The 2008 AVGW 500

500-401 400-301 300-201 100-1

100. SATURN BOMBERMAN
(Saturn ~ 1997 ~ SEGA ~ Action ~ NL)

When Saturn Bomberman came out, it very well could have been the best multiplayer game available. With subtle improvements over previous entries in the bomberman franchise and the option to gather nine of your friends for some ten-player Bomberman insanity is a blast and easily makes this game fun enough to make the top 100.

99. PITFALL!
(Atari 2600 ~ 1982 ~ Activision ~ Platform ~ 100)

It was absolutely amazing for its time and suprisingly, it's still pretty dang fun today. Its graphics may be outdated, but it's gameplay is easily solid enough to stand the test of time. If you've never played it, try it again today. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

98. MEGA MAN 2
(NES ~ 1989 ~ Capcom ~ Platform ~ 80)

The first Mega Man was like a gateway drug leading to a more addicting drug, Mega Man II. It has fantastic levels, memorable bosses, neat-o power-ups, and a musical score that may be the best of the 8-bit era. Mega Man II is the top-seller that made the lovable blue robot a household name.

97. CASTLEVANIA: ARIA OF SORROW
(Game Boy Advance ~ 2003 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ NL)

Long-time fans of the Castlevania series likely won't find too much new here...But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Aria of Sorrow brings the same, top-notch gameplay that the previous games in the franchise had supplied. This game may not be innovative, but it's definitely good and more than deserving of being placed on this list.

96. ROCK BAND
(Playstation 3 ~ 2007 ~ MTV Games ~ Music ~ NL)

Guitar Hero fever had swept the nation...And then Rock Band came out that allowed players to not just play guitar, but also drums and vocals. The multiplayer action was far superior to that of Guitar Hero II and the variety of instruments added to replay value when you played the game alone. Rock Band pretty much took everything that Guitar Hero did and made it better. Rock Band could possibly be the best music game ever made.

95. LEGEND OF ZELDA: ORACLE OF AGES
(Game Boy Color ~ 2001 ~ Nintendo ~ Adventure ~ 48)

It's got more puzzles than Seasons, which is why we like it a tad better. Instead of controlling the seasons, you control the flow of time in this grand adventure. When you link it up with Ages, you've got yourself on nice, long quest of fun.

94. WARIOWARE, INC.: MEGA MICROGAMES
(Game Boy Advance ~ 2003 ~ Nintendo ~ Action ~ 59)

The idea of playing dozens of games that literally last only a few seconds may sound a little weird, but soon after you start playing Wario Ware, Inc., you become instantly addicted. This game is perfect for a handheld system. You can get a few games in while waiting for a bus, killing time between classes, or just sitting on the pooper. Good times.

93. GRAN TURISMO
(Playstation ~ 1998 ~ Sony CEA ~ Racing ~ 76)

It was a groundbreaking racing simulation when it first came out, featuring 140 cars from various manufacturers. You'd start out with enough cash to buy a car...Then through racing, you'd earn more money and cars, eventually being a rich fellow who could buy any vehicle he so desired. To this day, many folks still consider the first game in this series to be the best.

92. STREET FIGHTER III: THIRD STRIKE
(Dreamcast ~ 2000 ~ Capcom ~ Fighting ~ 85)

Capcom finally gave us a third installment to the beloved Street Fighter series. Taking a page out of Virtua Fighter's book, Street Fighter III was less about button mashing and more about strategy and taking advantage of your opponent's weak points. It's one of the finest 2D fighters you'll find anywhere.

91. TEKKEN 3
(Playstation ~ 1998 ~ Namco ~ Fighting ~ 74)

Arguably, the best game in the Tekken series, Tekken 3 didn't just offer great fighting action, it also included some fairly fun minigames as well. At its time, there wasn't a better 3D fighter around...Plus, Gon was grand. You know he was.

90. DRAGON WARRIOR III
(NES ~ 1992 ~ Enix ~ RPG ~ 189)

Your father was a legendary hero who was killed by an evil jerk named Baramos...Now it's your turn to finish daddy's quest and kill that dirtbag once and for all. Dragon Warrior III included job classes, time changing from day to night, and an expanded list of spells, weapons, and armor from the prvious entry in the series. It's easily one of the best Dragon Quest/Warrior games released in the U.S. and if you're a fan of the genre, you'll absolutely adore this game.

89. DR. ROBOTNIK'S MEAN BEAN MACHINE
(Genesis ~ 1993 ~ SEGA ~ Puzzle ~ 110)

Known as Puyo Pop in Japan...And Kirby's Avalanche on SNES...Mean Bean Machine is often considered to be one of the greatest puzzle games ever created. Strategically placing the 'beans' to set up an enormous monster combo to destroy your opponent was, and still is, a very pleasing gaming experience.

88. MARIO GOLF
(Game Boy Color ~ 1999 ~ Nintendo ~ Sports ~ 62)

Much like Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color, Mario Golf was even better than its N64 big brother. Mario Golf was so fun and addicting, in fact, that if you were to go potty while you play, you'd be at risk to permanently put your hiney to sleep.

