The Top 3

[MajorGeneral2]

Top # game lists have been posted before, but they rarely seem to become much more than just lists. Maybe I'm alone in this, but plain lists are boring. So, to encourage an actual discussion I'll keep the list to just three. Just be sure to give reasons for your picks!
And so, here's mine:

3. Photopia (PC) Text adventures get no respect. Sure, there are no flashy graphics, or orchestrated sound effects, or anything else like that, but one must give credit to the author's creativeness. Recent IF's have swung from puzzle-based to story-based, and this is one that lead the way. Interestingly, the player never controls the main character.
2. Ogre Battle 64 (N64) The battle system in this game is the best. Period. Dozens of classes for your soldiers, an alignment system, and plot which easily rivals any other game, or book/movie, for that matter. Though the actual strategy portion of the game probably isn't the greatest, the story carries it through.
A drumroll, please...
1. Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) Was there any doubt I'd choose this one? A Zelda game shoud top any best games list, due to the mix of action and puzzle-solving, as well as a good deal of character depth. So why OOT instead of some other Zelda? Well, I feel that all previous Zeldas lead up to this, and the two subsequent games followed it in terms of gameplay (though MM and WW may actually be better, since they did improve the formula).
There you have it. Due to space constrictions, I've left out several deserving games (Final Fantasy, Mario, Civilizaton, and others I'dve liked to acknowledge), but that couldn't be helped.

 

[Silverflame]

Haven't played Orcarina of Time yet which I hope to over the summer so it'll probably change.
3) Civilization 3-Obvious, isn't it? Just look at this web site!
2) Super Smash Bros: Melee-I absoluetly LOVE this game, even if I don't play to a competitive level for tournaments.
1)Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker-As my first 3D Zelda game and the first one with a plot among the main Zelda storyline, I had and am still having a great experience with it.

 

[naervod]

3) Warcraft III- Probably the greatest storyline of any game I have ever played especially after playing the first two Warcraft games. Hero units are great and online play is fun. New maps are great and clan scene is fun.

2) Battlefield 1942- It was close between this and number 1. Single player isn't too great but online play is simply amazing. There is simply no end of things to do in game and the mod community can be summed up in two words- Desert Combat. It's like a whole new game with the same engine. Also, there are many awsome EA-published maps and user-created maps.

1) Starcraft- This is possibly the game I played for the longest amount of time. The huge online community makes it an easy choice for the top game. There are so many different things you can do both online and offline and there is a great storyline.

 

[MajorGeneral2]

Originally posted by Silverflame

3) Civilization 3-Obvious, isn't it? Just look at this web site!

I'll have to dispute that one. Civ2 allows unparalleled scenario building, and was less 'buggy'. The AI hurt it bad, but that was more than made up for.

Originally posted by naervod

1) Starcraft- This is possibly the game I played for the longest amount of time.

You're not alone, and there are the sales figure to prove it. That's a tough one to rebut. This may have topped my list, if I were a bigger fan of RTS. Definately tops in its category.

 

[Silverflame]

Originally posted by MajorGeneral2


I'll have to dispute that one. Civ2 allows unparalleled scenario building, and was less 'buggy'. The AI hurt it bad, but that was more than made up for.

Never played civ2, and if I did now, it would be overshadowed by it's inferior graphics. And yes, graphics do matter somewhat, after getting used to civ3 graphics there's no way I'll be able to see what's going on in civ2. Otherwise, yes civ2 is the better game, got #16 on IGN's top 100 list, civ3 is nowhere near it.

 

[Toasty]

3. Space Channel 5 (Sega Dreamcast) - I have yet to meet a person who has played this, let alone loved it, but it offers the most creative and enjoyable experience that has ever been put forth on any game system. Ultimately about truth, love, and peace, the game leaves you feeling strangely enlightened at the finish despite its brevity and simple gameplay. The amount of style and class put into it is astounding, and I don't think a game other than this could go so far on what it has.

