Yes, yes. It's one of those lists. This is my personal Top 25, and I'm hoping this list can serve as a template of my gaming taste. You may find some picks you agree with, and you may find some you absolutely disagree with, but that's the point! Looking at my 24 years of gaming, there's some fond memories I have, and I'd like to share them with you. Be sure to comment with your own stories/thoughts/picks!
The epitome of choice. This was the game that opened my eyes to 'sandbox' style gameplay, and also introduced me to the concepts of Illuminati, Majestic 12, Area 51, and the thought-process behind the 'conspiracy theory'. It also introduced me to Warren Spector, so it's #1 by default. The AI is goofy, but that's half the charm. Nevertheless: Deus Ex has more innovation than any games after it, combined. A must-own.
My first computer role-playing game, and it's aged extremely well. The writing, character development, and 'procedural' situations leave for tons of great water-cooler moments, and I'm convinced that 80% of fantasy literature published is based upon the author's stories from playing Baldur's Gate II. It's the best of D&D, all at your fingertips. Go for the eyes, Boo!
I lost my entire 2001 to this beast. The perfect action-RPG, Diablo 2's pacing is unprecedented, giving the truest example of the 'Carrot and the Stick' theory of game development. Sure, you may develop carpal tunnel from the clicking, but it continues to be worth its weight in Stones of Jordan. From that moment, we traveled together, East....Always, into the East.
Let's get something straight: I'm a Genesis kid. With Super Mario World, though, I'll gladly make an exception. It's the best platformer I've ever played, skillfully crafted only the way a Nintendo game can be. The jumps were perfect, the sense of exploration was vast, and the controls were to die for. Add in Yoshi, and you have yourselves a classic. THE benchmark in fun.
The game that has single-handedly defined current game development. A subliminal sense of moving towards your goal (as the Citadel is the first main landmark you see), alongside the best characterization in videogames. Alex, Dog, Barney and the gang feel as real as any character from literature I can remember. There's also one word to describe everyone's thoughts on the game, and why it's a classic: Ravenholm.
A game that defined my early teenage years, Metal Gear Solid blew me away. Never before had I played a game that felt so real, so immersive, and so overwhelming. In the same regard that Baldur's Gate did before it, I felt as if my decisions mattered. The twists, though, are what hooked me into the franchise forever. I mean, that sneaky-ass key card still haunts my dreams.
My favorite JRPG, Breath of Fire 3 isn't the best game I've ever played. It's not the biggest, prettiest, most technically savvy, or most engrossing, but dammit, it has the biggest heart. Following the story of Ryu, an orphan boy who has a magical bloodline, Breath of Fire 3 has so much charm, it wins by default. Teepo, Rei, and the cast of characters are simply classic, and battles are superb. Great soundtrack, and even greater story round out this cult-classic package.
Who would have thought that a game about boss fights (16 of them, in fact) would drive me to tears by the end credits. A perfect example for the 'Games As Art' crowd, Shadow of the Colossus may be my favorite action game, period. Although the framerate would skip with regularity, I was never pulled out of the situations on-screen. Something to lose yourself in, but bring some Kleenex for the finale.
My first point-and-click adventure title, and one I can continue to come back to, year after year. Not only does it have a soft-spot in my heart for introducing me to Blade Runner (fun fact: I played this Westwood game before seeing the Ridley Scott film, or reading 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' by Philip K. Dick), it has a place because of its sense of mystery, intrigue, and exploration within a well-realized game world. It's pricey to order, but well worth a look for avid Adventure gamers.
The most well-balanced, intense, and rewarding RTS I've ever played. My first foray into the 'tactical' side of RTS, Company of Heroes showed me that it wasn't the amount of units on-screen that counted, it was the way in which I directed their actions that would ultimately win the match. A true pioneer in the genre, and it's the RTS I base all others on.
If there's any game I could honestly say that I could speed-run, it'd probably be this. Combine the facts of owning a Sega Genesis, and NOT owning alot of money in my youth, I played my limited assortment of games until they literally wouldn't boot any longer. This is the one game on the list I've beaten over 10 times, and I gladly repurchase it anytime it shows up as a downloadable title. I mean, the cat-thing's name is Tails, and it has two tails! Get it?!
Easily my favorite Zelda title. Sure, it's an easy choice, but I'll never forget playing this with my friend on Christmas morning, after we each opened our Gold Cartridge Editions. Ocarina's Dodongo battle is still my favorite boss fight ever, and couple that with the fantastic dungeon layouts, great difficulty curve, and responsive controls, you had yourself a bonafide classic. So, so good.