87. ROCK 'N' ROLL RACING
(Super NES ~ 1993 ~ Interplay ~ Racing ~ 86)

This R.C.-Pro-Am-inspired racing game combines racing similar to the Pro-Am series, but adds weapons and some radical rock 'n' roll tunes. It's an amazing game and still extremely fun to play. If you want it portable, get the remake on Game Boy Advance...If you can find it.

86. LUNAR: THE SILVER STAR
(Sega CD ~ 1993 ~ Working Designs ~ RPG ~ 69)

It was the first game in the Lunar series, and probably the best of the bunch. It was one of the first RPGs to have CD-quality sound, video cutscenes, and some voice acting. Originally, it was to only be released in Japan, but Working Designs brought it here to the 'States. For doing so, Working Designs should be given a medal...If they were still around, that is.

85. CONTRA
(NES ~ 1988 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 63)

Teachers can blame this game for more children of the 8-bit era knowing the Konami code than knowing the capitol of their own state. Many have beaten this classic, but only a select few have done it in only three lives. This side-scrolling shooter remains just as intense and difficult as it was when it was first released.

84. VIRTUA FIGHTER 2
(Saturn ~ 1996 ~ SEGA ~ Fighting ~ 99)

The AI was intelligent enough to adapt to your fighting style in this grand game. Constantly throwing punches? The computer would catch on and force you to change your strategy or lose. It's a fighting game that made you have a strategy going in rather than mash buttons. That's why we love it.

83. DRAGON QUEST VIII: JOURNEY OF THE CURSED KING
(Playstation 2 ~ 2005 ~ Square Enix ~ RPG ~ 65)

It was the first Dragon Quest since Square and Enix merged and the first game in the series to be known as Dragon Quest in the 'States. The story was absolutely amazing, the characters were groovy, the graphics were grand, and the gameplay was a throwback to the way things used to be. It was a classic in every sense of the word.

82. SUPER MARIO 64
(Nintendo 64 ~ 1996 ~ Nintendo ~ Platform ~ 34)

A little over ten years ago, this game came out and everyone called it the best 3D game around...To this day, a lot of people still think that this sits atop the mountain as the best 3D game ever created. We don't think it holds that title anymore, but it still comes dang close.

81. PERFECT DARK
(Nintendo 64 ~ 2000 ~ Nintendo ~ Shooter ~ NL)

GoldenEye 007 was a beloved game for the Nintendo 64, so when Perfect Dark was announced as being created by Rare, the folks who made 007, a lot of folks immediately knew that this game was going to be good. Even without the James Bond licensing, Perfect Dark is considered by many to be a spiritual sequel to GoldenEye, and it's definitely just as fun. For fans of shooters, Perfect Dark ranks amongst the all-time best and is a good reason to pull out that Nintendo 64 every now and then for some multiplayer enjoyment with a few friends.

80. PHANTASY STAR
(Master System ~ 1988 ~ SEGA ~ RPG ~ NL)

It was bigger, better, and more beautiful than Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior, and despite hitting North American shores before either of them, the Phantasy Star series never managed to makes waves like Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy did. That doesn't make this game any less great, though. In fact, it may be the first truly great RPG to reach North American shores. This game alone is worth tracking down a Sega Master System for. If you like RPG's, then you will love this 8-bit masterpiece.

79. F-ZERO X
(Nintendo 64 ~ 1998 ~ Nintendo ~ Racing ~ 82)

The original F-Zero was awesome on the Super NES, but F-Zero X ditches the flat-as-paper tracks from the SNES classic and adds more twists and turns than a bad soap opera. Add the insane number of opponents to race against and the ability to turn your vehicle into a weapon by spinning it into a crowd of cars, and you've got yourself one heckuva good time.

78. ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION
(Xbox 360 ~ 2006 ~ Bethesda Softworks ~ Adventure ~ 53)

It's like Grand Theft Auto in a middle-aged world with horses to steal instead of cars and you're equipped with a bow-and-arrow and sword instead of a gun and a bat. The best part of this game is when you've spent about twenty hours playing and doing side missions when you realize that you got so caught up in exploring the world around you that you never actually started the main quest yet. This game can really suck you in.

77. ADVANCE WARS
(Game Boy Advance ~ 2001 ~ Nintendo ~ Strategy ~ 44)

This game earned a spot in the top 100 with just the single-player mode, but it got itself in the top 50 with its wonderful four-player mode which can make time just fly by. It very well could be the best strategy game ever created.

76. NINJA GAIDEN
(Xbox ~ 2004 ~ Tecmo ~ Action ~ 46)

The 2D Ninja Gaidens are some of the most beloved games of the 8-bit era...And when this game brought Ninja Gaiden into 3D, it made sure that it was just as fun and addicting as its older siblings. Tecmo knows it, too...That's why it's been re-released several times over. Some folks say it's too difficult. We say it's just right.

75. SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS
(Playstation 2 ~ 2005 ~ Sony CEA ~ Adventure ~ 43)

This isn't just a game...It's a work of art. This game is proof that the video game medium is a form of art. The game is beautiful in ever sense of the word...And it's got the gameplay to back it up. It's hard to describe how it feels after you've killed a behemoth about 50 times your size...But we'll try; awesome.

74. R4: RIDGE RACER TYPE 4
(Playstation ~ 1999 ~ Namco ~ Racing ~ 96)

By far, the best game in the long-running Ridge Racer series, R4 had a huge amount of vehicles to drive and actually required you to not come in first for a few races in order to unlock them all. It's got beautiful graphics, beautiful music, and beautiful gameplay. It's beautiful times three and probably the best arcade-style racer ever.

73. NINJA GAIDEN II: THE DARK SWORD OF CHAOS
(NES ~ 1990 ~ Tecmo ~ Action ~ 95)

While all the side-scrolling, 8-bit Ninjga Gaiden games were good, Ninja Gaiden II was the best of the bunch. You can slice through enemies, dice through bosses, and feel happy as you experience the grand story told within the game. This classic was ahead of its time.

72. PHANTASY STAR II
(Genesis ~ 1988 ~ SEGA ~ RPG ~ 88)

Who needs Final Fantasy VII when you've got Phantasy Star II? It's got everything you want in a game, an epic story, fantastic gameplay, and great characters. The story included the emotional death of a main party member long before Final Fantasy VII came out. It taught us all to love one another just a little bit more...Maybe not, but it's still a great game.

71. BURNOUT 3: TAKEDOWN
(Playstation 2 ~ 2004 ~ Electronic Arts ~ Racing ~ 54)

In racing games, sometimes it's just fun to crash your car to see what kind of carnage you can create. Unlike most racing games, in Burnout 3, you got rewarded for doing just that. This was a racing masterpiece; it didn't crash and burn.

70. CASTLEVANIA: DRACULA X
(Super NES ~ 1995 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 108)

In this very rare game, it's classic Castlevania gameplay through seven levels. You get to fight the usuals (skeletons, zombies, minotaurs, etc.) as you make your way through the multiple branching paths to the final fight with Dracula. As the Italians say, "It's a-good!"

69. SOUL CALIBUR II
(Gamecube ~ 2003 ~ Namco ~ Fighting ~ 147)

The long-awaited sequel to the Dreamcast masterpiece, Soul Calibur, wasn't quite as magnificent as the original, but it was still better than most fighting games out on the market at the time. We gave the Gamecube version the nod because playing as Link was groovier than playing as Spawn and/or Heihachi.

68. SHINING FORCE III
(Saturn ~ 1998 ~ SEGA ~ RPG ~ NL)

While folks in North America and Europe only got this game, it was actually part of a trilogy in Japan. Each game was the same story, just seen from a different perspective -- kind of like how Suikoden III was made. Despite the inability to play through the game as intended, the version of the game shipped to North America and Europe was a top-notch game that was a very solid addition to the Saturn library and one of the all-time best RPGs ever made.

67. GOD OF WAR II
(Playstation 2 ~ 2007 ~ Sony CEA ~ Action ~ NL)

To the joy of fans of the original God of War, Kratos returned in God of War II for some more manly maiming and destruction. This sequel was every bit as good as the original, with all the giant boss fights and brutalization of mythical creatures that you could ask for. The finale of the game left several gamers drooling for what's to come in the third installment of the series on Playstation 3.

66. CASTLEVANIA: DAWN OF SORROW
(Nintendo DS ~ 2005 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ NL)

Dawn of Sorrow was the first Castlevania game on Nintendo's DS system...And it started off the DS Castlevania series with a bang. Dawn of Sorrow had everything that a Castlevania fan could want, including Symphony of the Night-like play with a few stylus-involved mechanics to make it feel right at home on the unique handheld.

65. PAPER MARIO
(Nintendo 64 ~ 2001 ~ Nintendo ~ RPG ~ 58)

The best way to describe Paper Mario is an RPG with platform elements. You travel the game platform-style, but fight your battles turn-based RPG-style. The combination of those two mechanics alone make it fun. But, when you include the strategy of figuring out what party member to have with you in order to use their powers to unlock hidden items or solve puzzles, you've got a classy game of goodness.

64. METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY
(Playstation 2 ~ 2001 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 50)

Some folks say that this game sucks because Solid Snake isn't the main character. Those people are fools. You may not be controlling Snake, but this game has some of the best gameplay you could ask for. Yeah, the story is a little confusing and Raiden is a whiney nudist, but once you get into this game, you can easily forgive those flaws.

63. METROID FUSION
(Game Boy Advance ~ 2002 ~ Nintendo ~ Action ~ 51)

While Metroid Prime came out and satisfied some gamers' needs for Metroid gameplay, a lot of fans still wanted another 2D Metroid. That's when Fusion came in and made everyone all happy. It was definately worth the wait to play another 2D Metroid when it was this good.

