The VGC Top 100 Best Games of All Time, #30-21 - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 24 May 2009 / 75,254 Views
By Patrick Maxwell, Daniel Share-Strom, and Benjamin Cornelisse
30. Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
The second generation of Pokemon games added 100 new Pokemon to the mix, a new nation to explore, two new elemental pokemon types, and new night and day phases which have become staples in the series. You play as Gold (the default trainer name) as you travel around Johto defeating the eight gym leaders, battling the elite four, and then having the chance to go to the original region, Kanto, and defeat harder versions of the eight gym leaders there. Almost matching its predecessors in terms of sales, Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal is in the top ten best selling games of all time. Pokemon as a whole has set the world on fire with tons of spin off games, an anime, movies, toys, pokemon themed trains and jets, and once the number trading card game in the world, just going to show how big gaming has become and has cemented pokemon a big place in history.
Platform: Gameboy, Gameboy Color
29. God of War
The first of the now renowned series, God of War came out in early 2005 to a lot of praise from reviewers and fans alike. Now the game has its fifth iteration (third in the main storyline) set to come out in 2010 and is one of the most anticipated sequels for many gamers. It started the tale of Kratos, wanting revenge for Ares, the god of war, tricking him into killing his family. The game is famous for its story set in Greek mythology, violent gameplay, and some of the most fluid combat in the brawler genre. For many fans Kratos and his story will always be one of their favorites and is why God of War is one of the top games in history.
Platform: PlayStation 2
28. Earthbound
Released at the end of the SNES's life, Earthbound was one of the best RPGs on the SNES but was overlooked by many. Over the years the fans have created a cult following around the game on the internet, and even have many dedicated sites to a game they consider legendary. In the game you play as Ness, a little boy from Onett whose world was turned on its ear when a meteorite landed near his house. What came out of this space rock? A bee from the future named Buzz Buzz, what else? Buzz Buzz informs Ness of Giyagas’ plan and so Ness’ adventure begins. Earthbound has some of the most creative writing, humor, and stories of any RPG which can span from being serious and touching to hilarious within the same scene, which gave the game its unique feeling and made the game such a hit with its fans.
Platform: SNES
27. Shenmue
Shenmue was one of the most innovative games for its time, featuring weather changing day to day, open world gameplay, quick time event gameplay, and all with stunning presentation. Today those are standards we have come to expect from games, but Shenmue was one of the games that set that bar. The story revolves around Ryu, setting out to avenge his father’s murder. Ryu has to go around the port searching for clues which included looking for sailors, getting into brawls, and epic cut scenes with quick time events. Still infamous for having one of the most expensive gaming budgets in history at 70 million dollars, if you thought HD development costs were insane it has nothing on Shenmue. Now could you tell me where I can find some sailors?
Platform: Dreamcast
26. Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo is the game that launched a thousand ships and single-handedly carried the Xbox into the spotlight. An interesting story, fantastically fun weapons and vehicles, sprawling vistas, cooperative play, and plenty of opportunities to try different tactics drew in millions of fans. But it was the endlessly customizable sixteen-player multiplayer mode that kept players coming back for more. Like all of the best multiplayer games, Halo is one of those experiences where every match has at least one epic moment you wish you had been videotaping. Remember that time your two friends were sniping at each other from opposite sides of the map, and you got bored, hopped in a ghost, and smashed into one just as he drew a bead on the other? (I know I do!—Dan) Plasma grenades were great, too. Is it a blue spider?! GET IT OFF!
Platforms: Xbox, PC, Xbox Originals
25. Super Metroid
Set just after Samus recovered the ‘last’ Metroid larva and delivered it the the Ceres Space Station in Metroid II, Super Metroid was lauded as much for its atmosphere as it was for translating the series’ much-loved exploration-based gameplay into sixteen glorious bits. In a bid to recapture the kidnapped Metroid from her arch-nemesis, Ridley, Samus explores areas both old and new, gaining new powers, surpassing new obstacles, and defeating new foes. But the non-combat areas, when Samus is simply running from point A to point B, with their haunting music and intentionally-depressing weather effects (like rain), are probably the most memorable parts of this Super Nintendo masterpiece.
