The Video Game Critic

It's that time again, folks.  Oh yes it is.  We've spent the last couple of years (since the last thread on this topic) playing dozens of games, refining our tastes, buying new systems, trying new genres and prioritizing our favorites.  Make a top 5, top 10, top 20, top whatever list to show where your gaming tastes are today.  Boldly proclaim, "These games are the best ever!!!"  A little blurb next to each game is also an option.  Just make sure you list where the game can be found so our community can find and play it if they so choose.  (I pick up games because of lists like these all the time).

Here's my Top Ten with some quick notes, plus the rest of my current Top 25 list.  This will change tomorrow, I'm sure, but I thought this would be a fun exercise.  Oh, and I can't wait to read Critic's Top 10 or Top 20 list when he finishes that article.  Anyway, on to the lists!!

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) - On the surface, a simple expansion and refinement of the original on NES, Zelda 3 remains the pinnacle of the 16-bit era and perhaps Action/Adventure games of all time.

2. Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood/Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (PC-Engine CD) - The best game in what I believe to be gaming's finest franchise.  It's a game that shows love, graphical detail, and reverence and respect to the franchise's past, all while innovating with branching paths in nearly every level.  Konami pulled all the stops in Rondo of Blood.

3. Half-Life 2 + episodes (PC, 360, PS3) - So ahead of its time, FPS's of today *still* emulate its style and unique setting.  Episode 2 ended on a cliffhanger that may never be resolved, making this particular game all the more legendary.

4. The Last of Us (PS4, PS3) - A game that transcends the medium, a masterpiece in every possible way.  The story, the music, the graphics, the hopelessness, the emotion... The crowning jewel of the 7th generation.

5. Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, PS2, PS3) - I believe this to be the first action game to ever truly challenge me on a tactical level.  It's strategy more than twitch & reflex, beneath production that's both style and substance.  Went on to influence Dead Space, Gears of War, The Last of Us and pretty much every third person shooter of the last 10 years.

6. Mega Man 2 (NES) - Starting at Level 1 was the mold of 1980's platformers.  Mega Man broke that mold and the sequel refined it to perfection.  Tight controls, perfect hit detection, challenging rock/paper/scissors bosses and level design made in heaven.  

7. Persona 3 (PS2, PSP) - Combining to fully complete games into one, P3 mixes an addictive high school dating simulation with a dungeon crawler that turns traditional JRPG combat on its head.  Add gallons of style, great characters and an incredible story that could only have been developed in Japan and you'll never be so happy to lose 100 hours of your life.

8. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) - The most unique platformer of its time, Yoshi's Island is still a revelation today.  Incredible graphics, pastel colors and enormous and entertaining bosses round out the package.

9. God of War (PS2) - No one does epic set-pieces quite like the God of War series, and the first game is still the best.  A main character that's as grating and unlikeable as he is enjoyable to control, God of War took the combat of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden and somehow bested them both.  The bloody and gruesome aesthetic may have been the star at the time, but a decade after release, it still has insanely polished level design, combat and puzzles.

10. DoDonPachi (Arcade) - The depth that Cave created for the sequel to shmup classic DonPachi is flabbergasting.  You could literally spend years mastering this game, and many have.  The catch is, it's still incredibly fun as a beginner, too.  Beautiful 2D sprites, perfect bullet patterns, tough as nails difficulty.  Bullet heaven.

11. Tomb Raider (PS4, PS3)
12. Bioshock (360, PS3)
13. Chrono Trigger (SNES)
14. Dead Space (360, PS3)
15. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
16. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
17. Mother 3 (GBA)
18. Mega Man X4 (PS1) -- specifically, Zero's campaign
19. Super Mario World (SNES)
20. Persona 4 (PS2, Vita)
21. Ms. Pacman (Arcade)
22. Lunar: Silver Star Story (PS1, Sega CD)
23. Dragon's Crown (PS3, Vita)
24. Shinobi III (Genesis)
25. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (PS4)

Hmm thats a really tough one, but i'll go by some games that
have been really fun to me lately or just my style of game in
general that i always go back to ! and in no order of course!

Skyrim
Diablo ultimate evil edition
Baldurs Gate dark alliance
Sacred 2
Twisted Metal 2
Max Payne
Marvel ultimate alliance
Spiderman Shattered Dimensions
Arkham series ( all were great )
Dragons Dogma

i could go on and on with lots others, but theres 10 lol

Ozzy

1 BioShock 1 (Xbox 360)
Amazing little work of art/story telling and one of the few FPS I actually replayed a couple of times.

