My brother asked what my top 10 games were the other day. It got me thinking on hoard of a task this actually is. Sure i have 10 games I truly love. I could easily make a top 20. The fun ting about it is that it's my top 10, where quality and playability mix into the unique experience that is game playing. For example you could have had a great experience playing Halo 2 and that makes it infinitely better than Halo 1 regardless of graphics or gameplay. So here is how I would rate my top 10.
1. Final Fantasy VII
Cliche yes, but the opening video was a factor for anyone that bought a PSX instead of an N64, their choice was finally rewarded. The emotion in the story mixed with the musix is what really fuels this cult.
2. The Legend of Zelda: OOT -
An adventure that had memorable twists and turns seemingly at every junction. It's amazing how this game was a perfected model of earlier Zelda games yet none of it seemed stale or repetitve like in later reincarnations of the game.
3. Metal Gear Solid:
Who knew espionage could be so fun. MGS, with a powerful story, and engaging gameplay, this is one quest I don't mind playing over and over again.
4. James Bond 007: Goldeneye
The game that made me realize you don't have to be an isolated hermit to enjoy games. Pure multiplayer bliss.
5. Grand Theft Auto III: The game that recharaged a franchise and breathed life into a studio. Finally a game company that understood how to make a game for adults. Though perhaps IV will take the throne wihen I am finished with it.
6. Resident Evil 4: Enjoyable because of the surprise it brings. Just playing this game me my muscles tense and that made every victory that muh sweeter.
7. NHL 94
Perhaps one of the best hockey games every. From the blood controversy to the fighting being included. This is the most fun hockey game ever created.
8. Final Fantasy Tactics
This story can only be described in one word... epic. It was amazing back then, it's amazing to now to go and play and do things entirely different.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Link the Past
One that I can play over and over again. It's still fun now and the world is so alive when you play, it really feels like stepping into another world.
10. Super Mario Bros.
A game that is still challenging and is now a historical masterpiece. To think that almost all of this started with this game is a little overwhleming at times.
There we have it, sure this list is fluid and there were a lot of great games left off (Halo, Metal Gear Solid 3, Mutant League Football) but for today, those are my 10 favorite games and that's what makes a top 10 list so fun to think about.
I was thinking the other day... what if 2K sports had gone with the game it exceled at, and landed the NFL exclusive liscene, adn EA had continued developing the game it was very good at developing, Baseball. Then we wouldn't be stuck where we are today with two mediocre games of sports, wishing of days where we could actually choose.
Then I thought well what if Nintendo had won exclusivity for Final Fantasy back in 1997 for the ff7 series intead of PS, would we have a bunch of mini cut scenes that would resemble that FMV's of back then. There's a lot of questions of gains and rewards and paths in the video game world, but perhaps that's what makes it most like reality. We arne't always given the best bang for out buck but we have to live with what we got. We have to live with the fact that superior gameplay is still being released on inferior game systems. We don't have a choice most of the time in life, that's what makes the world of video games the escape it is for most people.
