At a newyears party, I got talking to my mates about the current state of the industry, their nostalgic favorites and what they are currently playing. Based on all that, we started discussing what series we liked the most. With so much out there, its sometimes hard to choose. So what are your choices? From any era from the 2600 days to current high end PCs, what are your top 10 favorite videogame series in descending order? It would be cool if you wanted to write a little about why you picked why you did for those who might not know the ones you mention. Also it could be helpful if you mention the system(s) that most of the games in the series appeared on. Basically, copy my format ;D
#10 Bare Knuckle [Streets of Rage] (Genesis) - Your friend has been kidnapped by bad dudes! Are your knuckles bare enough to recuse your friend? Beat 'em ups are always fun, but for me the ultimate in challenge and fun was always the Streets of Rage games, epically SoR 2. I highly recommend these games as a great companion to pizza and beer nights with your mates.
#9 [Akumajou Dracula [Castlevania] (NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, DS) - You must go kill Dracula. Again. The platformer Castlevania games have evolved greatly over the years. Ever since Symphony of the Night, I truly feel Konami was able to steal almost all of Super Metroid's wind and even almost exact SotN clones like Aria of Sorrow were still a blast to play through.
#8 Parodius (SFC, Saturn) - Side scolling shooter that is a parody of Gradius. Yes that's right, the Parodius games are quite literally little more than silly Gradius clones, but they are done with so much attention to detail you can't help but love them. Although none of them were ever released in the Americas, they all hit Japan of course as well as much of Europe. Import if you can.
#7 Tales of... (pretty much everything since the SNES) - Action RPGs that usually have you save the world for some reason and learn something about yourself along the way. I typically get bored of RPGs because they often come off as low paced and sometimes, downright boring. The Tales games are always anything but. With an active battle system that sometimes play out battles as a cross between a button masher and a 2D platformer, the Tales games are a real favorite of mine.
#6 Katamari Damacy (PS2, Xbox 360) - The King of all Cosmos has destroyed all the stars, so he sends you, the prince, to Earth to roll up various objects into balls so the King can turn them into new stars. What a strange concept. You can't help but scratch your head on how someone came up with this game, but once you play it you'll want to thank them. For me, Katamari is a great stress reliever, what with the total lack of violence and the calming crazy j-pop. And the King of all Cosmos is the most bazaar character ever invented for anything.
#5 Donkey Kong Country (SNES/GBA) - These games are all about Donkey Kong and his buddies doing the Mario thing and traveling about in a 2D sidescroller. Call me crazy, but I think the DKC games were better platformers than the actual SNES Mario ones! They control great, they look great even today, and they have awesome music. Dave Wise is brilliant. DKC2 is one of my all time favorites.
#4 The Chikyū Bōeigun [Earth Defense Force] (PS2, Xbox 360) - Here's a weird series that most of you probably have never heard of. In this third person shooter, Aliens have invaded the earth and its up to you to stop them. Except that rather than green martins, you face off against giant ants, spiders, robots and UFOs. They play like a total parody of 1950s sci-fi horror movies. The first two titles were quietly released both Japan and Europe, but never the US. The European names for 1 and 2 were released until the titles Monster Attack and Global Defense Force. EDF2017 was released for the 360 in the west, but is in many ways more of a remake of Monster Attack than it is a sequel to Global Defense Force If you want to try something novel, have a modded PS2 and a TV that can display PAL, then give Global Defense Force a try.
#3 Gyakuten Saiban [Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney] (GBA/NDS) - Who would've thought a lawyer sim could possibly be fun? You play as young defense attorney Phoenix Wright and must prove your client's innocence by using logic/obscure guesses with the evidence your given and you find. The series was originally released on the GBA in Japan, but all three games were ported to the DS before a fourth, DS exclusive was made. This is a great series for people who like adventure games, logic solvers, or believe it or not, women.
