Top 100 games of all time (Rllmuk 2015 edition) - Results now showing: No. 1

[Benny]

Original thread here: http://www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?/topic/284802-the-top-100-games-of-all-time-2015-edition/#entry10322106

 

Greetings.

Firstly, apologies for taking a while with this, life got in the way, but now hopefully I can start us off with 10 runners up picked from the top 100 votes thread. Thank you to everyone who participated and cast their votes - to warm us up for the top 100 I saw several games that didn't quite make it into the 100 that are strong personal favourites that I felt deserved a mention... So without further ado, here are 10 hand picked games that just missed the list that I will now gush over! (Please note: all these games received several votes but were just not quite enough to get into the list, and are personal selections)

 

 

Selected runners up:

 

Vanquish - 4 votes

 

 

I'm kind of disappointed that Vanquish did not make the list, as it is one of the most surprising and unspeakably awesome games I've ever played. Imagine being able to literally perform strings of stylish and amazing looking actions that would not be out of place in a sci fi Anime, and that's pretty much this game. You can boost along the ground at high speed with a rocket powered suit towards cover, smoke a cigarette, chuck a grenade over the top, leap after it while blasting hordes of robots, blow up the grenade while it's still in the air in slow mo, boost past the blast into the biggest robot, and then punch its lights out, all entirely using your own initiative. If that's not an example of what is great about gaming, I don't know what is.

 

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - 4 votes

 

 

Before the Assassin's Creed series came along and made parkour boring, there was this: a thrilling and beautiful adventure stuffed with brilliant platforming and surprisingly excellent writing. The best platformers have tight controls that make you feel like the character is an extension of you, and this game achieved this wonderfully. Vast castle areas would need to be traversed that were full of carefully placed traps and obstacles that were as much a pleasure to traverse as in the best Mario titles. Entering each new area was a joyful journey of discovery as you looked around thinking, how do I get up there? The sequels were a bit shit.

 

Planescape: Torment - 2 votes

 

 

This game not being in the top 100 is flat out criminal. A contender for one of the finest RPGs ever made on any format, PC or otherwise. Unlike the earlier Baldur's Gate, this had more of a focus on character development throughout, and was better for it. The most impressive aspect of the game is the sheer number of dialog choices you can make, all of which are tied to how you choose to develop your character's stats. You are in complete control of how you develop your character, and all conversation options in the game are deftly woven into how you have made these choices. Combat is a necessary evil, but it's surprising how many alternatives you can find...

 

Hotline Miami - 5 votes

 

 

An uncompromisingly brilliant murder simulator. And you will be murdered, repeatedly. The sheer brutal satisfaction of violently taking out an entire building of goons in one go, knowing that a single shot, stab or punch will kill you instantly, is unmatched.

 

 

Starfox 64 - 3 votes

 

 

If Myamoto had set out to make a game that aped all the best bits from films like Star Wars, then I would say he succeeded. Flipping the Arwing deftly through each carefully designed level is a joy.

 

 

Bubble Bobble - 2 votes

 

 

There were many arcade conversions on the old 8 bit home computers back in the day, many of which were pretty crap. Not so Bubble Bobble. One of the first two-player games I can remember getting me genuinely angry. Each player would fight over who got the delicious delicious fruits and power ups. Well, I certainly did.

 

 

Super Meat Boy - 3 votes

 

 

Speaking of genuinely angry - here is a game designed by absolute bastards. Single screen levels of platforming pain, with the delightful touch of showing you a replay of all of the previous failed attempts together once you complete each level to rub it in. It helps that you never genuinely feel that it is not your fault however, as the controls are some of the tightest and most rewarding outside of Mario titles.

 

 

Skies of Arcadia - 3 votes

 

 

Significant numbers of random battles aside, this is one of the most beguiling and cheerful RPGs you will probably ever play. Characters that are actually likable, lovely locations, AIRSHIP BATTLES, and some indefinable Sega magic make it brilliant. Just a shame about the bloody random battles. Still awesome though.

