The VGC Top 100 Best Games of All Time, #10-1 - News

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About a month ago, we started this Top 100 Best Games of All Time list with Silent Hill 2. Now we've reached the grande finale--the 10 best games ever according to our members. Obviously not everyone can be happy with every choice, but some issues aside, I think we've had a wonderful tribute to the gaming world.

10. Super Mario World 

When the Super NES launched, Nintendo made the genius move of packing in the latest entry in the then-most popular franchise in video games.  Although Miyamoto has repeatedly stated that he's not totally happy with Super Mario World, it's still an amazing game.  Despite the fantastic graphics, refined platforming, and timeless music, perhaps the game's most memorable credit is the introduction of everyone's favourite green dinosaur, Yoshi!

Platform: SNES

9. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

After the success of The Legend of Zelda on the NES, it was inevitable that the series would continue on the Super NES. And how! Gone was the side-scrolling perspective found in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.  A Link to the Past reverts to an overhead perspective similar to that of the original.  At the beginning of A Link to the Past, a young boy named Link is awakened by a telepathic message from Princess Zelda, who says that she is locked in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle. As the message closes, Link finds his uncle ready for battle, telling him to remain in bed.  Ever the video game hero, Link ignores the command and follows him to Hyrule Castle. When he arrives, he finds his uncle seriously wounded, and is instructed to rescue Princess Zelda from her prison with his new sword and shield. After his uncle passes out, Link navigates the castle and rescues Zelda from her cell, and the two escape into a secret passage through the sewers that leads to a sanctuary.  This is only the prologue to the true adventure.  Many innovations that were unique at the time, especially the changes from the light world to the dark world, make this an extremely memorable experience.

Platform: SNES

8. Final Fantasy VI

Originally released in in America as Final Fantasy III, this game is another Super Nintendo game. Combat in Final Fantasy VI is menu-based, in which the player selects an action from a list of such options as Fight, Magic, and Item. A maximum of four characters may be used in battles, which uses the series' traditional Active Time Battle system, or ATB, which was designed by Hiroyuki Itō and first featured in Final Fantasy IV.  In contrast to the medieval settings featured in previous Final Fantasy titles, Final Fantasy VI is set in a steampunk environment. The structure of society parallels that of the latter half of the 19th century, with opera and the fine arts serving as recurring motifs throughout the game. The fact that Final Fantasy VI is often named best the Final Fantasy game says enough: this is a must play for anyone.

Platforms: SNES, GBA

7. Resident Evil 4

A lone multiplatform game in a list that's dominated by exclusives, Resident Evil 4 isn't just any game. The only PlayStation 2 generation game in the Top 10 is a technical marvel. Mikami wanted to reimage the Resident Evil series and did it in a fantastic way. As former Racoon City police officer Leon Kennedy you arrive in a small Spanish village to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the US President only to discover the locals are less than friendly. The gameplay focuses on action, horror, and shootouts involving crowds of enemies in large open areas. This is a departure from the previous games in the series which focused on exploration and conservation of ammunition. 

Platforms: Gamecube, PlayStation 2, PC, Wii

6. Super Mario 64

In 1996 Nintendo revolutionized videogaming once again. The power of the N64 made a true 3D platformer possible for the first time ever, and Miyamoto showed why he's the best game creator ever. When there are boudaries he will break them. In this case, Super Mario 64 was the first to use a dynamic camera system and had great implementation of its analog controls. Super Mario 64 begins with a letter from Princess Peach inviting Mario to come to her castle for a cake she has baked for him, however, when he arrives, Mario discovers that Bowser has invaded the castle and imprisoned the princess and her servants within it using the power of the castle's 120 Power Stars. Many of the castle's paintings are portals to other worlds, in which Bowser's minions keep watch over the stars.

Platform: N64

5. Super Mario Galaxy

After the disapointing Super Mario Sunshine on Gamecube many thought the glory of Mario was over. How wrong they were. With Super Mario Galaxy Nintendo proved they still have the magic touch to create the perfect platformer. Mario is sent to space this time and the numerous strange planets function as the backdrop for the adventure. The big draw is the new physics system that allows for a unique feature: each celestial object has its own gravitational force, allowing the player to completely circumnavigate rounded or irregular planetoids, walking sideways or upside down, which makes for a great platforming experience.

Platform: Wii

4. Metal Gear Solid 4 : Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has the distinguished honor of gaining the title of VGChartz' best game of the current generation. Metal Gear Solid is one of the few series' that managed to get all games in this Top 100, which shows the extreme quality of the series and its creator Hideo Kojima. Metal Gear Solid 4 is set five years after the Big Shell incident (depicted in Metal Gear Solid 2), in 2014. The world economy is based on continuous war, fueled by Private Military Companies, which constitute the majority among nations' armies. Snake accepts a request by Roy Campbell to terminate Liquid, with Otacon and Sunny providing mission support from the Nomad aircraft. Amazing graphics, fabulous (and abundant) cutscenes and gameplay that let's the player decide between sneaking or attacking. This game shows what can be done on current-generation hardware.

Platform: PlayStation 3

3. Super Mario Bros. 3

Kicking of the Top 3 is a golden oldie. A fabulous 2D platformer that is still a blast to play. The game centers on the quest of Mario and Luigi to save the rulers of seven kingdoms from Bowser. The two brothers must travel across eight worlds to restore order to the Mushroom World.  Super Mario 3 took the amazing gameplay from the first game and improved it in every possible way. Bigger and more varied levels, an interactive overworld map and power-ups that transformed Mario or Luigi in a Frog, Statue or Raccoon (that could fly...). Super Mario Bros 3 proves that games don't need technology to be fantastic.

Platform: NES, GBA

2. Final Fantasy VII

A legendary title in a legendary series. There's a reason the internet explodes when rumours about the remake appear. Final Fantasy VII is the most popular JRPG ever and one that  made millions and millions stick to their PlayStation for numerous hours. The PlayStation's CD-ROM medium allowed for never seen before cutscenes that proved to become a standard for the genre. The game's setting follows in the footsteps of Final Fantasy VI by presenting a world with considerably more advanced technology than the first five games in the series. Overall, the game's technology and society approximates that of near-future science fiction. Final Fantasy VII's story centers on mercenary Cloud Strife who joins with several others to stop the megacorporation Shin-Ra, which is draining the life of the planet to use as an energy source. As the story progresses, the situation escalates and Cloud and his allies must battle the game's main antagonist, Sephiroth. The most popular RPG of all time is the second best game of all time and rightfully so.

Platform: PlayStation

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Our readers have spoken and it wasn't close. With an overwhelming majority The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is chosen as the best game ever created. What can still be said about this game? Almost everyone knows about it and many have played it, whether on the N64, Gamecube or more recently on the Wii Virtual Console. The game remains a timeless masterpiece that can still stand up to the competition, despite being over 10 years old. Many will remember the feeling they experienced when exiting Kokiri Village for the first time and entering Hyrule Field, or the first time they travelled through time.  Many gamers still get the Song of Time or Zelda's Lullaby stuck in their heads. Or nightmares about the infamous Water Temple. Sure things like Z-targetting and the giant open world were revolutionary for its time, but what most of all makes this the best game ever is its unique soul and the fact that it's an amazing adventure.

Platform: N64

Missed one? Check out a previous installment!

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Numbers 30-21

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Numbers 90-81

Numbers 100-91

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.

 

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