2 Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis)
Amazing music mixed with an amazing game.

3 Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Sega Genesis)
Needs to be replayed once in a while to remind me why Sonic was so great.

4 Rise of the Dragon (PC/Mac/Amiga)
Not a perfect game, but just one of those game I really, really enjoyed. Great music, great setting a great atmosphere.

5 Rocket Knight Adventures (Sega Genesis)
Rated C by the VGC, blasphemy! This game makes me feel like a 10-year old kid again every time I play it.

6 Shovel Knight (Nintendo 3DS)
I almost forgot how much fun platform games could be, then this came along...

7 Doom 1 (PC/Mac)
Even after more than 20 years, still one of the best creepy shooters around...

8 Bubble Bobble (NES/Sega Master System)
Some of the most fun to be had with 2 players,

9 Tetris
Still going strong. I especially like the Game Boy edition and Tetris Max (for Mac/Windows).

10 Indiana Jones & the Fate of Atlantis (PC/Mac)
Highlight of graphic adventuring for me.

@ozzy - I bought Diablo III for PS4 not too long ago.  It may be the game I start after finishing Assassin's Creed IV.  I'm really excited to play it.

@CC - Great #1 pick.  Have you seen the concept art that was recently released for the cancelled Bioshock movie?  It's really a shame, but you know if they were gonna do it right it would have been wicked expensive.  I also feel you on Rocket Knight Adventures.  When I think of scores I disagree with the Critic on, RKA getting a C is the first one that comes to mind.  That along with Metal Storm (NES) getting an F, when I think it's one of the 10 best games on the system.  

Also, Shovel Knight!  I don't have a Wii U and I hate the d-pad on the original 3DS, so I haven't played it yet, but when it comes to Vita later this year, I'm all over that-- Day One.  Seems like the perfect game for retro gamers.

Alright...I've revised this to a most recent list.  I've got a top 30 that I will post in batches.  Here is my Top Ten.

1.  Star Control II (3DO) - When I can safely recommend that a game is worth buying an entire system for...it ranks highly with me.  Thankfully you can legally play this on your PC for free (Google Ur-Quan Masters), this 3DO version is truly great.  It's an adventure/RPG coated in an amazing Sci-fi veneer.  You've got memorable alien races, ship to ship combat, exploration, dialog with different aliens etc...The game doesn't hold your hand AT ALL and can be very obtuse.  I recommend a guide to get you started or use the handy tips provided in the game's manual.  The main game is amazing, but the head to head space ship multiplayer mode is just as fun.  I love this game, it's critically underrated.  If you think stuff like Mass Effect is good...go hunt down this epic adventure.

2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) - This held my top spot for years.  The fact that Star Control is a more unique experience is what rocketed it to the top.  This game is practically flawless though.  It has great dungeon/level design, fantastic music, cool story, and great items/upgrades.  It's the best Zelda game ever made.

3.  Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1) - This is another game that once held the top spot.  It's mixture of Metroid style exploration and Castlevania motif is an absurdly delicious combination.  I think it's the best Castlevania game ever made.  I wish Konami had the balls to release a 2D game modeled after SotN on a modern console.

4.  Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1) - The best strategy RPG ever made...period.  I never get tired of this game thanks to the awesome job system, dense story and great audio/visuals.  If you've never played this...go now.  It's available on everything from your iPad to the PSP.

5.  Chrono Trigger (SNES) - WHAAAAAAT?!!??!  Yeah, I frickin' LOVE this game.  Best JRPG of all time.  I've already raved about this one enough in my "Now Playing" thread.

6.  Super Metroid (SNES) - Nintendo really reached for the stars with the SNES version of Metroid.  I'm hoping, begging, praying that they decide to pull a Donkey Kong Country Returns with this franchise.  The Prime games aren't Metroid to me.  

7.  Mega Man 2 (NES) - This game is almost perfectly designed.  Everything from the pulse pounding music, to the levels are meticulously crafted.  The game is challenging, but never feels cheap.  It has crisp controls and getting those weapons from defeated bosses is a concept that is still cool even today.  

8.  Fable (Xbox) - I will always continue to heap praise on this game.  It's fantastic.  People love to hate on Peter Molyneaux, but I still love him and his designs.  This game is designed to actual be role played...huh who would have thought!  Seriously, play the game and be a Holy Paladin.  Only do good, force yourself to only take healing spells and increase your stregnth/health.  You can create any character you like and if you stick to a path it's incredibly satisfying.  I like the cockney, semi British world and their are plenty of memorable quests (especially in the Lost Levels 2.0 version).  Since the main quest is nice and short the game is highly replayable.  I come back to this one once every couple of years or so.