 

 

Jet Set Radio - 2 votes

 

 

I never really got on with skating games much, but the visual style of this made me take a chance on it. It's not really fair to call it a skating game as it's more of a skate-across-Tokyo-and-spray-grafitti-and-get-chased-by-the-police-em-up. The soundtrack is also suitably bonkers and will have you humming the tunes for literally years afterwards. I will also mention that Jet Set Radio Future was also very good, if not quite as good as the original in my opinion. It got 3 votes in the poll, but also a lower overall position.

 

 

Elite - 2 votes

 

 

The picture above inspires more fear in me that in any other game I've played. Why? Well, to see the above space station in Elite means you have probably just spent absolutely ages buying tradeable commodities light years away to fit into your tiny spaceship, which you have now hoofed across star systems to sell at a high price at the dock in front of you. However, docking in Elite was an arduous process involving aligning your ship EXACTLY to the little postbox sized slot and keeping pace with the rotation of the space station. If you so much as clip the station as you approach, which you can't see because it's wireframe and invisible, then BOOM, all your progress up to that point is lost. Elite is brilliant.

 

Next time: on to the top 100!

 

EDIT: Added vote counts plus some more words on JSR and its sequel.

 

EDIT2: The final list:

 

Quote

1. Resident Evil 4
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time
3. Super Mario 64
4. Super Mario World
5. Halo
6. The Last of Us
7. Goldeneye 007
8. Fallout 3
9. Dark Souls
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
11. Metroid Prime
12. Shenmue
13. Advance Wars
14. Shadow of the Colossus
15. Final Fantasy VII
16. Tetris
17. Portal
18. Super Mario Galaxy
19. Metal Gear Solid
20. Rock Band 3
21. Half Life 2
22. Rez
23. Super Mario Kart
24. Street Fighter 2
25. GTA V
26. Ico
27. Super Mario Galaxy 2
28. Deus Ex
29. Super Metroid
30. Shenmue II
31. Red Dead Redemption
32. Demons Souls
33. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
34. Uncharted 2
35. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
36. Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
37. Streets of Rage 2
38. Sonic 2
39. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
40. Persona 4 Golden
41. Resident Evil 2
42. WipEout HD
43. Wave Race 64
44. F-Zero X
45. World of Warcraft
46. Batman Arkham Asylum
47. UFO: Enemy Unknown
48. Mario Kart 8
49. Spelunky HD
50. Super Monkey Ball
51. NiGHTS Into Dreams
52. Skyrim
53. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
54. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
55. Street Fighter IV
56. Day of the Tentacle
57. Speedball 2
58. Super Mario 3D World
59. Civilization 4
60. Pokemon Red/Blue
61. Project Gotham Racing 2
62. Silent Hill 2
63. Gran Turismo
64. Chrono Trigger
65. Grand Theft Auto 3
66. Minecraft
67. Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
68. Perfect Dark
69. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
70. GTA Vice City
71. Animal Crossing New Leaf
72. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
73. Halo 3
74. Xenoblade Chronicles
75. Phantasy Star Online
76. Sensible World of Soccer
77. DOOM
78. REmake
79. Final Fantasy IX
80. Metal Gear Solid 2
81. Journey
82. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
83. Portal 2
84. WWF No Mercy
85. Final Fantasy 6
86. Mass Effect 2
87. Final Fantasy XII
88. Robotron
89. Soul Calibur
90. Valkryia Chronicles
91. Castlevania Symphony of the Night
92. Gears of War
93. Yoshi's Island
94. Mario Kart 64
95. Zero Escape: Virtues Last Reward
96. Vagrant Story
97. Wipeout 2097
98. PS2 Pro Evolution Soccer
99. OutRun 2
100. Okami

[Wiper]

I was going to be affronted that Planescape: Torment didn't make the top 100... and then remembered that it had just fallen short of my top 20, so I've only myself to blame.

I'm also slightly worried that if two 8th place votes wasn't enough for Torment to make the top 100, then the 4th place and 7th place votes for Little Big Adventure 2 might not be quite enough for that to make an appearance...

[Benny]

BONUS INFO

All of the runners up I picked above all had more than 1 vote each, and I chose not to mention Tie Fighter again, as it was already in my own personal top 20 from the initial thread with my thoughts on it, even though it is CLEARLY one of the top 100 best games ever made despite me being the only person to vote for it...