62. SONIC CD
(Sega CD ~ 1992 ~ SEGA ~ Platform ~ 77)

The new Sonic games with their 3-D levels and extra characters still cannot top Sonic CD as the best CD-based Sonic game in the series. Not only does it capture the excellent gameplay of the classic Genesis games, but it introduces a time-travel aspect that effects the game's ending. This is one of Sonic Team's greatest triumphs.

61. DRAGON FORCE
(Saturn ~ 1996 ~ Working Designs ~ Strategy ~ NL)

Dragon Force was translated and brought to North America to Working Designs. We all need to find members of the Working Designs staff who worked on this project and give them a hug. Dragon Force is probably the best real-time strategy game ever released on a home console. The game is an absolute blast to play and one of the games you'll hear mentioned when Saturn fanatics insist that the Saturn was the best system ever made. We don't really agree that the Saturn is the best system ever made, but with great games like Dragon Force on their system, Saturn-lovers have plenty to gloat about.

60. GOLDENEYE 007
(Nintendo 64 ~ 1997 ~ Nintendo ~ Shooter ~ 32)

This game went from sleeper hit to huge success in a short period of time and went on to sell for the rest of the N64's lifespan. The key to success was Rare's brilliant control scheme, which allowed N64 owners to enjoy the closest thing to PC-style control in a first-person shooter.

59. KILLER INSTINCT
(Super NES ~ 1995 ~ Nintendo ~ Fighting ~ 106)

Rare's attempt at a fighting game was created with glorious results. It was also the first fighting game to include the combo system; a system that is used in just about every fighting game these days. It's a grand fighter from a grand developer.

58. HALO 2
(Xbox ~ 2004 ~ Microsoft ~ Shooter ~ 55)

Halo 2 took everything good from the first game and made it better. The single player campaign was better, the multiplayer aspect was redesigned and taken online. No more need for LAN parties and nineteen people squeezed in a single room. It was a quality sequel that lived up to its hype.

57. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2
(Genesis ~ 1992 ~ SEGA ~ Platform ~ 73)

Sonic the Hedgehog's second adventure introduces two-player gameplay and his sidekick, Tails. The game is faster than the original, has slicker graphics, and even included a somewhat 3D bonus level between stages. This game is one of the reasons so many NES owners eventually converted to Genesis.

56. GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY
(Playstation 2 ~ 2002 ~ Rockstar ~ Action ~ 36)

It was the follow-up to the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto 3 and it didn't dissapoint fans of the series. It included new cars, new weapons, new characters, and what may be the best soundtrack you'll ever find in a videogame.

55. SUIKODEN II
(Playstation ~ 1999 ~ Konami ~ RPG ~ 39)

Much like the first Suikoden, this sequel didn't look pretty graphically, but those who looked past the graphics found a very rewarding and fun RPG. Hours can melt away while trying to find the 100+ characters that can join your party. On e-Bay, it's not uncommon to see this game, used, go for over $100. This game is worth every penny.

54. SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV
(Super NES ~ 1991 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 92)

Many people remember Simon and his limp whip in this game. People also remember the ability to attack diagonally, the magnificent soundtrack, and the purdy graphics. It was the first Castlevania game to appear on the SNES and one of the best in the series.

53. DONKEY KONG
(Colecovision ~ 1982 ~ Coleco ~ Platform ~ 163)

It was the game that debuted a certain Italian plumber, but that's not the only thing this gem is remembered for. It's remembered for its great gameplay and for being one of the best games available for its time...Not to mention the game that helped make the Colecovision a big threat to Atari's empire. If you like simple, classic gameplay, you'll love Donkey Kong.

52. BIOSHOCK
(Xbox 360 ~ 2007 ~ 2K Games ~ Shooter ~ NL)

It may have been the best game released in 2007, which is saying quite a bit considering how many great games were released that year. Bioshock has it all: great gameplay, fantastic atmosphere, wonderful story, and awesome characters. Bioshock is the kind of game that folks are hoping for when they anticipate upcoming releases. It's amazing in every sense of the word. Playing it is like the name of the world you traverse in; rapture.

51. CASTLEVANIA III: DRACULA'S CURSE
(NES ~ 1990 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 89)

Castlevania III has some of the best visuals on the NES, but it's the game's excellent gameplay that got it to where it is on this list. Plus, you get to play as multiple characters...including Symphony of the Night's Alucard.

50. BASEBALL STARS
(NES ~ 1989 ~ SNK ~ Sports ~ 90)

Baseball Stars was the first great baseball game, and very well could be the best one ever created. It was ahead of its time, with the ability to create your own players and teams. It was great when it first released and that greatness hasn't faded away.

49. SUPER SMASH BROS.: MELEE
(Gamecube ~ 2001 ~ Nintendo ~ Fighting ~ 35)

This could quite possibly be the ultimate multiplayer party game. Many state that this game is the greatest fighting game of all-time. While we don't necessarily agree with that statement, we do agree that it is one of the best, and one of the most unique. The game is fun, challenging, and addictive. Besides, where else can you beat the tar out of those annoying Pokemon characters?...Well, aside from the original, of course.

48. RATCHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL
(Playstation 2 ~ 2004 ~ Sony CEA ~ Action ~ 38)

Unlike the first two games in the series, Up Your Arsenal included online and offline multiplayer capabilities. Aside from that, Insomniac continued to perfect their unqiue action/platforming title and added 20 new weapons to blow stuff up with.

47. WWF NO MERCY
(Nintendo 64 ~ 2000 ~ THQ ~ Fighting ~ 56)

Widely considered to be THE absolute best wrestling game of all-time, No Mercy still gets played heavily by fans to this day. So much, in fact, that if you search the internet, you'll find "plug-ins" from folks who modified the game to contain wrestlers from the old ECW...or even TNA, complete with the six-sided ring. We're getting close to a decade since No Mercy came out, and we're still waiting for a wrestling game to top it.

46. GEARS OF WAR
(Xbox 360 ~ 2006 ~ Microsoft ~ Action ~ NL)

Gears of War successfully translated some of the hectic shooting action of a first-person shooter into a third-person viewpoint without losing any quality along the way. On top of that, the visuals were absolutely stunning and really showcased what the Xbox 360 was capable of. It's one of Xbox 360's most beloved titles and one of the best action games ever made.

45. STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3
(Playstation ~ 1999 ~ Capcom ~ Fighting ~ 64)

The third and final entry into the Alpha series, Street Fighter Alpha 3 still stands as one of the best fighters around. It has a unique world tour mode, where you "level up" the character of your choosing which can take hours away from you without you even realizing it. Plus, the ability to switch between three different fighting styles for each fighter means that you won't master a character overnight. Add a few new characters, all of your old favorites, and you've got the ultimate Street Fighter game.

44. SUPER MARIO GALAXY
(Wii ~ 2007 ~ Nintendo ~ Platform ~ NL)

Super Mario Galaxy was so critically acclaimed upon its debut that it briefly stole the number one spot on GameRankings.com, briefly making it even more critically acclaimed than Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a game that many feel is the greatest game ever. It eventually lost the top spot back to Ocarina of Time, but that doesn't make this any less of a great game. It's the Mario we all know and love in outer space with new physics and new special abilities. It may be the best 3D Mario ever created.

43. MEGA MAN X
(Super NES ~ 1993 ~ Capcom ~ Platform ~ 78)

It was a new twist on the same classic Mega Man gameplay. New abilities, like the ability to slide down and jump off of walls and a bunch of secrets to find within the levels made this one heckuva grand Mega Man game.

42. RAYMAN 2: THE GREAT ESCAPE
(Dreamcast ~ 2000 ~ Ubisoft ~ Platform ~ 81)

Rayman 2 was first released on Dreamcast...Then pretty much thrust onto every system imaginable. There's a reason that Ubisoft threw Rayman 2 everywhere; the game is near 3D perfection. Rayman 2 is considered by many folks to have even surpassed Super Mario 64 in the 3D platforming genre. But really, aside from that, how can you resist playing a game with a character who has no limbs?

41. HALF-LIFE 2
(Xbox 360 ~ 2007 ~ Electronic Arts ~ Shooter ~ NL)

This first-person gem came out years earlier on the PC, and even the original Xbox, but the Orange Box version released on Xbox 360 and later Playstation 3 brought the best versions to the home console world. Half Life 2 proves that even years after it first came out, it still holds its own as an absolutely great game. The game was so far ahead of its time that it can still give any first-person shooter a run for its money several years after its initial debut.

40. GUNSTAR HEROES
(Genesis ~ 1993 ~ SEGA ~ Action ~ 40)

Widely considered to be the best Genesis game ever released, Gunstar Heroes was Treasure's rookie effort. First glance suggests that it's a Contra rip off, but with it's combinable power-ups, unique levels, and the ability to hurl your partner at enemies in two player mode, Gunstar Heroes is so much more.

39. GOD OF WAR
(Playstation 2 ~ 2005 ~ Sony CEA ~ Action ~ 33)

God of War was a masterpiece when it came out. It had a great story that pushed you to play through 'til the end and when the end came, you wanted more. It was full of action and some light puzzle solving...And it may be one of a handful of games that managed to get nudity in their game with little to no angry press about it. There aren't many action games like this gem out there.

38. DRAGON WARRIOR IV
(NES ~ 1992 ~ Enix ~ RPG ~ 60)

The Dragon Warrior series was never really that popular here in the United States. Perhaps if more folks stateside had played this 8-bit epic, maybe Dragon Warrior would be as popular here in the states as Final Fantasy. Unfortunately, finding out what all the hooplah is about is difficult, Dragon Warrior IV is one of the rarest games around. With a heavy emphasis on story and character development, Dragon Warrior IV was ahead of its time...And well worth the purchase on e-Bay if you have the cash.

