Even the lame roller skating and "footbag" modes.  California Games is one of those titles that makes you think back to when you were a kid and just enjoyed playing outdoors, which is ironic since this is a video game... played indoors.  But it matters not!  Why?  Because if you stayed in the half-pipe long enough, there would eventually be an earthquake and the Hollywood sign would come crashing down.  That's why.  Give us a sequel!!!!