#2 Dead or Alive (Xbox/Xbox 360) Story? Uh...there's this company called DOA-Tech, and they want to make an army of ninja soldiers because.....ah, fuck it. The Dead or Alive games are about little more than tits and flashy graphics. Well, at least on the surface. Or at first glance. Or second glance. Or third. Or.....well eventually once you get over this, you'll come to realize the Dead or Alive series is actually one of the better non weapon based fighters out there. The graphics are fantastic, even the older Xbox titles, and becides, what other game allows you to play as bikini-clad ninjas? Nope, I can't think of one either!
#1 Rockman [Megaman] (NES/SNES) - You're a robot and you blow shit up, Any questions? First and foremost, I'm a huge Rockman fan. So much so that I even kinda like the Battle Network Series, and that's saying something. The platformers have such great replay value that they are fun to learn and master. Just I love robots. Who doesn't right?
If you read all of mine, kudos to you. Now please post yours!
Cheers.
Top 5:
5. Wizardry
4. The FC/SFC Zeldas.(-zelda 2.)
3. http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/games.htm (http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/games.htm) The John Defoe quadrilogy. YOU MUST PLAY THEM IN THIS ORDER: 5 Days a Stranger, 7 Days a Skeptic, Trilby's Notes, and 6 Days a Sacrifice.
2. the Touhou and Gradius Series Tie for this spot.
1. Rockman(FC only). The music, the level design... Everything about these games is perfect.
7. Crysis series (PC)
Yeah, you read right! The Crysis series is the most advanced and most polished FPS experience out there. It's also the most fun and the only FPS that I've enjoyed since Half-Life. Story time, I was playing Crysis back when it first came out and was in the latter part of the game. I was pinned down by a large enemy force and they had a chopper hounding me all across this huge field. Finally I was able to find a safe haven underneath a small bush. The chopper was right over me so I loaded some incendiary rounds and took a chance. One shot hit the rear rotor and sent the chopper into a tail spin. Another shot hit the missiles on the underside and blew the whole thing up. Two shots... one great game. Warhead is even better than the original. Everyone should play it, it's the only FPS out there that will make you think.
6. Grand Theft Auto series (PC - seriously... don't play it anywhere else)
ScrewAttack recently made an observation in one of their Video Game Vaults (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43960.html) that there were in fact GTA games prior to GTA III... who'd have think it? When I was younger I have fond memories of blazing through the cities on the Superbike and blowing up everything with the tank. Who knew that a several years later we'd be playing in a fully realized version of Liberty City as a slightly whiny Eastern European? There's nothing quite like loading up and running headlong into a bustling city with the ability to make every crazy fantasy you've ever had come true.
5. Star Fox series (Nintendo - Various)
Hello? Nintendo? It's me, Pat... we need to have a talk. I noticed that you've gone and utterly destroyed one of my favorite games. Look dude, you had it right with Star Fox 64. You managed to fix all the problems with the first game and make it better. Not many people can say they've done that which is why I don't understand why you insist on fixing what isn't broken! In what world did you think that making a fantastic arcade space shooter into a mediocre not-so-arcadey tank/on-foot shooter was a good idea? Seriously guys... I want to fly my Arwing through space and over land and shoot stuff. And sometimes, just for laughs, I wouldn't mind driving a Landmaster once or twice and that thing with the Blue Marine was nifty for a change. But guys, STAR Fox... space... never put me on foot ever or I'll take that foot and shove it where the sun don't shine.
4. Final Fantasy series (Various)
It's Final Fantasy, what more needs to be said? But really, I'm a major major fan of games that use the ATB system and Final Fantasy is what introduced me to it. To me, an RPG just doesn't feel right if it doesn't use some form of the ATB system... and I mean a close relative, not something that's so far gone from ATB that they could have kids together and not get strange looks from family members. Along with a fairly decent stories and memorable characters the Final Fantasy series is definitely one of my favorites. Now... which one is better... six or seven... or maybe nine...
