A very thought-provoking thread here. I think that this is one of those threads that's going to have various different combinations, as the term "masterpiece" can be different from person to person. For me, a masterpiece has to either set a standard for its time and/or be the standard now that many other games try to reach. A masterpiece also has to be able to have all of the tools to survive the test of time and still appeal to new generations of gamers down the line. With that in mind, here's my list.
Super Mario Bros./Super Mario Bros. 3: While I'm aware of the importance of Donkey Kong and what it did to put Nintendo on the map, Super Mario Bros. is the game that we all associate with Nintendo more than any other. It should almost be an obligation for any new gamer to play SMB and realize what video games are supposed to be. The skill-based platforming that's very easy to get into, the secrets, the power-ups... these things may have evolved over the years, but it's still with the original game that brings it all together so well. As for Super Mario Bros. 3, this was Halo 3 twenty years ago in terms of hype, but more importantly than that, it took everything that made the first game so loved and just took it to a new level. The game's creative level design is still a blast to behold to this day, and with new power-ups that involved flying, swiming, and everything in between, it really did improve upon the original in just about everyway. In my opinion, SMB3 is still the greatest sequel ever made for any franchise (along with other props I could give it now, but won't).
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: I think it's only fair that a Zelda game before it hit 3D gets on this list, and while the original is the original, LttP is the pinnacle of Zelda 2D design. I think the move to the SNES benefitted this series far more than it did Mario, and it was really able to displaying the 2D Zelda gameplay in a more intuitive manner. Add the fact that the game included a map, new items, and better of ways of managing and using the older items, like bombs, arrows, and Rupees, and I think this is what Zelda was intended to be when the series debuted. Plus, the Light/Dark worlds really added a feel to it that has been imitated by later Zelda games, but still not quite duplicated.
Pokemon: Outside of Tetris, which could be considered a masterpiece in its own right, this series did more for the Gameboy and Nintendo's portable dominance than any other. It's more than just the craze that Pokemon was at one time, though. The game itself was able to show RPGs in a whole new light through actually giving players more incentive to play the game than just merely beating the main story. The multiplayer aspect of Pokemon offers something that no other major RPG is able to give without changing the well-established formula of those games. The idea of being able to put together countless teams of Pokemon and use them as you will was a brilliant move, and I'm glad to see that it's still improving as the series moves on.
Super Mario 64: Well, what can you say? It's Mario gone 3-D. If most you out there are like me, you were scared out of your mind, thinking about what disasters this could have caused. Yet, somehow, Miyamoto and company put together a Mario adventure that would change the landscape of 3D gaming the same way SMB changed the landscape of gaming over a decade earlier. It was Mario at its core, but it was also relief and proof that 3-D gaming could be just as enjoyable as 2-D gaming. For that alone, this game will always have a place in history.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Whereas SM64 was the blueprint for 3D gaming, OoT was the revised blueprint that was able to straighten up any crooked areas that were left behind. Yeah, the story was great, but in the whole scope of things, that's the least of what this Zelda game was able to do. Without Z-targeting, who knows where combat in adventure games would be to this day? Plus, the game's massive scale really did make it feel like more than it was, while still being an exceptionally enjoyable experience. On top of that, the whole Ocarina idea was pretty darn smart, if you ask me! :P
Metroid Prime: That's right, Samus, I haven't forgotten about you! I didn't know which 2-D Metroid game to put on the list, as they've all had slightly different qualities that make them standout, but it's not hard to include Prime in this list at all? Seriously, a first person Metroid? Sounds like a bad idea for a platforming/action game, and somehow, this game pulled it off big-time! Simply put, to this day, Prime feels like an adventure where it's just you and nothing but danger. And yet, it still looks so beautiful, and you really have to admire the artistic talent of those at Retro Studios at providing such a feel. I also have to give a nod to MP3 for not only maintaining the standard, but showing how well Wii controls can be used in the hands of the right developers.
Super Mario Galaxy: In a nutshell, I could sum up this game through math: Super Mario 64+Super Mario Bros. 3= Super Mario Galaxy. In my opinion, this is in many ways the SMB 3 of Mario's 3D adventures. Just as important, though, Super Mario Galaxy proves that the Wii itself can provide games just as memorable as any other system out there and doesn't have to be confined to making games for one audience/demographic. SMG does a superb job of feeling new and bold, but will stop to offer that sense of nostalgia at the right moments. I think we all feared about the planet-traveling gameplay and everything, but it's now safe to say that it really did open things up. And who knew gravity could be used so well?
I honestly would have liked to include more games, but this is good enough I think. Seriously, though, it was fun coming up with this list.
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