Platforms: SNES, Wii Virtual Console
24. Super Mario Bros.
Ah, Super Mario Bros, the game that is impossible to hate. Probably the biggest surprise here is that it wasn’t higher on the list, which just goes to show how diverse VGC’s user's tastes are. While not technically where Mario got his start, when anyone picture’s gaming’s mascot, the first thing that comes to mind is Super Mario Bros. The revolutionary ideas it brought to the video gaming world (such as scrolling and hidden paths) are matched in their importance only by the iconic gameplay, colourful graphics, and iconic music. Everyone remembers running through World 1-1, hopping over the pipes, tossing turtle shells and juuust missing the top of the flagpole. That is, if the first Goomba didn’t take all their lives.
Platforms: NES, SNES, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Wii Virtual Console
23. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Recently chosen by VGChartz as the Gamecube's best game, the members have awarded The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker a place among the 25 best games ever made. Fans didn't exactly warm up to it when Wind Waker was first shown , though. They demanded a realistic Link, not this cel-shaded toon figure. However, those who opened up to the artstyle discovered an amazing game, ironically owing much of its quality to its style. The kingdom of Hyrule is long drowned under the sea and the world is made up of several islands. Link travels across this vast sea in search of his sister, while battling the evil Ganondorf, solving challenging dungeons, and helping out the fantastically designed inhabitants of the Great Sea. Sure the sailing, can get a bit boring and that Triforce quest wasn't really that interesting, but one look at that gorgeous, vivid world is enough to make you forget all that and embrace Wind Waker as an amazing Zelda.
Platform: Gamecube
22. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
This game being launched alongside Wii is probably part of the reason why Nintendo's fifth console was such a big success at launch. Sure, those looking for a new experience stuck to Wii Sports, but the traditional fan probably anticipated Twilight Princess much more, and with over 50 hours of great Zelda gameplay, it definitely delivered. As often in Zelda games you start of as a young boy, Link, in a small village in the Kingdom of Hyrule. Near the beginning of the adventure, the hero finds himself trapped in wolf form in the Twilight Realm, a dark parallel world where the Twilight King rules. A small creature, Midna, offers to help you on your quest to free Hyrule of the Twilight. You'll play part of the game as a wolf, which is a great addition to the traditional Zelda gameplay. In that wolf form you can use your senses to find routes, hidden items and you’re even able to defeat enemies that are hard to beat in human form. In the Wii version of the game motion sensing is used to control the Master Sword, while the pointer makes for a big improvement in using the boomerang and bow. However, the best use of the Wiimote is for fishing, which is transformed into more than just a mini-game thanks to the motion controls. The biggest Hyrule yet is a fantastic experience.
Platforms: Gamecube, Wii
21. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
After the great but still slightly disappointing second game, creator Hideo Kojima brought his famous stealth series back to where it belongs with Snake Eater: at the highest level of gaming. In the struggle to achieve world peace and world dominance in the Cold War period, rivaling governments are secretly developing weapons technology that could threaten the future existence of life. Set in Cold War-era Russia, the story centers on FOX operative Naked Snake as he is summoned to travel deep into the heart of enemy territory in an attempt to rescue weapons designer Sokolov and sabotage an experimental superweapon. Where the earlier Metal Gear Solid games were set in a primarily urban environment, Snake Eater adopts a 1960s Soviet jungle setting, with the high tech, near-future trappings of previous Metal Gear Solid games being replaced with the wilderness by using camouflage, close-quarters combat, stalking and interrogation.
Platform: PlayStation 2
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The VGC Top 100 Best Games of All Time is based entirely on votes by our members. The source for the list can be found here . Only games released before January 1st 2009 are included.
