Wednesday, October 1, 2008

One Year Anniversary: Top Ten Games Ever Made

Once again, I would like to thank everyone for supporting Video Game Freedom for the last year and for helping to make VGF what it is today.

This blog is just one component of my greater passion for video games that I have experienced throughout my entire life and the culmination of my background in journalism and aspiration to someday become a video game journalist.

Therefore, with no further ado, here is my pick for the top ten greatest video games ever made. These are my top picks from my experiences in gaming and are only reflective of games I have personally played and completed.



10. Super Mario 64








This was first and foremost one of the most, if not the most, revolutionary games of all-time. Super Mario's grand entrance into the 3D realm was truly an awe-inspiring moment for any video game fan when he or she first experienced Mario flying in a three-dimensional world. Although Super Mario 64 was not the first to do take the leap to another dimension, it was the most well crafted of its time.


9. Perfect Dark







Following the footsteps of the widely successful Goldeneye for the Nintendo 64, Perfect Dark far exceeded its predecessor. A rich and engaging story was coupled with revolutionary elements for the first-person shooter genre that not only expanded the visual capabilities of the Nintendo 64, but established a meaningful standard for multiplayer content. The addition of bots in multiplayer modes that held numerous qualities to cater to the strengths and weaknesses of the player was a welcome and additive dimension to the genre. Truly one of the greatest first-person shooters ever made if not the greatest.


8. Kingdom Hearts










What makes Kingdom Hearts such a great title was its reception from the public after it was initially announced. The unlikely partnership of Square and Disney creating a game that featured both the melodramatic characters fro m the Final Fantasy universe and whimsical locals and characters from Disney classic films was not well received and left many skeptical. However, what yielded was a beautifully well-crafted piece of gaming art with a wonderful story, deep characters, interesting gameplay, and amazing music. This was a game that far exceeded expectations and provided a perfect synthesis between two completely difference franchises.



7. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past








Marking a true return to the classic, this Super Nintendo iteration of the NES classic was ahead of its time. A Link to the Past was puzzle mastery at a mild difficulty level which was the greatest flaw of the NES classic. The surprising length and creativity made A Link to the Past an instant classic that has resonated with gamers for years and is truly the pinnacle of 2D gaming.



6. Chrono Cross









Emerging from the golden era of role-playing games, Chrono Cross was a sequel to the widely popular Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo. What makes Chrono Cross one of the greatest video games ever made is its investment in its characters and a complex plot that rivals that of popular literature; n ot to mention the game's exquisite soundtrack which is perhaps the greatest ever made. Chrono Cross's unique twist on turn-based gameplay was a wonderfully engaging experience that took much of the bleak monotony from the genre and made battles interesting and fun.


5. Super Mario Bros. 3








Hailed as many as the greatest Mario title ever made, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a giant among video games. Renewing the franchise's classic gameplay, Super Mario Bros. 3 perfectly blended updated graphics, newly imagined level design, wonderful music, mini-games, and classic Mario fun into a package that is the king of the Nintendo era.


4. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty











The Metal Gear Solid series as a w hole could easily be honored as one of the greatest entertainment franchises in history. Specifically, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty expanded the revolutionary tactical espionage genre and coupled it with some the most beautiful visuals that the Playstation 2 ever produced - and that game was released within a year of the PS2's launch. Sons of Liberty was the first truly cinematic video game with a story that was so emotional and consisted of so much depth that this is a title that is incredibly atheistically satisfying and holds a fantastic twist. The height of Kojima's mastery.


3. Final Fantasy VII









Many would argue that Final Fantasy VII is the greatest role-playing game ever created and they would have a lot to point to. An awe-inspiring story with a fantastic musical score and the most complex characters in video game history. There is very little if anything that this game does wrong. It embarks you on a journey that is consuming and overflowing with sub-quests and hidden content - Knights of the Round anyone? Easily one of the most imitated games ever made, Final Fantasy VII was the true beginning of the golden age of role-playing games and we cannot thank this title enough for being one of the most well-polished pieces of art in entertainment history.


2. Final Fantasy VIII










Gasp, he did it. I do indeed believe that Final Fantasy VIII is a slightly better game than its predecessor because of the drastically updated visual content of the game and its greater expansion of unique gameplay elements. What makes the entire Final Fantasy franchise so well-crafted is its ability to throw additional gameplay elements in addition to the traditional run and fight a turn-based battle formula of the genre. You sneak across moving trains, ride chocobos, and take part in numerous other activities within the franchise and Final Fantasy VIII takes that a step further. The story and emotional impact of Final Fantasy VIII also feels more well thought out and has an almost cathartic affect on the gamer that only true art and accomplish.



1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time







Hands down, the great video game in history is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This is a game that is perfect in every way. Not only did this game once again revolutionize 3D gaming, but it expanded the very medium itself as an art form. The incredibly surprising length of the game gives way to an outstanding ambient experience that draws on a real emotional appeal without a single line of dialogue spoken. The playful charm of the environments and the people in the villages make the more horrific and beautifully designed temples feel all the more sinister. The puzzles within these temples are also the most well pieced together and carefully crafted elements of game design ever made and have yet to be challenged now ten years later. This is the crowning achievement for the medium and is deserving of the ultimate praise as the greatest video game ever created.

1 comment:

Coldness said...

Wow, cool list. But I see you don't think highly of other great games :( I, for one, prefer FFX to FFVIII any day! Also, Fatal Frame III is a perfect game! MGS4, Dark Cloud and Silent Hill are few of the other great games I was referring to. But your list is based on personal taste (same as mine).