Game Informer Top 200 list

[swlovinist]

1. The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1987)
2. Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1985)
3. Tetris (PC, 1984)
4. Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001)
5. Half-Life 2 (PC, 2004)
6. Doom (PC, 1993)
7. Metroid (NES, 1986)
8. Final Fantasy III (SNES, 1994)
9. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES, 1990)
10. Ms. Pac-Man (Coin-op, 1981)
11. World of Warcraft (PC, 2004)
12. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1992)
13. Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
14. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3/360/PC, 2007)
15. Final Fantasy VII (PS, 1997)
16. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (NES, 1987)
17. Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995)
18. Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, 2005)
19. Metal Gear Solid (PS, 1998)
20. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998)
21. Super Metroid (SNES, 1994)
22. Contra (NES, 1988)
23. Galaga (Coin-op, 1981)
24. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS, 1997)
25. Street Fighter II (Coin-op, 1991)
26. God of War (PS2, 2005)
27. BioShock (360/PC, 2007)
28. Diablo II (PC, 2000)
29. Half-Life (PC, 1998)
30. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivious (360/PC, 2006)
31. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES, 1991)
32. GoldenEye 007 (N64, 1997)
33. Super Mario Kart (SNES, 1992)
34. Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA Genesis, 1991)
35. Starcraft (PC, 1998)
36. Civilization (PC, 1991)
37. SimCity (PC, 1989)
38. Mega Man 2 (NES, 1988)
39. Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, 2001)
40. Gran Turismo (PS, 1998)
41. Resident Evil 2 (PS, 1998)
42. Pokemon Red and Blue (GB, 1996)
43. Final Fantasy X (PS2, 2001)
44. EverQuest (PC, 1999)
45. Final Fantasy Tactics (PS, 1998)
46. Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3/360, 2008)
47. Super Mario World (SNES, 1991)
48. Deus Ex (PC, 2000)
49. Guitar Hero (PS2, 2005)
50. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2, 2001)
51. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, 2007)
52. Pac-Man (Coin-op, 1980)
53. Battlefield 2 (PC, 2005)
54. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox, 2003)
55. Ico (PS2, 2001)
56. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3, 2009)
57. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS, 2000)
58. Mass Effect (360, 2007)
59. Adventure (2600, 1980)
60. Arkanoid (Coin-op, 1986)
61. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (GB, 1993)
62. Star Wars: X-Wing (PC, 1993)
63. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, 2000)
64. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, 2004)
65. Fallout 3 (PS3/360/PC, 2008)
66. Zork (PC, 1980)
67. Soul Calibur (DC, 1999)
68. Double Dragon (Coin-op, 1987)
69. Dr. Mario (NES, 1990)
70. The Sims (PC, 2000)
71. Age of Empires (PC, 1997)
72. Mortal Kombat II (Coin-op, 1993)
73. Rock Band 2 (PS3/360, 2008)
74. Tomb Raider (PS, 1996)
75. Super Bomberman (SNES, 1993)
76. Mario’s Picross (GB, 1995)
77. Ninja Gaiden (NES, 1989)
78. Command & Conquer (PC, 1995)
79. Kingdom Hearts (PS2, 2002)
80. Final Fantasy II (SNES, 1991)
81. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES, 1988)
82. Left 4 Dead (PC, 2008)
83. Okami (PS2, 2006)
84. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005)
85. Metroid Prime (GameCube, 2002)
86. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube, 2001)
87. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (PC, 1995)
88. Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (PC, 2000)
89. God of War II (PS2, 2007)
90. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, 2006)
91. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2, 2004)
92. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (PC, 2002)
93. Skies of Arcadia (DC, 2000)
94. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GameCube, 2003)
95. Silent Hill 2 (PS2, 2001)
96. Counter-Strike (PC, 1999)
97. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Genesis, 1992)
98. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS3/360, 2009)
99. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2/Xbox/GameCube/PC, 2003)
100. Portal (PC/360, 2007)
101. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC, 2002)
102. Heroes of Might & Magic III (PC, 1999)
103. Donkey Kong (Coin-op, 1981)
104. Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3/360, 2009)
105. System Shock 2 (PC, 1999)
106. Resident Evil (PS, 1996)
107. Gears of War (360, 2006)
108. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3, 2008)
109. Crash Bandicoot: Warped (PS, 1998)
110. Halo 2 (Xbox, 2004)
111. Tetris Attack (SNES, 1996)
112. Final Fantasy XII (PS2, 2006)
113. Earthbound (SNES, 1995)
114. Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri (PC, 1998)
115. Command & Conquer: Red alert (PC, 1996)
116. Advance Wars (GBA, 2001)
117. Fallout (PC, 1997)
118. Team Fortress 2 (PS3/360/PC, 2007)
119. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Xbox, 2005)
120. Mega Man X (SNES, 1994)
121. Lemmings (PC, 1991)
122. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn, 1998)
123. NHL ‘94 (SEGA Genesis/SNES, 1993)
124. Warlords (Coin-op, 1980)
125. Shadowrun (SNES, 1993)
126. Twisted Metal 2 (PS, 1996)
127. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee (PS, 1997)
128. Metroid Fusion (GBA, 2002)
129. Homeworld (PC, 1999)
130. Kingdom Hearts II (PS2, 2006)
131. Pilotwings (SNES, 1991)
132. Quake II (PC, 1997)
133. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (PC, 1997)
134. Borderlands (PS3/360/PC, 2009)
135. Final Fight (Coin-op, 1989)
136. Star Fox (SNES, 1993)
137. Madden NFL ‘99 (PS/N64/PC, 1999)
138. Call of Duty 2 (360/PC, 2005)
139. Wolfenstein 3D (PC, 1992)
140. Diablo (PC, 1996)
141. Civilization IV (PC, 2005)
142. Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle (PC, 1993)
143. Assassin’s Creed (PS3/360, 2007)
144. Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2/Xbox, 2004)
145. Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC, 2004)
146. Power Stone 2 (DC, 2000)
147. Super Castlevania IV (SNES, 1991)
148. Super Mario RPG (SNES, 1996)
149. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (PC, 2002)
150. ActRaiser (SNES, 1991)
151. Fable (Xbox, 2004)
152. Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (PS2, 2003)
153. Asteroids (Coin-op, 1979)
154. LittleBigPlanet (PS3, 2008)
155. Crackdown (360, 2007)
156. Gauntlet (Coin-op, 1985)
157. Devil May Cry (PS2, 2001)
158. Pong (Coin-op, 1972)
159. Battlefield 1942 (PC, 2002)
160. Thief (PC, 1998)
161. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (360, 2005)
162. Far Cry (PC, 2004)
163. Robotron: 2084 (Coin-op, 1982)
164. X-COM: UFO Defense (PC, 1993)
165. Peggle (PC, 2007)
166. King’s Quest VI (PC, 1992)
167. Doom II (PC, 1994)
168. Tempest 2000 (Jaguar, 1994)
169. Braid (360, 2008)
170. Ridge Racer (PS, 1995)
171. Bully (PS2, 2006)
172. Ikaruga (GameCube, 2006)
173. Lode Runner (Apple II, 1983)
174. Gunstar Heroes (SEGA Genesis, 1993)
175. Dig Dug (Coin-op, 1982)
176. Castlevania (NES, 1988)
177. Tekken 3 (Coin-op, 1997)
178. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS, 2005)
179. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition (Coin-op, 1993)
180. Max Payne (PC, 2001)
181. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3/360/PC, 2009)
182. Samurai Shodown (Neo Geo, 1993)
183. NFL 2K5 (PS2/Xbox, 2004)
184. Vagrant Story (PS, 2000)
185. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES, 1995)
186. Marble Madness (Coin-op, 1984)
187. Infamous (PS3, 2009)
188. Planescape: Torment (PC, 1999)
189. Kid Icarus (NES, 1986)
190. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Xbox, 2004)
191. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2, 2004)
192. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (GameCube, 2002)
193. Jak 3 (PS2, 2004)
194. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (DC, 2002)
195. Ultima (PC, 1981)
196. Call of Duty (PC, 2003)
197. NHL 09 (PS3/360, 2008)
198. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (Xbox, 2004)
199. Tactics Ogre (PS, 1997)
200. Beyond Good and Evil (PS2/Xbox/GameCube, 2003)


