Top 50 Video Games of All-Time...
20. Resident Evil
Platform: PS1
Year Released: 1996
Publisher: Capcom
Est. Hours Played: 30-40
Why It Made The List: It's hard to imagine a world with no Resident Evil. For one, this list would be 4 games shorter. Just hearing the names Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, and I can immediately hear the sounds of footsteps in empty hallways. Resident Evil brought a new method of game-play: rationing. Everyone can remember their first encounter with the first zombie in RE1. If you were like me, you wasted an entire clip as you were scared shitless, only to be even more terrified when you realized you were out of bullets and had to drop that bastard with your knife. Learning to horde ammo and herbs was and is half the fun of all Resident Evil titles. Oh, and Fuck Dogs.
Year Released: 1996
Publisher: Capcom
Est. Hours Played: 30-40
Why It Made The List: It's hard to imagine a world with no Resident Evil. For one, this list would be 4 games shorter. Just hearing the names Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, and I can immediately hear the sounds of footsteps in empty hallways. Resident Evil brought a new method of game-play: rationing. Everyone can remember their first encounter with the first zombie in RE1. If you were like me, you wasted an entire clip as you were scared shitless, only to be even more terrified when you realized you were out of bullets and had to drop that bastard with your knife. Learning to horde ammo and herbs was and is half the fun of all Resident Evil titles. Oh, and Fuck Dogs.
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Platform: PS3
Year Released: 2009
Publisher: Activision
Est. Hours Played: 30 and growing
Why It Made The List: While it's only been out a month (Ed. Note, List made in December '09), COD:MW2 has quickly shown why it's the fastest selling game in history. While I've already discussed the original Modern Warfare, MW2 ups the ante by keeping everything that was great about the first game, and adding tons of extras. Thermal scopes, custom killstreak bonuses, Predator drones, Spec Ops, and new MP modes. All in addition to a still-strong single player story line. And just so I have an excuse to show it: knife throws.
Year Released: 2009
Publisher: Activision
Est. Hours Played: 30 and growing
Why It Made The List: While it's only been out a month (Ed. Note, List made in December '09), COD:MW2 has quickly shown why it's the fastest selling game in history. While I've already discussed the original Modern Warfare, MW2 ups the ante by keeping everything that was great about the first game, and adding tons of extras. Thermal scopes, custom killstreak bonuses, Predator drones, Spec Ops, and new MP modes. All in addition to a still-strong single player story line. And just so I have an excuse to show it: knife throws.
18. Donkey Kong Country
Platform: SNES
Year Released: 1994
Publisher: Nintendo
Est. Hours Played: 40-50
Why It Made The List: A fantastic side-scrolling adventure game, DKC allowed you to play as either Donkey or Diddy Kong as you battled your way through crocodiles, armadillos, and random forest baddies. What made this game special were the hidden bonuses. Finding the letters K-O-N-G or special animal tokens would unlock bonus levels or give you extra lives. Also having animal buddies like Rambi the Rhino, Enguarde the Swordfish, and others added a fun amount of variety to the gameplay.
Year Released: 1994
Publisher: Nintendo
Est. Hours Played: 40-50
Why It Made The List: A fantastic side-scrolling adventure game, DKC allowed you to play as either Donkey or Diddy Kong as you battled your way through crocodiles, armadillos, and random forest baddies. What made this game special were the hidden bonuses. Finding the letters K-O-N-G or special animal tokens would unlock bonus levels or give you extra lives. Also having animal buddies like Rambi the Rhino, Enguarde the Swordfish, and others added a fun amount of variety to the gameplay.
17. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Platform: PS3
Year Released: 2007
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 60-70
Why It Made The List: Oh look, another game I finished before trophy support, only to go back and play through another two times. Wait, did that sound like me complaining? Because I wasn't. I was more than happy to play through again. It took me a while to get used to the combat structure of this game. I didn't like being able to shoot guys in tank tops 3 times in the chest and not kill them, but that was quickly overshadowed by the gorgeous environments and movie-like story. People have been talking about making an Uncharted movie for a long time, but the entertainment I got out of playing the game is far more than from any movie Hollywood could make.
Year Released: 2007
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 60-70
Why It Made The List: Oh look, another game I finished before trophy support, only to go back and play through another two times. Wait, did that sound like me complaining? Because I wasn't. I was more than happy to play through again. It took me a while to get used to the combat structure of this game. I didn't like being able to shoot guys in tank tops 3 times in the chest and not kill them, but that was quickly overshadowed by the gorgeous environments and movie-like story. People have been talking about making an Uncharted movie for a long time, but the entertainment I got out of playing the game is far more than from any movie Hollywood could make.
16. MLB 09: The Show
Platform: PS3
Year Released: 2008
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 60-75
Why It Made The List: It's fair to say that by the time April rolls around, MLB 10:The Show will probably replace this on the list (Ed. Note: And it will!). Until then though... Easily the most realistic baseball game ever created. Line drives react as line drives should. You're not hitting the ball in a pre-set 10 different spots on the field, each at-bat is different. Glove work is silky smooth. Everything about the game play is perfect. Then you get into the actual game modes and there's even more detail. The Franchise mode allows you to do everything from re-sod the field to trade for a new prospect to set prices on a kids zone in your stadium. The "Road to the Show" feature could potentially give you 100 hours of entertainment on it's own. All of the gripes I had with MLB 08 were remedied with 09.
Year Released: 2008
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 60-75
Why It Made The List: It's fair to say that by the time April rolls around, MLB 10:The Show will probably replace this on the list (Ed. Note: And it will!). Until then though... Easily the most realistic baseball game ever created. Line drives react as line drives should. You're not hitting the ball in a pre-set 10 different spots on the field, each at-bat is different. Glove work is silky smooth. Everything about the game play is perfect. Then you get into the actual game modes and there's even more detail. The Franchise mode allows you to do everything from re-sod the field to trade for a new prospect to set prices on a kids zone in your stadium. The "Road to the Show" feature could potentially give you 100 hours of entertainment on it's own. All of the gripes I had with MLB 08 were remedied with 09.
15. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
Platform: PS2
Year Released: 2001
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 75-100
Why It Made The List: I was in love with the first two installments of the Gran Turismo franchise, but 3 set it apart with the new PS2 graphics and F1 cars. The new graphics cut the number of cars down substantially, but we'll get to adding cars later...
Year Released: 2001
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 75-100
Why It Made The List: I was in love with the first two installments of the Gran Turismo franchise, but 3 set it apart with the new PS2 graphics and F1 cars. The new graphics cut the number of cars down substantially, but we'll get to adding cars later...
14. Sim City 2000
Platform: PC
Year Released: 1993
Publisher: Maxis
Est. Hours Played: 50-60
Why It Made The List: One of the first games that honestly made me think strategically. Creating a custom city from the ground up, while maintaining finances and population control was amazingly addictive. Trying to reach the "exodus" was fun, but what drove me and my friends was seeing just how populated we could get our cities. Despite the countless sequels and knock-offs, 2000 remains one of the purest forms of sim-games.
Year Released: 1993
Publisher: Maxis
Est. Hours Played: 50-60
Why It Made The List: One of the first games that honestly made me think strategically. Creating a custom city from the ground up, while maintaining finances and population control was amazingly addictive. Trying to reach the "exodus" was fun, but what drove me and my friends was seeing just how populated we could get our cities. Despite the countless sequels and knock-offs, 2000 remains one of the purest forms of sim-games.
13. NHLPA '93
Platform: SNES
Year Released: 1992
Publisher: EA Sports
Est. Hours Played: 50-75
Why It Made The List: I had a small notepad with every team in NHLPA 93 on it, along with the complete rosters for every team. I also had a pad of paper with a fake, generated schedule that I made on my own and played a 40 game season for every team. My friend and I played every game on that schedule, and recorded all the goals, assists, and final scores of every game we played. To say it was epic (especially for 9-11 year olds) would be an understatement. The team of choice for me was easily the Penguins, but anytime you needed a guarantee goal, your best bet was with Buffalo and the mighty Alexander Mogilny. His breakaway speed and puck control was unparalleled. Add in fighting, shattering glass, and the amazingly comical blood after serious hits, and NHLPA is a game of legend.
Year Released: 1992
Publisher: EA Sports
Est. Hours Played: 50-75
Why It Made The List: I had a small notepad with every team in NHLPA 93 on it, along with the complete rosters for every team. I also had a pad of paper with a fake, generated schedule that I made on my own and played a 40 game season for every team. My friend and I played every game on that schedule, and recorded all the goals, assists, and final scores of every game we played. To say it was epic (especially for 9-11 year olds) would be an understatement. The team of choice for me was easily the Penguins, but anytime you needed a guarantee goal, your best bet was with Buffalo and the mighty Alexander Mogilny. His breakaway speed and puck control was unparalleled. Add in fighting, shattering glass, and the amazingly comical blood after serious hits, and NHLPA is a game of legend.
12. Guitar Hero II
Platform: PS2
Year Released: 2006
Publisher: Activision
Est. Hours Played: 35-50
Why It Made The List: I never dreamed I would enjoy holding a small plastic controller shaped like a guitar. In fact, when I first heard about Guitar Hero, I thought it was pretty gay. Then I actually saw the soundtracks and realized how many of those songs I loved. Before I knew it, I had ordered it and it arrived on my doorstep just a couple months before I got my first PS3. It was so amazing, I continued to keep my PS2 plugged in and actually played it more than my fancy new PS3 for the longest time as I continued to shred. There are definitely days that I regret selling it, but I was so certain that GH1 and GH2 would eventually be re-released on PS3 that I sold my PS2 and all GH associated peripherals. Unfortunately, all I got was a shitty Smash Hits game that didn't even have a majority of the songs I loved. But of course that was released by Activision, where as Harmonix (the software developers) went on to form another small little franchise...
Year Released: 2006
Publisher: Activision
Est. Hours Played: 35-50
Why It Made The List: I never dreamed I would enjoy holding a small plastic controller shaped like a guitar. In fact, when I first heard about Guitar Hero, I thought it was pretty gay. Then I actually saw the soundtracks and realized how many of those songs I loved. Before I knew it, I had ordered it and it arrived on my doorstep just a couple months before I got my first PS3. It was so amazing, I continued to keep my PS2 plugged in and actually played it more than my fancy new PS3 for the longest time as I continued to shred. There are definitely days that I regret selling it, but I was so certain that GH1 and GH2 would eventually be re-released on PS3 that I sold my PS2 and all GH associated peripherals. Unfortunately, all I got was a shitty Smash Hits game that didn't even have a majority of the songs I loved. But of course that was released by Activision, where as Harmonix (the software developers) went on to form another small little franchise...
11. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Platform: PS3
Year Released: 2009
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 20 and growing
Why It Made The List: Easily the most beautiful game I have ever played. It feels more like a movie than a video game. By the time I'm done, I will have played through it at least 3 times. I thought it would be difficult for me to put a game that has only been out less than 2 months at number 11 of all-time, but it really wasn't that hard to do.
Year Released: 2009
Publisher: SCE
Est. Hours Played: 20 and growing
Why It Made The List: Easily the most beautiful game I have ever played. It feels more like a movie than a video game. By the time I'm done, I will have played through it at least 3 times. I thought it would be difficult for me to put a game that has only been out less than 2 months at number 11 of all-time, but it really wasn't that hard to do.