Now, Breath of Fire 3 may be my favorite JRPG, but nothing tops Star Ocean 2 in sheer scope. This is a game that I've spent close to 200 hours in through 2 playthroughs, and with the PSP re-release, I see that number doubling before too long. Crafting, item enhancement, private actions, dozens of endings, and incredibly rewarding battles make this a win-win for the JRPG fan. It's a full-course meal, and it still holds up among the best to this day.
A title which I've started many, many times, yet have never actually beaten. I've played multiple playthroughs, tried many strategies for boss encounters, looked at every nook and cranny in every time period, and talked to every NPC I could find. At the end of the day, though, I still haven't finished it. I guess I just never want it to end.
An absolutely stellar revamp of a series that's filled with stellar revamps. Final Fantasy XII has my favorite characters in the franchise, my favorite setting in JRPGs, and a battle system so good, BioWare included it in Dragon Age. A misunderstood masterpiece, Final Fantasy XII doesn't need anyone's approval, and that's exactly how it gets it.
I'm happy to say that this title is what linked together my love of RTS to the more refined style of 4X strategy. While not for everyone, Sins of a Solar Empire is a game in which your decisions of minute 10 will directly effect outcomes, situations, and treaties made at hour 20. It's hard sci-fi, not for the feint of heart, but incredibly rewarding if you're willing to take the plunge. If not, though, I hear there's some Pirates that would like a word with you...
While I love System Shock 2 just a little bit more, Bioshock earns its place on my list for sticking to its guns, and being released in an era when it was needed most. Gamers have gone stir-crazy with sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, but very rarely has a development studio made an honest-to-God 'spiritual successor'. Andrew Ryan is the new SHODAN, and a generation of gamers now know the legacy of the Looking Glass/Ion Storm school of game design and narrative.
While the original Metal Gear Solid introduced me to the franchise, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (and Subsistence) still remain the best in the series. The story is self-contained, the gameplay evolutions worked beautifully with the change of surroundings, and the cinematics were absolutely jaw-dropping. I can still remember the final monologue, and still think about the saga of Big Boss with great fondness. A great starting point for the series.
My first entry into the Shin Megami universe was Digital Devil Saga 1&2, but from strictly gameplay perspectives, Persona 3 is still my personal highlight. A slick presentation, great writing, surprisingly deep characters, and addictive dungeon crawling all made for a pretty kickass ride. Any game that introduces me to Junpei is a game I'll forever be a fan of.
Okay, I'll be very clear about something. I haven't been a Civ fan for long. In fact, the first time I ever played a Civilzation title was roughly 5 months ago. That being said, I finally feel as if my gaming soul has been COMPLETED. I understood the 'one more turn' addictive nature within minutes of playing, and each one of my Civ games goes upwards of 700 turns: Not because I'm not good, but because I always want to see what my choices lead to. Okay, fine, I'm actually probably not good. But still! Definitely a 'stranded on a desert island' pick.
Yes, I've played Wipeout XL. Yes, I've played the various Wipeouts on PSP. None of them come close to the amount of chaos, fun, and thrill I've had with Wipeout HD (and the Fury add-on). Unbelievable sense of speed, and gorgeous 60fps visuals steal the show, and make for what I consider one of the best racing games, period. If you own a PS3, it's an essential purchase. If you don't, this will make you a believer.
I'll get alot of flak for this one: I still consider Final Fantasy VII the best in the series. Final Fantasy VI is the triumph in game design, but Final Fantasy VII was my first foray into the series. Materia, the Golden Saucer, Chocobo Breeding, snowboarding, gambling, Emerald and Ruby Weapon, and awkward racial stereotypes still give me such a nostalgia trip, I can't see straight. Sephiroth is definitely overrated, but the game as a whole? Anything but.
The RPG for RPG enthusiasts. There's no light or dark meter, there's no good or bad ending, and there's no takebacks: The Witcher is a game of greys, and it thrives itself on putting you in very uncomfortable, unsettling situations. Geralt may be the badass in lore, but you're the badass at the keyboard, orchestrating this grand stream of events. Be careful, Witcher, or you'll get what's coming to you.
While Symphony of the Night is the popular choice, my personal favorite Castlevania has to be Dawn of Sorrow. The bright, high-resolution sprites, the fluid combat, the overwhelming sense of discovery (and in the case of boss fights, unabridged terror), and the constant stream of improvement, Dawn of Sorrow pushed all the right buttons, and made for a dangerously addictive handheld experience.
As much as I love Knights of the Old Republic, Jedi Outcast will always be THE Star Wars game. Kyle Katarn's journey into becoming a proper Jedi Knight is one of the most memorable games I've ever played, and I can still vividly remember layouts of levels, combinations of fighting moves, and boss strategies that will end any confrontation in seconds. It's the only game to successfully make me feel like I was actually in control of a lightsaber, and the Force along with it.
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