Many games that didn't make it to the top 100 still had an awful lot of votes, but not high enough on people's lists to make their mark, so here are some other honourable mentions for the games that loads of people loved but didn't love enough to reach the top:

Killer 7 - 6 votes(!)

I never actually played this, but now I wish I had - I did watch a friend play through it though and it was an incredibly stylish looking and overall super cool experience.

Bioshock - 5 votes

Loved by many and a clear contender to appear in the top 100, but sadly didn't make it. Personally, it's still a pretty but poor person's System Shock 2, but then only 2 people voted for that so....

Hotline Miami - 5 votes

Mentioning it again as it also had a lot of fans in the voting. It's super cheap on Steam or wherever, so just go buy it.

Eternal Darkness - 4 votes

Never played it myself but watched a play through - the sanity mechanic is an excellent idea that I'd like to see repeated.

Counterstrike (various versions) - 4 votes

Even taking all versions together couldn't break the top 100 which is a shame, as it's one of the most enduring competitive online FPSs

Secret of Monkey Island - 4 votes

For shame PC game fans, for shame.

Dead Space - 4 votes

I would have quite liked to see this in the top 100 as it felt fresh at the time and was really very very good.

Super Mario Bros 3 - 4 votes

To be honest I'm actually staggered that this isn't in the top 100, but there's no accounting for taste apparently.

Metroid Fusion - 4 votes

Should have been in the top 100 in my opinion - often overlooked gem.

Ikaruga - 4 votes

Been trying to play this since it came on Steam as I never had it on the Dreamcast. I think how much I could have played it back then and how if had that I might be actually good enough at it by now to actually get anywhere in it. Because I'm shit.

Edited first post now with more info too.

[Wiper]

Bioshock - 5 votes

Loved by many and a clear contender to appear in the top 100, but sadly didn't make it. Personally, it's still a pretty but poor person's System Shock 2 but then only 2 people voted for that so....

Pathetic creatures of meat and bone, the lot of you

[dreamylittledream]

Damn thats a lot of quality games that I'd have placed in a top 100

For shame no Sands of Time, Metroid Fusion (my favourite in the whole series - Super be damned and the Prime trilogy as good as they metroid works best in 2D) & Vanquish.

And hang on Super Mario 3 is outside the top 100?

Man I should have got me arse around to posting my choices

[hellsbells]

Amazed at some of the games that have fallen short, especially SMB3, although I suspect it suffers from people only having room for a couple of Mario games in their top 20s.

Top 100 will be an interesting read.

[Made of Ghosts]

Glad to see no Hon Men for Solomon's Key, presumably because it's a shoo-in for the #1 spot.

[Benny]

Glad to see no Hon Men for Solomon's Key, presumably because it's a shoo-in for the #1 spot.

Well I can reveal that is was rated much higher than Tie Fighter, so it's clearly one of the best games ever made.

[Benny]

Now that some of the E3 excitement has died down, it is now time for… The Rllmuk Top 100 Games of All Time!

 

 

 

 

100. Okami

 

 

Original format: Playstation 2. Released: 2006

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 51. Number of votes: 4.)

 

Okami was, and still is, hands-down one of the prettiest games ever made. Running through the game's environments is as close as you can get to interacting with a moving Japanese watercolour painting. If the game wasn’t very good that would have relegated it to a curiosity like so many art focused indie titles of present times, but this was as polished as a Zelda game, with some lovely and unique interactions through calligraphy drawings, and many memorable and brilliant characters.

Back when this was released, it was much more rare to find games that dared to try interesting visual styles, but now with so many weird and wonderful looking new games it’s good to look back on one that would wave that flag for years to come.

 

 

99. Outrun 2

 

 

Original format: Arcade. Released: 2003

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 56. Number of votes: 4.)

 

I really wanted to play the PC update of this before I wrote the list, but sadly time has not been on my side. However, I will give you the words of Treble, who has put it better than I could ever hope to:

“Thanks to the wonderful S0L and the Sumo Digital team, this is a game as amazing on all its home platforms as it is in the arcade. Whether you’re talking boggo OR2 or its feature-stuffed v2.0 release in C2C, SEGA’s mini-renaissance (with this and After Burner Climax) brought back the fun, the immediacy and the blue skies it had so desperately been missing for many, many years. OutRun 2 is both an homage to the original and a reinvigoration; a template – cut from crystal – for how to treat your intellectual property. Whether you want to sharpen your skill and compete against the clock, score points or just cruise through a sun-filled wonderland in a supercar, OR2 is an amusement park ride on your best day, every time you switch it on.”