Yet another top 200 list, but I thought this would be good topic to create. I guess my big problem with the list is that there are games that have not been out 6 months and they are on here? For me, a game has to PROVE itself in the long run to be considered worthy to be on an all time list. Just my two cents...thoughts?

[Nebagram]

I dunno, it doesn't seem too bad. There are only a few recent additions on there that seem particularly regreious (looking at you, Uncharted 2 and Borderlands). And by the end they did seem to stop caring. It's almost as if they stuck the sublime BG&E at 200 and then random made up 186-199.

There are also a lot of games on there from 1996-1999, which I highly approve of that was my own personal favourite era.

Oh, and:-


30. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivious (360/PC, 2006)

Hilarious.

[vivaeljason]

I love that NHL 09: Roster Update is on the list.

Really though, other than the games from 2009 that are on the list, there's nothing all that bad on here.

[BHvrd]

(looking at you, Uncharted 2 and Borderlands).

At least those two games are a bit different and genre defining, but...
181. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3/360/PC, 2009) is just the same old retreaded shit repackaged.

[Simply Dave]

That's the order of the list?

Metroid ahead of Super Metroid?

GTA III ahead of Vice City/San Andreas?

I dunno about that.

[Dangerboy]

I thought it was a really well done list (though the number order is all opinion based). You'd have to have the originals first since they set the standard.

As for the 2009 games included, they're going to be the trend starters. Borderland's AI invented weaponry is going to change how larger games handle item invention (imagine if they included healing items in that lot), and Batman: AA was the proof that a small company could finally give a license a properly done game.

