IGN Best Game Ever 2009? (many retro games featured)

It seems that IGN does this feature every other year and they did it in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and the readers seem to have their lists in 2006 and 2008. Haven't seen the list for this year but I did see the top 100 greatest video game makers ever. I think that there are a few, not many, games made in 2007-present that could get into the top 100, most notable Mass Effect, Bioshock, Fallout 3, and GTA IV.

Here is the top 20, and I think they nailed it, especially the #1 game everyone seems to forget.

1. Super Mario Bros - cement, nails, glue....this game is stuck here and for good reason. It doesn't have to be your favorite (it isn't mine), but it is the most important video game of all time and one that is actually still fun to play.

2. Tetris - the most definitive puzzle game ever and important for handheld gaming

3. Civilization II - I think ranked a little high, definately top 20, excellent series

4. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - the constant readers fave, ranked right where it supposed to

5. Super Mario 64 - the most important 3d platformer ever and it still holds up well today

6. Half Life 2 - I think it is ranked too high, a top 20 or 30 game though, excellent characters

7. Super Metroid - excellent game, I was shocked to see this game rated so highly, I thought people underrated it and there was not Metroid game until the Gamecube.

8. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - my fave SNES game, love the Dark World/ Light World theme which paved the way for Young and Adult Link in OOT.

9. Final Fantasy VI (III US) - the hands down best game of the definitive JRPG series, this was actually #56 in 2005, but after the release of the GBA port, many editors got to see how great this game really was, especially its story and characters. Think the readers say VII is the best, nope, they rated VI much higher in 2008 as well. Interesting note, Tactics is the 2nd highest rated FF game, IV next, and VII is #76.

10. Resident Evil 4 - ranked too high I believe, but it is still a wonderful game.

11. Starcraft - the definitive RTS, one that is still played a lot today. The Official Game of Korea....lol

12. Star Wars: Tie Fighter - never played, can't comment

13. Ms Pac Man - come on, its Pac Man!!!!!

14. Pirates! - an excellent retro game and its a snadbox game, love the ship to ship battles and the duels, trully one of Sid Meier's greats.

15. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - incredible game, helped perserve the series and spawned 6 clones!!!!

16. Shadow of the Colossus - epic, one of the riskiest games ever made, but hands down, the best PS2 game ever. Excellent battles with the colossi and an ending so epic I just cannot put into words....

17. Super Mario World - launched in my opinion the best console in history, the SNES and what a start it was.

18. Chrono Trigger - usually #2 in the reader's list, I think no other JRPG plays better than this and the time travel narrative as well as the story, art direction, and characters make this game truly excellent, should be ranked even higher (maybe not as high as FFVI though)

19. Doom - brought FPS to the mainstream although this game is ravaged by the test of time, but I was a fanatic for this game when I was younger

20. Metal Gear Solid - Should be ranked higher, excellent return for Snake although the story is messy in the later games, who here has played the NES Metal Gear?

I don't think there should be very much movement on the top 20, but three games recently released do have a shot

Mass Effect - probably the best game of this generation, despite its flaws, excellent story and mythos, great characters, and great environments. For reference, Knights of the Old Republic is ranked #27, Mass Effect is better and was ranked recently as the best 360 game, it will be high on the list next time guaranteed

Bioshock - another excellent game with an epic story, characters, and environment. System Shock 2 is #22 on the list and while it is a truly great, but underrated, game, Bioshock is better, definite top 25 or 30.

Fallout 3 - game of the year last year and iGN's GOTY as well, the original Fallout was #33 on the list

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So what do you think moves into the list and moves out?

I'm suprised that MGS made the top 20. It's a great game, but no where near the best. I also think Super Mario 64 is a little too highly rated. Good to see the Halo series outside the top 20. Very much overated. [Edit] Do you have a link for this? Sorry, I couldn't find anything on Google or the IGN site.Raiko101

Well, I agree with the #1 spot, but...Half-Life 2's plot made no sense whatsoever to me and 2 hours in I had a pistol and that's it(no big weapons, no decent plot, no enemy variety, no fun. D=), Starcraft was pretty crappy IMO(Warcraft III is SO much better...=/ A shame people see the guns and go "OOH, MUST BE BETTER!".) and...Final Fantasy VI? I've never played it, and none of my FF-addicted friends(I have three or four...XD) talk about it like it's anything special, and from what I see the selling point of it is an evil clown being in it(Much like The Dark Knight)...XD And Shadow Of The Colossus...please don't get me started on that, the only good thing about that was the graphics...

These lists are always full of average Joe games, and and always, extremely predictable.-Pred-Alien-

Not necessarily. I know I certainly didn't expect tetris to be #2, and I was surprised not to see FF7 on there at all. Oh, and I was glad to see Shadow of the Colossus on their even though I wasn't expecting it.

Well, I agree with the #1 spot, but...Half-Life 2's plot made no sense whatsoever to me and 2 hours in I had a pistol and that's it(no big weapons, no decent plot, no enemy variety, no fun. D=), Starcraft was pretty crappy IMO(Warcraft III is SO much better...=/ A shame people see the guns and go "OOH, MUST BE BETTER!".) and...Final Fantasy VI? I've never played it, and none of my FF-addicted friends(I have three or four...XD) talk about it like it's anything special, and from what I see the selling point of it is an evil clown being in it(Much like The Dark Knight)...XD And Shadow Of The Colossus...please don't get me started on that, the only good thing about that was the graphics...

enix165

The only thing good about shadow of the colossus was the graphics? So, the amazing boss fights weren't cool? lol.

I thought the game was magnificent. Little story, but didn't need one. That game has some of the best boss design and art directionthis decade. IGN was one of the only sites to rate the game so high (9.7) but I think the game deserved it.

LOL @ no fighting games mentioned, no Super Mario RPG, and no Punch Out... plus StarCraft should have been higher- and SMB is definitely NOT the best game ever... it can be beaten in like 10 minutes... maybe the most revolutionary game, but far from the best.

[QUOTE="enix165"]

Well, I agree with the #1 spot, but...Half-Life 2's plot made no sense whatsoever to me and 2 hours in I had a pistol and that's it(no big weapons, no decent plot, no enemy variety, no fun. D=), Starcraft was pretty crappy IMO(Warcraft III is SO much better...=/ A shame people see the guns and go "OOH, MUST BE BETTER!".) and...Final Fantasy VI? I've never played it, and none of my FF-addicted friends(I have three or four...XD) talk about it like it's anything special, and from what I see the selling point of it is an evil clown being in it(Much like The Dark Knight)...XD And Shadow Of The Colossus...please don't get me started on that, the only good thing about that was the graphics...

StephenBassford

The only thing good about shadow of the colossus was the graphics? So, the amazing boss fights weren't cool? lol.

I thought the game was magnificent. Little story, but didn't need one. That game has some of the best boss design and art directionthis decade. IGN was one of the only sites to rate the game so high (9.7) but I think the game deserved it.

I personally think that Donkey Kong Country 2 and Little Nemo: The Dream Master should have made the list, but it was decently accurate.

Too many over-rated Nintendo games here. Move along, people.