Top 5 favorite franchises?

[Atarifever1]

[QUOTE=ptdebate][QUOTE=Sut] Sonic (Sega Systems) [/QUOTE] An important distinction to make, as post-Dreamcast Sonic games are Sega's [b]curse[/b] to humanity.[/QUOTE]
Sonic Colours is really, really good.  

Every time I bring it up, I link to this stage's theme, which I think is the best piece of music in the series (well either that or the Chemical Plant Zone), which is fitting, as it's the best Sonic game not on the Genesis (yeah, it's way better than Adventure).  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEGro4NpgCg

[ptdebate1]

You got me there, Atarifever. I shouldn't have made such a broad generalization .

[Segatarious1]

1 Mario Platforming
2 Mario Kart
3 Wii Sports
4 Advance Wars
5 Zelda

[Weekend_Warrior1]

1. Mortal Kombat
2. Virtua Fighter
3. Street Fighter
4. Killzone
5. Guitar Hero/Rock Band

[Marriott_Guy1]

1.  Suikoden
2.  Elder Scrolls
3.  PGA Tour
4.  Castlevania
5.  King's Quest

[velcrozombie1]

1. Castlevania - Consistently entertaining series with a lot of elements that keep me coming back: challenging platforming, fast action with an interesting array of weapons, cool takes on monsters and horror tropes, Gothic atmosphere, memorable music that I find myself humming for days...I haven't really warmed up to the 3D titles much yet, but the other two eras (the 2nd action platformers and the Metrovanias) have never disappointed me.
2. Silent Hill - Some of the best characters and stories in gaming (even if they haven't been quite as consistent in the last 10 years or so), amazing unity of visual and audio design in the service of creating the strongest sense of mood and atmosphere I've ever encountered in a game, great monsters designed with the psychological profile of the characters and their back-stories in mind, and incredibly immersive - this is the one series that wraps me up in it's worlds to the point that I often forget I'm playing a game.
3. Mario platformers - Nonstop quality and innovation. Fun, colorful and imaginative. Always a joy to play, especially with other people.
4. Metal Gear Solid - Memorable characters, nutty stories that constantly surprise you, tons of cool gadgets to play around with, great (hammy) voice-acting, lots of tense stealth action, maybe the coolest bosses (and best boss battles) in a video game series.
5. Resident Evil - Not really scary in the way Silent Hill is, but tense and exciting nevertheless. Cool monsters (are you seeing a theme here?), a scarcity of resources that constantly keeps you on your toes, plots are dumb but fun in either a deliberately campy way (Resi 4) or a so-good-its-bad way (everything else), series managed to evolve while still retaining quality (at least at first) and even arguably spawned an entire genre (3rd-person shooters with Resi 4). Also, the Mercenaries mini-game is video game crack.
Runners-Up
6. Final Fantasy - Not a series that I've touched in a while, but the games I did enjoy (1, 6, 7 and, most of all, the Tactics games) I still harbor a lot of goodwill towards. The first series that taught me the joys of exploration, collecting, tactics and nonlinear progression; they also had epic stories that unraveled over time, another first for me.
7. Street Fighter - My favorite competitive series, great fun whether you and your friends know what they're doing or not (as long as you're at a similar level, that is). A diverse cast of stereotypical but memorable characters that ooze personality and charm (and, to some degree, bad taste). The perfect "press these buttons and something cool with happen" series.
8. Mega Man - Great mix of platforming and action. The various weapons and gadgets and the multiple paths you can take provide a ton of replay value. Cute graphics and iconic character designs that still look great 25 years later.
9. Ninja Gaiden - Pretty much everything fun about the platforming action in Castlevania, but streamlined and supercharged. Original series was pretty much a one-trick pony, but its an endlessly replayable trick. Later reinvented itself as a 3d action series, which is also great (and punishingly hard).
10. God of War - Gory, epic spectacle that's not very deep but is a lot of fun anyway. Some of the most impressive eye-candy in gaming - I can't imagine how good a PS4 GoW will look. Each game strings you along, drip-feeding you just enough cool additions to keep you interested. Kratos' tragic history quickly became a spoiled-child act, but it DOES give you the ability to do horrible things without feeling bad
about it!

I'm sure Bayonetta will be here somewhere in a month or so

NOTE: List was edited. Original numbers:
7. 2D Sonic
8. Streets of Rage
9. Golden Axe.
All deserving, but I only have so much room!