 

 

98. Pro Evolution Soccer

 

 

Original format: PSX/PS2. Released: 2001

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A but Pro Evo 6 at 50, number of votes: 3. Voted best game of all time by: joemul)

 

I confess: I have never really liked football games. However, I’m very much aware of this one… Whenever I asked people how this game differed from the FIFA series, I would often hear a snort of derision from its fans. It was a common fixture in my university hall rooms with matches being played on an almost constant rotation. In fact, joemul loved it so much it’s his favourite game of all time:

“this was an institution amongst my friends and flat mates. Every decision was decided by a mini tournament - household chores, whether you'd be dragged on a night out or not, who had to make the brews etc. absolutely wonderful game”

 

 

97. Wipeout 2097

 

 

Original format: Playstation. Released: 1996

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 78. Number of votes: 3. Voted best game of all time by: Boozy The Clown)

 

The original Wipeout was a perfect launch title for the Playstation: it had style, it had grace, it had a throbbing soundtrack, and above all, it was cool. When I first played it I didn't care that I was bouncing off the walls constantly and losing every race - I felt entranced. The graphics were something beyond nearly all other games, and were the most eye popping I’d ever seen at the time. Wipeout 2097 came out not long after, and improved on the original game with better tracks, more colourful visuals and much improved gameplay overall.

 

 

96. Vagrant Story

 

 

Original format: Playstation. Released: 2000

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 4.)

 

It’s surprising that this was not on the 2007 top 100 list, considering how highly it scored this time. I’m very pleased it has made it though, as this might well be one of the best RPGs on the Playstation, or indeed any format. (You lot rated it higher than Planescape: Torment, after all, which is unbelievable!).

The visual design is quite striking and really pushes the PS1, as it came out late in its life, and it is quite a treat wandering the ruined castle architecture. The battle system is also interesting and deep, as you would expect from the developers of Final Fantasy: Tactics, and in fact, very confusing initially. The block moving puzzle mini game is also unusual, and can be frustratingly tricky in some sections, but it gives the game a unique charm that has been sorely lacking in Square Enix output of late. The soundtrack is also typically incredible vintage Square.

At the time of its release, many reviewers were put off by the complexities of the battle system - so I can’t help wondering how the game would be received nowadays, in a post Dark Souls world, where such things are now often rightly celebrated.

 

 

95. Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward

 

 

Original format: 3DS. Released: 2012

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 4.)

 

It was an absolute pain to find a good picture for this game that wasn’t spoileriffic. And it’s easy to understand why: the twists and turns to the story are ridiculous, and the character moments are brilliantly judged. If the anime stylings put you off, ignore that. I hate anime bollocks with a passion, but after this had been thrust into my hands and I started getting lost in the madness, I was unable to put it down. The puzzles are fiendish, the choices are bastardly, and the sense that the game knows what you’re thinking at all times is diabolical. An absolute pleasure.

More to come... Sooner rather than later this time though, so look forward to a weekend update!

 

EDIT: Whoops! teething issues with the ordering...Sorry

[Yasawas]

This is going to take ages but it's a fine read, good work!

I'm getting hugely nostalgic for the original PES having seen that screenshot now, something about seeing that HUD just brought back forgotten memories of hundreds of hours really enjoying myself being shite at it.

[Benny]

Thanks, Yasawas, this has been enjoyable to write up!

A quick note on process: ordering issues with the first 5 above aside, a lot of the lower tier games have the same points in some cases, so their place on the list is based on score first, which if the same then higher total votes wins, and if total votes are also the same then the game with votes closer to 1st then wins that matchup.

[Xevious]

If Wipeout 3 Special Edition isn't much higher up the list, I'm calling shenanigans.

[BeeJay]

Great list so far but I just didn't get on with Okami. I tried 3 times on different platforms and it just never clicked with me.

[Pixelated Ben]

Just to clarify, when other people are reading through the countdown, are you doing it in the voice of Richard Bacon, Jimmy Carr, or Robert Webb?

