Retro Roundtable Top 100 Games O.A.T. - AFI Style...

[Kroogah]

Well, yes, I know, we already have a ridiculous amount of lists, but there is one list that I don't see in the archives.....

I'd like to compile a list of what everyone on the board considers to be the Top 100 games of all time, for all consoles.

Now, referring to the "AFI style" part...the American Film Institute made several Top 100s (you've probably seen one of the TV specials) by creating a list of 400 nominees, then having voters pick from that list. That seems to be the most logical method, so that's what I'd like to do.

Anyone interested? I'm compiling the list of nominees right now.

[ClubNinja]

Actually, this is similar to something I had wanted to do several months ago. Have everyone compile their own Top 50 Games Ever lists, complete with blurbs and whatnot. It'd be a real classy project, but something that would require more time and effort than most would want to invest.

So yeah, this sounds good too, go for it. I'll vote ; P

[digitalpress]

Count me in. As ClubNinja said, this *almost* happened a few months back. Just plan on setting some time aside for yourself!

[Kroogah]

Well, I've nearly wrapped up the nominee list (I culled most of the games nominated from all the old "Top 20" lists)

I think I will arrange it so that there is no system designated for multi-platform games, to avoid any "5200 Pac-Man? Coleco Pac-Man was better" complaints.

No imports, no homebrews, no PC games (heh, OK, a few that made it to consoles, such as Maniac Mansion, Pirates! and Doom)

And don't worry, I have PLENTY of time on my hands to take this on. That's mainly why I volunteered. ^_^

[Arcade Antics]

Sounds good. Let's put that (crappy) AFI movie list to shame!

[MankeyMan]

It did happen, well top 50. I posted it but nobody took any interest.
Here it is again for anyone who cares:

Position - Game - Console - Points

1) Legend of Zelda : NES - 76
2) Final Fantasy 7 : PSX - 47
2) Gunstar Heroes : Genesis - 47
4) Final Fantasy II(IV) : SNES - 45
5) Final Fantasy III (VI) : SNES - 44
6) Super Mario All Stars : SNES - 40
7) Zelda: A link to the past : SNES - 38
8) Baseball Stars : NES - 35
8) Shadowrun : Genesis, SNES - 35
10) Tetris : Most systems - 34
10) GTA3 : PS2 - 34

12) Centipede : Arcade - 30
13) Super Mario Bros 3 : NES - 29
14) Super Metroid : SNES - 25
15) Digdug : Arcade - 24
15) Lemmings : Most systems - 24
15) Pokemon Puzzle League : N64 - 24
18) Dragons Lair : Arcade - 22
19) Adventures of Lolo : NES - 20
19) Baldurs Gate : PC - 20
19) Capcom vs SNK 2 : Dreamcast - 20
19) Castlevania : NES - 20
19) Elite : Commodore 64 - 20
19) Gran Turismo : PSX - 20
19) Jumpman : Commodore 64 - 20
19) Pilotwings 64 : N64 - 20
19) Radiant Silvergun : Saturn - 20
19) Super Bomberman 2 : SNES - 20
19) Super Punch Out : SNES - 20
19) Ultima IV : Many computers- 20
19) Xenogears : PSX - 20
32) A Bard's Tale : Commodore 64 - 19
33) Galaga : Arcade - 17
34) Contra : NES - 16
35) Adventure : Atari - 15
35) Baldurs Gate 2 : PC - 15
35) Boxxle : Gameboy - 15
35) Fallout : PC - 15
35) Gradius III : SNES - 15
35) Planetfall : Many computers- 15
35) SNK vs Capcom - CFC : NeoGeo Pocket - 15
35) Space Invaders : Many computers- 15
35) Space Taxi : Commodore 64 - 15
35) Starcraft : PC - 15
35) Time Gal : Sega CD - 15
35) Yoshi's Island: SMW 2 : SNES - 15
47) Halo : Xbox - 14
48) Zelda: Links Awakening : GB - 14
49) Resident Evil 2 : PSX - 12
50) Goldeneye : N64 - 11

(It was compiled from various people's top 10s. 20 pts for number 1, 10 for 2, 8 for 3, 7 for 4, 6 for 5, 5 for 6 etc)

[Kroogah]

Ah yes, I remember that. That Capcom Vs. SNK 2 vote was mine. ^_^

Well, I've completed the list of nominees, it is actually a total of 500 rather than 400 like I expected. So PM me if you're interested.

