Jason's Top 20 Greatest Video Games of All Time

[Jason]

The list originated as a top ten. I began writing down all my favorites, and the list ended with 19. I thought hard and chose some more favorites. A solid top 20, with two honorable mentions. Though, by the time I'm finished ranking them, it may only be accurate for the time being. I should be finished compiling the list before tomorrow evening.

I'm in the middle of playing Majora's Mask, for the first time. I believe I'm about halfway through the game. It won't be making my top list since I haven't truly beaten it. But maybe when I do, and it withstands the test of time, it will make my top list.

The two honorable mentions. WWF: No Mercy and Scooby Doo: Classic Creep Capers.









#20





Bubble Bobble





The list kicks off with a childhood favorite, Bubble Bobble. I've been playing Nintendo for as long as I can remember. This one gets a hold of you. Its longevity is one of the best things about the game. There are, if I'm not mistaken, 100 levels in this game. You must defeat enemies by trapping them inside your bubbles and popping them. Each level is unique and grows more and more challenging as the game progresses.
















#19





Burnout 2: Point of Impact





when I was around 15 or 16 and GameCube was the hottest Nintendo system on the market, my friend and I would often walk down to Hollywood video and rent this game for 8 days and play it non-stop. The best thing about this game is multiplayer. You think single-player racing is fun? Wait until you unlock the best cars and play multiplayer mode. Good times will be had by all. The graphics are outstanding, even by today's standards, and to this day, it still has the most realistic crashes I've ever seen in a racing game. I finally bought it in 2010 after having not played it for about 4 or 5 years. Great memories. When you're done playing the game, be sure to take extra caution if you get on the road for real. I've caught myself almost going for near misses.
















#18





The World Is Not Enough





This one might be the most underrated game on my list. It was criticized for being a disappointment. The multiplayer certainly isn't very enticing, but the story mode makes up for its lack of multiplayer integrity completely. Each level is quite challenging, and upon completion, that feeling of success makes all those frustrating deaths worth every one. It's a great game to learn as you go. As the game progresses, each new level requires you to master different tasks and challenges. It's certainly no easy game, by any stretch of the imagination.
















#17





Mario Kart: Double Dash!!





Mario Kart: Double Dash!! was a huge step up from its predecessor, Mario Kart 64. While Mario Kart 64 is an excellent game in its own way and paved the way for the Mario Kart series success, Double Dash entered the GameCube world with a bang. This one is much more demanding of skill and much more challenging than the first. Instead of one character driving, you have two characters driving. One riding in the back, collecting items to throw at opponents. You can switch places with them at any point during gameplay, which can be a very strategic move, depending on who your characters are. There are more levels, more characters, bigger stages and tougher obstacles. You might want to start out with Mario Kart 64 before jumping right into Double Dash.
















#16





Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain





Anybody remember the Intellivision? Heh, you thought Nintendo was old school, try playing the Intellivision. The controller is probably the most bizarre at-home video game controller ever. Yes, even more bizarre than the Wii. It looks absolutely nothing like a controller. It looks more like a touchtone telephone. You use numbers to navigate and shoot instead of joysticks, D-Pads and buttons.

But enough about the system, let's talk about the greatest game it ever produced. You represent a group of three hunters (basically 3 lives), traveling through mountain caves and woods, on the hunt for two pieces of a broken crown, trying to restore it. Along the way, you collect arrows for your bow and run into odd creatures. There's no telling what's around the corner. The main enemies are demons, snakes and of course, dragons. The only way to know if you're close by, is when you see the footprint of the demon, hear the hiss of the snake and the purr of the slumbering dragon. When traveling, most of the map is in darkness. The ground you've covered remains lit, but grounds you haven't covered remain to be seen. Things will often jump out at you, and you'll have to kill them with your bow and arrow. I can't tell you how many times, or how high, I've jumped as a kid when a dragon comes out of the dark, full speed, roaring at me. This game is gripping, intense, and one of the greatest games I've ever had the pleasure of playing.


