[Jon1]

1. Mario Platformers: Specifically from the NES-SNES era.

2. Twisted Metal: The first 2 were great. 

3. Metal Slug: Underrated series that unfortunately never got enough exposure.

4. Mortal Kombat: Especially the first 3. Another underrated series.

5. Front Page Sports Football Pro: From the criminally underrated, largely forgotten developer, Sierra (who also did the King's Quest series). This is by far the best football series ever, yes that includes Madden, even NFL 2K. NFL 2k5 is my favorite football video game of all time, but that can't hold a candle to FPSFP. The 95 version is the greatest football game ever by a landslide.

[JustLikeHeaven1]

Alrighty, narrowing it down to 5 is gonna be brutal.  


1.  The Legend of Zelda - As long as Nintendo still makes these games, I'll always buy their console.  I love these games.  The provide the perfect blend of action, character upgrades (via items/weapons), puzzles and exploration.  Best game in the franchise - A link to the Past.  Runner Up - Wind Waker.

2.  Castlevania - Ever since I was a kid I've been enamored with this franchise.  Growing up I loved the classic Universal monsters and getting to see them on the NES was a treat.  The music in this series is some of my favorite in all of gaming.  The series has had it's up and downs over the years.  However, I'm always pretty excited when a new game comes out.  I wish they'd go Nintendo and release a 2D game on consoles.  I really disliked how all the best entries were eventually on handhelds.  Best game in the franchise - Symphony of the Night.  Runner Up - Castlevania III.

3.  Resident Evil - This is another series that has seen better days.  However, the franchise as a whole holds a special place in my heart.  As a horror movie fan it was a delight to play through these games as a teenager.  They had quotable/bad dialog.  Great scares...spooky atmosphere and tense gameplay.  Over the years the story has gotten more convoluted and geared towards action.  It's still great fun though.  Best game in the franchise - RE: Code Veronica.  Runner Up - Resident Evil 4.

4.  Super Mario Bros - It's hard to argue with the quality and variety of these game.  As I grow older I've come to appreciate these games more than ever.  They're always about fun gameplay, great level design and challenging platforming.  Great series that keeps getting better with age.  Best Game in the franchise - Super Mario Bros 2 (NES) Runner Up - Super Mario World

5.  Mortal Kombat - I really enjoy fighting games and to me I've always been a MK fan.  I own pretty much every game released in the franchise.  I even own a MK II arcade cabinet.  There have been ups and downs, but the series is currently enjoying a new high.  The games range from campy to gritty, but all of them are fun.  I love the over the top gore and the ridiculous mythology of all the characters.  Great franchise.  Best game in the franchise - MK II.  Runner UP - MK 9.  


Franchises that just missed the cut:

Final Fantasy - They haven't made a great game since X.  I really dislike steampunk, futuristic worlds in the new games.  Make the games about I don't know...fantasy worlds.

Metal Gear - I love these games.  They've just gotten stranger and more out there with each release though.

Fallout - If they made the new games in the style of the old games then this would be top 5 easily.  Cmon, they did it with XCOM and that got critically acclaim!

Star Control - I love all three games in the short lived franchise.  If they ever were to come out with an all new game this one could move up into the Top Five realm.

Persona - These horror themed JRPGs have supplanted FF as top dog for me.  They're amazing.  Can't wait for Persona 5!!!  This just missed out on the Top 5.

Ghosts n Goblins - If we're talking strictly old school franchises this would be near top of the list.  If you can include spinoffs like Gargoyle's Quest/Demon Crest and Maximo...then this goes even higher.  It's a shame Capcom doesn't make a new game in this franchise.  

Splatterhouse - One of my alltime favorite beat em up games.  Too bad they messed up the 360/PS3 game so bad.  That was one of my most anticipated games of all time lol.  It was still fun, but it completely missed the point of the original series.  

Mega Man - Can't leave out the Blue Bomber.  Great series and I'm glad to see many of you hold it in high regard.

[wgames771]

1. Mario
2. Sonic (Dreamcast and earlier)
3. Streets of Rage
4. SimCity
5. Civilization
Honorable Mentions
Infinity Blade
RollerCoaster Tycoon

[Ferf131]

My 5 favorite are:

Far Cry
Star Wars Battlefront
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Sniper Elite