2. Starcraft (PC, Nintendo 64) - This is, of course, mandatory, as an RTS fan and as one who has sacrificed many, many hours to this game. The scenario capabilities were astonishingly simple but effective, allowing for the kind of development that has been unparallelled except perhaps in Civilization II. Combined with a near-perfect mode for multiplayer, this game is undeniably great.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Genesis) - Starring the little furry one who dethroned Mario and his co-tyrants at Nintendo HQ, he was at the top of his game in this version and I grew up with the Sonic series. Offering brilliant, vibrant graphics and innovative gameplay, Sonic brought Sega into the limelight and it was not without reason. The third edition of this is a testament to that.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Yeah, Civ2 is way too easy, compared with Civ3, AI-wise. I can handily take on the AI, on deity level, in Civ2 any day (or used to ), but I didn't even dare to try in Civ3. You'll see why the day you see the AI coming at you with a 100-unit stack.

I only played on emperor level twice, and one of them as an allied PBEM game (see link).

But let's not turn this into a Civ2 vs Civ3 bickering thread...

 

[Suppersalmon]

3) (pc) age of empires 2 not as much detailed as civ but still v.good for multi player

2)(ps2) Grand Theft Auto vice city loads of mindless violence

1)(pc) CM01/02 the game i proberbly have spent the most time and and one of the best games ever

 

[naervod]

Oh by the way, I don't play console games so please don't argue with me if you think a console game is better. Howeverm I have played console games at my friends houses, but not enough to rate them. Some good games were: GTA III and it's expansion, Vice City, Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Super Mario 64.

 

[Smash]

is this an alltime top 3?..I guess so

1.Civ2..easy winner

2.Goldeneye(N64)..this game made me buy an N64.No other first person shooter comes close(imo)

3.Tough call here.Could go anyway but I must pick one so..um...lets go with GTA3.Lots of fun and "freedom"

honorable mention:
Anything with FIFA in it pretty much especially '98-Road to France
Nascar Thunder 200x

 

[andrewgprv]

this is hard console games and computer games shouldn't even be in the same category so heres my two top 3's

PC
1- Command & Conquer (the original)
2- Civ 3
3- Diablo

Console
1- Punchout (NES)
2- Super Mario 3 (NES)
3- GoldenEye (N64)

BTW Smash Brothers is great 4 player! My Kirby will kick your ass!

 

[Silverflame]

Originally posted by andrewgprv

BTW Smash Brothers is great 4 player! My Kirby will kick your ass!

Do you have N64 or Melee? SSB Kirby's freakishly strong, Melee Kirby is more balanced. That's why Melee is better

 

[WillJ]

Here's my top three list, but it's too hard to rank them (it was hard enough to choose them), so I'll just list them in no particular order:

Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast) - Great graphics, interesting levels (especially the tomb one with the water and light switches), I liked the adventure levels (they sort of had a nice relaxing and "mysterious" characteristic), and the chao were fun. There were several good easter eggs, including beeing able to pick up people on the street in the city adventure level and throw them into the water. And the introduction of Chaos was interesting.
Sim City 4 (PC) - Local funding, region play, a great terrrain sculptor, control over disastors, and other things make this game an amazing city simulator. You need a really good computer, but big cities can now look even more beautiful than before. Just looking around and admiring you city is fun (as it was in 3K, and to a certain extent in 2K).
Civilization 3 (with PTW included, and latest patch) (PC) - This game will probably keep me occupied for a long time, while I keep on trying to improve my game. Multiplayer adds a lot to the game (no longer do you have to play with the stupid AI), the online community here at CFC and other places doubles the fun you can have with this game, and culture, resources, and other additions make this game much better than Civ2. Anyone who says Civ2 is better is a wussie!