#15





Mike Tyson's Punch Out





Who was around when Mike Tyson was the most intimidating sports figure the world had ever seen? The man was thought to be the future greatest of all time, and some to this day think he's right up there. With Punch Out, you're given the opportunity to beat him. With a Rocky-esque character (Little Mac), you begin your journey at the bottom and work your way to the top of the boxing world. The more opponents you defeat, the harder they become. From Glass Joe, the human punching bag, to Bald Bull, the human... bull, the game had, not only a challenging list of fighters, but each one of them had a unique fighting style you had to overcome. The game had no real longevity. Hell, I've beaten it in less than 30 minutes, I'm sure. But it's so enthralling. And addicting. I can't tell you how many times I've beat the game, just to reset it and start from Glass Joe again. It was an instant classic, and has remained that way for 25 years and counting.

Oh, and Mario is the referee!


















#14





Battletoads





More from Nintendo. It's not often you find a game today whose multiplayer mode is simply another person embarking on the same journey through the game. Difficult journeys await from start to finish in this Nintendo classic. The mission is to rescue Princess Angelica and fellow battletoad, Pimple, from the evil Dark Queen. Each challenge is difficult and requires a consummate set of skill to pass through tough obstacles administered by the Dark Queen. Rat Race was my favorite level as a kid. You have to race a rat, on 3 separate occasions. Each race, the rat is faster. You have to race him through a maze-like lair and get to the bottom before he does. That level would get my heart pounding, almost as if I had been the one doing the running. It's truly one of Nintendo's masterpieces. And wait until you get a load of the pause music. I may have spent more time fist pumping to the pause music than playing the actual game.
















#13





Simpsons Hit & Run





What a pleasant surprise this game was. I thought Simpsons Road Rage was a fun game. The story mode here crushes Road Rage like road kill. The longevity and unique style of play are just two of many positive attributes to this game. I had never seen anything like this game when it came out. And still haven't. If you're a fan of the Simpsons, and enjoy a good video game, this one should not disappoint at all. It is loaded with countless, hilarious references to the show, and the gameplay is phenomenal.
















#12





Resident Evil





Resident Evil. This is a completely different style of gaming, here. Although Resident Evil may not be my favorite game of all time, it is easily my favorite video game series of all time. Each one I've ever played has never failed to disappoint. I'm not sure if I've ever had more fun playing video games than I do when I'm playing Resident Evil. When it comes to gaming, I don't think anything beats turning on the system at night, blacking out all the lights, sitting alone in the house and playing Resident Evil on surround sound. A very unique gaming experience, and one I will forever cherish.
















#11





Resident Evil Ø





Okay, Resident Evil and Resident Evil Ø are pretty much interchangeable for me. What put Ø ahead of Resident Evil for me was probably the fact that I played this one before the other, and the shock of how realistic and terrifying it is, was simply a new feeling I hadn't felt for the GameCube at that time. Who knows where they'd rank had I beaten Resident Evil before Resident Evil Ø. Either way, both games are equally challenging, equally terrifying and equally excellent in their own way. It may be the fact that I'm just a horror fan in nature that puts them so high on the list, I don't know, but these two games triggered a new fire in my love for gaming. Are they the two best Resident Evil games ever, though?

[Jason]

#10





Super Smash Brothers: Melee





This one is quite comparable to Mario Kart: Double Dash in terms of the major upgrade from its predecessor. While Super Smash Brothers for the Nintendo 64 was a groundbreaking new game, Melee took it to a whole new level. Of all the games I've played, I believe this one requires the most skill on the player's part. The characters are each given their own fighting technique, and it's up to the user to master it. Falco is my favorite.

Ever have one of those games where you feel nobody can beat you? I'm sure we all do. This is one of them for me. I met a great friend of mine through a job we shared during our senior year in high school. I met a lot of his friends, and they're all good-hearted people. They were the drama club peeps. You know, the ones that play nothing but video games and those Japanese card games in their spare time? Well, sure enough, these guys loved Melee. And they were good. VERY good. And a big group of them were usually huddled around a TV at night waiting for their turn. After not having played for months, I decided to join in. I beat everyone. After that, whenever we would all get together, it was usually everyone challenging me to a game of Melee. Of all the people I've played, of all the times I've played them, not one of them beat me. One time. Never. It's just one of those games that you master better than most everyone else. The friendly competition we had, and all those nervous matches, wondering if my undefeated streak will ever come to an end just made the game that much more fun to play.
