3. Myst series (PC)
Hopefully this entry will help me regain the respect I lost with my previous two entries! I love Myst, I love Adventure Games but I especially love Myst. What could be better than playing a game and having to bring a pad of paper with you to keep all your things in order? When I play games I want to think and I want to be challenged. My hands and fingers don't move as fast as I wish they could so these games that let me use my brain instead of my reaction time to decide how well I do. The Myst games also have a compelling story and they are gorgeous! It's more like a work of art than a game. Anyone who says they are a game and has not played Myst is selling themselves short.
2. Mario series (Nintendo - Various)
Hey it's Mario. Probably the first game I ever played... that I can recall. This series is one of my favorites because of a pretty solid lineup of platformers (I love platforming!) and because of Mario Paint. Mario Paint... yes... my most favorite game on the SNES. I spent so much of my childhood playing Mario Paint that I should probably be committed. You've got composer, animation, and, oh yeah, painting! Mario and his platforming are great, you can't not love it! But his art studio is even better.
1. Zelda series (Nintendo - Various)
I like my Zelda, it's a good blend of action and adventure and I guess that's why the classify it as Action Adventure. The feeling I got when I played Ocarina of Time for the first time on the Nintendo 64 was something I still can't match today (not for any lack of trying, mind you). I'd played the top-down games for years but man, that first foray into the world of 3D was really something... With any luck our good friend Ganondorf will be back in the future and kicking but like he should be.
Top 5...
5. Metroid - I'm not sure why...but it's just a fun, challenging series
4. Katamari Series - WHY? Because you get to run around the WORLD with a BALL that makes stuff MAGICALLY STICK TO IT. nuff said
3. Super Smash Bros. (If it is a "series") - All my favorite Nintendo (and Sega) character(s) mindlessly pitted against each other for an unclear reason... It's awesome solely for that reason and many others.
2. Pokemon Color Series (Yellow, blue, ruby, diamond, etc.) - The Pokemon Color series is, IMO, the best RPG series ever. I don't care what anyone says. It just is.
1. Mario Series - All the Mario games, not just platformers, but sports games too. Except the baseball ones. I don't like baseball in real life either...Strange that they haven't ever made a football game yet...
Top 2, in no particular order: Castlevania, Splatterhouse.
So far Gradius, but I've only played the first two
In no particular order my favorite series are Zelda, Super Mario and Rockman.
Quote from: nintendodork on January 02, 2009, 08:19:41 pm
Pokemon
Oh yeah I forgot about Pokemon. I am forever in love with Pokemon Crystal. Not anything after it though.
Quote from: Rogles on January 03, 2009, 07:41:59 am
Not anything after it though.
Gotta catch 'em all, though. ;D
All that are in Crystal, yes.
Crystal is the best in the series.
Argue and you are lying. 8)
Crystal was awesome...it had MOVING SPRITES!! :D
I really liked Sapphire though..
Meh.
I think every set of two had an inferior one.
Blue, Silver, Sapphire, Pearl.
Yeah.
I tink Crystal is the best.
You could be blue instead of red, there were moving sprites, and you could get TWO eggs instead of just the one.
I didn't really see any major differences between ruby-sapphire, blue-red, etc. other than a few different Pokemon...and in Blue-Red the color of the whole screen..
Yeah... But in Crystal, you get Kanto AND Johto, all the Pokemon up to that point, (as was previously mentioned), animated sprites, and remixed music. I can still remember the theme when you fight red...
You could get Kanto and Johto in gold and silver, too...
But that's beside the point, crystal was just more fun ;D
I grew up playing Pokemon games, and for some reason I just couldn't get into Crystal...I kept playing Silver instead. But in my opinion, the best GB pokemon games are Blue/Red/Green, Ruby, Silver. These are the ones I played the most with. :P
I agree with keiffer..I liked Silver alot after my cousin erased my AWESOME profile on Gold...
