View Full Version : ign's top 100 games
zmweasel
07-30-2005, 05:36 AM
This is a very odd and very silly list. Some of the games were chosen for their great gameplay, but some were chosen for their historical importance, which are wildly different criteria. And mashing together coin-ops, console games, handheld games, and PC games is madness.
1UP.com's list of the 50 most important games ever made (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3116290) was a much better read, with much better picks.
-- Z.
I can't say too much, as I've played a small fraction of the games on their list. But I still have two cents in my pocket to throw out (in list form, natch)...
1. Their list isn't meant to be taken seriously. Relax!
2. I was disheartened over the large number of PC games.
3. I was disheartened over the small number of early arcade classics.
4. Super Mario Bros was great, but seems an odd choice for #1 compared to the others they listed.
5. Yay, Bionic Commando!
6. NES has more than the XBOX. Woo-hoo!
7. No Mega Man or Myst?
8. They need more experts to contribute.
9. I like the DP99 better.
10. Their list isn't meant to be taken seriously. Relax!
jhd7 / Jeff D
Griking
07-30-2005, 12:57 PM
2. I was disheartened over the large number of PC games.
Yeah, cause God knows that PC gaming had no real significance or contribution to the gaming industry. That's just ignorant. It was a top 100 games list. Not a top 100 console games list.
10. Their list isn't meant to be taken seriously. Relax!
Point me to where on their website they say this
1UP.com's list of the 50 most important games ever made (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3116290) was a much better read, with much better picks.
This is a pretty well done list but its important to stress that while these games were important to gaming in general some of them sucked pretty badly when it came to the fun factor. The only entry I don't "get" is the inclusion of the Macintosh (?)
Anthony1
08-01-2005, 02:49 AM
Can somebody list the entire 100 games?
Was Dracula X for PC Engine on it?
How come Alex Kidd in Miracle World never makes any lists? I said it in 1987, and I'll say it again. It's MUCH better than SMB.
sabre2922
08-01-2005, 05:02 AM
This list turned out better than the last one.
Its nice to see Metal Gear Solid and especially ICO in the top 20.
I have stated this many times and will continue to claim that the original Legend of Zelda is a much better game than the SNES version :angry:
ICO:http://www.digitpress.com/forum/weblogs/upload/50/125949342242ede4f0b4806.jpg
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/weblogs/upload/50/3479144142ede51057ba9.jpg
I have stated this many times and will continue to claim that the original Legend of Zelda is a much better game than the SNES version :angry:
No way in Hell. In fact, I've been playing games since '79, own 31 systems and 1,000 of games and mags, and even did a newsletter, and put Zelda: LTTP as not only the best Zelda (by far), but also at the third greatest game of all time. Only Ys: Book I and II and Phantasy Star top it IMO.
FurinkanianFrood
08-01-2005, 05:21 AM
PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:36 am Post subject:
This is a very odd and very silly list. Some of the games were chosen for their great gameplay, but some were chosen for their historical importance, which are wildly different criteria.
It is rather odd.... Awful list. Like every platform can just be summed up together like that.
Of course I like many of the games on the list, but a few of them are @#$%.
It basically was how I would expect such a list to be.
A bunch overrated popular junk, FPS don't belong IMO, unless they are on a separate historical significance list (though again I don't necessarily dislike all of them).
It has a decent number of my picks for most overrated games of all time (again, not surprised)
Square stuff (some of which I admittedly like) gets way too much ass-kissing as usual.
None of the Square stuff makes the top 25 rpg list in my book.
Where are the shmups? Where is Phantasy Star 1 or 2 or 4? Where is......
This is pointless.... Suffice to say it is what I expected........ Bleh..,..
x_x
sabre2922
08-01-2005, 05:27 AM
where would we be without the original though? it was brilliant and the SNES version was a let down for me :/ but I respect everyones opinion as long as I dont get flamed for my opinion ;)
I think its what I like to call the "Resident Evil 2 syndrome" Its not that the game was soooo much greater than the original its just the simple fact that more ppl played the sequel and remember it as being better wether it was in fact or not mostly becuase of the hype of a sequal or that many more "casual" gamers usually experience the second game in a new franchise and remember the sequal much more often than the original I just happen to think that ALTTP is one of those games is all.
sabre2922
08-01-2005, 05:37 AM
I agree with FurinkanianFrood after going through the entire list again.
The majority of these games are mass market games and Highly regarded by the CASUALS and the critics that cater to the casual gamers and MASS MARKET type of games more than anything else.
