Upon Patrick's suggestion, he and I are doing a list of our top fifty games that we've ever played. Each week, we'll unveil a new game, complete with reviews, screenshots, and possibly video footage. This'll help you, our readers, understand what kind of games we like, so you can decide if you want to trust our review opinions or not.

Now, just to let it be known, this list is NOT a list of the best games I've ever played...It's a list of my FAVORITE games that I've played. Some of them are widely considered to be great, while others, like the game I've got at number fifty, aren't really considered by the majority of gamers to be all that good. Not every game on this list is going to get an excellent score by me in a review, but rest assured, there will be no 'Action 52-like' games found in here...But not every one of 'em is a winner, either. Also, I limited it to one game from a series. I only chose one game in the Final Fantasy series, one game in the Metal Gear series, one game in the Mario series, Metroid, Shin Megami Tensei, Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest/Warrior etc.

Anyway, that's it. Enough babble from me. On with the list!
 
WHAT'S IT ABOUT:
     Rule of Rose is a survival horror adventure that was published by Atlus here in North America. The game takes place in 1930 England and revolves around a nineteen-year-old girl named Jennifer, who becomes trapped on a large blimp where a group of young girls have formed a class hierarchy known as the Red Crayon Aristocrats. As she attempts to move up in the hierarchy, she meets a canine companion that helps her on her journey through the very deranged story. The game is actually banned for sale in a few countries in Europe.

WHY APE LIKES IT:
     Rule of Rose starts off my list of my Top 50 games...But not because of its gameplay. Quite frankly, the gameplay in Rule of Rose is nothing special due to the absolutely terrible combat system. However, the story is what makes me place this game on this list. The story of Rule of Rose is so facinatingly morbid that I'd gladly struggle with the combat again today just to watch it all over again. Yeah, the game could've been made a lot better and I'll never call it a 'great' game, but it remains one of my favorites nonetheless.

APE'S FAVORITE MOMENT:
     When you finally discover the identity of the little boy that led you into this nightmare...

FOR MORE INFO, SCREENSHOTS, AND APE'S REVIEW, CLICK HERE!


 
 
WHAT'S IT ABOUT:
     Take the extremely difficult platforming of the original, toss on an impressive coat of paint with great-looking graphics, add a few new power-ups, include the return of the boxer shorts, and you've pretty much got Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts. It's a difficult game, but that makes it all the more satisfying when you finally beat it.

WHY APE LIKES IT:
     Satisfaction. The first time I played Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts I didn't even make it too far into the first level before it was game over...But gradually I got better at it and I eventually managed to beat the game. The satisfaction that came with beating it is up there as one of my proudest gaming moments...Even if you do basically have to beat the entire game twice and the final level three times in order to see the ending.

APE'S FAVORITE MOMENT:
     When after all of the false endings, you overcome all the obstacles the game tosses in front of you and finally get to see the screen that states 'The End.'

FOR MORE INFO, SCREENSHOTS, AND APE'S REVIEW, CLICK HERE!


 
 
WHAT'S IT ABOUT:
     You take the role of a man who is the sole survivor of a freak plane crash in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. By chance, the plane lands near a tower that sits mysteriously in the middle of the sea. Upon entering the tower, you find an elevator-like device that takes you beneath the sea into what initially looks like a beautiful undersea paradise...Until you actually enter the city.

WHY APE LIKES IT:
     The game is a modern masterpiece of gaming. The story is magnificent and original, pretty much every character (including the common splicer) has loads of personality, the game looks and plays beautifully, and the addition of tonics and some clever ways to make use of them makes this more than just a basic first-person shooter. This is also one of the only games of this console generation that I had so much fun playing that immediately after I beat it, I started playing it again.

APE'S FAVORITE MOMENT:
     After taking your second photo for Sander Cohen's masterpiece, Sander throws a tantrum and sends a wave of splicers your way, which you must murder...All while beautiful ballet music plays through the speakers.

FOR MORE INFO, SCREENSHOTS, AND APE'S REVIEW, CLICK HERE!


 
 
WHAT'S IT ABOUT:
     Run-and-gun your way through multiple colorful levels, each one unique from the others, while you try to recover some stolen gems from the evil jerk that stole 'em. Along the way, fight bosses that are big, small, and just plain bizarre (see Ape's favorite moment for an example of bizarre). Oh, and there's explosions....Lots and lots of explosions.

WHY APE LIKES IT:
     It very well may be the best game ever released for the Sega Genesis system. It's so beloved that it's been re-released on all three current-gen consoles (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii) as a downloadable game...And it's just as fun to play today as it was nearly twenty years ago when it first released. The variety in levels, the neat boss fights, and the ability to combine weapons to create more powerful firepower help make this not just one of the best games on the Genesis, but one of the best games of all-time for any system.

APE'S FAVORITE MOMENT:
     Melon Bread. The fight itself isn't anything special...But you fight a boss named Melon Bread. Seeing that goofy-looking boss is always a treat.

FOR MORE INFO, SCREENSHOTS, AND APE'S REVIEW, CLICK HERE!