Quote from: nintendodork on January 03, 2009, 12:51:31 pm
I didn't really see any major differences between ruby-sapphire, blue-red, etc.
Are you blind? Red is obviously the superior game!
What's a major difference between it and blue?
Quote from: PatMan33 on January 03, 2009, 06:29:48 pm
Quote from: nintendodork on January 03, 2009, 12:51:31 pm
I didn't really see any major differences between ruby-sapphire, blue-red, etc.
Are you blind? Red is obviously the superior game!
I thought blue was. :P Maybe just because I liked the cartridge color more and because it was the first Pokemon game I ever played. 8)
Quote from: nintendodork on January 03, 2009, 06:39:19 pm
What's a major difference between it and blue?
I think the totally awesome difference is fairly obvious.
...yellow is crap. Am I alone in thinking this?
You are completely alone.
The third in each group tends to be the best. :P
Yellow better than Blue and Red in a number of ways.
-Multi-colored screens!
-Previously game exclusive Pokemon are now in one place.
-Sprites are 10000x better.
-You can trade Pokemon between Red, Blue, and Yellow
but yellow lacks the greatest Pokémon of them all:
#000 MISSINGNO.!
Red/Blue are so glitchy, they are the greatest portable RPGs ever.
also, this has gone way off topic. You're suppose to post what your favorite series are, not which Pokémon game is best ;D ::)
'Tis true. We're discussing the pokemon series, though.
There are series other than Pokemon?
???
Quote from: satoshi_matrix on January 03, 2009, 10:18:45 pm
#000 MISSINGNO.!
Actually, I think you can still get it by using a Gameshark... and you can also trade it from Red-Blue to Yellow, Gold, Silver, or Crystal! ;D
I can't believe no one thought of Pokemon before me in this thread...
I've never played a pokemon game in my life.
In no order:
Zelda
Castlevania, especially ROB and SOTN
DK Country
Fire Emblem
Smash Bros.
others that don't come to mind immediately
Quote from: Syzygy01 on January 04, 2009, 11:54:40 am
I've never played a pokemon game in my life.
That makes 2 of us. :D
I have to agree that Pokemon Crystal is the greatest Pokemon game ever made, and NOTHING will ever top it! ;D
Seriously, I logged so many hours on that bad boy, and I went from Blue to Yellow (Ugggh) to Silver. It got better gradually each time. Ever since then, it's been all downhill... I think the problem is that there are way too many Pokemon now. I know the first 151, and can recognize a lot up until like 250, but after that I'm lost... :-\
Give me some time to make my list! :D
As I quote Manuel,
Quote from: manuel on January 03, 2009, 07:51:21 am
Gotta catch 'em all, though. ;D
I must say, Doc...
better start playin :P
There's currently 493 Pokemon...so catch 'em all now!
Nintendodork. There are 251 Pokemon. 251 Pokemon I choose to recognise as Pokemon. Seriously, though, they started just making up dumb crap after G/S/C.
Quote from: Rogles on January 05, 2009, 04:15:44 pm
Nintendodork. There are 251 Pokemon. 251 Pokemon I choose to recognise as Pokemon. Seriously, though, they started just making up dumb crap after G/S/C.
Agreed.
The newer ones are just
stupid
I have to concur with that as well. I felt some of the ones in G/S/C were stretching. I don't even know what most of the things from Ruby/Sapphire are supposed to be.
The new Pokemon are robots with guns... :(
To me, every generation of Pokémon has been a mixed bag. As far back as the original 151, there were awesome Pokémon like Scyther, Magneton, and Golem, while there was also Mr. Mime, Oddish, Drowzee and ugh, Eggexcute. While even in the newest gen there are some awesome Pokémon like Magnazone, the problem is that over time, the ratio of cool to just stupid Pokémon has continually shifted away from cool and is now planted mostly in the stupid category. The only reason I still enjoy the new DS ones at all is because you can choose to avoid using the new ones and still with good 'ol classics.
