My 100 Favorite Video Games of All-Time: #20-1
Here it is, the culmination of my life in video games thus far. Here are my 20 favorite video games of all-time, as determined by...myself, of course.
20. Batman: Arkham City: As I previously mentioned, the Batman: Arkham games are all excellent games, and I enjoyed each of them. Arkham City was my favorite. It had the most infamous ending, with Joker choosing to die, rather than letting Batman save him. It also was the one I ended up spending the most time on, with a cool main story, and plenty of side missions to make it worth whatever might be paid for it.
19. The Witcher 2: I went into the Witcher 2 with no idea what to expect, and was rewarded in a big way. The graphics, story, and combat were all very well done, and original. There multiple ways to play, several different endings, and beautifully rendered characters, and I'm not just talking about the ladies. This was so good, it remains the only game that I ever got through GameFly, and then kept when i was finished with it.
18. Fallout: New Vegas: Square might be my favorite video game company of all-time, but Bethesda is way up that list. The Fallout games are a big reason for that. A post-apocalyptic setting full of mutants, radiation, and monsters, with more than a few humans falling into the latter category. The journey through the desert was filled with side quests, major decisions, and unfortunately for me, Deathclaws.
17. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: I know that most people will disagree here, but this is my list. I've mentioned before that my parents didn't have much money, so getting a new game was a rare occasion. Zelda II was one that they did buy me, right as it came out, and I dove in with both feet. It is considered one of the most difficult games of all-time, and it's different from all the other games in the series. I struggled with parts of it, but beating it on my own is one of the great video game accomplishments of my life. This will always be a special game for me.
16. Uncharted 4: I had heard of the Uncharted series before the fourth one came out, but had never played any of them. So I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought a Playstation 4, pre-packaged with Uncharted 4. I started it up, and fell in love instantly. Everything about it was brilliantly done, with realistic graphics, fun gameplay, and an in depth story. It was good enough that getting the other three Uncharted games is now a priority.
15. NCAA Football: Their professional football series has always gotten more love, and the NCAA Football franchise is now canceled, but when it was active it was just as fun as the Madden games. How could you not fall in love with all the things that were involved with the college game. You had to recruit, redshirt, deal with players leaving early, and keeping promises made to recruits. It's a shame that they quit making them. I have the last edition that they made, and I still play it wistfully.
14. Mass Effect 2: I enjoyed all of the Mass Effect games, but Mass Effect 2 is my favorite. I was the perfect balance between the three games in the series (I haven't played Andromeda). The universe was huge, with plenty of side missions and planets to explore. The fantastic characters were back. Most importantly, they took everything good about the first game, and tweaked it to make it even better. Mass Effect 2 is an amazing game that everybody should play at least once.
13. Fallout 3: I love a good RPG series, and there are three that stand above the rest. Final Fantasy is one, the second I'll get to in a second, and Fallout is the third. It wasn't the first game in the series, obviously, but for many, it was the real start of the franchise. The transition was absolutely fantastically done, and made for a game unlike any other. Fallout 3, like all of the games in the series, is a game that can be played over and over again, and still retain the value.
12. Madden: Though recent editions of the yearly Madden releases have failed to impress, there's no doubting the impact the games have had. Some features evolve over time, others are switched in and out (sometimes not for the better, admittedly), but the basic premise has stayed strong. Franchise play, online play, and the ability to act as owner/GM of an NFL franchise is what keeps this series on top of the football world.
11. Dragon Age: Origins: The Dragon Age games are the third of my three royal franchises. Sure, the second part was a bit of a step down, but Dragon Age: Origins is easily one of my all-time favorite games. I've always loved the fantasy genre for my RPGs, and this delivers in a big way. The combat is fun and the interactions are smooth and entertaining. This is a game I hated to see end, and am glad they made more of them.
10. Red Dead Redemption: It's easy to say Red Dead Redemption is just Grand Theft Auto on horseback. However, that's a discredit to the story and unique elements of this game. I didn't expect to like a Western game so much, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. The similarities to its popular cousin are there, but it stands on its own as well. It also features one of the most shocking deaths in video game history. I can't wait for part two.
9. Borderlands 2: I was in Gamestop awhile back, and they had a 4 for $20 sale. I picked out a few that I wanted, and needed one more. The clerk suggested Borderlands 2, and I love that guy now. It featured gorgeous graphics, wildly entertaining combat, and a cool storyline. It earned every honor it was given, and I can't wait to get a chance to play other games in the series.
8. Crystalis: When I think back to my childhood, and the game I enjoyed the most, one of the first games I think of is always Crystalis. I lived in this game for a long time, enjoying every minute. It was part RPG, part adventure, and had a deep and enjoyable story. I actually played through it again not long ago, and still got a great deal of enjoyment out of it. Like Zelda II, this one might not be on most lists, but it will always be a personal favorite for me.
7. Fallout 4: The most recent entry in the Fallout world took place in Boston, and had a huge map, with tons of secret locations, side quests, and of course, mutants and monsters. The main quest was interesting enough, but all the side quests kept me going for hours on top of hours. Then, when that was done, finding all the locations and loot gave me even more. I'm ready for the next Fallout game, and I don't care what anybody else thinks.