Thanks for all the work you're putting into this Benny - it's going to be a tough call for Rllmuk Man Of The Year this year between you and Pockets.

[David Kenny]

Just to clarify, when other people are reading through the countdown, are you doing it in the voice of Richard Bacon, Jimmy Carr, or Robert Webb?

Thanks for all the work you're putting into this Benny - it's going to be a tough call for Rllmuk Man Of The Year this year between you and Pockets.

Morgan Freeman obviously.

[Wiper]

A quick note on process: ordering issues with the first 5 above aside, a lot of the lower tier games have the same points in some cases, so their place on the list is based on score first, which if the same then higher total votes wins, and if total votes are also the same then the game with votes closer to 1st then wins that matchup.

Ah, the exact opposite logic I take with my scoring - I always consider a title more loved by fewer people to be worth more than a title less loved by more people.

[Benny]

A little something for the weekend? Sure, why not? It’s Saturday!

 

 

 

94. Mario Kart 64

 

 

Original format: N64. Released: 1996

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 92. Number of votes: 4. Voted best game of all time by: Azrael)

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how loyal you were to Sega), I had a Megadrive rather than a SNES growing up, so most of the SNES titles I played were either played at a friend’s or discovered later. The upshot of this was that Mario Kart 64 was my first introduction to Mario Kart. And what a glorious introduction it was: despite the investment into four N64 controllers for it being bloody expensive, gathering around with four friends (or eventual enemies) to shout, scream and share in the unbridled joy of fucking someone up with a blue shell is something this game can still deliver, decades after release. It built the foundations for every other follow up to refine into perfection.

 

 

 

93. Yoshi’s Island

 

 

Original format: SNES. Released: 1995

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 30. Number of votes: 5.)

 

Or Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island to give it its full title. Beating off Super Mario (hmm) Bros 3 to remain in the Rllmuk top 100, it seems to have kept it’s love among fans alive. Rightly so, and this is one of Shigeru Myamoto’s most charming and delightful titles, with a storybook visual design that stands the test of time and shames most modern titles. It was compared to Donkey Kong Country at the time, as people had been crowing over that game’s rendered graphics, but on that element alone this far surpassed it, being a triumph of art over technical wizardry even now.

The mechanic of having to protect baby Mario from harm and chase after him when he was snatched away from Yoshi is both brilliant and frustrating in equal measure, and the typically excellent level design has not been bettered by any subsequent Yoshi title.

 

 

92. Gears of War

 

 

Original format: Xbox 360. Released: 2006

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 4.)

 

By no means the first game to introduce great cover-based third person shooting mechanics (Rogue Trooper for example says hello!), and by no means the last - this is nevertheless one of the absolute best. Truly impactful guns (the chainsaw gun IS fantastic) and meaty characters suit a fairly slow and methodical pace of play that is both absorbing and satisfying in equal measure, with some stunning standout set pieces. The co-op and multiplayer modes are the icing on the cake. The fact the first game is being remade for re-release is welcome news for many PC game fans

 

 

91. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

 

 

Original format: Playstation. Released: 1997

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 77. Number of votes: 4.)

 

What is a man? Anyone who’s completed this game, that’s what! I shamefully started this only to get part way in before giving up, as it was actually surprisingly more difficult than I had expected...Certainly compared to Metroid titles (Fusion excepted perhaps).

However, don’t let me put you off: this is absolutely unbelievably brilliant game design. The intricacies of the castle layout are something which is rare to find in modern big budget titles and getting lost in its maze with such peerless visual design and incredible music was an absolute delight. In fact, one thing that tells you all you need to know really, is the fact that the recently announced kickstarter for a spiritual successor to this game was the quickest funded game in kickstarter history… Oh, wait, or is it?...

 

 

90. Valkyria Chronicles

 

 

Original format: Playstation 3. Released: 2008

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 4. Voted best game of all time by: Yobo Ahoy)

 

I really hate Anime weirdness with a passion, so this comes as the highest praise I can give in some ways when I say that DESPITE this game having a large amount of that, I absolutely loved it, warts and all. It probably helps that the game is also an excellent strategy RPG with a very interesting real time/turn based battle system, that manages to capture the feel of being in a war zone being pelted by enemy fire while also allowing for the tactical scope and relaxing interaction of turn based titles.

