My Top 5

[LTAshler]

Featuring a deep progression system and one of the most balanced and realistic experiences on the market, it truly boggles my mind that Call of Duty sold better.

Realistic? I disagree there. The game is far from being the most true to life war game on the market. Have you seen that game that requires you actually operate every facet of a tank? I'm talking, pulling leavers, entering distance and wind calculations, manually loading the projectiles - it goes on.

You find me a more realistic shooter other than OF: Dragon rising or G.R.A.W. and I will give you a virtual cookie. BC2's sniping has freaking bullet drop for crying out loud. Also, you WANT to have to operate every facet of a helo/tank /manually/ /with/ a 360 controller?!? Wat?

 

[distortedreality]

Me thinks this thread is proof the escapists are subconsciously is really missing Lisa Foiles.

You hit my nail on the head.

Or something...

 

[LTAshler]

Featuring a deep progression system and one of the most balanced and realistic experiences on the market, it truly boggles my mind that Call of Duty sold better.

Realistic? I disagree there. The game is far from being the most true to life war game on the market. Have you seen that game that requires you actually operate every facet of a tank? I'm talking, pulling leavers, entering distance and wind calculations, manually loading the projectiles - it goes on.

You find me a more realistic shooter other than OF: Dragon rising or G.R.A.W. and I will give you a virtual cookie. BC2's sniping has freaking bullet drop for crying out loud. Also, you WANT to have to operate every facet of a helo/tank /manually/ /with/ a 360 controller?!? Wat?

I didn't say I wanted to, I said Bad Company 2 is not a realistic game and that there are more true to life games out there.

Such as?

 

[DirgeNovak]

1- Jak II
2- Fallout 3
3- Mass Effect 2
4- Devil May Cry 3
5- Ratchet & Clank: Up your Arsenal

Best. games. ever.

 

[janerowdy]

1-Planetside
2-Unreal Tournament
3-Age of Wonders
4-Fallout 3
5-Command and Conquer 2: Tiberian Sun

 

[Croesus_Hubris]

1. Earthbound
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Resident Evil 4
4. Mass Effect 2
5. Rome: Total War

 

[Zhadramekel]

1) Super Mario 64 DS (one of the first games I ever played, both in terms of the original and the DS remake. The DS version takes my number 1 spot because the two are the same game but with more missions, better graphics and you can play as Yoshi and I love that little green dino)

2) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (this didn't get my number 1 spot only because I've never played it. I've only ever watched my older brother play it back in the N64 days. I'm super-psyched for the 3D version this month though)

3) The World Ends With You (one of the few games I can play repeatedly without getting bored of it. The only drawback for me is I can't use Mingle Mode because I can never access WiFi)

4) Pokemon games (I just love them, age assumptions regardless)

5) Sonic the Hedgehog (the Sega MegaDrive was the first console I ever owned except for perhaps a GameBoy Colour which I only had for about a week)

 

[AyreonMaiden]

Individual games?

5: The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind - A living island is your playground, but not in the GTA manner where you can just kill with no huge consequences. This game is tough due to its gameplay model, but once you play long enough to know how to enchant a Restore Fatigue shirt or amulet, you'll feel so rewarded. This is a game that encourages exploration and survival, on top of having one of the most unique settings I've ever seen in an RPG.


4: Yakuza 2 - This game has my favorite gameplay model, short of the Zelda games, of all time. A smallish chunk of city, but my God if it isn't a living, breathing chunk of city. You can explore the city in a more intimate way than the big sandboxes, letting you enter goofy shops, talk to random people, and get into brawls. Tells an awesome story full of badass moments, has sidequests and minigames out the ass and around the corner, and a sweet fighting system to put it all together. One of the most complete games I'm STILL playing.


3: Killer7 - This game is so fucking amazing. It's the most effective simulation of what it's like to enter the mind of an insane person and see how he views conflicts and geopolitics. Oozed style, had the perfect gameplay for its fantastically out-there story, creepy visuals, phenomenal music...awesome adventure.


2: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - The game that got me into videogames. Not much more needs to be said about that, but I'll try. This game consumed my life as a child; this game taught me English, seeped into my dreams, and just would not let go. When I beat it, I fell into a two-week long depressive state where I had no idea what else to do with my life.

But if my #2 made me as a gamer and inspired nostalgia...

1: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - ...my #1 game of all time deconstructed the legend and infused it with an unprecedented amount of maturity that holds up even today. MM and OoT are honestly a hair's width apart on this list, but I give the edge to Majora's Mask for having created the most convincing apocalypse scenario I've ever seen in gaming, and it did it entirely out of fantastical elements. I cared for every NPC, I wanted to make them happy. Knowing I couldn't gave the story such an edge...and so unintentionally, as the main point of the 3-days cycle was just to conserve processing power...but holy crap, it worked so many wonders for the story. My best game of all time.

 

[comadorcrack]

KotoR
Pokemon B/R
Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction
Megaman 2
MGS 3: Snake Eater

 

[fenrizz]

This list is prone to change over time.
But these are my current all time top 5 list:

* Portal
* Final Fantasy IX
* GTA 3: San Andreas
* Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
* Pokemon Blue/Red

 

[staika]

1) Saints row (1&2)
2) Legend of Zelda Ocarina of time
3) Fallout 3
4) Mass Effect (the series)
5) Ratchet and Clank (the series)

I like RPG's and games that are just mindless destruction with cool weapons, Saints row fits both of the criteria so it's my number one. As for the Legend of Zelda, it was just the greatest classic of a game I've ever played and I still go back and replay it all the time to remind myself how good it is.

