The Top 50 Games of the Decade

So, hadn't seen anyone talk about this list from Destructoid yet:

http://www.destructoid.com/the-top-50-videogames-of-the-decade-10-1--155591.phtml

It's quite well put together in its arguments, I must say, and I find myself in agreement with a lot of the choices.

I'd have put Metal Gear Solid 3 into the top 10 before I'd have put God of War II there, however, and ICO would have been much closer to the top. Still, given the range of titles considered, and those that did make it into the top spots, it's hard to fault the list too much.

That said, I definitely wouldn't have picked FFIX as FF's only representative on the list from this past decade. While it had a decent enough story, I felt that several of the main characters (Eiko, Amarant and Quina, in particular) were rather forgettable, and that the sluggish gameplay was more painful than playing an actual classic FF.

FFX would have been the right decision, by leaps and bounds, and with consideration to ... well, to everything. Gameplay, story and characters, as well as audio and visuals.

Shadow of the Colossus in first place is certainly the choice I would have made, though. I was very surprised it received this recognition, and am quite pleased to see gaming's greatest (yeah, I said it, bitches) in its rightful spot.

I'm not going to list the top 50 in this thread, but I'll include the top 10 (the full list is available at the link provided; also, keep in mind that only one game per series was selected):

10) Resident Evil 4
9) Super Mario Galaxy
8) Valkyria Chronicles
7) Diablo II
6) Beyond Good & Evil
5) God of War II
4) Portal
3) Mother 3
2) Half-Life II
1) Shadow of the Colossus

So, what's everybody think?

God of War II and X needs to be a little more on top but I agree that Shadow of the colossus be number 1. where is FFVII lying?

FF7's not within the decade

TresDias said:

8. Valkyria Chronicles

Click to expand...

You've just redeemed our relationship, I love you.

AUGH Mother 3 was amazing and made me bawl like a pussy several times. Ugh, I need to cry over Lucas. Again.

ForceStealer said:

You've just redeemed our relationship, I love you.

Click to expand...

Well, I didn't make the list, but I'm glad I was able to mend things between us while there was still hope. XD

But, yeah, I'd have totally put VC toward the top as well.

That "V" title reminds me that Vagrant Story should have been higher up than spot 47, but at least it made the damn list.

Oh, I thought that was your top ten. Reading comprehension ftw. I was just that eager to get us off the rocks.

I recently tried playing Vagrant story and I couldn't get my head around that battle system in such a way that was fun...Same deal with Parasite Eve. Not sure if I was missing something.

I agree with Shadow of the Colossus at the top, I'm also thrilled that Uncharted 2 made the list. I did like Twilight Princess SO MUCH better than Wind Waker though and TP isn't even on the list

ForceStealer said:

Oh, I thought that was your top ten. Reading comprehension ftw. I was just that eager to get us off the rocks.

Click to expand...

<3

ForceStealer said:

I recently tried playing Vagrant story and I couldn't get my head around that battle system in such a way that was fun...Same deal with Parasite Eve. Not sure if I was missing something.

Click to expand...

Well, it's certainly not for everybody, but I've always enjoyed it. PE as well. Just not the Chrysler Building.

ForceStealer said:

I agree with Shadow of the Colossus at the top, I'm also thrilled that Uncharted 2 made the list.

Click to expand...

Oh, you just knew Uncharted 2 was going to make it. That alone is a reason to get a PS3. I need to get one so that I can play my own damn copy and not rely on my friend.

ForceStealer said:

I did like Twilight Princess SO MUCH better than Wind Waker though and TP isn't even on the list

Click to expand...

Remember, though, that only one game from each series was selected. Guess they just ranked Wind Waker higher than TP.

That's a tough call, but I think I'd have probably made the same one they did.

Shadow of the Colossus being at number one, and their reasoning behind it, is spot on, IMO.

I, too, would put ICO higher, though. I'd also have put Vagrant Story higher, as well, at least above Kingdom Hearts, but that's really just my personal preference, I think. As for FFIX, it's my personal favorite FF, so I agree with it being the pick of the series. Overall, though, I think it's quite a good list - it's definitely good to see games like Cave Story and Beyond Good & Evil on there.

Hm, I'm disappointed that FFX didn't make it. I adored IX of course, but X was a totally different FF experience, and does not lose to IX in terms of storyline either. I'm also surprised that neither Kingdom Hearts nor Final Fantasy made it to top 10, but hey, I'm kind of biased towards certain games so...>.>

In any case, I am definitely in agreement for having SoC be #1, although I was surprised it made it as well. I've always thought it was underrated as a game, but maybe its just not really a game for discussion as much as just playing.

Some interesting picks there. I do agree with the inclusion of Portal, God of War 2 and Resident Evil 4, and of course with Shadow of the Colossus being at the number 1 spot.

Personally I'd have included Assassin's Creed 2 in my top ten of the past decade, alongside Silent Hill 2 and Killer7 (this one in particular I'm VERY surprised to see not included)

EDIT: Seriously, Killer7 isn't even in the top 50? Man, bad times.

I agree with Shadow of the Colossus at number one, but I guess there isn't anyone who doesn't.

One game that did deserve to be higher though was Silent Hill 2. That is an amazing game, simple as that.

And I agree with Tres et all that it should have been FFX instead of FFIX. Don't get me wrong, love IX, but X is my personal favourite. Either way, I'm happy for IX just the same.