The art style is exceptional and the game looks like you’re taking part in a high budget Anime series (for good or ill), not just visually but in terms of the breadth and quality of the characters. And there are so many characters to unlock throughout the game that you will likely get quite attached to your own little hand-picked team…

There is just a sheer exuberance to the game which will come as no surprise to Skies of Arcadia fans, as this shares a director with that game. We may not have a sequel to Skies of Arcadia, which is criminal, but in many ways this is the next best thing.

[mushashi]

92. Gears of War

Original format: Xbox 360. Released: 2006

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 4.)

By no means the first game to introduce cover-based third person shooting mechanics (Rogue Trooper says hello!), and by no means the last - this is nevertheless one of the absolute best. Truly impactful guns (the chainsaw gun IS fantastic) and meaty characters suit a fairly slow and methodical pace of play that is both absorbing and satisfying in equal measure, with some stunning standout set pieces. The co-op and multiplayer modes are the icing on the cake. The fact the first game is being remade for re-release is welcome news for many PC game fans

I'm sorry, but this historical inaccuracy has to be corrected, Namco America's kill.switch, released way back in 2003 has a much better claim to pioneering the idea, or Koei Japan's even earlier attempt at the idea with WinBack: Covert Operations for the N64 in 1999. Never played WinBack, but liked kill.switch, even if it gets bloody hard on the later levels (still not finished it)

[MarkN]

I'm sorry, but this historical inaccuracy has to be corrected, Namco America's kill.switch, released way back in 2003 has a much better claim to pioneering the idea, or Koei Japan's even earlier attempt at the idea with WinBack: Covert Operations for the N64 in 1999. Never played WinBack, but liked kill.switch, even if it gets bloody hard on the later levels (still not finished it)

It's a different genre admittedly, but Time Crisis is perhaps where it started. Namco were thinking of making a 3rd person version of Time Crisis (we pitched for it when I was at Blitz). Nothing came of that, and we used the cover system in Bad Boys 2: Miami Takedown which honestly isn't as bad as the internet will tell you . Shortly after this (and just months before BB2 was released) kill.switch came out, which I guess is what happened to the 3rd person Time Crisis idea.

[Benny]

Good point mushashi! I meant Rogue Trooper more by way of an example of a very similar use of it like Gears, so I have corrected that in the right up now to clarify it

[Benny]

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.” Leviticus 23:3

Fuck that, here’s 5 more!

 

 

 

 

89. Soul Calibur

 

 

Original format: Dreamcast. Released: 1999

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 49. Number of votes: 6.)

 

While this originally came out in the Arcade in 1998, the Dreamcast version is the reference here. Why? Well, vastly improved graphics, stupendously huge amounts of single player longevity due to the amazing mission mode, and the fact that you can play it with the Dreamcast fishing controller all add up.

After numerous sequels, the original Soul Calibur is still the one that stands the test of time. Namco had a rather distressing desire to add ever more absurd characters to each iteration and the balance of the game was also all over the place in later installments, so if you want the purest Calibur experience, go for this.

Back then, there was nothing like it visually - the attract sequence on the Dreamcast could even be edited to add all of your favourite characters to the mix, and it is still impressive to watch today. Unusually for a fighting game, the soundtrack was incredibly epic and beautifully composed, and combined with the fact that it was actually a viable single player experience it felt like a tremendously high budget, meaty package. The fighting system was a brilliantly elegant mix of horizontal and vertical weapon swings, parries, and careful use of 3D space. Many a match would be won to a ring out using the shape of the stages to your advantage.

It’s a shame the sequels never quite lived up to the incalculable heights reached by the original Dreamcast release, but for many fans the soul still burns...

 

 

 

88. Robotron: 2084

 

 

Original format: Arcade. Released: 1982.

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 3.)

 

I never actually played this back in the day, as it was rare for me to visit an arcade and I was also too poor, However, with the wonders of emulation it should be possible for many others to experience this classic. For anyone who has played Geometry Wars, you can see the enormous debt it has to the original frenetic murder pen based game. Kill or be killed is about the size of it, and in Robotron the basic essence of that is boiled down into the simplest presentation possible, but losing absolutely none of the heart pounding thrill. For further education, see Smash TV.