#9





Contra





Contra. So simply put together, and so addicting. Truly a man's video game. Everything about this game is great. You can play the game solo, or with a friend. You represent a military commando set to infiltrate the evil Red Falco Organization that is planning to take over the Earth. The gameplay, the action, the obstacles, and that victory music upon conquering a level just makes you want to fist pump, and even do a TeBow. Maybe no TeBowing as a kid, but this game has withstood the test of time, and even the victory celebration evolves a bit.
















#8





Tecmo Super Bowl





Easily my all time favorite football game. I grew up absolutely loving this game. Hell, by the time I was 4 or 5, I had the 1990 rosters from every NFL team pretty much memorized, and that's no exaggeration. I started at the age of 3, and still enjoy this one to the fullest. Played as the Broncos, of course. I will say this: As a young kid, I enjoyed watching Lawrence Taylor play football, and every once in a while, I played as the Giants, using Lawrence Taylor to bullrush the quarterback on nearly every down. I might've enjoyed playing as him on those random occasions more often than I enjoyed seeing him play.

The Bobby Humphrey run up the middle and the Shotgun, Elway to Vance Johnson passes were my favorite.


















#7





Super Mario 64





DAMN, what a challenge this game is. Not like the Mario's of the past, where you could just speed run through the entire game, this one took some time to beat. A lot of time. But it just made you more and more eager to collect all those stars and complete the game. It will suck you in, no matter what age. It has such an original concept, and is easily one of the best Mario games I've ever played.
















#6





Banjo-Kazooie





I had trouble deciding whether or not Super Mario 64, or this game should hold the #6 spot. I gave it to Banjo Kazooie, because of a dream I had when I was a kid that I still remember to this day.

The object of the game is to rescue Banjo's sister, Tooty, who is kidnapped by an evil witch named Gruntilda. I had a dream, while in the middle of the journey of the game for the first time, that I had finally gotten to the evil witch. I don't remember too much from the dream, only the feeling of utter accomplishment that I was finally able to get to the end. The game was so consuming for me, that it even overtook my dreams. It is so unique, and can be very humorous at random times. It is equally challenging to Super Mario 64, if not more challenging. Fun for all ages.

[Jason]

#5





Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game





Turtle Power! Anyone who's ever played video games had to have played this one. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were BIG when I was a kid. I was never too big a fan of the cartoon, and the movies were pretty good, but this video game trumps all. Select your favorite Ninja Turtle (Raphael) and the quest is on to save April. Two can also play, and although it is entirely more challenging to go solo on the quest, it is equally fun with a partner.
















#4





Super Mario Bros. 3





This game set the stage for the future Mario games, and general gaming itself. A definite favorite as a kid that has withstood the test of time. You know how great a game is when you're still playing it all these years later. Of all the new consoles and all their new games, most have failed to produce a game that is even close to the quality of this one. Mario 3 is a giant leap ahead of the first two. The gaming is better, more technical. The atmosphere of the game is much better and the story is more fun. The best Nintendo has produced for its original system.
















#3





Resident Evil 2





Flashback to the early 2000s. Hollywood Video was selling their video games for the first time, there was Resident Evil 2. Being a horror fan in nature, the cover is the only thing that needed to sell me on the game, and I am very glad I made the purchase. Resident Evil 2 is easily the most scared I've ever been, playing a video game.
Seriously. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.

I was still getting used to the transition from Nintendo to Nintendo 64. The graphics were outstanding at the time, and sometimes it felt all too real. Visually stunning, outstanding gameplay, and pure terror around every corner.

Upon compiling this list, I purchased Resident Evil 2 for the GameCube off of Amazon. Can't wait for this bad boy to arrive.
















#2





The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time





Is it any surprise this one makes the list? Shouldn't be. In fact, it's probably more shocking that it didn't take the top spot. This game is widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time, and rightfully so. To this day, Ocarina of Time has been one of the toughest, most challenging game I've ever played. Many, many nights I spent up playing this game, wandering through the game, figuring out what I had to do next. Hanging out with my best friend, putting our brains together and getting through obstacles. He'd go home, continue the quest on his game, and we'd meet in school the next day and talk about homework what new obstacle one of us had overcome, and one would show the other what to do. It took a HELL of a long time, and the entire time beating the game was just a blast. I can't go more than 2 years without yearning to beat it, again.

[Jason]

#1





GoldenEye





March 11th, 1999. I got a Nintendo 64. The two games it came with? GoldenEye and Ocarina of Time. I'm sure you can imagine what my life revolved around as an 11 year old kid, playing the two greatest games he'll probably ever play.

