A Top 25 Challenge

[Yoshi]

As was accurately pointed out in the IGN Top 100 thread, no one could make a Top 100 list without drawing serious fire from jaded sons of bitches like, well, me. Keeping that in mind, here is the challenge at hand...

Make a Top 25 list (100 is too damn many) of your greatest games of all-time. In order to make this slightly less subjective, here are the ground rules:

1. Being the first doesn't buy a game a damn thing. If someone came along a year later and did it bigger and better, then the new game should be higher on the list. GC Resident Evil > PS1 Resident Evil.

2. Sequels are not to be penalized. Similar to #1 above, if Zelda 7,385 is better than Zelda 2 (and it probably will be), then give it the credit it is due.

3. Hardware is not an excuse. Title XYZ "had great music for its era." Who cares? This is 2003. What was good in 1985 may or may not be tolerable now. Live in the present.

Those three simple rules should at least remove some of the differences in how people choose to rank their favorites. Now that we are all on the same page (or as close as we TNLers can possibly get to that impossible dream), have at it.

[MonsterMash]

I am lazy and thus may or may not make a list at a later point, but at least someone agrees about how "Top" lists should be done. Your 3 rules are the ones all should follow.

[negitoro]

Your rules are really irrelevant because if someone likes a game, really they're going to find other ways to justify it. Especially in a list like Top 25 of all time, no one's going to have a title up there for just graphics or just sound.

[Yoshi]

Originally posted by negitoro
Your rules are really irrelevant because if someone likes a game, really they're going to find other ways to justify it. Especially in a list like Top 25 of all time, no one's going to have a title up there for just graphics or just sound.

And you are dead wrong. The way I rank my games typically violates the ground rules I set above. That is why I didn't have my list ready to start the topic. I need to re-tool it to be more objective.

Now... back on topic.

[NeoZeedeater]

Taking one game from a series...

1. Deus Ex(PC)
2. Sonic CD(SegaCD)
3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night(PS1)
4. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time(N64)
5. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island(SNES)
6. Shinobi 3(SG)
7. Unreal Tournament(PC)
8. Jet Grind Radio(DC)
9. Grand Theft Auto 3(PS2)
10. Archon(C64)
11. Tenchu(PS1) I haven't played much of 3 yet.
12. System Shock(PC)
13. Xenogears(PS1)
14. Super Metroid(SNES)
15. Omega Race(Vic20)
16. Golden Axe(SG)
17. Wonder Boy 3(SMS)
18. Shenmue 2(DC) Space Harrier and Out Run help
19. NiGHTS(SS)
20. Panzer Dragoon Saga(SS)
21. Sin and Punishment(N64)
22. SNK vs Capcom(NGPC)
23. Space Megaforce(SNES)
24. Esprade(Arc)
25. Discs of TRON(Arc)

A top 100 list would have been easier to make. Too much good stuff to leave out.

[Sqoon]

1. Landstalker
2. ICO
3. SMW 2: Yoshi's Island
4. Guardian Heroes
5. Ape Escape
6. Ninja Gaiden II
7. Tetris Attack
8. Alundra
9. Maximo
10. Mega Man Legends 2
11. Gunstar Heroes
12. Final Fantasy Tactics
13. Shining Force II
14. Half-Life
15. Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
16. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
17. Wonder Boy in Monster World
18. Dark Cloud 2
29. Mars Matrix
20. Phantasy Star IV
21. Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
22. Sqoon
23. Ms. Pac-Man
24. Power Stone 2
25. Puyo Puyo 2

Yeah, I love a good action/RPG.

[Kidnemo]

I'm not able to make a chronological "top 25 list". I could list 25 games that I like a bunch...

But the top ten, and especially top five is just to difficult for me to pick between.

I'll be over here having a mental debate over what toppings I want on my pizza if anybody needs me.

[bahn]

Originally posted by Yoshi
And you are dead wrong. The way I rank my games typically violates the ground rules I set above. That is why I didn't have my list ready to start the topic. I need to re-tool it to be more objective.

Now... back on topic.

Heil :jest:

[Adrian]

Alien Soldier (MD)
Sonic CD (MCD)
Azel Panzer Dragoon Saga (SS)
Street Fighter Zero 3 (SS)
Shining Force 3: Scenario 1-3 (SS)
Sonic Adventure (DC)
Sakura Taisen (DC)
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (DC)
Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution (PS2)
Jet Set Radio (DC)
Sin and Punishment (N64)
Super Mario Collection (SFC)
Shenmue (DC)
NiGHTS (SS)
Silent Hill (PSone)
Rez (PS2)
Ridge Racer 5 (PS2)
Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox)
Silent Hill 2 : Saigo no Uta (Xbox)
Virtual On : Oratorio Tangram (DC)
Super Street Fighter 2 X (DC)
Gunstar Heroes (MD)
Bubble Bobble (AC)
Pump it Up PREX2/EXTRA (AC)
Guardian Heroes (SS)

A few notes:

1> No Castlevania games as although I like them all, I can't pick out a favourite nor have I played Rondo.

2> No shooters as although I love them to bits, they're not nearly as memorable to me as the above.

3> Too hard to put these in order.

4> TFC would be in there if Valve didn't keep fucking around with the game every 3 months. That company are the single reason why I hate game patches.

[Nash]

here's mine taken from neomega. a few of them have been altered due to the rules.

1. legend of zelda: ocarina of time (nintendo 64)
2. metroid prime (gamecube)
3. castlevania: symphony of the night (playstation)
4. halo (xbox)
5. ninja gaiden 2: the dark sword of chaos (nes)
6. soulblazer (super nes)
7. super metroid (super nes)
8. legend of zelda: a link to the past (super nes)
9. gunstar heroes (genesis)
10. dracula x: rondo of blood (pc engine)
11. skyblazer (super nes)
12. metal slug 3 (neo geo)
13. sonic the hedgehog 2 (genesis)
14. devil may cry (playstation 2)
15. guardian heroes (saturn)
16. final fantasy 3 (super nes)
17. y's 1&2 (turbo grafx CD)
18. record of lodoss war (dreamcast)
19. tony hawk's proskater 2 (dreamcast/playstation)
20. gunvalkyrie (xbox)
21. super street fighter 2 turbo (3do/playstation/saturn)
22. ikaruga (dreamcast/gamecube)
23. landstalker (genesis)
24. one (playstation)
25. doom64 (nintendo 64)