[Sylentwulf]

re: "No imports, no homebrews, no PC games"

YAY!! No offense to anyone, because I know a lot of people love imports (Myself included), a lot of people only play PC games or both, and a lot of people like homebrews, but I honestly don't think any of those three things belong with U.S. console games.
Imports might not be a bad thing to let in, but DEFINITELY keep homebrews and PC Games out of it.

[Kid Ice]

I think in order to do this, someone has to make VERY clear guidelines. Off the top of my head, you'd have to decide about:

1. Arcade games or just console? If console only, what about greatest hits collections? Could I say Robotron is my favorite PSX game because it appears on Atari's Greatest hits? What about games like Spy Hunter and Paperboy, which were awesome in the arcade but are worthless on consoles?

2. Compilations or no? If Super Mario All Stars for SNES is my number 1, then wouldn't it be redundant to include SMB3 and SMB in my top, saaay five? Could Chrono Trigger be my favorite PSX game, even though the SNES version is considered definitive?

3. Imports or no? Jeez, without imports can ANY Sega Saturn game make the list? It would be weird to me to ignore games like X-men Vs. Streetfighter and Radiant Silvergun.

4. PC or no? Again, it would be weird to talk top 100 games without including Doom. I can't see putting any of the console versions of Doom on a top 100 list.

5. Point of impact or staying power? Remember how awesome it was to play 2600 Space Invaders when it first came out? But if I had to take 100 games with me to a desert island tomorrow, that's not one I would choose. And I certainly wouldn' take any of the RPGs or adventure games I've finished?

6. Classic computers or no? C64 games? Surely a couple of those would be floating around in my top 100 if allowed. How bout Atari 8-bitters?

7. Portables? How about my $5 Tetris knock-off that I've played every time I've used the WWW for the past 5 years?

8. Ground-breaking original or refined sequel? Ms. Pac-Man is clearly a better game than Pac-Man. Tony Hawk 2 is an improvement over THPS. But wasn't it awesome to play the originals the 1st time? How could I keep Gran Turismo off the list (or lower on the list) because the sequels are better?

the kid

...yes, getting a little carried away here...

[Raedon]

no Computer games? lame...

[Kroogah]

I think in order to do this, someone has to make VERY clear guidelines. Off the top of my head, you'd have to decide about:

1. Arcade games or just console?
Arcade games included, to avoid arguments over which console version of game x was better.

2. Compilations or no?
Definitely not, for the reason you just stated.

3. Imports or no?
No imports, sorry. It'd have to be a much bigger list if we included the amazing array of Japan-only titles.

4. PC or no?
Very, very few PC games. Ones that were big hits as console ports. (Maniac Mansion, Doom, Quake, Lemmings, SimCity)

5. Point of impact or staying power?
Both.

6. Classic computers or no?
Hmm...Highly unlikely.

7. Portables?
Yes, cartridge-based ones.

8. Ground-breaking original or refined sequel?
It depends on the series, really. I'm definitely including Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, but I don't think it's necessary to include Fantasy Zone 1 and 2. (Sorry Raccoon Lad!)

[Raedon]

So you could say Unreal Tournament and Bard's Tale

[Griking]

As far as I can see, the poll was top 50 games. Period. IMO if you don't count PC games then its not a true top 50 games list, its a top 50 CONSOLE games list. And there shouldn't be any limit on the amount of PC games that can be nominated either. If they're good enough to vote for then they should be included.

[Kroogah]

Well, sorry, maybe you should lobby for a Best PC games list at a PC gaming forum.