GoldenEye is just something special. The first ever first person shooter game, and the best one I've ever played. This game is just flawless. The greatest feeling I ever had playing a video game was when I beat the Control level on 00 agent. Why? Each level has an Agent (Easy), Secret Agent (Medium) and 00 Agent (hard) scenario option. Not only is the Control probably the most difficult scenario in the game, but for quite a long time I had only got to the Cradle level. I had two more to go, and the only way to get to the next level was to complete every scenario on 00 agent. All I had left was the Control, and when I completed it, a huge wave of excitement broke over me. I went back to the scenario file and there it was. Aztec. The next level after the Cradle. What increased my love for the game even more was the fact that the next two levels I played so hard to get to were two of the best on the game. There were classic references to past Bond Movies in those two levels, and the music for both the levels kicked ass, as well. And I haven't even talked about multiplayer, yet.

One of the best multiplayer games ever. Many great levels to choose from, and the game was loaded with different weapon options. The Golden Gun is probably the most intense version of multiplayer you can play. One shot, and you're dead. When I'd play with proximity mines for hours at a time, and I finally finish with the game, I've walked the halls and rooms of the house with caution, thinking I'll probably explode.


There it is, folks. The greatest video game of all time.

[Man in Black]

You know this is one of my favorite subjects. I have a sort of list I posted somewhere on here or the Hole... I'll find it and revamp it for this thread when I feel a bit better.


You have a great list. Any list that includes Punch Out, Zelda (OoT) and Golden Eye is a winner no matter what else you put on it. Jason, you've got several of the same games I'll have on my list and the ones that aren't are still great choices - just different tastes for some.

It is really hard for me to compile such a list as video games are a huge part of my life, especially since I have gotten much more immobile at times. There are so many games over my playing career that tons of awesome titles will be omitted for sure for me. Lots of them that I've had countless hours of fun with, but still don't make the cut.


Maybe someday I can get you into one of the new systems like the PS3 so we can play some online. There are lots of old-school games, game types and remakes that have multiplayer - And I might even let you win every once in a while... but I doubt it ;D

[Jason]

I went to buy an XBox 360, actually. Chris is trying really hard to get me into the newer games, too. Either the seller took it down from Amazon, or someone bought it right before I did, because the transaction never went through. It was only 140 bucks, too. I went to look for another and the rest are about 180 bucks. Bleh.

You'll notice that there are only 4 different systems on my list, and none of which were released within the past 10 years.

Are there any games on here you haven't played?

[Man in Black]

Get a PS3 - it plays blu rays... plus the online is free. And if you want to play with me any it will have to be on PS3 lol (just trying to persuade you my way) - my third 360 blew up earlier this year. I got the others replaced under warranty but this time it was expired and there was no way I was spending more money on something that had broken 3 times. I did enjoy it while I had it though.



Not many of the games on your list that I haven't played and only one I've not heard of - Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, but I never had the Intellivision. I haven't played all of those RE's but I've watched friends play them, and I don't think I ever played the Simpsons game, but the rest I was in there. Bubble Bobble, that brought back memories!

[Jason]

What is it called? The red ring of death?
I've heard about a lot of the newer systems just blowing up. Kind of why I prefer the older systems. My original gamecube broke after about 10 years of owning it. Bought another for about 40 bucks. Was no biggy. But I still own my original Nintendo 64 that I've had for over 13 years, PLUS I still own my original Nintendo that I've had for as long as I can remember. Still working just fine. It's amazing.

[Jason]

I just edited my #4 and #3. Resident Evil 2 is just way too cool. It's been at least a couple of years since I've played it, and with the arrival of the GameCube version, I'm just giddy with excitement. The only difference that I know of so far is the graphics are slightly enhanced from the N64 version, and also, you have to beat the game as Leon to be able to beat the game as Claire. In the original Nintendo 64 version, you have the option to play as Claire or Leon.

I'm off to get food and snacks, and of course, a giant Coke for my long night of Resident Evil 2 gameplay.

[Jason]

I am about to beat a game for the Nintendo 64 that I've always known about, but never played until I bought it about a month ago. I am pretty sure it's going to make my top ten. Nostalgia and longevity have played a huge part in my rankings, which makes it almost unthinkable that newly played game is already being considered for the top ten before I even beat it yet.