However, the top three games for their time (in no particular order):

Need for Speed 2: Special Edition (PC) - I probably had more fun with this than any other racing game. The "road rage" cheat (where you honk your horn and nearby cars go flying and spinning in the air, then crash) was just classic. It made 2-player races quite interesting.
Civilization 2 (PC) - Although Civ3 is better IMO, Civ2 was better for its time, I think. I think I had more fun with Civ2, for some reason. I loved storming around the modern world with my transports and marines. There seemed to be nothing wrong with the game, no bugs or annoying inaccuracies.
Sim City 2000: Special Edition CD (PC) - Whether destroying part of my city with a volcano, placing some arcologies to flaunt my city's wealth, or finally getting to place my mayor's statue, Sim City 2K was a great game, made even better with the scenarios and "Urban Renewal Kit" found in the special edition CD. I don't know why, but like with Civ2 and Civ3, I seemed to have more fun with 2K than 3K or 4.


As I think about it more I might edit it some, and maybe try ranking them (and maybe even change my choices).

 

[Mariusz]

Here is my top3:

3)Wipeout 2097 (PSX) - best racing game ever
2)Doom - there was a time that I knew every level of this game like my own pocket
1)Civlization 1, 2, 3 - part 1 was one of the first games that I played on PC

 

[MajorGeneral2]

Originally posted by Smash
is this an alltime top 3?..I guess so

Yes. In fact, I originally was going to give an age limit of at least 1 year old, but I forgot and its too late now.

Originally posted byToasty1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Genesis) - Starring the little furry one who dethroned Mario and his co-tyrants at Nintendo HQ, he was at the top of his game in this version and I grew up with the Sonic series. Offering brilliant, vibrant graphics and innovative gameplay, Sonic brought Sega into the limelight and it was not without reason. The third edition of this is a testament to that.

Allow me to respectfully disagree. That hedgehog doesn't come close to Mario. All he does is go fast; SMB was far more innovative, and was just as colorful.
BTW, it looks like Starcraft is getting the most mentions. As much as people rave about it, I'm a bit surprised GTA3 isn't getting more attention. Of course, that doesn't bother me.
And andrewgprv, why should console and PC games be seperate?

 

[Smash]

Every game in this thread brings back memories

How could I have forgotten Punch Out?.The original with Mike Tyson.Spent many hours guiding Little Mac to the title .Each new fighter had a certain way to beat him

Utopia is another oldie I just remembered playing alot.On Intellivision!! iirc

 

[puglover]

3. Civilization 2 - I used to love this game, but it started to become boring. It is a wonderful game and is perfect for history buffs like me!

2. The Sims - Excellent addictive game you can play for hours. Perfect for people who like to be in control. You make your computer person live his/her everyday life, get married, have kids, go to work, get promoted, etc.

1. Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis - Se my JP: OG thread I made just two minutes ago!

 

[Toasty]

Originally posted by MajorGeneral2

Allow me to respectfully disagree. That hedgehog doesn't come close to Mario. All he does is go fast; SMB was far more innovative, and was just as colorful.

Excuse me? Super Mario Brothers was not far more innovative, let alone innovative at all. The FPS rate of Sonic was a technological marvel at the time, that the screen could move that quickly, with that much detail and that much color, something that Nintendo lacked the resources to accomplish. The Sonic series actually outsold the "fat plumber." Style was, and is, a big part of the Sonic series, and for the day it oozed with it like no other, which is probably why it outdid Nintendo's gang of sewage workers and mushroomheads.

 

[Silverflame]

Uh oh, here comes the Sonic vs. Mario argument again. You guys just wait until Super Smash Bros 3, where Miyamoto is constantly "joking" about how HAL should include Sonic in their next Super Smash Bros Game. That's when the main Mario vs. Sonic argument can take place, as well as Link vs. Sonic, Samus vs. Sonic, even Game&Watch vs. Sonic
For those in the dark, when Rare was working on their new dinosaur planet game (Starfox Adventures) Miyamoto constantly "joked" about how Rare should make it a Starfox game.

 

[puglover]

never mind