IGN Top 100 games [Archive]

BreakABone

12-01-2007, 08:05 PM

Final Fantasy VII is number 76? What the fuck?

*Looks at list*

The nerve of those people. The number one game of all-time is a 2D platformer! There is no story. Where the hell is the FMV? The voice acting? The intricate characters? The branching plotlines! The nervES:p

DeathsHand

12-01-2007, 08:53 PM

Top 100 lists of anything are lame... The top 10 or so are usually fairly predictable, and 50-100 are usually just folks randomly listing games that they can think of that they enjoyed at one point in time or another...
Rayman 2? Yeah what the hell, let's stick it at 99...

They mention how PD was basically a bigger, better Goldeneye, but place it at a lower position... Ok, so maybe they're factoring in the freshness of it's time? Yeah, then they say flat-out that Half-Life 2 didn't innovate so much as it did perfect, and it scores hire than the original...
In the blurb about Castlevania: SotN, they mention how Dracula X: Rondo of Blood is "Arguably the best game of the series", but apparently that's not enough to top Archon and make the list... And they don't even attempt to humor us by ranking one of the first installments.
And for Christsake, they use a picture of the Game Boy Color installment of Bionic Commando when mentioning the NES game.

Though I was surprised that System Shock 2 ranked so high... Especially when compared to the previously mentioned #76.
I would have thought it'd appear at like 87 with the other glorified honorable mentions.
Then again, it is a rather hip game these days.
CBGB? I love that band!

Dylflon

12-02-2007, 04:00 AM

The only game left off this list that I REALLY think should be on it is The Sims. That game got so many non-gamers into the video game world.

Jason1

12-02-2007, 12:38 PM

After a count, I have played 51 of these games fairly extensivley. More if you include games I have at least picked up and tried at some point.

I cant figure out why they say Half Life 2 didnt innovate. I would consider the Gravity Gun and the amazing physics engine to be pretty innovative...I mean that had never been done before...

Angrist

12-02-2007, 12:54 PM

Played/own 31 of them. Mostly Nintendo/Blizzard games.

Typhoid

12-02-2007, 02:03 PM

I didn't agree with a lot of those.

thatmariolover

12-02-2007, 02:22 PM

I think this is the poorest list I've seen IGN put together. The overall order just seems very jumbled and titles seem thrown in haphazardly.

As for Half Life 2 innovating, the engine was innovating. I don't know that the game itself was. Frankly, the beta that 'leaked' beforehand felt more innovative than the final product. It had this physics gun (not the gravity gun) with a very intuitive welding/construction functionality. And many of the physics variables were a lot more configurable. Garry's Mod is cool, and has many similar functions, but in terms of one tool that was cool and did a ton of stuff, that old physics gun was amazing.

Angrist

12-02-2007, 02:28 PM

I have the full list on my blog: http://canyarion.spaces.live.com/
Stephan
With the games I own/played in bold.

Did somebody already mention Worms? It's one of the best game series, they should have included Worms 2 or something. And next year I expect Wii Sports.

KillerGremlin

12-02-2007, 03:14 PM

Quake 2 shouldn't be on there, No One Lives Forever is a much better candidate. And Half-Life should be way higher and definitely higher than Half-Life 2. I liked Rayman 2 but if we are going to start putting Mario 64-esque platfomers on the list they should have included Conker's Bad Fur Day and Banjo Kazooie. I'm happy they gave credit to Link's Awakening though, that is one of my favorite Zelda games.

gekko

12-02-2007, 06:26 PM

Final Fantasy VII is number 76? What the fuck?

It was one of the worst games I've ever played. Horrible story, boring as all hell, and the characters had cylinders for arms. Ya, stupid.

thatmariolover

12-02-2007, 11:52 PM

It was one of the worst games I've ever played. Horrible story, boring as all hell, and the characters had cylinders for arms. Ya, stupid.

When did you develop this incredible sense of humor? Seriously, did it like spring up overnight or have I just been misreading your posts for years? :D

gekko

12-03-2007, 01:36 AM

When did you develop this incredible sense of humor? Seriously, did it like spring up overnight or have I just been misreading your posts for years? :D

No, FF7 truly blows ass. So does FF8, FF9, FF4, FF3, and every other one I've played. Actually, FF Adventure was half decent back in the day. All the others though were awful.