 

 

 

87. Final Fantasy XII

 

 

Original format: Playstation 2. Released: 2006

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 3. Voted best game of all time by: womblingfree)

 

I never actually completed this, which is criminal, as a little research shows I was more than half way through the game. RPGs require a lot of staying power, what with most breaching the 30 hour mark, but if you have limited time I cannot recommend this iteration of the Final Fantasy series enough.

Eschewing the random battles typical of every other entry in the series up to this point, and even subsequent releases, Final Fantasy XII feels like an RPG that has been refined into something rather different. The battle system is a thing of beautiful and elegant design. The level of customisation options, and very novel simple programming system you can set for each character that allows the amount of battle interactivity and choices to be fully customised, makes the game feel more in common with complex strategy RPGs than the typical Final Fantasy fare. The influences in the game from Vagrant Story are very apparent in both this level of complexity and even the inspired art design.

If you are not normally a Final Fantasy fan but have any interest in RPGs in general, this should be one of your first ports of call, as it is a rare prize: a franchise title (of one of the most long running no less!) that dares to try to do things differently.

 

 

 

86. Mass Effect 2

 

 

Original format: Xbox 360/PC. Released: 2010

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 5.)

 

I admit, I never played Mass Effect 1 before I played this. I watched it being played through and was kind of jealous though, as it seemed right up my street - a game pretty much built to ape Babylon 5 in the story department and Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic in the general RPG department. A real nerd's nerd game, if you will.

Anyway, skipping the first installment as I did, and jumping straight into the story with the brief story recap and major choices made in the Playstation 3 version, I was completely and utterly blown away. Bugs and slow loading times aside, this comes as close as you can possibly get in gaming to taking an active part in a huge space opera where you feel like you are actually influencing major events.

The characters are brilliant, the visual design actually rather well done for a sci-fi universe, and the sense of pace throughout is kept up wonderfully. I played the third in the series of course, as the urge to finish the story was more incredibly strong with this than I have felt with any other game (well, apart from maybe a certain Sega title…), but the ending could never really live up to the enormous promise that was set up in this game, and to be honest, the possibilities it created in my mind for where things could go after I completed ME2 are a far better advert for how much this game captures the imagination than the end result of the 3rd game could ever recreate.

 

 

85. Final Fantasy VI

 

 

Original format: SNES. Released: 1994

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 5.)

 

Missing out on the SNES era as I did at first, it was a while until I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about, but having been blown away by Final Fantasy VII I felt I owed it to myself to find out. Many fans have their loyalties of their favourite game in the Final Fantasy series split between VI and VII - maybe it depends on age, maybe it depends on which you played first - but either way it's impossible to deny that Final Fantasy VI is as deserving of its praise as it ever was.

The opening credits, music and visual design is an absolute masterclass in setting the scene for an RPG. These days some games are so quick to bludgeon you with information or action to grab your interest, that Final Fantasy VI’s refusal to get going until it is good and ready deserves a lot of respect. Special mention should also be made for the music at this point, which is hands-down the finest score Nobuo Uematsu has ever composed. Period.

MIDI chip music notwithstanding, in many way the battle system and gameplay aspects are very dated these days, with the random battles occurring with such frequency that modern gamers would be forgiven for just giving up, and rightly so - but delve deeply into the game and persevere, as you will be rewarded with one of the finest stories that Square has ever produced, better than nearly every other Final Fantasy, and almost better than another, rather more highly scoring Square title in this list...

There has also never been a better bad guy in a Final Fantasy game than Kefka.

[Benny]

Previous previous post also edited, as I forgot to mention who picked some of those games as their favourite of all time!

[Fry Crayola]

Kudos on the effort, but the numbering being ever so slightly off kilter is gonna drive me mad. (should have been 100-96, 96-91, 90-86, you see).

[Benny]

Haha, whoops, yeah I did Virtues Last Reward as an extra on the first post as I just couldn't help myself. I'll do 4 next time though so we'll be back to sanity.

[Benny]

Had an argument with my landlord today, so to let off steam here's four more!