Its not a terrible list just a very VANILLA list I guess would be the best way to put it ;)
I mean no Phantasy Star 2? or SHMUPS what the Hell?
where would we be without the original though? it was brilliant and the SNES version was a let down for me :/ but I respect everyones opinion as long as I dont get flamed for my opinion ;)
I would never flame anyone for their opinion, unless you said The Phantom Menace was your favorite Star Wars. :)
I don't like the arguement that you (and others) say "where would such and such be without the original?" In reality, some things in life are simply better the second or third time around. Just like Empire Strikes Back was better than A New Hope, Superman II was better than the first, Rocky 3 and 4 were better than the first, Ms. Pac-Man was better than Pac-Man, Street Fighter II better (way better, actually) than SF1, Mortal Kombat II much better than MK1, so too was Zelda 3 better than the original. The first was great, the second was a letdown, and 3 had all the magic of the original, plus better grapics, sound, and more challenging gameplay. I'll be the first to admit that my opinion is usually in the minority. But on this, I PROMISE it's in the vast majorty. :)
I think its what I like to call the "Resident Evil 2 syndrome" Its not that the game was soooo much greater than the original its just the simple fact that more ppl played the sequel and remember it as being better wether it was in fact or not mostly becuase of the hype of a sequal or that many more "casual" gamers usually experience the second game in a new franchise and remember the sequal much more often that the original I just happen to think that ALTTP is one of those games is all.
Bad arguement. Not only does everyone remember the first Zelda, but more people played it. It has officially sold more than any other Zelda (dunno about GB Zeldas though), except maybe Zelda II. Remember, the Zelda with the biggest hype by far was Zelda II, and by far that was the worst Zelda ever for a Nintendo console system.
sabre2922
08-01-2005, 05:58 AM
Actually I think its a very good "point" not argument Im sure that there are many more ppl and fellow gamers that remember the SNES version much more vividly than the original NES Ver.
Also Zelda is my 3rd favorite game series right behind METROID and Silent Hill so dont think that I dont appreciate A link to the past its just that I was not all that impressed with it back in the day and most likely never will be.
I just didnt think that it had the "magic" that the ones that came both before and after it contained thats all.
Actually I think its a very good "point" not argument Im sure that there are many more ppl and fellow gamers that remember the SNES version much more vividly than the original NES Ver.
Also Zelda is my 3rd favorite game series right behind METROID and Silent Hill so dont think that I dont appreciate A link to the past its just that I was not all that impressed with it back in the day and most likely never will be.
I just didnt think that it had the "magic" that the ones that came both before and after it contained thats all.
Point, arguement, discussion, same thing. :) I don't know what to say about more people remembering 3. How can you say that when 1 had more sales? Remember, it goes down in hostory as the first million+ seller since the Crash of '84.
Not having the magic? It had it, you just must have missed it. :) Seriously, you're the first person I ever heard of say you weren't too impressed with it when it was new.
Metroid is a great series too. As are the Mario and Mega Man games. But Silent Hill is too new for me to list it as my favorites. Then again, I don't like new stuff very much.
MuzeBoy
08-01-2005, 07:39 PM
Most IGN readers would of propably expected to see Splinter Cell, Resi 4 ect. higher, but the list shows signs of PC games and lots of games that 80% of IGN readers cannot relate to, which i admire IGN for doing, but i think many readers of the top 100 list will be dissappointed by what they see.
MuzeBoy :)
squidblatt
08-01-2005, 08:22 PM
It's funny how they're complaining about all the PC and Nintendo games on the Teamxbox forums. A bunch of them are saying how much better and more balanced the user list was.
PeteyPablo
08-01-2005, 08:32 PM
I'm a big sports fan, but i don't agree that any of the 7 sports games that IGN have put in there, that are a actually worthy to be there. I also think that Super Smash Bros. and GTA III both deserved too be ranked higher. What came as a real shock too me, was how low Resi 4 was ranked and how Halo 2 wasn't even in the top 100.
PeteyPable :)
zmweasel
08-01-2005, 09:43 PM
This is a pretty well done list but its important to stress that while these games were important to gaming in general some of them sucked pretty badly when it came to the fun factor. The only entry I don't "get" is the inclusion of the Macintosh (?)
Indeed, many of the games on 1UP's list are awful, but as clearly stated in the introduction, it's a list of the most important games--the games that changed the hobby. Each of the entries is pleasantly detailed and very well-written.