I absolutely love their alternate covers though. The FF6 one is great with Kefka on the back. ^o^

[b0ub0u]

LOL Xenosaga episode 1 is there... but not Xenogears... Xenosaga is a very bad RPG. Xenosaga is a classic. That's just one exemple... I'm not too sure about some of the entries there.

I do find that most of these games added something to the video game world when they were released. Pretty good list I would say.

[joshnickerson]

Sonic the Hedgehog at #34 with Yoshi's Island at #185???

That's seriously messed up.

[Raedon]

11. World of Warcraft (PC, 2004)

I've had a great time with WoW. Played the shit out of it truth be known. Played even more Everquest. Neither of those I would have put on a game list in the 1-20 range.

[MachineGex]

I always thought comparing classic arcade games to retro console games to mondern PC games(etc.) never made sense. I like lists and all, but you gotta compare apples to apples.

[Kid Ice]

Nice that the list-mania from a couple years go finally died down.

No one will ever get away with making a list like this without gripes. These are mine:

-some of the games on the list are too new imo to include with games from the 80s and 90s. I haven't put much time into Modern Warfare but to me it just seems like a dozen other games out there and probably will more so in ten years. Borderlands and that Batman game are on the list? Come on.

-Gunstar Heroes #176?

-GTA IV above GTAVC? What?

-not enough shooters Galaga and Ikaruga are on the list but...no Defender? Gradius V (or any Gradius)? R-Type? No Rayforce/Raystorm? Thunderforce III/IV/V? Einhander?

-speaking of shooters, not one TG-16 game? No Vectrex games? Only one Neo Geo game made the whole list (and it was the first Sam Sho?) No 3DO games?

[TonyTheTiger]

Game Informer did at top 100 games list back in their 100th issue. I haven't pulled it out to check but from what I remember, this Top 200 list looks like a mere extension of the first one. They just added games beneath the original 100.

[Overbite]

Some of these games I think they just stuck in there to shut up game nerds, like Gunstar Heroes and random old ones that don't stand up well today.

[chicnstu]

Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed on a list of the 200 best games EVER? Doesn't make sense. Those two games are so full of problems that they don't deserve high scores just because they were made by BioWare and Ubisoft. Technically they are bad games with wonderful ideas. Are they only on the list because they influenced other games (inFamous, Dead Space maybe)?

[Trebuken]

Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed on a list of the 200 best games EVER? Doesn't make sense. Those two games are so full of problems that they don't deserve high scores just because they were made by BioWare and Ubisoft. Technically they are bad games with wonderful ideas. Are they only on the list because they influenced other games (inFamous, Dead Space maybe)?

Ridiculous.

Anyways, no Commodore 64 love it seems. I think it's a good enough list.

Are they supposed tobe best to worst? or just top 200?

[WCP]

Super Mario World at No.47? Are you FREAKING kidding me? I've seen alot of top 100 game of all time lists, and I can't remember any list ranking SMW this low. Personally, I'd have SMW ranked in the top 5 overall. I'm sure I have a bunch of other complaints about this list, but not seeing Super Mario World ranked in the top 30 (at the very least) made my blood boil a bit.

[Fuyukaze]

I love these lists and hate them at the same time. The bad is that I rarely agree with them 90% of the time. I love them for two reasons. First it allows me to compare my favorites to theirs and second they ALWAYS piss off people on gaming forums. Anyone remember the top 25 list we did a year or two ago and how much a headache it proved to be? Kinda wonder what the results would be now if it was done again.

[Wraith Storm]

...not one TG-16 game? No Vectrex games? Only one Neo Geo game made the whole list (and it was the first Sam Sho?) No 3DO games?

My thoughts as well.

Also, why is there only 1 Saturn game on that list? (122. Panzer Dragoon Saga) While I agree that PDS should certainly be on that list, there are other Saturn games that are just as important and deserving.

[Reecer6]

I have some issues.
There are NO Katamari games, Scribblenauts, Crazy Taxi, or any Jet Set Radio game. There's also the fact that they're saying that a PICROSS GAME IS TWICE BETTER THAN BRAID.
If I had to do the Top 200... I couldn't, because I don't have that much opinion on most game, but that's beside the point. If I did it, Those stuff above would be fixed!

(Also, first post.)

[carlcarlson]

Rather than read the whole list I just ran a search for my favorites. No Morrowind, Diablos, or any of the Fallouts? I didn't think they had Oblvion either, but I guess they just spelled it wrong, so it's good to see it on the list (and pretty high too). There are a lot of good games on there, but they've skipped my favorites.

edit: ok, I just skimmed the list again and not only did I find Morrowind, but also Fallout 1 and 3. What the heck was my search function looking at? It's good to see Braid up there too.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, and:-



Hilarious.
Yeah, it's three spots below Bioshock. What the hell? I doubt either of those belongs in the top 50.

Whatever, it's somebody else's list so I'm sure it's as representative of the tasteless goons they polled as it can be.