Quote from: Doc on January 05, 2009, 11:00:53 am
Seriously, I logged so many hours on that bad boy, and I went from Blue to Yellow (Ugggh) to Silver.
What was wrong with yellow? Isnt that the version with the bugs removed and the extra pokemon included from B/R?
Also whats so good about Crystal? I've seen it cheap and might be tempted.
Yeah, but some of those bugs were fun to fool around with. And I thought the idea that you could simply GET Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander in the game in such lame fashion was just silly. The whole idea of Pikachu following you was cute, but got really old after a few hours. And during when it was released, all of the hype was created for the surfing game that you could play with Pikachu, which even then really wasn't all that special, or worth the silly hype. Some things were awesome, like the fact that the Pokemon didn't look like creepy things, and Team Rocket!!!
Crystal is pretty much a combination of Gold and Silver, I haven't played in a while, so bear with me, but I'm pretty sure that all of the Pokemon are availble in the game. There were some Pokemon exclusive to Silver (Donphan for example) and some exclusive to Gold (Teddiursa). Also, it's MUCH easier to catch the legendary dogs, and you can catch Suicune without it running away. The whole idea of the legendary dogs being impossible to catch was G/S/C's one big flaw.
Plus, you can capture Celebi!*
*But only if you cheat... there is a statue in one of the forest's, but for some reason you couldn't catch Celebi in the game, it was only available in Japan through a special event. Action Replay or GameShark or something has a code availble to catch him in your US game, though.
Quote from: Doc on January 06, 2009, 07:51:56 pm
legendary dogs
I always thought they kinda looked like tigers...hmm...
But yeah, you can catch all the Pokemon in Crystal...but it always seemed...different to me than G/S...in alot of weird, unexplainable ways...
And I never got Pikachu to surf...but I did get Mew! (Through the Mew glitch) and I got a SHINY PINK Celebi because my cousin had a friend who lived in Japan and mailed him a Japanese Crystal and gave me the Celebi :D (After he duplicated it of course)
I agree that they look like tigers, but I'm pretty sure I've heard them referred to in numerous places (Including with Nintendo themselves,) as dogs. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, anyone. :)
Quote from: Doc on January 06, 2009, 08:09:15 pm
Including with Nintendo themselves
Pffftt...what do
they know about Pokemon?
Nothing... Well, nothing about what the hardcore players want. Now they're just making whatever they think 11 year-olds think looks cool. The series should just be put out of its misery. It's like a cow that used to give really good milk, but when she ran out, she got really ugly and fat. :P
Quote from: Rogles on January 08, 2009, 03:25:34 am
The series should just be put out of its misery.
Sonic first! >:(
Yes it should.
Everybody talks about hardcore players...
If Nintendo would only cater to those self-proclaimed hardcore players, thy would probably not earn as much money as they do now.
Nintendo is a profit-oriented company. And with what they do now they make a hell of a lot of profit. They're doing everything right it seems.
If somebody really deserves to be called "hardcore", that person needs no own at least 2 consoles. With only 1 you always limit yourself. That's why I don't understand the rants against Nintendo. As if they had been "hardcore" all the time.
Well, I don't want to goo too far off topic here.
Nah you're right... sadly the numbers don't lie. Also though, I think the hardcore community is a bit unreasonable all around. Nintendo (or any other company) can't make a Mario or a Zelda every year.
That's true, too.
If they on the other hand did make one every year people would all go crazy, too about getting their favourite series watered down. :D
Are you implying that hardcore gamers are impossible to satisfy? :o
Hey, you got it! ;D
To come back to the thread topic, I love the 2 Golden Sun games and would find a 3rd part on whatever platform very sweet.
in no order:
Chrono series (SNES, PSX, DS)
Mother (Earthbound) series (NES, SNES, GBA)
Smash Bros. series (N64, GC, Wii)
Mario Kart (SNES, N64, GBA, GC, Wii)
Bleach: Heat the Soul series (PSP)
Umihara Kawase (SNES, PSX, PSP)
Ganbare Goemon (NES, SNES, PSX, GB, N64, GBC, GBA, PS2, DS)
Jet Grind Radio (DC, GBA, Xbox)
but what tops them all is:
Katamari Damacy (PS2, PSP, Xbox360, iPhone)
I havent even touched the latest Pokemon games. Is there soemthing wrong with the DS games?