37. CONTRA III: THE ALIEN WARS
(Super NES ~ 1992 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 83)

It takes place in the year 2636...And you blow up aliens and stuff. There's really not much else to say. It's the best example of great Conta gameplay you could ask for. It's frantic, it's fun, it's fabulous.

36. SHINING FORCE II
(Genesis ~ 1994 ~ SEGA ~ Strategy ~ 42)

Shining Force II is one of the greatest tactical RPG's of all time. There were so many characters and weapons to equip them with; at the time it was almost unheard of. You could play as dragons, phoenixes, and centaurs, and evolve them as well. Even today, the battles in this game are still challenging and fun.

35. NHLPA HOCKEY '93
(Genesis ~ 1992 ~ Electronic Arts ~ Sports ~ 109)

It's probably the greatest hockey game ever created. It's got more than 500 professional hockey players, intelligent AI, and the chance to get injured during the course of the season. It was a game way ahead of its time...And it's still fun to play today.

34. MILITARY MADNESS
(TurboGrafx-16 ~ 1989 ~ Hudson Soft ~ Strategy ~ 61)

It's one of the best strategy games you can find anywhere and was probably the inspiration of greats like Advance Wars. It was strategy warfare on the moon...I guess that makes this game out of this world. Indeed.

33. SNATCHER
(Sega CD ~ 1994 ~ Konami ~ Adventure ~ 41)

If there was ever a reason to buy a Sega CD system, this was it. This adventure game had an amazing story filled with blood, purdy ladies, interesting environments, fierce enemies, and a little android sidekick named "Metal Gear".

32. MIKE TYSON'S PUNCH-OUT!!
(NES ~ 1987 ~ Nintendo ~ Fighting ~ 23)

Before Mike Tyson was famous for biting some dude's ear off, he was famous for being the near-impossible boss at the end of this fantastic game. The controls are simple and it's only got a limited arsenal of offensive and defensive moves, but it's still the best boxing game that you could ever ask to play. This game is proof that sometime simple is better.

31. MS. PAC-MAN
(Atari 2600 ~ 1982 ~ Atari ~ Action ~ 10)

Ms. Pac-Man was, and still is, an absolute delight to play. It took everything fun from Pac-Man and stepped it up a notch with varied level design and cute little cutscenes showing you the romance between Pac-Man and the missus unfold. This game almost seems to be like wine; it just gets finer with age.

30. SHENMUE
(Dreamcast ~ 2000 ~ SEGA ~ Adventure ~ 21)

There doesn't seem to be much in the middle with this game; either you love it or you hate it. We happen to love it. Shenmue is basically a simulation of everyday life with a neat-o storyline thrown in. Exploring around town is enjoyable and it's amazing how well Sega put together the beautiful world in the game.

29. TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 2
(Playstation ~ 2000 ~ Activision ~ Sports ~ 27)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 was made so well that it actually forced a few gaming magazines that rarely or never handed out perfect 10's give one to this gem. It improved on everything from the first game and took it to the next level. It was made so well, in fact, that Activision has had trouble trying to recreate its greatness in later games in the series.

28. METAL GEAR SOLID
(Game Boy Color ~ 2000 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 28)

Nobody knows how Konami did it, but they managed to squeeze an amazing adventure packed with the great story and characters you expect from a Metal Gear Solid game all in a little handheld cartridge. What was even more amazing was the extras they threw in with it, like over 150 VR Missions and a 2-player link mode. Can't get much better than this on a handheld.

27. CHRONO CROSS
(Playstation ~ 2000 ~ Squaresoft ~ RPG ~ 25)

Chrono Cross nailed everything that made an RPG great; a memorable story, an endearing cast of characters, traditional turn-based gameplay with some innovation thrown in, and top-notch soundtrack and visuals. While a lot hardcore fans of Chrono Trigger insist this game is terrible, we disagree. It's just different...And that's what makes it great.

26. LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST
(Super NES ~ 1992 ~ Nintendo ~ Adventure ~ 6)

Some insist that this is still the greatest Zelda game ever created. It very well could be. It's got two overworlds to explore, incredible gameplay, and some fantastic dungeons to explore...It's got it all. Even the soundtrack is full of greatness. It very well could be Link's finest hour in video games.

25. GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS
(Playstation 2 ~ 2004 ~ Rockstar ~ Action ~ 16)

San Andreas took Grand Theft Auto to the next level by throwing players not just into a city, but into an entire State. It also introduced players to several new items such as parachutes and jet packs and, of course, also included a fantastic story with fun missions that included a few suprise appearances from past characters in the series.

24. FINAL FANTASY IX
(Playstation ~ 2000 ~ Squaresoft ~ RPG ~ 26)

Unlike Final Fantasies VII and VIII, Final Fantasy IX took gamers away from the sci-fi-like worlds from the previous two games and back to the fantasy-type world that they had been waiting for. For Final Fantasy fans that like their FF games packed with stuff like airships, moogles, and black mages, look no further than this glorious gem.