6. Bioshock: This was another game I bought, but really didn't know what to expect. What I got was an atmospheric shooter that was different from anything I'd played before. The gameplay was amazing, and fun, but it wast the rampant creepiness that made it as great as it is. All of the music, underwater visuals, and sounds of the monsters in the background kept me on the edge of my seat. It's a classic, and a must-play for everyone.
5. Dragon Age: Inquisition: After a disappointing second effort, the Dragon Age franchise came back strong with Inquisition. BioWare brought back a huge world, and filled it with action. Once again, there are a number of very cool companions, and of course, all of the treachery and political backstabbing you'd expect. I really hope they come back to this series at some point, though I'm not sure it'll ever happen.
4. Super Mario Bros 3: As I said, I didn't get the chance to own very many games as a kid, and even fewer as brand new games when they were released. For my birthday, when it first came out, I got Super Mario Bros 3, and it was, at that point, the best day of my life. I was out of school, and spent nearly every waking hour playing it, and beating it in less than a week. Then I played it again. Then again. The Mario franchise has gotten bigger and more advanced over the years, but none will ever top Super Mario Bros 3 for me.
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Skyrim is one of the most universally loved games in the history of video games. It's been six years since it came out, and it's still a cash cow for Bethesda, and it makes sense. It's a gigantic world with more quests than you can count, tons of play options, and hours upon hours of potential play time. Even after all this time, people are still finding new locations and new things to do. Skyrim isn't just a game, it's a phenomenon.
2. The Last of Us: There has never been a game that played on emotions like The Last of Us did. Every single thing that Naughty Dog did with this game was the right thing. They yanked out my heart in the first five minutes, making Joel a sympathetic character. Then they introduced Ellie. The writers couldn't have possible written her any better. As the story progressed, I found myself becoming so involved in the story, that it made me uncomfortable to see Ellie in danger. This is the single most psychologically damaging, but wonderful game I've ever played, and completely worth the cost of my PS4.
1. Final Fantasy VII: Final Fantasy VII was the center of me, and 4 of my friends' lives for an entire summer. We started it together, and played it through, taking turns whenever we were all at the same place. It was an event. It was also a great game besides. Sephiroth is one of gaming's great villains, and the death of Aerith is one of the most heart-breaking deaths in video game history. This game hit every note, and though it isn't the graphic wonder that newer games are, it's the most fun I've ever had with a video game. It's the ultimate RPG, and the standard against which all other RPGs are judged by me.
20. Batman: Arkham City: As I previously mentioned, the Batman: Arkham games are all excellent games, and I enjoyed each of them. Arkham City was my favorite. It had the most infamous ending, with Joker choosing to die, rather than letting Batman save him. It also was the one I ended up spending the most time on, with a cool main story, and plenty of side missions to make it worth whatever might be paid for it.
19. The Witcher 2: I went into the Witcher 2 with no idea what to expect, and was rewarded in a big way. The graphics, story, and combat were all very well done, and original. There multiple ways to play, several different endings, and beautifully rendered characters, and I'm not just talking about the ladies. This was so good, it remains the only game that I ever got through GameFly, and then kept when i was finished with it.
18. Fallout: New Vegas: Square might be my favorite video game company of all-time, but Bethesda is way up that list. The Fallout games are a big reason for that. A post-apocalyptic setting full of mutants, radiation, and monsters, with more than a few humans falling into the latter category. The journey through the desert was filled with side quests, major decisions, and unfortunately for me, Deathclaws.
17. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: I know that most people will disagree here, but this is my list. I've mentioned before that my parents didn't have much money, so getting a new game was a rare occasion. Zelda II was one that they did buy me, right as it came out, and I dove in with both feet. It is considered one of the most difficult games of all-time, and it's different from all the other games in the series. I struggled with parts of it, but beating it on my own is one of the great video game accomplishments of my life. This will always be a special game for me.
16. Uncharted 4: I had heard of the Uncharted series before the fourth one came out, but had never played any of them. So I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought a Playstation 4, pre-packaged with Uncharted 4. I started it up, and fell in love instantly. Everything about it was brilliantly done, with realistic graphics, fun gameplay, and an in depth story. It was good enough that getting the other three Uncharted games is now a priority.
15. NCAA Football: Their professional football series has always gotten more love, and the NCAA Football franchise is now canceled, but when it was active it was just as fun as the Madden games. How could you not fall in love with all the things that were involved with the college game. You had to recruit, redshirt, deal with players leaving early, and keeping promises made to recruits. It's a shame that they quit making them. I have the last edition that they made, and I still play it wistfully.
14. Mass Effect 2: I enjoyed all of the Mass Effect games, but Mass Effect 2 is my favorite. I was the perfect balance between the three games in the series (I haven't played Andromeda). The universe was huge, with plenty of side missions and planets to explore. The fantastic characters were back. Most importantly, they took everything good about the first game, and tweaked it to make it even better. Mass Effect 2 is an amazing game that everybody should play at least once.
