Recently, Game Informer Magazine published their 200th issue, which chronicled their 200 top videogames of all time. Since my gaming 'career' has covered the history of modern gaming, I've decided to publish my personal top 10 of all time.
Criteria are as follows:
1. Amount of time spent playing the game
2. Games that revolutionzed gaming/a specific genre
3. Games that stand the test of time (Still Damned Fun)
One thing I struggled with in compiling this list was the 'sequel' factor. For example: Grand Theft Auto III is one of the most influential games ever made. However, it was a PS2 game that looks like crap on today's high definition displays. Grand Theft Auto IV, released last year for PS3 and XBOX 360 is gorgeous with improved controls, visuals, sound and gameplay over the venerable Grand Theft Auto III. Should GTA III be penalized because it was released nine years ago? For me, each game is ranked taking into consideration it's merits when it was released.
10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves-Playstation 3
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the most cinematic, visceral, well-acted, enthralling, exciting; well, you get the picture. Uncharted 2 was released in November 2009 as a PS3 exclusive to tremendous critical acclaim. This game nails the cinematic-feel unlike any franchise in gaming history. The progtagonist, Nathan Drake, is a cool, likeable guy you'd like to have a beer with and pick-up a chick or two. And he's damned funny. For every second of the games 12-hour main story you're on the edge of your seat, with twists and turns better than most Hollywood efforts. The voicecast nails the ensemble feel of a motion picture, and leaves everyone wanting Uncharted 3 to have come out yesterday. Toss in the best visuals in a game to date, along with a cinematic score and hilarious commercials, you've got THE reason to own a PS3.
9. Super Mario 64-Nintendo 64
Oh, good 'ole Nintendo. I still don't know if they've figured out how to launch a videogame console. When the long-delayed Nintendo 64 launched in 1996, the system launched with two, that's right, two titles. One of those was the neat but boring Pilotwings 64. The other title marked the much anticipated return of the most recognizable gaming mascot in the world, Mario. Thank God. Super Mario 64 revolutionized videogames as the first truly 3D platforming title to integrate a questing mechanic with the flavor of the beloved franchise in an exciting way. I played through the 40-hour main quest three times, and the final boss battle with Bowser remains one of the neatest moments in the history of videogames. Mario 64 made every other action/adventure/platforming game on the market today possible.
8. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic-XBOX, PC
I love Star Wars. It's one of the finest and most successful concepts ever imagined. But by God, George Lucas, what the hell? Jar Jar Binks single-handedly ruined the film franchise along with wooden dialogue and more plot holes than The Last Action Hero. KOTOR was a revival for RPGs, and it pulled Star Wars on television screens out of a steaming pile of Bantha poo doo.
Bioware created an immersive and expansive universe set thousands of years before the events of Star Wars (the good trilogy), and crafted an action-RPG experience that works still today (Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins). KOTOR gave the option of turning to the Dark Side, or walking the path of Yoda on the Light Side. And these decisions were truly difficult. Do I help the poor woman find the parts to fix her landspeeder, or do I cut her head off and steal her money? Tough call. There were two endings and a the greatest plot twist in the history of gaming. The Force is strong with KOTOR.
7. Halo: Combat Evolved-XBOX
When I picked-up my XBOX Launch Bundle at Kay Bee toys, I couldn't have been more disappointed. Afterall, XBOX exclusive Obi-Wan, a 3D action game set in the Star Wars prequel universe was delayed and the only three games that looked worth a damn were Dead or Alive 3, Oddworld and Halo. That morning before classes at Tomball College, I popped in Halo after a good review on IGN.com. Then I never looked back.
Bungie took Rare's Goldeneye formula and turned it up 1,000 degrees. A console split screen campaign? Networked multiplayer with up to 16 players? A cool sci-fi story with a hot digital escort? The rest is history. Halo's control scheme is mimicked by every shooting game that has been made since. Halo's multiplayer occupied hours upon hours of my life. We were all so obsessed with it that we all braved a Central Texas ice storm when the city was shut down to get a game together at my apartment. Halo is and will always be the standard for shooters, bottom line.
6. Super Mario Bros. 3-NES
When I saw the commericals for 'The Wizard' starring Fred Savage, I almost pooped in my Ninja Turtles Under Roos. In the commericial there was live footage of Super Mario Bros. 3. And what? What was that? Was Mario wearing a Raccoon Suit? Was Mario flying? Holy Crap Mario is flying!
That was my reaction. Super Mario Bros. 3 took platforming to new highs. Sure, there still wasn't a story, but there were mini-games like Memory and a fast-moving shape line-up thingy. With a variety of new suits and unique vertical level designs, Mario 3 is a classic that has legs even today. The Wii Virtual Console has sold over 1 million copies of Mario 3 alone. My wife and I still waste hours running through as both Mario and Luigi only to get owned in Level 5. Super Mario Bros. 3; still freaking awesome.
5. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion-XBOX 360, PS3, PC
Elder Scrolls IV was supposed to be one of the must have titles of the 20-odd-something games that hit with the launch of the XBOX 360. After it was delayed, we were all stuck with Perfect Dark Zero (ruined developer Rare forever), King Kong (crappy movie, crappier game) and Kameo (huh?). But after five months of additional development, Oblivion hit store shelves (prompting Dan Starr and I both to re-buy XBOX 360 consoles two months after selling them). It was well-worth the re-purchase. From the second I heard the silky stylings of Patrick Stewart, I knew we were in for a ride. I sunk over 140 hours into this game over two years of play time. Right now I could turn off the computer and fire-up the XBOX for another 20 hours. It's that good. Branching side-quests, a cool main quest and a sweet soundtrack (humming it right now, matter of fact) make this game stand out above the rest. My buddy Dan and I still relive our adventures in Tamriel through song and drink; hurry-up, Betheseda. Where in the hell is Elder Scrolls V?
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time-Nintendo 64
When my mother allowed me to open Ocarina a month before Christmas, my friend (Zach Stinnett) and I played it for 8 consecutive hours. When all-time great developer Shigeru Miyamoto was allowed to expand into the third dimension, he re-invented the wheel. Hyrule burst to life in vivid color, with vast fields of classic monsters and beasts to the tune of past musical themes. A time-travel element accompanied by catchy tunes explored the grown-up themes of aging as Link glimpsed into the future to see his adult self. Winding quests, unique characters and the introduction of Link's horse, Epona, created a one-of-a-kind experience. Ocarina is a gaming masterpiece that still enjoys a fantastic shelf life today.
3. Grand Theft Auto: III-Playstation 2
Hard to believe it, but this game snuck-up on me. A week before its release I caught wind of it through a friend. Per his recommendation, I took advantage of Toys R Us' buy 2 get one free deal (a tradition to this day) by picking up NHL Hitz 2002, Batman: Vengeance and GTA III. What ensued was a twelve-hour play session and the missing of an important specch in Personal Communication. For the next two months, I lived GTA: III. I played it so much I dreamed about it every night. What GTA: III did was create a new genre of games, now called 'Sandbox' games. You were given a living, breathing world, complete with pedestrians, businessmen, housewives, hookers, skyscrapers, slums...you name it. You could go anywhere and do almost anything (except swim). Who didn't enjoy the services of a working woman, then shoot her in the face with a shotgun and get your money back? GTA's seedy underside, adult language and themes pushed the envelope and brought uptight soccer moms out of the woodwork to complain about something new. Every game since has borrowed from GTA in some form or fashion, and frankly the world is a better place for it.
2. Mike Tyson's Punchout-NES
Looking back on that Christmas season of 1986, I can't believe I still didn't get it. My Aunt Debbie gave me both Mike Tyson's Punchout and Bases Loaded for NES and I didn't even have an NES. And yet, I didn't get that I was getting an NES for Christmas. But when Santa did deliver on Christmas day, I dove right into the arcadey-goodness of Punchout. The creative character design and funny music quickly made it a fan favorite. Matter of fact, my Dad was the first 'kid' on the block to figure out Bald Bull's Bull Punch. Where the old man left off, I picked-up. A short while later I climed through Soda Popinksi, The Sandman and Super Macho Man to face Mike Tyson himself. At the age of five I defeated Mike Tyson over, and over and over. I love this game and it's catch soundtrack. Little Mac's pink jogging suit still rocks.
Someone hand me an NES paddle, and I'll enter 007-373-5963 at the title screen and lay a fat (probably TKO) knockdown on Iron Mike. It's my best drunken party feat.
1. Metal Gear: Solid-Playstation (PSX)
It was 1998. Solid Snake emerged from the frigid waters outside of Shadow Moses and overheard Liquid Snake as he ascended up a freight elevator into the Shadow Moses complex. I was given control of Snake. Two patrolmen walked about the exterior and I held my breath before moving Snake toward a corner. My buddy Martin and I began to talk as I crept closer to my prey. Then it hit me; we were whispering to each other. Our voices couldn't disturb the, uh....TV.
For the first time in my gaming life I had become so immersed in the suspense of a game's atmosphere. The cinematic cutscenes and voice acting (though cheesy, admittedly) made games like Uncharted possible. The unforgettable cast of villains and cool quirks (what's on your memory card) were icing on the cake. Plus when you died, Richard Cren...I mean, Col. Campbell yelled, "Snake? SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"
In all honesty, the Metal Gear saga has struck a primordial chord that remains with me today. Last year when Solid Snake's story in the saga wrapped, I cried (yes, actual tears) as this ficticious hero made his way to his demise. That's the true measure of a game. What makes you feel the hero's pain, the hero's quest? Metal Gear: Solid: The greatest game of all time.
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