 

 

 

84. WWF: No Mercy

 

 

Original format: N64. Released: 2000

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 3.)

 

I only played this a few times on my N64 as a friend brought a copy round from time to time, so the main thing I remember is the insane and hilarious create a character feature. For some more words about how awesome it is, here’s emjay2kay:

“If there's a better wrestling game out there, I've never played it. It wasn't as flash as Smackdown on the PS2 or as pretty as Royal Rumble on the Dreamcast, but that didn't matter. It got the key thing about a wrestling game – the actual wrestling – spot on. The grapple system was perfect, as was the countering. There was a genuine depth to it that has been lacking from pretty much every wrestling game since, or at least the ones I've played. Wrestlers, holds and moves were animated brilliantly and everything had a certain weight to it that felt “real”. Smackdown was too arcadey for me – wrestlers bounced off the mat and hopped and jumped and sprawled out in ways that were like cartoons. But in No Mercy, it really looked and felt like you'd just slammed a guy who weights 22 stone to the ground and like it actually hurt. Everything else about No Mercy was pretty polished in my opinion, from the graphics, the game modes and to the fantastically detailed create-a-wrestler mode. Even the unlockables and the in-game shop were great. But it all comes down to the actual wrestling, and this was the closest to replicating “real” wrestling (no laughing!) as I've ever played.”

 

 

83. Portal 2

 

 

Original format: PC/PS3/Xbox360. Released: 2011

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 5.)

 

How do you improve upon perfection? Well, Valve might be the best served to answer this question, as Portal 2 expands upon the original to create a fully fledged, big budget brain teasing experience. The additions to the mechanics involving fluids complement rather than over complicate the design, and the narrative has been deftly expanded without losing too much of the whimsically dark and subtle humour that made the original so brilliant.

Bigger, not necessarily better, but very damn close.

 

 

82. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

 

 

Original format: Playstation 2. Released: 2004

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: 16. Number of votes: 4. Voted best game of all time by: rumblecat)

 

When San Andreas was released, the GTA series was already an absolute powerhouse. People queued up to buy it, and it was probably the biggest open world title yet. Previous titles in the series had limited players to just one city, but here they had an entire state to play around in. One of the game’s greatest pleasures was getting the police to chase you up the top of the highest mountain and jumping off, just because.

The amount of player freedom was unmatched for years to come, and the game still holds up today for the excellent soundtrack and sheer fun of it all. It also introduced bicycles, which was absolutely brilliant.

 

 

 

81. Journey

 

 

Original format: Playstation 3. Released: 2012

(2007 Rllmuk top 100 position: N/A. Number of votes: 7.)

 

I’m not going to say very much about Journey, because in all honesty it is just one of those titles that you have to experience to see why it is so beloved, and I'm also not going to use the best picture I can because the sense of discovery is a vital part of its magic. Some people argue that very few games achieve truly emotional experiences, but that can depend on your definition of what constitutes emotional. After all, many games elicit feelings of joy, sadness, frustration, pride, melancholy, triumph, suspicion, fear, despair, wonder, awe, curiosity, mirth, glee, abandon, contentment or camaraderie for a start...

Journey can make you feel all of them.

[Yobo Ahoy]

Good stuff Benny. I like the sound of FF12, might have to look into it (I've never really given the FF series the time of day due to the length and random battles). Has there been a HD re-release?

Obviously glad that Valkyria Chronicles scraped into the top 100 too.

[Plums]

This and the recent activity in the Dark Souls thread is causing a stirring in my long-torpid gaming instincts.

God. Mass Effect 2. What an absolute masterpiece of game design.

[Benny]

I like the sound of FF12, might have to look into it (I've never really given the FF series the time of day due to the length and random battles). Has there been a HD re-release?

Alas, not, so far. I really wish they had released that on Steam instead of XIII, and I would make a comment about Square Enix not giving fans what they want here, if it wasn't for the recent E3 remake megaton...

[David Kenny]

They did say before the re-release of X that any port of XII was dependent upon how well X did. Hopefully it did well enough for them to consider it.

[Soulstar]

I'm actually holding back on my copy of FFXII for the PS2 in hope that this game gets the HD treatment because I just missed out after finally finishing both X and X-2.