Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Top 20 Games of All Time

With E3 2009 on the horizon, there's no better time to wax nostalgic about some of the best game titles ever to hit the shelves. And hey, I might even score a free trip to the conference, so let's proceed with the countdown!

20. Halo (XBOX)
19. Metroid Prime (GC)
18. Tetris (GB)
17. Super Mario Kart (SNES)
16. Doom (PC)
15. Final Fantasy VII (PS1)
14. Half-Life (PC)
13. Mike Tyson's Punch Out! (NES)
12. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN)
11. Resident Evil 4 (GC)
10. Goldeneye (N64)
9. Super Metroid (SNES)
8. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
7. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (GC)
6. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

5. The Neverhood (PC) -- This little-known claymation spin on the point-and-click adventure genre is bursting at the seams with witty humor and mind-bending puzzles. Artist Doug TenNapel, best known for his work on Earthworm Jim, brings the quirky story of Klayman to life as you uncover clues from your past in order to save your home from the evil usurper Klogg. Although The Neverhood spawned the platformer sequel Skullmonkeys on the Playstation, the original PC adventure is the better of the two. If you happen upon a copy of this rare game, be sure to pick it up!

4. Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (GB) -- Also known as "kiddie-crack," the original Gameboy games sparked the international pocket monster phenomenon that continues to line Nintendo's pockets to this day –-and for good reason. This turn-based RPG follows the player's rise to fame as he collects, trains, and battles his pokemon. Featuring charming graphics, catchy tunes, addicting gameplay and a classic multiplayer mode, Pokemon deserves a spot on any "Best of" list.

3. Super Mario 64 (N64) -- The game that proved analog control, this 3D romp collecting stars in the Mushroom Kingdom is an impressive showcase of Nintendo innovation and Shigeru Miyamoto's imagination. When Super Mario 64 launched alongside the Nintendo 64, it laid the foundations for what a successful reimagining of a franchise could be and set the gold standard for 3D platformers. While the once impressive graphics are certainly showing their age, the core gameplay remains as whimsical and satisfying as ever.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) -- Where Super Mario 64 innovated, the Ocarina of Time refined. This epic installment of the Legend of Zelda franchise conjured breathtaking visuals, sprawling worlds, memorable music, a time traveling plotline, and solid action adventure gameplay. What's more, the game introduced a dynamic day and night system that changed as you played as well as a lock-on targeting system that continues to be used in the series. Earning perfect scores almost across the board, Ocarina of Time is considered by many to be the greatest game of all time.

1. Super Mario Bros. (NES) -- The game that revitalized the industry after it nearly crashed and introduced Nintendo's mustachioed mascot to living rooms across the globe is not the greatest game of all time because of its storied history alone, but it also remains such a blast to play! Thanks to clever level design and tight play control, it doesn't matter if you're a kid discovering Mario for the first time or a pro making a speed run; there's nothing more gratifying than stomping goombas and throwing Bowser's butt into that final lava pit!


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