TLDR. I know, I know.This is more of tribute to the games which have really left an impact on me more than anything. Its long enough by itself, so I'll get right into it. If for some ungodly reason you do decide to read it I hope you enjoy it. There might be slight spoilers, so careful if I mention a game you are still playing/planning to play.

Top Ten Games of All Time:

10. Planetside:

What can I say? It was the first game to get massively multiplayer online first person shooters right, and then promptly screw it all up. Regardless, the game was just so freakin fun. I have so many good memories of the over 400 player battles that I really cant be too harsh on it. Not to mention the huge variety of roles your character could take on while out on the battlefield. To me its easily the closest any game has come to fulfilling a persistent online war. Pity more people didnt jump into the fray. Planetside, /em salute

9. Front Mission 3:

Turn-based strategy. Mecha. A complex story filled with enough political intrigue to make even Political Science majors scream for their mommies. Can one really ask for more?! Doubtful. FM3 delivers solid gameplay, two distinctly different storylines, customizable units, and a genuinely interesting story. Combined with a somewhat unique setting for a turn-based strat, its an instant classic.

8. Shenmue:

Mix a kung fu movie, an epic novel, an RPG, and those cool little toy dispensers they have outside grocery stores and what do you get? Shenmue, the first game to get the real, breathing world concept right. Shenmues world is both believable and fictitious all in the same breath, but it all lends itself to portraying a classic story of vengeance in a better, more evocative way than is usually realized.

7. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic:

Talking strictly about the first game here. The second game is excellent as well, but I cant get past the disappointment I feel after seeing how rushed the ending is. Regardless, KOTOR is simply the best Star Wars game on the market, and one of the best RPGs in existence. Giving the player the ability to follow either the light or dark side of the force, and letting the players own decisions have a critical effect on the games complex and surprising storyline catapults it into 7th place.

6. Fallout 2:

Fallout 2 was doing the whole open ended and free roaming deal before it was even cool. What it lacks in the graphical department is more than compensated for with by a fun tactical combat system, which is most notably characterized by the horrible mutilation of your enemies, and an interesting storyline which is again a reflection of the players own actions. Post apocalyptic debauchery has never been better!

5. Final Fantasy Tactics:

The best Final Fantasy game without question. In terms of story, gameplay, and depth, few other games are of the same caliber as FFT. Although not as widely received because of its Strategy RPG roots, it has become the defining game for SRPGs as a whole. It was the game which first got me hooked to the SRPG genre and there have been few which have even come close to challenging it ( FM3 being one of the only and possibly Disgaea which I somehow missed getting. :-/). Its incredibly fleshed out class system, hours of enjoyable gameplay, and intense plot ensure it will always remain one of the best.

4. Star Ocean the Second Story:

A juggernaut of a game, SO2 succeeds where so many others fail, character development. If I could Id make Private Actions (PA), small events which allow you to influence your party members relationships, a requirement for almost every RPG.

Influenced by these PAs is one of the most unique features in the game. The endings you recieve are directly linked to the relationships your characters have developed with one another. With 12 different characters who can join your party (But only 8 of which can join you per play through), it equals out to approximately 85 different endings in total, each of which does a vivid job in portraying life after the games events. Needless to say, it has immense replayability. All of this, and not forgetting to mention the games hugely important and interesting crafting system and fast paced battles. Theres just SOOO much to do it will blow your mind!

3. Suikoden 2:

No more epic a series exists than that of Suikoden. Spanning five games already and with a sixth planned, Suikoden tells the tale of the True Runes, magical items which grant their users immortality and a variety of special abilities. The games focus on how the users of the True Runes are able to manipulate the world around them for better or for worse. In each game you play a chosen one of sorts, one whose fate is directly tied to the True Runes, and in each you inevitably end up with an army of followers and clingers-on, capping out at over 108 recruitable members per game.

I love all the games but one in particular stands out to me, Suikoden 2. Featuring my favorite cast of the series, along with one of the best villains in video game history in Luca Blight (How can a guy with the last name Blight not be badass?), the games fun traditional six member combat, and a story which reaches truly epic proportions propels Suikoden 2 comfortably into 3rd place.

2. Chrono Trigger:

Pure time travelin goodness, Chrono Trigger is the game which I accredit my passion for games to. It was THE game that got me addicted. To put it as simply as possible, Chrono Trigger is the Mona Lisa of video games, an ageless gem which I truly consider to be a masterpiece. While the story itself may not have been the most complex, it featured characters who you could really care for and created a world that was not limited by even time itself.

Along the journey you find yourself traveling back and forth through time, and perhaps the most innovative feature is that your actions in the past will have ramifications throughout the rest of history. Its captivating to see how just one little event you accomplish in one era will affect all those after it. Throw in a memorable music score, multiple endings, along with a fun combat system and you have one of the best games ever made.

1. Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete:

Equally imaginative and equally touching, the Lunar remakes tie for number one for very specific reasons. The Lunar games are all at once deep, emotional games which really pull at your heartstrings and yet are totally able to prevent themselves from taking things too seriously. Each revolves around the relationship which develops between the main hero and heroine as they endure a number of ordeals, and I can easily say that its the some of the most romantic storytelling Ive seen in any sort of media short of Shakespeare. Heck, its almost too ideal. However, all at the same time the game is littered with enough perverted undertones and comedy to keep it from falling into the trap of being too lovey-dovey. Besides that, both games are also valuable tools in teaching the importance of always having plenty of soap on hand ;D (Ah, who am I kidding, I doubt anyone who reads this is actually gonna get that one).While it is inherently more linear than a number of other games on this list, Lunar does what it sets out to accomplish so amazingly well that it is equally as inspiring as it is fun.

With epic storylines that emphasize the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity, two of the best soundtracks I have ever heard in any video game, battles which are both challenging and fun, and character development on a level beyond what I had before thought possible the Lunar remakes easily take first, and it will take something truly incredible to unseat them.

Yarrr! Thar be me favorite games. In retrospect, I = RPG whore. If you made it through all that, I'm really impressed. I underestimated you O_O. Hope you enjoyed at least some part of it. Here's a cookie, now go have fun. :)