IGN's list, by contrast, is a clusterfuck of games from wildly different categories, chosen with methodology that IGN doesn't clearly explain, and described with generic single-graf blurbs.
-- Z.
Howie6925
08-01-2005, 10:30 PM
Can somebody list the entire 100 games?
Alright man here you go:
# 100 // River City Ransom(nes)
# 099 // Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss(pc)
# 098 // BattleToads(nes)
# 097 // F-Zero(snes)
# 096 // Mafia(pc)
# 095 // Herzog Zwei(gen)
# 094 // Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six(pc)
# 093 // Quake II(pc)
# 092 // Dragon Warrior(nes)
# 091 // Virtua Tennis(DC)
# 090 // Master of Orion(pc)
# 089 // Alone in the Dark(pc)
# 088 // Final Fantasy VII(ps,pc)
# 087 // Thief II: The Metal Age(pc)
# 086 // Final Fantasy X(ps2)
# 085 // Prince of Persia(multiple formats)
# 084 // Ultima VII: The Black Gate(pc)
# 083 // Contra(nes)
# 082 // Gunstar Heroes(SG)
# 081 // Freedom Force(pc)
# 080 // Baseball Stars(nes)
# 079 // Shining Force II(SG)
# 078 // Star Wars(arcade)
# 077 // Archon: The Light and The Dark(home computer,nes)
# 076 // Tetris Attack(snes)
# 075 // Crimson Skies(pc)
# 074 // Syndicate(pc)
# 073 // Return Fire(3do)
# 072 // Galaga(arcade)
# 071 // Half-Life: Counter-Strike(pc)
# 070 // Pokemon Red/Blue(gb)
# 069 // Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs(SG)
# 068 // Starsiege: Tribes(pc)
# 067 // Rayman 2: The Great Escape(mutiple systems)
# 066 // Homeworld(pc)
# 065 // MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat(pc)
# 064 // Advance Wars(gb)
# 063 // Sonic the Hedgehog(SG)
# 062 // Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time(Mult systems)
# 061 // Sam & Max Hit the Road(pc)
# 060 // Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle(pc)
# 059 // Bionic Commando(nes)
# 058 // Super Smash Bros. Melee(gc)
# 057 // Mike Tyson's Punchout!(nes)
# 056 // Final Fantasy III (VI)(snes)
# 055 // Fallout(pc)
# 054 // Panzer Dragoon Saga(Sgsat)
# 053 // Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings(pc)
# 052 // Metroid Prime(GC)
# 051 // Grand Theft Auto III(ps2,xbox,pc)
# 050 // Wing Comander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi(pc)
# 049 // Grim Fandango(pc)
# 048 // The Secret of Mana(snes)
# 047 // NHL 94(SG)
# 046 // Super Mario World(snes)
# 045 // Battlefield 1942(pc)
# 044 // Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island(snes)
# 043 // Soul Calibur(DC)
# 042 // Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec(ps2)
# 041 // System Shock 2(pc)
# 040 // Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution(ps2)
# 039 // DOOM(pc)
# 038 // Madden NFL 2004(ps2)
# 037 // Wave Race 64(n64)
# 036 // Command & Conquer: Red Alert(pc)
# 035 // Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty(pc)
# 034 // Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2(Mutiple Systems)
# 033 // God of War(ps2)
# 032 // Resident Evil 4(GC)
# 031 // SimCity 2000(pc)
# 030 // Halo(xbox)
# 029 // GoldenEye 007(n64)
# 028 // Half-Life 2(pc)
# 027 // Burnout 3: Takedown(Mutiple Systems)
# 026 // Final Fantasy II (IV)(snes)
# 025 // Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn(pc)
# 024 // Tecmo Super Bowl(nes)
# 023 // Super Mario Bros. 3(nes)
# 022 // Half-Life(pc)
# 021 // Deus Ex(pc)
# 020 // Ms. Pac Man(arcade)
# 019 // Metal Gear Solid(ps)
# 018 // ICO(ps2)
# 017 // Star Control 2(pc)
# 016 // Castlevania: Symphony of the Night(ps)
# 015 // Super Mario Kart(snes)
# 014 // Rome: Total War(pc)
# 013 // Chrono Trigger(snes)
# 012 // X-COM: UFO Defense(pc)
# 011 // Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past(snes)
# 010 // Super Metroid(snes)
# 009 // Star Wars: TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM(pc)
# 008 // Street Fighter II(arcade)
# 007 // StarCraft(pc)
# 006 // Sid Meier's Pirates!(pc)
# 005 // Super Mario 64(n64)
# 004 // Sid Meier's Civilization II(pc)
# 003 // Tetris(Multiple Systems)
# 002 // Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time(n64)
# 001 // Super Mario Bros.(nes)
Wow,that took a while.
euronymous
08-02-2005, 12:10 AM
My only real gripe with the list is I think the two Zelda games should be switched. A Link to the Past is better then OoT(which is a great game and deserves to be top 10) but at least they didn't put Tetris at 1 I hate when they do that.
