Your favorite vg series?

[satoshi_matrix]

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 

#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.

[Rogles]

Top 5:

5. Wizardry

4. The FC/SFC Zeldas.(-zelda 2.)

3. 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.

[PatMan33]

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 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.

[nintendodork]

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...

[UglyJoe]

Top 2, in no particular order: Castlevania, Splatterhouse.

[Jedi Master Baiter]

So far Gradius, but I've only played the first two

[manuel]

In no particular order my favorite series are Zelda, Super Mario and Rockman.

[Rogles]

Pokemon

Oh yeah I forgot about Pokemon. I am forever in love with Pokemon Crystal. Not anything after it though.

[manuel]

Not anything after it though.

Gotta catch 'em all, though. 

[nurd]

All that are in Crystal, yes.

Crystal is the best in the series.
Argue and you are lying.

[nintendodork]

Crystal was awesome...it had MOVING SPRITES!!

I really liked Sapphire though..

[nurd]

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.

[nintendodork]

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..

[Rogles]

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...

[nurd]

You could get Kanto and Johto in gold and silver, too...
But that's beside the point, crystal was just more fun