This relates to something Alex and Marni and I were discussing tonight. In fact, it is exactly what Alex and Marni and I were discussing tonight. We didn't count Pong, because it's clearly #1. Or I guess #0 in this case. In no particular order:
1) Super Mario Bros. (the original and 64 specifically)
-innovated side-scrollers and 3-D platformers, respectively
-most recognizable character in video game history
-Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World and Super Mario Land are also amazing
2) Tetris
-all puzzle games are basically Tetris
-incredibly addictive
-admit it. You would imagine the world around you as comprised of Tetris pieces and would think of ways they would fit together...just in case.
3) Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
-beautiful. Lush. (I love when people use the word lush to describe video games. It probably sounds inappropriate to the uninitiated, but damn is it true)
-comprehensive. Brilliant.
-Z trigger targeting was a great idea!
4) Street Fighter Two
-ever notice all those fighting games around? Yeah, they wouldn't be there if it weren't for this baby.
-dominated arcades AND home systems
-reputation intact despite the existence of Street Fighter Two Alpha, Street Fighter Two Turbo, Street Fighter Two Turbo Alpha, and finally Street Fighter Three. And Street Fighter Three Alpha.
5) Grand Theft Auto (probably starting with Three)
-brought video games beyond the video gamer culture and into the mainstream
-spawned exactly one million knock-off games, like this goofball JFK assassination game that sounds like the worst thing ever: http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5098218.html
-fun to play regardless of objectives or goals or any other similar nonsense
These are the top 5 and that is that. There will be no discussion or consideration of other games.
GEOFF OUT.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Top Five Most Influential Video Games Of All Time
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Don't forget the RPG's!
Hands down, Final Fantasy for the NES, Final Fantasy II for the SNES, and Final Fantasy VII for Playstation (the first and only videogame that ever made me cry).
Also, most underappreciated adventure game for the orignal Nintendo: Crystalis.
Crystalis was a project put together by SNK - the guys who made the incredible Neo Geo system which was something like 64-bit while everyone else was still pixelating all over each other like 8-bit idiots. Somehow, SNK totally maximized the capabilities of the 8-bit system, and the game totally ROCKED. Worth an emulation trip, if you have the time.
I embrace my dorkdom whole-heartedly.
Yeah, we tried to take RPG's into account, but I don't think they played a huge part in either of our personal video game development, so it was tough to adjust for.
We mentioned the Final Fantasies, and also Dragon Warrior which kind of opened things up for console games.
In other arenas we also mentioned the Madden football games and PacMan, obviously.
On another note, I got the top score on one of the orisinal games! It's called M107 Metal Armor or something like that. It was kind of easy.
I'm also surpised you didn't include Metroid or Castlevania or Contra.
God, I played so much Contra when I was little.
Though I understad, Top 5 is tough.
Not that it would necessarily make my own personal top 5, but in terms of sheer impact on the industry you have to include Doom.
That's true. If you're even a little "older school" than Doom, Rise of the Triad was pretty awesome. I think it was the very first first-person-shooter to have your enemies actually beg for mercy before you finished them off.
Doom was another game high in the conversation, and actually might have been on the list. I think I accidentally subbed Zelda 64 in.
Also, Alex mentioned Wolfenstein 3D, which I've heard much about but have never seen.
Actually, I think W3D may have been what I meant, instead of Rise of the Triad.
Either way, I'm positive that ROT was the first game where eyeballs would fly toward the screen after you blew somebody up with a missile launcher. Pretty realistic, I'd imagine.
W3D invented the first person shooter, but Doom took it to the next level by being a mega-seller, and also fun. Doom was on the list instead of Zelda 64, but we did keep going back and forth.
While doing some post discussion research, we found out that the original Zelda was the first cartridge game with a memory chip, so you could save your game. Also, it's still awesome fun.
And Geoff is talking about Orisinal.com, the sweetest, cutest games site ever.
I loved Food Fight, asteroids and defender. But you're right...grand theft auto is da bomb. WAR TO THE GREOVE STREET FAMILY!
Wow. I totally thought "orisinal" was a typo.
I'm a fan of www.addictinggames.com.
The original Tecmo Bowl has to be one, if not three, of the top five. It's all about Bo.
SD
Why the hell wasn't the Marx and Engels' Communist Manifesto on the list? Sure it's not strictly a "video game" in the traditional sense, but in terms of sheer influence, you think it'd make the list. Soviet Union? Cold War? Hello?
Tecmo is another one I hear a lot about but have no personal experience with. Regardless, I would argue Madden has the most influence in the sports game realm. When Madden games come out it is an EVENT.
Post a Comment