Lothars
08-02-2005, 02:28 AM
I am definitly disapointed iwth the list
I would have prefered chrono trigger to be hgiher on the list, I would prefer Super Mario Brothers 3 instead of Super Mario Brothers, I would also rather of had LOZ a link to the past and Orcania of Time to switch places
but for the most part it was definitly a bad list.
My only real gripe with the list is I think the two Zelda games should be switched. A Link to the Past is better then OoT(which is a great game and deserves to be top 10) but at least they didn't put Tetris at 1 I hate when they do that.
Thank you! Glad I'm not alone in believing LTTP vis the best Zelda game.
I would also rather of had LOZ a link to the past and Orcania of Time to switch places
And another one! 8-)
Tatsu
08-02-2005, 07:31 AM
My only real gripe with the list is I think the two Zelda games should be switched. A Link to the Past is better then OoT(which is a great game and deserves to be top 10) but at least they didn't put Tetris at 1 I hate when they do that.
Thank you! Glad I'm not alone in believing LTTP vis the best Zelda game.
I also think that!!
Nature Boy
08-02-2005, 03:37 PM
I'm surprised that Civ 2 made it as high as it did. Not that it isn't a fantastic game (it *is* one of my personal top 3 favourite games of all time), just that it never seems to get much props.
euronymous
08-03-2005, 12:45 AM
Ok I rarely post but gotta this time. A top 100 list with Final Fantasy VII at 88th. Bull Sh--, I love all the Mario games, but would I put them before FFVII, HELL NO. What were they smokin'. =)~
FF7 is overrated and is lucky it made the list. Suikoden 2 hammers it.
Daniel Thomas
08-03-2005, 03:56 PM
I'm surprised that Civ 2 made it as high as it did. Not that it isn't a fantastic game (it *is* one of my personal top 3 favourite games of all time), just that it never seems to get much props.
The real problem I have with these "greatest games" columns is that they never articulate why they pick these games. If Civ 2 is the highest-ranked game in the series, then doesn't that mean Civ 3 is lacking in some way? What was it about the third Civilization that they didn't like? I'd like to pick up one of them for my PC, so this would be, you know, actually helpful.
Instead, we read the exact same soundbite, over and over, about how such-and-such was groundbreaking and/or popular in its time. This was the best, that was the best...the best at what? I get the feeling these things are written with Mad Libs.
Nature Boy
08-03-2005, 05:00 PM
If Civ 2 is the highest-ranked game in the series, then doesn't that mean Civ 3 is lacking in some way?
I hear what you're saying. zmweasel touched on it - if you want some meat behind the numbers you just have to look elsewhere.
As far as the Civ series in particular let me say this: I'd never go back and play Civ 1 after playing Civ 2 (I just love how they improved the game, and I'm not sure I'd remember the tech tree in Civ 1 anymore), but I continue to play both Civ 2 and Civ 3 as they offer vastly different experiences. (Civ 2 will likely remain my all time fave, but I'm definitely a fan of what they did with the sequel).
I still wanna know why Ys: Book I and II rarely makes any all-time lists, and why Alex Kidd in Miracle World NEVER does! :angry:
zmweasel
08-06-2005, 09:39 AM
I still wanna know why Ys: Book I and II rarely makes any all-time lists, and why Alex Kidd in Miracle World NEVER does! :angry:
If you're judging strictly in terms of gameplay (which isn't necessarily the case with IGN's fiasco of a list) and selecting from a pool of every console game ever, it's very tough to include either Ys I & II or Alex Kidd in a top-100 grouping.
Book I & II was a technological breakthough as the first RPG with decent storytelling (thanks to the space for text and cut-scenes afforded by CD-ROM), but Alex Kidd is a classic by Master System standards, which means it's merely an above-average 2D platformer by every other standard.
Yet another reason the 1UP.com list is so much better: it focuses strictly on historical significance, instead of attempting to "rank" something as intensely subjective as gameplay quality.
-- Z.