Legend of Zelda and SMB best games of all time my foot. ROFL
I would at least consider the N64 versions of those games though. Or the CD-i ones.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, and:-


30. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivious (360/PC, 2006)

Hilarious.
Yeah, it's three spots below Bioshock. What the hell? I doubt either of those belongs in the top 50. Funny that they put Half-Life - Half-freakin'-reinvented-the-net-gaming-and-mod-scene-Life - below BS, too.

Whatever, it's somebody else's list so I'm sure it's as representative of the tasteless goons they polled as it can be.

Legend of Zelda and SMB best games of all time my foot. ROFL
I would at least consider the N64 versions of those games though. Or the CD-i ones.

[duffmanth]

This is one of the better lists I've seen. I'm glad to see Metal Gear Solid 1 through 4 made the list, but MGS3 at #191 is bullshit. Who gives a shit how old or new a game is, if it's a great game, it's a great game!

[unwinddesign]

Nice to see Deus Ex get some acknowledgment. Light years ahead of Half Life, but not as many people played it...

A pretty status quo list. As per usual, Final Fantasy VIII and Banjo Kazooie got shafted.

[Cloud121]

I went to go visit my best friend at GameStop today (Assistant Manager. We became friends during my GameStop days), and noticed the Final Fantasy VI cover.

I flip to the first page... Okay, they start from #1 then count up? Uh... Okay... I immediately called bullshit as I flipped through, then noticed some serious omissions...

Virtua Fighter. Phantasy Star. Fucking Dragon Quest! Virtua Tennis. Virtua Racing. DAYTONA MOTHER FUCKING USA!!!! Space Harrier. Not a single Shinobi game. Golden Axe. Outrun. Sega got NO love, and yet all those games I just mentioned are better than 1/3 of the entire list.

Tempest 2000 was the only Jag game on there. AVP should have been on there. No King of Fighters

SIX Final Fantasy games?! They mislabel FFIV and FFVI by their USA names?

No Descent. No Wipeout. Resident Evil 4 was too high, RE and RE2 WAY too low. Super Metroid should have been in the Top 10 no questions asked. They mention how Metroid is what started it all, and how influential several games were.... Virtua Fighter is in the fucking Smithsonian!!

[kupomogli]

I personally thought this list was garbage.

At first it started off as a decent list. Legend of Zelda is a great game, now I wouldn't say it's the best, nor the best Zelda, but second best, Zelda if you talk about the regular games, so yeah.

Then I see Super Mario Bros. I was like. Okay. Super Mario Bros 3 isn't before the original? What early Super Mario game isn't better than the original other than Super Mario Bros 2. The Lost Levels which is obviously not as good? Then Tetris, that's fine. Then. GTA3? What the fuck? Grand Theft Auto 3 is not one of the best or not nearly one of the best. You ever go back to play GTA3 and compare the game to GTA LCS, VCS, SA, or 4? I wonder how they even thought GTA3 was in the same league as the others other than a decent storyline.

So one big mistake. Okay, brushed it off. Then Doom? Alright, now first off. Doom is okay, but one of the best games ever? When does really kicking a genre off make it one of the best in the genre? Better than the original Half Life? Better than most other FPS games like Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Unreal Tournament 2004. Then even looking, Perfect Dark didn't even make the list. What about Timesplitters? So many FPS games could have been chosen over Doom and also on the list as well, Wolfenstein 3d. Decent games, far better.

And then Metroid? I mean seriously what the fuck. The first Metroid is okay, but putting it above Super Metroid. Wow. Even fusion is a much better game than the original yet again, this list shows how bullshit it is.

Final Fantasy 6. Finally. The first time in this listing that they actually placed the best game in the series first. I assumed we'd see Final Fantasy 3 there after the retarded placement of the rest of them.

Then it actually shows the same fare. Nothing to bitch about. Then Street Fighter 2. Now it's not a bad game. But come on. Why all this bullshit? If they're going to put Street Fighter 2 why don't they atleast put the best version? Maybe Super Street Fighter 2? Or maybe instead of rating the game because of it being the first good technical fighter, why not put the best Street Fighter? Maybe, oh I don't know, one of the Alpha games, which I would take a vote and say Alpha 3.

Anyways. That's close to the beginning. Instead of re going through the entire list again and complaining about a few things I saw wrong. I'll just go and post some things about some major things I thought were wrong in the list.

Mega Man 2. Don't get me wrong. Mega Man 2 is an amazing game, but that's just it. Not only is Mega Man 2 above Mega Man 3 for the best Mega Man, but Mega Man 3 ISN'T EVEN ON THE LIST.

Metal Gear Solid 2. Two things. It's on the list and shouldn't be anywhere close to the top 200. It's above Metal Gear Solid 3.

Xenosaga. The storyline is the best in the series but that's it. Like b0ub0u said though. Where's Xenogears and why is Xenosaga above it?

Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 are on there. Devil May Cry is also on there but deserving, yet while two crap games get put on the list, an amazing game like Devil May Cry 3 isn't on the list and should be, as well as it should be put above the original.

