7. Plok ($13)
A bit of a cult classic at the time, this British 2D platform game saw its harmonica-playing hero hurling his limbs (we can't remember why) to take down enemies and activate switches. Interestingly, Plok has to then collect his missing limbs from as far as several screens away. Plok can also power himself up with flamethrowers, pistols and other weapons, and there are vehicular diversions too like jetpacks and helicopters. The visuals are super sharp and look unbelievable in high definition nowadays, while a Tim and Geoff Follin soundtrack certainly bolsters Plok's retro cred. A hidden gem, and one of the best-value SNES platform games.
8. Donkey Kong Country ($19)
Sometimes unfairly maligned by purist snobs who preferred Nintendo's Japanese titles, Donkey Kong Country is one of our favorite 16-bit platform games ever. This may even be Rare's best ever game, combining beautiful rendered 2D visuals - as opposed to the more common sprites - with an endlessly catchy soundtrack, some great game mechanics and collectables, and truly timeless level design. The larger sequel was tougher and never felt quite as good to us, although it was still fantastic and costs just $18 second-hand, so if you finish the fairly slight original and need to keep the buzz going, it's there for you too.
9. Street Fighter II Turbo ($15)
There are more than enough Street Fighter variants and spin-offs out there to keep you playing Capcom's quintessential fighting game series for the rest of your life, but SF2 Turbo is probably the most iconic edition. Essentially a speed-boosted version of Street Fighter II with the four boss characters (Balrog, Vega, Sagat and M. Bison) made playable, the expanded 12-fighter roster and simple but deep gameplay still feels perfectly balanced to this day. Whether you're a hadoken-spamming Ken scrub, a master of Dhalsim's gangly limbs, or you have a soft spot for the hairy colossus Zangief, there's a play style to suit most people, and those richly detailed backgrounds look extraordinary through HDMI.
It's also worth noting that Super Street Fighter II - arguably a slightly lesser game, but a great one nonetheless - is also only $18.
