Happy Fourth of July - Top Five Fireworks in Games

Of course the 4th of July is about more than loud, colorful explosions in the sky, but it's those beautiful booms that makes it one of my favorite holidays of the year.  To celebrate with you all, let's take a look at my personal Top 5 favorite displays of fireworks in the world of games.

-1- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Most every summer when our family would go down to the beach for a holiday weekend, the SNES would be waiting there for some retro gaming goodness.  And what better way to get in the mood for fireworks than booting up Super Mario RPG, loading that save file just before the epic final boss against King Smithy, and reveling in the reward that was this game's credits.  Seeing the memorable cast of characters and listening to the beautiful melodic themes, it was like watching something out of a Disney Land parade, especially when it transitions to night and the parade floats dawn sparkling lights.  The simple fireworks at the end put the finishing touch of an adventure worth celebrating.

-2- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Kirby 64 is in my opinion the best Kirby game in the series due to its fantastic ability to fuse powers into a vast array of unique combinations.  For instance, merging the bomb and fire ability would turn Kirby into a jumping, exploding, colorful nightmare that is Fireworks Kirby.  Nothing is quite so fun as haphazardly blowing up all over the screen with pop and sizzling sound effects. (Jump to about 1:15 to see Fireworks Kirby)

-3- Super Mario Bros.

While they may not be the most graphically impressive displays, these little bangs are so satisfying to hear upon reaching the end of a level in Super Mario Bros.  To guarantee these exploding blips of 500 points a piece, just make sure to grab the flagpole at the end of the level with 1,3, or 6 as the last number in the timer.  Then enjoy the show.

-4- Geometry Wars

While these are more exploding spaceships (or shapes?) than fireworks, they are still exploding displays of colorful lights in dark depths of the night sky.  And what an eye-popping colorful display this game can be.  Even getting a game over is a spectacular treat of neon lights in your face.

-5- Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart's Rainbow Road back for the N64 was like driving through a display of Christmas lights, with various Mario icons lit up in bright neon lights as you cruise along what is notoriously known as the longest track of the whole series.  Mario Kart 8 updated this track in most stunning fashion, now featuring gorgeous fireworks and a magical flying train.  It's an awe-inspiring track to race on that goes all too quickly, because it is now sadly one of the shortest tracks in the series being only 1 full lap around the track.  Why make something so beautiful so fleeting, Nintendo?

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I'm sure there are many other great displays of fireworks to be found in games.  So be sure to share your favorites in the comments below.  And should you be unable to attend a firework viewing this holiday, know that there are many colorful spectacles to behold just a game console away.  Happy 4th of July!