It gets someone better near the bottom, but a lot of the games in there is just the overrated crap that's usually in a top video game listing. I'm surprised Tactics Ogre made the list. Not that it doesn't deserve it, as it's better than FFTactics and I'd rank it number one, but because how much crap is on that list, I didn't suspect them to throw it on there.

But yeah. This list is a piece of crap.

[incubus421]

LOL Xenosaga episode 1 is there... but not Xenogears... Xenosaga is a very bad RPG. Xenosaga is a classic. That's just one exemple... I'm not too sure about some of the entries there.

I do find that most of these games added something to the video game world when they were released. Pretty good list I would say.

I would actually agree with GI's decision on this one...I felt Xenogears drug on way past it's good points. While the Xenosaga trilogy has one of the best and most original in-depth storlines to date.

I rarely get worked up over these "top games" lists though as I realize it supports/reflects someone else's opinion other than own. Instead, I view these sorts of things as a personal checklist of games I should pickup/play/collect. While many/most listed I have played or beat there are a bunch more I have never even touched.

I'd also like to add as I see many people complaining how prequels are placed ahead of sequels and vice versa. I think many of the 1st in the series type games come before their sequels because that's when the magic began. Seeing GTA3 above all the others is fine by me....GTA3 was the first of it's kind and really revolutionized the way sandbox games played since it's release. Same with the original Metroid, Zelda, and SMB...these games made the biggest impact on the way games were looked at/played and laid the foundation for what these series of games are today.

[kupomogli]

these games made the biggest impact on the way games were looked at/played and laid the foundation for what these series of games are today.

A game being the first one of its kind does not make it better. Besides, GTA3 was not the first in the series and not the first of its kind, that's why it's GTA3. It's got the exact same gameplay as all the original GTA games and GTA2 but in 3d.

All the original games you can actually go back to and they aged far better than GTA3. GTA3 has terrible car physics with the one button allows to make perfect 90 degree turns, car damage physics being terrible, etc. There's also another driving game that was 3d before GTA3 and has better damage physics. It's called Driver and it's on the PSX.

The original Metroid being out before Super Metroid does not make it the better game, same with the original Super Mario Bros. or on IGN's terrible list, the original Dragon Warrior.

It's a top 200 game list. Not the top 200 games that revolutionized the gaming industry. Zork shouldn't even be on this list, ESPECIALLY the place it's at. If it's a top 200 list and you rate the game higher than another game for any other reason that "it's the overall better game," then it's a biased list and not an actual top 200 list.

I'm going to one day make a top 200 list(which will be badass.) It won't have any but if this or if that or this came out earlier or any of this bull crap. It will be slightly biased as will all lists as I haven't played every game ever made. It will also have to be top 200 console games as I haven't played many PC games, atleast compared to how many are out.

[CelticJobber]

Far too many FPS titles on this list for me to take it seriously. Half-Life 2 doesn't belong in the top 10. I concede Doom does, because it was the first FPS game to really gain any attention and it was before the genre became a cancer to the gaming industry.

And GTA Vice City or San Andreas belong in the top 10, after Vice City came out GTA3 became almost unplayable to me because it was so inferior.

[Famidrive-16]

Then it actually shows the same fare. Nothing to bitch about. Then Street Fighter 2. Now it's not a bad game. But come on. Why all this bullshit? If they're going to put Street Fighter 2 why don't they atleast put the best version? Maybe Super Street Fighter 2? Or maybe instead of rating the game because of it being the first good technical fighter, why not put the best Street Fighter? Maybe, oh I don't know, one of the Alpha games, which I would take a vote and say Alpha 3.



I think it's probably better just to put SFII in general because everyone has a different opinion on what their favorite version of the game is and it's probably better to have it like that so it's just one space instead of 2-3 different positions for slightly different games.

Other than that:

- Borderlands is barely out for a month and it's already near 100? Give me a fucking break.

- None of the DKC games at all? I know the series is real hit or miss with a lot of people, but the list seems emptier without any of those games.

- There's not much reason to have the original SMB in the top 5 unless you're putting things on a revolutionary standard. I personally like the game far more than most people do but even I admit that it's been surpassed since.

- I think the only reason Half Life 2 is always on such a high pedestal is that it was a hyped game that didn't completely suck. Maybe I'm not an FPS guy but I'll never understand why it makes top 10 lists, top 50 I could see though.

- I'm pleasantly surprised to see Skies of Arcadia.

- Who would seriously put something like Pilotwings on this.

- The original Star Fox but no Star Fox 64?

- SamSho 1? Not SamSho II? I figured that was the status quo of the series.

Okay I'm done, just wanted to rant before going to bed.

[incubus421]

A game being the first one of its kind does not make it better. Besides, GTA3 was not the first in the series and not the first of its kind, that's why it's GTA3. It's got the exact same gameplay as all the original GTA games and GTA2 but in 3d.

All the original games you can actually go back to and they aged far better than GTA3. GTA3 has terrible car physics with the one button allows to make perfect 90 degree turns, car damage physics being terrible, etc. There's also another driving game that was 3d before GTA3 and has better damage physics. It's called Driver and it's on the PSX.