The general consensus amongst people I know is that if you've played one Pokemon game, you've played them all.
Quote from: PatMan33 on January 09, 2009, 08:07:32 am
The general consensus amongst people I know is that if you've played one Pokemon game, you've played them all.
I played the DS game for a little bit, and I kept feeling like there were just WAY too many places to go to. I always felt lost, like I was missing something totally important that I needed to go to. I feel like a strategy guide is really necessary to understand it...
The DS ones aren't good at all IMO.
Platinum is supposed to have a lot more things, though, and it got good ratings... Hm.
Quote from: Doc on January 09, 2009, 12:47:26 pm
Quote from: PatMan33 on January 09, 2009, 08:07:32 am
The general consensus amongst people I know is that if you've played one Pokemon game, you've played them all.
I played the DS game for a little bit, and I kept feeling like there were just WAY too many places to go to. I always felt lost, like I was missing something totally important that I needed to go to. I feel like a strategy guide is really necessary to understand it...
Feel like you're lost eh?
Seems to me old age is catching up :P
Doc in a few seconds: "Kids today with these games...back in
my day, we had a PS3 and nothing else" :P
Ehh Doc's good humored...he knows I'm kidding....
...Right?
*gets ban hammer ready...*
Oh, you were kidding? :(
Trust me, that game makes even someone your age feel lost and confused. ;D
I know... all the friggin' caves. Jeez.
Orly?
Cuz I beat it...twice :P On both Diamond and Pearl :P :P
Quote from: Rogles on January 09, 2009, 06:51:03 pm
I know... all the friggin' caves. Jeez.
Oooohhh, that sums up the pain for me. :'(
Caves were a problem in the first games too. HM 05 can go screw itself...
Quote from: PatMan33 on January 09, 2009, 09:55:43 pm
Caves were a problem in the first games too. HM 05 can go screw itself...
I hated it. I used to have a guinea pig Pokemon use it, so I wouldn't waste the move on one of my good ones... Flash is such a horrendous move.
Yeah I always did that guinea pig thing too...it was stupid because then you had to wait forever to get to the move tutor to make a good one re-learn one of it's good moves...
As for Flash...I just walked around until I found the exit...most of the time though...My Silver would always start up with an alternate color scheme, which allowed me to see the entire inside of the caves without using any moves or anything (Everything was different shades of blue and brown inside the caves.. so it was pretty easy :D
Yeah, I had that same situation, too. It also helped me a lot in that gym with "invisible" walls. :D
Wait... you could use flash to see those walls? ???
No, if you played the game on a game boy color or on the GBA, the invisible walls would show up.
Well would you look at that... :-[
just remembered MOST of the Prince of Persia games,
the original 3:
"Prince of Persia"
"Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame"
"Prince of Persia 3D"
(Apple II, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, GB, GBC, NES, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, Mac OS, SNES, Mega-CD, Mega Drive, XBLA, PSN, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast)
the sands of time series:
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"
"Prince of Persia: Warrior Within"
"Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones"
(PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, Mobile phone, PSP)
and the supplementary games:
"Battles of Prince of Persia"
"Prince of Persia: The Fallen King"
"Prince of Persia Classic"
"Prince of Persia (2008)"
(DS, Xbox360, PS3, PC)
the very first game is the best of the original 3, while the whole sands of time series is fairly good. most of the supplementary games are sub-par (being on the DS) with the exception of the newest game in the series "Prince of Persia (2008)"