Video game super heroes aren't born often, but when they are they bring with them hours of pure enjoyment and hatred. Too many times did your friend amass 300 rushing yards with Vick from 04. Too many times did Bo Jackson bowl through your entire team like he was predicting Marshawn Lynch's future.

We asked our staff on who they thought were the most overpowered video game athletes of all time with one caveat: we didn't want any of the easy answers like Vick or Jackson.

 

Continue reading to see if you agree with their picks.

 

 

Matthew Coe

 

For me, it's a few guys who I don't think anyone would expect.

1. Barry Foster - RB Carolina Panthers, Front Page Sports Football Pro '96

Barry Foster was a workhorse running back in the early '90s who was traded to the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995. Foster never took a snap for the team, instead retiring, but that didn't stop me from making him my feature back. I ran for over 2,000 yards and my first ever Superbowl victory in FPSFP '96 behind Foster.

2. Todd Hollinsworth - OF LA Dodgers, OOTP 5

Hollinsworth was at one time a top prospect in the Dodgers organization. In the text sim Out of the Park Baseball 5, Hollinsworth blew up for me becoming a 50+ HR, 120 RBI machine. He was a phenom in that game for me and would go on to hit nearly 500 home runs over his career.

3. Stephen Davis - RB Carolina Panthers, ESPN NFL 2K5

Stephen Davis was a beast in ESPN NFL 2K5 if used correctly. I remember playing online back on the original Xbox in the early days of XBox Live and winning games that I had no business winning because of Davis's ability to break tackles. I'll never forget Stephen Davis in ESPN NFL 2K5.

 

 

Glenn Wigmore

 

I'm going to go a bit wackier with my picks...

1. Ken Griffey Jr. -- Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run (SNES)

I'll tell you how to become a dominant digital athlete: make a game that's got you on the cover and where you're the only true licensed player. "Junior" had it all figured out by making games that orbited around him (he was dominant in all of his games, actually). His home run power was exponentially higher than anyone else in the game. Even if he didn't put it out of the park, he was almost guaranteed to hit the ball hard — and usually for a hit.

2. George St-Pierres — UFC Undisputed 2010 (X360/PS3)

GSP so thoroughly outclassed his welterweight peers that it wasn't even funny. His rangy attacks belied his actual real-life skill at striking, as they allowed you to clown people from distance and knock them down unexpectedly. Even better, his ground game was vastly superior, especially when in the hands of reasonable human competition.

3. Mike Tyson — Mike Tyson's Punch-Out (NES)

Sure, he was the only "real" fighter in the game, but his lifebar-draining bombs were something to be feared. Persistent players eventually got wise to his pattern, but that doesn't mean that his one-punch power was any less frightening.

 

 

Aaron Ondrey

 

I'll try to play to a more recent age of athletes.

1. Shaquille O'Neal- NBA 2K6 (Xbox 360)

Shaq could be considered the most dominant digital, or real-life athlete of all-time. You could just throw it in the post, and muscle your way to a dunk with the Big Diesel.

2. Randy Moss- NFL 2K2 (Sega Dreamcast)

Randy Moss was just a freak in NFL 2K2. He had great speed, a great vertical, and great hands. Best digital wide receiver ever.

3. Pavel Datsyuk- NHL 10 (Xbox 360)

Pure filth when it comes to puck handling, Pavel Datsyuk, if used correctly, could deke you out of your skates. With a combination of speed and on-goal accuracy, Datsyuk is an under-the-radar dominant digital athlete.

 

 

Who are your most dominant digital athletes of all time? Sound off by commenting below!