EDIT: wrong word for Silent Hill, but I fixed it

Oerba Yun Fang said:

Personally I'd have included Assassin's Creed 2 in my top ten of the past decade, alongside Silent Hill 2 and Killer7 (this one in particular I'm VERY surprised to see not included)

EDIT: Seriously, Killer7 isn't even in the top 50? Man, bad times.

Click to expand...

Now that you bring them up, it is quite baffling that neither of those are on this list. But, then, you look at what is and it becomes difficult to decide what should have been left off to make room.

They chose the top spot correctly at least, which is something. At least they didn't give it to Call od Duty 4 or something.

Amen. My faith in humanity is renewed for at least a day.

They certainly picked some marvelous games. Though I'm not sure why Persona 4 was picked over 3, since I thought 3 had a better story.

and why is WoW on there, it's not really that great... for an MMO, I guess it's good, but certainly not worthy of being one of the top 50 video games of the decade.

Woah, didn't notice that Skies of Arcadia made the top 50; that list is truly awesome now.

Terra Branford said:

Though I'm not sure why Persona 4 was picked over 3, since I thought 3 had a better story.

Click to expand...

If they're considering the SMT series as a whole, I'd say that maybe Nocturne should've made the cut instead, but that's just me.

When did Nocturne come out? Was that in the last decade or before? I don't remember.

While I fully agree with Portal being on the list - and high, I'm not sure I would have put quite that high. It was very cool, but it was also like 3 hours long.

MGS3 should have been in the top ten, at least. I pretty much agree with that list, I'm glad they put Portal so high, because I can't get enough of it. =w=

I laughed at there being no mention of halo at all on this list. Unless i'm so stoned right now and just can't see it.

Hippie Killer said:

I laughed at there being no mention of halo at all on this list. Unless i'm so stoned right now and just can't see it.

Click to expand...

Nope, it's not there. A surprise to you and me both.

Allow me to fill the complaining void if you will.

Sons of Liberty is better than Snake Eater.... The Camo System really wasn't that good nor was the storyline. At least not compared to its predacessors.

I'd put both GTA3 and VC above SA and then I'd put them much highr on the list. Grand Theft Auto is the most revolutionary game of our time. When everyone was young we all played Mario and jumped around. When we go tot our teens (or a little under as I was about 12) GTA3 came out to give us the ability to drive around and shoot...anything.
Everyone I knew, and people I've talked to since online, were addicted to this game.

It helped spark a billion ripoffs and clones and really, the sandbox idea was a vreat innovation in gaming.

Yeah GTA3 was pretty revolutionary at the time, but pretty shitty in hindsight. It wasn't until San Andreas that they'd perfected the amount of fun and freedom that could be milked from a sandbox game (before GTA IV decided to have the bright idea of taking those concepts a step back). Thats why I'd say it was infinitely better.

I'd also completely disagree on Metal Gear Solid 3 having a worse storyline. Imo, the story was much better and far more cinematic. But because I have a fondness for all things that try to be unique I'd still say Metal Gear Solid 2 was the more innovative experience (but probably not the better one) because of its utterly surreal postmodernist deconstruction of the relationship between the game and the player that a good 90% of players still probably don't understand. These being the same players that cry about the ending for 'not making any sense'

These being the same players that cry about the ending for 'not making any sense'

Click to expand...

We definitely agree on this. MGS2 is cited as being "convoluted" by so many people and I doubt half of them know what the word means. It's justgot a very layered plot but if you actually pay attention, it all makes sense.

SE is liked because it's just a very straightforward plot.

Deus said:

Allow me to fill the complaining void if you will.

Sons of Liberty is better than Snake Eater.... The Camo System really wasn't that good nor was the storyline. At least not compared to its predacessors.

Click to expand...

Sons of Liberty is probably my second favorite, and for the reasons that most people don't like it -- its plot and storytelling techniques. It certainly doesn't deserve the rap it gets, but MGS3: Susbsistence is so polished that it could pretty much stand on its own.

Deus said:

I'd put both GTA3 and VC above SA and then I'd put them much highr on the list. Grand Theft Auto is the most revolutionary game of our time.

Click to expand...

Now that you bring it up, I do wonder if maybe GTA should have been higher on the list. It's hard to argue with the reasoning you offer.

I couldn't in good conscience pick something other than San Andreas to represent the series on this list, though. Vice City is my favorite, but I think San Andreas was probably the best one.

Deus said:

When everyone was young we all played Mario and jumped around. When we go tot our teens (or a little under as I was about 12) GTA3 came out to give us the ability to drive around and shoot...anything.
Everyone I knew, and people I've talked to since online, were addicted to this game.

Click to expand...

I had actually started GTA with the first game in the series. Now that was something different to be playing in the late 90s.

Deus said:

It helped spark a billion ripoffs and clones and really, the sandbox idea was a vreat innovation in gaming.

Click to expand...

Though GTA didn't originate the concept, there's no doubt that it propogated its popularity to heights it may not have reached otherwise.

I wouldn't call SE's plot 'straightforward', in my opinion it's just the better story. And for Hideo Kojima the ability to write and pace a good story is about as incredible as it would be for you or I to shit out a whole bulldozer.

I certainly would call MGS2's convoluted, but also slightly genius. It's just a shame that it decided to try and tangle itself up in a Metal Gear Solid game. If a separate title had tried to do the same deconstruction of the player's experience as MGS2 did then it would have been much better received and probably more clearly understood because the creative themes wouldn't have been so entangled with the usual MGS asshattery.

I had actually started GTA with the first game in the series. Now that was something different to be playing in the late 90s.

Click to expand...

RED SUPERBIKE