The original Metroid being out before Super Metroid does not make it the better game, same with the original Super Mario Bros. or on IGN's terrible list, the original Dragon Warrior.

It's a top 200 game list. Not the top 200 games that revolutionized the gaming industry. Zork shouldn't even be on this list, ESPECIALLY the place it's at. If it's a top 200 list and you rate the game higher than another game for any other reason that "it's the overall better game," then it's a biased list and not an actual top 200 list.

I'm going to one day make a top 200 list(which will be badass.) It won't have any but if this or if that or this came out earlier or any of this bull crap. It will be slightly biased as will all lists as I haven't played every game ever made. It will also have to be top 200 console games as I haven't played many PC games, atleast compared to how many are out.

If you read the very first page of GI's top 200 list you would see it says: "Taking into account, quality, cultural relevance, and industry impact..."

I didn't say the original Metroid being out before Super Metroid made it a better game or GTA3 being better than it's games to follow....but they started their standard for games, they had the bigger industy impact, etc.
And really? GTA1&2 having the exact same gameplay as 3?! come on now...it was a completely different experience and without GTA3 revolutionizing the way we play games we wouldn't have our Vice City, San Andreas, and GTAIV (not to mention games like Crackdown and Saints Row).
These games are being judged based on what they were upon their release. Sure a lot of games don't age as well as others and of course you can look back now and tear apart GTA3s car physics but that has little to do with what these games did in their time.

I'm starting to wonder if people are even reading the reasons for GIs placement on these games. Seems people are flipping through "saying nope that doesn't belong there, this is bullshit". For anyone that depises GI for putting the original Metroid before Super Metroid here is the validation for their reasoning:

"Back when most games progressed in a linear fashion, Metroid came along with its giant alien landscape and let players run in any direction. Super Metroid may have done everything bigger and flashier, but its NES brother started the concept of open exploration in games."

Now like most others I prefer Super Metroid over the original as well but I can atleast understand their reasoning.
and they give reasons and responses to most of the controversial ones listed in the top 200.

This list is only biased because it's not the way others think it should be...which is biased in and of itself.

[8-bitNesMan]

@ Incubus421: That was a well written and thought out post man. I agree with your points. Kudos!

[Kid Ice]

"Back when most games progressed in a linear fashion, Metroid came along with its giant alien landscape and let players run in any direction. Super Metroid may have done everything bigger and flashier, but its NES brother started the concept of open exploration in games."

The explanation is nonsense. Open exploration in games was nothing new when Metroid came out. Really there wasn't a whole lot new in Super Metroid either, but the game was so slick and addicting it seemed fresh...two qualities lacking in the original.

[vivaeljason]

The explanation is nonsense. Open exploration in games was nothing new when Metroid came out. Really there wasn't a whole lot new in Super Metroid either, but the game was so slick and addicting it seemed fresh...two qualities lacking in the original.

I'd also like to point out that The Legend of Zelda, arguably THE open explaration game, came out a few months before Metroid.

[j_factor]

I just got the issue of GI with this list in it. Their write-ups make no fucking sense. These lists always, always suck. It seems they can never decide whether they want it to be the best games ever made, or the "most important" or something. A lot of them read as "when this game came out..." The circumstances of its release don't make it a great game. Tell me why it is great, not what made it seem neat when it came out. Does anyone really think Street Fighter II is better than Street Fighter Alpha 2? Obviously Street Fighter II is more significant. But it isn't better. Same goes for Sonic 1 and 2. It's not necessarily "wrong" to make a list that way, but if that were the basis of the list, they'd also have Tony Hawk 1 rather than 2, etc. Be consistent.

One thing that bewilders me -- Ultima I. WTF? Ultima I sucks. How does Ultima I make the list but not IV or VII? And why are there almost no adventure games and so few arcade games? This list reads like it was written by someone who played strictly Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox, and relucantly threw in a handful of others.

[kupomogli]

If you read the very first page of GI's top 200 list you would see it says: "Taking into account, quality, cultural relevance, and industry impact..."

Again. Top 200 only has one meaning. 200 of the top(best) games.

The original Super Mario Bros. did alot for the industry and at the time it was the best game out. This does not make it deserving up being so high up. Being a top game list, you run down some random list you have and then go, okay, "Super Mario Bros vs Yoshi's Island." Yoshi's Island is the better game so it goes above and you move on. You don't make excuses to say, but Super Mario Bros. did this and it should be above because back then it was such a great game.

Like jfactor said. They can't tell whether they want the best games nor the most important. They have games like Mario and Metroid there up top. Then they have games like Borderlands which is widely regarded as merely an average game and it's definitely not one of the most important. Why is this even on the list?