23. SUPER METROID
(Super NES ~ 1994 ~ Nintendo ~ Action ~ 4)

Super Metroid inspired Symphony of the Night's layout, but had its own style that could never be duplicated. It had bosses that were almost too pretty to pummel, a beautiful soundtrack, and game design that can't be beat...If you look up the word "classic" in a dictionary, you'll see a screenshot of this gem staring back at you.

22. SOUL CALIBUR
(Dreamcast ~ 1999 ~ Namco ~ Fighting ~ 5)

To this day, you'll still be hard pressed to find a fighting game that blends graphics and gameplay as well as Soul Calibur did. But it didn't stop there. Soul Calibur added eight-way running, tech rolls, air control, and guard impact, re-writing how 3D fighting games were played. The Mission Mode, along with the other extras, kept you playing even long after you've worn out the Arcade mode. It's worth picking up a Dreamcast just for this game alone.

21. GRAND THEFT AUTO III
(Playstation 2 ~ 2001 ~ Rockstar ~ Action ~ 17)

The first two Grand Theft Auto games were average at best. They were fun, but the fun didn't last. Then the series jumped into 3D and it redefined video games as we knew 'em. Behind all the bad press this game got was a fantastic story, fun missions, and most importantly, the freedom to roam around the city and do whatever you want whenever you want. It's that freedom that got gamers hooked.

20. METROID PRIME
(Gamecube ~ 2002 ~ Nintendo ~ Shooter ~ 15)

A lot of gamers doubted that the beloved Metroid series could successfully be transformed into a first-person shooter. They had no reason to doubt. When this game came out, it was Metroid through-and-through. It helped Metroid successfully make the leap from 2D to 3D and it did it in style.

19. VIRTUA FIGHTER IV: EVOLUTION
(Playstation 2 ~ 2003 ~ SEGA ~ Fighting ~ 24)

The original Virtua Fighter 4 came out a year before and was fantastic in its own right...Then Evolution came out and literally evolved the expectations for what fighting games should be. The new Quest mode kept fighting fans busy for hours upon hours and proved that fighting games could be more than just an arcade mode and a versus mode.

18. SKIES OF ARCADIA
(Dreamcast ~ 2000 ~ SEGA ~ RPG ~ 20)

Barely hyped, Skies of Arcadia came out of nowhere and stole the Dreamcast RPG spotlight away from Grandia II. This game has it all: a massive quest, a great sense of exploration, nifty ship battles, and loads of personality to spare. Those of you who missed it on the Dreamcast owe it to yourself to nab the remake on the Gamecube.

17. SUPER MARIO BROS. 3
(NES ~ 1990 ~ Nintendo ~ Platform ~ 13)

When gamers first saw Mario grab that leaf and suddenly sprout a raccoon tail, which allowed Mario to fly...They knew the series had just gotten quite a bit more interesting. This game also made folks drop to their knees and thank Bowser for stealing the Princess again...'Cause saving her is a heckuva lot of fun.

16. CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT
(Playstation ~ 1997 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 9)

It wasn't like any Castlevania before it, as Symphony of the Night had players explore Dracula's castle Super Metroid-style as Alucard, the son of Dracula and some human bimbo. It is one of the best games that you'll find anywhere, but sadly it never really reached a wide audience due to it being a 2D game released at a time where everyone wanted 3D. It's their loss, though. When you think of the word classic, this is easily one of the first games that will come to mind.

15. METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SUBSISTENCE
(Playstation 2 ~ 2006 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 11)

Snake Eater included the stealth gameplay we all know and love in a brand-new environment - the wilderness. Subsistence, what can be considered the 'Greatest Hits' version of Snake Eater improves on everything from the original to make the game that much better. It's got a cast of memorable characters, an equally memorable story, and the return of the beloved cardboard box.

14. STREET FIGHTER II: TURBO
(Super NES ~ 1993 ~ Capcom ~ Fighting ~ 29)

When Street Fighter II burst onto the scene, there was no way around it; you played and you got hooked. The controls were simple enough to allow anyone to play, yet complex enough to take a while to really master a character's moves. We chose the Turbo edition over the original due to the four bosses being playable in Turbo.

13. FINAL FANTASY VII
(Playstation ~ 1997 ~ Sony CEA ~ RPG ~ 12)

It may be the most beloved Final Fantasy game ever made, and with good reason. It's got one of the best stories in video game history backed up with great gameplay, CG cinematics that were amazing for its time with equally amazing prerendered backgrounds. Final Fantasy VII upped the bar on what folks expected from an RPG.

12. SUPER MARIO BROS.
(NES ~ 1985 ~ Nintendo ~ Platform ~ 22)

This is the game that saved videogames. The home gaming market was almost dead, then came along this Italian plumber and his amazing side-scrolling platforming adventure...And suddenly, everyone NEEDED a video game system in their homes. To this day, the levels are still brilliant and the gameplay still fun. This is one classic that will never get old.