I'm probably alone, but I play games for entertainment, not to put me to sleep. I prefer sleeping pills to the Final Fantasy series.

BreakABone

12-03-2007, 02:14 AM

No, FF7 truly blows ass. So does FF8, FF9, FF4, FF3, and every other one I've played. Actually, FF Adventure was half decent back in the day. All the others though were awful.

I'm probably alone, but I play games for entertainment, not to put me to sleep. I prefer sleeping pills to the Final Fantasy series.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Dylflon

12-03-2007, 04:00 AM

No, FF7 truly blows ass. So does FF8, FF9, FF4, FF3, and every other one I've played. Actually, FF Adventure was half decent back in the day. All the others though were awful.

I'm probably alone, but I play games for entertainment, not to put me to sleep. I prefer sleeping pills to the Final Fantasy series.

Oh Gekko.

I find your special blend of irony and sarcasm refreshing.

Keep up the good work tickling our collective funny bones.

Bond

12-03-2007, 08:11 AM

gekko

12-03-2007, 01:26 PM

At least I don't cut myself.

Because you fell asleep before you got 30 minutes into FF7 and started contemplating suicide. Keep playing, I'm sure you'll find death a better alternative to finishing the game.

Dyne

12-03-2007, 02:31 PM

Actually, I agree with gekko on the FF7 and sleeping part.

It's just not a fun game.

BlueFire

12-03-2007, 03:11 PM

No, FF7 truly blows ass. So does FF8, FF9, FF4, FF3, and every other one I've played. Actually, FF Adventure was half decent back in the day. All the others though were awful.

Why did you play all of those games, then... if you knew Final Fantasy sucked in general? :confused:

Angrist

12-03-2007, 03:31 PM

My brother tried playing through FFVII (his first FF was FFX I think), but he says it's way overrated. It's just not much fun to play. He did enjoy the older, 2D Final Fantasies.

gekko

12-03-2007, 09:39 PM

Why did you play all of those games, then... if you knew Final Fantasy sucked in general? :confused:

Same reason I played Halo 3 when I didn't like the first 2. There's a chance, with all these people drooling over a game, that it might actually be good.

Also, keep in mind back then I played a LOT of games. I no longer have nothing but free time, so I don't take as many "chances" on game series and genres I don't like.

The thing about me and RPGs is that it's very much a love/hate relationship. I've never played an RPG that I thought was decent, I've ever loved it or absolutely despised it. It's not a 1:1 ratio though, more like 3:50.

I do give games their fair chance though, and FF just fails to do it for me. Halo 3 on the other hand... awesome.

Bond

12-03-2007, 10:02 PM

What RPGs have you liked?

Dylflon

12-04-2007, 03:53 PM

Fun fact:

Final Fantasy VII is great!

Typhoid

12-04-2007, 08:07 PM

Why wasn't Sonic and Knuckles in there?
Unless it was.

I find that game pretty revolutionary - to a degree. Not taking the fact away that it's a really fun game.

I don't know of another game where you can open up the top, and stick in a pre-existing game of that title, and the pre-existing game is altered to be played again in a way you haven't before.

And what about Vectorman, he has a friggin cereal named after him.

Angrist

12-05-2007, 06:38 PM

The only game left off this list that I REALLY think should be on it is The Sims. That game got so many non-gamers into the video game world.I started a house and single girl + cat on a friend his Wii, I was amazed at how addicting it was.

Pretty ironic by the way, I created what could be my 'dream girl', then she turned into a lesbian after I had scared off the first guy that came at my door. :rolleyes:

Professor S

12-07-2007, 02:36 PM

For the record, if millions of people love a game, and you happen to be a member of a small minority that hate it, that does not mean the game sucks.

It means its a great game you don't like. And there is nothing wrong with that.

My issues with the list:

1) Anything Metroid Prime does not belong in the top 50.