Here's an example what these lists are like. Anna Nicole Smith. Now I never liked her as she really never did look good in my opinion, but people liked her and thought she was hot for some reason. Take younger and supposedly hot Anna Nicole Smith(NES.) When mucher hotter females come out like Natalie Portman and awhile ago Anna was just fat and more uglier, that's like Mario on NES while Natalie is like Yoshi's Island. This is like saying the fat and ugly Anna is better looking than Natalie because back then she looked good and now she's older so we have to respect her a bit(and dead now.)

Am I right or am I right? Or is someone going to come back and try and say the later fat Anna Nicole looks better than Natalie Portman.

[heybtbm]

Bioshock in the top 30? Of all time? Um...no. The rest of the list just self destructs after that.

[kainemaxwell]

Wow, a list where SMB or Tetris ISN'T #1.

[Razor Ramon]

Hey yo
lol @ everyone getting butthurt over a lame informer list.
Noone will ever agree on a list that is published in the media. people will cry that game x was left out and list the 13 reasons why it should be on the list and people will whine why game y even made the list when they yell it shouldn't be on a top 186,774 list.

take it with a grain of salt yo. Lets see your list and then everyone can come butt rape you for leaving out game Æ but placing in game Œ



I love these lists and hate them at the same time. The bad is that I rarely agree with them 90% of the time. I love them for two reasons. First it allows me to compare my favorites to theirs and second they ALWAYS piss off people on gaming forums. Anyone remember the top 25 list we did a year or two ago and how much a headache it proved to be? Kinda wonder what the results would be now if it was done again.

I'm with ya brother. I smh and lol at the same time from everyones reaction ROFL

[PC-ENGINE HELL]

Just really did not care for this list. Alot of the 3d based stuff they listed has not been around long enough to proof it has stay power entertainment wise. That and alot of the stuff on there personally I just did not even enjoy that much, or felt was good but now awesome. Really seemed like this top 200 was meant to help move pre-own games at Gamestop more then anything else. The fact that alot of Konami, SNK, Sega, and Capcom arcade classics were skipped over really shocked me, including alot of Nes stuff and certain TG16 titles. I just cant consider this list legit in any sort of way.

[Kid Ice]

take it with a grain of salt yo. Lets see your list and then everyone can come butt rape you for leaving out game Æ but placing in game Œ

Here's my list:

LAMEST DP ALT ACCOUNTS

1. I Am Error

2. Razor Ramon

3. Comfortably Numb

[vivaeljason]

Here's my list:

LAMEST DP ALT ACCOUNTS

1. I Am Error

2. Razor Ramon

3. Comfortably Numb

Your list sucks. What about Garry Shandling?!?

[Kid Ice]

Your list sucks. What about Garry Shandling?!?

He's on another list.

BEST DP ALT ACCOUNTS

1. Garry Shandling

2. Iron Monkey

3. The Mighty Magnor

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

All I know is from THAT list i've beaten 40 games

I agree there are too many newer games on it and I could compile my own personal list of 200 games

[s1lence]

I wonder if there could ever be a best game list where someone from DP doesn't bitch about it.

[TonyTheTiger]

Impossible. In fact, if anybody has the actual magazine read the letter from the editor at the beginning. Andy McNamera says he anticipates everything of this sort to happen and more or less says "suck it" in more pleasant language.

This is like Newton's 4th Law: For every list there will be bitching.

[carlcarlson]

I wonder if there could ever be a best game list where someone from DP doesn't bitch about it.

Not as long as kupomogli is around.

But really, with 200 chances to complain it's pretty hard not to find a point of contention.

[Kid Ice]

I wonder if there could ever be a best game list where someone from DP doesn't bitch about it.

No, and it's because of the whole arrogant "best of all time" thing. Simply call them your favorites and instantly no one can argue (maybe just accuse you of bad taste).

[heybtbm]

No, and it's because of the whole arrogant "best of all time" thing. Simply call them your favorites and instantly no one can argue (maybe just accuse you of bad taste).

You nailed it. Surprised so many people here missed this exact point.

[Ed Oscuro]

No, and it's because of the whole arrogant "best of all time" thing.
I agree with this point wholeheartedly.

Whatever happened to the good old days when GameSpy editors or somebody would sit around and talk smack to each other after the editorial about why the game actually belonged on the list? They didn't pretend that it was democracy in action or the greatest thing since the Messiah or whatever.

[mnbren05]

I read this a couple of days ago when I got my issue in the mail and like all lists it leaves something to be desired. I wish, like always, more obscure games make the list but heck save for WoW, Morrowind, and a few others the list was "aight".:texaschain:

[backguard]

I thought it was really weird that Half Life 2 was #5. MAYBE it deserves to be on the list....but number 5?

[punkrockdave]

i was a little bothered to see MW2 on there as its just more generic shooter crap and if they were to put a game from 09 on there why not Demon's Souls? I found it quite different than most of the newer games, it was nice to see a game like that again

[Fear The Turtle]

I don't understand why they called Sonic 2 the best Sonic game ever and better than Sonic 1, despite being 20 something spots behind Sonic 1. ;)

[Shirokuma]

I went to go visit my best friend at GameStop today (Assistant Manager. We became friends during my GameStop days), and noticed the Final Fantasy VI cover.