13. Fallout 3: I love a good RPG series, and there are three that stand above the rest. Final Fantasy is one, the second I'll get to in a second, and Fallout is the third. It wasn't the first game in the series, obviously, but for many, it was the real start of the franchise. The transition was absolutely fantastically done, and made for a game unlike any other. Fallout 3, like all of the games in the series, is a game that can be played over and over again, and still retain the value.
12. Madden: Though recent editions of the yearly Madden releases have failed to impress, there's no doubting the impact the games have had. Some features evolve over time, others are switched in and out (sometimes not for the better, admittedly), but the basic premise has stayed strong. Franchise play, online play, and the ability to act as owner/GM of an NFL franchise is what keeps this series on top of the football world.
11. Dragon Age: Origins: The Dragon Age games are the third of my three royal franchises. Sure, the second part was a bit of a step down, but Dragon Age: Origins is easily one of my all-time favorite games. I've always loved the fantasy genre for my RPGs, and this delivers in a big way. The combat is fun and the interactions are smooth and entertaining. This is a game I hated to see end, and am glad they made more of them.
10. Red Dead Redemption: It's easy to say Red Dead Redemption is just Grand Theft Auto on horseback. However, that's a discredit to the story and unique elements of this game. I didn't expect to like a Western game so much, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. The similarities to its popular cousin are there, but it stands on its own as well. It also features one of the most shocking deaths in video game history. I can't wait for part two.
9. Borderlands 2: I was in Gamestop awhile back, and they had a 4 for $20 sale. I picked out a few that I wanted, and needed one more. The clerk suggested Borderlands 2, and I love that guy now. It featured gorgeous graphics, wildly entertaining combat, and a cool storyline. It earned every honor it was given, and I can't wait to get a chance to play other games in the series.
8. Crystalis: When I think back to my childhood, and the game I enjoyed the most, one of the first games I think of is always Crystalis. I lived in this game for a long time, enjoying every minute. It was part RPG, part adventure, and had a deep and enjoyable story. I actually played through it again not long ago, and still got a great deal of enjoyment out of it. Like Zelda II, this one might not be on most lists, but it will always be a personal favorite for me.
7. Fallout 4: The most recent entry in the Fallout world took place in Boston, and had a huge map, with tons of secret locations, side quests, and of course, mutants and monsters. The main quest was interesting enough, but all the side quests kept me going for hours on top of hours. Then, when that was done, finding all the locations and loot gave me even more. I'm ready for the next Fallout game, and I don't care what anybody else thinks.
6. Bioshock: This was another game I bought, but really didn't know what to expect. What I got was an atmospheric shooter that was different from anything I'd played before. The gameplay was amazing, and fun, but it wast the rampant creepiness that made it as great as it is. All of the music, underwater visuals, and sounds of the monsters in the background kept me on the edge of my seat. It's a classic, and a must-play for everyone.
5. Dragon Age: Inquisition: After a disappointing second effort, the Dragon Age franchise came back strong with Inquisition. BioWare brought back a huge world, and filled it with action. Once again, there are a number of very cool companions, and of course, all of the treachery and political backstabbing you'd expect. I really hope they come back to this series at some point, though I'm not sure it'll ever happen.
4. Super Mario Bros 3: As I said, I didn't get the chance to own very many games as a kid, and even fewer as brand new games when they were released. For my birthday, when it first came out, I got Super Mario Bros 3, and it was, at that point, the best day of my life. I was out of school, and spent nearly every waking hour playing it, and beating it in less than a week. Then I played it again. Then again. The Mario franchise has gotten bigger and more advanced over the years, but none will ever top Super Mario Bros 3 for me.
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Skyrim is one of the most universally loved games in the history of video games. It's been six years since it came out, and it's still a cash cow for Bethesda, and it makes sense. It's a gigantic world with more quests than you can count, tons of play options, and hours upon hours of potential play time. Even after all this time, people are still finding new locations and new things to do. Skyrim isn't just a game, it's a phenomenon.
2. The Last of Us: There has never been a game that played on emotions like The Last of Us did. Every single thing that Naughty Dog did with this game was the right thing. They yanked out my heart in the first five minutes, making Joel a sympathetic character. Then they introduced Ellie. The writers couldn't have possible written her any better. As the story progressed, I found myself becoming so involved in the story, that it made me uncomfortable to see Ellie in danger. This is the single most psychologically damaging, but wonderful game I've ever played, and completely worth the cost of my PS4.
1. Final Fantasy VII: Final Fantasy VII was the center of me, and 4 of my friends' lives for an entire summer. We started it together, and played it through, taking turns whenever we were all at the same place. It was an event. It was also a great game besides. Sephiroth is one of gaming's great villains, and the death of Aerith is one of the most heart-breaking deaths in video game history. This game hit every note, and though it isn't the graphic wonder that newer games are, it's the most fun I've ever had with a video game. It's the ultimate RPG, and the standard against which all other RPGs are judged by me.
Comments
Post a Comment