 

[LewHammer]

This thread really made me think. I've been playing games over some generations for a good 20+ years and it's so hard to pick just 5 that i like the best. But here goes...

5. Another World/Out Of This World

I couldn't help but think of this game while doing this list. It is not very often mentioned anymore but really should be. It has an artistic style way ahead of it's time and an emotive story which is told so well without any words. Truly an innovative game and does not get the recognition it deserves. Not bad considering it was made by one man playing with polygons for two years...

4. Grand Theft Auto 3/VC/SA

The PS2's finest games. Defined the sandbox genre and featured great action and storylines. 'Nuff said.

3. Left 4 Dead 2

I love a good zombie apocalypse. The gameplay of this is incredible and co-operative in a truly solid and definate way. You work together or you die. I've had so many more hours of enjoyment from this game than any other in recent times. There's not a lot i do better with my evenings these days than get together with my best friends on L4D2, and i do so on a weekly basis. Kill all sons o' bitches; That's my official instructions.

2. Portal 2

Unique and enthralling. I probably don't need to say a lot about this as it came out about a month ago, you may be well informed. I loved the first game and was left not wanting but NEEDING more, and this was a lot more than anyone could have possibly imagined.

1. Metal Gear Solid

This game changed everything. The stealth based action gameplay of it had never been done so well before, challenging the way people play action/adventure games. One of the greatest stories ever told, and told with more emotion than any game had before and few have since. The characters and their voice actors are brilliant. It has a unique artistic styling. It is one of the most revolutionary games of all time and my personal all time greatest game, and probably always will be.

(This list took a really long time)

 

[TheAmokz]

1. Max Payne
2. Europa Universalis 3
3. Victoria II
4. Hearts of Iron 2
5. Red Dead Redemption

 

[putowtin]

1: Assassin's Creed (series)
2: Saint's Row (series)
3: KotOR (series)
4: inFamous (soon to be series!)
5: Luxor.... joke!

 

[Inkidu]

My Top 5 and Why:

5. Dead Rising 2. It's a game that knows what it's about, but it kind of gives you a sucker punch of deep thought every now and again. Sure, you could not give Katey the Zombrex, and your game would end, but how many people are really so cold as to do that more than once in earnest? Plus the whole TiR thing. People watching bloodsport for kicks? Make you think a little. Obvious technical and programing upgrades as well.

4. Metro 2033. Yes it's linear, but in a day and age where everything has to have an obvious morality system Metro 2033 stands way apart. It's one of the few truly subtle games I've played. Sure you can have a rip-roaring time shooting fleshy things, however looking out on a frozen landscape in a game that boldly leaves you guessing for all the right reasons. Metro just can't be topped.

3. Mass Effect (series). A good, solid, and fun series that really tries to improve. The characters are cool, and the universe is well thought out. Plus the more time you spend with it you know it gets deeper and more enriched because of the continuation from one game to the next.

2. Fallout 3: I got to give respect to the first two games in the series, but Fallout 3 kind of through a life preserver. I can't say with certainty but I feel as though the Fallout series was on the brink of becoming too obscure, but for all it's faults (most of them fan complaints) Fallout 3 renewed interest in a rich and compelling world, plus the graphical quality really brought out the uniqueness of the Fallout games.

1. Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. In a lot of ways it was a break from the Link to the Past formula. Plus (blasphemy alert) I think it's a vastly superior game to Ocarina of Time. Sure it doesn't exactly mesh with the Zelda games before that, but that was the point. I'll admit the reason Link was there was tripe but the everything before that is so much better than Ocarina.

The world was deeper, it wasn't just a space to explore between dungeons. The dungeons were harder (especially if you wanted the fairies). Plus it was a return to the bad-ass twelve-year-old kid who saves the world without having to grow up. Which, when you're a kid... kind of rocks.

 

[itsausernamewhatofit]

In no particular order (because I couldn't decide on one)
Assassin's Creed (the series)

Halo (the series)

Almost all of the MGS series, my favorites being:
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (yes I know plenty of people like the original better but I prefer this one)
and
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (best portable game I've played)

Battlefield Bad Co. 2 (my favorite multiplayer FPS)

COD 4

 

[Baron_Rouge]

A difficult choice...mine probably goes something like

1. Red Dead Redemption- For solid gameplay mechanics and beautiful graphics combined with characters I actually cared about, an epic story of redemption, and some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in a game.

2. Civilization V- For balanced gameplay, lasting appeal and incredible addictiveness

3. Uncharted 2- Beautiful environments, intuitive platforming and action controls, and quality storytelling, enough that the story didn't actually feel ridiculous when I was playing it (although looking back, it certainly was)

4. Fallout 3/New Vegas- Can't really decide between the two...I know New Vegas is better in pretty much every way, but Fallout 3 blew me away when it came out. In any case, a beautifully barren apocalyptic wasteland to explore, bursting with character and some genuinely funny moments.

5. Spyro 2- I know this is probably just the nostalgia talking, 'cause this was the first video game I ever owned, but it was a damn good platformer, and I still had good fun replaying it fairly recently. It really needs to be released on the Playstation store.