9.  Mortal Kombat II (Arcade) - My favorite fighting game of all time.  I own the arcade machine as well as several versions of it.  I never get tired of it and people are always down to play a few rounds.  

10.  Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons of Liberty (PS2) - I've grown to appreciate this game more and more over the years.  You could literally write a college thesis on this game's design and how it purposely doesn't give you expected payoffs.  That's right it's actually designed to make you expect one thing and it deliberately goes out of it's way to not allow you to feel/reach those expectations.  Plus it dives deeply into the concepts of Memetics and uses memes to control the player's experience.  I'm deeply fascinated with this game and my appreciation for it has only grown over time.

1. Demon's Souls 
2. Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition 
3. Dark Souls 
4. Final Fantasy VII 
5. Rez 
6. Shadow of the Colossus
7. Dragon Age: Inquisition
8. "P.T."
9. Gone Home
10. Silent Hill 2

I've added a few that were released late lat year and moved down others to make room. I really need to play the MGS games though because I have a feeling that 1, 2, or 3 would belong somewhere on this list.

Just the list for now: will try to write a little something for each game when I have the time. Revised a bit to take into account the things I've been playing more as of late versus the older games I still play from time to time:

1. Resident Evil 4
2. Silent Hill 2
3. Final Fantasy Tactics
4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
5. Streets of Rage 2
6. Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse
7. Megaman 2
8. Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
9. Bayonetta
10. Hotline: Miami

Runners-Up
11. Silent Hill
12. Super Mario Bros. 3
13. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
14. Metal Gear Solid
15. Final Fantasy
16. Ninja Gaiden
17. Startropics
18. Portal 2
19. Crystalis
20. Shadow of the Colossus
21. Batman: Arkham Asylum
22. God of War 2
23. Super Mario Bros.
24. Super Meat Boy
25. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

@ptdebate - Wow!  Is P.T. really that good?  I downloaded it and messed around with it for a few minutes but I got pretty scared and went back to Tomb Raider or whatever else I was playing.  I am excited for Silent Hills, though.

@velcrozombie - Crystalis!  YES!!! Why does no one ever talk about that game?  One of the 10 best NES games; no doubt.

[QUOTE=JWK]@ptdebate - Wow!  Is P.T. really that good?  I downloaded it and messed around with it for a few minutes but I got pretty scared and went back to Tomb Raider or whatever else I was playing.  I am excited for Silent Hills, though.

@velcrozombie - Crystalis!  YES!!! Why does no one ever talk about that game?  One of the 10 best NES games; no doubt.[/QUOTE]

I generally prefer games with smaller goals that execute flawlessly over large-scale, ambitious attempts that get crushed under the weight of so much baggage. What's beautiful about PT is that it captures the essence of what makes a great horror game and distills it down to a very focused experience involving only three actions--walking, looking, and listening.

P.T has that X-factor that makes something unbearably scary. Silent Hills 1 and 2 had it, Resident Evil had a little bit of it, and Amnesia brought it back to the mainstream after a long drought. Playing The Evil Within recently I noticed that not once--not even once!--did I feel scared, on-edge, or startled. I felt occasionally amused, bewildered, or annoyed, but never scared.

Playing P.T. by myself is pretty much impossible. I have to have a group of people with me. But even then, I have to divert my focus every once and a while, reality check, and remind myself that it's just a game and it can't hurt me. (If you play P.T., you'll get this allusion ) It is very, very unsettling.

[QUOTE=JWK]

@velcrozombie - Crystalis!  YES!!! Why does no one ever talk about that game?  One of the 10 best NES games; no doubt.[/QUOTE]

I was a bit too young to really understand the two Zelda games on the NES when I first got the system. I'd play them, but I couldn't really deal with the non-linear nature of them very well. Instead, I would just hit a point where I couldn't go any further and give up - especially the original game, where you had to burn or bomb a couple of random points in the map to make significant progress. I ended up getting Crystalis a year or two later and found it a bit less obtuse and abstract, making it easier for an 8 year-old to get through (although I remember getting some hints from Nintendo Power). It's probably the first game where I actually got somewhat caught up in the narrative and characters. It was really funny to find out that the original Japanese title translated to "God Slayer: Sonata of the Far Away Sky", which I'm sure would have gone over just swimmingly here in America:

 

Although I'm pretty happy with my list, any of the following games could have easily found a spot in the runner-ups:
Landstalker
Gunstar Heroes
Final Fantasy Legend
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out
No More Heroes
Contra
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Golden Axe 2