2) I'm suprise neither Super Mario Ball Scrarching (import) and Legend of Zelda: Because It Makes Money didn't make the list. A little overkill.

3) Regardless of you feelings on Halo, it belongs in the top ten just because of its influence on the industry. It is the Super Mario Bros of the modern gaming era.

4) River Raid and Nintendo Ice Hockey belong in the top 20 just because I said so. ;)

Overall, not that bad of a list. Just too heavy on Mario, Zelda and old role playing games. Strategy should have had a better representation as well, I think.

Bube

12-07-2007, 02:46 PM

4) River Raid and Nintendo Ice Hockey belong in the top 20 just because I said so. ;)

Just because you say a game should be in the top 20 doesn't mean it's a good game. It just means you like it.

:p

Professor S

12-07-2007, 02:53 PM

Just because you say a game should be in the top 20 doesn't mean it's a good game. It just means you like it.

:p

You're right, I didn't add this caveat:

"Unless I say so"

:D

manasecret

12-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Strategy should have had a better representation as well, I think.

I agree. It should have been Civ IV, not II.

Professor S

12-07-2007, 03:27 PM

I agree. It should have been Civ IV, not II.

I think BOTH should have made it. You can't deny Civ2. Maybe its my age, but I remember losing DAYS to it in college and during summer vacation. Its still a popular download to this day.

Strategy games like Red Alert 2 and Shogun: Total War should have made the list as well.

manasecret

12-07-2007, 04:31 PM

Herein lies (part of) the lameness of top 100 lists that DH brought up. How do you compare strategy games to FPS games, to platformers, to rhythm games, to fighting games, to sports games etc. etc. etc.

I agree, I think more strategy games should be on the list, as they are easily my favorite genre of game considering how much time I have sunk into them. I also agree that both Civ II and Civ IV should be on the list. But that begs the question, which one comes before the other? How do you rank innovation (II) vs. perfection (IV)? If innovation, then why not Civ I?

So not only are there problems comparing games between genres, and games within the same genre, but even games within the same series. Multiply popular game series of, oh, let's say 500, by the sequels within each series of let's say an average of 2, and you get 1000 games that could easily make a top 100 list that are nearly impossible to compare to each other.

Not ranting on you Mr. S, but just on the absurdity I'm realizing of these lists.

Professor S

12-07-2007, 04:39 PM

I take no offense.

I take the absurdity for granted whenever I see lists about Top Anything. There is no definite way to measure greatness, so it ends up being a giant argument over subjective value judgements.

But isn't that the fun part? :)

manasecret

12-07-2007, 04:49 PM

Angrist

12-07-2007, 05:24 PM

I played Civ4, I liked it, but it didn't do as much for me as a lot of other games did. But I have a friend who absolutely loves it, he spent weeks on it.

Big games in my life:
Warcraft 2, 3, WoW
Starcraft
Super Mario Bros 3, World, 64
Zelda: ALttP, OoT, TP
Conquest of the New World
Golden Eye, Perfect Dark
Super Smash Bros, Melee
Pokémon Blue/Red
Spider Solitaire

To name a few.

GameMaster

12-07-2007, 06:13 PM

WarCraft 3!!!

Must be on the list!

Professor S

12-07-2007, 07:41 PM

Hahaha, yes, you make a good point. Might as well take it with a light-heart.

SO I am curious, I want to figure out this microcosmic argument over subjective value judgements -- would you place Civ II or Civ IV higher on the list? And why? Have you played IV? And what about I and III?

Btw, by higher I of course mean 1 being the highest and 100 being the lowest.

Civilization Ranking List:

1) CivII
2) Civ I
3) Civ IV
4) Civ 3

Reasoning: Civ II wins because of the perfect execution of depth, balance, design and playability for the time. Civ 1 gets 2nd due to its innovation but lacks the execution of 2. Civ 4 gets 3rd for sheer excellence and polish, but it lacks the innovation, IMO. Also, I think it drops some just due to the serie's age. I've become used to it, and moreover, by this time the Total War series has surpassed it by including real time battles. That shouldn't hurt it, but in reality it does in my subjective opinion. Civ 3 is last, but that is not a disparagement.