11. FINAL FANTASY III
(Super NES ~ 1994 ~ Squaresoft ~ RPG ~ 8)

Released as Final Fantasy VI in Japan, this game was the last 2D Final Fantasy and also happened to be the absolute best game in the series. There are so many memorable moments; the opera house performance, Kefka poisoning the water of Doma Castle, the backstory of Gau, the complete destruction of the world halfway through the game, and the excellent twenty-plus-minute ending. Final Fantasy III proves that pixelated, super deformed little characters can be just as cinematic as a CG video if done right.

10. TETRIS
(NES ~ 1989 ~ Tengen ~ Puzzle ~ 30)

While Tetris on the Game Boy may have been a better respresentative for this near perfect puzzle game, we chose Tengen's NES version simply because Tengen's version of Tetris was superior to Nintendo's on so many levels. It allowed two player mode and in single player mode, it kept track of your stats as you dropped the blocks. It's the ultimate puzzle game.

9. LEGEND OF ZELDA
(NES ~ 1987 ~ Nintendo ~ Adventure ~ 19)

The original Zelda is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It's a masterpiece of game design as well as the first game of its kind. Even if you sit down and play it today, you could be glued to your chair for weeks playing this game. And the best part? When you beat the game, you unlock a second quest so the fun doesn't stop.

8. PANZER DRAGOON SAGA
(Saturn ~ 1998 ~ SEGA ~ RPG ~ 14)

Most people think that this game is the greatest Saturn game ever. Whether or not you agree with that statement, anyone who's played the game knows that it's one of the most unique and engaging RPGs to hit any console. It brought the Saturn Panzer Dragoon trilogy to a dramatic, climatic end. It's absolutely brilliant.

7. GALAGA
(Commodore 64 ~ 1982 ~ H. Wening ~ Action ~ 31)

Should you blow away the blue ships for big points or let them capture your ship for double the fire power? That was the big question in gamers minds when this gem came out. Galaga is an example of '80s game design at it's finest.

6. SUPER MARIO WORLD
(Super NES ~ 1991 ~ Nintendo ~ Platform ~ 18)

Some folks call it the biggest and best 2D Mario of 'em all and it kicked off the Super NES era with a bang. It includes over 70 inventive and innovative stages, the legendary Mario gameplay we all know and love, and the debut of the loveable Yoshi as a sidekick. It's hard to hate this great game.

5. RESIDENT EVIL 4
(Gamecube ~ 2005 ~ Capcom ~ Action ~ 3)

Resident Evil 4 threw away everything we expected from a Resident Evil game like zombies and iffy controls, and replaced them with demented townsfolk and an excellent control scheme. Unlike with zombies, where you could basically just leave the room and be fine, the enemies in this game were smart. If you barricaded the door, they'd try to come in the window. If you try to shoot 'em, they'll try to get out of your line of fire. It's the fact that you were actually dealing with intelligent creatures instead of stupid zombies that added to the excitement of this game. It's definately a classic and dang near perfection.

4. LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS
(Wii ~ 2006 ~ Nintendo ~ Adventure ~ NL)

The Nintendo Wii may have been packed with Wii Sports, but the launch game that turned most heads was Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With a perfect blend of normal Zelda gameplay and just enough motion control gimmickery to let you see what the system can do, but not enough to make it annoying, Twilight Princess brought the Zelda series into the next generation of consoles wonderfully with several new characters, a new overall look, and the ability to change into and out of a wolf's form. It's one of the best adventures we've got to join Link on to date.

3. METAL GEAR SOLID
(Playstation ~ 1998 ~ Konami ~ Action ~ 7)

Sure, Tenchu may have beaten Metal Gear Solid to the market as the first stealth game on the Playstation One, but Metal Gear Solid blew any competition away with amazing graphics, amazing voice-acting, and an amazing story. Combine that with the great gameplay and lots of little secrets to discover (like climbing in the back of a truck and hiding in a box will "ship" you to a new location) along with a very memorable cast of characters, and you've got an absolute classic. This game is the best in the Metal Gear Solid series and one of the very best games ever created.

2. LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME
(Nintendo 64 ~ 1998 ~ Nintendo ~ Adventure ~ 1)

A lot of folks consider this masterpiece to be the greatest game ever created...And last year, our list said the same thing. The "Z-targeting" feature made fighting a breeze, which was helpful when you were thrust into a boss fight, of which this game has some of the best battles ever. Include a massive overworld, brilliantly designed dungeons, and the neat aspect of traveling through time to switch between young and old Link, and you don't just have a great game...You've got one of the absolute best ever made.

1. CHRONO TRIGGER
(Super NES ~ 1995 ~ Squaresoft ~ RPG ~ 2)

With Chrono Trigger, Squaresoft combined Final Fantasy with Secret of Mana to create a game that many insist as being the best game they've ever played. It's got a quest that sends you through various points in time, a unique battle system, and an excellent musical score all rolled up into one fantastic RPG. Chrono Trigger may be the total package in video games...And it may be the greatest game ever.

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