Currently, I have the interest of:
digitalpress
ClubNinja
Sylentwulf
ozyr

And possibly Kid Ice, Raedon, and MankeyMan...anyone else?

[Griking]

I'm sorry, I didn't know that this has turned into a popularity contest among visitors.

If you don't want to count PC games then that's just fine but you should call iut the top 50 console games then. And where do you draw the line? Do C64 and Apple II games not count as well? If so then how can there be a top 50 games of all time where Ultima games don't even qualify?

IMO the term "video" game means an electronic game that you play on a screen on monitor.

[Britboy]

:roll: oh for god's sake... :roll:


anyway, I'll vote, even though I am sadly underqualified on anything classic that isnt 2600 or colecovision

[ubersaurus]

I wouldn't put capcom vs snk 2 on that top 50 list at all...it's widely considered to be among the crappier fighters capcom put out. Specially at high level play.

Street Fighter 2 Turbo that shit!

[Kroogah]

@ubersauraus: I was the only person who voted for CvS2 in that old list. I put it at #1 on my list, giving it 20 points. ^_^

Yes, it's going to be a Top 100 CONSOLE games list!

[Kid Ice]

The guidelines are clear enough for me now. Is there a deadline?

the kid

[Kroogah]

I'm going to work on typing up the Nominee List this week. I'll let you guys know when it's finished; I'll probably make it an HTML file and give everyone the link, then people can email me their lists from that site.

[digitalpress]

Sorry to resurrect this, but...

In light of IGN's Top 100, can we give this another go? I'd be willing to run the list just like any other "Top X" list we've done, adding and taking away as time goes by.

If anyone is interested in seeing this again - and more importantly PARTICIPATING - let me know.

[Scoots]

Sure, I'm game. Let's do it.

[Kroogah]

Very few people want to bother making a top 100, as I found out. Perhaps have everyone create a Top 50 from a list of 500, then make the overall list a top 100.......

[IntvGene]

I am willing to give it a go. But, I think that this is an incredible task! You have to have played a huge number of games from EVERY system! If you haven't played enough games, you're not going to be able to do it. That's why I can't see you putting a basic voting system up and doing it that way. It just doesn't work. You have to have an extensive knowledge of every genre and every console. The AFI list works because they have critics doing the voting. I know that we are all critics here, but it just isn't the same.

I am willing to see it go somewhere though... that IGN list is quickly turning into a disaster. They've spread themselves too thin, and I honestly don't believe that they're objective enough. I think you still have to define your list well from the start before you get debating. Are you measuring popularity? gameplay? graphics? influence on later games? originality?

[digitalpress]

Let's go for it!

I'm gonna need everyone's help.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12325

[Scoots]

So how's it going to work? Just a big free-for-all or will you edit a "master list" like the other top lists? Here's my suggestion for a possible top 50:

1 Ms Pac-Man
2 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
3 Legend of Zelda
4 Super Mario Bros
5 Metroid
6 Kid Icarus
7 RC Pro-Am
8 Centipede
9 Tapper
10 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
11 Castlevania
12 Bubble Bobble
13 Dr Mario
14 Asteroids
15 Defender
16 Goldeneye
17 Super Mario 64
18 Donkey Kong Country
19 Sonic the Hedgehog
20 Bard’s Tale
21 Demon Attack
22 Marble Madness
23 Paperboy
24 Star Fox 64
25 Lifeforce
26 Arkanoid
27 Burgertime
28 Dragon Warrior
29 Donkey Kong
30 Gauntlet
31 Tetris
32 Dig Dug
33 Joust
34 Dragon’s Lair
35 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Intellivision)
36 Crossbow
37 Yoshi’s Island
38 Tempest
39 1943
40 Berzerk
41 Microsurgeon
42 River City Ransom
43 Sinistar
44 Parsec
45 Earthworm Jim
46 Frogger
47 A Boy and His Blob
48 Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
49 Ghosts n’ Goblins
50 Final Fantasy

Yeah, I'm a NES mark.