I flip to the first page... Okay, they start from #1 then count up? Uh... Okay... I immediately called bullshit as I flipped through, then noticed some serious omissions...

Virtua Fighter. Phantasy Star. Fucking Dragon Quest! Virtua Tennis. Virtua Racing. DAYTONA MOTHER FUCKING USA!!!! Space Harrier. Not a single Shinobi game. Golden Axe. Outrun. Sega got NO love, and yet all those games I just mentioned are better than 1/3 of the entire list.

Tempest 2000 was the only Jag game on there. AVP should have been on there. No King of Fighters

SIX Final Fantasy games?! They mislabel FFIV and FFVI by their USA names?

No Descent. No Wipeout. Resident Evil 4 was too high, RE and RE2 WAY too low. Super Metroid should have been in the Top 10 no questions asked. They mention how Metroid is what started it all, and how influential several games were.... Virtua Fighter is in the fucking Smithsonian!!

this. no Street of Rage 2 or 3? Virtua Fighter?

these lists just seem like flame bait.

[Zap!]

I apologize if this has been covered already, but the absolute worst part of this list is that it's not backwards! No suspense leading down, they start at one. Has any list ever not been backwards? None that I have seen.

And Twilight Princess is a lot better than 90.

[vivaeljason]

this. no Street of Rage 2 or 3? Virtua Fighter?

these lists just seem like flame bait.

It's either flame-bait or a just a middle finger to every Sega fan ever. I have the GI issue now, and I can't believe a) how few Sega games there are (9?!? Are you shitting me?) and b) how low the top Sega game is (Sonic 1 at #34?!).

Seriously. What the hell?

[Nionel]

This topic seems like little more than a reason to bitch that someone else's opinion is different than yours. It just seems like a powder keg to me, just waiting to go off in an explosion of expletives.

Back on topic, I'm actually surprised that there are so many older games on the list, seeing that GameStop can't make money on older games.

[Sonicwolf]

these lists just seem like flame bait.

Unfortunately that can be said for any "top whatever" games list made by any website.

[kupomogli]

Back on topic, I'm actually surprised that there are so many older games on the list, seeing that GameStop can't make money on older games.

That's why it's the top 200 list. Throw random games in there from many generations and throw a few recently released games to try and push sales. They can't really throw 50-100 new release games or people are obviously going to know what's up, but around five or so and most likely Gamestop pulled a sale from those who believed the list. I wonder how many people bought Modern Warfare 2 after reading and because of this list.

[Zoltor]

Wow, there are so many things wrong with this list, It's not even funny.

Marvel Vs Capcom 2, thw greatest fighter "ever made", and the originaol Tactics Ogre(one of the better tactic games) barely even made the list, WTH kind of joke is this? No Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis(which is better then the original tacticss ogre game), no Dragon Warrior 3(NES version) or 7. nor did I see Disgaea 2(or any of the other great NIS games). No Lufia 2, No Ragnarok Online(PC, It puts all other MMOs to same), no Wizardry V for the SNES (most consider it the best one released in the US), no Dragon Warrior Monsters 2, and exc exc, you get the idea.

On top of that, almost 50% of the games on their list downright suck.

[Zap!]

This topic seems like little more than a reason to bitch that someone else's opinion is different than yours. It just seems like a powder keg to me, just waiting to go off in an explosion of expletives.

Back on topic, I'm actually surprised that there are so many older games on the list, seeing that GameStop can't make money on older games.

I can deal with any opinion. I can't deal with a list in a magazine not being backwards.

[kupomogli]

Wow, there are so many things wrong with this list, It's not even funny.

Marvel Vs Capcom 2, thw greatest fighter "ever made", and the originaol Tactics Ogre(one of the better tactic games) barely even made the list, WTH kind of joke is this? No Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis(which is better then the original tacticss ogre game), no Dragon Warrior 3(NES version) or 7. nor did I see Disgaea 2(or any of the other great NIS games). No Lufia 2, No Ragnarok Online(PC, It puts all other MMOs to same), no Wizardry V for the SNES (most consider it the best one released in the US), no Dragon Warrior Monsters 2, and exc exc, you get the idea.

On top of that, almost 50% of the games on their list downright suck.

I like your listing of games that should be on there. I agree with most almost every one of them. Except Knight of Lodis, while good, isn't better than Let Us Cling Together, no Disgaea should ever come close to top 200, and while Wizardry 5 is the best in the series, I wouldn't put it on the top 200 when there are so many games that are more deserving.

[The 1 2 P]

My issue with this list is that by the time you get to #13 you already have three Mario titles and two Zelda titles. With a list this big they need to spread the love around. You can fit alot of great games on a list encompassing 200 titles. Instead they have many similiar sequals and the always annoying " a third to half of the Final Fantasy titles" released in the last 10+ years. I'm glad that stuff like Burnout 3 made it but theres still lots of stuff that could have been added if they only had one Final Fantasy title or any other game series that received more than three entries.